Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a mattress which includes a heating unit in an enclosed space thereof to quickly heat the enclosed interior space of the mattress to a certain temperature and replacement main parts that are assembled in a separable box form to facilitate the maintenance service.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to mattresses, and more particularly, to a spring mattress that is configured is such a way that a heating apparatus, integrated with a variety of parts, is detachably installed in the inner space, rapidly heats the air inside the space at a certain temperature via the heating apparatus, and allows a repairman to easily separate it from the spring mattress and to fix the failure of the heating apparatus. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In general, home heating mats are divided in to electricity mats and health care heating mats. They are configured in such a way that gem stones, ceramic pieces, etc. are attached onto their upper surface and an electric heating wire is placed thereunder, so that the electric heating wire heats the gem stones and ceramic pieces. They are also shaped as a rectangle and have a certain thickness so that the user can easily lie down. 
         [0005]    Although the conventional heating mats, configured as described above, can generate heat via the electric heating wire and provide the user with warmth, the electric heating wire can emit a lot of electromagnetic waves to the user, which may cause a serious problem. 
       DISCLOSURE  
     Technical Problem 
       [0006]    The present invention solves the above problems, and provides a spring mattress that is configured in such a way that a heating apparatus, integrated with a variety of parts, is detachably installed in the inner space, so that the heating apparatus can easily heat the air inside the space at a certain temperature and a repairman can easily separate the heating apparatus from the spring mattress thereby fixing its failure. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0007]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a spring mattress that forms an inner space, isolated from the outside environment, in which a number of inner springs are installed, being spaced apart from each other with a certain interval. The spring mattress comprises a casing, a module box, and an air guider. 
         [0008]    The casing is configured in such a way that: its inner portion forms a receiving part; its back side forms a coupling part protruded outwards; and its right and left sides form first air inlets respectively. The casing is fixed to the inner front side of the spring mattress. The receiving part is open with respect to the outside. The module box is detachably installed into the receiving part of the casing. The module box has a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater, a ventilating fan, and a controller in the inner portion. The module box allows primary parts in the inner portion to be separated from the casing when the module box is separated form the receiving part, thereby providing convenient repair. The air guider is configured in such a way that one end is coupled to the coupling part of the casing, another end of which is coupled to springs via hooks, opposite the front side of the mattress, and its heat air outlet is located at the opposite end of the front side of the mattress inside the inner space. The air guider is made of a flexible material to prevent the interference with the springs and to stand a user&#39;s weight. The module box has second air inlets at its both sides corresponding to the first air inlets when it is inserted into the casing and allows heated air to be circulated in the module box and the mattress. 
       Advantageous Effect 
       [0009]    As described above, the spring mattress, according to the present invention, includes the heating apparatus installed in the inner space. The heating apparatus can heat air in the inner space via the PTC heater, and rapidly transfer the heated air to the rear side of the mattress  100  via the air guider. The heated air can transfer its heat energy to the spring mattress. After that, the heated air is returned to the first and second air inlets. While these processes are repeated, the spring mattress can be evenly heated. 
         [0010]    In addition, since the PTC heater, ventilating fan, and controller are installed to the module box together, the module box can be easily installed and separated to and from the spring mattress. Therefore, if an error occurs in the module box, the user can easily separate it from the spring mattress and carry it to the repair center. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a spring mattress having a heating function according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the spring mattress of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view illustrating a heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view illustrating the heating apparatus; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the heating apparatus; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a state where the body of the heating apparatus is separated from the casing; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view illustrating a state where an air guider is connected to the heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0019]    The mattress  100  according to the present invention forms an inner space, isolated from the outside environment, and has a number of inner springs  110  spaced apart from each other with a certain interval. The mattress  100  also has a heating apparatus. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the heating apparatus includes a casing  300 , a module box  200 , and an air guider  400 . 
         [0021]    The casing  300  is configured in such a way that its inner side forms a receiving part  310 , its back side forms a coupling part  330  protruded outwards, and its right and left sides form first air inlets  320  respectively. The casing  300  is fixed to the inner front side of the spring mattress  100 . The receiving part  310  is open with respect to the outside. 
         [0022]    The module box  200  is detachably installed into the receiving part  310  of the casing  300 . The module box  200  has a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater  230 , a ventilating fan  240 , and a controller  210  in the inner portion. The module box  200  allows primary parts in the inner portion to be separated from the casing  300  when the module box  200  is separated form the receiving part  310 , thereby providing convenient repair. 
         [0023]    The air guider  400  is configured in such a way that one end is coupled to the coupling part  330  of the casing  300 , another end of which is coupled to springs via hooks  410 , opposite the front side of the mattress  100 , and its heat air outlet  420  is located at the opposite end of the front side of the mattress  100  inside the inner space. The air guider  400  is made of a flexible material to prevent it from interfering with the springs  110  and to withhold a user&#39;s weight. 
         [0024]    The module box  200  has second air inlets  220  at both sides corresponding to the first air inlets  320  when it is inserted into the casing  300  and allows heated air to be circulated in the module box  200  and the mattress  100 . 
         [0025]    The module box  200  also includes electronic parts for performing a variety of functions. The electronic parts, PTC heater  230 , ventilating fan  240 , and controller  210 , installed to the module box  200 , operate to apply heat to the mattress  100 . 
         [0026]    The PTC heater  230  is installed near to the coupling part  330  located at the rear side of module box  200  and heats air from the ventilating fan  240  to a certain temperature. The ventilating fan  240 , installed between the PTC heater  230  and the first and second air inlets  320  and  220 , circulates air in the inner space of the mattress  100 . 
         [0027]    The controller  210 , installed to the front side of the module box  200 , includes a display, an on/off switch, a temperature adjustment, a timer, etc. Although the embodiment of the present invention is implemented in such a way that the controller  210  includes a display, an on/off switch, a temperature adjustment, and a timer, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. That is, the controller  120  may further include parts for performing a variety of functions according to a user&#39;s selection or a manufacturer&#39;s design. 
         [0028]    The air guider  400  is shaped as a pipe of a certain distance. One end of the air guider  400  is coupled to the coupling part  330  of the casing  300 . Another end is coupled to up, down, right and left points of springs via hooks  410 , opposite the front side of the mattress  100 . The heat air outlet  420  of the air guider  400  is located at the opposite end of the front side of the mattress  100  inside the inner space. The air guider  400  can rapidly transfer the heated air to the rear side (user&#39;s legs) of the mattress  100  without reducing the relatively high temperature of the heated air, so that the heated air can evenly heat the inner space of the mattress  100  and then returns to the first and second air inlets  320  and  220 . 
         [0029]    It is preferable that the air guider  400  is made of a flexible material that will not be deformed by heat, for example, urethane film, synthetic leather, cloth, etc. On the other hand, the air guider  400  may be made of a rigid material, such as metal or synthetic resin. In that case, the air guider may be interfered with the springs during the installation and may also restrict the elasticity of the springs when the user lies upon it. 
         [0030]    In installation, the user prepares: the casing  300  including the first air inlets  320 , receiving part  310 , and the coupling part  330 ; the module box  200  equipped with primary parts, such as the PTC heater  230 , ventilating fan  240 , controller  210 , etc.; and the air guider  400  including the heat air outlet  420  and hooks  410 . 
         [0031]    One end of the air guider  400  is coupled to the coupling part  330  and the casing  300  is fixed to the inner front side of the mattress  100 . The receiving part  310  of the casing  300  is open to the outside of the mattress  100 . Another end of the air guider  400  is coupled to the up, down, right and left points of the springs using the hooks  410 . 
         [0032]    After that, the module box  200  is inserted into the receiving part  310  of the casing  300 , to match the first air inlets  320  with the second air inlets  220 . Next, the module box  200  is detachably fixed to the casing  300 . Finally, when an electric power line is connected to the module box  200 , the heat apparatus can perform a heating function. 
         [0033]    In operation, when the user can first set temperature, an operation time, etc. via the controller  210  and then turn on the heating apparatus, the ventilating fan  240  circulates the air in the inner space of the mattress  100 , receiving the air via the first and second air inlets  320  and  220  to allow the received air to be heated by the PTC heater  230 . The heated air is transferred via the air guider  400  and then discharged to the inner space of the mattress  100  via the heat air outlet  420 . Therefore, the heated air can evenly heat the inner space. After the heated air transfers its heat energy to the mattress  100 , it flows into the first and second air inlets  320  and  220 . While the heat apparatus is operating, the heated air is repeatedly circulated as described above. 
         [0034]    Meanwhile, the mattress  100  may have a failure during the use. Most failures occur in electric parts and the primary parts. Since the electric parts and primary parts are installed to the module box  200 , the user can easily separate the module box  200  from the casing  300 . Therefore, the user can carry it to the repair center and easily and rapidly fix it.