WO2015199667A1 - Ensembles housse de coussin de support permettant d'éliminer la chaleur et l'humidité - Google Patents

Ensembles housse de coussin de support permettant d'éliminer la chaleur et l'humidité Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015199667A1
WO2015199667A1 PCT/US2014/043993 US2014043993W WO2015199667A1 WO 2015199667 A1 WO2015199667 A1 WO 2015199667A1 US 2014043993 W US2014043993 W US 2014043993W WO 2015199667 A1 WO2015199667 A1 WO 2015199667A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
support cushion
upper panel
cushion cover
spacer layer
flexible tube
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2014/043993
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hamid Ghanei
Stephen Switzer
Original Assignee
Tempur-Pedic Management, Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tempur-Pedic Management, Llc filed Critical Tempur-Pedic Management, Llc
Priority to PCT/US2014/043993 priority Critical patent/WO2015199667A1/fr
Priority to US15/320,797 priority patent/US20170150822A1/en
Publication of WO2015199667A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015199667A1/fr

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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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/002—Mattress or cushion tickings or covers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/002—Mattress or cushion tickings or covers
    • A47C27/007—Mattress or cushion tickings or covers permeable to liquid or air in a special way
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/14—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C31/00—Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
    • A47C7/62—Accessories for chairs
    • A47C7/72—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
    • A47C7/74—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like for ventilation, heating or cooling
    • A47C7/742—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like for ventilation, heating or cooling for ventilating or cooling
    • A47C7/744—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like for ventilation, heating or cooling for ventilating or cooling with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a support cushion cover assembly and, more particularly, to a support cushion cover assembly that makes use of an amount of hygroscopic material and an air pump to remove heat and humidity at the contact surface of a support cushion.
  • support cushions As is generally the case with support cushions and, in particular, with support cushions comprised of flexible foam or other body-conforming materials, the effectiveness of the support cushion in providing support to the body of a user is partly a function of how welt the flexible foam responds to the contour of the particular user resting on the cushion.
  • support cushions made from temperature-sensitive visco-elastic foam are often particularly desirable as such support cushions are able to change shape based, at least in part, upon the temperature of the supported body part. That conformance of the cushion to the body of a user, however, often causes more of the user's body to he in contact with the body support cushion, and thus, less of the body of the user is exposed to the ambient air around the cushion.
  • the humidity acts to trap heat in the microclimate zone adjacent to the contact surface the support cushion (e.g., underneath the sheet but above the mattress cover surrounding a mattress), and thus, reduces the sleep comfort of a user lying on the support cushion.
  • the present invention includes a support cushion cover assembly and, more particularly, a support cushion cover assembly that makes use of an amount of hygroscopic material and an air pump to remove heat and humidity at the contact surface of a support cushion.
  • a support cushion cover assembly includes a support cushion cover having an upper panel, a bottom panel, and a continuous side panel that collectively define a cavity for enclosing a support cushion.
  • the upper pane! of the support cushion cover includes an amount of hygroscopic materia! and generally has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacer layer that is positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface of the upper panel.
  • the support cushion cover further includes a flexible tube that extends along a length of the upper panel and defines a plurality of fenestrations, with each fenestration spaced at a predetermined distance from each adjacent fenestration and in fluid communication with the middle spacer layer of the upper panel.
  • the support cushion cover assembly also includes an air pump that is operably connected to the flexible tube and is thus configured to deliver an amount of air into the flexible tube, through the plurality of fenestrations, and into the middle spacer layer of the upper panel.
  • the upper panel of the support cushion cover assembly generally has a thickness of about 5 mm to about 50 mm and can be characterized as including a first side edge, a second side edge, a head end, and a foot end.
  • the foot end of the upper panel includes a release vent for releasing air from the middle spacer layer of the upper panel, while the head end of the upper panel is iypieally sealed, such that any air entering the middle space layer of the upper panel through the fenestrations in the flexible tube travels throughout the middle spacer layer before exiting the release vent at the foot end of the upper panel, in some embodiments, to further release air from the middle spacer layer, the top surface of the upper panel also defines a plurality of openings.
  • the top surface of the upper layer defines a plurality of openings in the top surface with a central region of the openings having a diameter greater than a diameter of the remainder of the openings to provide increased humidity and heat removal in an area of the support cushion cover that would be in contact with the torso of a user lying in a supine or prone position.
  • the support cushion cover assembly may include two flexible tubes, a first flexible tube that extends along a length of the first side edge of the upper panel and a second flexible tube that extends along a length of the second side edge of the upper panel, in this regard, the first flexible tube and the second flexible tube are thus positioned and configured to deliver an amount of air evenly through the fenestrations in the flexible tubes and into the middle spacer layer adjacent to both the first side edge and the second side edge of the upper panel.
  • a first portion of fenestrations defined by a central portion of the flexible tubes has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of a second portion of fenestrations defined by an upper portion and a lower portion of the flexible tubes, so as to deliver more air to the area of the middle spacer layer that would be adjacent to the torso of a user lying in a supine or prone position on the support cushion cover.
  • the air pump of an exemplary support cushion cover assembly is generally in the form of a first air pump that is connected to the first flexible tube and a second air pump that is connected to the second flexible tube.
  • the first air pump and the second air pump can be independently controlled to thereby provide a greater amount of control over the air that is being supplied to a particular flexible tube and, consequently, to the middle spacer layer on a particular side of the support cushion cover assembly.
  • each support cushion cover assembly also typically includes a controller for controlling the air supplied to the flexible tubes and the middle spacer layer.
  • a controller for controlling the air supplied to the flexible tubes and the middle spacer layer.
  • the controller is configured to allow air to be supplied to the flexible tubes and the middle spacer layer for a predetermined amount of time, such as for an 8-hour sleeping period or for a length of time that corresponds to the time a user usually spends in a specific stage of the sleep cycle (e.g., REM sleep).
  • a predetermined amount of time such as for an 8-hour sleeping period or for a length of time that corresponds to the time a user usually spends in a specific stage of the sleep cycle (e.g., REM sleep).
  • the support cushion cover assembly further includes one or more features that are operably connected to the upper panel of the support cushion cover assembly and provide input to the controller.
  • Such features include, in some embodiments, humidity sensors that provide moisture feedback to the controller and ailovv the controller to, via the air pump, automatically begin providing air to the flexible tubes and the middle spacer layer when the moisture level in or adjacent to the upper panel reaches a particular level.
  • pressure sensors are included in an exemplary support cushion cover assembly and provide pressure feedback to the controller to allow the controller to, via the air pump, automatically begin providing air to the flexible tubes and the middle spacer layer when a user lies on the support cushion cover or otherwise places an amount of pressure on the support cushion cover
  • temperature sensors are included in an exemplary support cushion cover assembly and provide temperature feedback to the controller to allow the controller to selectively provide air to the flexible tubes and the middle spacer layer in response to received temperature feedback and to maintain a desired temperature.
  • Such desired humidity, pressure, or temperature feedback settings are, in certain embodiments, directly inputted or adjusted at the controller itself or, in other embodiments, can be transmitted to the controller from a remote control that is also operably connected to the controller and allows a user to remotely adjust the first surface of the body supporting portion to a desired temperature.
  • an exemplary support cushion cover assembly can also be used as part of a method for removing the humidity from a contact surface of a support cushion.
  • a method for removing the humidity from a contact surface of a support cushion includes first providing a support cushion cover that includes: an upper panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacer layer positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, with the upper panel defining one or more openings in the upper panel and the upper panel also including an amount of hygroscopic material for absorbing humidity present at a contact surface of the support cushion; and at least one flexible tube that extends along a length of the upper panel and defines a plurality of fenestrations, with each fenestration being in fluid communication with the middle spacer layer of the upper panel.
  • An amount of air is then delivered into the flexible tube and the middle spacer layer of the support cushion cover assembly, such that the air flows into the middle spacer layer and through the openings to thereby remove the humidity absorbed by the hygroscopic material and, consequently, the heat and humidity at or adjacent to the contact surface of the support cushion.
  • FIG. 1 is perspective view of an exemplary support cushion cover assembly, in the form of a mattress cover assembly, made i accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary mattress cover assembly of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another exemplary support cushion cover assembly, in the form of a mattress cover assembly, made in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another exemplary support cushion cover assembly, in the form of a mattress cover assembly, made in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 i a side view of another exemplary support cushion cover assembly for use in a chair and made in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 6 is partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary support cushion cover assembly of FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
  • the present invention includes a support cushion cover assembly and, more particularly, a support cushion cover assembly that makes use of an amount of hygroscopic material and an air pump to remove heat and humidity from the contact surface of a support cushion.
  • a support cushion cover assembly is in the form of a mattress cover assembly 10 that includes a support cushion cover in the form of a mattress cover 1 1.
  • the mattress cover 1 1 has an upper pane! 14, a bottom panel 16, and a continuous side panel 18 that collectively define a cavity for enclosing a mattress 12.
  • the upper panel 14 of the mattress cover 1 1 has a top surface 22, a bottom surface 24, and a middle spacer layer 26 that is positioned between the top surface 22 and the bottom surface 24.
  • the upper panel 14 further includes an amount of hygroscopic material 29 that Is incorporated into the upper panel 14 such that any humidity on or adjacent to the upper panel 14 is absorbed by the hygroscopic material 29, as described in further detail below.
  • the upper panel 14 of the mattress cover 1 1 generally can be characterized as including a first side edge 32, a second side edge 34, a head end 36, and a foot end 38.
  • the upper panel 14 of the mattress cover 1 1 is dimensionally-sized to cover the mattress 12 and generally has a thickness of about 5 mm to about 50 mm, such that the upper panel 14 has a thickness sufficient to incorporate a desired amount of hygroscopic material and to allow a sufficient amount of air to move through the middle spacer layer 26.
  • the upper panel 14 also includes a pair of release vents 28a, 28b at the foot end 38 of the upper panel 14.
  • Each of the release vents 28a, 28b is in fluid communication with and is configured to release air from the middle spacer layer 26 of the upper panel 14.
  • the head end 36 of the upper panel 14 is sealed, such that any air entering the middle space layer 26 of the upper panel 14 travels throughout the middle spacer layer 26 before exiting the release vents 28a, 28b at the foot end 38 of the upper panel 14,
  • the mattress cover 1 1 further includes a first flexible tube 40a that includes a plurality of fenestrations 42a and extends along the length of the first side edge 32, and a second flexible tube 40b that includes a plurality of fenestrations 42b and extends along a length of the second side edge 34.
  • Each of the fenestrations 42a, 42b has an equal diameter and is spaced at a predetermined distance from each adjacent fenestration 42a, 42b. Further, each of the fenestrations 42a, 42b is in fluid communication with the middle spacer layer 26 of the upper panel 20 of the mattress cover 11.
  • first flexible tube 40a and the second flexible tube 40b along with the plurality of fenestrations 42a, 42b in the flexible tubes 40a, 40b, are thus positioned and configured to deliver an amount of air evenly through the fenestrations 42a, 42b in the flexible tubes 40a, 40b and into the middle spacer layer 26 adjacent to both the first sid edge 32 and the second side edge 34 of the upper panel 14,
  • the mattress cover assembly 10 further includes a first air pump 60a that is operably connected to the first flexible tube 40a and a second air pump 60b that is operably connected to second flexible tube 40b.
  • Both the first air pump 60a and the second air pump 60b are connected to discrete controllers 70a, 70b that are configured to control the amount of air supplied by the air pumps 60a, 60b,
  • the first air pump 60a and the second air pump 60b can be independently controlled to allow a desired amount of air to be supplied to the first flexible tube 40a, to the plurality of fenestrations 42a, and into the middle spacer layer 26 adjacent to the first side edge 32 of the upper panel 14, while the same or a different amount of air is supplied to the second flexible tube 40b.
  • the first air pump 60a and the second air pump 60b are individually controlled, such that it is possible to provide an increased amount of air to a user lying adjacent to the first side edge 32 of the upper panel 14 of the mattress cover 11 and who is prone to excessi ve heating, while a decreased amount of air " is provided to a user lying adjacent to the second side edge 34 of the upper panel 14 of the mattress cover 1 1 and who is not prone to excessive heating.
  • air pump is not limited to closed containers capable of propelling air, but is further inclusive of fans, blowers, and the like that are each capable directing an amount of air into a tube.
  • the hygroscopic material 29 included in the upper panel 14 of the mattress cover 11 is generally incorporated into both the top surface 22 and the middle spacer layer 26 such that the hygroscopic material 29 is positioned and configured to place the body of a user, or a portion thereof, resting on the mattress cover 1 1 in close proximity to the hygroscopic material 29.
  • the hygroscopic material 29 is effectively positioned to absorb any such humidity as it is generated, and is thus configured to reduce the amount of humidity at or adjacent to the contact surface (i.e., the upper surface) of the mattress 12.
  • the hygroscopic material 29 that is incorporated into the upper panel 14 is generally in the form of encapsulated hygroscopic material that has an increased capability of absorbing humidity and moisture from the surrounding environment relative to the other material included in the mattress cover 1 1. As the hygroscopic material 29 absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment, the hygroscopic material 29 thus continually absorbs humidity and any associated heat generated by the user.
  • the air moving inside the middle spacer layer 26 is then able to remove the absorbed moisture from the hygroscopic material 29 and release it through the vents 28a, 28b while, at the same time, providing a cooling effect to the user lying on the mattress cover 1 1 and allowing the hygroscopic material 29 to continue to absorb moisture from the surrounding environment.
  • a mattress cover assembly 11.0 is provided that, like the mattress cover assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a mattress cover 1 1 1 having an upper pane! 1 14 with a top surface 122, a bottom surface 124, and a middle spacer layer 126 that is positioned between the top surface 122 and the bottom surface 124,
  • the upper panel 1 14 also includes an amount of hygroscopic material 129 that is incorporated into the upper pane!
  • the mattress cover 1 1 1 also includes a first flexible tube 140a that includes a plurality of fenestrations 142a, 146a and a second flexible tube 140b that includes a plurality of fenestrations 142b. 146b.
  • the first flexible tube 140a is attached to a first air pump 160a and a controller 170a.
  • the second flexible tube 140b is attached to a second air pump 160b and a controller 170b.
  • each of the fenestrations 142a, 142b, 146a, 146b in the flexible tubes 140a, 140b shown in FIG. 3 do not have equal diameters. Rather, in the mattress cover assembly 1 10 shown in FIG. 3, the flexible tubes HOa, 140b each include a central portion 144a, 144b that defines a first portion of fenestrations 142a, 142b having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of a second portion of fenestrations 146a, 146b defined by an upper portion 148a.
  • the flexible tubes 140a, 140b are thus configured such that when is air is delivered to the flexible tubes 140a, 140b, a greater amount of air is released from the first portion of fenestrations 142a, 142b and is delivered to the portion of the middle spacer layer 126 that would be adjacent to the torso of a user lying in a supine or prone position on the mattress cover i 1 1 and that would likely be exposed to excess heat and humidity.
  • the upper panel 1 14 of the mattress cover 1 1 1 is configured to remove the heat and humidity from the location on the upper panel 1 14 where an excess amount heat and humidity is most likely to be found.
  • the mattress cover assembly 1 10 further includes additional features that are operably connected to the upper panel 1 14 of the mattress cover 1 1 1 and provide input to the controllers 170a, 170b.
  • the upper panel 1 14 of the mattress cover i l l includes a pair of humidity sensors 192a, 192b that independently provide moisture feedback to the controllers 170a, 170b on their respective sides of the upper panel 1 14 and allow the controllers !
  • pressure sensors 196a, 196b are further included in the mattress cover assembly 10 and, more specifically, in the upper panel 1 14 of the mattress cover 11 1 to provide pressure feedback to the controllers 170a, 170b and allow the controllers 170a, 170b to, via the air pumps 160a, 160b, automatically begin providing air to the flexible tubes 140a, 140b and the middle spacer layer 126 when a user lies on the mattress cover 1 1 ! or otherwise places an amount of pressure on the mattress cover 1 1 1.
  • Temperature sensors 194a, 194b are additionally included in upper panel 1 14 of the mattress cover 1 1 1 and provide temperature feedback to the controllers 170a, 170b to allow the controllers 170a, 170b to cause the air pumps 160a, 160b to selectively provide air to the flexible tubes 140a, 140b and the middle spacer layer 126 in response to received temperature feedback and to maintain a desired temperature.
  • desired humidity, pressure, or temperature feedback settings can be directly inputted or adjusted at the controllers 170a, 170b or can be transmitted to the controllers 170a, 1 0b from a remote control that is also opera b!y connected to the controller and allows a user to remotely adjust the sensors to a desired setting.
  • a mattress cover assembly 210 is provided that, like the mattress cover assemblies 10, 1 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in F!G. 3, includes a mattress cover 21 1 having an upper panel 214 with a top surface 222, a bottom surface 224, and a middle spacer layer 226 that is positioned between the top surface 222 and the bottom surface 224 of the upper panel 214 of the mattress cover 21.1.
  • the upper panel 214 also includes an amount of hygroscopic material 229 that is incorporated into the upper panel 214
  • the mattress cover assembly 210 further includes a first flexible tube 240a that includes a plurality of fenestrations 242a and a second flexible tube 240b that includes a plurality of fenestrations 242b, with the first flexible tube 240a attached to a first air pump 260a and a controller 270a and the second flexible tube 240b attached to a second air pump 260b and a controller 270b.
  • the mattress cover not only includes a pair of release vents 228a, 228b that are in fluid communication with the middle spacer layer 226 of the upper panel 214, but the top surface 222 of the upper panel 214 also defines openings 223, 225 in the upper panel 214 to release an additional amount of air from the middle spacer layer 226 and, consequently, remove additional heat and humidity, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the top surface 222 of the upper pane!
  • the mattress cover 21 1 is comprised of a textile that incorporates phase change mater ial 227 into the upper panel 214.
  • the phase change material 227 that is incorporated into the upper panel 214 of the mattress cover is typically comprised of microspheres that include substances having a high heat of fusion and that store or release heat as th substances oscillate between solid and liquid form (i.e., phase change materials).
  • phase change material 227 included in the upper panel 214 changes from solid to liquid form (i.e., melts) as the result of heat generated by a user lying on the mattress cover 21 1
  • the phase change material 227 thus continually absorbs heat and provides a cooling effect to the user, which is in addition to the cooling effect of the hygroscopic material 229 and the flow of air through the upper panel 214, until all of the phase change material 227 has been transformed from a solid to a liquid form.
  • phase change materia it is contemplated that phase change materia!
  • cover assemblies need not be included in an exemplary cover assembly at all, but that numerous other textiles, including silk and textiles having varying percentages of cotton that are sufficiently breathable and capable of providing a cooling sensation can also be readily used in any of the cover assemblies described herein and can be selected for a particular cover assembly or a particular application or type of mattress as desired.
  • the exemplary cover assembly 210 in addition to using a textile to provide a sufficiently breathable and durable surface, the exemplary cover assembly 210 also typically incorporates one or more fiame- retardant materials into the mattress cover 21 1.
  • a flarne-retardant material e.g., a fire sock
  • the mattress cover assembly 210 thus provides a f!ame-retardant barrier that completely surrounds an underlying mattress, such as the viseo- elastic foam mattresses described herein below.
  • the support cushion covers shown in FIGS, 1 -4 are in the form of mattress covers 11, M l , 211 and are dirnensionaily sized to cover a mattress, it is contemplated that the features described herein are equally applicable to seat cushions, seat backs, neck pillows, leg spacer pillows, mattress toppers, overlays, and the like.
  • the phrase "support cushion” is used herein to refer to any and all such objects having any size and shape, and that are capable of or are generally used to support the body of a user or a portion thereof. For example, as shown in FIGS.
  • support cushion cover assemblies made in accordance with the present invention are incorporated into the back 313 and seat 312 of a desk chair 310.
  • Each support cushion cover assembly of the desk chair 310 includes a support cushion cover 31 1 having an upper pane! 314 with a top surface 322, a bottom surface 324, and a middle spacer layer 326 that is positioned between the top surface 322 and the bottom surface 324.
  • the upper panel 314 also includes an amount of hygroscopic material 329 and, through the middle spacer layer 326, is in fluid communication with flexible tubes 340 that are attached to an air pump 360 and a controller 370 to thereby provide for the removal of heat and humidity from the seat 3 12 and back 313 of the desk chair 310.
  • the mattresses and support cushions are generally comprised of a flexible foam that has a low resilience as well as a sufficient density and hardness, which allows pressure to be absorbed uniformly and distributed evenly across the various mattresses and other support cushions.
  • Such flexible foams include, but are not limited to: latex foam; reticulated or non-reticulated visco-eiastic foam (sometimes referred to as memory foam or low-resilience foam); reticulated or non- reticulated non-visco-elastic foam; high-resilience polyurethane foam; expanded polymer foams (e.g., expanded ethylene vinyl acetate, polypropylene, polystyrene, or polyethylene); and the like.
  • latex foam reticulated or non-reticulated visco-eiastic foam (sometimes referred to as memory foam or low-resilience foam); reticulated or non- reticulated non-visco-elastic foam; high-resilience polyurethane foam; expanded polymer foams (e.g., expanded ethylene vinyl acetate, polypropylene, polystyrene, or polyethylene); and the like.
  • suitable visco-elastic foams typically have a hardness of at least about IO to no greater than about 80 N, as measured by exerting pressure from a plate against a sample of the material to a compression of at least 40% of an original thickness of the material at approximately room temperature (i.e., 2 S °C to 23°C), where the 40% compression is held for a set period of time as established by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 2439 hardness measuring standard.
  • ISO International Organization of Standardization
  • the visco-elastic foam can have a hardness of about IO N, about 20 N, about 30 N, about 40 N, about 50 N, about 60 N, about 70 N, or about 80 N to provide a desired degree of comfort and body-conforming qualities.
  • suitable visco-elastic foams have a density that also assist in providing a desired degree of comfort and body-conforming qualities, as we.ll as an increased degree of material durability.
  • the density of the visco- elastic foam used in the mattresses and flexible foam layers is no less than about 30 kg m 3 to no greater than about 150 kg/m * ⁇
  • the density of the visco-elastic foam that is used is about 30 about 40 kg/m 3 , about 50 kg/m 3 , about 60 kg m 3 , about 70 kg/m 3 , about 80 kg/'m 3 , about 90 kg m 3 , about 100 kg/m 3 , about 1 10 kg/'m 3 , about 120 kg m 3 , about 130 kg m 3 , about 140 kg/m ⁇ or about 150 kg/m 3 .
  • a visco- elastic foam having a particular density will affect other characteristics of the foam, including its hardness, the manner in which the foam responds to pressure, and the overall feel of the foam, but it should be appreciated that a visco-elastic foam having a desired density and hardness can readily be selected for a particular application or assembly as desired.
  • visco-elastic foam used in the mattresses and other support cushions described for use with the cover assemblies of the present invention need not be comprised of a single piece of visco-elastic foam, but can be comprised of multiple layers of visco-elastic foam with the layers having different densities and hardnesses.
  • a visco-elastic foam mattress can be utilized that includes a lower supporting layer of visco-elastic foam with a density of about 80 kg/m 3 and a hardness of about 13 N, and an upper comfort layer of visco-elastic foam with a density of about 35 kg/m 3 and a hardness of about I O .
  • an exemplary support cushion cover assembly can also be used as part of a method for removing the humidity from a contact surface of a support cushion or, in other words, from the surface of a support cushion that is contacted by the body of a user, or a portion thereof.
  • a method for removing the humidity from a contact surface of a support cushion includes first providing a support cushion cover assembly that includes: an upper panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacer layer that positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, with the upper panel defining one or more openings in the upper panel and the upper panel also including an amount of hygroscopic material for absorbing humidity present at a contact surface of the support cushion; and at least one flexible tube that extends along a length of the upper panel and defines a plurality of fenestrations, with each fenestration being in fluid communication with the middle spacer layer of the upper panel.
  • An amount of air is then delivered into the flexible tube and the middle spacer layer of the support cushion cover assembly, such that the air flows into the middle spacer layer and through the openings to thereby remove the humidity absorbed by the hygroscopic material and, consequently, the himifdity at the contact surface of the support cushion,

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  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une housse de coussin de support permettant d'éliminer l'humidité et la chaleur d'une surface de contact du coussin de support. L'ensemble housse de coussin de support comprend une housse de coussin de support qui comprend un panneau supérieur présentant une surface supérieure, une surface inférieure et une couche d'écartement intermédiaire placée entre la surface supérieure et la surface inférieure. La housse de coussin de support comprend par ailleurs une certaine quantité d'un matériau hygroscopique et au moins un tube flexible qui définit une pluralité de perforations. Chaque perforation est en communication fluidique avec la couche d'écartement intermédiaire du panneau supérieur. L'ensemble housse comprend par ailleurs une pompe à air qui est raccordée fonctionnellement au tube flexible, de sorte qu'une certaine quantité d'air est délivrée dans le tube flexible et la couche d'écartement intermédiaire de la housse. L'invention concerne également des procédés permettant d'éliminer l'humidité d'une surface de contact d'un coussin de support.
PCT/US2014/043993 2014-06-25 2014-06-25 Ensembles housse de coussin de support permettant d'éliminer la chaleur et l'humidité WO2015199667A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

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PCT/US2014/043993 WO2015199667A1 (fr) 2014-06-25 2014-06-25 Ensembles housse de coussin de support permettant d'éliminer la chaleur et l'humidité
US15/320,797 US20170150822A1 (en) 2014-06-25 2014-06-25 Support cushion cover assemblies for removing heat and humidity

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US11160386B2 (en) 2018-06-29 2021-11-02 Tempur World, Llc Body support cushion with ventilation system

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USD899814S1 (en) 2018-01-08 2020-10-27 Tempur World, Llc Pillow
USD896000S1 (en) 2018-01-08 2020-09-15 Tempur World, Llc Pillow
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US10827845B2 (en) 2017-02-24 2020-11-10 Sealy Technology, Llc Support cushions including a support insert with a bag for directing air flow, and methods for controlling surface temperature of same
US11160386B2 (en) 2018-06-29 2021-11-02 Tempur World, Llc Body support cushion with ventilation system

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