US5871151A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiant hydronic bed warmer
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1996-12-12
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Granted: 1999-02-16
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Expires: 2016-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A hydronic radiant heater bed warmer (RBW) is mounted in the support structure beneath the top surface of a conventional bed that has a mattress on springs supported by the bed support structure. The RBW includes: a source of heated supply water; a supply water line from the source; a return water line to the source; one or more heating loops each including a length! lengths of tubing through which water flows from the supply line to the return line; a water pump in one of the water lines for pumping water over the closed path from the source, to the supply water line, to the heating loops, to the return water line and back to the source; thermally conductive plates mounted in the bed support structure under the top surface thereof; and accommodations for holding the lengths of tubing in intimate thermal contact with the plates including: spaced apart co-planar plate holding boards of the same uniform thickness, each having length and width and together providing a surface area for holding the plates and elongated spaces of uniform width therebetween for holding the lengths of tubing, the plates are held flat against the holding boards holding surface area, the elongated spaces have depth and length as well as uniform width of which the depth is equal to the boards thickness and the length is equal to the boards length and the lengths of tubing are held in the elongated spaces intimate thermal contact with the plates; so that the plates are heated by conduction of heat from the lengths of tubing; and the plates radiate heat to the user on the bed top surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Joachim Fiedrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:33
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C21/00; A47C21/04; A47C21/048; F; F24; F24H; F24H1/00; F24H1/10; F24H1/101; F24H1/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
A bed warmer for a bed having a top surface on which the user rests and a support structure beneath said top surface spmprising, (a) a source of heated supply water and a supply water line from said source, (b) a return water line to said source, (c) one or more heating loops each including lengths of tubing through which water flows from said supply line to said return line, (d) a water pump in one of said water lines for pumping water over the closed path from said source, said supply water line, said heating loops, said return water line and back to said source, (e) thermally conductive plates mounted in said bed support structure under said top surface thereof, (f) accommodations for holding said lengths of tubing in intimate thermal contact with said plates including: (g) spaced apart co-planer plate holding boards of the same uniform thickness, each having length and width and together providing a surface area for holding said plates and elongated spaces of uniform width therebetween for holding said lengths of tubing, (h) said plates are held flat against said holding boards holding syrface area, (i) said elongated spaces have depth and length as well as uniform width of which said depth is equal to said boards thickness and said length is equal to said boards length and (j) said lenths of tubing are held in said elongated spaces intimate thermal contact with said plates, (k) whereby said plates are heated by conduction of heat from said lengths of tubing and (l) said plates radiate heat to the user on said bed top surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
A bed warmer for a bed having a top surface on which the user rests and a support structure beneath said top surface spmprising, (a) a source of heated supply water and a supply water line from said source, (b) a return water line to said source, (c) one or more heating loops each including lengths of tubing through which water flows from said supply line to said return line, (d) a water pump in one of said water lines for pumping water over the closed path from said source, said supply water line, said heating loops, said return water line and back to said source, (e) thermally conductive plates mounted in said bed support structure under said top surface thereof, (f) accommodations for holding said lengths of tubing in intimate thermal contact with said plates including: (g) spaced apart co-planer plate holding boards of the same uniform thickness, each having length and width and together providing a surface area for holding said plates and elongated spaces of uniform width therebetween for holding said lengths of tubing, (h) said plates are held flat against said holding boards holding syrface area, (i) said elongated spaces have depth and length as well as uniform width of which said depth is equal to said boards thickness and said length is equal to said boards length and (j) said lenths of tubing are held in said elongated spaces intimate thermal contact with said plates, (k) whereby said plates are heated by conduction of heat from said lengths of tubing and (l) said plates radiate heat to the user on said bed top surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bed warmer as in claim 1 wherein: (a) water flow through said closed path is continuous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A bed warmer as in claim 1 wherein: (a) a supply water header is provided fed by said supply water line and (b) said supply header feeds heated water to said heating loops.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bed warmer as in claim 1 wherein: (a) a return water header is provided fed by said heating loops and (b) said return header feeds water back to said source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bed warmer as in claim 3 wherein: (a) a return water header is provided fed by said heating loops and (b) said return header feeds water back to said source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A bed warmer as in claim 1 wherein said source of heated water includes: (a) means defining a water flow path from said return water line to said supply water line, (b) an electric heater for heating water flowing through said defined water flow path and (c) a source of electric power for said electric heater.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A bed warmer as in claim 6 wherein: (a) said source of electric power for said electric heater is an AC power receptacle of a domestic AC power system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A bed warmer as in claim 7 wherein: (a) an electric control is provided in circuit with said electric heater and said AC power receptacle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bed warmer as in claim 1 wherein: (a) an electric motor is provided for said water pump and (b) a source of electric power is provided for said electric motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A bed warmer as in claim 6 wherein: (a) an electric motor is provided for said water pump, (b) a source of electric power is provided for said electric motor and (c) an electric motor control is provided in circuit with said electric motor and said source of electric power.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A bed warmer as in claim 10 wherein: (a) an electric control is provided in circuit with said electric heater and said source of electric power and (a) said source of electric power for said electric heater and for said electric motor is an AC power receptacle of a domestic AC power system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A bed warmer as in claim 11 wherein: (a) controls are provided for said electric heater and said electric motor, (b) said electric heater and said electric motor controls are such that said motor is energized whenever said heater is energized.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A bed warmer as in claim 1 wherein: (a) said plate has length, width and thickness and said length and width define said radiating surface of said plate, (b) said plate is mounted in said bed structure oriented with said radiating surface thereof parallel to said bed surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A hydronic heating system as in claim 13 wherein: (a) said accommodation for holding said length of tubing in intimate thermal contact with said plate, holds said tubing on the same side of said plate as said bed surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
A hydronic heating system as in claim 13 wherein: (a) said accommodation for holding said length of tubing in intimate thermal contact with said plate includes a plate support that provides an elongated space on the opposite side of said plate from said bed surface, and in which said length of tubing fits.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
A hydronic heating system as in claim 13 wherein: (a) said plate support includes two spaced apart elongated plate support pieces, (b) said elongated space is the space between said two spaced apart elongated plate support pieces, (c) said elongated space has a side that is closed by said plate and a side opposite thereto that is open and (d) said length of tubing is inserted into said elongated space through said open side thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A hydronic heating system as in claim 16 wherein: (a) said two spaced apart elongated plate support pieces each have length, width and thickness and (b) said elongated plate support piece length is substantially the same as said plate length.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A hydronic heating system as in claim 15 wherein: (a) said two spaced apart elongated plate support pieces each have length, width and thickness and (b) said elongated plate support piece thickness is substantially equal to the outer diameter of said tubing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hydronic heating system as in claim 15 wherein: (a) said elongated space two opposite sides are tapered so that said space widens towards said plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |