JP2010200795A - Temperature adjustable mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature adjustable mattress which is easily stored by folding and which allows to effectively remove moisture in the mattress. <P>SOLUTION: The mattress includes a body heat exchanging layer 3 which can be folded easily, a supporting means 12 which is arranged under it and has an air passage, and a temperature adjusting unit 2 for circulating air whose temperature has been adjusted inside the mattress. The temperature adjusting unit 2 includes a ventilating means 34 for removing the moisture inside the mattress and a condensation removing means 35. In normal operation, steam is discharged to a room from the condensation removing means 35. In drying operation, a part of the air is discharged while warm air is circulated using the ventilating means 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a temperature control used in various applications as a mattress for bedding such as a bed for sleeping, or as a mattress for non-sleeping such as a bed for rehabilitation, medical treatment, operating table, neonatal intensive care, sofa bed, etc. The present invention relates to a temperature control mattress having a function.

  Due to the recent declining birthrate and aging population, an increasing number of people are hindering the maintenance and improvement of their healthy condition. Moreover, even if they are generally healthy, there are an increasing number of people complaining of disabilities such as knees and feet being locally cooled even in summer, and people complaining of sleep disorders caused by this. Furthermore, recent 24-hour society, night pattern of life pattern, increase in obesity due to changes in lifestyle habits, and good sleep cannot be maintained due to depression etc., resulting in insomnia and some sleep disorders. People are also increasing.

  People who suffer from physical condition or cool locally may use supporters with built-in heaters, hot baths, hot compresses and massage devices in daily life to increase metabolism and promote blood circulation. Etc. are used to relieve symptoms of the affected area causing coldness and pain.

  However, the treatment for alleviating the pain symptoms is generally performed in a sitting or standing position, such as heating or cooling the affected area while sleeping or lying on the body. Temperature control was not performed, and it was inconvenient for elderly people who were unable to move due to aging or who had a difficult sitting posture. In addition, there was no other means to relieve the pain in the affected area in the lying state, but the electric blanket is a means of heating the whole body, which is inconvenient for people who appeal for local coldness in summer. It was something.

  In general, heating means such as electric blankets and supporters are a combination of a fabric, rubber / cloth composite, etc. and a heater, and the function is only heating, so that an appropriate temperature is maintained. This is difficult, and because the heat capacity of the contact part with the body is large, accidents such as low-temperature burns may occur.

  On the other hand, people with difficulty in maintaining good sleep, taking sleeping pills, taking a warm bath before going to bed, etc. We try to get good sleep by raising body temperature before going to bed, such as by exercising. In other words, as a means of taking a good sleep, in order to effectively cool the deep body temperature including the brain, which is a necessary condition at the time of sleep, enter a warm bath at a temperature of about 40 ° C. before sleep, or generate heat by exercise The body is warmed by expanding the peripheral blood vessels, the peripheral blood vessels are expanded, and the deep body temperature is rapidly lowered by promoting the heat dissipation, so that a smooth sleep is performed.

  However, it is often difficult for an elderly person, particularly an elderly person who complains of sleep disorder, to always enter a warm bath. In addition, sleep disorders in the elderly include temperature sensing functions of peripheral tissues due to aging, body temperature sensing functions of cold sensor cells, etc., and nerve tissues themselves that transmit this to the thermoregulatory center of the hypothalamus, as well as melatonin, etc. The problem is that due to the small amount of hormones that secrete the body temperature that is secreted in the brain, the body temperature cannot be lowered due to the small amount of secretion, and depending on the above measures, sufficient effects cannot be obtained. There was also.

  In response to such a problem, a temperature control mattress capable of heating or cooling the body of a person or the like lying on the mattress in whole or in part has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2). This temperature control mattress circulates temperature-controlled air inside a mattress main body made of urethane foam, hard cotton or the like, and exchanges heat with the body at the upper surface portion. The specific structure forms some structure that circulates internal air in the mattress. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the mattress body 1 is a four-layer structure, and is a heat exchange layer that exchanges heat with the body. One layer 71 is formed in a frame shape made of urethane foam, and the body heat exchange layer 3 made of breathable fibers is housed in the opening, and an air flow path is formed in a predetermined direction in the mattress underneath. A second layer 72 provided with a plurality of openings 25 as means for performing the operation, and a third layer in which an air passage 4 for circulating air from the temperature control unit 2 through the mattress is disposed below the second layer 72. The layer 73 constitutes a fourth layer 74 as a bottom plate.

  The temperature adjustment unit 2 blows and sucks air inside the mattress, and circulates the air by circulating the air and means to cool and heat the air inside the mattress, and also controls the heat released from the body during cooling. It is comprised from the temperature control means for exhausting heat in indoor air. The air flow in the mattress is guided from the temperature control unit 2 provided at the foot end of the mattress through the air passage 4 of the third layer 73 to below the head portion of the body, where heat exchange with the body is performed. It is the structure which goes to the body heat exchange layer 3 which performs and returns to the temperature control unit 2.

  Further, the temperature adjustment unit 2 attached to the foot end portion of the mattress has, for example, the structure shown in FIG. 15, and adjusts the temperature of the circulating air with the air circulation means 80 that circulates air inside the mattress. It consists of temperature control means and is formed in a case 10 made of urethane or the like. The circulation fan 6 is made of, for example, a sirocco fan, and supplies air whose temperature is adjusted from the air circulation means 80 to the body heat exchange layer 3 which is a place for heat exchange under the body. After exchanging heat with the body, the air is circulated from the suction port 20 provided in the second layer 72 to the suction port 22 of the temperature control unit 2. When the body is on (lays down) on the mattress, heat is exchanged between the body and the internal circulation air via the mattress cover 5 and a pad (not shown).

  The temperature adjustment includes a heat exchange element 29, a circulation heat sink 8 that exchanges heat with the circulating air, a heat pipe 31, an exhaust heat heat sink 9, and an exhaust heat fan 7, and the heat exchange element 29 and the circulation heat sink 8 are arranged. A partition means 26 is provided between the region and the region where the exhaust heat sink 9 and the exhaust heat fan 7 are disposed so that the internal circulation air and the exhaust heat air do not mix with each other. Further, outside air is taken in from the outside air inlet 32 provided in the case 10 of the heat exchange unit 2, and heat generated by the operation is exchanged with the outside air taken in by the inside exhaust heat sink 9 and then discharged from the heat outlet 33. Is done.

JP 2007-007378 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-246196

  By the way, the temperature control mattress has the following problems. For example, in a conventional mattress, the main body is a laminate of foamed urethane having relatively high rigidity. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the first layer 71 is formed in a frame shape, and the portion formed in the frame shape is formed. Since the body heat exchange layer 3 was fitted, the overall mattress was rigid and difficult to bend, so it is good for healthy people, but it can be used for elderly people who are bedridden, etc. It was difficult to use as a bedding for people who need to wake up their upper body. In addition, even a healthy person has a disadvantage that it is difficult to store a mattress on a tatami instead of a bed only at night, and it is difficult for a person sleeping on the bed to fold.

  Further, the proposed temperature control mattress has a structure in which the entire mattress is hermetically sealed with the mattress cover 5 and the temperature control method is an internal air circulation, which is efficient and can reduce power consumption. On the other hand, it is difficult to replace the internal air. For example, sweat discharged from the body lying on the mattress and moisture entering the mattress due to incontinence are difficult to remove from the mattress. For this reason, Patent Document 2 proposes that an airtight lid is provided on a part of the mattress cover so that the lid can be opened and closed, and the lid member is opened for ventilation during drying. There was a drawback that it took time and effort to close the lid after opening.

  In addition, a temperature control unit is arranged separately from the mattress, and a means that can switch between air circulation and exhaust, such as a three-way cock, is proposed for part of the air flow passage in the temperature control unit. There was a practical disadvantage that the unit had to be prepared separately.

  In addition, the temperature control mattress heats or cools the body by heat conduction through the mattress cover or pad, without directing the body directly to avoid drying the skin and excessive cooling. Since it passes through a cover and a pad, it takes several minutes or more to transfer heat from the body, and it is difficult to obtain a rapid cool feeling and warm feeling.

  In addition, with a conventional temperature control mattress, a predetermined constant temperature can be used for both cooling and heating, a predetermined constant temperature, for example, in summer, a cool air is sent slightly cooler immediately after going to bed, and then maintained at a temperature suitable for sleep. However, the heat released from the body and the room during the cooling operation and the heat generated by the operation of the temperature adjustment unit 2 are removed by the temperature adjustment unit 2 and then exhausted into the room. Especially in the summer, which is always a high temperature environment, the room temperature tends to rise.

  In addition, the conventional temperature-adjustable mattress can provide a comfortable and safe sleeping environment because the temperature of the air circulating in the mattress can be precisely adjusted, but some people who need the temperature-adjustable mattress, that is, aging As a result, the amount of food and exercise is insufficient, and not only the thermoregulatory function of aging, but also the decrease in the number of warm and cold cells in the skin, the deterioration of nerve function that transmits this signal to the thermoregulatory center of the brain For example, elderly people whose function of accurately grasping and adjusting the ambient environment temperature has declined cannot properly control the mattress in response to excessive rise and fall of the indoor environment temperature, and forgot to drive. In addition, heat stroke occurs in the summer when the temperature exceeds 30 ° C, and pneumonia occurs in cold winter mornings, resulting in a loss of health. Temperature control mattress that can effectively cope with these problems. There was control mechanism it is without drawbacks.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to be able to be bent and folded so as to be compatible with an electric bed, and to be stored in a warm, cool feeling. The temperature control mattress with a simple configuration that can be used safely even for elderly people who have problems with body temperature control, can be operated in a dry condition without excessively increasing the room temperature, even if it is operated in There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration as means for solving the above problems.

  That is, according to the first invention, the breathable fiber layer that performs heat exchange with the body is configured to be substantially equal to the width of the mattress body at least at the portion that becomes the fold of the fold so that the mattress can be bent at several places. It is a means for solving the problem.

  Further, the second invention provides a simple means that enables moisture removal (drying) of the circulating air in the mattress, and is provided on the wall surface of the closed circulation path through which the internal air circulates. By arranging condensation removal means such as a water absorbent resin facing the outside air on the other side in the circulation passage, the condensation removal means can also be used during normal operation in a closed system in which the internal air circulates. The problem-solving means is to absorb the moist air inside and remove the moisture inside the mattress by evaporating and releasing the absorbed water to the outside air.

  In addition, the third invention provides another simple means for enabling drying of the inside of the mattress. In addition to the air circulation passage, an air flow passage for allowing outside air to flow is provided, and the air in the circulation passage is provided. To dry the inside of the mattress by providing a ventilation means for discharging a part of the air flow into the air flow path and introducing fresh air to recirculate the air flow from the air flow path. It is a solution.

  Further, the fourth invention provides a simple means for enhancing the cool feeling and the warm feeling when supplying or cooling the human body lying on the mattress, and increasing or decreasing the air circulation speed in the mattress. The problem solving means is to provide an additional new air blowing means.

  Further, the fifth aspect of the invention prevents the heat generated when cooling the body from being released into the room during operation, and does not increase the temperature of the cooled room by operating the mattress by releasing it during non-operation. The temperature adjustment unit (the air circulation drive means and the circulating air is provided in the circulation path of the drawer portion by drawing out the air circulation path from the mattress body (mattress) to the outside. And a temperature control unit) are stored in a housing having a heat storage medium storage means, and the exhaust heat of the temperature control unit is stored in the storage medium during operation and stored when not in operation. The problem solving means is to release the heat stored in the medium to the outside air.

  In addition, the sixth aspect of the invention automatically detects the temperature of the indoor environment where the temperature control mattress is placed, and automatically operates the temperature control unit so that the human body on the temperature control mattress is always in a safe temperature state. Provided with a simple means of heating or cooling the temperature control mattress surface, the temperature control mattress or the temperature detection means for detecting the temperature inside the room where the temperature control mattress is placed, Comparing the temperature with a predetermined safe temperature range (the temperature range between the temperature operation upper limit temperature and the temperature operation lower limit temperature), the air temperature is too higher than the temperature operation upper limit temperature or lower than the temperature operation lower limit temperature When the temperature is too low, the problem solving means is to provide an air temperature detection and comparison operation means for cooling or heating.

  According to the present invention, the breathable fiber layer that performs heat exchange with the body is configured to be substantially equal to the width of the mattress body at least in the bent portion that becomes the folding line of the mattress so that the mattress can be bent at several places. In the case where the entire mattress is bent like an electric bed in order to form the mattress body with a flexible material or to provide a plurality of bendable parts that facilitate bending at the fold portion of the fold However, since the circulating air adjusted to a predetermined temperature in the temperature control unit can return to the temperature control unit through the breathable fiber layer of the air circulation passage, the entire mattress on the body heat exchange layer The body (the body of a person lying on the mattress) can be comfortably heated or cooled. In addition, since the entire mattress circulates the air inside it in a closed system, the cost of the urethane foam has been increased because it has been assembled with high precision in order to keep it airtight. In addition, when the air-permeable fiber layer becomes hazy due to long-term use, it can be replaced in units of the air-permeable fiber layer, so that the maintainability is improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the air in the mattress can be easily kept in a dry state, so that it becomes hygienic. Furthermore, since the humidity inside the mattress can be kept below a certain level, not only can sweat not be released from the user's body, but also the mattress can be prevented from wetting due to incontinence or spilling water, and growth of mold, etc. Even in a hot and humid environment, the inside of the mattress can always be dried, and the mattress can be kept clean.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the water condensed in the mattress can be discharged to the outside of the mattress system by ventilation at all times, so that not only when the water is spilled on the mattress, but the inside of the mattress can always be kept dry. As in the second aspect, the inside of the mattress can be dried, and the mattress can be kept clean.

  According to the fourth invention, rapid heat exchange with the user's body is possible, so that it is possible to increase both the cool feeling and the warm feeling immediately after bedtime, and the cool feeling that is individually different for each person, Since the degree of warmth can be changed individually, it can provide a more comfortable sleeping space and can be used as a bed for emergency and lifesaving such as burns. Especially because it is discharged into the room during cooling operation and energy required for operation of the indoor heat and temperature control unit can be reduced, so that the increase in indoor temperature inevitably generated when performing the cooling operation is substantially eliminated. Even in midsummer, a comfortable sleep environment can be obtained with little use of an air conditioner. In addition, this can significantly reduce power consumption, thereby reducing the burden on households and protecting the global environment.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the heat generated when the body is cooled is not released into the room during operation, and the temperature inside the cooled room is not increased by the mattress operation by releasing it during non-operation. The mattress main body includes a temperature control unit and a storage medium storing means capable of storing the exhaust heat from the unit in a case separately installed through an air circulation passage. The exhaust heat is stored in the storage medium during operation, and the stored heat can be released to the outside air during non-operation.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even when there is a sudden change in temperature during the season and the day, the temperature is detected so that the temperature on the temperature adjustment mattress is always in a safe temperature range. Can automatically provide a safe sleep environment even for elderly people whose function of environmental temperature detection, body temperature regulation has declined, or for people who have difficulty in body temperature regulation. Become.

1 is an exploded view schematically showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a temperature control mattress according to the present invention together with a body lying in a mattress shape. It is a typical perspective view which shows schematic structure of the support means of 1st Example. It is a perspective view which shows typically the structure of the body heat exchange layer of 1st Example. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the structure of the body heat exchange layer of 1st Example. It is a perspective view which shows typically the structure of the air volume equalization means of 1st Example. It is a perspective view which shows typically the structure and operation | movement of a rectification | straightening means in 1st Example. It is a top view which shows operation | movement of the rectification | straightening means in 1st Example. It is a typical perspective view which shows the structure of the air path of 1st Example. It is a typical perspective view which shows the other structural example of an air path. It is a perspective view which shows typically the components structure of the temperature control unit of 1st Example. It is sectional drawing which shows typically operation | movement of the temperature control unit of 1st Example. It is a top view which shows typically the air circulation in the temperature control unit of 1st Example. It is a perspective view which shows the other structural example of a temperature control unit typically. It is a top view explaining the modification of the temperature control unit of 1st Example. It is sectional drawing explaining the other modification of the temperature control unit of 1st Example. It is a figure explaining the ventilation of the temperature control unit which concerns on this invention, and the removal method of moisture. It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the ventilation mechanism of the temperature control unit which concerns on this invention. It is an exploded view which shows typically the structure of 2nd Example of the temperature control mattress which concerns on this invention. It is an exploded view which shows typically the structure of the connection unit in 2nd Example. It is an exploded view showing typically circulation of air in a mattress in the 2nd example. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of 1st Example typically. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of 1st Example typically. It is a top view which shows typically the structure of 3rd Example of the temperature control mattress which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the thermal storage and exhaust heat ventilation method in 3rd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the air temperature detection in the 4th Example, and an air temperature linked automatic driving | running method. It is a typical perspective view for demonstrating an example of the temperature control mattress proposed conventionally. It is a typical perspective view for demonstrating an example of the temperature control unit proposed conventionally.

  Embodiments of a temperature control mattress according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic exploded view of the configuration of the first embodiment of the temperature control mattress. As shown in the figure, the mattress 100 is configured by covering the mattress main body with a mattress cover 5 as a cover material. In the illustrated example, the mattress main body (the entire layer covered by the mattress cover 5) is the mattress support means 12. And a laminated body of the air volume equalizing means 13 and the body heat exchange layer 3. For example, urethane foam or mattress support means 12 made of hard cotton having a predetermined hardness and shape formed by cutting, compressing and joining polyester fibers from the bottom, and a body lying on the mattress are cooled or heated to a predetermined temperature. The air passage 4 for supplying the air to be supplied, the air volume uniformizing means 13 arranged in a predetermined hole size and shape in order to blow out the air substantially uniformly in the width direction of the body, and the circulating air A body heat exchange layer 3 for circulation under the body and a mattress cover for heat exchange with the air in the body heat exchange layer 3 without directly applying air adjusted to a predetermined temperature to the body It is composed of five. Here, each component will be described in detail.

  The mattress support means 12 is for maintaining the mattress in a predetermined hardness and shape, forming an air passage 4 for circulating the internal air, and fixing the temperature control unit 2 in a predetermined position. 2 includes a support means base material 14 at the bottom and a support means forming material 15 for fixing the temperature adjustment unit 2 and forming the air flow passage 4. These are composed of a sheet material such as hard cotton made of cotton or polyester on the center core compressed with polyester cotton, and in order to enable folding during transportation and storage, the part that becomes the fold of the fold is compressed Thus, the mattress support means 12 can be easily bent by, for example, shaving a part thereof.

  As a specific example, the support means forming material 15 is made of hard cotton, a polyethylene foam sheet, or the like, as described above, and is a tube (air passage 4 that guides air supplied from the temperature control unit 2 to the body heat exchange layer 3. A temperature adjusting unit mounting portion 57 for airtightly mounting the temperature adjusting unit 2 indicated by a broken line in the drawing to the mattress, and cutting or bonding to the support means forming member 15. Processed with a chemical agent. Moreover, in order to make it easy to fold and store the mattress flexibly, the mattress has a bendable portion 16 as necessary.

  Of course, when the mattress support means 12 is made of a material that is sufficiently deformable, such as hard cotton or flexible urethane foam, or when the mattress is thin, that is, the mattress support means 12 is a flexible material. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a dent part as the bendable part 16 in particular. Further, in order to fix the temperature control unit 2, temperature control unit fixing means 17 such as a string or cloth is provided. Of course, the temperature control unit fixing means 17 does not necessarily have to be above the temperature control unit 2 and may be attached to the side surface or the lower part.

  FIG. 3A shows the structure of the body heat exchange layer 3 for circulating heat from the temperature control unit 2 under the body and exchanging heat with the body. The body heat exchange layer 3 is breathable. It is formed by a fiber layer (a layer of breathable fibers 18). The breathable fiber 18 shown in the figure has a width that is approximately the same as the width of the mattress (mattress body), and a highly breathable polyester of about 20 to 30 mm, polypropylene, or the like is formed into a three-dimensional flat plate shape. An upper surface and an outer peripheral surface of the formed synthetic fiber are covered with an upper surface cover 21 such as cloth, and a lower surface is covered with a lower surface cover 19 such as cloth. That is, the breathable fiber 18 is configured to be accommodated in a bag formed by the upper surface cover 21 and the lower surface cover 19.

  The body heat exchange layer 3 can be formed by a single plate-like breathable fiber 18, but in the example of FIG. 3A, a plurality (three in the figure) of breathable fibers 18 are arranged in a plane. The opposite end surfaces of the adjacent breathable fibers 18 are not covered by the upper surface cover 21 so that air can smoothly flow from the breathable fibers 18 on one side to the breathable fibers 18 on the other side. When the upper surface cover 21 is formed of an airtight material, the upper surface cover 21 functions as an air passage wall through the air-permeable fiber 18, the upper surface cover 21 is formed of a non-airtight material, and the mattress cover 5 Is formed of an airtight material, the mattress cover 5 functions as an air passage wall through the breathable fibers 18. Further, when the lower surface cover 19 is formed of an airtight material, the lower surface cover 19 functions as a passage wall on the bottom surface side of the air passage that passes through the air-permeable fibers 18, and the lower surface cover 19 is made of a non-airtight material. In this case, the surface of the base material of the air flow leveling means 13 functions as a passage wall on the bottom surface side.

  As described above, the air passing through the air-permeable fiber layer of the air-permeable fiber 18 is isolated from the outside (outside air) by the air-tight passage wall, so that there is substantially no inflow of air from the peripheral portion or the upper surface, and the inside of the mattress is passed. The inside of the mattress is kept at a constant temperature by circulating temperature-controlled air. The body heat exchange layer bottom cover 19 at the bottom of the body heat exchange layer 3 is provided with a suction port 20A and an opening 25A for introducing air from the air flow passage 4 of the mattress support means 12 and returning to the temperature control unit 2. Is provided.

  FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view after the plurality of breathable fibers 18 are covered with the body heat exchange layer upper surface cover 21 and the body heat exchange layer lower surface cover 19. As shown in the drawing, the air-permeable fiber 18 is formed in the form of a flat plate-like block in which both upper and lower surfaces are planar (planar), and a plurality of adjacent blocks are connected by upper and lower surface covers. Even when the mattress is placed on the electric bed and expands and contracts, the air can be circulated as shown by the arrows. The bendable part of the body heat exchange layer 3 does not necessarily need to be configured by a part of the body heat exchange layer upper surface cover 21 and the body heat exchange layer lower surface cover 19, for example, a rubber-like connection member having a plurality of pleats. May be used. Furthermore, in order to prevent a sense of incongruity from occurring due to the difference in hardness between the connecting portion between the breathable fibers 18 and the both side portions (A in the figure) when lying down on the body, for example, the connecting portion (B in the figure) May contain the same type of breathable fiber 18 having flexibility and low hardness at the time of bending deformation.

  FIG. 4 shows the air flow leveling means 13 provided at the lower part of the body heat exchange layer 3, and a thickness of about 1 to 5 mm is possible on the side of a pillow (not shown) located under the head of a lying person. Based on a material such as highly flexible urethane foam, butyl rubber, polyester woven fabric, felt, or hard cotton, the amount of air passing through the breathable fibers 18 in the body heat exchange layer 3 is the width of the body. The position and size of the opening 25 are determined so as to be substantially uniform in the direction. In addition, a circulating air suction port 20 is provided on the foot side of the air flow leveling means 13, and the amount of air sucked into the suction port 22 of the temperature adjustment unit 2 can be adjusted. The position of the opening 25 is matched with the opening 25A (see FIG. 3A) of the body heat exchange layer 3, and the position of the circulating air suction port 20 is matched with the suction port 20A of the body heat exchange layer (see FIG. 3A). The body heat exchange layer lower surface cover 19 may be omitted by attaching the air flow leveling means 13 directly to the body heat exchange layer 3 by sewing or string.

  5A and 5B show a flow of air in the air permeable fiber layer 18 inside the mattress when the air permeable fiber layer 18 is divided into a plurality of parts, that is, a method for equalizing the temperature inside the mattress and the air flow at that time. Is schematically shown. Specifically, the rectifying means 23 that does not give a foreign object feeling when lying on a mattress, such as a cloth having a width of about 5 cm to 15 cm, a felt or a soft rubber plate, is provided in the breathable fiber layer 18 on the foot side. It is attached to the rectifying means fixing part 24 provided by being cut out at a predetermined position. By configuring in this way, air in the mattress is prevented from entering directly toward the circulating air suction port 20, so that the air flow can be expanded in the width direction of the mattress as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5B. Become. However, when the air flow passing through the central portion of the rectifying means 23, that is, the air flow flowing through the central portion of the mattress is reduced, and it is difficult to maintain temperature uniformity at the foot portion, an opening 90 is formed in a part of the rectifying means 23. To adjust the air flow.

  FIG. 6A shows the air flow passage 4. The air flow passage 4 guides the temperature-adjusted air supplied from the temperature adjustment unit 2 to the opening 25 as an air volume adjusting means inside the pillow, for example, a soft polyvinyl chloride resin, a urethane material, Or it consists of what sewn woven fabric, and consists of the opening part 91 which distribute | circulates air inside, and the bendable part 16 which makes the mattress support means 12 bendable. The air flow passage 4 is not necessarily limited to this, and may be a hose having a bellows in the entire longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 6B. The air flow passage 4 does not necessarily have to be a separate part in the form of a hose as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. For example, the air passage 4 for fixing the hose (the hose of the air passage 4) shown in FIG. The groove itself may be used for the air passage.

  7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C schematically show the temperature control unit 2 having a configuration for ventilation and moisture removal, and FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the temperature control unit 2 as a whole in an exploded state. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the temperature adjustment unit 2 taken along the plane AA ′ in FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7C is a view of the temperature adjustment unit 2 with the case lid 11 removed as viewed from above. The member on the partition means 26 provided substantially at the center in the height direction of the unit 2 is indicated by a solid line, and the member below the partition means 26 is indicated by a broken line.

  First, the configuration of the temperature control unit 2 will be described, and then the operation will be described.

  The temperature control unit 2 is divided into a case lid 11 and a case body 10 as shown in FIG. 7A, for example. The case lid 11 is provided with a circulating air suction port 22 for sucking air circulating in the mattress, and the case body 10 has a plate shape for preventing mixing of air circulating in the mattress and exhaust heat air. The partition means 26 is provided and is divided into an upper space 27 and a lower space 28 with this as a boundary. In the upper space 27, the circulation fan 6 and the circulation heat sink 8 are fixed to the partition wall means 26 or the case body 10 by fixing means (not shown) such as screws. Further, between the circulating heat sink 8 and the circulating air blowing port 36, the dew removing means 35 made of a plate-like superabsorbent resin, and the upper space 27 and the lower space 28 as necessary, for example, when the inside of the mattress is dried. Ventilation means 34 that allows air to flow between them is attached to the partition means 26.

  On the other hand, the exhaust heat heat sink 9 is disposed in the lower space 28 so that the direction of air flow through the circulation heat sink 8 is substantially orthogonal to the exhaust heat sink 9 and the circulation heat sink 8. A heat exchanging element 29 is sandwiched between them. In addition, the exhaust heat sink 9 is provided with dew condensation prevention means 92 for preventing the exhaust heat heat sink 9 from causing condensation due to heating such as a polyimide heater or a silicon rubber heater. Here, for ease of explanation, the partition means 26 is described as a plate shape, but is not necessarily limited to a plate shape.

  Similarly, the space above the partition means 26 for arranging the circulation fan 6 and the circulation heat sink 8 is an upper space 27, and the space below the partition means 26 for arranging the exhaust heat fan 7, the exhaust heat sink 9 and the like is a lower space. However, even if the exhaust heat fan 7 and the circulation fan 6 are turned upside down, as shown in FIG. 7D, the thermal conductivity such as an aluminum plate in which the partition means 26 is integrated with a heat pipe (not shown) or the like. As a substrate, the heat exchange element 29 is placed below the circulating heat sink 8 and the dew condensation prevention means 92 is placed on the exhaust heat sink 9. You may plan.

  Next, the operation of the temperature control unit 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C.

  The circulation fan 6 circulates the temperature-controlled air inside the sealed mattress. The circulation fan 6 sucks the air in the mattress from the circulation air suction port 22 provided at the upper part of the circulation fan 6, and the circulation heat sink 8 has a predetermined temperature. After the control, the circulating air blowing port 36 in front of the case is sent into the mattress. The air temperature in the mattress is adjusted by measuring the internal temperature of the mattress with a temperature sensor (not shown) and comparing it with a predetermined value (set value) registered in the memory of the microcomputer installed in the temperature control unit (not shown) and the room temperature. This is performed by applying a current to a heat exchange element 29 such as a Peltier module provided at the lower part of the circulating heat sink 8 so as to reach a predetermined temperature (set temperature). In addition, as FIG. 1 shows, the air sent out from the ventilation port of the circulation fan 6 returns to the suction port of the circulation fan 6 through the air path 4, the opening 25, the body heat exchange layer 3, and the suction port 20 in order. The passage constitutes an air circulation passage.

  When performing a cooling operation using a Peltier module as the heat exchange element 29, the circulating heat sink 8 on the upper surface of the heat exchange element 29 is cooled, and at the same time, the circulating air in the mattress passing through the circulating heat sink 8 is cooled. On the other hand, the exhaust heat sink 9 on the lower surface of the circulation heat sink 8 is used to operate the Peltier module, the amount of heat taken from the air passing through the circulation heat sink 8, that is, the amount of heat flowing from the body and outside air through the mattress cover 5. The amount of heat corresponding to the total operating power input is released to the indoor environment.

  The heat exhaust heat sink 9 is a heat radiating means for releasing this heat to the indoor environment. As shown in FIG. 7C, the exhaust heat fan 7 disposed in the lower space 28 removes the outside air from the case end (lower right end in the figure). The indoor air is sucked from the inlet 32, exchanges heat with the exhaust heat sink 9 through the exhaust heat air passage A, and the exhaust heat air is discharged into the room through the exhaust heat air passage B and the exhaust heat port 33. . In the cooling operation, the exhaust heat fan is operated, but when the rotation speed of the exhaust heat fan is rapidly increased, the exhaust heat fan is gradually increased so as not to cause sudden noise and disturb sleep. It is preferable to provide a good sleep environment by driving so that the noise level due to the operation of the exhaust heat fan also increases.

  On the other hand, when the inside of the mattress is heated, it is necessary to heat the circulating heat sink 8 with a heat exchange element 29 made of a Peltier module or the like. In this case, the energization direction to the Peltier module is opposite to that during cooling, so that the upper surface of the heat exchange element 29 attached to the lower part of the circulating heat sink 8 is heated and at the same time the exhaust heat sink 9 is cooled. The For example, when the interior of the mattress is heated to 35 ° C. when the room temperature is 25 ° C., the temperature of the exhaust heat sink 9 becomes a temperature around 15 ° C. By the way, when the exhaust heat sink 9 becomes lower than the indoor environment temperature in this way, the moisture contained in the indoor air becomes below the dew point and condensation occurs.

  Normally, condensation occurs remarkably when the amount of moisture contained in the atmosphere is large, but experiential condensation often occurs when the temperature is 5 ° C. lower than the indoor air temperature. In order to prevent this, it is effective to lower the humidity of the indoor air introduced into the exhaust heat sink 9 and to provide a dehumidifier, but in reality, the cost increases. It is preferable to control the temperature so that condensation does not occur, that is, not lower by 5 ° C. or more than the room temperature. Normally, in temperature-controlled mattresses and the like, moisture generated by sweating enters from the mattress, but if this moisture is left unclean, the mattress cannot be kept clean. A drying operation is performed to remove water. As this method, the mattress air temperature is increased to 40 to 45 ° C., and at the same time, part of the circulating air is exhausted. Specifically, during the drying operation, it is preferable to heat the circulating heat sink 8 so that the temperature of the circulating heat sink 8 is 27 ° C. or higher, which is a temperature at which condensation does not occur even when the room temperature is 32 ° C. As a concrete means for realizing this, a dew condensation prevention means 92 made of a polyimide heater, a silicon rubber heater or the like is attached to the exhaust heat sink 9 so that the temperature of the exhaust heat sink 9 does not drop by 5 ° C. or more than the ambient air temperature. It is desirable to perform operation control. In addition, it is desirable to reduce the noise without operating the exhaust heat fan during the heating operation.

  7E and 7F show a configuration of a modified example of ventilation and moisture removal. The configuration of the temperature control unit 2 in FIG. 7E is almost the same as that shown in FIGS. 7A, 7C, and 7D, but the direction of the air passing through the exhaust heat sink 9 in the lower space 28 is the same direction as the circulating air. That is different. In the figure, the solid arrows indicate the flow of circulating air in the upper space 27, and the broken arrows indicate the exhaust heat air flow. As shown in the figure, the flow of the circulating air is the same as that in FIG. 7B, but the exhaust heat air flows in two exhaust heat fans 7 and two exhaust ports provided on the left and right sides of the lower end of the case. 33 is discharged into the room. In this case, the room air is sucked from the outside air inlet 32 provided at the lower end in the figure, and after passing through the exhaust heat sink 9, is divided into left and right at the tip (upper end in the figure) of the case body 10 and discharged into the room. . In this example, the ventilation means 34 and the dew condensation removing means 35 are not shown for simplicity of explanation.

  7A, 7C, 7D and FIG. 8 are views for explaining the structure of the dew condensation removing means 35 and its function. Between the circulation heat sink 8 and the circulation air blower port 36, a dew condensation removing means 35 made of a plate-like superabsorbent resin made of polyester or polyamide having a thickness of about 1 to 3 mm, and if necessary, Ventilation means 34 that allows air to flow between the upper space 27 and the lower space 28 is provided. Among these, the dew condensation removing means 35 is for removing moisture that enters through the mattress cover in the form of sweat or the like from the body on the mattress from the inside of the mattress during normal operation. The air in the mattress is cooled by the circulation heat sink 9, and the liquefied water is absorbed by the condensation removal means 35 made of a highly water-absorbing resin disposed in front of the circulation heat sink 9, and is transferred from the upper part to the lower part of the condensation removal means 35 by gravity. In a state where the concentration is high, exhaust air is applied to the back surface of the exhaust air and exhausted to room air. The dew condensation removing means 35 forms a through hole 37 by notching a part of the partition wall means 26 for preventing air mixing between the upper space 27 and the lower space 28 as shown in the A part detail view of FIG. 7B. , Is fitted in the through hole portion.

  By configuring the condensation removal means 35 in this way, moisture that enters the mattress from the body during normal operation is absorbed by the condensation removal means 35 disposed in front of the circulation heat sink 8 and is shown in FIG. As shown in the plan view, the dew condensation removing means 35 is moved to the lower surface of the plate, the moisture is removed by the exhaust hot air blown from the exhaust heat sink 9 and discharged from the exhaust heat port 33 into the room. In this example, the dew condensation removing means 35 is formed in a hook shape that is bent at a right angle. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a groove is formed in a part of the partition wall means 26 on the front surface of the circulating heat sink 8 to form a plate-like dew condensation removing means. It may be connected to 35.

  Next, the ventilation means 34 will be described. In the normal operation, the inside of the mattress is dried by using the dew condensation preventing means 30. However, when the mattress is always used, for example, in the summer when there is a lot of sweat or in the winter when there is a lot of snow, the inside of the mattress is slightly wet. May be in a state. In such a case, the ventilation means 34 is used to replace air in the mattress with room air. Specifically, the ventilation means 34 replaces the air in the mattress with room air while exhausting a part of the air little by little while drying during a drying operation performed at a relatively high temperature of 45 ° C. or more for several hours. The configuration and operation will be described below.

  FIG. 9 shows the movement of each part during the drying operation. The difference from the normal operation is that the ventilation means 34 disposed on the left side of the circulation heat sink 8 in the drawing is opened and closed. At the time of drying operation, as shown in the figure, a sectional view is shown by a ventilation means opening / closing mechanism 38 having a rotating shaft at the center, for example, a plate-like ventilation means 34 constituted by a motor or manual handle not shown in detail (FIG. 9A). ) In the direction of the arrow. A part of the air sent from the circulation fan 6 and heated to high temperature by the circulation heat sink 8 by rotating the ventilation means 34 in this way (aired by an arrow A in the figure) is blown into the mattress and returned to the circulation fan 6 again.

  Further, a part of the wind sent from the circulation fan 6 into the mattress is discharged downward in the partition wall means 26 (arrow B in the figure), and is discharged from the mattress by being discharged from the heat exhaust port 33. Air containing a large amount of water is also removed. At the same time, almost the same amount of air as the air discharged downward from the partition fan 26 from the circulation fan 6 is brought into a negative pressure inside the mattress from the outside air inlet 32 through the outside air inlet 65 provided on the left side of the exhaust heat air passage A. Naturally supplied so that it does not become. Since the plate-like ventilation means 34 is configured to hold the outside air inlet 65 during normal operation, outside air such as room air does not enter the mattress during normal operation.

  FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, and FIG. 10C show the configuration relating to the acceleration fan. The temperature control unit 2 is installed separately from the mattress, and the connection unit 39 that incorporates a connection fan 42 that is a new blowing means in the mattress. Is attached to the mattress, and the space between them is connected by a flexible hose or the like constituting the suction connection means 43 and the air blowing connection means 44 to circulate.

  FIG. 10A is a schematic exploded view showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the temperature control mattress according to the present invention.

  Of the components of the temperature control mattress 100 in the figure, the same parts (the parts with the same reference numerals) as in the first embodiment will be simplified or omitted, and the different parts will be described in detail. The mattress support means 12 is substantially the same as the support means in the first embodiment except that the mattress support means 12 is not the temperature adjustment unit 2 but the connection unit 39. The air supply means, the air flow leveling means 13, the breathable fiber layer 18, and the mattress cover 5 have substantially the same configuration. The connection unit 39 is a means for guiding the air in the mattress to the temperature control unit 2 and guiding the air whose temperature has been adjusted to a predetermined temperature again into the mattress. The connection unit 39 has a structure as shown in FIG. 10B. 40. A connection fan 42 is provided in a protective housing made up of the connection unit main body 41, and the connection fan 42 is driven to allow air in the mattress to pass through suction connection means 43 made of a bellows flexible hose, which will be described later. It leads to the temperature control unit 2.

  In the case of this example, the temperature-controlled air enters the mattress via the air blowing connection means 44 and the connection unit 39. Here, it is configured that the air in both directions of suction and blowing passes through the connection unit 39, but it is not necessary to use a case in particular, and a direct connection fan 42 is provided in the mattress, and the suction connection means directly on the mattress. 43, the air connection means 44 may be connected, and the means 43, 44 and the connection fan 42 may be communicated with each other via an air passage provided in the mattress.

  In this example, the connection fan 42 plays a main role in the mattress even in the state where the entire air flow passage is extended and the air resistance is increased due to the presence of the cylindrical suction connection means 43 and the blower connection means 44 having an inner diameter of about 3 to 5 cm. As a new effect obtained by inserting this connection unit 39, the flow of air passing through the layer of the breathable fiber 18 can be adjusted quickly or slowly. For example, when the wind blows in a cooled room, the cool feeling increases. Similarly, the degree of heat exchange on the back of the mattress cover 5 can be adjusted by adjusting the speed of the wind from the connection fan 42. I can do it.

  That is, the reason why it has been difficult to feel the cool feeling when the connection fan 42 is not provided so far is that the flow velocity of the air blown from the temperature adjustment unit 2 is different between the body heat exchange layer 3 and the air flow passage 4. It was due. Specifically, the air from the temperature control unit 2 is decelerated while passing through the air flow passage 4 in FIG. 10C, and further spreads in the lateral direction at the opening (air volume adjusting means) 25, and turns upward. This is because the flow rate is further reduced, and as a result, the flow rate of air hitting the mattress cover 5 in the body heat exchange layer 3 is lowered, and as a result, the amount of heat exchange with the body is reduced.

  The position of the new connection fan (air blowing means) 42 to be inserted in order to increase the air flow rate in the body heat exchange layer 3 may be at any position in the body heat exchange layer 3. The effect of disposing the connection unit 39 is particularly great in cold air operation. Therefore, for example, when a temperature control mattress is used, for example, to cool a body whose body temperature tends to rise, the connection unit 39 is provided under the pillow so that the passing air speed is increased in the back portion where the contact area with the mattress is large. And effective.

  Further, when the connection unit 39 is provided, there is also an advantage that there is no worry of covering the exhaust heat port 33 by covering the futon. As an example of use of the connection fan 42, the temperature adjustment unit 2 has been described separately from the mattress. However, for example, even when the temperature adjustment unit 2 is attached to the end of the mattress shown in FIG. By providing a connection fan 49 at the foot and adjusting the air volume, it is possible to enhance the cool and warm feeling. FIG. 10C is a diagram illustrating air circulation in the mattress when the connection unit 39 is used.

  FIG. 12A, FIG. 12B (a), (b) shows a third embodiment of a temperature control mattress having a configuration related to heat storage. Since the configuration other than the heat storage is the same as that of the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the overlapping description of the common components will be omitted. In the third embodiment, the amount of heat discharged into the room during the cooling operation during sleep is temporarily stored in the temperature control unit 2, and the accumulated heat is released during non-sleep such as morning and noon. . In the figure, the configuration of the mattress main body 1 and the connection unit 39 is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. The temperature control unit 2 in this embodiment is different in the configuration of the heat exhaust port 33. Specifically, the cooling medium 48 is not a room air but a liquid having a large specific heat such as water, or a liquid tank 49 that contains a solid having a high specific heat and a liquid having a large specific heat, such as a heat storage material. 7 is provided with an agitation means 50 and a heating means 51 for agitating and soaking the liquid inside.

  The liquid in the liquid tub is preferably water with a large specific heat or antifreeze water, and the amount thereof is, for example, 10 L necessary for maintaining a comfortable bed temperature of 28 ° C. in an environment of 30 ° C. in summer for at least 3 hours. The above is preferable. The heat dissipating means 52 in the figure is a radiator configured by providing about 100 to 200 thin copper or aluminum fins having a thickness of 0.5 to 1 mm, a width of 40 mm and a length of about 200 mm, and a heat insulating means. Reference numeral 53 denotes, for example, a 3 to 5 cm urethane foam, which is configured to be attached to the inside of an opening / closing lid member 55 that opens and closes a heat exhaust port 56 provided in the housing. In the figure, the heating means 51 is composed of, for example, a throw-in heater, etc., which uses the heat exchange element 29 as a Peltier element to prevent the liquid from freezing when the amount of liquid is small. Is. This is not particularly necessary when the amount of liquid is large or antifreeze is used.

  Next, the operation at the time of operation and stop in this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 12B (a) and 12 (b). FIG. 12B (a) shows the operation at the time of operation. The circulating air introduced from the outside air inlet 32 by the circulating air deriving means (not shown) is the switching valve 54, the circulating heat sink 8, the blower connecting means 44, and the connecting unit 39. Circulates through the mattress. When heating the air inside the mattress using a Peltier element as the heat exchange element 29, the upper part of the heat exchange element 29 in the figure is heated, the liquid in the liquid tank is cooled, and the air inside the mattress is cooled. The upper part of the heat exchange element 29 is cooled, and an amount of heat equal to the sum of the heat taken away from the body at this time and the energy input to operate the heat exchange element 29 is transferred to the liquid in the liquid tank. Increase the temperature of the liquid inside.

  In general, the amount of heat dissipated from the human body is about 100 W as an energy generated by exercise and meal in an adult male. However, since the amount of exercise during sleep is extremely small, the amount of heat dissipated after including breathing is about 20 W. Degree. On the other hand, although the input power to the heat exchange element 29 depends on the thermal efficiency of the heat exchange element 29 itself, it is about 20 to 40 W, so that a total amount of heat of about 60 W moves into the liquid tank and the liquid inside the liquid tank. Increase the temperature of the liquid. At this time, the open / close heat exhaust port 56 that is configured to be freely opened and closed to the casing is closed, and heat from the liquid tank inside is not dissipated from the inside of the case by the heat insulating means 53, so that it is an operation period. It is not dissipated indoors during nighttime sleep.

FIG. 12B (b) shows, for example, an operation during a daytime stop, and shows a state where the heat exhaust port 56 is opened. In this case, since the heat exhaust port 56 is opened, the heat from the liquid in the liquid tank that has risen due to the operation is dissipated into the room from the heat radiating means 52 constituted by a radiator or the like. Of course, it is also possible to cool the exhaust heat sink by connecting about 1-2 L of water per hour by connecting the liquid tank to, for example, water. By configuring in this way, heat is not emitted into the room during sleep requiring cooling operation, particularly during summer sleep, so that the room temperature can be prevented from rising due to exhaust heat.

  13 (a) and 13 (b) show a fourth embodiment of a temperature control mattress having a configuration related to temperature-linked automatic operation. Since the configuration other than the temperature-linked automatic operation is the same as that of the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the overlapping description of the common components will be omitted. In FIG. 13A, an air temperature detecting means 58 for detecting the indoor air temperature is provided on the outer case of the temperature adjusting unit 2 attached to the temperature adjusting mattress 100, and the temperature adjusting unit 2 is energized. The ambient temperature is detected at any time, or for example, from 11:00 pm, which is the time for sleeping, to around 8:00 am. The air temperature detecting means 58 may be any means for measuring temperature such as air temperature. For example, a thermistor or a thermocouple is preferable. Even if the temperature detection means 58 is not attached to the outer periphery of the temperature adjustment unit 2, it is only necessary to be able to measure the temperature of the space where the temperature adjustment mattress is placed. Good.

  FIG. 13B illustrates an example of the method of temperature detection automatic operation, and shows the operation in the hot season and the cold season, respectively. In the figure, the vertical axis represents temperature, and the horizontal axis represents elapsed time. A is the lowest temperature for starting cooling operation as the upper limit temperature for temperature operation, B is the highest temperature for starting heating operation as the lower limit temperature for temperature operation, and the temperature range from A to B is the non-operating temperature range. . First, the operation in the hot season on the left side of the figure will be described. When the temperature rises from the non-operating temperature range and exceeds the minimum temperature for starting the cooling operation, the cooling operation is automatically performed (after the point C in the figure), and the body is cooled. Also, during the cold season, when the temperature exceeds the maximum temperature for starting the heating operation represented by B, the operation is stopped (period before point D and after point E in the figure), and conversely below this temperature. In this case (period from point D to point E in the figure), a heating operation is automatically performed using a comparison circuit that compares a sample temperature in a temperature control circuit (not shown) with a predetermined value and a microcomputer control circuit. It is.

  Specifically, the minimum temperature for starting the cooling operation is a temperature around 30 ° C., which is a temperature at which heat dissipation is prevented from the body to the outside air due to an increase in air temperature, and sweating increases rapidly. The maximum temperature is preferably about 24 ° C, which is the lowest temperature at which body tissues, especially muscle tissues, work normally even during sleep, where there is almost no fever due to dietary activity or muscle exercise. Or, since it differs depending on age and sex, the operation start temperature may be corrected according to each situation.

  In each of the above embodiments, the width (lateral width) of the breathable fiber layer is substantially equal to the width of the mattress and the mattress body over the entire lengthwise section, but the width of the mattress and the mattress body is not necessarily over the entire lengthwise section. It may not be substantially equal to the width. However, even in that case, it is preferable that the width (horizontal width) of the portion that becomes the folding line of the mattress is substantially equal to the width of the mattress or the mattress main body so that the mattress can be easily folded. Here, the substantially equal width means a visually equivalent width, and includes a case where the width is the same as that of the mattress main body and allows a slight dimensional deviation.

Modified example

  FIGS. 11A and 11B show a modification of the first embodiment, in which the mattress is integrally attached to a bed that can be freely moved up and down manually or by a motor attached to the bed. Is shown. As shown in FIG. 11A, the temperature control unit 2 is provided at the foot side end portion, and the circulating air from the temperature control unit 2 does not pass through the inside of the mattress 100, and is composed of a bellows hose disposed below the mattress. The air is led from the foot side of the bed to under the pillow through the air blowing means 44. The air blowing connection means 44 is fixed to the bed support 60 by a fixing means such as a string (not shown).

  FIG. 11B (a) shows details of the A portion shown in FIG. 11A. As shown in the figure, the air blowing connection means 44 is fixed to the back surface of the mattress 100 by the fixing means 61 provided at the tip thereof. The support means 2 of this modification is not configured using fibers such as hard cotton, and the side in contact with the breathable fiber layer 18 is configured of a relatively highly elastic material such as hard cotton, and the bed frame side, That is, the lower side of the mattress is constituted by a multilayer using a wood board or the like, and the fixing means 44 can be fixed with screws.

FIG. 11B (b) shows the details of the portion B shown in FIG. 11A. As shown in the figure, the temperature control unit 2 is fixed to a bed support 60 made of wood, stainless steel or the like by screws such as an angle using screws (not shown). It is connected to the air blowing connection means 44 of about 5 cm and is configured to be fitted into the temperature adjustment unit mounting portion 57 below the mattress. Although not shown, the bed support 60 and the mattress 100 may be connected with a flexible material such as cloth or rubber so that dust or the like does not enter the periphery of the opening from the surrounding environment. Furthermore, in this modification, the temperature control unit 2 and the air blowing connection means 44 are attached to the bed support 60, but may be attached to the lower side of the mattress 100.

  As another effect obtained by adopting the configuration of the present modification corresponding to an electric bed or the like, the exhaust heat port 33 of the temperature adjustment unit 2 can be arranged toward the lower part of the bed, so that the cooling operation can be performed. Exhaust heat released from the mattress can be released to the lower part of the bed, and the temperature control unit 2 can be fixed more reliably. Note that in this example, a mechanism relating to the movable part of the bed is not shown for the sake of simplicity.

  The present invention can be applied to mattresses for various uses such as sleeping, non-sleeping, medical use, business use, and home use where temperature control is desired.

2 Temperature control unit 3 Body heat exchange layer 4 Air passage 5 Mattress cover (cover material)
16 Bendable part 18 Breathable fiber (breathable fiber layer)
29 Heat exchange element 30, 34 Ventilation means 35 Condensation removal means 92 Condensation removal means 100 Mattress

Claims (6)

  An air circulation passage is formed in the mattress whose mattress body is covered with a cover material, means for circulatingly driving the air inside the mattress through the circulation passage, and means for adjusting the temperature of the circulating air In the temperature control mattress provided with a means for adjusting the air volume of the circulating air, the mattress main body has a planar air-permeable fiber layer having a flat surface directly below the cover material or A breathable fiber layer that is arranged in a plane and divided into a plurality of sections and extends over a section of a person's head and feet lying on a mattress forms part of the circulation passage, and the breathability Heat exchange between the air passing through the fiber layer and a person lying on the mattress is performed through the cover material, and the mattress body is formed of a foldable flexible material or is folded. The bendable portion is provided with a bendable portion so as to be foldable, and at least the width of the foldable portion of the mattress of the breathable fiber layer is substantially equal to the width of the mattress body. A temperature control mattress characterized by being formed.   The means for circulatingly driving the air and the means for adjusting the temperature of the circulating air are integrated as a temperature adjusting unit, and are interposed in the air circulation passage, and the temperature adjustment unit includes a wall surface of the circulation passage. In the air circulating in the circulation passage from the one side, a dew condensation removal means having water absorption is provided at a portion, and one side of the condensation removal means faces the circulation passage and the other side faces the outside air side. The temperature control mattress according to claim 1, wherein the moisture is absorbed and the absorbed moisture is vaporized and discharged from the other side to the outside air.   The means for circulatingly driving the air and the means for adjusting the temperature of the circulating air are integrated with each other as a temperature adjusting unit interposed in the air circulation passage, and a part of the circulation passage is included in the temperature adjustment unit. In addition to the above-mentioned passage, an outside air flow passage for allowing outside air to flow is provided, and between the circulation passage and the outside air flow passage, a part of the circulation air flowing through the circulation passage is discharged to the outside air passage. 3. The temperature control according to claim 1, further comprising a ventilation means for introducing freshly replenished outside air upstream of the discharge position from the outside air flow path into the circulation passage. mattress.   The temperature control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a blowing means for accelerating a flow velocity of air passing through the breathable fiber layer is additionally provided in the circulation passage. mattress.   The circulation passage is configured to have a passage portion that is drawn out from the mattress and passes through the inside of the casing outside the mattress, and a means for adjusting the temperature of the circulating air is disposed in the casing, and the casing is configured to exhaust heat. And an opening / closing lid member that opens and closes the heat exhaust port, and a housing for storing a heat storage medium is provided in the housing, and the heat storage medium stored in the housing is the temperature of the air. It is thermally connected to the exhaust heat side of the means for adjusting, and during operation of the means for adjusting the temperature, the exhaust heat from the means is stored in the storage medium, and the means for adjusting the temperature is not 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing lid member provided in the housing is opened during operation to allow the inside of the housing to communicate with the outside air and to release the heat stored in the storage medium to the outside air. 5. The temperature control mattress according to any one of 4 above.   By comparing the air temperature detection means that detects the air temperature of the surrounding environment where the mattress is placed and the predetermined temperature operation upper and lower limit temperature, when the air temperature is too high above the upper temperature limit temperature and lower than the temperature operation lower limit temperature The temperature control mattress according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature control mattress is automatically operated when the temperature is too high.

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