Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C21/00—Attachments for beds, e.g. sheet holders, bed-cover holders; Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses
  • A47C21/04—Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating
  • A47C21/042—Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating for ventilating or cooling
  • A47C21/044—Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating for ventilating or cooling with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps

Definitions

• the present invention relates to articles of bedding, and in particular to mattresses for use by asthma sufferers.
• a substantial proportion of the population suffers from asthma, often as a result of an allergic reaction to house dust mites.
• House dust mites reside in very large numbers in materials used within the home such as bedding materials including mattresses, pillows, duvets and the like, and have become more common as a result of homes becoming warmer.
• a typical bed will contain 20,000 to 30,000 house dust mites which will emerge from the mattress in response to warmth caused by occupancy of the bed. Tests have shown that, by controlling house dust mites, asthmatics will suffer less. In these tests, house mites were eliminated by an "initial kill" using liquid nitrogen. Such a treatment is not practically possible for most sufferers.
• Another disadvantage of the proposed bedroom de- humidifier is that the air within the bedroom will become very dry causing discomfort for any occupants.
• an article of bedding includes air pathways therein for circulation of air therethrough, a source of air serving to direct the air through the air pathways, and a layer of air-impermeable material serving to separate a person using the bedding from the air circulating through the air pathways.
• the article of bedding is a mattress.
• the source of air includes a de-humidifier operable to direct de-humidified air through the air pathways.
• Articles of bedding according to this invention permit a reduction in the humidity of air within the bedding thereby reducing the population of house dust mites disposed within the article of bedding. Dust mites are believed to absorb water from surrounding air, and this water absorbing ability is greater nearer the dew point of air. At 20 Celsius, mites have difficulty absorbing water at a relative humidity below 60%.
• a mattress according to the invention further comprises a layer of material which is non- permeable to air, but which will permit passage of water vapour therethrough. This will improve the maintenance of a low humidity level within the mattress adjacent to the occupant of the bed.
• the article of bedding preferably includes walls therein for guiding the air therethrough, and these walls would normally include a dividing wall disposed across the article of bedding for directing the air through substantially the whole length of the bedding before returning along the bedding on the opposite side of the dividing wall.
• a humidity reducing apparatus comprises a closable body for holding articles to be treated, and a source of reduced humidity air for directing reduced humidity air into the body to treat the articles contained therein.
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the mattress
• Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mattress according to the present invention.
• Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the mattress
• Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the present apparatus.
• Figure 5 is a schematic view of a dehumidifier used in the embodiment.
• the mattress 1 includes pathways 9 therein through which air is able to circulate.
• the mattress includes a divider wall 7 which extends from one end of the mattress almost to the opposite end, being broad enough to stretch the entire width of the mattress when the mattress is considered laid flat.
• the divider wall 7 forms an air barrier dividing the upper half of the mattress when considered laying flat from the lower half of the mattress.
• a manifold is located into which air is blown and out of which air is exhausted.
• the manifold 2 includes an air inlet port 3 through which air is blown, the manifold directing the air into the lower half of the mattress beneath the divider wall 7.
• the manifold 2 also includes an air exit port 8 through which air is exhausted from the upper half of the mattress 1, above the divider wall 7.
• Reduced humidity air is blown into the manifold 2 via the air inlet port 3 from a de-humidifier unit (not shown) of conventional construction.
• the de-humidifier unit blows air into the manifold 2 via the air inlet port 3 whereupon the manifold 2 directs the reduced humidity air into the lower half of the mattress 1 beneath the divider wall 7.
• This air flow leaving the manifold is shown by arrow 4.
• the reduced humidity air passes beneath the divider wall 7 until it reaches the end of the mattress whereupon the reduced humidity air passes into the top half of the mattress 1 as indicated by arrow 6.
• the reduced humidity air then returns to the manifold 2 as indicated by arrow 5.
• the air is exhausted from air exit ports 8.
• the reduced humidity air blown into the mattress reduces the humidity within the entire structure of the mattress causing a reduction in the population of house dust mites.
• the de-humidifier unit may be located next to or within the mattress, although if the de-humidifier unit is of a type which generates sufficient noise to disturb a sleeper, the de-humidifier unit may be located in a different room, the reduced humidity air being supplied to the air inlet port 3 via a length of tube.
• the de-humidifying unit does not need to remove all of the humidity from the air, but just to a level, such as 60% at 20°C, which will cause the population of house dust mites to reduce.
• the reduced humidity inhibits the life cycle of the mites, and that of the fungi which is also present and which breaks down the fat in discarded human skin scales which is a major source of food for the house dust mite.
• the outer material of the mattress is a material which is non-permeable to air (not shown) in order to promote air flow within the mattress without leakage.
• a material is preferably constructed from a coated fabric which whilst it is not air permeable, permits water vapour generated by the body to disperse through the fabric so that any temporary increase in humidity is rapidly reduced by the flow of low humidity air within the mattress. In this way, the mattress remains comfortable for the patient to sleep on, and any water vapour entering the upper air pathway of the mattress is quickly taken out of the mattress.
• Such a material would also prevent free water from entering the mattress, and could be made fire proof by virtue of special treatments of the materials concerned.
• Removable filters are attachable to the air inlet port 3 and the air exit port 8 in order to trap any material in the flow of low humidity air.
• the inlet and outlet ports of the mattress may be disposed at the sider end or below of the mattress allowing for a number of mounting positions for the tubing connecting the mattress to the de-humidifier unit. It has been found that further advantageous effects can be achieved by varying the temperature of the air passing through the mattress.
• the mites, once they have been subjected to low humidity air, are significantly reduced in number. However, the dead mites leave behind materials which constitute allergens which sensitise a person, particularly a small child, sleeping on the mattress to that substance. The person may therefore suffer an allergy to that substance for some time.
• the dehumidifier unit in addition to the dehumidifier element 13, the dehumidifier unit includes an electric heater element 14, typically in the form of a coil which heats the dehumidified air.
• the heater element 14 will be operated on a heater timer (not shown) which is set to heat the air for a set period of time.
• the heating cycle is timed to take place during the day when the bed is unoccupied.
• reduction in the dust mite population of a mattress is enhanced by cooling the mattress below 10°C for a predetermined period.
• the dehumidifier 10 includes an optional cooling element 15 which cools the dehumidified air.
• the cooling element 15 is operated by a cooler timer (not shown) which switches the cooling element 15 on for a set period of time. If a heating element 14 is included, the heating and cooling element 14, 15 should not be operated together. According to another embodiment of this invention
• the exit port of the manifold may be connected via tubing to the de-humidifier so that the air passing through the mattress is re-circulated.
• a closed box is connected to the de-humidifier via tubing so that children's toys, bedding and the like may be placed in the box into which a flow of reduced humidity air is directed from the de-humidifier in order to reduce the population of dust mites within such toys and bedding.
• the box is preferably lidded for simple loading and unloading the box.
• the de ⁇ humidifier is of a sufficient size and power that de- humidification of the bedroom occurs as a result of reduced humidity air being exhausted into the room via the air exit ports.
• the article of bedding may be any of a duvet, a bedstead or base for a bed, a pillow or any other article of bedding.

Landscapes

• Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
• Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
• Air Humidification (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10783648

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1995
  • 1995-11-09 GB GB9522974A patent/GB2306881B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1996
  • 1996-10-08 NZ NZ319233A patent/NZ319233A/xx unknown
  • 1996-10-08 WO PCT/GB1996/002457 patent/WO1997017000A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-10-08 EP EP96932736A patent/EP0859564A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-10-08 CA CA 2237193 patent/CA2237193A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-10-08 JP JP9517656A patent/JP2000500991A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-10-08 AU AU71411/96A patent/AU7141196A/en not_active Abandoned
• 1998
  • 1998-05-07 NO NO982083A patent/NO982083L/no unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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