Electrically heated inflatable sleeping mat

Abstract

An inflatable mat includes a compressible inner mat and an airtight shell. One or more heating elements are embedded within the compressible inner mat. Embedding the heating elements within the mat includes removing sections of the inner mat, splitting the sections into upper and lower pieces, inserting the heating elements between the pieces, replacing the section and heating elements to the inner mat, and bonding the airtight shell to the inner mat. Wires embedded in the inner mat conduct electricity from an external power source to the heating elements. The wires may extend primarily around the edges of the inner mat and penetrate into the inner portions of the mat proximate the heating elements. A thermostatic switch and a timer may be interposed between the heating elements and the external power source to control current passing through the heating elements.

1 . A sleeping mat comprising:
 a mat formed of a compressible foam material; and   a heat generating element secured to the mat.   
   
   
       2 . The sleeping mat of  claim 1 , wherein the heat generating element is an electrical heating element. 
   
   
       3 . The sleeping mat of  claim 2 , wherein the heat generating element is embedded within the mat. 
   
   
       4 . The sleeping mat of  claim 3 , further comprising a shell formed of an airtight material, the shell enveloping the mat. 
   
   
       5 . The sleeping mat of  claim 4 , further comprising at least two conduction paths extending from the heat generating element through the shell. 
   
   
       6 . The sleeping mat of  claim 5 , further comprising a thermostatic switch forming part of at least one of the conduction paths. 
   
   
       7 . The sleeping mat of  claim 6 , wherein the thermostatic switch is configured to close upon experiencing a low threshold temperature condition and to open upon experiencing a high threshold temperature condition. 
   
   
       8 . The sleeping mat of  claim 7 , wherein the low threshold temperature condition is an ambient temperature of approximately twenty degrees centigrade and wherein the high threshold temperature condition is an ambient temperature of approximately twenty-five degrees centigrade. 
   
   
       9 . The sleeping mat of  claim 8 , wherein the conduction paths further comprise a timer configured to open and close for periodic intervals upon application of a voltage thereto. 
   
   
       10 . The sleeping mat of  claim 9 , wherein the periodic intervals have a duration of approximately two seconds. 
   
   
       11 . A sleeping mat comprising:
 an inner mat formed of a compressible material, the inner mat having head, torso, and foot portions corresponding to the head, torso, and feet of a person in a prone position;   a shell formed of an air tight material enveloping the inner mat and substantially conforming to the shape of the inner mat;   a heating element captured within the shell and positioned in the torso portion of the inner mat; and   conduction paths extending from the heating element through the shell.   
   
   
       12 . The sleeping mat of  claim 11 , further comprising a second heating element electrically coupled to the conduction paths and captured within the shell positioned proximate the foot portion of the inner mat. 
   
   
       13 . The sleeping mat of  claim 11  further comprising a second heating element electrically coupled to the conduction paths and captured within the shell positioned proximate the torso portion of the inner mat. 
   
   
       14 . The sleeping mat of  claim 11 , wherein the inner mat is meshed having a region of unmeshed material within the torso portion, the heating element being embedded within the region of unmeshed material. 
   
   
       15 . The sleeping mat of  claim 11 , further comprising a thermostatic switch forming part of at least one of the conduction paths. 
   
   
       16 . The sleeping mat of  claim 15 , wherein the thermostatic switch is configured to close upon experiencing a low threshold temperature condition and to open upon experiencing a high threshold temperature condition. 
   
   
       17 . The sleeping mat of  claim 16 , wherein the low threshold temperature condition is an ambient temperature of approximately twenty degrees centigrade and wherein the high threshold temperature condition is an ambient temperature of approximately twenty-five degrees centigrade. 
   
   
       18 . The sleeping mat of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the conduction paths further comprise a timer opening and closing at periodic intervals upon application of a voltage to the at least one conduction path. 
   
   
       19 . The sleeping mat of  claim 18 , wherein the periodic intervals have a duration of approximately two seconds. 
   
   
       20 . A method for forming a heated sleeping pad, the method comprising:
 providing an inner mat formed of a sheet of material of substantially uniform thickness;   providing a heating element;   providing at least two conduction paths;   removing a section of the inner mat;   providing a heating element;   embedding the heating element within the section;   coupling the conduction paths to the heating element;   replacing the section in the inner mat; and   bonding a shell to the exterior surfaces of the inner mat with at least a portion of the conduction paths penetrating the shell.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein embedding the heating element within the section further comprises:
 splitting the section into upper and lower pieces in a plane orthogonal to a direction of uniform thickness of the section; and   positioning the heating element between the upper and lower pieces.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein bonding the shell to the inner mat comprises laying the shell over the inner mat and heating the shell and inner mat to a temperature effective to cause fusion of the shell and inner mat.