Abstract:
A blanket having two distinct cooling zones whereby each occupant has control over the zone directly in physical contact. Via a remote controller, each occupant has control over a fan pumping ambient air into their respective zone and thru small reinforced openings located on the bottom side of the zone thus cooling the occupant.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. section 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/367,545 entitled “Cooling Blanket” filed Jul. 26, 2010, which is in its entirety herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many individuals enjoy sharing a bed with their spouse but find it hard to agree on air temperature for the most optimal night&#39;s sleep. This is due to the fact that most husbands and wives need different amounts of cool air to lower their body temperatures. Additionally, individuals without access to air-conditioning during hot summer nights may find it difficult to fall asleep due to their raised body temperature. These individuals may have access to ceiling or window fans, but oftentimes the simple movement of air is not enough to lower body temperatures to a comfortable state. Also, many individuals suffer from night sweats and hot flashes in which additional cool air is needed to alleviate the sharp spike in body temperature. Therefor, a need exists for a blanket in which each user has readily available control over the cooling level of the blanket directly in physical contact. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the blanket in accord with the invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the blanket with tiny openings allowing cool air to circulate. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional view taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the top of the blanket looking thru the top sheet to the bottom perforated sheet and the fan connection to the blanket. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a perspective, partially fragmentary view of blanket connection to the fan. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , cooling blanket  10  is shown covering occupants  11  and  12 . Occupant  11  operates remote controller  13  to vary the cooling output of fan  15 . Similarly, occupant  12  operates remote controller  14  to vary the output of fan  16 . Fan  16  is connected to blanket  10  via fluid supply tube  17  and fan  15  is connected to blanket  10  via fluid supply tube  18 . Fan  16  is connected to power outlet  21  via cord  20  and fan  15  is connected to power outlet  22  via cord  19 . 
         [0010]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , blanket  10  consists of two sheets of fabric sewn together. The first top sheet  25  is of any air impermeable fabric and covers beyond the mattress on three sides. The second bottom sheet  26  is of any air impermeable thin fabric having a plurality of reinforced openings  27  thru which air flows to circulate and cool the user&#39;s body and covers the top of the mattress. Fabric sheets  25  and  26  are connected together in a fluid tight connection around the perimeter  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  of bottom sheet  26  by any means, such as, thermal bonding, gluing, sewing, etc. Sheets  25  and  26  are also connected together down the center  34  in the same manner thus creating two separate fluid tight zones  28  and  29 . The bottom edge  45  of top sheet  25  that extends beyond the top of the mattress and beyond the connected perimeter portion  31 , is placed under the mattress to position and anchor the cooling zones on top of the mattress. Also, the portions of bottom side edges  45 ′ of top sheet  25  that are adjacent to bottom edge  45 , and which extend beyond the connected perimeter portions  30  and  32 , can be tucked under the mattress to assist in positioning and anchoring the cooling zones  28 ,  29  on top of the mattress as best seen in  FIG. 1 . Blanket  10  will be sized to fit the standard mattress sizes: twin, double, queen, etc. Top sheet  25  is generally of a heavier fabric than bottom sheet  26 . 
         [0011]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  6 , each fan  15 ,  16  is removably connected via a fluid supply tube  17 ,  18  to a respective tubular blanket connector  40  which is permanently sealed via perimeter portion  31  to the blanket  10 . Each tubular blanket connector  40  is centrally located at the distal end of each zone  28 ,  29  in the zone seam  31 . To increase the fluid circulation within the zones, the major central opening  41  of tubular blanket connector  40  has minor lateral hollow tube extensions  42  extending therefrom into each respective blanket zone. Protuberance  43  on the outer surface of blanket connector  40  mates with indentation  44  on the inner surface of fluid supply tube  17 ,  18  thus forming a fluid tight snap connection best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , remote controller  14 , having selector  14   a  for low, medium and high output settings for fan  16 , varies the fluid flow in zone  28  thru reinforced openings  27 . Similarly, remote controller  13 , having selector  13   a  for low, medium and high output settings for fan  15 , varies the fluid flow in zone  29  thru reinforced openings  27 . Both remotes  14 ,  13  are electrically connected to their respective fans  16 ,  15  via wires  35 . The remotes can also be wireless. Further, if the occupants don&#39;t require cooling, they can operate the on/off switch  14   b ,  13   b  to disable the respective fans. Therefore, through operating the respective remote controller, each occupant varies the flow of air from each respective fan to each respective zone and thru respective reinforced openings on the bottom of respective zone thus cooling respective occupant. 
         [0013]    While the preferred embodiment has been described above, many other embodiments and variations are possible within the scope of the present disclosure and in the appended claims that follow. Accordingly, the details of the preferred embodiment are not to be construed as limiting. It is to be understood that the terms used herein are merely descriptive rather than limiting and that various changes, numerous equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention.