1. A cushioning device comprising:
a flexible container,
a plurality of polymeric beads within the flexible container which flows under a slight force and shears easily,
the cushioning device capable of receiving a physical object that applies a force to the cushioning device, when the force is initially applied to the cushioning device, the cushioning device is deformed to conform to the physical object from its original shape and when the physical object is not applying the force, the cushioning device reverts to a shape that is close to but not identical to the original shape;
wherein pressure exerted by the cushioning device on the physical object will reduce pressure that would cause tissue damage and lead to decubitus ulcers.
2. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the polymeric beads have a lubricant thereon.
3. The cushioning device of claim 2 wherein the lubricant is an inert viscous material.
4. The cushioning device of claim 3 wherein the inert viscous material is a silicone-based material or a natural oil.
5. The cushioning device of claim 4 wherein the silicone based material is polydimethylsiloxane.
6. The cushioning device of claim 4 wherein the natural oil is olive oil.
7. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the polymeric beads have a slip material.
8. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the polymeric beads have a predetermined viscosity.
9. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the flexible container has a resilient member attached to at least two points in the interior or exterior of the flexible container.
10. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the flexible container is attached to a resilient member.
11. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the flexible container overlies a portion of a second cushioning device.
12. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the flexible container is adjacent to a second cushioning device.
13. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the cushioning device has at least one interior surface within the flexible container to form at least two compartments within the flexible container.
14. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the cushioning device further comprises foam.
15. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the cushioning device further comprises a fluid.
16. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the cushioning device further comprises fiber fill to control the suspension of the polymeric beads.
17. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the polymeric bead is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polystyrene, and combinations thereof.
18. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the polymeric bead can have any shape.
19. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the flexible container is trapezoidal in shape.
20. The cushioning device of claim 1 wherein the cushioning device is a bladder used in or on a mattress system.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A surface conditioner, containing zinc phosphate particles and having a pH of 3 to 12, wherein
said zinc phosphate particles have D50 of 3 \u03bcm or less,
said surface conditioner contains a carboxylate group-containing copolymer and hectorite, and
said carboxylate group-containing copolymer is obtained by polymerizing a monomer composition containing acrylic acid in an amount less than 50% by weight, and a sulfonic acid monomer in a total amount more than 50% by weight.
2. The surface conditioner of claim 1, containing zinc phosphate particles and having a pH of 3 to 12, wherein
said zinc phosphate particles have D50 of 3 \u03bcm or less,
said surface conditioner contains a carboxylate group-containing copolymer and hectorite, and
said carboxylate group-containing copolymer is obtained by polymerizing a monomer composition containing acrylic acid in an amount less than 50% by weight, and at least one of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid or allyl sulfonic acid in a total amount more than 50% by weight.
3. The surface conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the hectorite is a natural hectorite andor a synthetic hectorite.
4. A method of a surface conditioning, comprising the step of bringing the surface conditioner according to claim 2 or 3 into contact with a metal surface.