Adjustable Pillow Inserts for Multi-Position Neck and Leg Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pillows are not adjustable, leading to inadequate support for changing sleeping positions and loss of firmness over time, as users cannot access or modify the filler material, and existing adjustable pillows do not provide multi-position support for the head, neck, and legs with varying firmness and shape.

Innovation Solution

A multi-position adjustable pillow design featuring removable support pieces made from different materials with varying firmness and shape, housed within a cover with a zipper aperture for easy access, allowing users to customize the height and firmness for optimal support of the head, neck, and legs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional pillows use sealed fabric envelopes with fixed filler material, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but users cannot adjust pillow height or firmness to suit different sleeping positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of pillow height and firmnessVSAvoidstructure of pillow with removable inserts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into a cover and multiple separate support pieces (first support piece, second support piece, third support piece) that can be independently inserted and removed. This segmentation allows users to customize the pillow configuration by selecting different combinations of support pieces, thereby adjusting height and firmness without complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support pieces are designed with universal functionality to serve multiple purposes: the first support piece supports the head and neck, the second support piece supports the knees and legs, and the third support piece provides additional customization. This multi-functionality allows a single pillow system to adapt to various sleeping positions and user needs without requiring multiple different pillows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional pillows use uniform filler material throughout, then manufacturing is straightforward, but the pillow cannot provide varying firmness for different body parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevarying firmness for different body partsVSAvoidproduction of pillow with multiple materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different support pieces are made from different materials with different firmness characteristics. The first support piece uses a first material suitable for head and neck support, the second support piece uses a second material suitable for knees and legs, and the third support piece uses a third material for additional customization. This local quality approach allows each body part to receive appropriately tailored firmness without requiring complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional pillows are sealed without access openings, then the filler material is protected from contamination, but users cannot add or remove support pieces to maintain proper support over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to modify pillow configurationVSAvoidprotection of filler material from contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An opening is extracted from the cover to allow access to the interior compartment where support pieces are stored and inserted. This opening enables users to add or remove support pieces to maintain proper pillow configuration over time while the cover itself continues to protect the filler material from contamination when closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If users purchase a new pillow when their sleeping preferences change, then they get a pillow with proper support, but this results in waste and increased cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization to sleeping preferencesVSAvoidwaste of pillow material

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow system is made dynamic and reconfigurable through the ability to add, remove, and rearrange support pieces according to changing user preferences. Instead of discarding a pillow when needs change, users can simply modify the configuration by selecting different combinations of support pieces, thereby eliminating waste and reducing the need to purchase new pillows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9844284B1Multi-position adjustable pillow

Publication Date: 2017.12.19 COOP HOME GOODS LLC

AI summary

A multi-position adjustable pillow intended to support a user's head, neck, shoulders, lower back, legs, and/or knees is provided. The pillow may include a cover sized to fit around a plurality of support pieces, including a top support piece and one or more removable bottom support pieces. The cover includes an aperture adapted to allow at least a bottom support piece to be inserted or removed. The aperture may be securable by a zipper or other fastening means. The support pieces may be made of a soft material, such as foam. The bottom support pieces may be made of a material that is of greater density and of lower firmness than the top support piece.