U.S. patent application number 15/532667 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-14 for a ventilation or heating/cooling element and a ventilation or heating/cooling clothing item.
This patent application is currently assigned to CLIMAZLEEPER HOLDING APS. The applicant listed for this patent is CLIMAZLEEPER HOLDING APS. Invention is credited to Torsten NORDENTOFT.
Application Number | 20170354266 15/532667 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52102446 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170354266 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NORDENTOFT; Torsten |
December 14, 2017 |
A VENTILATION OR HEATING/COOLING ELEMENT AND A VENTILATION OR
HEATING/COOLING CLOTHING ITEM
Abstract
A ventilating or heating/cooling element having a first side
having an air permeability of 15-800 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120 Pa.
The first side is for directing an air flow toward a person. The
ventilating/cooling/heating element may form or form part of a
mattress, a duvet/blanket, a pillow, a sleeping bag, a seat, a
clothes item or the like. A pump may be provided for providing air
into the ventilating/cooling/heating element, or one or more
openings may be provided for receiving air when a person is moving,
such as when riding a motor cycle.
Inventors: |
NORDENTOFT; Torsten;
(Speracedes, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CLIMAZLEEPER HOLDING APS |
Copenhagen |
|
DK |
|
|
Assignee: |
CLIMAZLEEPER HOLDING APS
Copenhagen
DK
|
Family ID: |
52102446 |
Appl. No.: |
15/532667 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
December 2, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/078390 |
371 Date: |
June 2, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/0053 20130101;
A47C 7/744 20130101; A47G 9/1036 20130101; A47C 21/046 20130101;
A41D 27/28 20130101; A47C 21/048 20130101; A47G 9/0215 20130101;
A41D 1/04 20130101; A47C 7/748 20130101; A47C 21/044 20130101; A47C
7/742 20130101; A41D 13/0051 20130101; A47G 9/086 20130101; A47G
2009/003 20130101; A47G 9/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47C 21/04 20060101
A47C021/04; A41D 27/28 20060101 A41D027/28; A41D 13/005 20060101
A41D013/005; A47G 9/02 20060101 A47G009/02; A47G 9/08 20060101
A47G009/08; A47G 9/10 20060101 A47G009/10; A47C 7/74 20060101
A47C007/74; A41D 1/04 20060101 A41D001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2014 |
EP |
14195863.7 |
Claims
1.-15. (canceled)
16. An inflatable ventilation or heating/cooling element comprising
a first side, a second side and an air inlet, the first side having
an air permeability of 15-800 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120 Pa.
17. An element according to claim 16, wherein the second side is at
least substantially air impermeable.
18. An element according to claim 16, wherein, in the first side,
one or more first areas and one or more second areas are provided,
the first and second areas not overlapping, where the first area(s)
have a larger air permeability than the second area(s).
19. An element according to claim 18, wherein the first and second
areas comprise a woven or nonwoven material and wherein the first
areas further comprise one or more openings or channels through the
material.
20. An element according to claim 16, further comprising a pump for
providing air to the air inlet.
21. An element according to claim 16, the element comprising one or
more element defining a maximum distance between a part of the
first side and the second side.
22. An element according to claim 16, further comprising a spacer
element provided between the first and second sides, the spacer
element being configured to allow air to flow there through during
compression thereof.
23. An element according to claim 22, forming one or more of: a
mattress, where the first side is directed upwardly, a pillow,
where the first side is directed away from a central portion of the
pillow and/or part of a seat or chair, where the first side is
directed away from a central portion of the seat/chair and toward a
position of a sitting person.
24. An element according to claim 16, forming part of a duvet or
blanket, the first side directed away from a central portion of the
duvet/blanket.
25. An element according to claim 16, forming part of a sleeping
bag comprising a sleeping cavity, the first side directed toward
the sleeping compartment.
26. A clothing item adapted to be worn by a person, the clothing
item having a ventilating/cooling/heating element having an inner
surface and an outer surface defining there between a volume into
which one or more air inlets may guide air, the inner surface
having an air permeability of 15-800 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120
Pa.
27. An item according to claim 26, wherein the outer surface is air
permeable or at least substantially air impermeable.
28. An item according to claim 26, wherein an air inlet comprises
an opening through the outer surface and is positioned on a front
of the clothing item when worn by a person.
29. An item according to claim 26, further comprising an air pump
configured to provide air through the inlet(s).
30. A method of operating an element or an item according to claim
16, wherein air is fed to between the inner/first surface and the
second/outer surface.
31. A method of operating an element or an item according to claim
26, wherein air is fed to between the inner/first surface and the
second/outer surface.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation or
heating/cooling element primarily for use in heating, cooling
and/or ventilating a person. A primary objective is to cool a
person in hot environments such as when sleeping. Naturally,
heating a person in cold environments is also an objective.
Mattresses, duvets, pillows and clothing with air supply have been
proposed for many years, but have not been accepted. One reason may
be the noise generated by the rather large air flows. Another
reason may be that the large air flows contemplated in fact is not
comfortable.
[0002] Solutions of ventilation of e.g. mattresses may be seen in:
GB889865, U.S. Pat. No. 7,945,979, U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,290, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,581,225, U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,575, EP0493267, U.S. Pat.
No. 3,529,310, WO11091788, CA2623097, US2009271923, WO11093762,
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6,085,369, U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,530, EP1951089, US2011035880,
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EP1804616, GB1311461, U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,281, EP0957727, U.S. Pat.
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DE202010017223 U1, WO02062185, U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,877, U.S. Pat.
No. 7,181,786, US2007169264, CA2541341, US2012017371, US2004031103,
GB2456814, US2005086739, GB2398506, U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,064, U.S.
Pat. No. 7,877,827, U.S. Pat. No. 7,996,936, US2011296611, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,363,551, U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,386, U.S. Pat. No.
7,467,435, U.S. Pat. No. 7,650,658, U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,084, U.S.
Pat. No. 7,272,936, U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,950, U.S. Pat. No.
7,937,789, U.S. Pat. No. 7,914,611, U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,920,
EP1044637, WO12019236, U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,804, GB1321865,
US2008263776, US2010043143, WO9510211, DE102009044308, EP0113149,
US2012000207, US2011314837, US2011289684, US2011041246,
US2008028536, U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,802, WO9633642, U.S. Pat. No.
6,336,237, DE10139484 B4, U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,115, U.S. Pat. No.
6,826,792, CN85100943, CN2090655, CN2239194, CA1272815, CN2068786,
TWM392597, CN2571272, DE202005011452 U1, US2007033733, JP3186632
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US2013036549 and US2012024154.
[0003] In some high-end car brands, such as Mercedes Benz, seats
are available which have air permeable seats through which air may
be forced to increase the comfort of the driver.
[0004] It has been found that, though, a quite low air flow is
required to provide the desired cooling/ventilation, so that a very
comfortable situation is obtained. This may be obtained using a
rather dense material or a material with a rather low air
permeability.
[0005] A first aspect of the invention relates to an inflatable
ventilation, heating and/or cooling element comprising a first
side, a second side and an air inlet, the first side having an air
permeability of 15-800 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120 Pa. The air
permeability of the first side may be desired to be 15-500, such as
15-100 or 20-400, such as 25-300, such as 30-100, such as 35-70,
such as 40-65 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120 Pa. This air permeability
may also or alternatively be selected within the interval of
20-200, or 15-600, such as 20-300, or 20-500, such as 30-300, such
as 30-100, or 30-600, such as 50-200 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120
Pa.
[0006] Preferably, the first and second sides are the main or major
sides of a generally flat element or an element with a thickness
being less than 0.2 times a largest dimension of the first side.
Naturally, the element may have additional sides, such as an edge
portion bridging between the first and second sides. The air
inlet(s) may be provided at any position, such as in the edge
portion.
[0007] As the air permeability usually is generated by localized
openings, such as openings in a weave, or at least is often
non-uniform over the surface, the air permeability of the first
side preferably is a mean air permeability. As will be described
below, it may be desired to provide different areas of the first
side with different (mean) air permeability.
[0008] Usually, an air pressure in the element during use is lower
than 120 Pa, such as lower than 100 Pa, such as lower than 80 Pa,
such as lower than 70 Pa, such as lower than 50 Pa, such as lower
than 30 Pa, such as lower than 20 Pa, such as lower than 10 Pa. The
air pressure may be in the range of 0-100 Pa, such as 5-50 Pa.
[0009] The first and second sides preferably are first and second
separate layers between which a cavity is provided for receiving
air from the inlet(s).
[0010] The inlet may be provided with a one-way valve if desired
and/or may be provided with a connector for attachment to a
hose/tube or the like.
[0011] In one situation, the second side is at least substantially
air impermeable. Then, also other parts, such as the
above-mentioned edge portion may also be air impermeable. In
general, "air impermeability" preferably will be an air
permeability lower than 15, such as 10, 5 or less m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h
at 120 Pa.
[0012] When only the first side has an air permeability air is only
fed from the inlet(s) through the first side. Thus, no air is lost
via the other side(s) and/or no power is lost forcing air through
such other sides.
[0013] In some embodiments, it is desired to have different air
permeability of different areas of the first side. It thus may be
desired to provide, in the first side, one or more first areas and
one or more second areas, the first and second areas not
overlapping, where the first area(s) have a larger air permeability
than the second area(s). The air permeability of each first side
being a mean permeability of the area defined thereby.
[0014] In general, an air permeable surface or layer may be
obtained in a number of manners. Presently preferred manners are
weaves or non-woven materials. Also solid materials having holes or
channels formed therein may be used.
[0015] Interesting materials may be any type of polymer, such as
polyester. Also cotton or a mixture of cotton and a polymer may be
used. Rubber and other natural or synthetic materials may be used
alone or used in a combination with e.g. a polymer. The
permeability of the material may be generated in different manners.
In one manner, the surface/layer is weaved or non-woven where the
inherently porous or open structure thereof, such as by controlling
a thickness/density thereof and/or the weaving thereof.
Alternatively or additionally, openings, channels and/or holes may
be provided in the surface/layer so as to generate permeability.
The density (channels/holes/openings per unit of area) may be
altered as may a dimension, such as a diameter or cross section or
mean cross section or lowest cross section (in a plane parallel to
the surface/layer) of each channel/opening/hole or the
channels/openings/holes.
[0016] Combinations may be used, such as wherein the first and
second areas comprise a woven or nonwoven material and wherein the
first areas further comprise one or more openings or channels
through the material. Thus, the second areas have the lower air
permeability and the first areas a higher permeability due to the
combination of the effect of the weave/non-woven and the
channels/openings.
[0017] The size and number of openings may be adapted to achieve
the desired permeability. Openings may be 0.01-1.5 mm, such as
0.05-1 mm, such as 0.1-0.6 mm in diameter, for example.
[0018] In one embodiment, the lower air permeability may be 15-100,
such as 20-70, such as 30-50 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120 Pa and the
higher air permeability may be 30-150, such as 40-100, such as
50-75 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120 Pa.
[0019] The first and second areas may form all of the first
surface, and the first areas may cover 10-80%, such as 40-70% of
the area of the first surface.
[0020] In one embodiment, the element further comprises a pump for
providing air to the air inlet. Naturally, sensors and the like may
be provided for sensing a flow, air pressure, temperature, humidity
and the like of the air outside or in the element or pump. Also, or
alternatively, elements may be provided for controlling such
parameters, such as a heater, a cooler, a humidifier, a
de-humidifier, or the like.
[0021] When providing air between the first and second sides, it is
desired to maintain a relatively flat shape of the element. A
balloon shape is usually not desired. In such situations, it is
preferred that the ventilating/cooling/heating element comprises
one or more limiting elements defining a maximum distance between a
part of the first side and the second side. Preferably, such
limiting elements will ensure that when the second side is plane,
such as when resting on a plane surface, all parts of the first
surface will extend within a threshold distance from the same plane
surface. Such thickness limiting elements may be flexible, such as
threads or stitches extending between the first and second sides,
points or areas where the first and second sides are fixed to each
other, or more rigid, such as a foam or another air permeable
sheet-like material to which the first and second sides are
attached. This attachment may be over the full first/second surface
or within areas or lines thereof (such as along lines in a
predetermined, such as chequered, pattern or other patterns as are
seen in e.g. quilted products.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the ventilating/cooling/heating
element is intended for use in supporting a person, such as when
used in or as a mattress or seat. In this situation, all of or a
part of the person's weight will be exerted on the element. In
order to not block the air flow in the element, the element in such
situations preferably comprises a spacer element provided between
the first and second sides, the spacer element being configured to
allow air flow there through during a force exertion thereto. This
force exertion may be when exerting the force of gravity acting on
2kg or more over an area of 10 cm.times.10 cm on the first surface
in a direction toward the second surface.
[0023] Spacer materials of this type may be certain types of foams,
usually open foams, but also material such as the 3 mesh spacer
fabric from Muller textil BmbH
(http://www.mullertextiles.com/index.php?id=70) or the 3D spacer
fabric from Culzean textile solutions
(http://www.culzeamcom/spacer-fabric.asp). These materials provide
a spacer material by having a large number of fibres distributed
over the area thereof and extending between a lower and upper
surface, where the many fibres, to compress the spacer material,
need to be bent. The number of fibres is so high that total
compression requires a large force, whereby the spacer material
usually will allow air penetration there through at least for most
parts.
[0024] In one first situation, the ventilating/cooling/heating
element forms a mattress or a part of a mattress, where the first
side is directed upwardly. The ventilating/cooling/heating element
may form an upper surface or part of the mattress, where other
parts of the mattress are usual parts, such as legs, springs or the
like. The ventilating/cooling/heating element may form only a part
of the mattress and be operational to provide the
air/ventilation/cooling/heating so that a remainder of the mattress
may provide the softness of the mattress. Alternatively, the spacer
element of the present ventilating/cooling/heating element may be
configured to provide the desired softness of the mattress.
[0025] The mattress may comprise springs, foam or the like for
providing the softness. These springs or this foam may form the
spacer element. The mattress may additionally or alternatively be
an air mattress where a high air pressure in the mattress generates
the softness. In that situation, a pump may be desired for
maintaining the air pressure in spite of the air permeability of at
least the first surface.
[0026] In another situation, the ventilating/cooling/heating
element may form a pillow or a part thereof, where the first side
is directed away from a central portion, such as a stuffing, of the
pillow. Thus, the first side is directed toward, or may directly
form, a pillow surface on which the person's head may rest while
being cooled/ventilated. The central portion may be configured to
provide the pillow with softness and volume and may be provided
with a stuffing. Alternatively, an air pressure may expand the
pillow.
[0027] In yet another situation, the ventilating/cooling/heating
element forms part of a seat or chair, such as for a vehicle, where
the first side is directed away from a central portion of the
seat/chair and toward a position of a sitting person. As mentioned
above, air permeable vehicle seats with forced air feeding are
known with, however, quite large air permeability.
[0028] For both the pillow and the seat, the above spacer comments
are also relevant.
[0029] In another type of embodiment, the element forms or forms a
part of a duvet or blanket, the first side directed away from a
central portion of the duvet/blanket. Also in this situation, a
spacer element may be desired, if the duvet or blanket is rather
heavy and thus may, due to its weight, block air flow in the
cooling/heating/ventilating element, when the element is positioned
between the heavy parts and the person. Alternatively, the
duvet/blanket may be formed by the cooling/heating/ventilating
element, or any remaining parts of the duvet/blanket may be rather
light so as to not block air flow therein. The first side
preferably is directed downwardly toward the sleeping person. The
duvet/blanket thus may have a side configured for being directed
toward the person and another side which is not. Alternatively, the
duvet/blanket may have two opposite sides both having an air
permeability either using two cooling/heating/ventilating elements
or by having the duvet/blanket formed by a single
cooling/heating/ventilating element with also the second side air
permeable. Any elements, such as a stuffing, desired for insulating
the duvet/blanket may be provided outside of or inside the
cooling/heating/ventilating element.
[0030] Yet another embodiment relates to the
ventilating/cooling/heating element forming or forming a part of a
sleeping bag comprising a sleeping cavity, the first side directed
toward the sleeping compartment. The same considerations as those
of the duvet/blanket apply here.
[0031] A second aspect of the invention relates to a clothing item
adapted to be worn by a person, the clothing item having a
ventilating/cooling/heating element, such as that of the first
aspect, having an inner surface and an outer surface defining there
between a volume into which one or more air inlets may guide air,
the inner surface having an air permeability of 15-800
m.sup.3/m.sup.2/h at 120 Pa.
[0032] This clothing item may be a shirt, trousers, a vest, a
jacket, a gown, a dress, a t-shirt, a pull-over or the like. The
inner surface is that directed toward the person wearing the
clothing item and the outer surface toward the surroundings of the
person. Naturally, the clothing item may comprise a cavity wherein
the ventilating/cooling/heating element is provided, so that the
element is not visible from outside the clothing item. In that
situation, the clothing item may have an innermost layer with an
air permeability higher than that of the first surface.
[0033] Clothing items of this type may be desired in hot
surroundings where cooling is desired. Alternatively, the items may
be used in cold surroundings for heating the person. The present
ventilating/cooling/heating element may form all of the clothing
item, or the clothing item may comprise additional elements or
parts, such as buttons, zippers, pockets or the like. Some parts,
however, of the clothing items may not need to be or be desired to
be ventilated, such as legs or arm portions, so that the clothing
item usually will comprise additional elements or parts than the
ventilation/cooling/heating element. Additionally, collars,
shoulder pads and the like may be provided if desired.
[0034] It may be desired that the outer surface is at least
substantially air impermeable. This may be in order to better
control the flow of air in the ventilating/cooling/heating element
or in order to not waste air or energy by air flowing out of the
outer surface. This desire may also stem from other requirements of
the clothing item, such as when using the clothing item. Often,
jackets are desired relatively air impermeable. Also water
impermeability may be a desire.
[0035] All the above considerations relating to the first aspect of
the invention are equally applicable in relation to the clothing
item. Thus, different zones with different air permeability may be
provided as may a pump and the like.
[0036] In one situation, the cooling/heating/ventilating element
may be in the form of a clothing item to be worn under other
clothes, such as under a jacket. Thus, the
ventilating/cooling/heating element may be worn when desired, such
as when wearing the jacket under hot circumstances. In one
situation, the jacket is a motorcycle jacket which will become
uncomfortable to wear in hot weather. However, wearing it is a
safety desire of the driver. The cooling/heating/ventilating
element may be worn under the jacket such as attached to the jacket
as a type of lining.
[0037] In an interesting embodiment, an air inlet comprises an
opening through the outer surface and is positioned on a front of
the clothing item when worn by a person. Then, air may be forced
into the opening by the person wearing the clothing item simply
moving forward. This is e.g. the situation when the person is
jogging, skiing, paragliding, jumping in a parachute, or riding a
horse/bike/moped/scooter/motorbike.
[0038] Naturally, elements may be provided for preventing this air
entering the ventilating/cooling/heating element from cooling the
person locally at the entrance. Thus, air guides may be provided
for guiding this air, inside the element, away from the entrance
and to other parts of the ventilating/cooling/heating element.
[0039] In another situation, the clothing element may further
comprise an air pump configured to provide air through the
inlet(s).
[0040] A final aspect relates to a method of operating or using an
element or an item according to any of the above aspects, wherein
air is fed to between the inner/first surface and the second/outer
surface. This may be facilitated using e.g. a pump as described
above, and the amount of air or the pressure thereof, or the
pressure of air between the first/inner surface and the
second/outer surface may be adapted to obtain the above pressure
difference over the first/inner surface and/or flow (per surface
and per time) described above.
[0041] Clearly, as is described above, the comfort achieved with
the rather low flow or permeability is higher, as no draught is
felt but merely a comfortable removal of heat/humidity, for
example.
[0042] Thus, any of the above embodiments and examples may be used
in this method to achieve the above-mentioned effect on or for a
person or body provided on/below/between the first surface or inner
surface.
[0043] In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are
described with reference to the drawing, wherein:
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention in
the form of a mattress,
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in
the form of a pillow,
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention in
the form of a duvet,
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention in
the form of a sleeping bag,
[0048] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the invention
in the form of a vest,
[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates the air intake of the embodiment of FIGS.
5 and 6,
[0050] FIG. 8 illustrates different manners of obtaining a gas
permeable surface and
[0051] FIG. 9 illustrates the use of a spacer material within the
embodiments.
[0052] In FIG. 1, a mattress 10 is illustrated having an upper side
12 and a lower side 14 as well as a rim portion 16 wherein an
opening 18 is provided.
[0053] The upper side 12 is gas permeable whereas the lower side 14
and the rim portion 16 are at least substantially gas
impermeable.
[0054] When providing air/gas into the mattress 10 through the
opening 18, such as using a pump 15 and a hose 17, the mattress 10
will experience a higher gas pressure, and gas will exit the
mattress 10 through the gas permeable surface 12.
[0055] Mattresses 10 with gas permeable upper sides are known in
the art, but the present mattress 10 is novel in that the gas
permeability of the upper surface 12 is rather low.
[0056] In this manner, it is ensured that the amount of gas
actually exiting the surface 12 is sufficiently low to not cool the
person lying on the mattress 10 too much. It has been found that
the gas permeability or air permeability of the upper layer 12
actually should be rather low.
[0057] Presently, the air permeability of the upper surface 12
preferably is in the interval 50-750 m.sup.3/(hour*m.sup.2).
[0058] In FIG. 1, a standard mattress is illustrated in hatched
lines, where the mattress 10 is provided on top of the mattress.
Alternatively, all of the mattress illustrated may be formed by the
ventilating/cooling/heating mattress 10 now also comprising other
elements for generating the softness of the mattress.
[0059] Naturally, the present technology may be used also for a
number of other purposes, such as a pillow 20 as is illustrated in
FIG. 2, a duvet 30 illustrated in FIG. 3, and a sleeping bag 40
illustrated in FIG. 4, where the upper/inner side 12 again is air
permeable and the lower side 14 and any sides 16 are at least
substantially air impermeable.
[0060] FIG. 5 illustrates a very different embodiment of the
invention, a vest 50 having an inner, gas permeable side 12 and an
outer, at least substantially air impermeable side 14. The vest may
itself be formed by a ventilating/cooling/heating element or such
an element may be formed or provided within the vest--either
between layers of fabric of the vest or on the inside thereof.
[0061] The vest may, as is also illustrated in FIG. 1, be provided
with a pump or fan 15, but especially when for a person moving
though the air, such as a motorcycle driver, a cyclist, a jogger, a
moped driver, a person in an open vehicle, a parachute jumper or
the like, no other manner may be required to force air into the
vest than the force of the air caused by the movement.
[0062] In FIG. 5, two different types of air intakes are
illustrated. Air intakes 18' are illustrated on top of the
shoulders which receive air and guides the air into distributing
channels 13 (see FIG. 6) which guide the air into the vest between
the surfaces 12 and 14.
[0063] In FIG. 5, another type of air intake 18' is illustrated
which are gas permeable areas 18' on the chest of the vest, where
air may be forced into the space between the layers 12 and 14.
[0064] In FIG. 7, the air entrance 18' is illustrated as is a
blocking layer 19 positioned between the air entrance 18' and the
layer 12 so as to prevent over-cooling at the surface 12 at the air
entrance 18' due to the air being forced from the outside directly
toward the part of the surface 12 directly at the opening 18'. Also
this air intake may be combined with air channels guiding the air
to other parts of the vest.
[0065] Illustrated in FIG. 7 is also a thread 16' connecting the
first and second layers 12/14 to each other. The function of this
thread 16' is to prevent the vest from assuming a balloon shape
when air is forced into the space 16.
[0066] The threads 16' may be provided at any desired positions
such as along lines in any desired pattern, such as a chequered
pattern illustrated in FIG. 6. In this manner, the layers 12 and 14
form a relatively flat element even when air is forced into the
space 16.
[0067] In FIG. 8, different manners are illustrated of providing an
air permeable layer. A woven material 12' is illustrated which,
naturally, will be air permeable. Also, a surface 12 is illustrated
wherein areas 12'' are provided with through-going bores through
which air may escape the space between the layers 12/14.
[0068] Naturally, combinations of such layers may be preferred,
such as when providing all of the surface 12 as a woven surface
having an overall air permeability but then increasing the air
permeability at predetermined areas, such as at the feet and head
of a person lying on the mattress.
[0069] Different ventilating/cooling/heating elements may be
configured for cooling persons at different positions. A vest, for
example, may be configured to cool the back and neck of the person,
where a seat may be configured to cool the neck, back and back side
of the person.
[0070] In FIG. 9, a suitable inner structure of the embodiments
illustrated is provided. Between the layers 12 and 14, a spacer
material 11 is provided which is more or less un-compressible but,
preferably, still bendable, and the function of which is to ensure
that air within the space between the surfaces 12 and 14 is able to
reach all parts of the surface 12, so that no parts thereof are
inactive due to somebody or something blocking the air passage from
the opening 18/18' to this area. This blocking could be a person
lying on the mattress 10 and compressing a part thereof or the
folding thereof or any of the other embodiments to create a
blocking of air passage toward a part of the surface 12.
[0071] Depending on the properties of the spacer material 11, it
may be preferred to cover this with another, such as a softer or
more pliable, material 11'. The presently preferred spacer material
may have a tendency of making noises when bent/deformed, which may
be undesired. Such noises or such bending/deformation may be
reduced by providing a soft layer 11', such as a foam, between the
spacer material 11 and the surface 12. The foam 11' may be an open
foam or a woven/non-woven material or the like allowing air passage
from the spacer material 11 to the surface 12 or may be a closed
foam in which through-going channels 11'' are provided to allow for
such air passage.
* * * * *
References