Patent ID: 7165281

Claim:
A bed, comprising a support arrangement ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) having an upper support surface ( 8 ) structured and arranged to support an individual lying thereon, at least a portion ( 5 , 6 ) of said upper support surface ( 8 ) being permeable to air, an opening ( 17 ) arranged through said support arrangement ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) to exterior surroundings and communicating with said at least air permeable portion ( 5 , 6 ) through an interior ( 13 ) of said support arrangement ( 1 , 2 , 3 ), a suction device ( 20 ) for creating negative air pressure being connectable to said opening ( 17 ), such that air is drawn from the exterior surroundings through said at least air permeable portion ( 5 , 6 ) and said interior ( 13 ) of said support arrangement ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and out through said opening ( 17 ), to thereby draw air away from said support surface ( 8 ) through said interior ( 13 ) when the individual is lying on the bed, and means for controlling temperature surrounding an individual lying upon the bed by solely controlling the suctioning of air and comprising a control unit ( 23 , 31 ) connected to said suction device ( 20 ) for controlling the drawing of air through said interior ( 13 ) of said support arrangement ( 1 , 3 ), members ( 28 ) structured and arranged for measuring temperature of air located in immediate proximity to said support surface ( 8 ) of said support arrangement ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and coupled to said control unit ( 23 ) to forward temperature measurement thereto, such that said control unit ( 23 ) controls operation of said suction device ( 20 ) depending upon the measured temperature and controls temperature of air surrounding the individual lying upon the bed in the absence of further heating/cooling means.