Patent ID: 6854143

Claim:
A permeable mattress that is permeable to air and liquids, the permeable mattress including: a substantially rigid base, the base incorporating substantially rigid cross members, the base including holes in the areas between the cross members to permit the flow of air and liquids through the base; cushioning supports attached to various cross members of the base, the cushioning supports being attached to and supported by the base in a distributed manner; a flexible mesh which overlays all of the cushioning supports, the mesh being permeable to air and liquids, the mesh being held in association with each of the cushioning supports by being attached to numerous cushioning supports, the top surface of the mesh also being held away from and above the base such that any point on the top surface of the mesh can move vertically independently of the base, and the mesh being composed of a material that does not absorb water; and whereby, the permeable mattress provides adequate support to at least one person and the load of a person lying on the mattress is distributed over numerous cushioning supports, and, the mesh and cushioning support interfaces are structured such that air or liquids are riot trapped at the interfaces.