U.S. patent application number 11/937494 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for portable ventilation system.
Invention is credited to Kurt West Tompkins.
Application Number | 20080060131 11/937494 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36204791 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080060131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tompkins; Kurt West |
March 13, 2008 |
Portable Ventilation System
Abstract
Provided herein is a portable device useful for providing
ventilation to a selected area via circulation of ambient air. A
device according to the present invention is especially well-suited
to providing ventilating air to a person resting on a bed, by
directing air from the room to the volume defined by the top
surface of the mattress of the bed and a bed covering disposed
thereon. Use of the present invention increases the ability of
persons to achieve restful sleep by enabling convenient control of
the air surrounding the person to a comfortable level.
Inventors: |
Tompkins; Kurt West; (Snook,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GILBRETH & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
PO BOX 2428
BELLAIRE
TX
77402-2428
US
|
Family ID: |
36204791 |
Appl. No.: |
11/937494 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10970341 |
Oct 21, 2004 |
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11937494 |
Nov 8, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/423 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 9/00 20130101; A47C
21/048 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/423 |
International
Class: |
A47C 21/04 20060101
A47C021/04 |
Claims
1) A device useful for providing a moving current of ventilating
air which comprises: a) a base portion having a hollow interior
portion and further comprising: i) at least one inlet opening
through which air may be admitted, and ii) an exit opening through
which air may exit; b) an air conduit channel having an inlet end
portion and an outlet end portion; wherein said inlet end portion
of said air conduit channel is in effective fluid communication
with said exit opening of said base portion; and wherein said
outlet end portion defines a ventilating exit through which air may
exit the device; c) at least one fan disposed between said inlet
opening in said base portion and said outlet end portion of said
air conduit channel for causing ambient air to flow from said inlet
opening of said base portion to the outlet end portion of said air
conduit channel; and d) an adjustable extendable support arm
attached between a support bar and said air conduit channel to
provide adjustment of a spacing between the support bar and the
ventilating exit.
2) A device according to claim 1 wherein said support bar is
disposed to be substantially parallel to the outlet end portion of
said air conduit channel.
3) A device according to claim 1 wherein said support bar is
disposed to be directly in the path of air exiting said ventilating
exit.
4) (canceled)
5) A device according to claim 1 wherein said base portion
comprises a flat lower surface which is adapted to rest on a
substantially horizontal surface.
6) A device according to claim 5 wherein said air conduit channel
is substantially vertically disposed with respect to the flat lower
surface of said base portion.
7) A device according to claim 1 wherein the fan is disposed within
the base portion.
8) A device according to claim 1 wherein said air conduit channel
is substantially rectangular in cross-section.
9) A device according to claim 1 wherein the direction of airflow
through said air conduit channel is in a direction which is
substantially vertical with respect to the earth's surface.
10) A device according to claim 1 wherein the direction of air
admitted into the inlet opening of the base portion is
substantially perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air
through the air conduit channel
11) A device according to claim 1 wherein the support bar is
disposed to be within the flow of exiting said ventilating exit
sufficiently to substantially alter the direction of flow of air
exiting said air conduit.
12) A device according to claim 2 wherein the support bar alters
the direction of flow of air exiting said ventiliating exit in an
amount of between about 45 degrees and about 90 degrees.
13) A device according to claim 1 wherein the support bar is
substantially linear and is disposed to be non-parallel to the
outlet end portion of the air conduit
14) A device according to claim 1 wherein said support bar is
curved.
15) A device according to claim 1 wherein said support bar is
attached to said air conduit channel by at least two support
arms
16) A device according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable
extendable support arm[s] is attached to said air conduit by a
hook-and-loop type fastener.
17) A device according to claim 1 further comprising a support
shelf attached to the face of said air conduit channel.
18) A device according to claim 17 wherein said support shelf is
adjustably attached to said air conduit channel.
19) A device useful for providing ventilating air to a volume
defined by the upper surface of a bed and a bed covering selected
from the group consisting of: a bed sheet, and a blanket, said
device comprising an air conduit channel having an air inlet end
and an air outlet end, further comprising a fan means disposed to
cause air to flow into said air inlet end and to exit said air
outlet end through a ventilating exit, and further comprising a
support bar in the direct path of air after said aid has exited
said ventiliating exit.
20) A device according to claim 1, further comprising: a) a bed
comprising a mattress having a top surface; and b) a bed covering
disposed upon the top surface of said mattress; wherein said
adjustable extendable support arm extends the support bar to
contact said bed covering sufficiently to define a volume of air
between the top surface of said mattress and said bed covering.
21) A device according to claim 20 wherein air is expelled out of
said outlet end portion of said air conduit channel and into said
volume of air.
22) A device useful for providing a moving current of ventilating
air which comprises: a) a base portion having a hollow interior
portion and further comprising: i) at least one inlet opening
through which air may be admitted, and ii) an exit opening through
which air may exit; b) an air conduit channel having an inlet end
portion and an outlet end portion; wherein said inlet end portion
of said air conduit channel is in effective fluid communication
with said exit opening of said base portion; and wherein said
outlet end portion defines a rectangular ventilating exit through
which air may exit the device; c) at least one fan disposed between
said inlet opening in said base portion and said outlet end portion
of said air conduit channel for causing ambient air to flow from
said inlet opening of said base portion to the outlet end portion
of said air conduit channel; and d) an adjustably extendable
support arm attached between a substantially linear support bar and
said air conduit channel, wherein the support bar and the
ventilating exit are non-parallel.
23) A device useful for providing a moving current of ventilating
air which comprises: a) a base portion having a hollow interior
portion and further comprising: i) at least one inlet opening
through which air may be admitted, and ii) an exit opening through
which air may exit; b) an air conduit channel having an inlet end
portion and an outlet end portion; wherein said inlet end portion
of said air conduit channel is in effective fluid communication
with said exit opening of said base portion; and wherein said
outlet end portion defines a rectangular ventilating exit through
which air may exit the device; c) at least one fan disposed between
said inlet opening in said base portion and said outlet end portion
of said air conduit channel for causing ambient air to flow from
said inlet opening of said base portion to the outlet end portion
of said air conduit channel; and d) an adjustably extendable
support arm attached between a support bar and said air conduit
channel, wherein the support bar is positioned to alter the path of
air after said air has exited the ventilating exit.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates generally to devices useful for
providing ventilation by circulating ambient air. More
particularly, it relates to portable devices that are useful for
circulating the air surrounding a person resting on a substantially
flat surface, such as a bed.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is fairly common knowledge that on average, people spend
about 1/3 of their lives sleeping. However, there are many people
whose sleeping activity does not fall within the average, and of
these people a substantial proportion experience one or more common
sleeping disorders. While a detailed discussion of the number and
types of sleep disorders is beyond this specification, it is
nevertheless worthy of mention that most of the people who
experience sleep disorders typically achieve less sleep than they
generally desire. Sleep deprivation is known to alter cerebral
behavior, as shown by hundreds of readily-available studies in the
field of psychology, including MRI scans of the temporal lobe of
the cerebral cortex of sleep-deprived persons versus persons well
rested during verbal learning tests. (Nature magazine, Feb. 10,
2000 issue by author Sean Drummond, et al). Sleep deprivation has
been shown to correlate with increased rates of suicide, increased
divorce rates, and increased mental stress, which can in many cases
set the foreground for the development of more serious chronic
disorders. Therefore, it is clear that successfully assisting a
person who suffers from a sleep disorder in restoring their body's
natural sleeping patterns is an achievement of multi-faceted
benefit.
[0003] There are a many causes of the various known sleep
disorders. Of these causes the physical comfort of the person
attempting to sleep or rest is paramount, for if a person's ambient
surroundings are not conducive to their personal comfort, sleep can
become extremely difficult to achieve, if at all. One factor in the
person's environment that has a bearing on their ability to achieve
sleep is the ambient temperature. If the temperature of the
surroundings of a person is either too hot or too cold, restful
sleep may be impossible. Of particular concern is the case where
the surroundings are too hot, because in such cases the body's
ability to control its internal temperature may be effected to the
point where the body begins to sweat, and it is nearly impossible
to achieve restful sleep while sweating. Thus, maintaining the
ambient temperature at a level which is conducive to sleep is a key
to enabling a person to sleep.
[0004] Means for controlling the ambient temperature in a person's
surroundings are known to include the provision of "air
conditioning" in which an air conditioner utilizing the principles
of Joule-Thomson cooling is employed to extract heat from a volume
of air, such as a bedroom. While air conditioners are highly
effective at coarsely controlling the temperature in a room, the
customary preference for persons to sleep beneath one or more
bedsheets, covers, blankets, etc. coupled with the body's tendency
to liberate heat during its normal operation translates to the
well-known situation in which the person resting beneath the sheets
cannot get comfortable because they are too hot, which is
compounded by the proposition that if they remove the covers or
sheets from themselves then they become too cold. Owing to variance
between selected individual human subjects' metabolism, genetics,
etc. the method used in the fine tuning control of one's body
temperature becomes a matter of personal taste or preference, and
many individuals have typically been observed to develop their own
personal habits of effecting such fine tuning, such as sleeping
with more or less clothing, permitting part of the body to be
exposed to the open air, etc. In spite of these efforts, however,
perfect control of the temperature of ambient surroundings of
persons desiring to sleep has been fleeting. This fact is evidenced
by the myriad of schemes and contrivances provided by workers in
the prior art for effecting thermal control over a bed or region in
which a person normally rests for sleep, the following few of which
are exemplary, and are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 1,142,876 discloses a mattress having
perforated conduits disposed along the edges of the mattress, and
deflectors overhanging the perforations. There is a means for
sucking air simultaneously through the perforations of all of the
conduits. U.S. Pat. No. 2,097,751 provides a mattress comprising a
bedstead having: a) two bed posts; b) an air pump; c) a conduit
leading from the air pump to the first of the bed posts; d) a
manually operable valve in the conduit disposed adjacent to the
first bed post; and e) a tube rotatably-journalled in the first two
bed posts. The tube has a plurality of apertures disposed in a
straight line, with one end of the tube being connected to the
valve and the opposite end of the tube being closed by a plug
carried in the second bed post. There is also provided a means for
rotating the tube. Air is forced in jets through the apertures by
the pressure generated by the pump and may be directed at any
desired angle to the vertical. U.S. Pat. No. 2,461,432 teaches an
air conditioning device for beds having a bedstead, a mattress
supported on the bedstead and constructed with inlet and outlet
ports and passages through the interior of the mattress connecting
the ports. The invention includes a wall means surrounding the
mattress above the top surface thereof. There is also a passage
means from above the top of the mattress to the inlet, and a means
for circulating air through the mattress passages by way of the
inlet port, the passages, and the outlet port into the wall
surrounded space, above the mattress, and then via the passage
means back to the inlet port for recirculation through the mattress
passages. There is also a means for causing a change in the
temperature of the circulated air prior to its entry into the
mattress passages. U.S. Pat. No. 3,444,922 sets forth an apparatus
for regulating the temperature and humidity about the body of a
person in a bed by circulating air in a progressive flow around the
person's body. The invention uses a double-chambered bellows having
inlet and outlet provisions for each chamber. The device includes a
thermostat-controlled refrigeration device. U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,182
describes a device for elevating clothing above a bed and warming
the air beneath the clothing. The invention utilizes two hollow
tubular arms which are vertically mounted on a side of the bed, and
at a flexible line over which the clothing is draped. There is a
small blower having a heating unit disposed beneath the bed, whose
discharge is directed into the bed through passages formed in the
flexible line. U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,486 provides a portable
apparatus for cooling a selected region, such as around a bed, the
apparatus comprising a portable enclosure for encompassing the
region and defining an opening at the upper part of the region, the
enclosure comprising: i) a frame for extending around the periphery
of the region; ii) a frame support means for supporting the frame
at a predetermined elevation relative to the region; and iii) a
flexible sheet material hanging from the frame for encompassing the
region and for defining an opening at the upper part of the region.
The frame is pivotally mounted to the frame support means, and the
enclosure further includes a torsion spring on the frame support
means, whereby the spring may be engaged with the frame for biasing
the frame to a normal position generally parallel with the floor,
but permitting pivoting of the frame from the normal position to
facilitate ingress and egress. There is also a portable cooling
assembly including (i) a movable support structure for being
positioned on the floor adjacent the region and having an upper end
for being positioned adjacent the opening, (ii) a heat exchanger
mounted to the upper end of the support structure for being
positioned at an elevation adjacent the opening over a portion of
the region, and (iii) means for circulating coolant through the
heat exchanger whereby ambient air is cooled by the heat exchanger
and flows downwardly into the region. U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,388 sets
forth a generally-rectangular cooling cover adapted to be
positioned over a human body in a prone position, the cooling cover
comprising: a coverlet having an outer sheet, an inner porous pouch
attached to the outer sheet, and an inner pad within the porous
pouch. The inner pad includes a pair of upper and lower sheets
formed of an air-impermeable material, with the upper sheet
adjacent the coverlet and the lower sheet adjacent the porous
pouch. The sheets are secured to each other along their outer edges
to form an air distribution chamber therebetween, and are secured
to each other along a plurality of parallel intermediate portions
extending lengthwise between the ends of the sheets for a major
portion thereof, to form a plurality of separate longitudinally
extending air passages therebetween having lower rounded surfaces,
and a plenum chamber extending transversely of the pad at each end
thereof in fluid communication with the longitudinally extending
air passages, and a cool air inlet at one end of the inner pad. The
coverlet has an opening therein in alignment with the inlet of the
pad adapted to receive a source of cool air for connection to the
inlet. The lower rounded surfaces have a plurality of apertures
along the length thereof at locations other than the lowermost
portion of the rounded surfaces, and in fluid communication with
the longitudinally extending passages whereby cool air may be
discharged as small jets through the apertures at an angular
relation to a vertical plane for diffusing through the porous pouch
to contact a large area of the body cooled. U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,802
describes a blanket for connection with a supply of pressurized
temperature-modified air, comprising: a) an outer layer constructed
of an air-impervious material; b) an inner layer constructed of a
material readily permeable by pressurized air, with the inner layer
being arranged with most of its surface area contacting the outer
layer; c) a sealing means interconnecting the outer and inner
layers arranged in a substantially continuous closed path leaving
an unsealed and separable portion of the outer and inner layers
inwardly of the sealing means; and d) an inlet means communicating
with the unsealed portion between the outer and inner layers for
introducing the pressurized temperature-modified air therein at
least a part of which pressurized air exits through the inner
layer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,804 provides an apparatus for
ventilating a bed in a room, the bed having a head, a foot, and a
mattress positioned above a box spring The apparatus comprises: a)
an elongate housing having an upper extent and a lower extent, and
having a longitudinal axis which is positionable parallel to the
foot of the bed, with the upper extent of the elongate housing
being provided with at least one air inlet opening for receiving
stale air, the elongate housing also having an outlet duct for
exhausting air into the room; b) at least one mounting flange
extending outwardly from the elongate housing generally
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, with the mounting
flange being adapted to be received between the mattress and box
spring for supporting the elongate housing on the bed; c) a
filtration means located between the air inlet opening to the
elongate housing and the outlet duct for filtering the stale air
entering the housing; d) at least one recirculating duct associated
with the elongate housing for recirculating filtered air from the
elongate housing back to the bed; and e) a fan means for drawing
air through the air inlet opening, for exhausting filtered air out
the outlet duct and for recirculating a portion of the filtered air
through the recirculation duct. U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,120 discloses a
ventilator for a bed, comprising a base means having a thin flat
section that is adapted to be sandwiched between a mattress and a
supporting bed structure, and having a cantilevered outer end
section extending outwardly of an edge of the mattress for
supporting, which includes: i) a fan means supported from the outer
end section of the base and having a lower inlet for receiving air
flow from a level below the mattress and a outlet for directing air
upwardly toward an upper surface of the mattress; and ii) an elbow
means for directing the air flow received from the outlet of the
fan means over the upper surface of the mattress inwardly of the
edge thereof, wherein the fan means and the elbow means include an
air duct having an intake opening at a lower end for receiving
incoming air flow for ventilating the bed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,527
sets forth a device for controlling a temperature of a person's
sleeping environment, comprising: a) a means for drawing a vacuum
to draw air from a sleeping environment; b) a means for fluidly
connecting the sleeping environment to an intake port of the vacuum
means; c) a means for determining a temperature of the air drawn
from the sleeping environment; and d) a means for adjusting the
speed of the air being drawn out of the sleeping environment based
upon the temperature of the air. U.S. Pat. No. 6,473,920 describes
an apparatus to manage the temperature of a supine person's lower
extremities in a bed by directing air over a bed, comprising: a) a
tubular air permeable distribution chamber comprising a length of
open cell foam; b) a temperature-regulating blower coupled to the
chamber for blowing warmed air from the blower into the chamber;
and c) mounting hardware shaped to position the chamber at a foot
of a bed where air at a normothermic temperature is directed from
the chamber, over the bed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,576 provides an
improved structure of a ventilated mattress with cooling and
warming effect, which comprises: a) a mattress body; b) a
warming/cooling air-delivery controlling box; and c) a connecting
tube. The control box produces warming/cooling air to the mattress
body via the connecting tube, and the warming/cooling air is
released via a plurality of ventilation buttons mounted at the
surface of the mattress body. The mattress thereby provides the
user with a warming/cooling effect. U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,552
describes a warm-air blower for use with air-controlled bedding
which comprises a quilt and a futon, which is used to control the
sleeping environment by supplying warm air or cool air to the
bedding. According to the invention the warm air blower unit has an
air intake near a left- or right-hand side of its front surface,
and the air taken in from the air intake is led so as to flow
through the interior of the warm air blower unit to a fan. The fan
is positioned at a distance from the air intake, and the warm air
passing through the heater chamber is blown out of the warm air
blower unit through two vertically arranged air outlets. One or
optionally both of the outlets are equipped with a shutter that is
capable of regulating the airflow. U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,767 provides
an apparatus for warming a bed having a mattress covered by a bed
covering, which comprises: a) a housing having an air inlet and an
air outlet; b) a heater within the housing; c) a fan within the
housing for producing a flow of air from the air inlet through the
heater to the air outlet; and d) a support adjustably coupled to
the housing and adapted to extend under the mattress to hold the
housing along an edge of the mattress. The flow of air from the air
outlet is directed between the mattress and the bed covering.
[0005] While each of the prior art devices and methods achieve to a
greater or less extent their desired objectives, they are
nevertheless not without features which have heretofore prevented
their widespread adoption by large numbers of people. One of the
main factors is believed to be the relative complexity of the prior
art devices, with their attendant high cost, tedium in operation,
and cumbersomeness in appearance and difficulty in retrofitting
existing furniture, beds, and the like. Thus, it is clear that if a
device were available which enabled a high level of control of the
temperature of a person's body during sleep and which device were
capable of being readily retrofitted to existing furniture, beds,
and the like, that a large number of persons with sleep disorders
could find relief from employment of such a device. If such a
device were of such simplistic design that it could be manufactured
and sold at a cost which is accessible to the predominant majority
of persons, such would undoubtedly lead to its adoption. In
addition, if such a device were small and portable, so that a user
could easily stow it when not in use or transport it conveniently
when traveling on the road or when merely switching rooms, such a
feature would make adoption of such a device more attractive still.
The present invention fulfills all of these needs in the
marketplace, in addition to others as one of ordinary skill will
come to appreciate by further consideration and understanding of
the contents and implications of this specification and the claims
appended hereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a device useful for providing
a moving current of ventilating air which comprises: a) a base
portion having a hollow interior portion which itself further
comprises: i) at least one inlet opening through which air may be
admitted, and ii) an exit opening through which air may exit the
hollow interior portion; b) an air conduit channel means having an
inlet end portion and an outlet end portion; wherein the inlet end
portion of the air conduit channel is in effective fluid
communication with the exit opening of the base portion; c) at
least one fan means disposed between the inlet opening in the base
portion and the outlet end portion of the air conduit channel for
causing ambient air to flow from the inlet opening of the base
portion to the outlet end portion of the air conduit channel; and
c) a support bar means adjustably attached to the air conduit
channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the annexed drawings,
[0008] FIG. 1A shows a front perspective view of a device according
to one form of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 1B shows a front perspective view of a base portion
element of a device according to one form of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of a conduit channel means
element of a device according to one form of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of a device according
to one form of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a left side perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a right side perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a support bar useful on a
device according to one form of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a frontal view of a support bar useful on a
device according to one form of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 shows a left side view of a support bar useful on a
device according to one form of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 shows a front perspective view of a device according
to one form of the invention having a support bar attached
thereto;
[0018] FIG. 9 shows a rear perspective view of a device according
to one form of the invention having a support bar attached
thereto;
[0019] FIG. 10 shows a front view of a device according to one form
of the invention having a support bar attached thereto;
[0020] FIG. 11 shows a rear view of a device according to one form
of the invention having a support bar attached thereto;
[0021] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a support shelf useful
on a device according to one form of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 13 shows a side view of a support shelf useful on a
device according to one form of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 14 shows a left side perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention having a support shelf
according to one form of the invention attached thereto;
[0024] FIG. 15 shows a right side perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention having a support shelf
according to one form of the invention attached thereto;
[0025] FIG. 16 shows a frontal perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention having a support shelf
according to one form of the invention attached thereto;
[0026] FIG. 17 shows a rear perspective view of a device according
to one form of the invention having a support shelf according to
one form of the invention attached thereto;
[0027] FIG. 18 shows a bed having a device according to the
invention adjacent to the bed, wherein the bed is covered by a bed
covering such as a sheet, wherein the device is supported by the
support shelf such that the base portion is not in contact with the
floor;
[0028] FIG. 19 shows a bed having a device according to the
invention adjacent to the bed;
[0029] FIG. 20 shows a device according to an alternate form of the
invention; and
[0030] FIG. 21 shows a device according to an alternate form of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1A, there is
shown a front perspective view of a device 10 according to one form
of the invention which is shown as comprising a base portion 3
having an interior volume, an inlet opening 5 through which ambient
air may be admitted, and an exit opening 7 through which the
admitted ambient air may be expelled from the interior of the base
portion under the power of one or more fan means which are disposed
within the interior volume of the base portion. To the exit opening
7 of the base portion 3, there is attached the inlet end portion 11
of an air conduit channel means 9, through which air that has been
discharged from the exit opening 7 of the base portion may enter
the conduit channel 9 and under the force of the fan means is
conveyed to the outlet end portion 13 of the conduit channel 9.
Thus, during the normal operation of a device according to one form
of the invention, the fan means thus causes air to be admitted to
the inlet opening 5 and to be forced to exit conduit channel 9 at
its outlet end portion 13. Also shown in FIG. 1A is the electrical
power cord 29 used to supply electrical power to the fan means.
[0032] Some details of a base portion 3 useful in constructing a
device according to this invention are shown in FIG. 1B, in which
the base portion 3 is seen to comprise a plurality of fan means 53
disposed at the inlet opening of the base portion, and a
rectangularly-shaped opening which serves as the exit opening 7 of
the base portion 3. During operation of the fan means 53, which
preferably comprises one or more conventional fans operated by a DC
or AC electric motor, air is drawn into the hollow interior portion
of the base portion 3 and expelled out of the opening 7 and into
the air conduit channel means as shown and described for FIG.
1A.
[0033] The base portion 3 has a dual purpose in a general sense,
which on the one hand is to serve as a housing for the fan means
53, that is, the fan means are disposed within the hollow interior
volume of the base portion such that their motion draws air into
the base portion through the inlet opening(s) 5, and the fan means
53 by its (their) action expels the air through the exit opening 7
of the base portion 3. Since the fan means in one form of the
invention are conventional fans with a motor and a blade, their
being housed within the base portion prevents the blades motion
from being inhibited such as by being struck, touched by a hand,
etc., i.e., the base portion acts as a shroud for the fan means.
The base portion 3 also serves as the support for the device 10 as
a whole, and in many employments of the device it will rest with
its base on a horizontal floor or a room in a dwelling or other
area. Thus, while the base portion 3 may have outer walls or
surfaces which cause it to exist in the configuration of any
geometric solid, it preferably comprises a flat bottom portion
suitable for enabling the device 10 to rest on a flat surface with
the air conduit channel means 9 being disposed so that air is
discharged from it in a substantially-vertical orientation. The
base portion is in one preferred form of the invention comprised of
a plurality of pieces of sheet stock, such as plywood or polyolefin
slab stock about 1/8 inch thick, or any functionally-equivalent
material of construction. The base portion 3 is preferably
comprised of a thermoplastic polyolefin and is injection molded as
a single piece having an interior volume of substantially the same
shape as defined by its exterior walls, as it may be thought of as
being basically a box.
[0034] According to a preferred form of the invention, the conduit
channel means 9 is configured in the form of a rectangular solid
with a hollow interior portion, which, when standing alone has its
two end portions open to the ambient surroundings The purpose for
this shape includes provision for convenient aligned mating of the
exit opening 7 of the base portion 3 with the open inlet end
portion 11 of the air conduit channel means 9 when the exit opening
7 of the base portion 3 is substantially rectangularly-shaped as in
a preferred form of the invention. Such configuration of the air
channel means also provides a relatively wide zone of air exiting
the outlet end portion 13 of the air conduit channel 9 when the
device is in operation, as the width dimension of the air channel
means 9 is about 12 inches in one preferred form of the invention.
The air conduit channel means may be attached to the exit opening 7
of the base portion 3 by conventional means, such as glues,
adhesives and the like, and is preferably itself comprised of sheet
stock of wood or thermoplastic polyolefin. The base portion 3 and
the air conduit channel means 9 may according to one preferred form
of the invention be a single construction, prepared by an injection
molding process. An air conduit channel means 9 according to one
form of the invention is depicted in FIG. 1C. having a
rectangularly-shaped inlet portion 11 through which air may pass
and be discharged at the outlet end portion 13.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of a device 10
according to one form of the invention and the relationship of the
various elements of the invention to one another, including the
base portion 3, exit opening 7 of the base portion, inlet end
portion 11 of the air conduit channel means 9, outlet end portion
13 of the air conduit channel means 9 and the power cord 29.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows a left side perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention and the relationship of the
locations of various elements of the invention including the base
portion 3, air conduit channel means 9, outlet end portion 13 of
the air conduit channel means 9, and power cord 29.
[0037] FIG. 4 shows a right side perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention and the relationship of the
locations of various elements of the invention including the base
portion 3, air conduit channel means 9, outlet end portion 13 of
the air conduit channel means 9, power cord 29, rheostat 31 and
transformer 33. The rheostat 31 is a conventional rheostat or
device of equivalent function which serves to controllably regulate
the voltage to the fan means so as to permit adjustment of the
volume of air exiting the outlet end portion 13 of the air conduit
channel means 9 during operation of the device 10.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a support bar means 17
useful on a device according to one form of the invention. The
support bar means 17 is a thin piece of flat slab stock or extruded
stock having an arcuate, c-shaped, or crescent-shaped cross
section, which is caused to be disposed directly in the flow of air
which exits the outlet end portion 13 of the air conduit means of
the invention, so as to re-direct the flow of air which impinges on
it. When the cross section of the support bar means 17 is arcuate,
it is preferred that it traces out approximately a 90.degree. arc.
The support bar means 17 is attached by means of the right support
arm 19 and left support arm 21 to the air conduit channel means 9,
preferably by attachment of the support bars to the edges of the
air conduit channel by means of conventional fasteners which may
include a hook-and-loop type fastening means such as VELCRO.RTM.
fastening means, with one portion of the fastening means 55
disposed on the inside of the support arms and the complementary
counterpart of the fastening means disposed on the external
surfaces of the air conduit channel means 9. FIG. 6 shows a frontal
view of a support bar means 17 useful on a device according to one
form of the invention, depicting the respective locations of the
support arms 19 and 21 attached at their end portions to the end
portions of the support bar means 17 by conventional means such as
an adhesive or conventional fasteners including brackets and the
like. In one form of the invention, the support bar means 17 and
support arms 19 and 21 are comprised of a single piece of flat
sheet thermoplastic polyolefin about 1/8 inch thick having an
appropriate length and a width of about 1 inch, which is bent at
the appropriate locations. The support bar means in one embodiment
is disposed to be substantially parallel to the outlet end portion
of said air conduit channel means. FIG. 7 shows a left side view of
a support bar means 17 useful on a device according to one form of
the invention showing the left support arm 21 and the support bar
means 17.
[0039] FIG. 8 shows a front perspective view of a device according
to one form of the invention having a support bar means 17 attached
thereto as hereinbefore described and showing the respective
locations of the various elements of the invention including the
base portion 3, inlet opening 5 of the base portion 3, which may be
fitted with an optional screen, air conduit channel means 9, outlet
end portion 13 of the air conduit channel means 9, right support
arm 19, left support arm 21, the support bar means 17 and the power
cord 29.
[0040] FIG. 9 shows a rear perspective view of a device according
to one form of the invention having a support bar 17 attached
thereto as hereinbefore described and showing the respective
locations of the various elements of the invention including the
base portion 3, air conduit channel means 9, outlet end portion 13
of the air conduit channel means 9, right support arm 19, left
support arm 21, the support bar means 17 and the power cord 29.
[0041] FIG. 10 shows a front view of a device according to one form
of the invention having a support bar means 17 attached thereto as
hereinbefore described and showing the respective locations of the
various elements of the invention including the base portion 3,
inlet opening 5 of the base portion 3, air conduit channel means 9,
outlet end portion 13 of the air conduit channel means 9, right
support arm 19, left support arm 21, the support bar means 17 and
the power cord 29.
[0042] FIG. 11 shows a rear view of a device according to one form
of the invention having a support bar means 17 attached thereto as
hereinbefore described and showing the respective locations of the
various elements of the invention including the base portion 3, air
conduit channel means 9, outlet end portion 13 of the air conduit
channel means 9, right support arm 19, left support arm 21, the
support bar means 17 and the power cord 29.
[0043] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a support shelf 23
useful on a device according to one form of the invention. The
support shelf in one preferred form of the invention includes a
first portion 25 and second portion 27, which are preferably
comprised of flat sheet stock material joined together at about a
90.degree. bend using conventional fastening means. Alternatively,
the support shelf may be comprised of a single piece of sheet stock
such as steel or thermoplastic polyolefin, which has a 90.degree.
bend in its structure. The second portion 27 is intended to be
affixed to the rear face of the air conduit channel 9 as shown in
FIG. 14, using conventional fastening means which may include
hook-and-loop fastening means such as VELCRO(D fastening means with
one portion of the fastening means being attached to the surface of
the second portion 27 of the support shelf 23 and the complementary
counterpart fastening means being attached to the face of the
device 10 of the invention. Such feature enables the support shelf
to be selectively disposed in any desired position on the face of
the air conduit channel means 9 to permit the first portion 25 of
the support shelf means 23 to be inserted between a mattress and
box spring to provide support for a device 10 according to the
invention off the floor as depicted in FIG. 18. This adjustability
feature, coupled with the adjustability of the distance of the
support bar means 17 from the outlet end portion 13 of the air
conduit channel renders a device according to the present invention
sufficient adjustability of the present invention to enable its
being usefully adapted to the vast majority of beds currently in
use. FIG. 13 shows a side view of a support shelf 23 useful on a
device according to one form of the invention and its various
elements including its first portion 25 and its second portion 27.
Hook-and-loop fastening means 35 is also shown disposed on the
surface of the second portion 27.
[0044] FIG. 14 shows a left side perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention having a support shelf 23
(elements 25 and 27 collectively) according to one form of the
invention attached thereto and having a support bar means 17
attached thereto as hereinbefore described and showing the
respective locations of the various elements of the invention
including the base portion 3, air conduit channel means 9, left
support arm 21, the support bar means 17 and the power cord 29.
[0045] FIG. 15 shows a right side perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention having a support shelf 23
(elements 25 and 27 collectively) according to one form of the
invention attached thereto and having a support bar means 17
attached thereto as hereinbefore described and showing the
respective locations of the various elements of the invention
including the base portion 3, air conduit channel means 9, right
support arm 19, the support bar means 17 and the power cord 29.
[0046] FIG. 16 shows a frontal perspective view of a device
according to one form of the invention having a support shelf
according to one form of the invention attached thereto, and
showing the respective locations of the various elements of this
embodiment of the invention including the base portion 3, inlet
opening 5 of the base portion 3, support shelf 23 (elements 25 and
27 collectively), the air conduit channel means 9, the outlet end
portion 13 of the air conduit channel means 9, right support arm
19, left support arm 21 and support bar means 17.
[0047] FIG. 17 shows a rear perspective view of a device according
to one form of the invention having a support shelf according to
one form of the invention attached thereto and showing the
respective locations of the various elements of this embodiment of
the invention, including the base portion 3, air conduit channel
means 9, first portion of the support shelf 25, left support arm
21, right support arm 19, support bar means 17, and the outlet end
portion 13 of the air conduit channel means 9.
[0048] FIG. 18 shows a bed having a device according to the
invention adjacent to the bed, wherein the bed is covered by a bed
covering such as a sheet, wherein the device is supported by the
support shelf such that the base portion is not in contact with the
floor. In this figure are shown the respective locations of the
various elements of the invention in this embodiment in an actual
use position installed on a bed, in which the first portion 25 of
the support shelf 23 is shown sandwiched between a mattress 37 and
a box spring 39 and wherein the second portion 27 of the support
shelf 23 is shown attached to the front face of the air channel
conduit means 9 thus supporting the device 10 as a whole off of the
floor upon which the leg 41 of the bed is resting. As shown in this
figure, air enters the base portion 3 as indicated by the arrows at
the inlet opening 5 of the base portion 3 and is caused by the
action of the fan means to exit the base portion 3 at the exit
opening 7 of the base portion 3 and to enter the inlet end portion
11 of the air conduit channel means 9, through which it is forced
upward through the air conduit channel means 9 and out of its
outlet end portion 13, whereupon it impinges upon the support bar
means 17 and is re-directed in a direction as indicated by the
arrows to be substantially parallel to the top surface of the
mattress 37, thus providing ventilation for a person resting on the
bed.
[0049] FIG. 19 shows a bed equipped with a device according to the
present invention, wherein the inventive device is resting on the
floor. In this figure are shown the respective locations of the
various elements of the invention in this embodiment. As shown in
this figure, air enters the base portion 3 as indicated by the
arrows at the inlet opening 5 of the base portion 3, and is caused
by the action of the fan means to exit the base portion 3 at the
exit opening 7 of the base portion 3 and to enter the inlet end
portion 11 of the air conduit channel means 9, through which it is
forced upward through the air conduit channel means 9 and out of
its outlet end portion 13, whereupon it impinges upon the support
bar means 17 and is re-directed in a direction as indicated by the
arrows to be substantially parallel to the top surface of the
mattress 37, thus providing ventilation for a person resting on the
bed. In this figure is also shown the bed covering, which may be a
blanket, sheet, etc. which is in contact with the support bar. The
purpose of the support bar in this embodiment is twofold: 1) to
re-direct the direction of the air as previously explained; and 2)
to support the bed covering so as to prevent its interference with
the air flow out of the outlet end portion 13 of the air channel
means 9. Thus, the support bar means 17 holds the bed covering up
off of the opening at the outlet end portion 13 of the air channel
means, which enables the full air flow to ventilate the volume
between the bedcovering and the top surface of the mattress 37,
which usually will contain a person residing thereon.
[0050] FIG. 20 shows a frontal perspective view of a device
according to an alternate form of the invention having a support
shelf according to one form of the invention attached thereto, and
showing the respective locations of the various elements of this
embodiment of the invention including the base portion 3, inlet
opening 5 of the base portion 3, support shelf 23 (elements 25 and
27 collectively), the air conduit channel means 9, the outlet end
portion 13 of the air conduit channel means 9, right support arm
19, left support arm 21 and support bar means 17. In this
embodiment the support bar means 17 is disposed so that it is not
parallel to the outlet end portion of the air conduit channel means
13. Such an embodiment has the advantage that by adjusting the
angle which the support bar means 17 makes with respect to the
horizontal surface upon which the bed rests, it is possible to
elevate a portion of the bed sheets to a level that is higher than
other portions of the bed sheets, to effectuate increased
variability in the ability to control ventilating air flow when
using a device according to the invention.
[0051] FIG. 21 shows a frontal perspective view of a device
according to an alternate form of the invention having a support
shelf according to one form of the invention attached thereto, and
showing the respective locations of the various elements of this
embodiment of the invention including the base portion 3, inlet
opening 5 of the base portion 3, support shelf 23 (elements 25 and
27 collectively), the air conduit channel means 9, the outlet end
portion 13 of the air conduit channel means 9, right support arm
19, left support arm 21 and support bar means 17. In this
embodiment the support bar means 17 is not substantially linear and
flat as in other embodiments described herein, but rather is
curved, which again enables increased variability with respect to
the flow of ventilating air exiting the outlet end portion 13 of
the air conduit channel means 9.
[0052] In one preferred form of the invention, the air channel
means has a width of about 12 inches and a length of about 16
inches and comprises a channel which is 1 inch deep and about 12
inches long. The volume of air delivered is adjustable in the range
of between about 1 cubic foot per minute to about 300 cubic feet
per minute. In many climates, such airflow is believed to eliminate
the need for night time air conditioning, thus saving on energy
costs associated with cooling an entire room. The fan means may be
any fan capable of moving volumes of air in the above range.
[0053] Thus, after consideration of all described in this
specification, it is now clear that the present invention provides
an excellent means for ventilation for a person resting in a bed.
The adjustability of the airflow, via the rheostat means, which may
be located at the person's hand, enables selective control of
between-sheet air flow. This adjustability is especially helpful
for persons suffering from night-sweats, and women experiencing hot
flashes from menopausal changes in body function, and has been
well-received by all persons thus far having tested the device on
themselves, who all have indicated that this invention has enhanced
their ability to achieve restful sleep.
[0054] While particular embodiments have been described herein
having particular specified physical dimensions, the present
invention, including its various component parts, shall not be
construed as to being limited to any specific size dimension. In
fact it is one of the benefits of the present invention that its
component parts are readily altered in size to afford a device
according to the invention which is capable of being retrofitted to
just about any bed of the prior art.
[0055] Consideration must be given to the fact that although this
invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain
preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and
alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill
in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and
the claims appended hereto. This includes subject matter defined by
any combination of any one of the various claims appended hereto
with any one or more of the remaining claims, including the
incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent
claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of
any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or
limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the
remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and
applied to any independent claims so modified. This also includes
combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of
the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another
independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with
the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read
and applied to any independent claim so modified. Accordingly, the
presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such
modifications and alterations, and is limited only by the scope of
the claims which follow.
* * * * *