Devices and Systems to Control Bed Temperature and Moisture Level
Disclosed herein are devices and systems to control and customize the temperature and moisture levels of a bed. A device or system can include: intra-room channels which conduct a flowable substance between a central HVAC vent and a bed; and intra-bed channels which conduct a flowable substance through a bedding component such as a bed mattress, bed mattress pad or topper, lower/fitted bed sheet, upper bed sheet, blanket, comforter, or quilt. A device or system can be a hybrid system wherein a liquid flow channel is nested inside an air flow channel.
1 . A device or system to control the climate of one or more areas of a bed comprising:
one or more intra-room flow channels which conduct a flowable substance between a first component and a second component in a bedroom; wherein the first component is selected from the group consisting of (a) an airflow vent though which air enters the bedroom from a central HVAC system, (b) an airflow vent through which air exits the bedroom to a central HVAC system, and (c) an air conditioner mounted in a bedroom window; and wherein the second component is a bedding component; and
one or more intra-bed flow channels which conduct a flowable substance through the bedding component in order to change the climate of one or more areas of a bed.
2 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the flowable substance conducted by one or more intra-room flow channels is air and the flowable substance conducted by one or more intra-bed flow channels is also air.
3 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the flowable substance conducted by one or more intra-room flow channels is a liquid and the flowable substance conducted by one or more intra-bed flow channels is also the liquid.
4 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the flowable substance conducted by one or more intra-room flow channels is air and the flowable substance conducted by one or more intra-bed flow channels is a liquid.
5 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the flowable substance conducted by one or more intra-room flow channels is a liquid and the flowable substance conducted by one or more intra-bed flow channels is air.
6 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the device or system further comprises a valve which changes the proportion of air from a central HVAC vent which flows into the intra-room flow channel versus the proportion of air from the central HVAC which flows into ambient air in the bedroom.
7 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the one or more intra-room flow channels comprise one or more modular sections.
8 . The device or system in claim 7 wherein the one or more intra-room flow channels comprise one or more modular sections selected from the group consisting of: a first type of intra-room flow channel modular section which spans straight along a wall; a second type of intra-room flow channel modular section which spans around a corner where two walls intersect; and a third type of intra-room flow channel modular section which at least partially covers a central HVAC vent.
9 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the bedding component is selected from the group consisting of: bed mattress, bed mattress pad or topper, lower/fitted bed sheet, upper bed sheet, blanket, comforter, quilt, and other specialized bedding.
10 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein one or more intra-bed flow channels span at least a portion of the perimeter of the bed.
11 . The device or system in claim 10 wherein one or more intra-bed flow channels span a right side, a left side, and a foot side of the perimeter of the bed.
12 . The device or system in claim 10 wherein a bedding component has longitudinal fabric channels along at least a portion of the perimeter of the bed into which one or more intra-bed flow channels are inserted.
13 . The device or system in claim 12 wherein the bedding component is a lower/fitted bed sheet with longitudinal fabric channels around its right side, its left side, and its foot side and wherein one or more intra-bed flow channels are inserted into the longitudinal fabric channels.
14 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the device or system further comprises a plurality of valves which are in fluid communication with the one or more intra-bed flow channels, wherein the valves are manually opened or closed by turning a knob, pivoting a lever, rotating a threaded member, sliding a strip, or placing a cap.
15 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the device or system further comprises a plurality of valves in fluid communication with the one or more intra-bed flow channels, wherein the valves are automatically opened or closed by an electric actuator, hydraulic actuator, or pneumatic actuator.
16 . The device or system in claim 1 wherein the device or system further comprises one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of: temperature sensor, pressure sensor, force sensor, moisture sensor, humidity sensor, motion sensor, sound sensor, light sensor, optical sensor, infrared sensor, spectroscopic sensor, electromagnetic energy sensor, EEG sensor, and EMG sensor.
17 . A device or system to control the climate of one or more areas of a bed comprising:
a first intra-bed flow channel, wherein the first intra-bed flow channel conducts a liquid through a bedding component; and
a second intra-bed flow channel, wherein the second intra-bed flow channel conducts air through the bedding component, and wherein the first intra-bed flow channel is inside the second intra-bed flow channel.
18 . The device or system in claim 17 wherein there are holes and/or openings in the second intra-bed flow channel through which air escapes.
19 . A leak reduction mechanism for a device or system which controls the climate of one or more areas of a bed comprising:
an intra-bed flow channel which conducts a liquid through a bedding component;
one or more valves which are in fluid communication with the intra-bed flow channel;
one or more leak detection sensors selected from the group consisting of (a) a moisture and/or humidity sensor under the section of the intra-bed flow channel, (b) a pressure sensor which is in fluid communication with the section of the intra-bed flow channel, and (c) a fluid volume sensor which is in fluid communication with the section of the intra-bed flow channel;
wherein the one or more valves are automatically closed if data from the one or more sensors indicates liquid leaking from the section.
20 . The leak reduction mechanism in claim 19 where a first valve is at a first end of the section, a second valve is at a second end of the section, and both valves are closed if data from the one or more sensors indicates liquid leaking from the section.