Selectively cooled or heated cushion and apparatus therefor
OwnerSteve Feherinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cushion (10, 12) has a plenum (16) which includes a plurality of flexible plastic woven tubes (34) held within a pair of similarly woven sheathes (38,40). The plenum has its sides and bottom covered by an air impermeable (14) layer with the top covered by an air permeable layer (20). A low to medium density foam pad (19) is located between the plenum (16) and the top layer (20). Conditioned air is provided to the cushions (10,12) from a Stirling cycle heat pump (44).
Claims8
Cushion apparatus for receiving pressurized temperature modified air therein, comprising:
- a unitary pad having top, bottom and sides constructed of a plurality of tubular elements sufficiently rigid not to close off more than about 20% when subjected to normal sitting, leaning or lying forces arranged in side-by-side generally parallel relation in a single plane, each element including a plurality of first plastic monofilaments extending lengthwise and forming tubular sidewalls, and a plurality of second plastic monofilaments extending transversely of the first monofilaments and interwoven therewith, said monofilaments being constructed of a plastic selected from the list including polyethylene, saran, polypropylene and nylon and said monofilament diameters ranging from about 0.011 to 0.021 inches;
- means for preventing permeation of air and moisture therethrough enclosing the pad bottom and at least certain of the pad sides;
- an air permeable layer secured to the impermeable means and extending over the pad top;
- and
- means interconnecting the pad with a supply of pressurized temperature modified air.
Cushion apparatus for being temperature conditioned by pressurized temperature modified air therein, comprising:
- a unitary pad having top, bottom and sides constructed of a plurality of tubular elements arranged in side-by-side generally parallel relation in a single plane, each element including a plurality of first plastic monofilaments extending lengthwise and forming tubular sidewalls and a plurality of second plastic monofilaments extending transversely of the first monofilaments and interwoven therewith;
- air and moisture impermeable means enclosing the pad bottom and at least certain of the pad sides;
- an air permeable layer secured to the impermeable means and extending over the pad top;
- a linear free-piston Stirling cycle heat pump having a cold end for cooling air during cooling mode, and heating means mounted on said cold end for heating air during heating mode;
- and
- a heat transferring conductor having a concavity for fitting contacting receipt with said heat pump cold end, a heat exchanger radially extending about said conductor, and a set of pin fins on said heat pump cold end surrounding said heating means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.