Temperature regulating foam padding with passive cooling and active heating

Abstract

A temperature regulating foam padding including a plurality of zones, at least one passive cooling device, disposed in at least a first zone of the plurality of zones, at least one heating device, disposed in at least the first zone, at least one temperature sensor and/or heart rate sensor, disposed in the first zone, and a controller, connected to the heating device and the sensor(s) for controlling the heating device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature regulating foam padding comprising:
 a plurality of zones;   at least one passive cooling device, disposed in at least a first zone of the plurality of zones;   at least one heating device, disposed in at least one of the plurality of zones;   at least one sensor disposed in the first zone; and   a controller, connected to the heating device and the sensors for controlling the heating device.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , where in the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor or a heart-rate sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , wherein the passive cooling device is adapted to lower the temperature of the first zone to a first temperature below a desired temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is adapted to increase the temperature of the first zone from the first temperature to the desired temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , wherein the passive cooling device is a conductive band connecting at least the first zone and a second zone of the plurality of zones, the conductive band for transporting thermal energy between the first zone and the second zone. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 5 , wherein the conductive band is adapted for transporting thermal energy generated by the heating device between the first zone and the second zone. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is a warming band for increasing the temperature of the first zone. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , wherein the first zone has excess thermal energy. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 5 , wherein the second zone has no excess thermal energy. 
     
     
         10 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 5 , wherein the conductive band transports thermal energy from the first zone to the second zone. 
     
     
         11 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow of thermal energy transported by the conductive band from the first zone to the second zone is substantially equal to the flow of thermal energy emitted by a user of the padding into the first zone. 
     
     
         12 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is supplied by a low-voltage power supply. 
     
     
         13 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow of thermal energy from the heating device into the first zone is smaller than the flow of thermal energy to the passive cooling device. 
     
     
         14 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam padding is in the form of a mattress or a seat. 
     
     
         15 . The temperature regulating foam padding according to  claim 5 , wherein the conductive band comprises a continuous conductive layer extending from within the first zone to the second zone. 
     
     
         16 . A method for regulating the temperature of a foam padding, the foam padding comprising a plurality of zones, at least one heating device disposed in at least one of the plurality of zones, at least one sensor, disposed in at least the first zone, a controller, connected to the heating device and the at least one sensor and at least one passive cooling device for lowering the temperature of the first zone to a first temperature below a desired temperature, the method comprising the steps of:
 measuring parameters in the first zone using the at least one sensor; and   controlling the heating device to reach and hold the desired temperature in the first zone, using the controller.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one sensor is one of a temperature sensor, wherein the parameters measured are temperature, or a heart-rate sensor, wherein the parameters measured are at least one of a heart rate or a heart rate variability. 
     
     
         18 . A bed having a matrass with a temperature regulating foam padding, the foam padding comprising:
 a plurality of zones;   at least one passive cooling device, disposed in at least a first zone of the plurality of zones;   at least one heating device, disposed in at least one of the plurality of zones;   at least one sensor disposed in the first zone; and   a controller, connected to the heating device and the sensors for controlling the heating device.