초록 ▼

A sheet of pliable, washable material is configured to cover at least a portion of a piece of furniture, such as a mattress. A manifold and a plurality of air flow tubes are formed in the sheet, with the air flow tubes in communication with the manifold. The air flow tubes include top surfaces that

A sheet of pliable, washable material is configured to cover at least a portion of a piece of furniture, such as a mattress. A manifold and a plurality of air flow tubes are formed in the sheet, with the air flow tubes in communication with the manifold. The air flow tubes include top surfaces that are constructed to release air at a controlled rate therethrough. The sheet helps reduce exposure to allergens and other harmful particles, including the house dust mite.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system, comprising: a sheet of pliable, washable, bedding-quality fabric material configured to fit over a mattress and cover the entire upper surface thereof, the sheet being greater in size that the upper surface of the mattress so that the sheet overhangs the edges of th

What is claimed is: 1. A system, comprising: a sheet of pliable, washable, bedding-quality fabric material configured to fit over a mattress and cover the entire upper surface thereof, the sheet being greater in size that the upper surface of the mattress so that the sheet overhangs the edges of the mattress and the sheet can be tucked underneath the mattress, the portion of the sheet that in use covers the upper surface and a first portion of the sheet that overhangs one of the edges of the mattress consist of upper and lower fabric layers; and a manifold and a plurality of air flow tubes formed in the sheet, the manifold is formed between the upper and lower fabric layers of the first portion of the sheet so that the manifold overhangs the mattress edge, and the air flow tubes being formed by the upper and lower fabric layers with said air flow tubes in flow communication with said manifold, and the upper fabric layer that forms said air flow tubes forms an upper surface of the sheet that is constructed to release air at a controlled rate therethrough; and an air delivery unit connectable to the sheet to deliver air to said manifold. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said air delivery unit includes a blower. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said air delivery unit includes a heater for heating air. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said air delivery unit includes a mite kill cycle. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said air delivery unit includes a filtration mechanism. 6. A system, comprising: a sheet of pliable, washable material configured to cover at least a portion of the upper surface of a mattress; and a manifold and a plurality of air flow tubes formed in the sheet, with said air flow tubes in flow communication with said manifold, and said air flow tubes include top surfaces that are constructed to release air at a controlled rate therethrough; an air delivery unit connectable to the sheet to deliver air to said manifold, said air delivery unit includes a heater for heating air and includes a mite kill cycle and during a mite kill cycle the air delivery unit delivers heated air to the sheet at a temperature sufficient to kill mites in the sheet. 7. A system for delivering conditioned air to a persons breathing zone, comprising: a device for distributing conditioned air adjacent the person's breathing zone while the person is disposed on an item of furniture, the device having at least one air flow passage defined therein to allow flow of conditioned air within the device, and the device having at least one surface that is in flow communication with the flow passage and that is constructed to release conditioned air at a controlled rate therethrough; and the device is configured to cooperate with the item of furniture so that the conditioned air released through the surface is directed toward the individual disposed on the item of furniture; and an air delivery unit connectable to the device to deliver conditioned air to the air flow passage, said air delivery unit includes a heater for heating air and includes a mite kill cycle and during a mite kill cycle the air delivery unit delivers heated air to the device at a temperature sufficient to kill mites in the device. 8. A method of improving the air qualify in a personal breathing environment of an individual occupying a piece of furniture, comprising: providing a device for distributing conditioned air, the device having at least one air flow passage defined therein to allow flow of conditioned air within the device, and the device having at least one surface that is in flow communication with the flow passage and that is constructed to release conditioned air at a controlled rate therethrough; arranging the device relative to an individual occupying an item of furniture so that conditioned air released through the surface is directed toward an area around the individual's head and into the individual's breathing environment when the individual is occupying the item of furniture; delivering conditioned air to the air flow passage in the device whereby some of the conditioned air is directed into the personal breathing environment of the individual; and delivering heated air to the device for distributing conditioned air at a temperature sufficient to kill mites in the device for distributing conditioned air. 9. A system, comprising: a mattress having a plurality of air flow tubes positioned at or near a top of the mattress, each air flow tube being defined by a top surface of air-permeable fabric and a bottom surface of air-permeable fabric, the air-permeable fabric of the top surface and the air-permeable fabric of the bottom surface permitting the flow of air therethrough at a controlled rate; a manifold adjacent the top of the mattress and overhanging an edge thereof, the manifold in flow communication with the air flow tubes to deliver air to the air flow tubes; and an air delivery unit connectable to the manifold for delivering air to the manifold, the air delivery unit including a heater that heats the air that is delivered to the manifold. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the heater heats the delivered air to a temperature sufficient to kill mites in the sheet as a result of the heated air being delivered to the sheet. 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the heater heats the delivered air to a temperature exceeding 50째 C. to kill mites in the sheet as a result of the heated air being delivered to the sheet. 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the air flow tubes and the manifold are part of a bedding sheet disposed on the mattress, and the manifold is formed between upper and lower layers of fabric.