Method and system for forming a support structure such as a bed or chair for a user according to the user's requirements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bed and chair support structures fail to provide adequate macro support and pressure attenuation, leading to discomfort and soreness due to their inability to adapt to individual body shapes and weight distributions, resulting in inadequate support for varying body parts and pressure requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for forming an adjustable support structure that determines essential positions along a user's profile and provides varying support characteristics, including pressure attenuation areas, to match the user's specific needs, using pressure variation blocks and adjustable supports to optimize support and pressure distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If innerspring bases are used to provide comfort, then the user feels soft, but the system provides minimal controlled macro support and results in a bouncy feel rather than adequate overall support
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into multiple independently adjustable slats that can be individually positioned to provide both comfort and macro support. Each slat segment can be adjusted to different heights and angles, allowing the system to simultaneously deliver a soft comfort feel while maintaining reliable overall structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The base system incorporates adjustable and movable components that allow dynamic adaptation to user needs. The slats can be repositioned manually or automatically to change the support characteristics, enabling the base to transition between providing a soft comfort feel and delivering firm macro support as required.
2Reliability
If platform bases with double slats and firmness adjusters are used to provide macro support, then individual slats can be adjusted to provide various degrees of flex, but the potential deflection compensation is insufficient to cater for variations in user body shape
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is extended from simple flex adjustment to multi-dimensional positioning. Slats can be adjusted not only in terms of flex degree but also in vertical height, horizontal position, and angular orientation, providing comprehensive deflection compensation that accommodates significant variations in user body shape and weight distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows multiple parameters of each slat to be independently changed, including flex degree, height, position, and angle. This multi-parameter adjustment capability enables the base to provide adequate macro support while simultaneously adapting to diverse user physiques through sufficient deflection compensation.
3Device complexity
If the same mechanisms are used for support of differing parts of the body, then the system is simple, but it fails to account for variations in body part weight, density, and delicacy
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the base are equipped with slats having locally optimized properties. For example, slats under heavier body parts like hips may have different flex characteristics, heights, or materials compared to slats under lighter or more delicate areas. This local differentiation allows each body part to receive appropriately tailored support while maintaining overall system functionality.
4Device complexity
If predefined adjustment positions are provided in the bed, then the adjustment mechanism is simple, but the person must adapt to the bed rather than the bed adapting to the person
Solution Approach 1:
The bed system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that automatically detect user body shape, weight distribution, and support needs, then autonomously adjust the slats to optimal positions. This self-service capability allows the bed to adapt to the person without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved bed and method of forming with the required profile and localised support for a user by the improved bed at various sections of the bed including shoulder (A), lumbar (B) hip and lower body (C) such as by the mattress (15) having selected forms or voids a Shoulder Pressure Attenuation Area (SPAAM) a Lumbar Pressure Attenuation Area (LPAAM) a Hip Pressure Attenuation Area (HPAAM) and the base (26) having a Shoulder Pressure Attenuation Area (SPAAB) a Lumbar Pressure Attenuation Area (LPAAB) a Hip Pressure Attenuation Area (HPAAB) locatable at different locations along the longitudinal extension of the bed (32,42,52) with a Shoulder Pressure variation means (31) a Lumbar Pressure variation means (41) and a Hip Pressure variation means (51) comprising adjustable slats driven by electric motors.