(19)
(11) EP 4 115 774 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
02.07.2025 Bulletin 2025/27

(21) Application number: 20949638.9

(22) Date of filing: 14.12.2020
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A47G 9/02(2006.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
A47G 9/0207
(86) International application number:
PCT/RU2020/000681
(87) International publication number:
WO 2022/035346 (17.02.2022 Gazette 2022/07)

(54)

BLANKET WITH VENTILATION HOLES

DECKE MIT BELÜFTUNGSLÖCHERN

ÉDREDON AVEC OUVERTURES DE VENTILATION


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 11.08.2020 RU 2020126805

(43) Date of publication of application:
11.01.2023 Bulletin 2023/02

(73) Proprietor: KUZ'MINA, Yuliya Evgen'evna
Ekaterinburg, 620146 (RU)

(72) Inventor:
  • KUZ'MINA, Yuliya Evgen'evna
    Ekaterinburg, 620146 (RU)

(74) Representative: Spengler, Robert 
Potthast & Spengler Patentanwälte PartG mbB Magirus-Deutz-Straße 12
89077 Ulm
89077 Ulm (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
WO-A1-2017/189992
CN-U- 210 330 152
RU-C2- 2 478 331
UA-C2- 76 855
CH-A- 478 552
RU-C2- 2 287 312
RU-C2- 2 481 055
US-B2- 6 934 985
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention is related to light industry, to bedclothes in particular, and more specifically - to the design of blankets for household use that create optimal microclimate under the blanket and thereby provide more comfortable sleeping.

    [0002] A quilted blanket with ventilation holes arranged at intersections of stitched seams is designed for everyday use during sleep to protect the human body against overheating.

    [0003] Document US 6,934,985 B2 discloses a cover of a conventional type, in particular for beds, which has at least one flexible layer of a light, insulating material and which is designed to the desired heat retention in the bed. The cover is equipped in view of an improved moisture regulation and a dissipation of the moisture released by the body as well as excess heat in such a manner that the layer is provided with ventilation openings.

    [0004] Document CH 478 552 A discloses a duvet comprising a cover which is made up of two facing walls and is filled with eiderdown. The duvet is locally crossed perpendicular to the walls of the cover by hollow bodies, thus providing ventilation ducts connecting the two walls of the cover.

    [0005] Document CN 210 330 152 U discloses a breathable gravity blanket. The breathable gravity blanket comprises a quilt cover and filler of high-density polyplastic particles. The filler of the high-density polyplastic particles is evenly and flatly laid in the quilt cover. The quilt cover is sewn into a grid shape. The filler of the high-density polyplastic particles is evenly distributed in the grid shape, and a plurality of breathable holes are formed in the breathable gravity blanket. The air holes enable the air permeability of the gravity blanket to be good, when a user sleeps, the user is not stuffy while keeping warm, and the sleep quality of the user is further improved.

    [0006] A ventilated blanket comprising a sheet of material with a lot of holes spaced apart (application US No. 20030028964) is known from the prior art.

    [0007] Each hole allows the air to pass through the blanket. The blanket may also include a strengthening section integrated into the perimeter of the sheet of material. The strengthening section may be a tube that contains entrapped air. The blanket may comprise supports joined with a collar section. The supports allow the blanket to be lifted to a certain distance over the person laying under it. A drawback of this solution is non-uniform air circulation over different parts of the body that creates discomfort during sleep.

    [0008] Another thermal insulation article provided with ventilation (patent US5181287A) is also known. It has intermediate thermal insulating layer with a lot of through-thickness holes. A heat-releasing ring is inserted into each hole and can open and close in response to temperature increase or decrease inside the article in order to keep the sleeping person warm or to release excessive heat.

    [0009] At night, the human body produces up to approximately 500 ml of water as sweat. This water or water vapor must leave the entire bedding set to avoid moisture residing directly at the skin or the inner side of the blanket. As major portion of moisture must be removed through the cover, in the existing embodiment, the heat-releasing rings will account for major load. Exposure of mechanisms (including heat-releasing rings) to moisture is detrimental to them, therefore they cannot remain serviceable for long time, and as a result, the blanket will lose its function.

    [0010] Thus, the drawback of the existing blanket is that it does not provide for long-term retention of its functional properties due to short life of the heat-releasing rings.

    [0011] The most similar technical solution chosen as a prototype is a bedcover (patent No. 2287312 RU, holder Zanders GmbH (DE)) which comprises at least one flexible layer of light-weight insulating material provided with ventilation holes.

    [0012] According to the patent No. 2287312 RU, the ventilation holes of the bedcover are sheathed with a broad network or coarse-meshed material in order to assure integrity of the bedcover with large or elongated holes.

    [0013] A drawback of this solution is a complexity of its design, in particular, the network which covers the holes is susceptible to looping and deformation during use that jeopardize comfort of a person during sleep. A great deal of discomfort is associated with the fact that the filler creates significant volumes and sections adjoining the perimeter of ventilation holes, partly overlaps the holes and restricts heat exchange with surrounding air, and as a result, the person eventually starts to feel uncomfortable.

    [0014] The technical task of the present invention is to design a blanket which provides comfort due to creation of optimal microclimate for every body part.

    [0015] The technical result consists in enhancing comfort during sleep due to consistent temperature conditions for corresponding body parts.

    [0016] In order to solve the set task, we propose a blanket with ventilation holes according to claim 1.

    [0017] Wherein:
    • large holes are preferably located in the lower part of the blanket;
    • holes have a circular shape;
    • holes have an elliptical shape;
    • holes have a rectangular shape;
    • holes have a square shape;
    • holes have a triangular shape;
    • stitched seams are perpendicular to the blanket edge;
    • stitched seams are at a certain angle to the blanket edge.


    [0018] The proposed blanket is illustrated in pictures. Fig. 1 shows the cross-section of the blanket. Fig. 2 shows top view. Fig. 3 shows an area of the blanket with a ventilation hole.

    [0019] The blanket includes a flexible layer consisting of upper 1 and lower 2 fabric with a filler 3 between them. The blanket is quilted with intersecting stitched seams 4 (Fig. 2) which may be both vertical and horizontal or made at a certain angle to each other. The centers 6 of the ventilation holes 5 in the flexible layer coincide with the points of intersection of the stitched seams 4.

    [0020] As it has been shown in studies, the air heated by the human body expands and creates an increased pressure in the space under the blanket. The air rises up and due to this pressure tends to escape outside, through any leakage point, through the ventilation holes in particular. In this case, the air at the blanket surface cools down, and air circulation occurs inside the space under the blanket. When the person moves, the space under the blanket continuously changes, and air heating gradually increases. Due to temperature difference between the room and the space under the blanket, moisture condenses on the lower surface of the blanket, creating a greenhouse effect. This significantly reduces air permeability of fabric, which leads to overheating of the body and to further overcooling when the blanket is lifted or flung off, and cold ambient air is allowed to enter the space under the blanket.

    [0021] The proposed arrangement of the ventilation holes in the blanket allows for reducing the temperature in the space under the blanket by 4-5°C in the back area and by 3-4°C in the leg area. Combination of ventilation holes of different sizes allows for reducing the temperature by 7-8°C. Relative air humidity in the space under the blanket also reduces from 90-100% to 60-70%. Due to ventilation process enhanced by the movements of the sleeping person, the body is kept dry.

    [0022] The ventilation holes on the quilted blanket may have various geometrical shapes and be spaced at a different distance between them. In the preferable embodiment, the holes have square shape.

    [0023] The size of the ventilation holes varies from 5 to 10 mm depending on their arrangement on the blanket surface.

    [0024] Heat exchange process is very peculiar for every person, and it is difficult to consider individual needs in commercial production. The proposed solution provides for making a general-purpose bedcover with holes of different sizes. The optimal arrangement is as follows: holes of smaller dimensions (5x5 mm) located in the upper part of the blanket and occupy about 2/3 of the entire volume; holes of larger dimensions (10x10 mm) are located in the lower part of the blanket and occupy about 1/3 of the surface. Thus, the holes in the leg area are larger than those in the upper body area. At consumer's option, depending on whichever way is more comfortable, the blanket may be turned over by placing large holes in the upper part, near the back and neck, and holes of smaller dimensions - in the leg area, depending on human body individual peculiarities.

    [0025] Stitched seams with ventilation holes made at their intersections, as well as ventilation hole finishing around the perimeter with blanket stitches provide stiffness to these sections of the blanket allowing it to avoid deformation in these areas thereby enabling unhindered heat exchange between the body and ambient air, which, in turn, provides comfort during sleep.

    [0026] The distance between ventilation holes is determined by the blanket size and the stitched seams at the intersections of which they are made.

    [0027] The proposed invention meets the criterion of novelty, as the prior art does not offer any technical solution with the proposed combination of features, which provides for achieving the technical result and meeting the criterion of industrial applicability.

    [0028] The ventilation holes are perforations punched through the blanket, finished around the perimeter with blanket stitches and fixed with grommets, thus providing for the adequate air conditioning.


    Claims

    1. Blanket with ventilation holes, comprising at least one flexible layer containing upper (1) and lower (2) fabric with a fiber filler (3) between them, ventilation holes (5) of smaller dimensions and ventilation holes of larger dimensions, wherein the blanket is quilted with stitched seams (4) the intersections of which coincide with the centers (6) of the ventilation holes (5), wherein the blanked has a length divided in two thirds and one last third, wherein the ventilation holes of smaller dimensions occupy up to the two thirds of the blanket length, and the ventilation holes of larger dimensions occupy the space of up to the last third of the blanket length, and the ventilation holes are finished around the perimeter with blanket stitches.
     
    2. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) of larger dimensions are preferably arranged in the lower part of the blanket.
     
    3. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have a circular shape.
     
    4. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have an elliptical shape.
     
    5. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have a rectangular shape.
     
    6. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have a square shape.
     
    7. The blanket according to claim 1 characterized in that the ventilation holes (5) have a triangle shape.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Decke mit Belüftungslöchern, umfassend wenigstens eine flexible Schicht mit einem oberen (1) und unteren (2) Gewebe mit einer Faserfüllung (3) zwischen diesen, Belüftungslöchern (5) mit kleineren Abmessungen und Belüftungslöchern mit größeren Abmessungen, wobei die Decke mit genähten Säumen (4) versteppt ist, deren Überschneidungen mit den Mittelpunkten (6) der Belüftungslöcher (5) zusammenfallen, wobei die Decke eine in zwei Drittel und ein letztes Drittel aufgeteilte Länge hat, wobei die Belüftungslöcher mit kleineren Abmessungen bis zu zwei Drittel der Länge der Decke belegen, und die Belüftungslöcher mit größeren Abmessungen den Raum bis zu dem letzten Drittel der Länge der Decke belegen, und die Belüftungslöcher um den Umfang herum mit Nähten der Decke fertiggestellt sind.
     
    2. Decke nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Belüftungslöcher (5) mit größeren Abmessungen bevorzugt im unteren Teil der Decke angeordnet sind.
     
    3. Decke nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Belüftungslöcher (5) eine kreisförmige Form haben.
     
    4. Decke nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Belüftungslöcher (5) eine elliptische Form haben.
     
    5. Decke nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Belüftungslöcher (5) eine rechteckige Form haben.
     
    6. Decke nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Belüftungslöcher (5) eine quadratische Form haben.
     
    7. Decke nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Belüftungslöcher (5) eine dreieckige Form haben.
     


    Revendications

    1. Couverture avec des trous de ventilation, comprenant au moins une couche flexible contenant un tissu supérieur (1) et inférieur (2) avec un remplissage en fibres (3) entre eux, des trous de ventilation (5) de plus petites dimensions et des trous de ventilation de plus grandes dimensions, dans laquelle la couverture est matelassée avec des coutures cousues (4) dont les intersections coïncident avec les centres (6) des trous de ventilation (5), dans laquelle la couverture a une longueur divisée en deux tiers et un dernier tiers, dans laquelle les trous de ventilation de plus petites dimensions occupent jusqu'à deux tiers de la longueur de la couverture, et les trous de ventilation de plus grandes dimensions occupent l'espace jusqu'au dernier tiers de la longueur de la couverture, et les trous de ventilation sont finis autour du périmètre avec des coutures de la couverture.
     
    2. Couverture selon la revendication 1 caractérisée en ce que les trous de ventilation (5) de plus grandes dimensions sont de préférence disposés dans la partie inférieure de la couverture.
     
    3. Couverture selon la revendication 1 caractérisée en ce que les trous de ventilation (5) ont une forme circulaire.
     
    4. Couverture selon la revendication 1 caractérisée en ce que les trous de ventilation (5) ont une forme elliptique.
     
    5. Couverture selon la revendication 1 caractérisée en ce que les trous de ventilation (5) ont une forme rectangulaire.
     
    6. Couverture selon la revendication 1 caractérisée en ce que les trous de ventilation (5) ont une forme carrée.
     
    7. Couverture selon la revendication 1 caractérisée en ce que les trous de ventilation (5) ont une forme triangulaire.
     




    Drawing











    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description