US2013074272A1PendingUtilityA1

Moisture Management and Transport Cover

42
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 23, 2011Filed: Sep 23, 2011Published: Mar 28, 2013
Est. expirySep 23, 2031(~5.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Charles A. LachenbruchChristopher R. O'KeefeTimothy J. ReceveurRachel L. Williamson
A61G 7/05792A61G 7/05769A61G 7/05784
42
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Claims

Abstract

An occupant support ( 20 ) includes an intermediate layer ( 26, 30, 120 ) and a wicking layer ( 52 ) atop the intermediate layer. The wicking layer comprises a first region ( 62 ) having a lower moisture wick rate (W 1 ) and a second region ( 64 ) having a higher wick rate (W 2 ). A moisture management cover ( 52 ) for use with an occupant support article has discrete higher ( 64 ) and lower ( 62 ) wick rate regions. A related method for transporting moisture away from a target region of an occupant support comprises distributing the moisture over an area beyond area A and exposing the distributed moisture to a fluid stream capable of receiving the moisture.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
We claim: 
     
         1 . An occupant support comprising:
 a intermediate layer defining at least part of a fluid flowpath and having a vapor permeable occupant side; and   a wicking layer atop the intermediate layer, the wicking layer comprising a first region having a first moisture wick rate and a second region having a second moisture wick rate that exceeds the first moisture wick rate.   
     
     
         2 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the first region is a perimetric region that bounds the second region. 
     
     
         3 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the wicking layer is in the form of a fitted sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the second wick rate comprises longitudinal and lateral wick rates at least the lateral one of which is greater than the first wick rate and the lateral wick rate exceeds the longitudinal wick rate. 
     
     
         5 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the second region is nonrectangular. 
     
     
         6 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the wicking layer is removably attached to the intermediate layer. 
     
     
         7 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the wicking layer is nonremovably attached to the intermediate layer. 
     
     
         8 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the wicking layer comprises a material bonded to the intermediate layer by a vapor permeable adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the wicking layer is a vapor permeable coating. 
     
     
         10 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the wicking layer is integrated into the intermediate layer. 
     
     
         11 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the wick rate of the second region is nonuniform. 
     
     
         12 . The occupant support of  claim 1  wherein the intermediate layer is a microclimate control topper. 
     
     
         13 . A moisture management cover, the cover being cooperable with an occupant support article having an occupant support side so that the occupant support side and an opposing portion of the cover define a fluid flowpath, the cover having discrete higher and lower wick rate regions, the higher wick rate region having a higher moisture wick rate than that of the lower wick rate region. 
     
     
         14 . The moisture management cover of  claim 13  wherein the higher wick rate region is a perimetral region that bounds the lower wick rate region. 
     
     
         15 . The moisture management cover of  claim 13  wherein the cover is in the form of a fitted sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The moisture management cover of  claim 13  wherein the higher wick rate comprises longitudinal and lateral wick rates at least the lateral one of which is greater than the lower wick rate and the lateral wick rate exceeds the longitudinal wick rate. 
     
     
         17 . The moisture management cover of  claim 13  wherein the higher wick rate region is nonrectangular. 
     
     
         18 . The moisture management cover of  claim 13  wherein the wicking layer is removably attachable to a intermediate layer. 
     
     
         19 . The moisture management cover of  claim 13  wherein the higher wick rate region comprises a material bonded to the intermediate layer by a vapor permeable adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The moisture management cover of  claim 13  wherein the wicking layer is a vapor permeable coating. 
     
     
         21 . The moisture management cover of  claim 13  wherein the wick rate of the higher wick rate region is nonuniform. 
     
     
         22 . A method for transporting moisture away from a target region of an occupant support, the region having an area A, the method comprising:
 distributing the moisture over an area beyond area A; and   exposing the larger area to a fluid stream capable of receiving the moisture   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the area beyond area A is laterally beyond area A.

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