A spinal immobilization device including a base member and a spinal support member configured to overlay the base member. The base member includes an elongate board having a curvate top surface, a plurality of openings surrounding at least a portion of the elongate board, and a channel defined within the top surface. The spinal support member may include a bladder, a valve controlling passage of fluid into the bladder, and a plurality of fluid absorbing members within the bladder. The channel defines an impression within the top surface that matches a shape of a portion of the bladder.

Provided is a cushion including a pad, an envelope, and a support pad set. The pad has a sunken portion. The envelope is disposed on the pad. The envelope has a pocket-shaped body. A plurality of coupling portions is disposed at edges of the body. The support pad set includes an upper foam pad, a lower foam pad, and a soft gel pad. The support pad set is disposed in the body of the envelope.

A support element, for example a plate, a mattress, a pillow, a seating plane of a chair, of an armchair, a saddle for vehicles and the like, equipped with a resting surface for a user, includes at least one first layer in gel associated with at least one second layer of different material; such a first layer in gel and such a second layer, that are associated, are crossed by through openings that are suitable for the proper circulation of air from one side to the other of the support element, so as to allow the optimal transpiration and thermal regulation of the parts of the body of the user positioned resting on the support element itself.

A waterbed system for placement on a ground surface can comprise one or more of the following components: a waterbed mattress, a foam structure around the periphery of the mattress, a platform below the mattress and the foam periphery for supporting the waterbed mattress and the foam structure, a foundation coupled to and extending downwardly from the platform, preferably a single, fire resistant polyester fiber baffle disposed within the waterbed mattress, a cover over the top surface of the mattress and around the outer surface of the foam structure, a water proof liner below the bottom surface of the mattress, a water bed heater under the liner between the liner and the upper surface of the platform, a layer of fiberglass insulation attached to the lower surface of the platform, and an accessory storage container coupled to the foundation.

Provided is a cushion including a pad, an envelope, and a support pad set. The pad has a sunken portion. The envelope is disposed on the pad. The envelope has a pocket-shaped body. A plurality of coupling portions is disposed at edges of the body. The support pad set includes an upper foam pad, a lower foam pad, and a soft gel pad. The support pad set is disposed in the body of the envelope.

A posturized comfort layer for a bedding or seating product has different sections of different firmness due to different mini coil springs within the sections. The springs may be individually pocketed between two sheets of non-woven polypropylene fabric joined with circular or rectangular weld seams. Regardless of the shape of the weld seams, the different firmness of the different sections of the comfort layer may be due to different mini coil springs contained in the pockets. All pockets may have the same spring, the springs may be contained in different size weld seams to create pockets of different heights.

A spinal immobilization device including a base member and a spiral support member configured to overlay the base member. The base member includes an elongate board having a curvate top surface, a plurality of openings surrounding at least a portion of the elongate board, and a channel defined within the top surface. The spiral support member may include a bladder, a valve controlling passage of fluid into the bladder, and a plurality of fluid absorbing members within the bladder. The channel defines an impression within the top surface that matches a shape of a portion of the bladder.

A method for packaging a cushion includes coating a cushioning element with a powder while the cushioning element is in an expanded state and then compressing the cushion to a compressed state. As the cushioning element is compressed, the powder prevents surfaces of the cushioning element (e.g., surfaces of intersecting walls that define hollow buckling columns of a cushioning element formed from an elastomeric polymer extended with a plasticizer, etc.) from adhering to each other. The powder may allow the cushioning element to substantially return to its expanded state substantially immediately following removal of a compressive force from the cushioning element.

Variable stiffness apparatuses using an interconnected dual layer fluid-filled cell array. One example of the present apparatuses comprises: a substrate having a first side and a second side; and a plurality of structures coupled to the substrate, where each structure comprises: a flexible first portion having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, the first portion defining a first chamber; and a second portion having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, the second portion defining a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber; where each of the plurality of structures is coupled to the substrate such that the first portion is disposed on the first side of the substrate, and the second chamber is disposed on the first side or the second side of the substrate.

Provided is a cushion set including a pad, a filling pad, an envelope, and a support pad set. The pad has a first-tier sunken portion and a second-tier sunken portion. The filling pad is disposed in the second-tier sunken portion. The envelope is disposed on the pad. The envelope has a pocket-shaped body. A plurality of coupling portions is disposed at edges of the body. The support pad set includes an upper foam pad, a lower foam pad, and a soft gel pad. The support pad set is disposed in the body of the envelope. The soft gel pad corresponds in position to the filling pad of the second-tier sunken portion of the pad.