According to the present invention, in a plan view of a seat surface (10a), a plane area of a part surrounded by an inner edge (17a) of a rear part (17) in a left-right direction (X) and a contour (L) is larger than a plane area of a part sandwiched by an inner edge (18a) of a front part (18) in the left-right direction (X) and the contour (L) in the left-right direction (X). In addition, a part of a pair of left and right second synthetic resin materials forming a lower part having a maximum gap therebetween in the left-right direction (X) is positioned in a thigh rest part (14) and a part having a minimum gap is positioned in a hip rest part (15), and a maximum value (W1) of the gap between the pair of left and right second synthetic resin materials forming the lower part in the left-right direction (X) is two times or more a minimum value (W2) of the gap in the left-right direction (X).

A patient support apparatus is provided with selective stiffening features. The patient support apparatus may include a support substrate defining a patient support surface. The support substrate may include a magnetorheological material providing selective reinforcement support of at least a portion of the patient support surface to redistribute pressure about a surface of a patient. The magnetorheological material may include a distribution of ferromagnetic particles disposed within a polymeric material and exhibits a shape conforming, variable stiffness in response to exposure to a magnetic field. A controller may be provided and configured to create a correlation of patient specific data with an optimal stiffness or inflection force deflection (IFD) of the patient support surface, and generate a strength of the magnetic field based on the correlation.

A patient support apparatus is provided with selective stiffening features. The patient support apparatus may include a support substrate defining a patient support surface. The support substrate may include a magnetorheological material providing selective reinforcement support of at least a portion of the patient support surface to redistribute pressure about a surface of a patient. The magnetorheological material may include a distribution of ferromagnetic particles disposed within a polymeric material and exhibits a shape conforming, variable stiffness in response to exposure to a magnetic field. A controller may be provided and configured to create a correlation of patient specific data with an optimal stiffness or inflection force deflection (IFD) of the patient support surface, and generate a strength of the magnetic field based on the correlation.

An internal support system for a cushion, mattress or the like, for supporting the body of a user, the internal support system including: a main portion having a body facing side that substantially opposes a base side; and a support portion located at least partly within the main portion, the support portion including a core portion and at least one peripheral portion which extends laterally from the core portion, wherein the height of the core portion is greater than the height of the at least one peripheral portion, the height being that as determined in the direction from the base side to the body facing side of the main portion, wherein the support portion is more resistant to deformation than the main portion.

An internal support system for a cushion, mattress or the like, for supporting the body of a user, the internal support system including: a main portion having a body facing side that substantially opposes a base side; and a support portion located at least partly within the main portion, the support portion including a core portion and at least one peripheral portion which extends laterally from the core portion, wherein the height of the core portion is greater than the height of the at least one peripheral portion, the height being that as determined in the direction from the base side to the body facing side of the main portion, wherein the support portion is more resistant to deformation than the main portion.

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.

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.

An electric motor driven adjustable mattress has a shared casing in which at least one flat cushion element of a cushion structure and an electric motor driven adjustable support apparatus for supporting the cushion element are accommodated. The support apparatus has two support parts that are adjustable relative to one another, and that on their sides facing the cushion element are provided with spring elements for elastically resiliently supporting the cushion element. For adjusting the support parts relative to one another, an electric motor driven drive apparatus is accommodated in the shared casing.

An electric motor driven adjustable mattress has a shared casing in which at least one flat cushion element of a cushion structure and an electric motor driven adjustable support apparatus for supporting the cushion element are accommodated. The support apparatus has two support parts that are adjustable relative to one another, and that on their sides facing the cushion element are provided with spring elements for elastically resiliently supporting the cushion element. For adjusting the support parts relative to one another, an electric motor driven drive apparatus is accommodated in the shared casing.

An apparatus and method are provided for a sofa seat cushion comprising a cushion core including a multiplicity of pocketed springs enclosed within an upholstery foam envelope. The pocketed springs are positioned side by side in a spring layer arrangement and are independently operable. A memory foam layer positioned above the upholstery foam envelope comprises a material capable of molding to a person's body sitting on the sofa seat cushion and then quickly returning to an original shape once the person leaves the sofa seat cushion. The memory foam layer comprises a gel-infused visco-elastic memory foam with a polyethylene terephthalate layer positioned there above. Directly below the upholstery foam envelope is an upholstery-grade polyurethane foam layer with a polyethylene terephthalate layer positioned directly thereunder. An exterior upholstery surrounding the cushion core provides a plush seating surface.