U.S. patent application number 11/659522 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for mattress comprising an active heat absorbing/releasing layer in combination with a down layer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Quilts of Denmark A/S. Invention is credited to Hans-Erik Schmidt.
Application Number | 20080028517 11/659522 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42937862 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080028517 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmidt; Hans-Erik |
February 7, 2008 |
Mattress Comprising An Active Heat Absorbing/Releasing Layer In
Combination With A Down Layer
Abstract
The present invention relates to a mattress (101), wherein the
mattress is adapted to be used by a person during rest and
comprises a support element (105), wherein said support element is
covered by a first layer of a material (107) having temperature
regulating properties by absorbing and releasing heat and a second
layer of down. By using a material with temperature regulating
properties together with a layer of down filling (109), very good
properties of minimizing temperature variations are obtained.
Inventors: |
Schmidt; Hans-Erik;
(Sommersted, DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAY PITNEY LLP
7 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK
NY
10036-7311
US
|
Assignee: |
Quilts of Denmark A/S
Pantonevej 1
Vamdrup
DK
DK-6580
|
Family ID: |
42937862 |
Appl. No.: |
11/659522 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
May 17, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK06/00266 |
371 Date: |
July 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/421 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 21/046 20130101;
A47C 27/124 20130101; A47C 27/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/421 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/00 20060101
A47C027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 19, 2005 |
DK |
PA 2005 00729 |
Claims
1. A mattress comprising a support element, wherein said support
element is covered by a first layer of a material having
temperature regulating properties by absorbing and releasing heat
and a second layer of down.
2. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the temperature
regulating material comprises a phase change material.
3. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the mattress further
comprises a third layer of distance material below said second
layer.
4. A mattress according to claim 3, wherein the mattress further
comprises a fourth layer of spacer material, said fourth layer
being positioned on the opposite side of the support element than
the third layer, whereby each spacer material covers each side of
said support element.
5. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the second layer of
down comprises goose downs.
6. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the second layer has a
thickness between 1 mm and 20 mm.
7. A mattress according to claim 2, wherein the third layer has a
thickness between 3 and 50 mm.
8. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the mattress further
comprises at least one cover layer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a mattress.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] During sleep the human body goes through different phases,
and in these phases the body temperature varies both as a result of
internal temperature changes in the body during sleep and because
of variations of the temperature in the surroundings. These
temperature variations disturb the sleep. It is especially
important for the sleep that the most important phase--the REM
phase--is undisturbed, because in this phase the brain is recharged
and prepared for the next waken period. Another effect of the
temperature changes is that the quilt covering the person is kicked
off during sleep, which often results in the person waking up later
on freezing. Further, the temperature changes might also result in
a sweaty, wet mattress. In both cases the temperature change does
not only disturb the sleep, but might also result in sickness.
[0003] New materials have been developed in an attempt to address
special clothing and other thermal regulating system requirements.
For example, microencapsulated phase change materials have been
described as a suitable component for substrate coatings when
exceptional heat transfer and storage capabilities are desired.
[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,904 substrates are described, which
are coated with a binder containing microcapsules filled with
energy absorbing phase change material. These microcapsules enable
the substrate to exhibit extended or enhanced heat retention or
storage properties.
[0005] Also by way of example, microencapsulated phase change
materials have been described as a suitable component for inclusion
in fibres, when exceptional heat transfer and storage capabilities
are desired. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,958 a fibre with integral micro
spheres filled with phase change material or plastic crystals has
enhanced thermal properties at predetermined temperatures. This
document further teaches that such fibres may be woven to form a
fabric having the enhanced thermal storage properties.
[0006] Generally speaking, phase change materials have the
capability of absorbing or releasing thermal energy to reduce or
eliminate heat transfer at the temperature stabilizing range of the
particular temperature stabilizing material. The phase change
material inhibits or stops the flow of thermal energy through the
coating during the time where the phase change material is
absorbing or releasing heat, typically during the material's change
of phase. This action is transient, i.e. it will be effective as a
barrier to thermal energy until the total latent heat of the
temperature stabilizing material is absorbed or released during the
heating or cooling process. Thermal energy may be stored or removed
from the phase change material, and can effectively be recharged by
a source of heat or cold. By selecting an appropriate phase change
material, a substrate can be coated or a fibre manufactured
incorporating a phase change material for use in a particular
application where the stabilization of temperatures is desired.
[0007] One approach of solving the mentioned sleeping problem is by
introducing a layer of phase change material above the core of the
mattress. Phase change material has the ability of absorbing and
releasing heat to/from said body depending on the temperature of
the body during sleep, and by using phase change material in the
mattress it is the intention that temperature variations of the
body should be minimised during sleep.
[0008] A problem with this solution is that during sleep moist from
the body is generated and the moist is then absorbed in the layer
following the phase change material, which typically either is the
core of the mattress or a layer of synthetic filling between the
core and the phase change material. The moist decreases the effect
of the phase change material considerably, whereby the introduction
of the phase change material does not sufficiently solve the
problem of minimising the temperature variations during sleep.
[0009] US 2002/0164474 describes a composite material for cooling
and insulating a user in a cold environment where the material i.a.
provides a path for evaporation or direct absorption of
perspiration from the skin of the wearer an where one application
of the composite material is described as a metabolic heating or
cooling blanket useful for treating hypothermia or fever patients
and therapeutic heating or cooling orthopaedic joint supports.
[0010] US 2003/0124318 describes a thermal barrier comprising a
first barrier layer, a second barrier layer with a base material
between them. As possible application of the thermal barrier
textiles, footwear, sleeping bags and bedding.
[0011] None of the above documents solves the problem with moist
described above.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is therefore an object to provide a mattress solving the
above mentioned problems.
[0013] This is obtained by a mattress comprising a support element,
wherein said support element is covered by a first layer of a
material having temperature regulating properties by absorbing and
releasing heat and a second layer of down.
[0014] By using a material with temperature regulating properties
together with a layer of down filling, very good properties of
minimizing temperature variations are obtained. Compared to e.g.
fiber filling, down filling has very good moist absorbing
properties, and by minimizing the moist tests have shown that the
functionality of temperature regulating materials, such as e.g.
phase change materials, is improved considerably. Thereby the
temperature regulating material can be used to fulfill the quite
strict requirement to temperature variation, which is necessary to
get an undisturbed sleep--and especially an undisturbed REM sleep.
Further, by using the temperature regulating material in the
mattress it is avoided that the user gets sick, both because a
better sleep improves the immune system and because the risk of the
person unintentionally kicking of the quilt or making the mattress
wet because of sweat is reduced. Further, since the risk of the
mattress getting sweaty is reduced, the frequency of which the
mattress and/or mattress covers have to be cleaned can be
reduced.
[0015] In an embodiment the temperature regulating material
comprises a phase change material. This material has proven to be a
good material to be used on a mattress and can be adapted to
optimally minimise the temperature variations in temperature ranges
around the human body temperature.
[0016] In an embodiment the mattress further comprises a third
layer of spacer material. Spacer material provides an air space
between the layers above and below the spacer layer. Thereby moist
can easily vanish because of air circulation from the surroundings,
and the temperature regulating properties of the temperature
regulating material are improved.
[0017] Examples of spacer material are distance mess a 3mesh.RTM.
product from Muller Textil. Using this product it is possible to
adjust the hardness and the spring characteristics.
[0018] In an embodiment the mattress further comprises a fourth
layer of spacer material, said fourth layer positioned on the
opposite site of the support element than the third layer, whereby
each spacer material covers each side of said support element. This
ensures that moist from both sides of said mattress is minimized
because of a possible air circulation around the mattress.
[0019] In an embodiment the second layer of down comprises goose
downs. Goose downs have proven to be very good at absorbing moist,
whereby the functionality of the temperature regulating material is
improved.
[0020] In an embodiment the second layer has a thickness between 1
mm and 20 mm.
[0021] In an embodiment the third layer has a thickness between 3
mm and 50 mm.
[0022] In an embodiment the mattress further comprises at least one
cover layer. This protects the layer of phase change material
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will
be described referring to the figures, where
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a mattress according to
the present invention,
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a mattress
according to the present invention,
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates the functionality of the mattress
according to the present invention,
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates the human body temperature variations
when using a mattress according to the present invention compared
to the human body temperature variations when using prior art
mattresses,
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of a mattress
according to the present invention,
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of a mattress
according to the present invention,
[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates the functionality of the mattress
according to the embodiment of the mattress illustrated in FIG.
6.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a mattress according to the present
invention. The mattress 101 is in contact with a large part of the
human body 103 during sleep. A cross section of the mattress 101 is
illustrated at 102. The mattress comprises a support element 105
e.g. a core based on foam and/or springs, wherein the support
element is covered by a first layer of a material having
temperature regulating properties such as phase change material 107
and a second layer of down 109
[0032] The layer of down between the support element and the phase
change material could in one embodiment be manufactured by sewing a
top layer comprising the layer of temperature regulating material
107 with separating wall generating channels. Thereafter the down
filling is blown into the channels and when filled, the channels
are closed.
[0033] As an alternative a top mattress to be placed on top of an
existing spring based mattress could comprise the second layer of
down filling and the first layer of temperature regulating
material. Further a layer could be provided above the temperature
regulating material 107 to protect the temperature regulating
layer.
[0034] In FIG. 2 another embodiment of a mattress according to the
present invention is illustrated, here beside the first layer of
temperature regulating material 207, the mattress comprises a third
layer of spacer material 201 positioned between the down layer 209
and the support element 205.
[0035] In FIG. 3 the functionality of the mattress according to the
present invention is illustrated. The human body is illustrated at
301, the temperature regulating material is illustrated at 303 and
the down layer is illustrated at 305. When the temperature of the
human body 301 increases, the extra heat is stored in the
temperature regulating layer 303, and the body temperature is
lowered. When the body temperature of the human body 301 decreases,
the stored extra heat is released from the temperature regulating
layer 303, whereby the body temperature is raised. Further, the
down layer, being a very effective moist absorber, absorbs moist
from the surroundings and moist released from the human body 301.
The amount of down in the layer is also used to ensure that the
body temperature is kept at a specific magnitude, whereas the
temperature regulating material is used to minimise temperature
variations.
[0036] In FIG. 4 the human body temperature variations when using
mattresses according to the present invention are compared to the
human body temperature variations when using prior art mattresses.
On the horizontal axis the time is shown, and on the vertical axis
the body temperature is shown. The body temperature when using a
prior art mattress is illustrated by the curve 405, whereas the
body temperature when using a mattress according to the present
invention is illustrated by the curve 403. Further, the interval
401 on the vertical axis is the interval defined as the optimal
sleeping temperature. By using a mattress according to the present
invention, the body temperature variations are minimised and kept
within the optimal sleeping temperature interval 401, whereas when
using a prior art mattress large temperature variations occur.
[0037] In FIG. 5 a further embodiment of a mattress according to
the present invention is illustrated.
[0038] In FIG. 5 another embodiment of a mattress according to the
present invention is illustrated, here, beside the first layer of
temperature regulating material 507, the mattress comprises a third
layer and a fourth layer of spacer material 501, 503 on each side
of the support element 505.
[0039] In FIG. 6 a further embodiment of a mattress according to
the present invention is illustrated, here cover layers 601, 603
are positioned as the outer parts on each side of the mattress
[0040] In FIG. 7 the functionality of the mattress according to the
embodiment of the mattress illustrated in FIG. 6 is illustrated.
The human body is illustrated at 701, the temperature regulating
material is illustrated at 703 and the down layer is illustrated at
705. Further the third and fourth layers of spacer material 707,
709 are illustrated on each side of the support element 708. When
the temperature of the human body 701 increases, the extra heat is
stored by the temperature regulating layer 703, and the body
temperature is lowered.
[0041] When the body temperature of the human body 701 decreases,
the stored extra heat is released from the temperature regulating
layer 703, whereby the body temperature is raised. Further, the
down layer, being a very effective moist absorber, absorbs moist
from the surroundings and moist released from the human body 701.
The spacer material layers 707, 709 allow air circulation through
the mattress and thereby further minimises the amount of moist.
[0042] The mattresses can be filled uniquely e.g. based on the
climate in which the mattress is to be used and based on the
comfort temperature of the human being intending to use the
mattress.
[0043] In the above description mattresses comprising down filling
are described. In this connection the word down relates to both
down, feathers or a combination thereof and should therefore be
interpreted correspondingly.
[0044] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments
illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled
in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments
without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the
claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be
construed as limiting the claim. The word `comprising` does not
exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed
in a claim. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware
comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably
programmed computer. In a device claim enumerating several means,
several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of
hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in
mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a
combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
* * * * *