Adjustable-firmness body support and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a body support assembly comprising a layer having a passage, a pump positioned to create a flow of fluid through the passage, a sensor that detects a parameter and produces a signal, and a controller coupled to the sensor and programmed to control the flow of fluid based on the signal. Preferably, the layer comprises visco-elastic foam. In one embodiment, the parameter corresponds with a firmness of the layer (e.g., a temperature of the layer). A heat exchanger can be used to alter (e.g., heat or cool) a temperature of the fluid. The present invention further provides a method of controlling a firmness of a body support comprising sensing a sensed value of a parameter (e.g., temperature) of the body support, establishing a desired value of the parameter, comparing the sensed parameter to the desired value, and adjusting the parameter.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A body support assembly comprising:
 a layer having a serpentine passage Wherein the serpentine passage has more than one turn found in the layer;   a pump positioned to create a flow of fluid through the passage;   a sensor that detects a parameter and produces a signal; and   a controller coupled to the sensor and programmed to control the flow of fluid based on the signal.   
     
     
         2 . A body support assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprises a first layer and a second layer supporting the first layer. 
     
     
         3 . A body support assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the passage is defined between the first and second layers. 
     
     
         4 . A body support assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprises visco-elastic foam. 
     
     
         5 . A body support assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the parameter corresponds with a firmness of the layer. 
     
     
         6 . A body support assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the parameter comprises a temperature of the layer. 
     
     
         7 . A body support assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger for altering a temperature of the fluid. 
     
     
         8 . A body support assembly as defined in claim I, wherein the body support has at least two areas, and each area has a sensor and a passage through which fluid can flow, wherein the controller can control the fluid through each passage to separately control the parameter of the different areas. 
     
     
         9 . A body support assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller and adapted to select a desired parameter of the body support assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling a firmness of a body support comprising;
 sensing a sensed value of a parameter of the body support, the parameter corresponding with the firmness of the body support;   establishing a desired value of the parameter;   comparing the sensed parameter to the desired value; and   adjusting the parameter such that the sensed value moves toward the desired value.