A warming system, mounted to the foot of a bed, warms a person's lower
extremities by directing air into the space between the mattress and
overlaying blankets. A blower directs air into an elongated distribution
chamber having many tiny exit apertures. The chamber is mounted at the
foot of the bed, so that air exiting the apertures warms the person's
feet. For maximum thermal transfer, the chamber is placed under the sheet
and any blankets, but above the mattress cover and fitted sheet. The
chamber may be implemented by a length of open cell foam, a hollow
manifold with many punctures or other tiny distribution apertures,
collapsible pocket, etc. While the person is lying on the bed beneath the
blankets, with feet proximate the foot of the bed, the blower directs
temperature-regulated air into the chamber and through the exit
apertures, thereby warming the person's feet. A temperature regulator
ensures a normothermic air temperature (or alternatively, hyperthermic
air temperature.) Thus, the invention helps relieve or prevent "cold
feet" by directing normothermic air at a person's lower extremities.
Additionally, by applying heat to the feet and legs, the invention
encourages blood flow by virtue of sympathetic vasodilation and local
temperature-mediated vasodilation. The invention is also believed to
prevent some leg and foot ulcers from forming by maintaining the lower
extremity at a near normal temperature during sleep.