Granted Patent B2

US 12,161,227 · App. 18/495,953 · Granted Dec 10, 2024

Inventors: Tara Youngblood (Mooresville, NC); Todd Youngblood (Mooresville, NC)

Assignee: Sleep Solutions Inc.

A47C21/04A47C31/008A61B5/01A61B5/02055A61B5/11A61B5/14546A61B5/14551A61B5/369A61B5/021A61B5/024A61B2560/0242

Abstract

Claims (60)

1. An article for temperature-conditioning a surface comprising:

a first layer having a plurality of shapes that define gaps in the first layer, wherein the first layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface;

wherein the plurality of shapes are openings that extend through the exterior surface and the interior surface of the first layer;

a second layer having a corresponding plurality of shapes that define gaps in the second layer, wherein the second layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface, and wherein the second layer is permanently affixed to the first layer along a periphery of the article and a periphery of each of the plurality of shapes;

wherein the corresponding plurality of shapes are openings that extend through the exterior surface and the interior surface of the second layer;

at least one interior chamber device between the interior surface of the first layer and the interior surface of the second layer;

at least one fluid supply line for delivering a fluid to the at least one interior chamber; at least one fluid return line for removing the fluid from the at least one interior chamber; and

at least one control unit attached to the at least one fluid supply line and the at least one fluid return line, wherein the at least one control unit is operable to selectively cool or heat the fluid;

wherein the at least one interior chamber is constructed and configured to retain the fluid without leaking;

wherein the fluid does not flow through the plurality of shapes;

wherein the article includes a first panel extending from a first edge of the article and a second panel extending from an opposite edge of the article; and

wherein the first panel and the second panel are operable to fold to secure attachment of the article to a mattress.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water.

3. The article of claim 2 , wherein the article has a rate of heat transfer of at least 150 W at a water temperature of 14.4° C. (58° F.).

4. The article of claim 2 , wherein the article has a rate of heat transfer of at least 200 W at a water temperature of 14.4° C. (58° F.).

5. The article of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid supply line and the at least one fluid return line are contained in a hose.

6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shapes comprises at least 15% of a surface area of the article.

7. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer layer positioned within the at least one interior chamber.

8. The article of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the first layer and/or the exterior surface of the second layer are comprised of a thermally reflective and/or an insulating material.

9. The article of claim 8 , wherein the thermally reflective and/or the insulating material is lyocell.

10. The article of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one control unit includes at least two thermoelectric cooling devices, wherein each of the at least two thermoelectric cooling devices has at least 127 couples and a maximum amperage of at least 6 A.

11. A sleep system comprising:

at least one remote device; and

an article for adjusting a temperature of a surface, wherein the article further comprises:

a first layer having a plurality of shapes that define gaps in the first layer, wherein the first layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface;

wherein the plurality of shapes are openings that extend through the exterior surface and interior surface of the first layer;

a second layer having a corresponding plurality of shapes that define gaps in the second layer, wherein the second layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface, and wherein the second layer is permanently affixed to the first layer along a periphery of the article and a periphery of each of the plurality of shapes;

wherein the corresponding plurality of shapes are openings that extend through the exterior surface and interior surface of the second layer;

at least one interior chamber defined between the interior surface of the first layer and the interior surface of the second layer;

at least one fluid supply line for delivering a fluid to the at least one interior chamber;

at least one fluid return line for removing the fluid from the at least one interior chamber; and

at least one control unit attached to the at least one fluid supply line and the at least one fluid return line, wherein the at least one control unit is operable to selectively cool or heat the fluid, and wherein the at least one control unit has at least one antenna and at least one processor;

wherein the at least one interior chamber is constructed and configured to retain the fluid without leaking;

wherein the fluid does not flow through the plurality of shapes;

wherein the at least one control unit is operable to receive parameters from the at least one remote device over a network to modify the temperature of the surface; and

wherein the at least one remote device and the at least one control unit are in real-time two-way communication.

12. The sleep system of claim 11 , further comprising at least one remote server having real-time two-way communication with the at least one remote device.

13. The sleep system of claim 11 , further comprising at least one body sensor and/or at least one environmental sensor.

14. The sleep system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one body sensor is a respiration sensor, a heart rate sensor, a movement sensor, a brain wave sensor, a body temperature sensor, an analyte sensor, a blood pressure sensor, and/or a pulse oximeter sensor.

15. The sleep system of claim 11 , wherein the network includes a wireless local area network and/or a wireless personal area network.

16. The sleep system of claim 11 , wherein the exterior surface of the first layer and/or the exterior surface of the second layer are comprised of a thermally reflective and/or an insulating material, and wherein the thermally reflective and/or the insulating material is lyocell.

17. The sleep system of claim 11 , wherein the fluid is water, and wherein the article has a rate of heat transfer of at least 150 W at a water temperature of 14.4° C. (58° F.).

18. A sleep system comprising:

at least one body sensor;

at least one remote device;

at least one remote server; and

an article for adjusting a temperature of a surface, wherein the article further comprises:

a first layer having a plurality of shapes that define gaps in the first layer, wherein the first layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface;

wherein the plurality of shapes are openings that extend through the exterior surface and interior surface of the first layer;

a second layer having a corresponding plurality of shapes that define gaps in the second layer, wherein the second layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface, and wherein the second layer is permanently affixed to the first layer along a periphery of the article and a periphery of each of the plurality of shapes;

wherein the corresponding plurality of shapes are openings that extend through the exterior surface and interior surface of the second layer;

at least one interior chamber defined between the interior surface of the first layer and the interior surface of the second layer;

at least one fluid supply line for delivering a fluid to the at least one interior chamber; at least one fluid return line for removing the fluid from the at least one interior chamber; and

at least one control unit attached to the at least one fluid supply line and the at least one fluid return line, wherein the at least one control unit is operable to selectively cool or heat the fluid, and wherein the at least one control unit has at least one antenna and at least one processor;

wherein the at least one interior chamber is constructed and configured to retain the fluid without leaking;

wherein the fluid does not flow through the plurality of shapes;

wherein the at least one body sensor and the at least one remote device are in real-time two-way communication; and

wherein the at least one remote device and the at least one control unit are in real-time two-way communication.

19. The sleep system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one body sensor is a respiration sensor, a heart rate sensor, a movement sensor, a brain wave sensor, a body temperature sensor, a blood glucose sensor, a blood pressure sensor, and/or a pulse oximeter sensor.

20. The sleep system of claim 18 , wherein the exterior surface of the first layer and/or the exterior surface of the second layer are comprised of a thermally reflective and/or an insulating material, and wherein the thermally reflective and/or the insulating material is lyocell.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (8)