GB2421904A

GB2421904A - Upholstered unit with heating/cooling means

Info

Publication number: GB2421904A
Application number: GB0500264A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Paul Spinks; David Clare
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-07
Filing date: 2005-01-07
Publication date: 2006-07-12
Also published as: GB0500264D0

Abstract

An upholstered unit 2 includes one or more pipes or tubes 12 through which may be passed a fluid and a temperature controlling device 16 to heat and/or cool the fluid in order to adjust the temperature of the upholstered unit. The temperature controlling device may be a Peltier device 10. The upholstered unit includes a plurality of spring units arranged in strings or rows, there being spaces or voids between adjacent strings or rows, the spaces or voids accommodating the pipe(s) or tube(s), or alternatively the upholstered unit will include a foam pad, the spaces or voids being formed in the foam pad to accommodate the pipe(s) or tube(s).

Description

UPHOLSTE1D UNITS This invention relates to upholstered units and is more

particularly concerned with temperature control of upholstered units.

Upholstered units include, inter alia, beds, divan beds, mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows, cushions, settees, sofas, chairs and so on, and the term upholstered unit' should be construed accordingly.

When an upholstered unit is in use, particularly in the case of a mattress, it is often desirable to be able to adjust the temperature of the mattress, both upwardly and downwardly, to suit individual users' requirements, and the invention seeks to provide an upholstered unit which has this capability.

According to the present invention, there is provided an upholstered unit including one or more pipes or tubes through which may be passed a fluid, and which may include a temperature controlling device to heat and/or cool said fluid in order to adjust the temperature of said upholstered unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upholstered unit will comprise a plurality of spring units arranged in strings or rows, there being spaces or voids between adjacent strings or rows, said spaces or voids accommodating the pipe(s) or tube(s) through which the fluid is passed.

Preferably, there will be one continuous pipe or tube arranged in the spaces or voids, and the fluid will preferably be a liquid. The temperature controlling device may be any such suitable device, but preferably it will be a Peltier device. Alternatively, a radiator, radiator plus fan, or other heat element may be used.

The upholstered unit will have associated therewith a pump in order to circulate the liquid through the pipe or tube, said pump being located internally or externally of said upholstered unit.

The temperature of the unit may be adjusted by manual means or it may be by means of a hand-held or mounted remote control device.

There will be associated with the upholstered unit a reservoir from which and to which the liquid may be passed as the temperature of the liquid is adjusted, and there will also be provided a thermostat so that the temperature of the liquid may be controlled.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view on part of an upholstered unit - more specifically a mattress - which includes a plurality of spring units; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an upholstered unit in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section on part of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figure 1, the upholstered unit in the form of a mattress - only part of which is shown - is indicated generally by reference numeral 2 and includes a plurality of spring units 4 which will preferably be pockettecj spring units. Such units may be formed as described in our co-pending Patent Application No 04 04823.7, although as will be appreciated other forms of pocketted springs may be used.

The pocketted spring units 4 are arranged in rows or strings such that there are longitudinal spaces or voids 6 and lateral spaces or voids 8 between adjacent springs in a row or string and between adjacent rows or strings respectively, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

The pocketed spring units 4 are formed as generally square units, this being achieved by applying longitudinal and lateral pressure - by means of sonic welding or heat welding or other suitable means - so as to join the fabric along longitudinal and lateral lines and thus create the spaces or voids 6 and 8.

Referring now to Figure 2, the upholstered unit 2- the spring units are omitted for the sake of clarity - is connected to a temperature controlling means in the form of a Peltier device 10 through the intermediary of a continuous pipe or tube 12 which is located longitudinally and/or laterally in the spaces or voids 6 and 8 between the rows or strings of spring units 4. This is best seen in Figure 3.

The Peltier device 10 is located in a reservoir 14 from which and to which fluid, more specifically liquid, may pass during operation of the Peltier device when controlling the temperature of the upholstered unit. A thermostat 16 is associated with the reservoir 14.

Between the reservoir 14 and the upholstered unit 2 is a pump 18 which enables the liquid in the reservoir 14 to be passed through the upholstered unit 2.

In use, when it is desired to adjust the temperature of the upholstered unit 2, the Peltier device 10 would be actuated by a person selecting a required temperature by means of a control device (not shown) such liquid - preferably water - in the reservoir 14 will be heated or cooled to the required temperature. When at the desired temperature, the liquid would then be pumped by the pump 18 through pipe or tube 12 and hence through the upholstered unit 2 so as to adjust the temperature of the upholstered unit. The liquid then passes back to the reservoir 14 where it would again be regulated to the required temperature As will be known to those skilled in the art, a Peltier device is a plate- type semi-conductor by means of which if a power source of a direct current is applied to the Peltier element, one surface is heated, whilst the other surface is cooled. If the polarity of the element is inversed, the heated surface is cooled, whilst the cooled surface is heated. In the present invention the polarity of the element would be automatically inversed, depending upon whether the liquid needed to be heated or cooled. When cooling the liquid in the reservoir 14 and hence in the pipe or tube 12, the heat from the reverse side of the Peltier device would be released via a fan system, not shown.

Although not apparent from the drawings, it has been found that the most efficient formation for the pipe or tube 12 is to snake' the pipe or tube 12 one row in from the edge across the upholstered unit 2. In this way, the pipe or tube 12 would have contact with every spring unit, whilst minimising the length of pipe or tube needed, liquid capacity, and thus power needed to adjust the temperature of said liquid.

The pipe or tube 12 could be placed quite close to the upper surface of the upholstered unit due to its flexibility and position in order to maximise user experience. The density of the pipe(s) or tube(s) or parts thereof could be varied in order to facilitate having differing temperatures in selected areas or zones of the upholstered unit.

Thus the invention provides an upholstered unit in which the temperature of the unit can be readily and easily adjusted to suit a user requirement.

The proposal according to the invention may be part of a modular system. For example, the user may have an upholstered unit which at the touch of a button may adjust its firmness, adjust its temperature, massage all parts of the body, lift at the head or foot, raise a plasma television at the foot, and play music. The upholstered unit may include other features such as a torch in the control device, beverage making facilities, alarm clock etc. Whilst in the specific embodiment of the invention described, a single pipe or tube 12 has been referred to, it will be appreciated that a plurality of pipes or tubes may be used. It will also be appreciated that the upholstered unit need not necessarily include pocketted springs.

The springs may be ordinary coil or other types of springs. Or indeed, the upholstered unit may include a foam pad instead of the springs in which case the pipe(s) or tube(s) would be located in channels formed in said foam pad. Or the springs or foam could be omitted, such that the pipe(s) or tube(s) would be located in the filling of the upholstered unit.

Finally, where a plurality of pipes or tubes are used, these need not necessarily be flexible, since they may be jointed in any suitable fashion.

Claims

CLAIMS: i An Upholstered unit flcluding one or more Pipes or bes through

Which is passed a fluid and a temperature controlling device to heat and/or cool said fluid in order to adjust the temperature of said upholstered unit: 2: Upholstered unit according to Claim 1, wherein said Upholstered unit comprises a pluraji, of spring Units arranged in stngs or rows, there being spaces or Voids beeen adjace strings or rows, said spaces or voids accommodating the Pipe(s) or (tubes) through which the fluid is passed.

3. M Upholstered unit according to Claim 2, wherein there is One COfltjflUO5 pipe or tube arranged in the spaces or Voids.

4: An Upholstered Unit according to any of Claims I to 3, wherein the temperature controlling device is a Pelt icr device: 5. An upholstered unit according to any of Claims I to 3, wherein the temperature controlling device is a radiator, radiator plus fan, or other suitable means.

6. An upholstered unit according to any of the preceding Claims, including a pump to circulate the fluid through the pipe or tube, said pump being located internally or externally of said upholstered unit.

7. An upholstered unit according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the temperature of the unit is adjusted by manual means or by means of a handheld or mounted remote control device.

8. An upholstered unit according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein there is associated with said unit a reservoir from which and to which the fluid may be passed as the temperature of the fluid is adjusted, a thermostat being provided so that the temperature of the fluid may controlled, the reservoir being located internally or externally of said unit.

9. An upholstered unit according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

10. An upholstered unit according to any of Claims 2 to 9, wherein said springs are pocketted springs, non-pockefted springs, or a combination thereof.

11. An upholstered unit according to Claim 1, wherein said upholstered unit includes a foam pad, the spaces or voids being formed in the foam pad to accommodate the pipe(s) or tube(s).

12. An upholstered unit substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.