Mattress thermal management system

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to a mattress thermal management system, for example a mattress cooling and/or heating system and in particular a suction- and/or discharge-based cooling and/or heating system. Deck-mounted fans beneath a mattress operate in various embodiments to induce a uniform suction flow, a uniform discharge flow, and/or a combined suction/discharge (circulating) flow that enhances the cooling and/or heating rate of the mattress. Mattress-mounted heating units can be included. The mattress thermal management system can be incorporated into a conventional mattress/bed system or into an adjustable bed system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress assembly system comprising:
 (a) a mattress support having a top surface for supporting a mattress and an opposing bottom surface, the mattress support comprising an airflow channel between the top surface and the bottom surface to permit airflow therethrough;   (b) a fan mounted to the mattress support in fluid communication with the airflow channel, the fan being adapted to transport air (i) from above the top surface of the mattress support to below the bottom surface of the mattress support, (ii) from below the bottom surface of the mattress support to above the top surface of the mattress support, or (iii) both (i) and (ii);   (c) a mattress positioned above the mattress support of the mattress support structure; and   (d) a heating unit mounted to the mattress or positioned between the mattress support and the mattress.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is positioned proximal to a head end of the mattress assembly system, and the heating unit is positioned proximal to an opposing foot end of the mattress assembly system. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress support is a stationary structure. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress support is an adjustable bed comprising at least one moveable mattress support. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 (e) an electromechanical system adapted to control the at least one moveable mattress support, wherein the fan and the heating unit are coupled to and controllable by the electromechanical system.   
     
     
         6 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating unit is mounted to the mattress. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating unit is positioned between the mattress support and the mattress. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of fans mounted to the mattress support. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 8 , wherein the fans are all mounted to the mattress support in a manner adapted to transport air from above the top surface of the mattress support to below the bottom surface of the mattress support. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 8 , wherein the fans are all mounted to the mattress support in a manner adapted to transport air from below the bottom surface of the mattress support to above the top surface of the mattress support. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 8 , wherein the fans are all mounted to the mattress support in a manner adapted to transport air (i) from above the top surface of the mattress support to below the bottom surface of the mattress support, and (ii) from below the bottom surface of the mattress support to above the top surface of the mattress support. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 at least some of the fans are mounted to the mattress support in a manner adapted to transport air from above the top surface of the mattress support to below the bottom surface of the mattress support; and   at least some of the fans are mounted to the mattress support in a manner adapted to transport air from below the bottom surface of the mattress support to above the top surface of the mattress support.   
     
     
         13 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote control adapted to transmit (i) fan operational commands to the fan, and (ii) heating unit operational commands to the heating unit. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress is a conventional mattress. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress comprises a mattress containment frame and a plurality of foam cells distributed throughout the containment frame to collectively define a mattress sleep surface. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress of mattress assembly system of  claim 15 , wherein the mattress further comprises at least one of
 (a) a plurality of vent holes on a base portion of the mattress containment frame, the vent holes being positioned to permit airflow through the mattress between interstitial areas defined by adjacent foam cells; and   (b) a plurality of locator pins on a base portion of the mattress containment frame, wherein each locator pin (i) is adapted to mate with a corresponding open cylindrical channel in a foam cell, and (ii) comprises an open area permitting airflow through the mattress via the open area and the cylindrical channel.   
     
     
         17 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a heating unit and a cooling unit mounted to the mattress assembly at a location beneath the mattress support bottom surface, the heating unit and the cooling unit being positioned to direct heated air and cooled air, respectively, to a fan suction side. 
     
     
         18 . The mattress assembly system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an airflow spacer positioned intermediate the mattress support structure and the mattress, the airflow spacer adapted to direct airflow (i) to the fans from the mattress, (ii) from the fans to the mattress, or (iii) both (i) and (ii) over substantially the entire area of the mattress.   
     
     
         19 . A method for cooling and heating a mattress, the method comprising:
 (a) providing the mattress assembly system of  claim 1 ;   (b) operating the fan of the mattress assembly to actively cool the mattress of the mattress assembly system; and   (c) operating the heating unit of the mattress assembly to heat the mattress of the mattress assembly system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising operating the fans to actively cool the mattress, and operating the heating unit to heat the mattress while a user is sleeping or laying on the mattress. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising operating the fans to actively cool the mattress with ambient environmental air.