# US 8,770,020 B2 · Methods and apparatuses for testing a sleep support member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,020 B2 - Document ID: US8770020B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/867,723 - Filed: 2009-02-13 - Published: 2011-01-06 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-02-14 - Assignees: Kingsdown, Inc. - Applicants: Robert D. Oexman; David B. Scott - Inventors: Robert D. Oexman; David B. Scott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770020B2 ## CPC - G01N 3/32: by applying repeated or pulsating forces - A47C 31/123: {for beds or mattresses} - G01N 2203/0019: Compressive - G01N 2203/0226: High temperature; Heating means - G01N 2203/0246: Special simulation of "in situ" conditions, scale models or dummies - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS ## Abstract Systems and methods for testing a sleep support member. A system including at least one pressing structure, wherein the at least one pressing structure includes at least one of a heater and a moisture device; and a controller configured to control pressing of the pressing structure onto the sleep support member, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device. A method including controlling pressing of at least one pressing structure onto a sleep support member, wherein the at least one pressing structure includes at least one of a heater and a moisture device; and controlling at least one of heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for testing durability of a sleep support member, the system comprising: at least one pressing structure, wherein the at least one pressing structure includes at least one of a heater and a moisture device; and a controller configured to control pressing of the pressing structure onto the sleep support member, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device that simulates at least one of heat and moisture expected to be released by a person sleeping on the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night, and wherein the controller is configured to control repeated pressing of the at least one pressing structure onto the sleep support member for a period of time in accordance with a predetermined simulation pattern. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device that simulates at least one of heat and moisture expected to be released by the person sleeping on the sleep support member throughout a duration of several nights. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device that simulates at least one of heat and moisture expected to be released by the person sleeping on the sleep support member throughout a duration of the sleep support member's expected lifetime. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 1, wherein the at least one pressing structure comprises a plurality of displaceable platens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control testing durability of the sleep support member after the controlling pressing of the at least one pressing structure and the controlling the at least one of heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the testing durability of the sleep support member comprises evaluating how well the sleep support member maintains shape and support firmness. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the testing durability of the sleep support member comprises measuring a permanent indentation caused by the controlled pressing of the pressing structure onto the sleep support member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a heater and a moisture device comprises a heater and a moisture device, and wherein the controller is configured to control both heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device that simulates both heat and moisture expected to be released by the person sleeping on the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 8, wherein the heater comprises an electric heating element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 8, wherein the moisture device comprises at least one of a valve and a nozzle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of pressing structures, wherein each of the pressing structures includes at least one of a heater and a moisture device, and wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of heat provided by the heaters and moisture provided by the moisture devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 11, wherein the predetermined simulation pattern is configured to simulate a person's movement on the sleep support member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 11, wherein the pressing structures are arranged so that a location of each respective pressing structure simulates a part of a human body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 11, wherein positions of the pressing structures can be manually or automatically moved. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 11, wherein the controller controls at least one of heat and humidity of a chamber in which the sleep support member is provided that simulates at least one of heat and humidity of expected environmental conditions surrounding the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 15, wherein the controller controls both heat and humidity of the chamber that simulates both heat and humidity of expected environmental conditions surrounding the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 11, wherein the at least one of a heater and a moisture device comprises a heater and a moisture device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 17, wherein the plurality of pressing structures comprises a plurality of displaceable platens. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system for testing a sleep support member of claim 17, wherein the heater comprises an electric heating element and the moisture device comprises a valve or a nozzle. ### Claim 20 A method for testing durability of a sleep support member, the method comprising: controlling pressing of at least one pressing structure onto a sleep support member, wherein the at least one pressing structure includes at least one of a heater and a moisture device; controlling at least one of heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device that simulates at least one of heat and moisture expected to be released by a person sleeping on the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night; testing durability of the sleep support member after the controlling pressing of the at least one pressing structure and the controlling the at least one of heat provided by the heater and moisture provided by the moisture device; and controlling the repeated pressing of the at least one pressing structure onto the sleep support member for a period of time in accordance with a predetermined simulation pattern. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined simulation pattern simulates a person's movement on the sleep support member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, further comprising controlling at least one of heat and humidity of a chamber in which the sleep support member is provided that simulates at least one of heat and humidity of expected environmental conditions surrounding the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, further comprising controlling both heat and humidity of the chamber that simulates both heat and humidity of expected environmental conditions surrounding the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night. ### Claim 24 A method for testing durability of a sleep support member, the method comprising: providing a plurality of pressing structures, wherein each of the pressing structures includes at least one of a heater and a moisture device; controlling at least one of heat provided by the heaters and moisture provided by the moisture devices that simulates at least one of heat and moisture expected to be released by a person sleeping on the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night; repeatedly pressing respective pressing structures onto the sleep support member for a period of time in accordance with a predetermined simulation pattern; and testing durability of the sleep support member after the controlling the at least one of heat provided by the heaters and moisture provided by the moisture devices and the repeatedly pressing respective pressing structures onto the sleep support member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein the predetermined simulation pattern simulates a person's movement on the sleep support member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, further comprising controlling the pressing structures so that a location of each respective pressing structure simulates a part of a human body. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein positions of the pressing structures are automatically moved. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein positions of the pressing structures are manually moved. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, further comprising controlling at least one of heat and humidity of a chamber in which the sleep support member is provided that simulates at least one of heat and humidity of expected environmental conditions surrounding the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, further comprising controlling both heat and humidity of the chamber that simulates both heat and humidity of expected environmental conditions surrounding the sleep support member throughout a duration of at least one night.