| We've all seen the ads, and the hype, about memory | | | | ability to recover gradually from body impressions, |
| foam and other types of foam bedding products. | | | | and more 'cradling' and 'cushioning' of body contours. |
| But, how much of this is simply Brand Name | | | | And, if you ever doubted that little bit of 'sinking into |
| positioning and attempts to capture the bedding | | | | the foam', be aware that the additional contact of |
| market? And, when you throw in proprietary and | | | | the foam with more square inches of body surface |
| patented formulations, well, that is what makes brand | | | | results in greater distribution of body weight, and |
| names and creates a lot of options. | | | | reduction of troublesome 'pressure points'. |
| Most synthetic bedding foams are basically | | | | In terms of the 'feel' of one specific brand of foam, |
| polyurethane-based foams of either an open or | | | | combined with its perceived support and hardness, |
| closed cell structure, produced from and with the aid | | | | this is the domain of specific brands and models of |
| of, other chemicals. Proprietary brand name foams | | | | foam. US foam manufacturers such as Foamex and |
| favorably adjust the qualities of the foam by adding | | | | Carpenter actually manufacture a variety of foam |
| specific agents, and both the formulation and the | | | | types (models) in a range of densities, while for |
| specifically created features become identified with | | | | many years the Swedish brand held fast to their |
| the brand name. Of course, the owners of these | | | | flagship formulation. |
| patents jealously protect both their name and what it | | | | And, what about all the claims and testimonials to the |
| represents in terms of products and quality. | | | | benefits of sleeping on memory foam? While |
| Although durable closed-cell polyurethane foam was | | | | memory foam is a great thing and does help many |
| apparently a German creation during wartime, | | | | people find better and more comfortable sleep, it is |
| open-cell or 'memory' foam was originally developed | | | | very important to understand that you really |
| by NASA scientists in the United States. That original | | | | shouldn't be expecting these products to solve all of |
| formulation was further improved upon, initially, by a | | | | your health and sleep issues. There are times when |
| Swedish company now known as Tempur-Pedic, | | | | you should see a doctor, a chiropractor, or seek to |
| which also patented their formulation. First used | | | | address the actual cause of your particular issue from |
| commercially as a medical aid for certain difficult | | | | another angle. And, perhaps to do both at the same |
| cases, this company later spearheaded the retail sale | | | | time! |
| of memory foam bedding to households around the | | | | If you happen to be one of those chemically |
| world. | | | | sensitive individuals or an environmentalist, you might |
| Nowadays, high quality memory foam is also | | | | be more interested in natural (non-synthetic) foams |
| manufactured by numerous reputable companies in | | | | such as Green Latex and Reflex Natural. Among |
| the United States and around the world. And, with its | | | | other things, Natural or Green Latex is naturally |
| broad appeal in the marketplace, it's no wonder the | | | | hypoallergenic, anti-microbial, and dust and mite |
| Chinese have been working to take on the market | | | | resistant. On the other hand, the term 'Talalay Latex', |
| by improving their products and offering them at | | | | while it actually refers to the process for creating |
| prices American companies can't match. | | | | spongy latex foam, is frequently also used to refer |
| Taken as a class, all memory foams have certain | | | | to a hybrid blend of both natural and synthetic |
| common and very desirable features. Specifically, the | | | | foams. We'll talk more in another article. |