Active comfort controlled bedding systems

Abstract

Active comfort controlled bedding systems and processes of operating the bedding systems generally include a variable firmness control. The active comfort controlled bedding system can include a control unit in electrical communication with a signal generating layer configured to generate heat and alter a firmness property of at least one viscoelastic foam layer, wherein the amount of heat is based on a decrease of the glass transition temperature as a function of the percentage of humidity in the environment. In other embodiments, the bedding system is provided with at least one foam layer comprising a phase change material stratified in a foam structure of the at least one foam layer; and the at least one foam layer is heated to a temperature greater than a melt temperature of the paraffin wax to soften the at least one foam layer. In other embodiments, ambient humidity conditions can be changed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An active comfort controlled bedding system comprising:
 at least one viscoelastic foam layer having a glass transition temperature greater than 60° F. at 0% humidity, wherein the active comfort controlled bedding system is in an environment having greater than 0% humidity;   a signal generating layer underlying the at least one viscoelastic foam, the signal generating layer comprising a thermoelectric fabric, a heat transfer device, or a resistive heating element; and   a control unit in electrical communication with the signal generating layer configured to generate heat and alter a firmness property of the at least one viscoelastic foam layer, wherein the amount of heat is based on a decrease of the glass transition temperature as a function of the percentage of humidity in the environment.   
     
     
         2 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 1  further comprising an encapsulated paraffin wax stratified in the at least one viscoelastic foam layer. 
     
     
         3 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one viscoelastic foam layer having a glass transition temperature greater than 80° F. at 0% humidity. 
     
     
         4 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one viscoelastic foam layer having a glass transition temperature greater than 90° F. at 0% humidity. 
     
     
         5 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one sensor for determining body position on the bedding system. 
     
     
         6 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generating layer comprises multiple zones to alter the firmness property specific to each of the multiple zones. 
     
     
         7 . The active comfort bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit further comprises electrical communication with a humidity sensor and a heat sensor. 
     
     
         8 . An active comfort controlled bedding system, comprising:
 at least one foam layer comprising a phase change material stratified in a foam structure of the at least one foam layer;   a signal generating layer underlying the at least one foam layer, the signal generating layer comprising a thermoelectric fabric, a heat transfer device, or a resistive heating element; and   a control unit in electrical communication with the signal generating layer effective to heat the phase change material above a melting temperature thereof and alter a firmness property of the at least one foam layer.   
     
     
         9 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 8 , wherein the foam layer comprises a latex foam, a polyurethane foam, or a viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         10 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one viscoelastic foam layer has a glass transition temperature greater than 60° F. at 0% humidity, and the signal generating layer is configured to generate heat and alter firmness property of the at least one viscoelastic foam layer, wherein the amount of heat is based on a decrease of the glass transition temperature as a function of the percentage of humidity in an environment of the active comfort controlled bedding system. 
     
     
         11 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one viscoelastic foam layer has a glass transition temperature greater than 80° F. at 0% humidity. 
     
     
         12 . The active comfort controlled bedding system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one viscoelastic foam layer has a glass transition temperature greater than 90° F. at 0% humidity. 
     
     
         13 . A process for changing a firmness property of a foam layer in a mattress assembly, the process comprising:
 providing the mattress assembly with at least one foam layer comprising a phase change material stratified in a foam structure of the at least one foam layer; and   heating the at least one foam layer to a temperature greater than a melt temperature of the phase change material to soften the at least one foam layer.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein heating the at least one foam layer comprises generating heat from a thermoelectric fabric underlying the at least one foam layer. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein heating the at least one foam layer comprises generating heat from a heat transfer device underlying the at least one foam layer. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein heating the at least one foam layer comprises generating heat from a layer comprising resistive heating elements underlying the at least one foam layer. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one foam layer comprises a viscoelastic foam layer having a first glass transition temperature greater than 60° F. at 0% humidity, and a second glass transition temperature less than the first glass transition temperature at a % humidity greater than 0, and wherein heating the viscoelastic foam layer comprises heating above the second glass transition temperature to alter the firmness property. 
     
     
         18 . A process for changing a firmness property of a viscoelastic foam layer in a mattress assembly, the process comprising:
 providing the mattress assembly with at least one viscoelastic foam layer having a first glass transition temperature greater than 60° F. at 0% humidity, and a second glass transition temperature less than the first glass transition temperature at a % humidity greater than 0; and   heating the at least one viscoelastic foam layer comprises heating above the second glass transition temperature to alter the firmness property.   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18  further comprising a phase change material stratified in a foam structure of the at least one viscoelastic foam layer. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein heating the at least one viscoelastic foam layer comprises generating heat from a thermoelectric fabric underlying the at least one viscoelastic foam layer. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein heating the at least one viscoelastic foam layer comprises generating heat from a heat transfer device underlying the at least one viscoelastic foam layer. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein heating the at least one viscoelastic foam layer comprises generating heat from a layer comprising resistive heating elements underlying the at least one viscoelastic foam layer. 
     
     
         23 . A process for changing a firmness property of a foam layer in a mattress assembly, the process comprising:
 providing the mattress assembly with at least one viscoelastic foam layer having a first glass transition temperature greater than 60° F. at 0% humidity, and a second glass transition temperature less than the first glass transition temperature at a % humidity greater than 0, and   heating the at least one viscoelastic foam layer and/or changing ambient humidity conditions about the at least one viscoelastic foam layer to alter the firmness property.   
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein changing ambient humidity conditions about the viscoelastic layer comprises increasing the ambient humidity conditions by mixing air with moisture and exposing the at least one viscoelastic foam layer with the air. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein changing ambient humidity conditions about the viscoelastic layer comprises decreasing the ambient humidity conditions by removing moisture from air and exposing the at least one viscoelastic foam layer with the air. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein the ambient humidity condition has a different humidity level relative to a sleeping surface of mattress assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein heating comprises heating the at least one viscoelastic foam layer above the second glass transition temperature