Bed Warmer Air Conduit Layout to Limit Heat Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bed warming systems are cumbersome, inefficient, and require significant setup time, often involving large and less portable devices that lose heat before reaching under the bed cover, making them less effective for quickly warming the space between a bed sheet and cover.
Innovation Solution
A portable bed warming system featuring a compact warm air generator with an elongated conduit that allows cool air to enter, preventing overheating, and adjustable length, along with temperature control and timing features, enabling efficient heating of the space between a bed sheet and cover without the need for extensive setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an elongated tube or conduit is used to direct warm air from a portable warm air supply positioned on the floor or on a stand near the bed to the center of the bed, then the system is more convenient for placement when the bed has already been made or for use with beds when traveling, but the system requires relatively long tubes or conduits resulting in relatively large size making them less portable and requiring more effort in set-up and use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a nested arrangement where the elongated conduit is inserted within the inflatable member, allowing the conduit to be routed through the length of the inflatable member to deliver warm air directly to the center of the bed while maintaining a compact overall structure. This nesting approach allows long conduit functionality without requiring a large external conduit length.
2Length of stationary object
If relatively long tubes or conduits are used to direct warm air from the outlet of the warm air supply positioned on the floor or on a stand near the bed to the center of the bed, then the system can reach the center of the bed, but warm air traveling along such elongated tubes and conduits will often cool substantially before the warm air travels under the bed cover, significantly decreasing the efficiency of the system and the time to heat the bed covers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes inflating the inflatable member first to create an insulated pathway, then inserting the conduit within it. This preliminary action of creating the insulated environment before conduit insertion ensures that warm air is protected from heat loss throughout its travel distance. The inflatable member acts as pre-established thermal insulation that prevents energy loss during warm air transport.
3Reliability
If inflatable members are inserted under a bed cover to receive heated air, then the system can heat the underside of the cover, but the inflatable members must be inserted under the bed cover which is somewhat time consuming and users often want to sleep under the cover of choice rather than under the inflatable member or tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes dividing the system into two separate functional components: the inflatable member that creates the insulated pathway and the conduit that delivers warm air. This segmentation allows the conduit to be routed through the inflatable member without requiring the inflatable member itself to be positioned directly under the bed cover, enabling users to sleep under their preferred bedding while still achieving effective heating.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently heats the bed area quickly and effectively, is lightweight and compact, and can be easily inserted and removed, maintaining efficiency by allowing cool air to enter the conduit and using a conventional hair dryer as the warm air generator.
Implementation Method 1
a warm air generator having a cool air inlet, a warm air outlet, and an elongated conduit having a first end connected to the cool air inlet for directing cool air to the warm air generator
Implementation Method 2
an elongated conduit having a first end connected to the cool air inlet for directing cool air to the warm air generator
Data Source
AI summary
A bed warming system for heating the envelop formed between the surface of a bed sheet covering a bed mattress and a cover laying over the bed sheet. The bed warming system comprises a warm air generator having a cool air inlet, a warm air outlet, and an elongated conduit having a first end connected to the cool air inlet for directing cool air to the warm air generator and a second end for receiving cooling air, the elongated conduit is of sufficient length such that when the warm air generator is placed under a cover the second end of the elongated conduit is exposed and not under the cover.