Patent ID: 7937791
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
1. A mattress, comprising: a non-rigid base having a head end configured to support a person's head, a foot end longitudinally spaced from the head end and configured to support a person's feet, a first side, and a second side laterally spaced from the first side, a single layer of spaced-apart vertically-oriented inflatable bladders supported by the base, arranged into columns extending along the length of the base and arranged into rows extending from the first side to the second side of the base, each bladder comprising a bottom end, a vertical portion extending upwardly from the base and a top end supported substantially by the vertical portion, each bladder being fixed at only one of the top and bottom ends, a first grouping of rows and columns comprising bladders all being of substantially the same height, and a second grouping of rows and columns comprising bladders all being of substantially the same height, the bladders being spaced from each other by an unfilled region, a support layer located above the plurality of vertically-oriented inflatable bladders, the support layer including an air permeable three-dimensional material configured to provide cushioning for a patient positioned on the mattress and circulate air underneath the patient positioned on the mattress, and a moisture/vapor permeable material included in the support layer, wherein the foot end includes a height that is shorter than a height of the head end.