Sleep pod with controlled environment

Abstract

An environmentally controlled sleep pod comprises: a) a main frame having an elevated base for supporting a mattress, a mechanical system storage area, and having walls extending upwardly, with a mattress sidewall portion and rail portion; b) a mattress on the base; c) a mechanical system located in its storage area, with heating and air-conditioning and power source connector; d) feed conduit(s) connected to the mechanical system and extending up the main frame walls to the rail portion for feeding air to above the mattress; e) return conduit(s) connected to the above-mattress rail portion of the main frame walls extending down the main frame walls to the mechanical systems for returning air from above the mattress; f) a control device for heating and cooling of air at the mechanical system; and g) a moveable hood connected to the main frame and having an open position and a closed position.

Claims

1. An environmentally controlled sleep pod, which comprises: a) a main frame having an elevated base for supporting a mattress and having a mechanical system storage area under said base, and having walls extending upwardly from said base, said walls including a mattress sidewall portion and an above-mattress rail portion; b) a mattress located on said elevated base; c) a mechanical system located in said mechanical system storage area, said mechanical system including heating and air-conditioning and a power source connector; d) at least one feed conduit connected to said mechanical system and extending up said main frame walls to said above-mattress rail portion for feeding air from said mechanical system to above said mattress; e) at least one return conduit connected to said above-mattress rail portion of said main frame walls and extending down said main frame walls and connected to said mechanical systems for returning air from above said mattress to said mechanical system; f) a control device for controlling heating and cooling of air at said mechanical system; and, g) a moveable hood connected to said main frame and having a first, open position and a second, closed position.

2. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 1 wherein said control device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless control device and a wired control device.

3. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 2 wherein said control device is a wireless control device selected from the group consisting of cell phone, PDA, computer, tablet and dedicated device.

4. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 2 wherein said control device includes temperature setting means and an on-off switch.

5. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 1 wherein said mechanical system includes at least one moisture controlling component selected from the group consisting of a humidifier and dehumidifier.

6. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 1 wherein said hood is a hinged hood with a handle selected from the group consisting of a manual hood, and electrically driven hood, a hydraulic and a counterweighted hood.

7. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 1 wherein said hood is at least partially transparent.

8. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said hood is a photosensitive transformative panel that is transparent in sunlight and opaque in the absence of significant sunlight.

9. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 1 wherein said main frame and mattress have sufficient width to accommodate two people and said hood is a gull wing hood.

10. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 1 wherein said mattress includes a massaging mechanism.

11. An environmentally controlled sleep pod, which comprises: a) a main frame having an elevated base for supporting a mattress and having a mechanical system storage area under said base, and having walls extending upwardly from said base, said walls including a mattress sidewall portion and an above-mattress rail portion; b) a mattress located on said elevated base; c) a mechanical system located in said mechanical system storage area, said mechanical system including heating and air-conditioning and a power source connector; d) at least one feed conduit connected to said mechanical system and extending up said main frame walls to said above-mattress rail portion for feeding air from said mechanical system to above said mattress; e) at least one return conduit connected to said above-mattress rail portion of said main frame walls and extending down said main frame walls and extending down said main frame walls and connected to said mechanical systems for returning air from above said mattress to said mechanical system; f) a control device from controlling heating and cooling of air at said mechanical system; g) a moveable hood connected to said main frame and having a first, open position and a second, closed position; and, h) a sound system contained within said sleep pod to provide at least one of music and soothing sleep sounds.

12. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 11 wherein said control device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless control device and a wired control device.

13. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 12 wherein said control device is a wireless control device selected from the group consisting of cell phone, PDA, computer, tablet and dedicated device.

14. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 12 wherein said control device includes temperature setting means and an on-off switch.

15. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 11 wherein said mechanical system includes at least one moisture controlling component selected from the group consisting of a humidifier and dehumidifier.

16. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 11 wherein said hood is a hinged hood with a handle selected from the group consisting of a manual hood, and electrically driven hood, a hydraulic and a counterweighted hood.

17. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 11 wherein said hood is at least partially transparent.

18. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said hood is a photosensitive transformative panel that is transparent in sunlight and opaque in the absence of significant sunlight.

19. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 11 wherein said main frame and mattress have sufficient width to accommodate two people and said hood is gull wing hood.

20. The environmentally controlled sleep pod of claim 11 wherein said mattress includes a massaging mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating some of the critical features of the present invention sleep pod with controlled environment;

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating some of the options and details of the present invention sleep pod with controlled environment;

[0049] FIG. 3 represents a diagrammatic presentation of the mechanical aspects of the present invention sleep pod with controlled environment showing one possible flow path arrangement;

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a side cut view of one embodiment of a present invention sleep pod with controlled environment;

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates and end view of a double bed of a present invention sleep pod with the footboard partially removed, with controlled environment with gull winged lids to accommodate two people;

[0052] FIG. 6 shows an end view of another embodiment of present invention sleep pod with controlled environment; and,

[0053] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of preferred features of another embodiment of the present invention sleep pod with controlled environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0054] The following discussion features examples of the present invention as well as preferred embodiments thereof, and the present invention should not be construed to be limited to these examples.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram 1 illustrating some of the critical features of the present invention environmentally controlled sleep pod. There is a main frame with an elevated base with walls, block 3. The walls are side walls that rise above the level of a mattress, block 7. These side walls have an above-mattress rail portion and may be positioned adjacent the mattress and above it, block 5. These above mattress rail portions are necessary to permit air flow above and across a mattress to maximize delivery of heat, air conditioning and humidity controls to a user. Thus, the main frame elevated base includes the mattress support, block 5. The main frame has a mechanical system storage area under the elevated base, block 9, and this mechanical system storage area includes, minimally, heating and air conditioning and a power source connection, block 13. The power source connection may be a wired connection to a situ power source, such as a fuel cell or battery, or it may be hard wired to an external power source or it may be a wire and plug for 110 or 220 volt or other common electrical service.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 1, block 11, conduits feed and return environmentally controlled air from and to the mechanical storage area heating and air conditioning units via the main frame walls. A control device, block 15, is used to turn the heating and air conditioning on and off and/or to set a specific temperature. The control device, block 15, may be a dedicated remote control or the control device may be installed in a computer, PDA, tablet, cell phone or other wireless device. It may be wired or wireless.

[0057] Block 17 of FIG. 1 shows a movable hood and this is attached to the main frame. This hood may be one that slides vertically or at an angle or rotates or folds or recesses. It may be hand operated or motor driven. If motor driven, it may be controlled with a wired or wireless controller that may or may not be integrated into a control device, block 15.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram 2 illustrating some of the options and details of the present invention sleep pod with controlled environment. Block 23 illustrates some preferred main frame features. The frames may have the design or appearance of conventional bed frames with headboards and footboards or they may be unconventional. Given that they have movable hoods, a simple design could involve symmetrical headboard and footboard (same height and shape). Alternatively, a higher headboard and a lower footboard would inherently allow for a downwardly tapered hood and, if transparent, would permit a user to see forwardly beyond the pod, as well as upwardly and sideways. The base of the main frame is generally flat, but could be otherwise concave, convex, rippled, slatted or any desired configuration to support a mattress or to act as a mattress (in some societies, sleeping on boards is acceptable). The conduits have vents that must be above the mattress level to permit free flowing air currents above the mattress. These conduits and vents may be manifolded to have multiple vents on the side walls. The mattresses, block 25, may be made of any material, such as any normal mattress, or a solid mattress such as wood or metal or plastic. Alternatively, these mattresses may be air mattresses, water beds, hybrids or any other known mattress format. The size of the main frame and the mattress may range from very small (infant) to very large (king). Given the functionalities available with the present invention sleep pod, the size may range from smaller than a crib to larger than a king size and, in some embodiments, may have heights designed to permit sitting up in bed, even with the hood closed.

[0059] Block 27 shows some mechanical system features. Basic are heating and air conditioning, but humidification and dehumidification are preferred. Besides providing individual or couple custom comfort sleeping, the present invention enables users to lower their heat or air conditioning requirements throughout their entire homes by having a comfortable controlled environment within the pod. For example, normally a person might reduce heat from 70 F. to 67 F. while sleeping. With the present invention, room settings may be reduced to 50 F. or lower while maintaining the pod at a comfortable sleep temperature such as 68 F. Thus, the present invention is truly a green product that will significantly reduce fuel consumption for both heating and air conditioning. These mechanical systems may have temperature and/or humidity setting capabilities, much like a home thermostat or humidistat.

[0060] Block 29 illustrates that the movable hoods may be manual or mechanical (motor driven). In either case, the movable hoods, block 29, may be counterweighted to reduce apparent weight for ease of opening and closing. These hoods may be solid or flexible or combinations, such as solid with a portion as a flexible drape. However, preferred hoods are structurally solid although they may be transparent, translucent, opaque or combinations thereof. They may have curved shapes or flat shapes with or without windows and may be disappearing (such as drop downs into walls or even disappearing accordion sectioned hoods). In some preferred luxury versions, the present invention hoods may be partially or fully photo-responsive (like photo grays darkening in the sun light and clarifying at night) these would be chemically modified transparency, reacting to photons (light).

[0061] Block 31 illustrates that the control devices may be built-in or may be not built-in, such as hand held control devices, they could be wired or wireless and, as mentioned could be incorporated into any computing device. The control devices of block 31 will control the mechanical systems and may control much more, such as options of block 33. These options include music systems. Music systems include any electronic source of music as well as received or installed sleep soothing sounds. They may include private collections on any form of chip, satellite radio, regular radio and the option of playing CDs, MP3s or other sound media, communications systems, such as speaking with other pods or resident broadcasting or cell phone capabilities or combinations of these cell phone capabilities. Alarms may include wireless connection to a home invasion alarm system, or a medical alarm system, or a medical monitoring alarm system that may include sensors for vital functions, or communications with alarms in other pods. These present invention pods may also include interne connections, built-in fixed or movable screens and may have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other connectivity. In some preferred luxury models, built-in massage systems will be included and will be located on the mattress support for under mattress motion that is transferred to the user. In some case, oxygen supplies are included to enhance the breathing and well being of the user.

[0062] FIG. 3 represents a diagrammatic presentation of the mechanical aspects of the present invention sleep pod 41 with controlled environment, showing one possible flow path arrangement for controlled airflow. Sleep pod 41 of FIG. 3 is a cut end view of the footboard removed. It includes sidewalls such as sidewall 43 with a mattress support base 47 and mattress 49. Under mattress support base 47 is a mechanical storage area or vault 65 for holding mechanical systems, such as heating, air conditioning, humidifier and dehumidifier. Vault 65 has conduits (small ductwork, tubes or passageways) to permit flow of air to and from the mechanical systems for treatment. For good circulation across a user, there are inlets and outlets at the mechanical devices, as well as areas above mattress 49. For example, conduit 45 shows an inlet arrow inside vault 65 and an outlet arrow in the sleep area 63 above mattress 49. Headboard 61 may have any front footprint shape but is illustrated here as a simple arcuate shape. Hood 51 has handle 53 and hinges 57 and may be counterweighted for case of opening and closing. It may close to seal the user, with or without openings, windows or ventilation orifices. However, external intake and exhaust may be included such as external ports 55 and 59 at vault 65. Headboard 61 will include various comfort features such as speakers, additional air conduits with vents, lighting, computer screens and control panels. The footboard 67 may have any of these options, as well as a computer and/or TV screen. In some embodiments this screen may be retracted and hidden in the footboard and exposed or otherwise opened at the touch of a button or with a wireless remote controller.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a side cut view of one embodiment of a present invention sleep pod with controlled environment. Sleep pod 71 has a headboard 72 and a footboard 73, as well as a bottom 77 and a mattress support base 79. Between bottom 77 and mattress support base 79 is mechanical storage area 75 with humidifier 91, dehumidifier 93, heater 95, air conditioner 97 and a manifolded vent system with conduits 111, 113, 115 feeding manifold 117. Manifold 117 distributes treated air flow evenly above mattress 81 with controlled environment vents 101, 103, 105, 107, and 109 in sidewall 83. These vents may be individually manually controlled, mechanically controlled and interconnected, wirelessly controlled by a user or independently controlled by feedback sensors that respond to user settings. Present invention sleep pod 71 has a two section hood (right lid 85, open and left lid 87, closed).

[0064] FIG. 5 illustrates and end view of a double bed of a present invention sleep pod 151 with the footboard partially removed, with controlled environment and with gull winged hoods to accommodate two people. Thus, FIG. 5 shows present invention environmentally controlled sleep pod 151 with a mainframe 153 and a mechanical system storage area 155. Above storage area 155 is elevated base 157 and mattress 167. Air feed conduit 163 and air return conduit 165 are located in the frame walls such as frame wall 159. Not shown, but contained within mechanical system storage area 155 are heating, air conditioning, humidifier, and dehumidifier units. In this embodiment, sleep pod 151 is a double bed with a dual arcuate headboard 161. Sleep pod 151 has the footboard removed but it could be the same size as headboard 161 and could be solid or could have a transparent upper half. As with all of the present invention sleep pods, sleep pod 151 includes a moveable hood to permit user(s) to enter easily. In this example, the hood has two components that form gull wings and have left wing 175 and right wing 177 with lift handles 179 and 181. There are common hinge connections 191 and these wings may be solid (opaque), translucent, transparent or combinations thereof. In this embodiment the wings 175 and 177 may have a constant cross section and, when closed, nest upon the headboard, footboard and the side wall rails.

[0065] In another version of sleep pod 151 shown in FIG. 5, the footboard (not shown) could be lower than the headboard and the wings 175 and 177 could be tapered forward like a fighter jet cockpit acrylic canopy.

[0066] Headboard 161 includes swing out screens 183 and 185 for two users. These may be wired or wireless and may be used with computers, internet, television, movie, games, gaming, security monitoring, remove alarm signaling or other monitor display use. There are his and her remote units 187 and 189. These may be controllers for the environment, meaning temperature and humidity settings, as well as controllers for functions such as those described above with respect to the screens 183 and 185. In addition, left, right and center speakers 169, 171, and 173 act as output speakers for music, radio, television, music storage devices, computers, cell phone functions and any other speaker functions. Additionally, one or more of these may be receivers for any voice activated functions, such as controlling the environment of the pod, operating computers/screens, controlling external electronics such as household heating, air conditioning, humidity, lighting, security system activation, etc.

[0067] As now can be seen, the present invention sleep pod contemplates a controlled, peaceful sleep environment with numerous amenities and the ability for user(s) to control not only the sleep pod, but the surrounding home environment. User(s) will be able to use a cell phone feature, order a wakeup call, download a movie, play games with remote opponents, use sleep mode sounds, activate optional massage devices and even include Sleep Number beds and motorized tilt beds. By heating or cooling the sleep pod, the remainder of an entire house can have its heat or air conditioning requirements minimalized with concomitant fuel/energy cost reductions, with positive ramifications for the environment.

[0068] FIG. 6 shows an end view of another embodiment of present invention sleep pod 201 with controlled environment. Sleep pod 201 is a single user unit with many features described above (not shown). It includes mainframe 203, a mechanical system storage area 205, an elevated mattress base 213 and a mattress 209. It has side rails such as side rail 207 with a headboard 215. A folding hood includes right section 217, which is closed, and an open section comprised of side 221, hinge 223, top 219 and hinge 225. Between mattress 209 and elevated base 213 is a massage mechanism 211. This is activated by the user for in-pod massage treatments that may include control over massage speeds, formats and locations. In addition, mechanical system storage area 205 may contain one or more oxygen tanks that will controllably feed into the pod for healthy breathing, healing and other recognized health benefits.

[0069] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram 301 of preferred features of another embodiment of the present invention sleep pod with controlled environment. It includes block 303 communications, block 305 alarms, block 307 controlled lighting, block 309 pop up/pull out/fixed screens, and block 311 internet controls. It further includes block 313 voice activation, block 315 spealcers/music/wifi/internet/mp3, block 317 remote control(s) for all features, and block 319 controllable side/end vents/conduits. It also includes block 321 mattress, block 323 massage, block 325 heating, air conditioning, humidifier/dehumidifier. Additional features not included in this diagram are set forth above.

[0070] It can now be seen that the present invention sleep pod is a self contained, controlled unit that is an enclosed sleep chamber with all of the features described above. The components/materials of construction will preferably include thermal insulation and sound insulation to optimize the use and efficiency of the sleep pod. In some embodiments, the unit may be wheeled to enhance mobility; it may be modular so as to physically or wirelessly connect with other sleep pods; control units may have personalized settings. In some designs, the headboards and footboards or other upper portion members may be constructed to receive additional units in a stacked format, like bunk beds. Many of the features may be retractable such as the screens described above and could be hidden. Alarm features may be sophisticated and relate to sleep phase monitoring. In some luxury models, self-sanitation cycles using, for example, ultraviolet devices, could be included. Likewise, some models could contain a power interruption back up power source. These could be fuel cells, batteries or other means.

[0071] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the actual shape of the main housing may be any of numerous possibilities as long as its functionality as described is not affected adversely.