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.