Thermally conductive cushion

Abstract

A product and process for reducing discomfort due to heat and moisture evolved during a period of contact between living skin and a cushioning material, using a thermally conductive cushioning device, having a first layer of a moisture management fabric, a second layer of a thermally conductive web, and a third layer of a thermally insulative cushioning material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermally conductive cushioning device, comprising:
 a first layer of a moisture management fabric;   a second layer of a thermally conductive web; and   a third layer of a cushioning material, wherein the thermal conductivity of the thermally conductive web is greater than or equal to the thermal conductivity of the cushioning material.   
     
     
         2 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture management fabric is formed of profiled cross-section polyester or polyamide fibers or other moisture management materials. 
     
     
         3 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture management fabric is formed of round or oval cross-section polyester or polyamide fibers or other cross-sections that may channel moisture, which are treated to improve moisture wicking. 
     
     
         4 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture management fabric further comprises natural fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture management fabric is formed of a blend of natural fibers and round or oval cross-section polyester or polyamide fibers, which are either chemically treated with a moisture wicking compound or plasma treated to improve moisture wicking. 
     
     
         6 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive web comprises at least one of:
 (a) metal selected from Groups 3 to 13 of the Periodic Table of the elements;   (b) alloys comprising at least one metal of (a); and   (c) thermally conductive forms of carbon.   
     
     
         7 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive web comprises a copper mesh or thermally conductive carbon fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulative cushioning material is not a heat sink, such as a polyethylene terephthalate fiberfill insulation. 
     
     
         9 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive web has a thermal conductivity of from about 0.1 to about 100 W/m·K, as measured from 20° C. to 50° C. 
     
     
         10 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein first layer is immediately adjacent the second layer. 
     
     
         11 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein first layer is a woven or knitted fabric having a basis weight of from about 16 to about 300 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein second layer is a fine denier web having a force required for deflection that is substantially the same as a force required for deflection of the first layer, such as wherein the force required for deflection of the first layer is within ten percent (10%) of the force required for deflection of the second layer. 
     
     
         13 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the third layer is a cushioning layer of foam or fibers, or a blend therefrom. 
     
     
         14 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , which is a pillow or a pillow case. 
     
     
         15 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , which is a mattress cover. 
     
     
         16 . The thermally conductive cushioning device of  claim 1 , which is a seat cushion. 
     
     
         17 . A process for providing a cooling effect to cushioning devices for contact with living skin, comprising:
 providing a thermally conductive cushioning device, comprising a first layer of a moisture management fabric, a second layer of a thermally conductive web, and a third layer of a thermally insulative cushioning material;   contacting said cushioning device with skin to establish a temperature T 1  on said first layer of the cushioning device, and a first moisture level;   extracting heat from said first layer of the cushioning device into said second layer of the cushioning device and reducing the temperature of said first layer to a temperature of T 2 ;   wicking moisture away from said skin through said moisture management fabric of the first layer; and   distributing said heat and moisture toward edges of said first and second layers and away from the skin.   
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein said thermally insulative material of said third layer delays entry heat from second layer into the third layer, thereby enhancing the distribution of heat toward the edges of the second layer. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein T 2  is from about 0.5-10° C. less than T 1  over a period of about 8 hours.