Zoned cushions

Abstract

A zoned cushion includes areas, or zones, that differ in firmness from one another. The zoned cushion may have a gel grid configuration in which interconnected walls define an array of buckling columns, with the buckling columns and any connecting walls in different zones having different wall thickness to impart the different zones with different firmnesses. Methods of designing zoned cushions, methods of manufacturing and/or selecting a zoned cushion, and associated systems are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for designing a mattress, comprising:
 obtaining a pressure map of an individual in at least one sleeping position; and   converting the pressure map to a zoned cushion design with a plurality of zones of different firmnesses from a head of the cushion to a foot of the cushion, each zone of the plurality of zones extending from a first side of the cushion to a second side of the cushion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the pressure map comprises obtaining a pressure map of the individual in a plurality of sleeping positions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sleeping positions include two or more of a back sleeping position, a side sleeping position, a front sleeping position, and a preferred sleeping position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the pressure map comprises obtaining pressure maps from a plurality of individuals. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 collecting demographic data from the plurality of individuals.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein collecting the demographic data comprises collecting one or more of a height, a weight, a body type, an age, a gender, and a preferred sleeping position from each individual of the plurality of individuals. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein converting the pressure map to the zoned cushion design with the plurality of zones of different firmnesses comprises converting the pressure map to a zoned cushion design with at least two of a head zone, a shoulder zone, a lumbar zone, a hip zone, and a foot zone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein converting the pressure map to the zoned cushion design with the plurality of zones of different firmnesses comprises converting the pressure map to a zoned cushion design that comprises a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of buckling columns. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein converting the pressure map to the zoned cushion design with the plurality of zones of different firmnesses comprises converting the pressure map to a zoned cushion design in which the plurality of interconnected walls define an array of buckling columns with circular cross-sectional shapes and connecting walls between adjacent buckling columns of the array of buckling columns. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein converting the pressure map to the zoned cushion design with the plurality of zones of different firmnesses comprises:
 determining an average pressure to be applied to each zone of the plurality of zones; and   designing the plurality of interconnected walls in the zone to have a thickness that corresponds to the average pressure.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the thickness of the plurality of interconnected walls increases with the average pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the thickness of the plurality of interconnected walls decreases with the average pressure. 
     
     
         13 . A method for selecting a mattress for an individual, comprising:
 obtaining a pressure map of the individual in at least one sleeping position;   collecting demographic information from the individual; and   comparing the pressure map and the demographic information to a database of pressure maps and corresponding demographic information for a group of other individuals; and   based on comparing the pressure map and the demographic information, identifying a zoned cushion that will accommodate pressures identified by the pressure map and demographic preferences based on the demographic information.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein obtaining the pressure map comprises obtaining a pressure map of the individual in at least one of a back sleeping position, a side sleeping position, a front sleeping position, and a preferred sleeping position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein obtaining the pressure map comprises obtaining the pressure map of the individual in at least two of the back sleeping position, the side sleeping position, the front sleeping position, and the preferred sleeping position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein collecting the demographic information includes collecting one or more of a height, a weight, a body type, an age, a gender, and a preferred sleeping position from each individual of the plurality of individuals. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein collecting the demographic information further includes collecting information about musculoskeletal pain experienced by the individual. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying the zoned cushion comprises identifying the zoned cushion from a plurality of available zoned cushions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying the zoned cushion comprises identifying a zoned cushion comprising a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of buckling columns. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein identifying the zoned cushion comprising the plurality of interconnected walls defining the array of buckling columns comprises identifying a zoned cushion comprising an array of buckling columns with circular cross-sections and connecting walls extending between adjacent buckling columns of the array of buckling columns. 
     
     
         21 . A system for determining an appropriate mattress for an individual, comprising:
 a pressure sensor that obtains a pressure map of the individual in at least one sleeping position;   a user interface that collects demographic information about the individual;   a database that includes pressure maps, demographic information, and preferred mattress types of a group of individuals; and   a processor that compares the pressure map and the demographic information for the individual to the pressure maps and demographic information for the group of individuals to output a recommendation of at least one mattress type suitable for the individual.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the demographic information includes one or more of a height, a weight, a body type, an age, a gender, and a preferred sleeping position from each individual of the plurality of individuals. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the demographic information further includes information about musculoskeletal pain experienced by the individual. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein processor compares an average applied pressure from each zone of a plurality of zones of the pressure map of the individual to average applied pressures from corresponding zones of the pressure maps for the group of individuals. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the recommendation of the at least one mattress type comprises a recommendation of a mattress with a zoned cushion with a plurality of zones of different firmnesses that correspond to the average applied pressure from each zone of the pressure map of the individual. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the zoned cushion comprising a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of buckling columns, with walls of one zone of the plurality of different zones of different firmnesses having a different thickness than walls of another zone of the plurality of different zones of different firmnesses. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the zoned cushion includes buckling columns of the array of buckling columns with circular cross-sections and connecting walls extending between adjacent buckling columns of the array of buckling columns.