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A foam core cushion mattress assembly provides semi-independent foam pillars on the upper surface of the mattress. The mattress may be unitary, or comprise multiple cushioning components, possibly base, body support and foot cushions. The body support cushion is constructed from a flat, rectangular

A foam core cushion mattress assembly provides semi-independent foam pillars on the upper surface of the mattress. The mattress may be unitary, or comprise multiple cushioning components, possibly base, body support and foot cushions. The body support cushion is constructed from a flat, rectangular solid, foam element whose upper surface is cut into an array of rectangular solid pillars, preferably by a hot wire cutting method. The array of rectangular solid pillars is grouped into a central array comprising pillars with generally square top surfaces and edge rows of rectangular solid pillars having rectangular top surfaces. The depth of the hot wire cuts into the surface of the body support cushion is preferably approximately one-half the overall thickness of the body support cushion or approximately three fourths of the length of the shortest face of the pillar. A zippered fabric cover removeably envelops the assembled cushioning components. The resultant structure defines a plurality of semi-independently compressible pillars that support a reclining, or supine patient. The pillars may also be cut into the top and bottom surfaces of the cushion for enhanced pressure relieving effects. Methods of manufacture, and treatment and alleviation of decubitus ulcer formation are also presented.

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1. A cushioning mattress comprising:a cushioning base, a body cushion attached thereto in partial registry therewith, so that the body cushion comprises the majority of the top of the mattress, said body cushion is in registry with the top edge and side edges of said base, a foot cushion insert atta

1. A cushioning mattress comprising:a cushioning base, a body cushion attached thereto in partial registry therewith, so that the body cushion comprises the majority of the top of the mattress, said body cushion is in registry with the top edge and side edges of said base, a foot cushion insert attached to both said base and said body cushion, said foot cushion insert being in registry with the bottom of said base and the side edges thereof, said cushioning base, said body cushion and said foot cushion insert being secured to one another in an assembly so as to maintain relative registry; and said cushioning base, said body cushion and said foot cushion insert being secured within an enveloping cushion, wherein a plurality of slots in at least a portion of an upper surface of said body cushion create a plurality of pressure relieving partially independent pillars, a quantity of said pillars having generally square top surfaces. 2. A mattress according to claim 1 wherein said pillars comprise edge pillars and central pillars.3. A mattress according to claim 2 wherein said edge pillars are arranged in a single row adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of said body cushion.4. A mattress according to claim 2 wherein said central pillars are in a systematic arrangement.5. A mattress according to claim 2 wherein said central pillars are substantially square.6. A method of alleviating or preventing decubitis ulcer formation comprising placing an individual confined to a bed on a mattress assembly comprising a cushioning base, a body cushion attached thereto in partial registry therewith, a foot cushion insert attached to both said base and said body cushion, so that said body cushion comprises the majority of the top of said mattress, said body cushion is in registry with the top edge and side edges of said base, said foot cushion insert both abuts said body cushion and is in registry with the bottom of said base and the side edges thereof; said cushioning base, said body cushion and said foot cushion insert are secured to one another in an assembly so as to maintain relative registry; and said assembly is secured with an enveloping cushion, wherein a plurality of slots in said body cushion create a plurality of pressure relieving partially independent pillars.7. A method of manufacturing a mattress comprising using hot wires to cut a plurality of slots in said mattress thereby creating semi-independent pillars,wherein said mattress comprises a cushioning base, a body cushion attached thereto in partial registry therewith, a foot cushion insert attached to both said base and said body cushion, so that said body cushion comprises the majority of the top of said mattress, said body cushion is in registry with the top edge and the side edges of said base, said foot cushion insert both abuts said body cushion and is in registry with the bottom of said base and the side edges thereof; said cushioning base, said body cushion and said foot cushion insert are secured to one another in an assembly so as to maintain relative registry; and said assembly is secured within an enveloping cushion, wherein a plurality of slots in said body cushion create a plurality of pressure relieving partially independent pillars. 8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said hot wires are formed in an array.9. A method according to claim 7 wherein said body cushion is subjected to significant lateral compression during the slot cutting process.10. A cushioning mattress comprising:cushioning base, a body cushion attached thereto in partial registry therewith, so that the body cushion comprises the majority of the top of said mattress, said body cushion is in registry with the top edge and side edges of said base, a foot cushion insert attached to both said base and said body cushion, said foot cushion insert being in registry with the bottom of said base and the side edges thereof, said cushioning base, said body cushion and said foot cushion insert being secured to one another in an assembly so as to maintain relative registry; and said cushioning base, said body cushion and said foot cushion insert being secured within an enveloping cushion, wherein a plurality of slots in said body cushion create a plurality of pressure relieving partially independent pillars cut into the top and bottom surfaces of said body cushion. 11. A cushioning mattress assembly comprising:a base layer of cushioning material, a body support layer of cushioning material in partial registry with the base layer, a foot cushion in partial registry with the base layer, the base layer having a density greater than the density of the body support layer, and the body support layer having a density greater than the foot cushion. 12. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 11, where the body support layer has a plurality of semi-independent foam pillars thereon.13. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 11, further comprising a removable zipped fabric cover that envelopes the base layer, the body support layer, and the foot cushion.14. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 11, where the foot cushion insert has a top surface that inclines from a horizontal edge of the base layer up to a horizontal edge of the body support layer.15. A cushioning mattress assembly comprising:a base layer of cushioning material, a body support layer of cushioning material in partial registry with the base layer, a foot cushion in partial registry with the base layer, the base layer having an indention force deflection greater than the indention force deflection of the body support layer, and the body support layer having an indention force deflection greater than the foot cushion. 16. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 15, where the body support layer has a plurality of semi-independent foam pillars thereon.17. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 15, further comprising a removable zipped fabric cover that envelopes the base layer, the body support layer, and the foot cushion.18. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 15, where the foot cushion insert has a top surface that inclines from a horizontal edge of the base layer up to a horizontal edge of the body support layer.19. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 15, where the indention force deflection of the foot cushion insert is approximately ten pounds.20. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 15, where the indention force deflection of the body support layer is approximately twenty-one pounds.21. The cushioning mattress assembly of claim 15, where the indention force deflection of the foot cushion insert is approximately thirty-three pounds.