Support Cushions Including Thermoelectric Elements and Air Conduits, and Methods for Controlling Surface Temperature of Same

Abstract

A support cushion for providing individualized heating and cooling to a user resting on the support cushion is provided. The support cushion includes a body supporting layer, a plurality of thermoelectric elements positioned and configured to selectively provide heating or cooling of the body supporting layer, a heat transfer layer positioned adjacent to the body supporting portion and operably connected to the thermoelectric elements, a base layer positioned adjacent to the heat transfer layer opposite the body supporting layer and defining one or more inlet and outlet conduits, and one or more fans operably connected to each of the outlet conduits. Methods of controlling the surface temperature of a support cushion are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support cushion, comprising:
 a body supporting layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;   a plurality of thermoelectric elements positioned and configured to selectively provide heating or cooling at the first surface of the body supporting layer;   a heat transfer layer positioned adjacent to the second surface of the body supporting layer, the heat transfer layer operably connected to the thermoelectric elements;   a base layer positioned adjacent to the heat transfer layer opposite the body supporting layer, the base layer defining an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer, and the base layer further defining an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer and spaced at a predetermined distance from the inlet conduit; and   a fan operably connected to the outlet conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer further defines an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The support cushion of  claim 2 , wherein the fan is connected to the outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The support cushion of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet is positioned on a first exterior surface of the base layer and the inlet conduit extends longitudinally from the inlet through the base layer, and wherein the outlet is positioned on a second exterior surface of the base layer and the outlet conduit extends longitudinally from the outlet through the base layer. 
     
     
         5 . The support cushion of  claim 4 , wherein the first exterior surface is a head end of the base layer, and wherein the second exterior surface is a foot end of the base layer. 
     
     
         6 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , further comprising a foundation positioned below the base layer. 
     
     
         7 . The support cushion of  claim 6 , wherein the fan is housed in the foundation. 
     
     
         8 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the body supporting layer, the heat transfer layer, and the base layer are comprised of a flexible foam. 
     
     
         9 . The support cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible foam comprising the heat transfer layer has a porosity greater than that of the flexible foam comprising the base layer. 
     
     
         10 . The support cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the body supporting layer and the heat transfer layer are comprised of a visco-elastic foam. 
     
     
         11 . The support cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the heat transfer layer is comprised of a porous visco-elastic foam. 
     
     
         12 . The support cushion of  claim 8 , further comprising a first flexible foam insert positioned in the inlet conduit and a second flexible foam insert positioned in the outlet conduit, both the first flexible foam insert and the second flexible foam insert having a porosity greater than that of the base layer. 
     
     
         13 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric elements are discrete Peltier elements. 
     
     
         14 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric elements are multiple Peltier elements arranged in a series. 
     
     
         15 . The support cushion of  1 , wherein the thermoelectric elements are arranged in an array. 
     
     
         16 . The support cushion of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the thermoelectric elements of the array are individually addressable. 
     
     
         17 . The support cushion of  claim 15 , wherein the support cushion includes one or more removable portions, each removable portion comprised of an area of the body supporting layer and a corresponding area of the heat transfer layer, and each removable portion housing an array of thermoelectric elements. 
     
     
         18 . The support cushion of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more removable portions comprise a first removable portion positioned in a central region of the support cushion and a second removable portion positioned in a lower region of the support cushion. 
     
     
         19 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the body supporting layer is dimensionally-sized to support a user lying in a supine or prone position. 
     
     
         20 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , further comprising a comfort layer positioned atop the body supporting layer, the comfort layer comprised of a visco-elastic foam. 
     
     
         21 . The support cushion of  claim 20 , wherein the comfort layer has a density less than that of the body supporting layer. 
     
     
         22 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power supply for supplying electrical current to the fan and to the plurality of thermoelectric elements; and   a controller for controlling the electrical current supplied to the fan and to the plurality of thermoelectric elements from the power supply.   
     
     
         23 . The support cushion of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to allow power to be supplied to the fans, the plurality of thermoelectric elements, or both for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         24 . The support cushion of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors for providing thermal feedback to the controller, the one or more temperature sensors operably connected to the body supporting layer. 
     
     
         25 . The support cushion of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more pressure sensors for providing pressure feedback to the controller, the one or more pressure sensors operably connected to the body supporting layer. 
     
     
         26 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter operably connected to the inlet conduit, the outlet conduit, or both the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit. 
     
     
         27 . A support cushion, comprising:
 a body supporting layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;   a heat transfer layer positioned adjacent to the second surface of the body supporting layer;   a base layer positioned adjacent to the heat transfer layer opposite the body supporting layer, the base layer defining one or more inlet conduits in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer, the base layer further defining one or more outlet conduits in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer and spaced at a predetermined distance from each of the one or more inlet conduits, and the base layer having a porosity less than that of the heat transfer layer; and   a fan operably connected to each of the one or more outlet conduits, the fan for drawing an amount of air from the one or more inlet conduits, through the heat transfer layer, and into the one or more outlet conduits.   
     
     
         28 . The support cushion of  claim 27 , further comprising a flexible foam insert positioned in each of the one or more inlet conduits and a flexible foam insert positioned in each of the one or more outlet conduits, each of the flexible foam inserts having a porosity greater than that of the base layer. 
     
     
         29 . A mattress assembly, comprising:
 a body supporting layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;   a plurality of thermoelectric elements positioned and configured to selectively provide heating or cooling at the first surface of the body supporting layer;   a heat transfer layer positioned adjacent to the second surface of the body supporting layer, the heat transfer layer operably connected to the thermoelectric elements;   a base layer positioned adjacent to the heat transfer layer opposite the body supporting layer, the base layer including a head portion and a foot portion, the base layer defining one or more inlet conduits in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer and extending longitudinally through the base layer from the head portion, and the base layer further defining one or more outlet conduits in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer and extending longitudinally through the base layer from the foot portion; and   a fan operably connected to each of the one or more outlet conduits.   
     
     
         30 . The mattress assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more inlet conduits comprises a first inlet conduit positioned in a first side of the base layer, a second inlet conduit positioned in a central portion of the base layer, and a third inlet conduit positioned in a second side of the base layer opposite the first side; and
 wherein the one or more outlet conduits comprises a first outlet conduit positioned between the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit, and a second outlet conduit positioned between the second inlet conduit and the third inlet conduit.   
     
     
         31 . The mattress assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the mattress assembly includes one or more removable portions, each removable portion comprised of an area of the body supporting layer and a corresponding area of the heat transfer layer, and each removable portion housing an array of thermoelectric elements. 
     
     
         32 . The mattress assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the body supporting layer, the heat transfer layer, and the base layer are each comprised of a flexible foam, and wherein the flexible foam comprising the heat transfer layer has a porosity greater than that of the flexible foam comprising the base layer. 
     
     
         33 . A mattress assembly, comprising:
 a body supporting layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;   a plurality of thermoelectric elements positioned and configured to selectively provide heating or cooling at the first surface of the body supporting layer;   a heat transfer layer positioned adjacent to the second surface of the body supporting layer, the heat transfer layer operably connected to the thermoelectric elements;   a base layer positioned adjacent to the heat transfer layer opposite the body supporting layer, the base layer defining one or more inlet conduits in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer, and the base layer further defining one or more outlet conduits in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer and spaced at a predetermined distance from the one or more inlet conduits;   a flexible foam insert positioned in each of the one or more inlet conduit and in each of the one or more outlet conduits, each flexible foam insert having a porosity greater than that of the base layer; and   a fan operably connected to each of the one or more outlet conduits.   
     
     
         34 . The mattress assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more inlet conduits comprises a first inlet conduit extending longitudinally through a first side of the base layer and a second inlet conduit extending longitudinally through a second side of the base layer; and
 wherein the one or more outlet conduits comprises a middle outlet conduit positioned between the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit and extending longitudinally through a central portion of the base layer.   
     
     
         35 . The mattress assembly of  claim 33 , wherein each of the one or more inlet conduits comprises a substantially rectangular area at a head end of the base layer, and wherein each of the one or more outlet conduits comprises a substantially rectangular area at a foot end of the base layer. 
     
     
         36 . The mattress assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more inlet conduits comprises a first inlet conduit positioned on a first side of the base layer and a second inlet conduit positioned on a second side of the base layer opposite the first side; and
 wherein the one or more outlet conduits comprises a first outlet conduit positioned on the first side of the base layer and a second outlet conduit positioned on the second side of the base layer.   
     
     
         37 . The mattress assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the body supporting layer, the heat transfer layer, and the base layer are each comprised of a flexible foam, and wherein the flexible foam comprising the heat transfer layer has a porosity greater than that of the flexible foam comprising the base layer. 
     
     
         38 . The mattress assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the mattress assembly includes one or more removable portions, each removable portion comprised of an area of the body supporting layer and a corresponding area of the heat transfer layer, and each removable portion housing an array of thermoelectric elements. 
     
     
         39 . A mattress assembly, comprising:
 a body supporting layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;   a plurality of thermoelectric elements positioned and configured to selectively provide heating or cooling at the first surface of the body supporting layer;   a heat transfer layer positioned adjacent to the second surface of the body supporting layer, the heat transfer layer operably connected to the thermoelectric elements;   a base layer having a bottom surface and positioned adjacent to the heat transfer layer opposite the body supporting layer, the base layer defining one or more inlet conduits extending from the bottom surface of the base layer to the heat transfer layer, and the base layer further defining one or more outlet conduits extending from the bottom surface of the base layer to the heat transfer layer and spaced at a predetermined distance from each of the one or more inlet conduits; and   a fan operably connected to each of the one or more outlet conduits.   
     
     
         40 . The mattress assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more inlet conduits comprises a first inlet conduit extending longitudinally through a first side of the base layer and a second inlet conduit extending longitudinally through a second side of the base layer, and
 wherein the one or more outlet conduits comprises a middle outlet conduit positioned between the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit.   
     
     
         41 . The mattress assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more inlet conduits comprises a first inlet conduit extending longitudinally through a first side of the base layer, a second inlet conduit extending longitudinally through a central portion of the base layer, a third inlet conduit spaced apart from the second inlet conduit and extending longitudinally through the central portion of the base layer, and a fourth inlet conduit extending longitudinally through a second side of the base layer opposite the first side; and
 wherein the one or more outlet conduits comprises a first outlet conduit positioned between the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit, and a second outlet conduit positioned between the third inlet conduit and the fourth inlet conduit.   
     
     
         42 . The mattress assembly of  claim 39 , wherein each of the one or more inlet conduits are in the form of a columnar void. 
     
     
         43 . The mattress assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the one or more inlet conduits comprises at least two inlet conduits extending through a first side of the base layer and at least two inlet conduits extending through a second side of the base layer opposite the first side of the base layer, and
 wherein each of the one or more outlet conduits extends longitudinally through the base layer and is positioned between the at least two inlet conduits on the first side of the base layer and the at least two inlet conduits on the second side of the base layer.   
     
     
         44 . The mattress assembly of  claim 39 , wherein each of the one or more inlet conduits and each of the one or more outlet conduits are in the form of a columnar void. 
     
     
         45 . The mattress assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more outlet conduits comprises at least two outlet conduits positioned on a first side of the base layer and at least two outlet conduits positioned on a second side of the base layer opposite the first side, and wherein the one or more inlet conduits comprises at least two inlet conduits positioned in a central portion of the base layer. 
     
     
         46 . The mattress assembly of  claim 39 , further comprising a flexible foam insert positioned in each of the one or more inlet conduits and in each of the one or more outlet conduits, each flexible foam insert having a porosity greater than that of the base layer. 
     
     
         47 . The mattress assembly of  claim 39 , wherein each of the one or more outlet conduits are in the form of a columnar void. 
     
     
         48 . The mattress assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the one or more outlet conduits comprises at least two outlet conduits positioned on a first side of the base layer, and wherein the one or more inlet conduits comprises at least one inlet conduit extending longitudinally through the base layer. 
     
     
         49 . The mattress assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the one or more outlet conduits comprises at least two outlet conduits positioned on a first side of the base layer and at least two outlet conduits positioned on a second side of the base layer opposite the first side, and wherein the inlet conduit extends longitudinally through a central portion of the base layer. 
     
     
         50 . The mattress assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the base layer and the heat transfer layer each include a continuous side panel, and
 wherein the mattress assembly further comprises a barrier covering the continuous side panel of the base layer, the continuous side panel of the heat transfer layer, or both.   
     
     
         51 . The mattress assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the barrier further covers the bottom surface of the base layer. 
     
     
         52 . The mattress assembly of  claim 51 , wherein the base layer is comprised of a porous flexible foam, and wherein the barrier further covers a top surface of the base layer such that the barrier is positioned between the top surface of the base layer and the heat transfer layer. 
     
     
         53 . The mattress assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the base layer can be characterized as including one or more walls defining the one or more inlet conduits and the one or more outlet conduits, and wherein the barrier further covers each of the one or more walls. 
     
     
         54 . The mattress assembly of  claim 39 , wherein each fan is angled to direct air away from the mattress assembly. 
     
     
         55 . A method of controlling a surface temperature of a support cushion, comprising the steps of:
 providing a support cushion having
 a body supporting layer having a first surface and a second surface, 
 a heat transfer layer, 
 a base layer positioned adjacent to the heat transfer layer opposite the body supporting layer and having a porosity less than that of the heat transfer layer, the base layer defining one or more inlet conduits in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer, and the base layer further defining one or more outlet conduits in fluid communication with the heat transfer layer and spaced at a predetermined distance from each of the one or more inlet conduits, and 
 a fan operably connected to each of the one or more outlet conduits; and 
   supplying an electrical current to each fan such that each fan draws an amount of air from a particular inlet conduit, through the heat transfer layer, and into a particular outlet conduit.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the support cushion further comprises a plurality of Peltier elements positioned and configured to selectively provide heating or cooling at the first surface of the body supporting layer. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising the step of supplying an electrical current to the plurality of Peltier elements, such that electrical current is supplied in a first direction to decrease the surface temperature of the body supporting layer, and such that electrical current is supplied in a second direction to increase the surface temperature of the body supporting layer. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising the step of controlling an amount of electrical current supplied to the Peltier elements to control an amount of heating or cooling of the support cushion. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising a step of supplying electrical current in the second direction for a predetermined amount of time following a cooling period. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving feedback from a temperature sensor positioned in the body supporting layer; and   supplying electrical current to the fan, the plurality of Peltier elements, or both based on the feedback received from the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the body supporting layer is comprised of a visco-elastic foam.