Adjustable Cushion Support Element With Rotating Spring Stiffness Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support elements for cushion covers, such as mattresses, lack adjustable spring properties to accommodate varying weight forces across different areas, leading to suboptimal comfort and requiring additional components for modification.
Innovation Solution
A support element design featuring a ring-shaped frame with a rotatable support disc and adjustable bars on a concentric ring track, allowing for easy adjustment of spring stiffness by aligning bars with different degrees of stiffness with the spring legs, enabling four distinct spring constant settings without additional space or components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If support elements use fixed spring properties, then manufacturing is simple, but comfort is suboptimal for varying weight forces
Solution Approach 1:
The support element incorporates a rotatable support disc with multiple bars of different stiffness that can be rotated to different positions. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the spring properties to be changed from fixed to variable, enabling adaptation to different weight forces in various body areas while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of spring stiffness by providing bars with different degrees of stiffness that can be selectively positioned. By rotating the support disc, different bar configurations are achieved, thereby changing the spring constant parameter to match varying weight forces in different cushion areas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to adjust spring properties, then comfort improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the adjustment mechanism directly into the existing support element structure. The support disc with multiple bars is integrated into the support element, eliminating the need for separate auxiliary components. This consolidation allows spring property adjustment while avoiding the increased manufacturing costs that would result from adding independent adjustment devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The support disc serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables spring constant adjustment, and allows rotation to different positions. By making this single component multi-functional, the invention achieves spring property adjustability without requiring multiple separate components, thereby controlling manufacturing costs.
3Ease of operation
If support elements are made stiffer in high-force areas, then comfort in shoulder/pelvis areas improves, but overall adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by providing bars with different degrees of stiffness that can be selectively positioned in different areas. This allows specific regions of the cushion to have customized spring properties matching the local weight forces, with stiffer support in shoulder and pelvis areas and softer support in head and leg areas, thereby achieving ergonomic comfort while maintaining overall adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design provides a wide range of adjustability in spring hardness, enhances ergonomic handling, and maintains inexpensive manufacturing and assembly, while integrating an airlift function for improved back ventilation and moisture removal.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially U-shaped corrugated spring element on the upper ends of the spring arms... comprising at least two parallel spaced spring legs located on concentric ring tracks
Data Source
AI summary
A support element for a cushion cover for seating and lying areas includes a baseplate that can be fixed to a base, and at least one spring element formed by a plurality of spring arms and extending upward from the baseplate in the direction of the cushion cover.