Mattress having reduced motion transfer

Abstract

A mattress according to some embodiments includes a viscoelastic foam divider that extends along a longitudinal axis of the mattress and that is made of a viscoelastic foam, whereas in these and other embodiments, the mattress has a layer of viscoelastic foam bridging a gap that extends along a longitudinal axis of the mattress. The mattress can also include a first body support portion having high-resilience foam positioned adjacent a first side of the divider or gap, and a second body support portion having high-resilience foam positioned adjacent a second side of the divider or gap for isolating the second body support portion from the first body support portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress, comprising:
 a divider extending along a longitudinal axis of the mattress, the divider comprising viscoelastic foam;   a first body support portion including high-resilience foam and positioned adjacent a first side of the divider; and   a second body support portion including high-resilience foam and positioned adjacent a second side of the divider opposite the first side of the divider for isolating the second body support portion from the first body support portion.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second body support portions each comprise at least one layer of high-resilience foam. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the divider is secured to the first and second body support portions. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 3 , wherein the divider is secured to the first and second body support portions by an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising a foam layer overlying at least one of the first and second body support portions. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 5 , wherein the foam layer overlies the divider and the first and second body support portions. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 6 , wherein the foam layer is secured to the divider and the first and second body support portions. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 6 , wherein respective lengths of the divider, the foam layer, and the first and second body support portions are substantially identical. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein a width of the foam layer is at least as large as a combined width of the divider, the first body support portion, and the second body support portion. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein the combined width of the divider, the first body support portion, and the second body support portion is substantially equal to a width of the mattress. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein the foam layer has a length that is substantially equal to a length of the mattress, and wherein the foam layer has a width that is substantially equal to a width of the mattress. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 5 , wherein the foam layer is made of a viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 12 , wherein the viscoelastic foam layer overlies the divider and the first and second body support portions. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second body support portions includes a first side positioned adjacent the divider and an opposite second side, and wherein the respective second sides of the first and second body support portions at least partially define an outer periphery of the mattress. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the first body support portion is substantially co-planar with a top surface of the second body support portion. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress of  claim 15 , wherein a top surface of the divider is substantially co-planar with the top surface of the first body support portion and the top surface of the second body support portion. 
     
     
         17 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the first body support portion and the second body support portion are secured to the divider and define a perimeter around an exterior of the first body support portion, second body support portion, and divider, and wherein the perimeter is substantially identical to an outer perimeter defined by the mattress. 
     
     
         18 . A mattress, comprising:
 a first body support portion extending longitudinally from a head of the mattress to a foot of the mattress;   a second body support portion extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress;   a gap defined between the first and second body support portions and extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress, the gap unoccupied by material; and   a layer of viscoelastic foam covering and attached to the first and second body support portions, and bridging the gap between the first and second body support portions.   
     
     
         19 . A mattress, comprising:
 a first body support portion extending longitudinally from a head of the mattress to a foot of the mattress;   a second body support portion extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress;   a gap defined between the first and second body support portions and extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress; and   viscoelastic material disposed in the gap and that resists motion transfer between the first body support and the second body support portions.   
     
     
         20 . The mattress of  claim 19  further comprising a layer of viscoelastic foam covering the first and second body support portions.