CLIMATE CONTROLLED BED ASSEMBLY WITH INTERMEDIATE LAYER

• US 20130269106A1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Brykalski, Michael J., Marquette, David, Vidojevski, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,125,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/423
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/04 Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/044 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/048 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/744 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/70 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/90 for heating

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a climate controlled bed or other seating assembly comprises an upper portion or mattress having at least one fluid distribution member (e.g., spacer fabric) that is in fluid communication with the at least one internal passageway of the upper portion, wherein the at least one fluid distribution member is configured to at least partially distribute fluid within the fluid distribution member. In some embodiments, the internal passageway terminates at or near a bottom surface of the upper portion or mattress. The bed or other seating assembly additionally includes one or more inlays or interlays or intermediate layers, or components thereof, positioned between the upper portion and a foundation.

Claims

1. A climate controlled bed comprising:

an upper portion comprising at least one fluid distribution member, said fluid distribution member being in fluid communication with the at least one internal passageway of the upper portion, wherein said at least one fluid distribution member is configured to at least partially distribute fluid within said at least one fluid distribution member;

wherein the at least one internal passageway terminates at a bottom surface of the upper portion;

at least one interlay component positioned between the upper portion and a foundation,

at least one fluid module positioned at least partially within the at least one interlay component, wherein the at least one fluid module comprises a fluid transfer device configured to selectively transfer air through at least one outlet located along a top of the at least one interlay component;

wherein, when the upper portion is properly positioned relative to the at least one interlay component, the at least one outlet is generally aligned and in fluid communication with the at least one internal passageway of the upper portion;

wherein the at least one interlay component comprises at least one fluid channel that extends to an edge of the at least one interlay component, the at least one fluid channel being in fluid communication with an inlet of the at least one fluid module;

wherein, in use, air is delivered from an environment surrounding the bed to the inlet of the at least one fluid module at least in part through the at least one fluid channel of the interlay component; and

wherein air discharged by the at least one fluid module is transferred, through the at least one outlet and the at least one internal passageway of the upper portion, to at least one fluid distribution member.

2. The bed of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid module is embedded within a recess of the at least one interlay component.

3. The bed of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid module further comprises a thermal conditioning device configured to selectively heat or cool air being transferred by the fluid transfer device.

4. The bed of claim 3, wherein the thermal conditioning device comprises a thermoelectric device.

5. The bed of claim 3, wherein the thermal conditioning device comprises a convective heater.

6. The bed of claim 3, wherein the at least one interlay component additionally comprises at least one waste channel extending from the at least one fluid module to an edge of the at least one interlay component.

7. The bed of claim 1, further comprising at least one conduit extending at least partially through both the at least one opening of the at least one interlay component and the at least one internal passageway of the upper portion.

8. The bed of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid module comprises at least two fluid modules, wherein the at least one outlet comprises two outlets, wherein each fluid module is in fluid communication with a corresponding outlet.

9. The bed of claim 1, wherein the bed comprises a fixed, non-adjustable bed assembly.

10. The bed of claim 1, wherein the bed comprises an adjustable, reclinable bed, wherein the upper portion and the at least one interlay component are configured to bend along an angle when the bed is adjusted while still permitting air to be delivered from the at least one fluid module to the at least one fluid distribution member of the upper portion.

13. The bed of claim 1, wherein the at least one interlay component is temporarily or permanently secured to the upper portion.

14. The bed of claim 1, wherein the at least one interlay component is separate and detached from the upper portion.

11. The bed of claim 11, wherein the foundation is configured to selectively bend together with the upper portion and the at least one interlay component.

12. The bed of claim 11, wherein the foundation comprises a plurality of segments that facilitate in allowing the foundation to bend.

15. An adjustable climate controlled bed comprising:

an upper portion comprising at least one fluid distribution member, said fluid distribution member being in fluid communication with the at least one internal passageway of the upper portion, wherein said at least one fluid distribution member is configured to at least partially distribute fluid within said at least one fluid distribution member;

wherein the at least one internal passageway terminates at a bottom surface of the upper portion;

a lower portion configured to be positioned below the upper portion and to generally support the upper portion, the lower portion comprising a lower support member and an intermediate support member;

wherein the intermediate support member is positioned above the lower support member and is generally secured to the lower support member;

wherein the lower support member comprises at least one opening extending through said lower support member, wherein at least one fluid module is configured to be positioned below the lower support member, said at least one fluid module comprises a fluid transfer device;

wherein the at least one fluid module is configured to be in fluid communication with the at least one opening of the lower support member;

wherein the at least one intermediate support member comprises at least one slotted cavity that at least partially aligns with the at least one opening of the lower support member, a size of the at least one slotted cavity being larger than a size of the at least one opening of the lower support member when viewed from above;

wherein the at least one internal passageway of the upper portion generally aligns with the at least one slotted cavity of the intermediate support member when the upper portion is properly positioned on the lower portion;

wherein the at least one internal passageway is configured to move relative to the at least one slotted cavity while a position of the adjustable bed is modified during use, and

wherein the at least one internal passageway remains aligned with and in fluid communication with the at least one slotted cavity regardless of the relative movement of the at least one internal passageway and the at least one slotted cavity in order to maintain the at least one internal passageway in fluid communication with the at least one slotted cavity, the at least one opening of the lower support member and the at least one fluid module.

16. The adjustable bed of claim 15, wherein the at least one slotted cavity of the intermediate support member comprises a total of two slotted cavities.

17. The adjustable bed of claim 15, wherein the at least one fluid module is configured to thermally condition air or fluid passing therethrough.

18. The adjustable bed of claim 17, wherein the at least one fluid module comprises at least one thermoelectric device.

19. The adjustable bed of claim 17, wherein the at least one fluid module comprises at least one convective heater.

20. The adjustable bed of claim 15, wherein the at least one fluid module is secured directly to the rear surface of the lower portion.