Mattress with cooling and heating function

Abstract

Disclosed is a mattress, which performs a cooling function under a high temperature environment owing to air permeability thereof and a thermal function under a low temperature environment via natural convection, thereby providing a pleasant sleep environment in all temperature conditions. The mattress includes a cushioning member to perform a cushioning operation, a thermal laminate member disposed on one surface of the cushioning member, a heating element to perform a heating operation upon receiving power and to exhibit elasticity, a cooling laminate member disposed on the other surface of the cushioning member and having air permeability, and a cover member to surround an outermost portion of the mattress. By simply changing the orientation of the mattress and using the elastic cooling and heating members, the mattress is compatibly used all the year round to provide a pleasant sleep environment without deterioration of an intrinsic cushioning function and load dispersing/supporting function.

1 . A mattress with cooling and heating functions, the mattress comprising:
 a cushioning member configured to perform a cushioning operation;   a thermal laminate member disposed on one surface of the cushioning member;   a heating element configured to perform a heating operation upon receiving power and to exhibit elasticity to resist external force;   a cooling laminate member disposed on the other surface of the cushioning member and which is configured to have air permeability; and   a cover member configured to surround an outermost portion of the mattress.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat blocking planar element disposed on an outer surface of the thermal laminate member and which serves to prevent heat from being transferred inward,
 wherein the heating element is disposed on an outer surface of the heat blocking planar element, and   wherein the cooling laminate member includes a permeable pad formed by weaving elastic linear members into a plate shaped net.   
     
     
         3 . The mattress according to  claim 2 , further comprising an air circulating fan configured to suction outside air into the mattress or to discharge the interior air of the mattress to the outside, wherein the air circulating fan is located at a lateral portion of the cover member. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress according to  claim 3 , further comprising an extendable device including a cylinder secured to the mattress at a predetermined position and a rod configured to move in linkage with contraction and expansion of the mattress,
 wherein the air circulating fan is mounted to the cylinder so as to remain stationary without a risk of oscillation.   
     
     
         5 . The mattress according to  claim 2 , wherein the cooling laminate member further includes:
 a net interposed between an inner surface of the permeable pad and the cushioning member; and   a dual fabric disposed on an outer surface of the permeable pad and which includes an upper fabric and a lower fabric vertically spaced apart from each other, with connective yarns interposed therebetween, and woven to exhibit air permeability.   
     
     
         6 . The mattress according to  claim 5 , wherein the thermal laminate member includes:
 a hard pad disposed in contact with the surface of the cushioning member and which is formed into a plate shape to have air permeability;   a soft pad disposed in contact with an outer surface of the hard pad and which is formed into a plate shape to have air permeability; and   a foam pad disposed in contact with an outer surface of the soft pad and which is formed into a plate shape to have air permeability.   
     
     
         7 . The mattress according to  claim 6 , wherein the cover member includes:
 a lining fabric disposed in contact with the heating element and the cooling laminate member and which is woven to have air permeability;   a cover fabric additionally provided on an outer surface of the lining fabric and which internally defines a hollow region and has a plurality of vent holes communicating with the hollow region; and   a shock absorbing material interposed between the lining fabric and the cover fabric and which serves to perform a shock absorbing operation.   
     
     
         8 . The mattress according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat blocking planar element is formed of a fabric, which is densely woven to increase heat retention effects by preventing heat from being transferred inward and which is subjected to flame retardant finishing to achieve heat resistance. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal laminate member or the cooling laminate member is foam provided with pores having a diameter ranging from 1 mm to 30 mm, and a polymer resin mixed with functional particles is coated and hardened on the foam. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the thermal laminate member or the cooling laminate member is formed of a dual fabric,   wherein the dual fabric includes an upper fabric, a lower fabric downwardly spaced apart from the upper fabric with a space interposed therebetween, and connective yarns interposed in the space to connect the upper fabric and the lower fabric to each other, and   wherein the upper fabric, the lower fabric and the connective yarns are formed of elastic textile yarns or metal yarns.   
     
     
         11 . The mattress according to  claim 10 , wherein the dual fabric includes a foam layer provided in the space. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress according to  claim 10  or  11 , wherein the heating element includes a heating conductive wire disposed in the dual fabric and which serves not only to perform a heating operation upon receiving power, but also to exhibit elasticity to resist external force. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating element includes a heating conductive wire disposed in the air permeable pad and which serves not only to perform a heating operation upon receiving power, but also to exhibit elasticity to resist external force. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cushion member includes an array of a plurality of compressive springs, and   wherein the heating element is a planar heating element, which is formed by weaving weft yarns and warp yarns into a planar structure and simultaneously, weaving at least one strand of conductive wire in a warp yarn direction to have a linear shape or a wave shape, and   wherein the weft yarns and/or the warp yarns include elastic polymer yarns to provide the planar heating element with elasticity.   
     
     
         15 . The mattress according to  claim 14 , wherein the conductive wire includes a centrally located core yarn, a plurality of strands of insulated conductive yarns twisted on an outer circumference of the core yarn, and a plurality of strands of textile yarns wound on the conductive yarns to form a coating layer, or includes a centrally positioned elastic core yarn formed of an elastic polymer yarn, a plurality of strands of insulated conductive yarns wound on the core yarn, and a sheath layer elastically formed on an outer circumference of the conductive yarns. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress according to  claim 15 , wherein the planar heating element is separably coupled to an adjacent member. 
     
     
         17 . The mattress according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the cover member includes a vent hole to enable flow of air into the mattress, and   wherein the vent hole is provided with an opening/closing door to prevent air heated during the heating operation of the heating element from leaking to the outside of the mattress.   
     
     
         18 . The mattress according to  claim 14 , wherein an additional pad is detachably attached to the planar heating element and contains particles formed of at least one of a far-infrared radiation material, an electromagnetic shielding material, an anion generating material and a sterilizing and antibacterial material. 
     
     
         19 . A mattress with cooling and heating functions, the mattress comprising:
 a cushioning member configured to perform a cushioning operation;   a laminate member disposed on one surface of the cushioning member;   a fluid transfer pipe disposed on an outer surface of the laminate member, through which a heating or cooling fluid moves;   a fluid storage container in which the fluid to be moved to the fluid transfer pipe is received;   a fluid circulator configured to circulate the fluid through the fluid transfer pipe;   a heat exchanger configured to heat or cool the fluid to be moved to the fluid transfer pipe;   an input unit configured to input the temperature, flow rate and movement time of the fluid moving through the fluid transfer pipe;   a control unit configured to control the fluid circulator and the heat exchanger in response to an input signal from the input unit; and   a cover member configured to surround an outermost portion of the mattress.   
     
     
         20 . The mattress according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the fluid within the fluid transfer pipe and apply the sensed signal to the control unit; and   a humidity sensor configured to sense the interior humidity of the mattress and apply the sensed signal to the control unit,   wherein the fluid circulator includes a circulation pump, and   wherein the heat exchanger is a thermoelectric semiconductor module in which substrates are provided at both sides of P-type and N-type thermoelectric semiconductors and which is adapted to be increased or decreased in temperature according to the supply direction of power so as to heat or cool the fluid.   
     
     
         21 . The mattress according to  claim 20 , further comprising at least one selected from among a dual fabric and a foam,
 wherein the dual fabric includes an upper fabric and a lower fabric vertically spaced apart from each other with connective yarns interposed therebetween and woven to have an interior space for installation of the fluid transfer pipe, and   wherein the foam has a hole for installation of the fluid transfer pipe.   
     
     
         22 . The mattress according to  claim 20 , further comprising waterproof sheets provided respectively at upper and lower sides of the fluid transfer pipe.