Body support articles with airflow promoting structure

Abstract

Disclosed herein are body support articles that offer enhanced comfort, hygienic conditions and overall sleep environment. Such body support articles include mattresses and pillows that have at least one layer of material that is copper-infused. Optionally, such body support articles can have a layer of material that serves as an airflow promoting structure. In preferred embodiments, the layer of material that serves as the airflow promoting structure cane be secured to one or more other layers of the article without adhesives or other securement material(s) that can hinder inter-layer breathability.

1 . A body support article upon which a person rests, comprising:
 a body supporting structure having an upper surface;   an airflow promoting structure extending at least partially over the upper surface of the body supporting structure, wherein the airflow promoting structure is in direct contact with the upper surface of the body supporting structure, wherein the airflow promoting structure extending at least partially over the upper surface of the body supporting structure defines an airflow promoting structure interface area where the airflow promoting structure overlies the body supporting structure, wherein an entire portion of the airflow promoting structure interface area is devoid of a layer of material that inhibits the airflow promoting structure from being in direct contact with the upper surface of the body supporting structure, wherein the airflow promoting structure includes at least one retention element that extends at least partially over side surfaces of the body supporting structure, wherein the at least one retention element is engaged with said side surfaces of the body supporting structure and wherein the airflow promoting structure is secured to the body supporting structure exclusively by said engagement of the at least one retention element with said side surfaces of the body supporting structure; and   a cover extending over an entire portion of the airflow promoting structure and at least partially over side and bottom surfaces of the body supporting structure.   
     
     
         2 . The body support article of  claim 1  wherein the at least one retention element includes a skirt engaged with said side surfaces of the body supporting structure for securing the airflow promoting structure to the body supporting structure. 
     
     
         3 . The body support article of  claim 1  wherein:
 the airflow promoting structure includes upper and lower major surfaces jointly defining a plurality of perimeter edges extending between the upper and lower major surfaces; and 
 at least one air passage extends contiguously from a first one of the perimeter edges to a second one of the perimeter edges. 
 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The body support article of  claim 1  wherein the airflow promoting structure includes spaced-apart woven fabric layers and a layer of non-woven material therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The body support article of  claim 6  wherein the airflow promoting structure includes at least one retention element that extends at least partially over side surfaces of the body supporting structure for securing the airflow promoting structure to the body supporting structure. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A mattress, comprising:
 a body supporting structure including at least one layer of foam, wherein the at least one layer of foam defines an upper surface of the body supporting structure;   an airflow promoting structure extending at least partially over the upper surface of the body supporting structure thereby defining an airflow promoting structure interface area where the airflow promoting structure overlies the body supporting structure, wherein an entire portion of the airflow promoting structure interface area is devoid of a layer of material that inhibits the airflow promoting structure from being in direct contact with the upper surface of the body supporting structure, wherein the airflow promoting structure includes a skirt that extends at least partially over side surfaces of the body supporting structure, wherein the skirt is engaged with said side surfaces of the body supporting structure and wherein the airflow promoting structure is secured to the body supporting structure exclusively by said engagement of the skirt with said side surfaces of the body supporting structure; and   a cover extending over an entire portion of the airflow promoting structure and at least partially over side and bottom surfaces of the body supporting structure.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 10  wherein:
 the airflow promoting structure includes upper and lower major surfaces jointly defining a plurality of perimeter edges extending between the upper and lower major surfaces; and 
 at least one air passage extends contiguously from a first one of the perimeter edges to a second one of the perimeter edges. 
 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 10  wherein the airflow promoting structure includes spaced-apart woven fabric layers and a layer of non-woven material therebetween. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A mattress, comprising:
 a body supporting structure having an upper surface;   an airflow promoting structure extending at least partially over the upper surface of the body supporting structure; and   a securement structure engaged with the body supporting structure and the airflow promoting structure for limiting unrestricted lateral movement of the airflow promoting structure with respect to the upper surface of the body supporting structure, wherein said engagement with the body supporting structure includes being engaged with at least one of one or more side surfaces of the body supporting structure and a bottom surface of the body supporting structure, and wherein the airflow promoting structure is secured to the body supporting structure exclusively by said securement structure.   
     
     
         18 . The mattress of  claim 17  wherein:
 the airflow promoting structure includes upper and lower major surfaces jointly defining a plurality of perimeter edges extending between the upper and lower major surfaces; and 
 at least one air passage extends contiguously from a first one of the perimeter edges to a second one of the perimeter edges. 
 
     
     
         19 . The mattress of  claim 17  wherein:
 the airflow promoting structure extending at least partially over the upper surface of the body supporting structure defines an airflow promoting structure interface area where the airflow promoting structure overlies the body supporting structure; and 
 an entire portion of the airflow promoting structure interface area is devoid of a layer of material that inhibits the airflow promoting structure from being in direct contact with the upper surface of the body supporting structure 
 
     
     
         20 . The mattress of  claim 19  wherein the airflow promoting structure includes spaced-apart woven fabric layers and a layer of non-woven material therebetween.