Temperature control mattress with thermoelectric fabric

Abstract

Temperature control mattresses, systems, and methods of cooling mattresses are disclosed herein. In some aspects, temperature control mattresses can include a body support having a proximal surface that is configured to support a human body and a flexible thermoelectric fabric disposed along at least a portion of the body support. The flexible thermoelectric fabric can be disposed such that it is in thermal communication with the proximal surface of the body support and such that the flexible thermoelectric fabric is configured to cool the proximal surface of the body support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature control mattress, comprising:
 a body support having a proximal surface that is configured to support a human body;   a flexible thermoelectric fabric disposed along at least a portion of the body support such that the flexible thermoelectric fabric is in thermal communication with the proximal surface of the body support and such that the flexible thermoelectric fabric is configured to cool the proximal surface of the body support.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric is disposed along the entire proximal surface of the body support. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric comprises plurality of p-type layers coupled to a plurality of n-type layers to provide a plurality of p-n junctions. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric further comprises at least one insulating layer. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of p-type layers have a Seebeck coefficient of at least about 3 μV/K at 290° K. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of n-type layers have a Seebeck coefficient of at least about −3 μV/K at 290° K. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 3 , wherein the p-type layers and n-type layers comprise a plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed in a polymer matrix. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the carbon nanotubes are single-walled carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric is disposed between layers forming the body support. 
     
     
         11 . A temperature control mattress, comprising:
 a body support having a proximal surface that is configured to support a sleeper;   a flexible thermoelectric fabric comprising at least one p-type layer coupled to at least one n-type layer to provide at least one p-n junction, wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric is disposed along at least a portion of the body support such that the flexible thermoelectric fabric is in thermal communication with the proximal surface of the body support and such that the flexible thermoelectric fabric is configured to cool the proximal surface of the body support.   
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric comprises plurality of p-type layers coupled to a plurality of n-type layers to provide a plurality of p-n junctions. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric further comprises at least one insulating layer. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of p-type layers have a Seebeck coefficient of at least about 3 μV/K at 290° K. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of n-type layers have a Seebeck coefficient of at least about −3 μV/K at 290° K. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         17 . The mattress of  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the carbon nanotubes are single-walled carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         18 . The mattress of  claim 12 , wherein the p-type layers and n-type layers comprise a plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed in a polymer matrix. 
     
     
         19 . The mattress of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric fabric is disposed between layers forming the body support.