ES2880337T3 - Ventilation or heating / cooling mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

An inflatable ventilation or heating/cooling mattress (10) comprising a first side (12) directed upwards, a second side (14), a pump (15) and an air inlet (18), wherein: - the first side (12) directed upwards has an air permeability of 15-800 m3/m2/h at 120 Pa, - the second side (14) is at least substantially impermeable to air, and - the pump (15) is configured to supply air to the air inlet (18), characterized in that during use, an air pressure inside the mattress (10) is 5-50 Pa.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Ventilation or heating / cooling mattress

The present invention relates to an inflatable ventilation or heating / cooling mattress for use in heating, cooling and / or ventilating a person. A main goal is to cool down a person in hot environments, such as when sleeping. Naturally, warming a person in cold environments is also a goal. Air-fed mattresses, duvets, pillows, and clothing have been proposed for many years, but have not been accepted. One reason may be the noise generated by large air flows. Another reason may be that the large air flows contemplated are in fact not comfortable.

Ventilation solutions for, for example, mattresses can be seen in: GB889865, US7945979, US6446290, US6581225, US4665575, EP0493267, US3529310, WO11091788, CA2623097, US2009271923, WO11093762, US2009276956, US105168526958, US1051685269 , AU2008200388, US6546576, GB1386249, EP1762211, US7913332, DE20313150 U1, US5730120, WO08123640, US2003150060, GB1168251, US7666214, EP1804616, GB1311461, US7165281, EP0957727, US6855158, US5392847, EP0859564, EP1723877, GB2414178, US6487739, US6687937, US6402775, US6764502, US4884304, US5033136, US6551347, US7001417, US7908687, US7631377, US7975331, GB2446572, US3101488, US2011035879, US8074307, GB965133, GB724910, US2006101577, US8065763, US3230556, EP1947986, US6269504, US6701556, US7191480, US7191482, US7480953, US7617555, US7966680, DE6927743 U , US5109560, GB2333230, DE202010017223 U1, WO02062185, US4959877, US7181786, US2007169264, CA2541341, US2012017371, US2004031103, GB2456814, US2005086739, GB2 398506, US3266064, US7877827, US7996936, US2011296611, US6363551, US7240386, US7467435, US7650658, US7950084, US7272936, US7480950, US7937789, US7914611, US8118920, EP1044637, WO12019236, US4939804, GB1321865, US2008263776, US2010043143, WO9510211, DE102009044308, EP0113149, US2012000207, US2011314837, US2011289684, US2011041246, US2008028536, US4777802, WO9633642, US6336237, DE10139484 B4, US6730115, US6826792, CN85100943, CN2090655, CN2239194, CA1272815, CN2068786, TWM392597, CN2571272, DE202005011452 U1, US2007033733, JP3186632 B2, JP7313306 A2, KR20020083648, CN2882417, CN201139285, US2009145936, JP3814987, WO2011150427, US6273810, US2013036549 and US2012024154. Other examples of known ventilation or heating / cooling elements are disclosed in US2009 / 145936A1, JP3814987B2, WO2011 / 150427A2, US6273810B1, US2013 / 036549A1, US2012 / 024154A1, US7716940B2, US6505368B1 and US4959877A.

In some high-end car brands, such as Mercedes Benz, there are seats available that have air-permeable seats through which air can be pushed to increase driver comfort.

It has been found, however, that a fairly low air flow is required to provide the desired cooling / ventilation so that a very comfortable situation is obtained. This can be achieved by using a fairly dense material or a material with a fairly low air permeability.

A first aspect of the invention refers to an inflatable ventilation, heating and / or cooling mattress comprising a first side, a second side and an air inlet, the first side having an air permeability of 15-800 m3 / m2 / h at 120 Pa. You may want the air permeability of the first side to be 15-500, such as 15-100 or 20-400, such as 25-300, such as 30-100, such as 35-70, such as 40-65 m3 / m2 / h at 120 Pa. This air permeability can be selected, also or alternatively, within the range of 20-200, or 15-600, such as 20-300 or 20-500, such as 30- 300, such as 30-100 or 30-600, such as 50-200 m3 / m2 / h at 120 Pa.

Preferably, the first and second sides are the main or primary sides of a generally flat mattress or a mattress with a thickness that is less than 0.2 times the largest dimension of the first side. Of course, the mattress may have additional sides, such as an edge portion that forms a bridge between the first and second sides. The air inlet or inlets may be provided in any position, such as at the edge portion.

Since air permeability is usually generated by localized openings, such as openings in a fabric, or is at least often not uniform over the surface, the air permeability of the first side is preferably medium air permeability. . As will be described later, it may be desirable to provide different areas on the first side of different (average) air permeability.

The air pressure inside the mattress is, according to the invention, in the range of 5-50 Pa.

The first and second sides are preferably separate first and second layers between which a cavity is provided to receive air from the inlet or inlets.

The inlet may be provided with a one-way valve if desired and / or may be provided with a connector for attachment to a hose / tube or the like.

According to the invention, the second side is at least substantially impermeable to air. Then also other parts, such as the aforementioned edge portion, can also be airtight. Generally, the "air impermeability" will preferably be an air permeability of less than 15, such as 10, 5 or less m3 / m2 / hr at 120 Pa.

When only the first side has an air permeability, air is only fed from the inlet or inlets through the first side. Therefore, no air is lost through the other side or sides and / or no energy is lost in pushing air through such other sides.

In some embodiments, it is desired to have a different air permeability of different areas of the first side. Therefore, it may be desired to provide, on the first side, one or more first areas and one or more second areas, the first and second areas not overlapping, where the first area or areas have a higher air permeability than the second. area or areas. The air permeability of each first side is an average permeability of the area defined by it.

Generally, an air-permeable surface or layer can be obtained in various ways. Currently preferred manners are woven or non-woven materials. Solid materials having holes or channels formed in them can also be used.

Interesting materials can be any type of polymer, such as polyester. You can also use cotton or a blend of cotton and a polymer. Rubber and other natural or synthetic materials can be used alone or in combination with, for example, a polymer. The permeability of the material can be generated in different ways. In a way, the surface / layer is woven or non-woven, where the inherently porous or open structure of this, such as by controlling the thickness / density of this and / or the fabric of this. Alternatively or additionally, openings, channels and / or holes may be provided in the surface / layer so that permeability is generated. The density (channels / holes / openings per unit area) can be modified, as well as a dimension, such as a diameter or cross section or middle cross section or lowest cross section (in a plane parallel to the surface / layer) of each channel / aperture / hole or channels / apertures / holes.

Combinations can be used, such as where the first and second areas comprise a woven or non-woven material and where the first areas further comprise one or more openings or channels through the material. Therefore, the second areas have the lowest air permeability and the first areas the highest permeability due to the combination of the effect of the fabric / non-woven and the channels / openings.

The size and number of openings can be adapted to achieve the desired permeability. The openings may be 0.01-1.5mm, such as 0.05-1mm, such as 0.1-0.6mm, in diameter, for example.

In one embodiment, the lowest air permeability can be 15-100, such as 20-70, such as 30-50 m3 / m2 / h at 120 Pa and the highest air permeability can be 30-150, such as 40 -100, such as 50-75 m3 / m2 / h at 120 Pa.

The first and second areas can form the entire first surface and the first areas can cover 80%, such as 40-70%, of the area of the first surface.

According to the invention, the mattress comprises a pump for supplying air to the air inlet. Naturally, sensors and the like may be provided to detect a flow, an air pressure, a temperature, a humidity and the like of the outside air or in the mattress or pump. Also, or alternatively, the mattress may be provided to control such parameters, such as a heater, a cooler, a humidifier, a dehumidifier or the like.

By providing air between the first and second sides, it is desired to maintain a relatively flat shape of the mattress, a balloon shape is not usually desired. In such situations, it is preferred that the ventilation / cooling / heating mattress comprises one or more limiting elements defining a maximum distance between a part of the first side and the second side. Preferably, such limiting elements will ensure that when the second side is flat, such as when resting on a flat surface, all parts of the first surface will extend within a threshold distance from the same flat surface. Such thickness limiting elements can be flexible, such as threads or stitches extending between the first and second sides, points or areas where the first and second sides are attached to each other, or more rigid, such as foam or other. air-permeable sheet material to which the first and second sides are attached. This bond can be on the entire first / second surface or within areas or lines thereof (such as along lines in a predetermined pattern, such as checkered, or other patterns as seen in, for example, products padded.

According to the invention, the ventilation / cooling / heating mattress is intended to be used to support a person. In this situation, all or part of the person's weight will be exerted on the mattress. In order not to block the air flow in the mattress, the mattress, in such situations, preferably comprises a spacer element provided between the first and second sides, the spacer element being configured to Allow air flow through it during a resistance exercise on it. This exercise of force can be when the force of gravity acting on 2 kg or more is exerted on an area of 10 cmx10 cm on the first surface in a direction towards the second surface.

Spacer materials of this type can be specific types of foams, usually open foams, but also a material such as the 3mesh spacer cloth from Müller Textile BmbH (http://www.mullertextiles.com/index.php?id=70 ) or Culzean Textiles Solutions 3D Spacer Fabric (http://www.culzean.com/spacer-fabric.asp). These materials provide a spacer material by having a large number of fibers distributed over the area of the spacer and extending between a lower and an upper surface, where the many fibers, to compress the spacer material, need to be bent. The amount of fibers is so high that full compression requires great force, so the spacer material will usually allow air to penetrate through it at least in most parts.

According to the invention, the ventilation / cooling / heating mattress has the first side facing upwards. Alternatively, the spacer element of the present ventilation / cooling / heating mattress may be configured to provide the desired softness of the mattress.

The mattress may comprise springs, foam, or the like to provide softness. These springs or this foam can form the spacer element. The mattress may be, additionally or alternatively, an air mattress where a high air pressure in the mattress generates softness. In that situation, a pump may be desired to maintain air pressure despite the air permeability of at least the first surface.

A last aspect refers to a method of operation or use of the mattress, where air is fed between the first surface (interior) and the second surface (exterior). This can be facilitated by using, for example, a pump as described above, and the amount of air or air pressure, or the air pressure between the first surface (inside) and the second surface (outside) can be adapted. to obtain the above pressure difference over the first (interior) surface and / or the flow (per surface and per time) described above.

Obviously, as described above, the comfort achieved with the rather low flow or permeability is higher, since no draft is felt, but merely a comfortable removal of heat / moisture, for example.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to drawings 1, 8, 9, and non-claimed items, which are not part of the present invention, are shown in drawings 2-7:

- figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention in the form of a mattress,

- figure 2 illustrates a pillow,

- figure 3 illustrates a quilt,

- figure 4 illustrates a sleeping bag,

- Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a vest,

- figure 7 illustrates the air inlet of figures 5 and 6,

- Figure 8 illustrates different ways of obtaining a gas-permeable surface and

- Figure 9 illustrates the use of a spacer material within the embodiments.

In Fig. 1, a mattress 10 is illustrated having an upper side 12 and a lower side 14, as well as a flange portion 16 in which an opening 18 is provided.

The upper side 12 is gas-permeable, while the lower side 14 and rim portion 16 are at least substantially gas-impermeable.

When air / gas is supplied into mattress 10 through opening 18, such as using a pump 15 and hose 17, mattress 10 will experience higher gas pressure and gas will exit mattress 10 through the gas-permeable surface 12.

Cushions 10 with gas permeable topsides are known in the art, but the present cushion 10 is novel in that the gas permeability of the top surface 12 is quite low.

In this way, it is ensured that the amount of gas actually exiting the surface 12 is low enough not to overcool the person who is lying on the mattress 10. It has been found that gas or air permeability of the top layer 12 should actually be quite low.

At present, the air permeability of the upper surface 12 is preferably in the range 50 750 m3 / (hour * m2).

In Figure 1, a standard mattress is illustrated with hatched lines, where the mattress 10 is provided on top of the mattress. Alternatively, the entire mattress illustrated may be made up of the mattress ventilation / cooling / heating 10 which now also comprises other elements to generate the softness of the mattress.

In Fig. 9, a suitable internal structure of the illustrated embodiments is provided. Between the layers 12 and 14, a spacer material 11 is provided which is more or less incompressible, but preferably still flexible, and whose function is to ensure that the air within the space between the surfaces 12 and 14 is able to reach all the parts of the surface 12, so that no part of it becomes inactive due to someone or something blocking the passage of air from the opening 18/18 'to this area. This blockage could be a person lying on the mattress 10 and compressing a part of it or the folding of this or any of the other embodiments to create a blockage of the passage of air towards a part of the surface 12.

Depending on the properties of the spacer material 11, it may be preferred to cover it with another material 11 ', such as a softer or more malleable one. Currently preferred spacer material may have a tendency to make noise when bent / deformed, which may not be desired. Such noises or such bending / deformation can be reduced by providing a soft layer 11 ', such as a foam, between the spacer material 11 and the surface 12. The foam 11' can be an open foam or a woven / non-woven material or the like. allowing the passage of air from the spacer material 11 to the surface 12 or it may be a closed foam in which through channels 11 "are provided to allow such passage of air.

Claims (9)

1. An inflatable ventilation or heating / cooling mattress (10) comprising a first side (12) directed upward, a second side (14), a pump (15) and an air inlet (18), wherein : - the first side (12) facing upwards has an air permeability of 15-800 m3 / m2 / h at 120 Pa, - the second side (14) is at least substantially impermeable to air, and - the pump (15) is configured to supply air to the air inlet (18), characterized in that during use, an air pressure inside the mattress (10) is 5-50 Pa. 2. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein, on the first side, one or more first areas (12 ") and one or more second areas are provided, the first and second areas not overlapping, where the first area o areas have a higher air permeability than the second area or areas. A mattress according to claim 2, wherein the first and second areas comprise a woven or non-woven material and wherein the first areas further comprise one or more openings or channels through the material. 4. A mattress according to any of the preceding claims, the mattress comprising one or more elements defining a maximum distance between a part of the first side and the second side. A mattress according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a spacer element (11) provided between the first and second sides, the spacer element being configured to allow air to flow through during its use. compression. A mattress according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of openings that are 0.01-0.6mm in diameter. 7. A mattress according to claim 6, wherein the openings are 0.05-0.6mm in diameter. 8. A mattress according to claim 6, wherein the openings are 0.1-0.6mm in diameter. A method of operating a mattress (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein air is fed between the first / inner surface and the second / outer surface.