US 11,779,128 B2
Bed microclimate controller
Matthew Max Griffith, Buffalo, MN (US); Kody Lee Karschnik, Plymouth, MN (US); Chee Nong Yang, Fridley, MN (US); Eric Stephen Rose, Piedmont, SC (US); and Reuben Wesley Meline, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to Sleep Number Corporation, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Sleep Number Corporation, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/139,789.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/957,103, filed on Jan. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0204716 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. A47C 21/04 (2006.01); A47C 27/14 (2006.01); A47C 20/04 (2006.01); A47C 27/08 (2006.01); A47C 27/10 (2006.01); A47C 31/00 (2006.01); A47C 27/15 (2006.01); G05B 19/4155 (2006.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01); A47C 27/18 (2006.01); A47C 19/02 (2006.01)
CPC A47C 21/048 (2013.01) [A47C 19/027 (2013.01); A47C 20/041 (2013.01); A47C 21/044 (2013.01); A47C 27/081 (2013.01); A47C 27/082 (2013.01); A47C 27/083 (2013.01); A47C 27/10 (2013.01); A47C 27/14 (2013.01); A47C 27/18 (2013.01); A47C 31/001 (2013.01); A47C 31/005 (2013.01); A47C 31/007 (2013.01); G05B 19/0426 (2013.01); G05B 19/4155 (2013.01); A47C 20/04 (2013.01); A47C 27/15 (2013.01); A47C 31/008 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2614 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2638 (2013.01); G05B 2219/37371 (2013.01); G05B 2219/50333 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
20. A mattress system comprising:
a foam layer configured to permit a first airflow rate;
an airflow insert pad arranged under a portion of the foam layer and configured to permit a second airflow rate being higher than the first airflow, the airflow insert pad having a smaller area than the foam layer and configured to regulate a microclimate of the portion of the foam layer corresponding to the airflow insert pad; and
an air controller configured to draw air from the airflow insert pad and supply heated air to the airflow insert pad, the air controller including:
a housing having a connection-side opening and an ambient-side opening, the housing being mounted at a bottom of a mattress foundation, and the connection-side opening being fluidly coupled to an interface hole defined at the mattress foundation;
a reversible fan mounted in the housing;
a heating element mounted in the housing; and
a control unit configured to control the air controller in a cooling mode in which the reversible fan operates to cause airflow from the connection-side opening to the ambient-side opening through the housing, and further configured to control the air controller in a heating mode in which the heating element is heated and the reversible fan operates to cause air to flow from the ambient-side opening to the connection-side opening, passing through the heating element; and
a duct extending between the airflow insert pad and a top of the mattress foundation and being fluidly coupled to the interface hole defined at the mattress foundation
a foam rail structure including top, bottom, and opposite side foam rails extending between the top and bottom foam rails,
wherein the airflow insert pad is surrounded by the top foam rail, the bottom foam rail, and the opposite side foam rails;
wherein at least one of the top, bottom, and opposite side foam rails has a notch that at least partially receives the duct.