EP2528479A1

EP2528479A1 - Mattress or mattress-like cushion for persons suffering from an allergy, which is ventilated by a device

Info

Publication number: EP2528479A1
Application number: EP11715385A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Paterok
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-27
Filing date: 2011-01-26
Publication date: 2012-12-05
Also published as: US20120304381A1; DE102010006034A1; DE112011100344A5; WO2011091788A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like pads or cushions (1), characterized in that the ventilating device has at least one air inlet, at least one ventilation means, which puts the air in a directed motion, and at least one air outlet, it being possible to adjust the air precisely to a certain humidity, preferably a relative humidity under 65%, especially preferably under 60% relative humidity, especially preferably to under 50% relative humidity by means of an air dehumidifier and/or an air humidifier, it being possible to then introduce said air into the mattress (2) or the mattress-like pad or cushion through the air outlet.

Description

Title: Mattress or mattress-like pillow for allergy sufferers, which by a

Device be ventilated.

The present invention relates to a mattress or a mattress-like cushion, which is suitable for allergy sufferers, as well as the device for the removal of allergy agents.

About 15% of the population in Germany suffer from allergic reactions caused by house dust mites. House dust and mite allergy is mainly caused by the dust mites living in house dust and mattresses, whereby the actual allergen comes from the dung of the mites. It is the so-called PI Antigen. This allergen triggers an allergic reaction of the immune system type 1, the so-called "immediate type." This immune reaction manifests itself in various symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, itching and swelling of the mucous membranes in the ear, nose and throat, in severe cases It can even lead to asthmatic reactions, as a single mite produces about 200 times its weight of excrement during its 2 to 3 months of life, so the habitat of a mite can already be clearly contaminated with mudballs Dehydration into very small particles, which then combine with the house dust.With the everyday movements that take place in the home, now not only the pure dust, but also the allergenic dust is whirled up and is now in the air, where he inhaled can lead to the reactions mentioned above.

The mites causing the allergenic feces are among the arachnids. You are with one

Size of 0.1 - 0.5 mm barely visible to the naked eye. Mites love a tall one

Humidity of over 60 percent and a temperature of about 25 ° C. They feed on human and animal dander, hair and also animal feathers. Humans now lose at least 1g - 2g of dander every day and can therefore feed 1.5 million mites daily. Their favorite living spaces are therefore mattresses, bed linen, pillows,

CONFIRMATION COPY Ceilings, carpets and curtains, but also in upholstered soft toy dog biscuits, they are often found. Clinical tests revealed that about 2,000,000 house dust mites are present in our bedding and mattresses. They can not be killed in the long term, as they are armed with claws and barbs and can help them effectively cling to their environment. As a result, they survive thorough vacuuming. Only when the humidity falls below a certain critical value, they become inactive. However, as the humidity increases, they come to life again.

The mites multiply increasingly in the months of May to October. At the beginning of the heating season, they die, but the amount of mite excrement is now sufficient to cause health problems.

Since frequent washing of mattresses and upholstery is not possible for practical reasons (household washing machines are not suitable for this purpose), other attempts are made to deal with the mite plague. At present one tries to solve the problem of the Mittenverbreitung in the mattresses and textile upholstered furniture by the covering of these with a protective cover. In this way one tries to take the mites their habitat, in order to prevent also the secretion of the allergenic feces. Unfortunately, these protective covers are not very effective because they still have pores through which the mites can get into the interior of the mattress or upholstery. Damage and age-related wear of the protective covers make them even more permeable to the mite.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, an apparatus, a method, the mattress and the mattress-like pads and cushions themselves, as well as a system consisting of these indicate that prevent the implantation of mites in mattresses and mattress-like pads and pillows.

This object is achieved by a device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like pads or cushions, which is characterized in that the ventilation device at least one air inlet, at least one ventilation means, which brings the air in a directed movement and at least one air outlet, wherein the Air through a dehumidifier or a humidifier exactly to a certain humidity, preferably a relative humidity of less than 65%, more preferably less than 60% relative humidity, particularly preferably less than 50% relative humidity can be set, this air can then be introduced through the air outlet in the mattress or the mattress-like pads or pillows.

This device for ventilating mattresses and the like by reducing the humidity in the habitat of the mites, namely the above-mentioned mattresses and mattress-like pads drastically destroys the chance of survival of the mites. At a relative humidity of less than 50%, mites die and are unable to secrete their allergenic feces. Of course, the entire room can be kept free of mites by lowering the humidity. But this is due to size too expensive and expensive. In addition, the stay for people in dry apartments is unhealthy, as this may lead to irritation of the mucous membrane. Thus, by this solution, namely only the habitats in which the mites are intensified and their cleaning is impractical, already killed the majority of the mites, so that the allergic morning wakes up without complaints, although he spent several hours on a former potential habitat the Mites has spent.

The device according to the invention has at least one air inlet, in which the air which is to serve for ventilating the respective mattress is drawn in. Within the ventilation device there is at least one ventilation means which draws air in and directs it in the desired direction. The air is then usually passed through a dehumidifier, which brings the relative humidity to the desired value. In most cases, the humidity is too high, so the air does not need to be treated with a humidifier. Should this be necessary anyway, the device may also have a humidifier.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention is characterized in that the device has a means which can set the air temperature to certain values, preferably below 25 ° C, more preferably below 20 ° Q, most preferably below 15 ° C. Humidity and air temperature depend on each other. Warmer air can absorb more moisture than colder air. Thus, the regulation of the air temperature not only serves the comfort of the mattress user, who may prefer a slightly cooled mattress in the summer, but is also a supportive measure to Regulation and maintenance of the desired humidity within the mattress. Mites feel very comfortable at temperatures around 25 ° C, so that temperatures below 25 ° C, preferably below 20 ° C, most preferably below 15 ° C prevent the mites from spreading.

In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like upholstery or cushions, the device has an agent which introduces into the air a harmless human insecticide or acaricide for controlling mites. As a result, an even greater eradication of the mites in the mattresses can be guaranteed.

A further preferred embodiment of the ventilation device according to the invention has a means for purifying the air. This ensures that the air that is used to ventilate the mattresses or mattress-like pads or pillows is as clean as possible and also no mite food is more, which attracts the mites and could ensure their survival. As a cleaning agent filters and inverter lamps can be used. The filters reduce the number of suspended particles in the air, while the inverter lamp also destroys bacteria and more.

The mattress according to the invention or the mattress-like upholstery or cushion in which the habitat of the mites is to be destroyed, is characterized in that it has an inlet which can receive the air generated by the ventilation device according to the invention. The outlet of the device according to the invention and the inlet of the mattress according to the invention can be interconnected by a valve closure or hose system. The important thing here is that the air can be pumped into the mattress without great losses, because despite the envelope, which should not be airtight at all, it escapes from the mattress over the course of time. It only needs to be ensured that, due to the low humidity and other properties given to the air by the device, the habitat of the mite within the mattress is at least largely destroyed. Therefore, the air passed into the mattress or mattress-like pad or pad of the present invention should have a certain relative humidity, preferably less than 65%, more preferably less than 60%, most preferably less than 50%. Furthermore, the air can additionally one certain temperature, preferably below 25 ° C, more preferably below 20 ° C, most preferably below 15 ° C and also include an insecticide or acaricide for combating mites, but which must be harmless to humans. Thorough cleaning of the incoming air by means of filters and inverter lamps ensures a clean base of the incoming air, which is reduced by the nutrients important for the mites.

In a very particular embodiment of the present invention, namely the mattress or the mattress-like pad or cushion, the air from the ventilation device according to the invention is directed into air distribution means which distribute the air throughout the inner part of the mattress or mattress-like pads or cushions. This ensures that the entire mattress or the entire interior of the mattress comes into contact with the treated air. There are no other habitats for the mites within the mattresses according to the invention in the application of this embodiment.

The air distribution means may consist of a perforated, thus perforated tube into which the air is introduced, and which snakes through the entire inner part of the mattress or the mattress-like pads or cushions. This ensures a uniform distribution of the air inside the mattress according to the invention or inside the mattress-like pad or cushion according to the invention.

Of course, the device and the mattress according to the invention or the mattress-like upholstery can form a system, since they have been precisely matched to one another for this purpose. Their interaction represents the method of combating the habitats of mites.

In the following non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a system according to the invention for the destruction of the habitat of mites in mattresses.

Fig. 2 to 5 test results of the use of the device according to the invention under different initial conditions. Fig. 1 shows schematically an inventive system for destruction of the habitat of mites in mattresses consisting of the device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like pads or pillows 1 and the mattress 2 according to the invention. The device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like pads or pillows 1 has a Air inlet, a ventilation means, which brings the air in a directed movement and an air outlet, wherein the air through a dehumidifier and / or a humidifier exactly to a certain humidity, preferably a relative humidity below 65%, more preferably below 60% relative Humidity particularly preferably can be set to 50% relative humidity, this air can then be introduced through the air outlet in the mattress 2 or the mattress-like pad 2 or 2 pillows. The arrows should indicate the direction of the airflow. The device and the mattress 2 according to the invention are in this case connected to each other by a hose. The mattress 2 comprises the air distribution means, which consists of a perforated tube 3, which snakes through the entire inner part of the mattress 2 or the marratzenähnlichen cushions or pillows on. There, the tempered air is introduced and can be distributed throughout the interior of the mattress 2. The ventilation of the mattress needs to be performed only at certain time intervals. A continuous ventilation is not necessary. Thus, before going to bed, the ventilation can be carried out for a short time, whereby well-tempered air can be used first, which is then slowly cooled down. As a result, the sleeping comfort can be increased considerably, since the mattress is pleasantly preheated.

To determine the effectiveness of the device according to the invention a series of tests have been carried out on mattresses. For most of the tests, the test series were conducted over a period of 07:00 h to 9:20 h of the following day, ie 26 h and 20 min. If this is not the case, this is indicated in the description of the respective figure. The dehumidification of the mattress with the aid of the device according to the invention was carried out over a period of 10 hours. Every 20 minutes, a reading was taken. There are thus 80 measurements. In each case, the moisture in the interior of the mattress was measured and evaluated with 2 moisture meters, whereby a moisture meter was kept floating on the mattress (see US Pat

Measured relF 01 in the figures as a solid line marked (), the other

Moisture meter was kept floating in the mattress, (see the readings RelFO 02 is marked as a broken line in the figures ()). At the same time, the temperature was measured near the two humidity sensors. Likewise, the measurements were carried out with different ambient humidities. Partly the mattresses were watered (moistened), namely with 500 ml of water. The following designations were chosen uniformly:

The y-axis indicates the relative humidity in% with LF [%] and the temperature in Celsius with T [C °].

The x-axis denotes the time usually divided into 80 units a 20 min.

The solid line () in the diagrams indicates the values of the first one

Relative humidity measuring sensor (rel F01).

The broken line () in the diagrams indicates the values of the second one

Measuring sensor for relative humidity (rel F02).

The values marked with x (x x x) are the temperature values of the first temperature sensor.

The values marked with () are the temperature values of the second temperature sensor.

In Fig. 2 with the title 1H a mattress was tested without upper bed, without additional moistening. The humidity was high in the measuring room. It can be clearly seen from the graph that after 10 hours, ie at the time measuring unit 30, the relative humidity increases again.

In Fig. 3 with the title IN a mattress without upper bed, rehearsed without additional moistening. The humidity was low in the measuring room. It can be clearly seen from the graph that after 10 hours, ie at the time measuring unit 30, the relative humidity increases again. However, it is not achieved as in the figure 2, the high output levels in the humidity. It can be clearly seen here that the ambient humidity exerts a great influence on the duration of the drying of the mattress. An analogous experiment in which the measuring room itself was dehumidified shows that the drying of the mattress is much more rapid. However, this can not be achieved in practice, as a precautionary dehumidification of the entire room, in particular a dormitory would lead to dehydration of the mucous membranes. This in turn has negative health consequences.

In Fig. 4 with the title 5N a mattress without upper bed, but with additional humidification was tested. The humidity was low in the measuring room. It can be clearly seen from the graph that the measured humidity on the mattress was detected by the sensor located there. This attempt started at 07:20 and ended after 2 days at 0:02 h. The reason for the long duration of the experiment is that after moistening the mattress with 500 ml of water it is dehumidified with the device according to the invention, then a period without dehumidification follows from about 18:00 to about 6:40 of the following day which is followed by another dehumidification phase. This experiment clarifies the question to what extent a single dehumidification has a lasting effect on the subsequent processes. As can be easily seen, a prior moistening with water on the subsequent dehumidifying phases has only a one-off effect. The increase in the measured humidity then shows no difference to the increase in humidity, which results in a measurement on a not previously irrigated mattress.

In Fig. 5, titled 12N, a mattress with top bed was tested but with additional dampening. The humidity was low in the measuring room. This experiment shows that putting on an upper bed helps to increase mites, because the upper bed acts as a means of insulation for the accumulated heat and the humidity in the mattress.

In summary, however, can be clearly seen that in all experiments, the humidity over a longer period of time for the mites still bearable humidity levels are. In the experiment reproduced in the figure 3 with the title IN one even sees that after the dehumidification up to the end of the measuring series the critical value, at which the mites can not recur any more. This then leads to a complete eradication of the mite population.

Claims

Title: Mattress or mattress-like pillow. for allergy sufferers who are ventilated by a device. claims

1. A device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 1, characterized in that the ventilation device has at least one air inlet, at least one ventilation means, which brings the air in a directed movement and at least one air outlet, wherein the air through a dehumidifier and / or a humidifier can be set to a specific humidity, preferably a relative humidity of less than 65%, more preferably less than 60% relative humidity particularly preferably less than 50% relative humidity, said air then through the air outlet into the mattress 2 or the Mattress-like upholstery or pillows can be introduced.

2. A device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 1 according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a means which the air temperature to certain values, preferably below 25 ° C, more preferably below 20 ° C, most preferably can be set below 15 ° C.

3. A device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 1 according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a means which introduces into the air harmless to humans insecticide or acaricide for combating mites.

4. A device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like upholstery or Kissenl according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a means which cleans the air.

5. A device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 1 according to claim 4, characterized in that the air entraining agent is a filter.

6. A device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like pads or pillows 1 according to claim 4, characterized in that the air cleaning means is an inverter lamp.

Mattress or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 2 consisting of a shell and an inner part characterized in that the mattress or the mattress-like pad or cushion has an inlet which the air from the device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like pads or cushions one of claims 1 to 6 is discharged through the outlet, can accommodate.

8. Mattress or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 2 according to claim 1, characterized in that the air which is conducted into the envelope has a certain relative humidity, preferably below 65%, more preferably below 60%, most preferably below 50%.

9. Mattress or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 2 according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air which is passed into the envelope a certain temperature, preferably below 25 ° C, more preferably below 20 ° C, most preferably below 15 ° C.

10. mattress or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 2 according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air which is passed into the shell has a harmless to humans insecticide or acaricide for combating mites.

11. mattress or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 2 according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air which is passed into the shell was previously cleaned again.

12. mattress or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 2 according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air is passed from the device for ventilation according to one of claims 1 to 6 in means for air distribution, which the air in the entire inner part of the mattress or the mattress-like upholstery or pillows distributed.

Mattress or mattress-like upholstery or cushion 2 according to claim, characterized in that the air distribution means consists of a perforated tube 3 in which the air is introduced, and which snakes through the entire inner part of the mattress or the mattress-like upholstery or pillows.

14. System for the destruction of the habitat of mites in mattresses or mattress-like cushions or pillows 2 comprising at least one mattress or a mattress-like pad or cushion 2 according to any one of claims 7 to 13 and at least one device for ventilating mattresses or mattress-like pads or pillows 1 one of claims 1 to 6.

15. A method for eradicating the habitat of mites in mattresses, mattress-like pads or cushions, characterized in that in the mattress or the mattress-like pad or cushion according to one of claims 7 to 13 air with a relative moisture content below 65%, more preferably below 60% very preferably, less than 50% by means of a Belüftungsvo rect according to one of claims 1 to 6 is supplied.