Abstract: A damped waterbed mattress includes an envelope or bladder made of vinyl or other flexible, nonporous elastomeric material and which contains a plurality of modular internal "cells" that are in intentionally restricted fluid communication with one another. These cells are themselves partitioned into at least an inner and an outer chamber that are, likewise, in restricted or metered fluid communication with each other. The top of each cell preferably includes a lighter-than-water portion, such as a small sheet of foam, while the bottom of each cell preferably includes a heavier portion, such as a heavier gauge of vinyl. Thus the cells, along with the chambers contained therein, are filled with water upon the filling of the waterbed proper, and are maintained in their filled and expanded state by virtue of the positive buoyancy of their top surfaces and the more negative buoyancy of their bottom surfaces.

Abstract: A damped waterbed mattress includes an envelope or bladder made of vinyl or other flexible, nonporous elastomeric material and which contains a plurality of modular internal "cells" that are in intentionally restricted fluid communication with one another. These cells are themselves partitioned into at least an inner and an outer chamber that are, likewise, in restricted or metered fluid communication with each other. The top of each cell preferably includes a lighter-than-water portion, such as a small sheet of foam, while the bottom of each cell preferably includes a heavier portion, such as a heavier gauge of vinyl. Thus the cells, along with the chambers contained therein, are filled with water upon the filling of the waterbed proper, and are maintained in their filled and expanded state by virtue of the positive buoyancy of their top surfaces and the more negative buoyancy of their bottom surfaces.