Climate-controlled topper member for beds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11020298-B2
Application number	US-202017083655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2020
Priority date	Aug 31, 2009
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

According to certain arrangements, a conditioner mat for use with a bed assembly includes an upper layer comprising a plurality of openings, a lower layer being substantially fluid impermeable, at least one interior chamber defined by the upper layer and the lower layer and a spacer material positioned within the interior chamber. In one embodiment, the spacer material is configured to maintain a shape of the interior chamber and to help with the passage of fluids within a portion of interior chamber. The conditioner mat can be configured to releasably secure to a top of a bed assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conditioner mat for use with a bed assembly, comprising:
an upper layer that is fluid impermeable;
a lower layer that is fluid impermeable and is partially attached to the upper layer;
a plurality of fluid passages that are defined between the upper layer and the lower layer and define predetermined routes of fluid within the mat;
at least one inlet that is in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid passages;
a fluid delivery module configured to condition the fluid and deliver the fluid to the mat;
a plurality of conduits, each conduit having a first end that is fluidly connected to an outlet of the fluid delivery module and a second end that is fluid connected to the at least one inlet; and
at least one fluid boundary defined by the upper layer and the lower layer that are partially attached to each other, wherein the at least one fluid boundary separates the plurality of fluid passages from each other and blocks fluid flow between the plurality of fluid passages,
wherein the plurality of fluid passages includes at least a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage,
the mat further comprising:
at least one non-fluid zone that blocks fluid flow between the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage in the mat such that fluid flow is substantially prevented between the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage, wherein the non-fluid zone includes a first edge adjacent the first fluid passage, and a second edge adjacent the second fluid passage, the second edge being spaced apart from the first edge.

2. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid boundary is positioned generally away from a periphery of the mat.

3. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid boundary extends along one or more portions of the mat to define predetermined routes of the plurality of fluid passages.

4. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the upper layer is attached to the lower layer using at least one of adhesive, hot melting, crimping, stitching, or bonding.

5. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the upper layer is connected to the lower layer as a unitary sheet.

6. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the upper layer and the lower layer include plastic.

7. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the mat has a flexible configuration.

8. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one fluid zone that is defined by the plurality of fluid passages.

9. The conditioner mat of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of fluid passages are configured to direct fluid to the at least one fluid zone.

10. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of fittings mounted to the at least one inlet and each configured to fluidly connect to the second end of each of the plurality of conduits.

11. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery module includes a thermoelectric device configured to selectively heat or cool the fluid that is delivered to the mat.

12. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery module includes a cooling device configured to cool the fluid that is delivered to the mat, and a heating device configured to heat the fluid that is delivered to the mat.

13. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor and an occupant detection sensor.

14. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a comfort layer that is disposed on the upper layer.

15. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid boundary are defined between the upper layer and the lower layer that are made of plastic and partially attached to each other as a flexible unitary layer, and
wherein the at least one fluid boundary extends along one or more portions of the mat to define predetermined routes of the plurality of fluid passages, and
wherein the fluid delivery module includes a thermoelectric device configured to selectively heat or cool the fluid that is delivered to the mat,
the conditioner mat further comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature associated with the fluid;
an occupant detection sensor configured to detect presence of an occupant on the mat; and
a plurality of fittings mounted to the at least one inlet and each configured to fluidly connect to the second end of each of the plurality of conduits.

16. The conditioner mat of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid passage is routed in a first zone configured to support a first person, and the second fluid passage is routed in a second zone configured to support a second person.

17. The conditioner mat of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of conduits includes a first conduit and a second conduit,
the mat further comprising:
a single fluid box that includes the fluid delivery module, the fluid delivery module configured to supply a first conditioned fluid to the first zone thought the first conduit, and supply a second conditioned fluid to the second zone through the second conduit, the second conditioned fluid being different in temperature from the first conditioned fluid,

wherein the fluid delivery module includes a first thermoelectric device configured to cool or heat the first fluid, and a second thermoelectric device configured to cool or heat the second fluid.

18. The conditioner mat of claim 17 , wherein the single fluid box includes a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the first conditioned fluid, and a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the second conditioned fluid.

19. A bed system comprising:
at least one support layer; and
a conditioner mat disposed on the at least one support layer and comprising:
an upper layer that is fluid impermeable;
a lower layer that is fluid impermeable and is partially attached to the upper layer;
a plurality of fluid passages that are defined between the upper layer and the lower layer and define predetermined routes of fluid within the mat;
at least one inlet that is in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid passages;
at least one fluid boundary defined by the upper layer and the lower layer that are partially attached to each other, wherein the at least one fluid boundary separates the plurality of fluid passages from each other and blocks fluid flow between the plurality of fluid passages,
a fluid delivery module configured to condition the fluid and deliver the fluid to the mat; and
a plurality of conduits, each conduit having a first end that is fluidly connected to an outlet of the fluid delivery module and a second end that is fluid connected to the at least one inlet,
wherein the plurality of fluid passages includes at least a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage,
the mat further comprising:
at least one non-fluid zone that blocks fluid flow between the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage in the mat such that fluid flow is substantially prevented between the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage, wherein the non-fluid zone includes a first edge adjacent the first fluid passage, and a second edge adjacent the second fluid passage, the second edge being spaced apart from the first edge.

20. The bed system of claim 19 , wherein the support member includes at least one of a mattress, a pad, or a cushion.

21. The bed system of claim 19 , wherein the support member includes at least one of foam, viscoelastic, air chambers, gel, or springs.

22. Th

Assignees

• Sleep Number Corp

Inventors

• Brykalski Michael J
• Marquette David
• Terech John
• Vidojevski Robert

Classifications

• A47C21/044 Primary

  with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps · CPC title

• A61G7/05769

  with inflatable chambers · CPC title

• A61G2203/46

  for temperature · CPC title

• A61G7/05784

  with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators · CPC title

• A61G7/057 Primary

  Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor {(ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08)} · CPC title