Patent ID: 7480950

Claim:
A convective cushion comprising: a plenum defined by a laterally extending bottom surface and a laterally extending top surface secured around a perimeter extending transversely therebetween to contain an air flow space, an air flow structure formed of fabric material disposed in the air flow space, said air flow structure spacing the top surface from the bottom surface, said top surface adapted for convective air flow delivered from said air flow structure over substantially the entire top surface responsive to a flow of air blown laterally into said plenum, said top surface being sufficiently impervious to air to retain greater air pressure within the air flow space, said air flow structure maintaining a substantial portion of said flow of air within a venting air flow passing in a coplanar direction laterally between said top and bottom surfaces to be directed laterally outward through said plenum perimeter, a portion of the flow of air venting though said top surface; a power unit located outside the plenum but in fluid communication with the plenum, and housing a blower in fluid communication with a heating module having a positive temperature coefficient type heating element; a controller unit in communication with the blower and the heating element; whereby a user resting atop the cushion is able to control the blower and heating module to deliver air of a desired temperature and quantity to the cushion and to said air flow structure to deliver said air of desired temperature and quantity to said top surface to produce the convective air flow over substantially the entire top surface.