IP Library › Granted Patent US 12660932
Granted Patent B1
US 12660932 · App. 18/170,990 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Multi-zone temperature modulation system for bed or blanket

Inventors: Todd Youngblood (Mooresville, NC); Tara Youngblood (Mooresville, NC)
Assignee: Sleep Solutions Inc.
A47C21/04A47G9/0215F25B21/04A47C21/042A47C21/044A47C21/046A47C21/048A61G2203/46A61G2210/70A61G2210/90
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12660932
App. No.
18/170,990
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A temperature modulation system for a bed, blanket, or other furniture includes a fluid for moderating temperature change, a number of conduit circuits for directing the fluid through respective zones, a control unit including a thermoelectric device for modulating temperature of the fluid, and a pump. Each of the conduit circuits selectively and independently directs fluid through its respective zone in order to produce a temperature within the zone that is independent of the temperature outside the zone. The system also includes an arrangement of one or more zones in an arrangement in which the control unit is programmed to vary the zone temperature over time according to a schedule.

Claims (55)

1 . A system for adjusting a temperature of a liquid comprising:

a set of control units that includes a first control unit and a second control unit, the system further including a set of pumps including a first pump and a second pump, each pump having at least one corresponding inlet, and at least one corresponding outlet;

a first reservoir and a second reservoir, each containing a portion of the liquid; and

at least one device operable to adjust the temperature of the liquid in at least one of the first reservoir or the second reservoir;

wherein at least one pump of the set of pumps is operable to pump the liquid through the corresponding at least one outlet and into a first independent temperature zone;

wherein at least one pump of the set of pumps is operable to pump the liquid through the corresponding at least one outlet and into a second independent temperature zone;

wherein each pump of the set of pumps is operable to receive the liquid through the corresponding at least one inlet from at least one of the first independent temperature zone and the second independent temperature zone; and

wherein the first independent temperature zone and the second independent temperature zone are embedded in a mattress or a mattress topper.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of control units is operable to wirelessly receive a first target temperature for the first independent temperature zone and a second target temperature for the second independent temperature zone.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of control units is operable to cause the at least one device to heat or cool the liquid based on a first target temperature of the first independent temperature zone or a second target temperature of the second independent temperature zone.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of control units is operable to control distribution of the liquid to the first independent temperature zone or the second independent temperature zone based on a first target temperature of the first independent temperature zone or a second target temperature of the second independent temperature zone or stop distribution of the liquid to the first independent temperature zone or the second independent temperature zone based on the first target temperature of the first independent temperature zone or the second target temperature of the second independent temperature zone.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of control units is operable to control distribution of the liquid to the first independent temperature zone through the at least one outlet and the second independent temperature zone through the at least one outlet simultaneously based on scheduled target temperatures correlating to a sleep cycle of at least one user.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of control units is operable to control distribution of the liquid to the first independent temperature zone and the second independent temperature zone through the at least one outlet sequentially based on scheduled target temperatures correlating to a sleep cycle of at least one user.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet is connected to a first end of a first circuit, wherein the first independent temperature zone includes a portion of the first circuit, wherein the at least one outlet is connected to a first end of a second circuit, and wherein the second independent temperature zone includes a portion of the second circuit.

8 . The system of claim 1 :

wherein the first control unit includes a first inlet, a first outlet, the first pump, and the first reservoir;

wherein the second control unit includes a second inlet, a second outlet, the second pump, and the second reservoir;

wherein the at least one device includes a first device operable to adjust the temperature of the liquid in the first reservoir and a second device operable to adjust the temperature of the liquid in the second reservoir;

wherein the first pump is operable to receive the liquid through the first inlet from the first independent temperature zone and pump the liquid from the first reservoir through the first outlet and into the first independent temperature zone; and

wherein the second pump is operable to receive the liquid through the second inlet from the second independent temperature zone and pump the liquid from the second reservoir through the second outlet and into the second independent temperature zone.

9 . A system for adjusting a temperature of a liquid comprising:

set of control units that includes:

a first control unit having a first pump fluidly coupled to a first reservoir, a first outlet, and a first inlet, and further having a first temperature-control device; and

a second control unit having a second pump fluidly coupled to a second reservoir, a second outlet, and a second inlet, and further having a second temperature-control device;

wherein the first temperature-control device and the second temperature-control device is each operable to adjust the temperature of the liquid contained in the first reservoir and second reservoir, respectively, based on respective schedules of target temperatures over corresponding a selected periods of time;

wherein the first outlet is fluidly coupled to the first a first end of a first conduit circuit, wherein at least a portion of the first conduit circuit is included in a first independent temperature zone;

wherein the second outlet is fluidly coupled to a first end of a second conduit circuit, wherein at least a portion of the second conduit circuit is included in a second independent temperature zone;

wherein the first pump is operable to pump a first portion of the liquid through the first outlet and into the first independent temperature zone, and to receive the first portion of the liquid from the first independent temperature zone via the first inlet; and

wherein the second at least one pump is operable to pump a second portion of the liquid through the second outlet and into the second independent temperature zone, and to receive the second portion of the liquid from the second independent temperature zone via the second inlet.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first independent temperature zone and the second independent temperature zone are embedded in a mattress or a mattress topper.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the schedules of target temperatures correlate to a sleep cycle of at least one user.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first control unit is operable to receive a first actual temperature of the first independent temperature zone and the second control unit is operative to receive a second actual temperature of the second independent temperature zone, and wherein the first pump is operable to control or to stop distribution of the liquid to the first independent temperature zone based on comparison of the first actual temperature of the first independent temperature zone to a first target temperature of the first independent temperature zone, and the second pump is operable to control or to stop distribution of the liquid to the second independent temperature zone based on a comparison of the second actual temperature of the second independent temperature zone to a second target temperature of the second independent temperature zone.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the liquid is water, and wherein the first independent temperature zone and the second independent temperature zone are embedded in a mattress or a mattress topper.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first control unit is operable to wirelessly receive a first target temperature for the first independent temperature zone and the second control unit is operable to wirelessly receive a second target temperature for the second independent temperature zone.

15 . A system for adjusting a temperature of a liquid comprising:

a first control unit and a second control unit;

the first control unit, including:

a first pump including at least one first outlet, and at least one first inlet;

a first reservoir operable to contain a first portion of the liquid; and

a first temperature sensor;

wherein the first control unit is operable to heat and cool the first portion of the liquid in the at least one reservoir;

the second control unit, including:

a second pump including at least one second outlet, and at least one second inlet;

a second reservoir operable to contain a second portion of the liquid; and

a second temperature sensor;

wherein the second control unit is operable to heat and cool the second portion of the liquid in the at least one reservoir;

wherein the first outlet is fluidly coupled to the first independent temperature zone and the at least one second outlet is fluidly coupled to the second independent temperature zone;

wherein the first pump is operable to pump the liquid through the first outlet and into the first independent temperature zone, and the second pump is operable to pump the liquid through the at least one second outlet into the second independent temperature zone;

wherein the at least one first inlet is fluidly coupled to the first independent temperature zone, and wherein the at least one second inlet is fluidly coupled to the second independent temperature zone;

wherein the first control unit is operable to receive data from the first temperature sensor corresponding to the temperature of the first independent temperature zone and the second control unit is operable to receive data from the second temperature sensor corresponding to the second independent temperature zone; and

wherein the heating or cooling of the liquid in the first and the second reservoirs is modified based on the data from the at least one temperature sensor.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first and the second control unit is each operable to receive target temperatures from at least one computing device.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the liquid is water.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first and the second control unit is each operable to heat and cool the liquid in the corresponding reservoir using at least one thermoelectric device.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first independent temperature zone and the second independent temperature zone are embedded in a mattress or a mattress topper.