Bed cover system

Abstract

The invention relates to a duvet system comprising a duvet (1) comprising, in the specified order: - a textile layer (2), - a sensor layer (3) with at least one sensor (14) selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, orientation, position, and acceleration sensors, - a layer (4) of textile, inflatable air chambers (15), - a further sensor layer (5) with at least one sensor (14) selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, orientation, position, and acceleration sensors, wherein at least in the sensor layer (3) or in the further sensor layer (5) a temperature sensor is arranged, and - a further textile layer (6), as well as a unit (12) external to the duvet (1) comprising at least one air pump (7) and a drain valve (8) and connected to the layer (4) in such a manner.that air can be pumped into the air chambers (15) by means of at least one air pump (7) and air can be released from the air chambers (15) by means of the drain valve (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a duvet system. In particular, the invention relates to a duvet system comprising a duvet with one or more textile layers.

[0002] Human bodies continuously release heat into the environment during the day and night to maintain core body temperature within a narrow range. If temperatures in the bedroom are too high, there's a risk that heat will build up under the covers and the temperature will rise too much. This results in less restful sleep due to tossing and turning, even waking up. Temperatures that are too low also result in fewer deep sleep phases and less restful sleep.

[0003] A duvet user can achieve a certain degree of temperature control by using a summer duvet in warm temperatures and a winter duvet in cooler temperatures. A winter duvet is typically thicker than a summer duvet. It has so far been difficult for users to achieve an optimum, particularly with fluctuating temperatures, different comfort requirements, and depending on the clothing used, such as pajamas. In addition, the use of summer and winter duvets incurs costs, and requires storage space for the unused duvet. CN 113 455 869 A discloses a duvet system known from the prior art.

[0004] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a duvet system that enables active temperature regulation. It should also be cost-effective.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a duvet system having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

[0006] The advantages achieved with the invention, in addition to providing a temperature-controlled duvet, include highly energy-efficient and cost-saving temperature regulation. No additional summer / winter or transitional duvets are required. Rather, only a single duvet is needed for the entire year. Temperature regulation is achieved solely by adjusting the heat conduction achieved by the duvet. The duvet system according to the invention is also simple to construct and quiet in operation. Furthermore, the invention is scalable for various purposes such as a partner duvet, children's duvet, duvet for medical applications, etc. The duvet system can also be designed to detect vital parameters. Heat loss through the duvet is regulated individually and depending on the ambient temperature and, if applicable, on the vital parameters, so that the ideal sleeping temperature is maintained and regulated.By integrating temperature, respiration, and heart rate sensors into the duvet via acceleration and position sensors, external sleep tracking sensors such as wearables or radar-based systems are no longer required. Furthermore, the direct contact between the duvet and the user allows for direct microclimate recording, and the sensor data can be analyzed relatively easily. Depending on the sleep phase, the optimal sleeping temperature can be set to optimize REM and deep sleep and provide the user with the best possible rest during sleep.

[0007] The invention relates to a duvet system with a duvet, comprising in the specified order a textile layer, a sensor layer with at least one sensor selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, attitude, position and acceleration sensors, a layer of textile, inflatable air chambers, a further sensor layer with at least one sensor selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, attitude, position and acceleration sensors, wherein at least in the sensor layer or in the further sensor layer a temperature sensor is arranged and a further textile layer, as well as with a unit external to the duvet, which has at least one air pump and a release valve and is connected to the layer in such a way that air can be pumped into the air chambers by means of the at least one air pump and air can be released from the air chambers by means of the release valve.

[0008] The sensor layer and the additional sensor layer allow temperature and, if necessary, vital parameters to be sensed from both sides of the layer of textile, inflatable air chambers, which serves as a heat-regulating air insulation layer. The more air there is in the air chambers, the greater the thermal insulation. The less air there is in the air chambers, the lower the thermal insulation. This allows an optimal sleeping temperature to be set depending on the values sensed by the sensors. Using the air pump, which is preferably electrically operated, air can be pumped into the air chambers to adjust the duvet thickness and thereby vary the thermal insulation of the air insulation layer. The air can escape from the air chambers in a controlled manner via the release valve, which is also preferably electrically controlled.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the air chambers have an elliptical, rectangular, or spherical contour. Different air chambers can have different contours. The air chambers are preferably arranged side by side and form an air chamber plane. However, they can also be arranged one above the other, so that the layer of textile, inflatable air chambers has several sub-layers, each of which forms an air chamber plane and is stacked one above the other. The air chambers of adjacent sub-layers can be offset, partially offset, or unoffset from one another.

[0010] Preferably, openings are provided between at least some of the air chambers. The layer of textile, inflatable air chambers must ensure not only air permeability but also moisture transport. The openings between the individual air chambers support air and moisture transport. The openings are preferably provided between air chambers of a sub-layer. Optionally, air chambers of adjacent sub-layers can also be connected by openings.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, at least some of the air chambers are connected via a network and form a composite, for which a single opening is provided for admitting air into the composite. However, if the air chambers are arranged one above the other, i.e., in adjacent sublayers, multiple inlet openings can be provided to fill predetermined air chamber levels with air.

[0012] Preferably, the sensor layer is embedded, more preferably woven, into the textile layer. Alternatively or additionally, the additional sensor layer is embedded, more preferably woven, into the additional textile layer. This creates so-called smart textile layers.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the air chambers can be filled with air up to a predetermined maximum. This ensures that a predetermined stiffness of the duvet is not exceeded. This feature supports comfort.

[0014] Preferably, the sensor layer is provided with a temperature sensor, and the further sensor layer with another temperature sensor. This increases the spatial information density with regard to the determined temperature data. Furthermore, the duvet system preferably has a control unit designed to regulate a sleeping temperature as a function of a measurement signal from the temperature sensor and a further measurement signal from the further temperature sensor by pumping or releasing air into the air chambers. By knowing the temperature below and above the layer of textile, inflatable air chambers, direct and time-resolved conclusions can be drawn about heat loss and heat transport. An optimal sleeping temperature can be regulated using suitable algorithms.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor layer is provided with a position, a location, and / or an acceleration sensor. The duvet system preferably further comprises an evaluation unit configured to evaluate data sensed by the position, location, and / or acceleration sensor, to create sleep patterns based on the obtained evaluation, and, depending on the created sleep patterns, to request feedback from a user of the duvet by communicating with an external electrical device. This allows the detection of the user's lying position and movement patterns using sensors and means that are relatively easy to integrate. Due to the user's direct physical contact with the duvet, the sensing can be implemented and evaluated without major effort. The external electrical device can be a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, or the like, which provides software with suitable functionality.

[0016] Preferably, the external unit further comprises an energy storage device configured to supply the at least one air pump with energy. Thus, with an electrically driven air pump, no separate electrical cable is required as a power supply for the external unit during operation. The external unit can be configured to be mounted on the bed frame and / or locked to the bed frame. This reduces the risk of tripping for the user.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings described below and is explained in more detail. It shows schematically and not to scale Fig. 1 a simplified schematic diagram of a use of a duvet system according to the invention; Fig. 2 a partial cross-sectional view of the duvet of the Fig. 1 shown duvet system; Fig. 3 a partial cross-sectional view of the Fig. 2 shown duvet in a first state; Fig. 4 a partial cross-sectional view of the Fig. 2 shown duvet in a further state; Fig. 5 to 9 each show a partial cross-sectional view of design variants of the air insulation layer of the Fig. 2 shown duvet; and Fig. 10 a perspective partial view of a design variant of the air insulation layer of the Fig. 2 duvet shown.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the use of a duvet system according to the invention. Shown is a bed 21 with a user 20 lying under a duvet 1 of a duvet system according to the invention. In addition to the duvet 1, the duvet system has an external unit 12 which has an air pump 7 and a release valve 8. It is connected to a layer (not shown) of the duvet 1 having air chambers (not shown) via a connecting line 11 such that air can be pumped into the air chambers by means of the air pump 7 and air can be released from the air chambers by means of the release valve, as symbolized by dotted lines. The air pump 7 and the release valve 8 are accommodated in a housing 10 of the external unit 12, in which an energy storage device 9 can also be accommodated. This energy storage device 9 is designed to supply the air pump with energy.This is preferably an electrical energy storage device in the form of a rechargeable accumulator, which supplies the preferably electrically driven components of the air pump 7 and the drain valve 8 with electrical energy.

[0019] Fig. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the duvet of the Fig. 1 shown duvet system. The duvet has a textile layer 2 and a sensor layer 3 with at least one sensor 14 selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, orientation, position, and acceleration sensors, two sensors 14 being shown here purely by way of example. The duvet further has a layer 4 made of textile, inflatable air chambers 15, a further sensor layer 5 with at least one - here purely by way of example a single - sensor 14 selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, orientation, position, and acceleration sensors, and a further textile layer 6. A temperature sensor is arranged at least in the sensor layer 3 or in the further sensor layer 5. The layer 4 has several sub-layers stacked one above the other, which are not provided with a reference symbol for the sake of clarity, each of which forms an air chamber level.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the Fig. 2 The duvet shown in a first state. The air chambers 15 of layer 4 are filled with relatively little air in this state, so that the thermal insulation effect is relatively low.

[0021] Fig. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the Fig. 2 shown duvet in a further state. In the further state, the air chambers 15 of layer 4 are filled with a comparatively large amount of air, so that the thermal insulation effect is relatively high. In comparison, the Fig. 4 The duvet shown is thicker than the one in Fig. 3 Duvet shown. The Fig. 3 The condition shown is in the Fig. 4 shown further state by means of the Fig. 1 shown external unit, which is connected to the layer 4 in such a way that air can be pumped into the air chambers 15 by means of the air pump 7 and can be released from the air chambers 15 by means of the release valve 8. In addition to the Fig. 3 and 4 In addition to the states shown, further states can be set using the external unit 12, which are not shown in detail here.

[0022] Fig. 5 bis 9 each show a partial cross-sectional view of design variants of the layer of textile, inflatable air chambers of the Fig. 2 The duvet shown in the Fig. 5 bis 9 The layer 4 shown has three superimposed partial layers 41, each forming an air chamber level. Fig. 5 A layer 4 with air chambers 15 is shown, each having a spherical contour. The air chambers 15 of adjacent partial layers 41 are arranged offset from one another. Fig. 6 Layer 4 shown corresponds to the layer in Fig. 5 shown layer with the difference that the air chambers 15 each have an ellipsoidal cross-sectional contour, that the air chambers 15 of adjacent partial layers 14 are arranged without offset to each other and that air chambers 15 of each partial layer 41 are each connected to each other via an opening 16, while air chambers 15 of adjacent partial layers 41 are not connected via openings. Fig. 7 Layer 4 shown corresponds to the layer in Fig. 6 shown layer with the difference that the air chambers 15 of adjacent partial layers 41 are arranged offset from one another and that air chambers 15 of adjacent partial layers 41 are connected via openings 16. The Fig. 8 Layer 4 shown corresponds to the layer in Fig. 5 shown layer with the difference that the air chambers 15 each have a rectangular cross-sectional contour and that the air chambers 15 of adjacent partial layers 41 are arranged without offset to each other. Fig. 9 Layer 4 shown corresponds to the layer in Fig. 5 shown layer with the difference that the air chambers 15 each have a square cross-sectional contour.

[0023] Fig. 10 show a perspective partial view of a design variant of the layer of textile, inflatable air chambers of the Fig. 2 The duvet shown is layer 4 with several sublayers 41, wherein air chambers 15 of adjacent sublayers are arranged without offset from one another and have openings 16 through which an exchange of air between adjacent air chambers 15 is possible. List of reference symbols

[0024] 1 Duvet 2 Textile layer 3 Sensor layer 4 Layer 5 Additional sensor layer 6 Additional textile layer 7 Air pump 8 Drain valve 9 Energy storage 10 Housing 11 Connecting cable 12 External unit 14 Sensor 15 Air chamber 16 Openings 20 User 21 Bed 41 Partial layer

Claims

1. Bed cover system comprising a bed cover (1), having, in the specified order, - a textile layer (2), - a sensor layer (3) that has at least one sensor (14) selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, attitude, position and acceleration sensors, - a layer (4) of textile, inflatable air chambers (15), - a further sensor layer (5) that has at least one sensor (14) selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, attitude, position and acceleration sensors, wherein a temperature sensor is arranged at least in the sensor layer (3) or in the further sensor layer (5) and - a further textile layer (6), and having a unit (12) external to the bed cover (1), which unit has at least one air pump (7) and a release valve (8) and is connected to the layer (4) in such a way that air can be pumped into the air chambers (15) by means of the at least one air pump (7) and air can be released from the air chambers (15) by means of the release valve (8).

2. Bed cover system according to claim 1, characterised in that the air chambers (15) have an elliptical, rectangular or spherical contour.

3. Bed cover system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that openings (16) are provided between at least some of the air chambers (15).

4. Bed cover system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least some of the air chambers (15) are connected via a network and form a composite for which a single opening (16) is provided for admitting air into the composite.

5. Bed cover system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor layer (3) is embedded in the textile layer (2) and / or the further sensor layer (5) is embedded in the further textile layer (6).

6. Bed cover system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the air chambers (15) can be filled with the air up to a predetermined maximum.

7. Bed cover system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor layer (3) is provided with a temperature sensor (14) and the further sensor layer (5) is provided with a further temperature sensor (14) and in that the bed cover system further comprises a control unit which is designed to regulate a sleeping temperature depending on a measurement signal from the temperature sensor and a further measurement signal from the further temperature sensor by pumping or releasing the air in the air chambers (15).

8. Bed cover system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor layer (3) is provided with an attitude sensor, a position sensor and / or an acceleration sensor (14), and in that the bed cover system further comprises an evaluation unit which is designed to evaluate data sensed by the attitude, position and / or acceleration sensor (14), to create sleep patterns based on the evaluation and, depending on the created sleep patterns, to request feedback from a user (20) of the bed cover (1) by means of communication with an external electrical appliance.

9. Bed cover system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the external unit (12) has an energy storage device (9) which is designed to supply the at least one electric air pump (7) with energy.

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