The present invention generally relates to a bedding system and method for the automation and ventilation of an existing duvet, comforter or blanket.
Controllable bed systems have been manufactured for many years, such as automated systems incorporated into the bed frame that adjust to a user wanting to sit up in bed to watch television with their partner lying down. As the controllable comfort of a user in their home becomes more and more important with the advent of networked and automated systems in the home, new ways of keeping the home in order with added comfort features becomes interesting to consumers. Several traditional systems offer a single, independent solution as a heavy weight bed system that is not adaptable to a user's current bed and is to be purchased as a single, whole bed apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,404 (Wilson) describes tubular members that are deflated and are non-rigid that causes bedding to straighten out over the surface of the bed by releasing a charge of gas under pressure into the tubular members.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,222 A (Tascarella) describes an automatic bed maker, electrically-operated, with helical screw actions attached to the frame that smoothes bedding.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,874 A (Browder) discloses an automatic bed maker using a the expansion of an inflatable bladder. However, the bladder cannot be used in combination with existing bedding and does not have air circulation built in.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,250,688 B2 (Mendez et al.), discloses a bedding straightening system attached to a base of an ordinary bed, including a blanket air distributor, bottom sheet side air distributors, connectors, bottom sheet, top blanket and sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,133 B2 (Van Houte) describes a bed making system with a U-shaped braced defined by two parallel arm and a connecting bar with a topping mattress and a base mattress.
International patent application no. WO 2007/060371 A3 (Clodic et al.) describes the distribution of hot and cold air throughout the whole surface of the blanket forcing the need for a lot of air distributed in places where the user doesn't feel it. It also does not help in the making of the bed nor helps humidity evacuation since it covers the whole area without any openings.
U.S. patent application no. US 2015/0223612 A1 (Mendez et al.) discloses an independent equipment for bedding straightening intended for automatically unfolding and straightening bed clothing by means of compressed air inflatable sleeves associated with bed clothes, such that when the air is introduced under pressure into such inflatable sleeves, these are unfolded and straightened pulling bedding along which become also straightened.
The main shortcomings of the prior art are that they do not offer a light weight system to provide several comfort and organizational features in one that are controllable by a user and that may be adapted to any currently commercially available bed apparatus.
The shortcomings are generally mitigated by the fact that the bedding system proposed herewith does not require any permanent installation or new hardware other than the device itself and allows the users to make their existing bedding in an automated and ventilated, way, furthermore controlling temperature and air circulation for different parts of the bedding to be accustomed to one or more users.
A bedding system is proposed that comprises comfort, convenience and well-being features in one light weight apparatus to keep existing bedding and bed made (duvet/comforter, duvet cover, bed sheets, bed) and in dry, ventilated order, by automation and ready for use by one or two users that may want to be cooled and heated according to their own liking when they may be simultaneously settled in the bed.
According to a first aspect, the invention is directed to a bedding system for the automation and ventilation of an existing duvet, the bedding system comprising:
an inflatable lining configured to be inserted and affixed into a cover of a duvet together with the duvet, the inflatable lining comprising a network of pneumatic chambers defining a plurality of openings extending through the lining allowing air to circulate through the lining; and
an air blower operatively connected to the inflatable lining for blowing air into the network of pneumatic chambers, so as in use, the inflatable lining is inflated to allow for the duvet and its cover to be straightened back into position after every use of the duvet.
According to a preferred embodiment, the network of pneumatic chambers defines a grid shaped inflatable lining with squared or circular openings arranged to form column and rows.
According to a preferred embodiment, the inflatable lining comprises an upper and lower layers affixed together to form the plurality of pneumatic chambers, and a valve connected to the inflatable lining, the valve being configured to receive air from the air blower via a connecting tube for inflating the inflatable lining, and to let the air to escape the inflatable lining when the air blower stops for deflating the inflatable lining when the duvet and its cover are back into position. The inflatable lining may define a second network of pneumatic chambers configured to circulate and distribute hot or cold air towards a user laid in a bed under the duvet so as to regulate the temperature of the duvet. The second network may comprise more than one separate sub-networks, for instance two or four, for distributing air with different temperatures in specific regions of the bed. The lower layer of the inflating lining may comprise a plurality of holes in connection with the second network for distributing the temperature-controlled air.
According to a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower layers are connected together by a lateral vertical wall made of an extensible material, so as when the lining is inflated, the lateral wall extends to straighten the lining back into position, and when the air blower stops injecting air into the lining, the extensible lateral wall creates a force that, in connection with the valve, allows the lining to deflate to provide a natural look to the duvet back into position.
According to a preferred embodiment, the inflatable lining comprises non-permanent attaching elements for attaching the inflatable lining to the duvet cover and/or the duvet.
According to a preferred embodiment, the air blower is configured to be activated for a given amount of time to send air into said network of pneumatic chambers.
According to a preferred embodiment, the air blower is controlled via an application connected over a network to the apparatus or by a hard wired controller on the apparatus.
According to a preferred embodiment, the air blower is controlled by either Bluetooth or WIFI via an application installed on a computer, Smartphone or tablet.
According to a second aspect, the invention is directed to a method for the making of a bed using a bedding system for the automation and ventilation of an existing duvet, the method comprising the steps of:
According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises before step b) the step of attaching the inflatable lining to the duvet.
According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises after step c) the step of deflating the inflated lining by turning off the air blower once the inflatable lining, the duvet and the cover are back into position.
According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of regulating the temperature of the duvet by selecting a temperature of the air sent into a second network of pneumatic chambers configured to circulate and distribute hot or cold air in specific regions of the lining.
According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of controlling the air blower via an application connected over a network to the apparatus or by a hard wired controller on the apparatus.
According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of controlling the air blower by either Bluetooth or WIFI via an application installed on a computer, Smartphone or tablet.
According to a third aspect, the invention is directed to a kit for the automation and ventilation of an existing duvet, the kit comprising:
an inflatable lining configured to be inserted and affixed into a cover of a duvet together with the duvet, the inflatable lining comprising a network of pneumatic chambers defining a plurality of openings extending through the lining allowing air to circulate through the lining; and
an air blower operatively connected to the inflatable lining for blowing air for a given amount of time into the network of pneumatic chambers, so as in use, the inflatable lining is inflated to allow for the duvet and its cover to be straightened back into position after every use of the bed.
According to a preferred embodiment, the kit further comprises a manual for the installation and use of the kit and bedding system.
This “grid shaped inflatable air lining” comprises a network of pneumatic chambers allowing for the comforter and sheets to be straightened back into position after every use of the bed.
The device may also include a separate network of pneumatic chambers allowing the distribution of hot and cold air in specific regions of the bed (through the duvet/comforter). For instance, two persons in the same bed may have different air circulation temperatures sent to each of them. They can each also choose which section of the body they want to heat or cool. (ex: upper body, lower body).
Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
The above description and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
A novel light weight, smart, universal self-making bedding system and method are described herein. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.
A bedding system 1 for the automation and ventilation of an existing duvet is illustrated on
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The cover 5 of the duvet 3 embeds the “grid shaped” inflatable lining 3. The lining 3, more visible on
According to a preferred embodiment, the network of pneumatic chambers defines a grid shaped inflatable lining with squared openings (
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The valve 13, visible on
As illustrated on
It has to be understood that when the bedding system comprises the second network 35 for distributing warm or cold air, the inflatable lining should be placed under the duvet 7 into the cover 5 to allow distributing the temperature controlled air directly to the user laid in the bed under the duvet thanks to the holes 27 of the second network 35.
As illustrated on
As illustrated on
The air blower 9, also named control box, is illustrated on
The material of the for the making of the inflatable lining 3 may be comprised of Nylon®, Cuben fiber, Kevlar® fiber, cotton, polyester or any traditional bedding fabric/material known in the art and be eventually coated with silicon, polyurethane, Silpoly or other coatings known in the Art.
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The
The herein described invention was created to allow its users to have their bed made without any effort. It is also intended to give users a way to cool or warm their bed without having to cool or warm the whole room or house. The integration of elements are such that users' existing bedding and beds (duvet/comforter, duvet cover, bed sheets, blankets, etc) are made and in ventilated order, ready for use by one or two users that may want to be cooled and heated according to their own liking when they are simultaneously settled in the bed.
This invention will be most useful for those who desire having a made bed every day without having to go through the traditional steps of making the bed.
This invention will be useful to anyone wishing to sleep in a colder/warmer bed without having to cool/warm the whole room/house.
This invention will be useful for those living with a handicap or suffering from any form of disability that could render bed making difficult.
This invention will help people living with temperature/humidity related illnesses by providing the right temperature adjustment and by lowering the humidity level of the bed.
The addition of a “grid shaped inflatable air lining” that utilises a network of pneumatic chambers allows making any bed a self-making bed. By adding a second network of pneumatic chambers, the self-making bed can also be a ventilated (warmed and cooled) bed.
The bedding system is attached to a reversed pump/air blower which can be activated for a specific amount of time to send the air into said network of pneumatic chambers. However, once the bed is made, the air in the network of pneumatic chambers may be released atmospherically by an outlet.
The device is attached to the duvet/comforter with the use of a non-permanent attach system, making the device easily removable allowing the cleaning of the duvet/comforter and duvet cover.
The apparatus may also include a non-permanent attach system to attach the bed sheets to the duvet/comforter, making the bed sheets follow the motion of the bedding system when making the bed resulting in the device making the bed as a whole with the duvet/comforter and bed sheet.
Furthermore, the inflatable lining 3 with its network of pneumatic chambers that make the bed, is separated or independent from the second network of ventilation conduits that not only allow for air ventilation, but also provide hot and cold air for heating and cooling which is controlled by the control box. Air pressure and air flow rates may therefore be different in the two separate networks.
The openings among the network of pneumatic chambers and the network of ventilation conduits allows for the circulation of hot or cold air, pressurized or not, thereby providing for the natural dissipation of temperature gradients which promotes natural humidity release.
In addition to this, the controllable features of the system are controllable by an application connected over a network to the apparatus or by a hard wired controller on the apparatus. The system may be advantageously controlled by either Bluetooth or WIFI via an application, RF or IF using a remote control or by a hard wire controller. Other known systems of control can be used.
In contrast to traditional systems, the proposed invention is light weight and easily adaptable to current commercially available beds.
The bedding system disclosed herewith can be sold as a kit comprising the different elements as defined herein: the inflatable lining (with different sizes eventually), the air blower/control box, the air tubing, and eventually a manual of installation and use.
While the illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.
The present patent application is a U.S. national phase entry from the PCT patent application PCT/CA2017/051199 entitled “SELF-MAKING BEDDING SYSTEM, METHOD AND KIT THEREOF”, filed on Oct. 6, 2017, and the PCT application claims the benefits of priority of commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application No. 62/405,044 entitled “Self-making Bed Blanket with Temperature Control System” and filed at the U.S. patent and trademark office on Oct. 6, 2016, the content of both applications being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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PCT/CA2017/051199 | 10/6/2017 | WO |
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WO2018/064776 | 4/12/2018 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200060446 A1 | Feb 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62405044 | Oct 2016 | US |