Thermally conditioned bed assembly

Abstract

A climate controlled bed comprises a cushion member having an outer surface comprising a first side for supporting an occupant and a second side, the first side and the second side generally facing in opposite directions. In some embodiments, the cushion member includes one or more recessed areas along its first side or its second side. In one embodiment, the bed further includes a flow conditioning member that may be at least partially positioned with the recessed area of the cushion member, an air-permeable topper member positioned along the first side of the cushion member and a fluid temperature regulation system.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A climate controlled bed assembly comprising:
 a cushion member configured to support an occupant, the cushion member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a main cushion portion extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;   a temperature conditioning zone located along or near the top surface of the cushion member, the temperature conditioning zone configured to selectively heat or cool an area above the top surface of the cushion member;   a flow distribution member located within the temperature conditioning zone;   a fluid passage located in the cushion member and in fluid communication with the flow distribution member;   a fluid module positioned within the cushion member, the fluid module comprising a fluid transfer device and a temperature conditioning device configured to selectively heat or cool fluid transferred by the fluid transfer device, the fluid module in fluid communication with the fluid passage; and   an intake fluid channel located in the cushion member and in fluid communication with the fluid module, the intake fluid channel configured to direct fluid to the fluid module,   wherein the fluid module is configured to transfer fluid via the fluid transfer device from the intake fluid channel to the flow distribution member via the fluid passage, and   wherein the flow distribution member is configured to at least partially distribute laterally therein fluid entering from the fluid passage.   
     
     
         19 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the cushion member comprises a memory foam or a full foam structure. 
     
     
         20 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature conditioning device comprises a thermoelectric device comprising a main heat exchanger and a waste heat exchanger, the main and waste heat exchangers in fluid communication with the fluid transfer device, the thermoelectric device configured to selectively heat or cool fluid transferred by the fluid transfer device via the main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         21 . The bed assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising a waste fluid channel located in the cushion member, the waste fluid channel in fluid communication with the waste heat exchanger and configured to direct waste fluid from the fluid module outside the cushion member. 
     
     
         22 . The bed assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the cushion member comprises a recessed area at the bottom surface, and wherein the waste fluid channel is at least partially in the recessed area. 
     
     
         23 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the cushion member comprises a recessed area at the bottom surface, and wherein at least one of the fluid module or the intake fluid channel is at least partially in the recessed area. 
     
     
         24 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature conditioning device comprises a heater configured to selectively heat fluid transferred by the fluid transfer device. 
     
     
         25 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the flow distribution member comprises a spacer fabric or another air permeable material. 
     
     
         26 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the flow distribution member comprises an air-permeable insert at least partially positioned within a bag or other enclosure, the bag or other enclosure comprising a plurality of openings through which fluid can exit. 
     
     
         27 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the flow distribution member comprises stitching, the stitching configured to prevent fluids from passing into selected portions of the temperature conditioning zone. 
     
     
         28 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature conditioning zone comprises a recessed area at the top surface, the flow distribution member being positioned at least partially within the recessed area. 
     
     
         29 . The bed assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature conditioning zone is at least partially surrounded by at least one generally air impermeable boundary to generally direct fluid entering the flow distribution member upwardly toward the top surface of the cushion member. 
     
     
         30 . A climate controlled bed assembly comprising:
 a cushion member configured to support an occupant, the cushion member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a main cushion portion extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the cushion member comprising a recessed area at the bottom surface;   a flow distribution member on the top surface and configured to at least partially distribute fluid laterally therein;   a fluid passage positioned in the cushion member and in fluid communication with the flow distribution member; and   a fluid module positioned at least partially in the recessed area of the cushion member, the fluid module comprising a fluid transfer device and a temperature conditioning device configured to selectively heat or cool fluid transferred by the fluid transfer device, the fluid module in fluid communication with the fluid passage,   wherein the fluid module is configured to transfer fluid via the fluid transfer device to the flow distribution member via the fluid passage.   
     
     
         31 . The bed assembly of  claim 30 , further comprising an intake fluid channel located at least partially in recessed area of the cushion member and in fluid communication with the fluid module, the intake fluid channel configured to direct ambient air to the fluid module. 
     
     
         32 . The bed assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the cushion member comprises a memory foam or a full foam structure. 
     
     
         33 . The bed assembly of  claim 30 , further comprising at least one other fluid module and at least one other fluid passage, the at least one other fluid module configured to selectively heat or cool fluid, the at least one other fluid passage in fluid communication with the at least one other fluid module and configured to direct fluid from the at least one other fluid module toward the top surface of the cushion member, wherein the cushion member comprises at least one other recessed area at the bottom surface, wherein the at least one other fluid module is positioned at least partially in the at least one other recessed area, and wherein the fluid modules and the fluid passages allow a first portion of the bed assembly to be thermally conditioned in a different manner than a second portion of the bed assembly. 
     
     
         34 . A climate controlled bed assembly comprising:
 a cushion member configured to support an occupant;   a flow distribution member configured to at least partially distribute fluid laterally therein, the flow distribution member positioned on the cushion member;   a fluid module in fluid communication with the flow distribution member and positioned least partially in the cushion member, the fluid module configured to selectively heat or cool fluid and transfer fluid to the flow distribution member; and   a flow distribution system configured to direct fluid from at least one side of the cushion member to the fluid module and direct heated or cooled fluid from the fluid module to the flow distribution member.   
     
     
         35 . The bed assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the flow distribution system comprises an intake fluid channel and a fluid passage, the intake fluid channel configured to direct fluid to the fluid module, the fluid passage configured to direct fluid from the fluid module to the flow distribution member. 
     
     
         36 . The bed assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the cushion member comprises a recessed area formed in the cushion member, and wherein the intake fluid channel is at least partially in the recessed area. 
     
     
         37 . The bed assembly of  claim 34 , further comprising at least one other fluid module positioned least partially in the cushion member, the fluid module configured to selectively heat or cool fluid, wherein the fluid modules allow a first portion of the bed assembly to be thermally conditioned in a different manner than a second portion of the bed assembly.