Convection cooled mattress

Abstract

An orthopedic mattress that provides cooling as well as comfort to a user. The mattress includes a convoluted top surface having a plurality of air vents, and sidewalls having a set of air channels that communicates with the air vents to promote the circulation of air throughout the mattress.

1 . A mattress comprising:
 a top surface having at least one air vent; and   sidewalls having at least one air channel spaced apart from the top surface that communicates with the at least one air vent to promote the circulation of air throughout the mattress.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein the top surface is convoluted. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein the sidewalls include a first plurality of air channels, the first plurality of air channels extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 3  wherein the top surface includes a plurality of air vents, the air vents vertically extending from the top surface to the first plurality of air channels. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 4  further including a second plurality of air channels extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall, the second plurality of air channels being spaced apart from the first plurality of air channels. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 5  wherein the second plurality of air channels includes one or more elongated air channels for providing more convection cooling in some areas of the mattress over other areas of the mattress. 
     
     
         7 . A mattress comprising:
 a support layer having a top surface and at least one air vent vertically extending therethrough; and   a convection layer integral to the support layer and the base layer, wherein the convection layer includes a sidewall and at least one air channel extending from the sidewall that intersects with the at least one air vent to promote the circulation of air throughout the mattress.   
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 7  further comprising a base layer integral to the support layer wherein the convection layer is disposed between the support layer and the base layer. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 7  wherein the top surface is convoluted. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 7  wherein the convection layer includes sidewalls and a first plurality of air channels, the air channels extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 10  wherein the top surface includes a plurality of air vents, the air vents vertically extending from the top surface to the first plurality of air channels. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 11  wherein the convection layer further includes a second plurality of air channels extending from one sidewall to an opposite sidewall, the second plurality of air channels being spaced apart from the first plurality of air channels. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 12  wherein the second plurality of air channels includes one or more elongated air channels for providing more convection cooling in some areas of the mattress over other areas of the mattress. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 8  wherein the support layer, the convection layer, and the base layer are integrally molded with one another as three discrete layers. 
     
     
         15 . A method for cooling a mattress, the method including the steps of:
 forming at least one air vent through a top surface of the mattress;   forming at least one air channel in at least one sidewall of the mattress, wherein at least one air channel is spaced apart from the top surface and intersects with the at least one air vent formed in the top surface;   drawing cool air into at least one air channel of the mattress, the cool air passing from at least one air channel to at least one air vent formed in the top surface; and   ejecting the cool air from the mattress through at least one air vent.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein a first plurality of air channels are formed in at least one sidewall of the mattress. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a plurality of air channels vents are formed though the top surface of the mattress, the plurality of air vents vertically extending from the top surface to the first plurality of air channels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further including the step of forming a second plurality of air channels in at least one sidewall of the mattress, the second plurality of air channels being spaced apart from the first plurality of air channels. 
     
     
         19 . The mattress of  claim 18  further including the step of forming at least one elongated air channel in at least one sidewall of the mattress to provide more convection cooling in some areas of the mattress over other areas of the mattress. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further including the step of convoluting the top surface of the mattress.