Abstract: A mattress cover assembly for use with a zoned posturized mattress includes a cover with a stretchable top panel and a topper pad, lying generally loosely on the cover top panel. The mattress cover and topper pad are constructed so as to permit the direct application of and distribution of pressure from atop the mattress through the covering topper pad and cover and into the resilient mattress core without significant distortion of that pressure or weight and particularly without distortion which is not only caused by hammocking of the cover fabric or covering pad.

Abstract: A zoned posturized mattress which is longitudinally zoned to have at least three, and preferably four, zones of differing resistance to vertical deflection over the surface of the mattress comprises a resilient mattress core and a unique mattress cover. The mattress cover includes a covering topper pad so constructed as to permit the direct application of and distribution of pressure from atop the mattress through the covering topper pad and into the resilient core without significant distortion of that pressure or weight and particularly without distortion which is normally caused by hammocking of the fabric or covering pad.

Abstract: A modular bedding system which comprises a rigid non-resilient platform having depressions formed in the top surface thereof for the reception of resilient cushions, and a relatively thin mattress supported atop that platform and the cushions. In one preferred embodiment, there is a depression and one cushion located beneath the shoulders of a person reclining atop the mattress of the bedding system and a second cushion located beneath the hips of a person reclining atop the system. In another preferred embodiment, there is a single cushion located in a single depression of the bed but the cushion extends beneath the shoulders to beneath the hips of a person reclining atop the mattress and has a zone of increased firmness located beneath the waist of that person.

Abstract: A method of maintaining spinal alignment of a person reclining atop an air mattress which has a plurality of isolated zones along the length of the mattress inflatable to different preset pressures, which method comprises filling each zone of the mattress with air at a predetermined initial prefill pressure and then locating a person in a reclining position atop the mattress so as to cause the pressure in the individual zones of the mattress to change to the preset pressures previously established as appropriate to achieve spinal alignment of the person reclining atop the mattress.

Abstract: A clinical bed system for monitoring and recording movements of a person while reclining or sleeping on a bed of the system. The bed includes an air mattress having multiple isolated air-filled zones. Attached to each of these zones is a pressure-responsive readout device which is operative to read out and record pressure changes resulting from movement of a person reclining on the air mattress.