Abstract: An improved pad or liner for overlaying a mattress, including at least one panel having a flexible thermoplastic elastomeric honeycomb core encased within a permeable fabric covering. The honeycomb core is formed of undulated strips of resilient thermoplastic material, thermal compression bonded together to form cell walls defining a plurality of contiguous regularly shaped cells having an upper and a lower extremity. The cell walls of the core are formed with a plurality of perforations. The upper extremities of each cell wall are planarized and a perforated facing sheet is thermal compression bonded to the lower extremities of each cell wall. The planarized extremities and the facing sheet maintain and retain the cells of the honeycomb core in their expanded configuration so that the core can anisotropically flex to stabilize and spread the load exerted by a user of the mattress pad.
Abstract: An improved anatomical support apparatus including an upper substrate engagable with a body surface of a user, and a support substrate attached to the upper substrate. The upper substrate having a first honeycomb core formed of undulated strips of resilient thermoplastic material, thermal compression bonded together to form cell walls defining a plurality of contiguous regularly shaped cells. Each of the cell walls having an upper extremity and a lower extremity. Each upper and lower extremity of the first core forming either a planar or a contoured surface. The upper substrate further includes means for maintaining the first core in its expanded configuration. A stack having at least one support substrate attached to either the upper or the lower extremity of the first core. A support substrate including a second honeycomb core formed of undulated strips of resilient thermoplastic material, thermal compression bonded together to form cell walls defining a plurality of contiguous regularly shaped cells.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 22, 1994
Date of Patent:
April 8, 1997
Assignee:
Supracor Systems Corporation
Inventors:
Curtis L. Landi, Susan L. Wilson, Peter M. Cazalet