Bed with foot warming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021289947-A1
Application number	US-202017091094-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 6, 2020
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Sep 23, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bed can include a mattress and a foot warming system. The mattress can include a mattress cover and a support structure that is positioned under and covered by the mattress cover. The foot warming system can include a heating unit an envelope, a power source, and an electrical connector electrically connecting the heating unit to the power source. The heating unit can be positioned inside the envelope between the envelope top and the envelope bottom. The heating unit and the envelope can be positioned at a foot of the bed under mattress cover between the support structure and the mattress cover.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . A bed system comprising:
a mattress cover; a first layer having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the top surface covered by the mattress cover, the first layer configured to permit airflow through the first layer; a heating unit between the top surface of the first layer and the mattress cover, the heating unit being electrically controlled to increase a temperature at the foot portion of the bed system; an air distribution pad positioned below the bottom surface of the first layer and configured to permit airflow therethrough; and an air controller configured to move air through the air distribution pad to thereby control a temperature at a portion of the top surface of the first layer that corresponds to the air distribution pad.

3 . The bed system of claim 2 , wherein the heating unit is positioned at a foot portion of the bed system, and the air distribution pad is positioned closer to a head portion of the bed system than the heating unit.

4 . The bed system of claim 3 , wherein the heating unit is configured to increase the temperature at the foot portion of the bed system while the air distribution pad is configured to decrease a temperature at a portion of the bed system that corresponds to the air distribution pad.

5 . The bed system of claim 3 , wherein the air controller is configured to draw ambient air from the air distribution pad to decrease a temperature at a portion of the bed system that corresponds to the air distribution pad, while the heating unit is configured to increase the temperature at the foot portion of the bed system.

6 . The bed system of claim 3 , wherein the air controller is configured to supply ambient air to the air distribution pad to decrease a temperature at a portion of the bed system that corresponds to the air distribution pad, while the heating unit is configured to increase the temperature at the foot portion of the bed system.

7 . The bed system of claim 6 , wherein the air controller is configured to heat or cool the ambient air.

8 . The bed system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a power source configured to supply electrical power to the heating unit; and a controller configured to:
selectively power the heating unit to generate heat;
monitor a sleeping routine of a user over multiple days via one or more sensors to determine a learned sleep schedule; and
drive the heating unit to heat the foot portion of the bed system as a function of the learned sleep schedule.

9 . The bed system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a power source configured to supply electrical power to the heating unit; and a controller configured to:
selectively power the heating unit to generate heat;
determine whether a user is asleep as a function of sensed data; and
drive the heating unit as a function of whether the user is determined to be asleep.

10 . The bed system of claim 9 , wherein the sensed data comprises at least one of sleep tracking data and user entering and leaving the bed data.

11 . The bed system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a power source configured to supply electrical power to the heating unit; and a controller configured to:
selectively power the heating unit to generate heat,
determine an expected bed time for a user of the bed, and
drive the heating unit to heat a foot portion of the bed system to reach a target temperature prior to the expected bed time.

12 . The bed system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to detect the user laying on the bed system, wherein the sensor is in communication with the controller and wherein the controller is further configured to reduce power to the heating unit upon the sensor detecting the user laying on the mattress.

13 . A bed comprising:
a mattress comprising:
a mattress cover;
a support structure that is positioned under and covered by the mattress cover, wherein the support structure of the mattress comprises a first air chamber sized for supporting a first user, a second air chamber sized for supporting a second user, and a foam layer positioned above the first and second chambers; and
a foot warming system, wherein the foot warming system comprises:
a first heating unit positioned at a foot portion of the mattress between the support structure and the mattress cover, the first heating unit connected to the foam layer above the first air chamber;
a second heating unit positioned at the foot portion of the mattress between the support structure and the mattress cover, the second heating unit connected to the foam layer above the second air chamber;
a power source; and
electrical connectors electrically connecting the first heating unit and the second heating unit to the power source.

14 . The bed of claim 13 , further comprising:
an air distribution pad disposed in the support structure under the mattress cover and configured to permit airflow therethrough; and an air controller configured to move air through the air distribution pad to control a temperature at a portion of the support structure that corresponds to the air distribution pad.

15 . The bed of claim 13 , wherein the heating unit comprises a flexible layer of electrically conductive fabric.

16 . The bed of claim 15 , wherein the flexible layer of electrically conductive fabric allows the heating unit to be compressed within an envelope having an envelope top and an envelope bottom, wherein the heating unit is positioned inside the envelope between the envelope top and the envelope bottom, and wherein the heating unit and the envelope are positioned at the foot of the mattress under the mattress cover.

17 . The bed of claim 16 , wherein the heating unit is configured to lay flat within the envelope.

18 . The bed of claim 15 , wherein the heating unit is attached to the foam layer via the envelope having a first envelope opening, wherein the heating unit is removable through the first envelope opening.

19 . The bed of claim 13 , wherein the heating unit comprises a plurality of fabric heating elements spaced apart at specified gaps.

20 . The bed of claim 19 , wherein the specified gaps are between 0.2 and 0.7 inches.

21 . The bed of claim 13 , wherein the support structure defines a pathway through which the electrical connectors extend between the heating unit and the power source.

Assignees

• Sleep Number Corp

Inventors

• Karschnik Kody Lee
• Sayadi Omid
• Palashewski Wade Daniel
• Demirli Ramazan
• Rose Eric
• Chhaparwal Saurabh

Classifications

• A61G7/05 Primary

  Parts, details or accessories of beds (devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 {; mattresses A47C27/00}) · CPC title

• A47C31/008

  Use of remote controls · CPC title

• A61G2210/90

  for heating · CPC title

• A47C31/001

  Fireproof means · CPC title

• A47C27/002

  Mattress or cushion tickings or covers · CPC title