Blanket with ventilation holes

The quilted blanket with strategically placed ventilation holes and reinforced seams addresses the issue of inconsistent temperature and humidity, providing enhanced comfort by maintaining optimal microclimate and air circulation.

EP4115774B1Active Publication Date: 2025-07-02KUZMINA YULIYA EVGENEVNA
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2020949638
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2020-08-11
Filing Date
2020-12-14
Publication Date
2025-07-02
Estimated Expiration
2040-12-14

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing blankets fail to maintain consistent temperature and humidity conditions for different body parts, leading to discomfort during sleep due to non-uniform air circulation and deformation of ventilation holes, which compromises heat exchange and longevity of heat-releasing mechanisms.

Method used

A quilted blanket with ventilation holes at seam intersections, featuring various geometric shapes and sizes, and reinforced seams to prevent deformation, ensuring optimal microclimate and air circulation.

Benefits of technology

The blanket maintains a consistent temperature difference of 4-8°C and humidity reduction of 30% under the blanket, enhancing comfort by maintaining uniform air circulation and preventing overheating or overcooling.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model is related to light industry, to bedclothes in particular, and more specifically - to the design of blankets for household use that create optimal microclimate under the blanket and thereby provide more comfortable sleeping. The blanket includes a flexible layer consisting of upper 1 and lower 2 fabric with a filler 3 between them. The blanket is quilted with intersecting stitched seams 4, which may be both vertical and horizontal or made at a certain angle to each other. The centres 6 of the holes 5 in the flexible layer coincide with the points of intersection of the stitched seams 4. The blanket is made with stitched seams the intersections of which coincide with the centers of the ventilation holes, wherein the holes of smaller dimensions occupy up to two thirds of the blanket length and the holes of larger dimensions occupy the space of up to one third of the blanket length with all of the holes finished around the perimeter with blanket stitches. The technical result consists in enhancing comfort during sleep due to consistent temperature conditions for corresponding parts of the body.
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Description

[0001] The present invention is related to light industry, to bedclothes in particular, and more specifically - to the design of blankets for household use that create optimal microclimate under the blanket and thereby provide more comfortable sleeping.

[0002] A quilted blanket with ventilation holes arranged at intersections of stitched seams is designed for everyday use during sleep to protect the human body against overheating.

[0003] Document US 6,934,985 B2 discloses a cover of a conventional type, in particular for beds, which has at least one flexible layer of a light, insulating material and which is designed to the desired heat retention in the bed. The cover is equipped in view of an improved moisture regulation and a dissipation of the moisture released by the body as well as excess heat in such a manner that the layer is provided with ventilation openings.

[0004] Document CH 478 552 A discloses a duvet comprising a cover which is made up of two facing walls and is filled with eiderdown. The duvet is locally crossed perpendicular to the walls of the cover by hollow bodies, thus providing ventilation ducts connecting the two walls of the cover.

[0005] Document CN 210 330 152 U discloses a breathable gravity blanket. The breathable gravity blanket comprises a quilt cover and filler of high-density polyplastic particles. The filler of the high-density polyplastic particles is evenly and flatly laid in the quilt cover. The quilt cover is sewn into a grid shape. The filler of the high-density polyplastic particles is evenly distributed in the grid shape, and a plurality of breathable holes are formed in the breathable gravity blanket. The air holes enable the air permeability of the gravity blanket to be good, when a user sleeps, the user is not stuffy while keeping warm, and the sleep quality of the user is further improved.

[0006] A ventilated blanket comprising a sheet of material with a lot of holes spaced apart (application US No. 20030028964) is known from the prior art.

[0007] Each hole allows the air to pass through the blanket. The blanket may also include a strengthening section integrated into the perimeter of the sheet of material. The strengthening section may be a tube that contains entrapped air. The blanket may comprise supports joined with a collar section. The supports allow the blanket to be lifted to a certain distance over the person laying under it. A drawback of this solution is non-uniform air circulation over different parts of the body that creates discomfort during sleep.

[0008] Another thermal insulation article provided with ventilation (patent US5181287A) is also known. It has intermediate thermal insulating layer with a lot of through-thickness holes. A heat-releasing ring is inserted into each hole and can open and close in response to temperature increase or decrease inside the article in order to keep the sleeping person warm or to release excessive heat.

[0009] At night, the human body produces up to approximately 500 ml of water as sweat. This water or water vapor must leave the entire bedding set to avoid moisture residing directly at the skin or the inner side of the blanket. As major portion of moisture must be removed through the cover, in the existing embodiment, the heat-releasing rings will account for major load. Exposure of mechanisms (including heat-releasing rings) to moisture is detrimental to them, therefore they cannot remain serviceable for long time, and as a result, the blanket will lose its function.

[0010] Thus, the drawback of the existing blanket is that it does not provide for long-term retention of its functional properties due to short life of the heat-releasing rings.

[0011] The most similar technical solution chosen as a prototype is a bedcover (patent No. 2287312 RU, holder Zanders GmbH (DE)) which comprises at least one flexible layer of light-weight insulating material provided with ventilation holes.

[0012] According to the patent No. 2287312 RU, the ventilation holes of the bedcover are sheathed with a broad network or coarse-meshed material in order to assure integrity of the bedcover with large or elongated holes.

[0013] A drawback of this solution is a complexity of its design, in particular, the network which covers the holes is susceptible to looping and deformation during use that jeopardize comfort of a person during sleep. A great deal of discomfort is associated with the fact that the filler creates significant volumes and sections adjoining the perimeter of ventilation holes, partly overlaps the holes and restricts heat exchange with surrounding air, and as a result, the person eventually starts to feel uncomfortable.

[0014] The technical task of the present invention is to design a blanket which provides comfort due to creation of optimal microclimate for every body part.

[0015] The technical result consists in enhancing comfort during sleep due to consistent temperature conditions for corresponding body parts.

[0016] In order to solve the set task, we propose a blanket with ventilation holes according to claim 1.

[0017] Wherein: large holes are preferably located in the lower part of the blanket; holes have a circular shape; holes have an elliptical shape; holes have a rectangular shape; holes have a square shape; holes have a triangular shape; stitched seams are perpendicular to the blanket edge; stitched seams are at a certain angle to the blanket edge.

[0018] The proposed blanket is illustrated in pictures. Fig. 1 shows the cross-section of the blanket. Fig. 2 shows top view. Fig. 3 shows an area of the blanket with a ventilation hole.

[0019] The blanket includes a flexible layer consisting of upper 1 and lower 2 fabric with a filler 3 between them. The blanket is quilted with intersecting stitched seams 4 (Fig. 2) which may be both vertical and horizontal or made at a certain angle to each other. The centers 6 of the ventilation holes 5 in the flexible layer coincide with the points of intersection of the stitched seams 4.

[0020] As it has been shown in studies, the air heated by the human body expands and creates an increased pressure in the space under the blanket. The air rises up and due to this pressure tends to escape outside, through any leakage point, through the ventilation holes in particular. In this case, the air at the blanket surface cools down, and air circulation occurs inside the space under the blanket. When the person moves, the space under the blanket continuously changes, and air heating gradually increases. Due to temperature difference between the room and the space under the blanket, moisture condenses on the lower surface of the blanket, creating a greenhouse effect. This significantly reduces air permeability of fabric, which leads to overheating of the body and to further overcooling when the blanket is lifted or flung off, and cold ambient air is allowed to enter the space under the blanket.

[0021] The proposed arrangement of the ventilation holes in the blanket allows for reducing the temperature in the space under the blanket by 4-5°C in the back area and by 3-4°C in the leg area. Combination of ventilation holes of different sizes allows for reducing the temperature by 7-8°C. Relative air humidity in the space under the blanket also reduces from 90-100% to 60-70%. Due to ventilation process enhanced by the movements of the sleeping person, the body is kept dry.

[0022] The ventilation holes on the quilted blanket may have various geometrical shapes and be spaced at a different distance between them. In the preferable embodiment, the holes have square shape.

[0023] The size of the ventilation holes varies from 5 to 10 mm depending on their arrangement on the blanket surface.

[0024] Heat exchange process is very peculiar for every person, and it is difficult to consider individual needs in commercial production. The proposed solution provides for making a general-purpose bedcover with holes of different sizes. The optimal arrangement is as follows: holes of smaller dimensions (5x5 mm) located in the upper part of the blanket and occupy about 2 / 3 of the entire volume; holes of larger dimensions (10x10 mm) are located in the lower part of the blanket and occupy about 1 / 3 of the surface. Thus, the holes in the leg area are larger than those in the upper body area. At consumer's option, depending on whichever way is more comfortable, the blanket may be turned over by placing large holes in the upper part, near the back and neck, and holes of smaller dimensions - in the leg area, depending on human body individual peculiarities.

[0025] Stitched seams with ventilation holes made at their intersections, as well as ventilation hole finishing around the perimeter with blanket stitches provide stiffness to these sections of the blanket allowing it to avoid deformation in these areas thereby enabling unhindered heat exchange between the body and ambient air, which, in turn, provides comfort during sleep.

[0026] The distance between ventilation holes is determined by the blanket size and the stitched seams at the intersections of which they are made.

[0027] The proposed invention meets the criterion of novelty, as the prior art does not offer any technical solution with the proposed combination of features, which provides for achieving the technical result and meeting the criterion of industrial applicability.

[0028] The ventilation holes are perforations punched through the blanket, finished around the perimeter with blanket stitches and fixed with grommets, thus providing for the adequate air conditioning.

Claims

1. Blanket with ventilation holes, comprising at least one flexible layer containing upper (1) and lower (2) fabric with a fiber filler (3) between them, ventilation holes (5) of smaller dimensions and ventilation holes of larger dimensions, wherein the blanket is quilted with stitched seams (4) the intersections of which coincide with the centers (6) of the ventilation holes (5), wherein the blanked has a length divided in two thirds and one last third, wherein the ventilation holes of smaller dimensions occupy up to the two thirds of the blanket length, and the ventilation holes of larger dimensions occupy the space of up to the last third of the blanket length, and the ventilation holes are finished around the perimeter with blanket stitches.

2. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) of larger dimensions are preferably arranged in the lower part of the blanket.

3. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have a circular shape.

4. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have an elliptical shape.

5. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have a rectangular shape.

6. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have a square shape.

7. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have a triangle shape.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Performance bed sheets

    WO2017189992A1