Pillow and mattress pad system with variable zones of elasticity

Abstract

A pillow, mattress pad, mattress pad and pillow system, and mattress are provided having a plurality of zones for providing a selected distribution of pressure across different parts of a sleeper's body. The pillow has a first zone of elasticity for supporting the head of a sleeper and an integral second zone of elasticity for supporting the neck and upper thoracic spine, said pillow comprising a firm high resistance foam lower portion and a viscoelastic foam upper portion matingly contoured to the lower portion and internally sealed to the lower portion along a surface of predetermined curvature.

1 . A pillow having a first zone of elasticity for supporting the head of a sleeper and a second zone of elasticity for supporting the neck and upper thoracic spine, said pillow comprising:
 a firm high resistance foam lower portion; and   a viscoelastic foam upper portion matingly contoured to the lower portion and internally sealed to the lower portion along a surface of predetermined curvature.   
     
     
         2 . A pillow according to  claim 1 , including an array of parallel cylindrical perforations therethrough, for modification of the weight, softness and/or firmness of the pillow to suit the subjective preferences of the sleeper. 
     
     
         3 . A pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein the pillow has a substantially rectangular shape corresponding to a conventional bed pillow. 
     
     
         4 . A pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein the pillow has a substantially horseshoe-like shape for supporting the neck of a sitting sleeper. 
     
     
         5 . A mattress pad for providing a selected distribution of pressure across all cranial and spinal levels of a sleeper. 
     
     
         6 . A mattress pad according to  claim 5  which comprises:
 a bottom portion comprising a polyurethane foam core of uniform thickness; 
 a recessed central portion adapted to receive viscoelastic pads of selected firmness for support of sub-cervical regions of the spine of a sleeper; and 
 a top portion concavely recessed to receive a pillow such that the top surface of the pillow is presented to the head of a sleeper at a desired height above the generally coplanar upper surfaces of said central and lower portions. 
 
     
     
         7 . A mattress pad according to  claim 6 , wherein said pillow comprises a firm high resistance foam lower portion; and a viscoelastic foam upper portion matingly contoured to the lower portion and internally sealed to the lower portion along a surface of predetermined curvature. 
     
     
         8 . A mattress pad according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plurality of viscoelastic pads for placement in the recessed central portion of the mattress pad, each viscoelastic pad being shaped to provide support to a single sleeper on either a left half or a right half of the central portion of the mattress pad.   
     
     
         9 . A mattress pad according to  claim 5 , wherein the mattress pad defines an array of parallel cylindrical perforations therethrough for modification of the weight, softness, and/or firmness of the mattress pad to suit the subjective preferences of the sleeper. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-zoned reversible mattress for providing a selected distribution of pressure across all cranial and spinal levels of a sleeper including mattress pads according to  claim 5 , comprising:
 a top layer comprising one of the mattress pads;   a middle layer comprising a uniform pad or mattress core having substantially uniform firmness and resilience across its entire area; and   a bottom layer comprising one of the mattress pads.   
     
     
         11 . A mattress pad and pillow system for providing a selected distribution of pressure across all spinal levels of a sleeper, comprising:
 a fitted fabric mattress cover having at least one pocket corresponding to each of a body zone and a head zone of a sleeping surface, each pocket being adapted to receive at least one pad insert.   
     
     
         12 . The mattress pad and pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one pocket corresponding to each of a body zone and a head zone comprises:
 a single pocket corresponding to the body zone for receiving a body pad insert; and   two side-by-side pockets corresponding to the head zone for receiving a left-side pad to elevate a pillow on the left side of the mattress protector and a right-side pad to elevate a pillow on the right side of the mattress protector.   
     
     
         13 . The mattress pad and pillow system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a composite body zone insert pad having a central zone portion and a lower zone portion,
 the lower zone portion comprising a polyurethane foam core of uniform thickness, and 
 the central zone portion comprising two viscoelastic pads of selected firmness for support of sub-cervical regions of the spine of a sleeper. 
   
     
     
         14 . The mattress pad and pillow system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 one or more pillow elevation pads for insertion into the head zone pockets to elevate the pillow on one or both sides.   
     
     
         15 . The mattress pad and pillow system of  claim 11 , further comprising two pillows each having a first zone of elasticity for supporting the head of a sleeper and a second zone of elasticity for supporting the neck and upper thoracic spine, said pillows comprising a firm high resistance foam lower portion and a viscoelastic foam upper portion matingly contoured to the lower portion and internally sealed to the lower portion along a surface of predetermined curvature. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress pad and pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein each pocket further comprises a fastener for securing an inserted pad or pillow to the pocket. 
     
     
         17 . A knee pillow having at least one knee support zone for supporting at least one knee of a sleeper, said pillow comprising:
 a firm high resistance foam lower portion; and   a viscoelastic foam upper portion matingly contoured to the lower portion and internally sealed to the lower portion along a surface of predetermined curvature.   
     
     
         18 . A multi-zoned reversible mattress for providing a selected distribution of pressure across all cranial and spinal levels of a sleeper, comprising:
 a top layer comprising a mattress pad according to  claim 5 ; and   a bottom layer comprising a uniform pad or mattress core having substantially uniform firmness and resilience across its entire area.   
     
     
         19 . A method for manufacturing the pillow of  claim 1 , comprising:
 providing a firm high resistance foam pillow; and   molding a viscoelastic foam upper portion contoured to the top of the foam pillow and internally sealed to the foam pillow along its top surface.   
     
     
         20 . A method for manufacturing the pillow of  claim 4 , comprising:
 providing a firm high resistance foam neck pillow; and   molding a viscoelastic foam upper portion contoured to the top and inside of the foam neck pillow and internally sealed to the foam pillow along its top and inside surfaces.