Air Mattress Temperature Control With Sealed Airflow Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air mattresses lack the ability to control the temperature of the air within them, which can affect user comfort and is not addressed by existing built-in electric air pumps.
Innovation Solution
An air temperature control system integrated into the air mattress, featuring an air intake component with seals and a temperature control element, along with a controller to manage the flow of air and temperature, allowing users to inflate, deflate, heat, or cool the mattress based on input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a built-in electric air pump is added to the air mattress, then the convenience of inflation and deflation is improved, but the ability to control temperature is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The built-in electric air pump is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it can both inflate/deflate the air mattress and control the temperature of the air inside. The pump system includes heating elements and cooling mechanisms that allow it to serve as both a pneumatic device and a thermal control device, eliminating the need for separate temperature control equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control functions (heating and cooling) are merged into the air pump system. The pump incorporates heating elements that can warm the air during inflation and cooling mechanisms that can cool the air, combining pneumatic control and thermal control into a single integrated system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If temperature control functionality is added to the air mattress, then user comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air pump is designed as a multi-functional device that combines inflation/deflation capabilities with temperature control. By making the pump universal, the patent avoids adding separate complex temperature control systems, thereby managing overall system complexity while still improving user comfort through heated or cooled air.
3Manufacturing precision
If seals are added to control air flow to the temperature control element, then temperature control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing and air flow control functions are merged into the existing air pump structure. The pump's existing seals and valves are utilized to direct air flow to the temperature control element, rather than adding separate sealing systems. This approach achieves precise temperature control by leveraging the pump's already-present air flow management components.
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
Enables users to control the air temperature within the mattress, enhancing comfort and convenience by allowing for customizable temperature settings through user input and automatic control modes.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature control element in fluid communication with the air intake component. The temperature control element may be positioned within the air mattress inside of the outer seal
Implementation Method 2
a temperature control element in fluid communication with the air intake component. The temperature control element may be positioned within the air mattress inside of the outer seal
Implementation Method 3
an air intake component having inner and outer seals to inhibit or facilitate the flow of air into and out of the air mattress
Data Source
AI summary
An air temperature control system controls the air temperature inside of an air mattress. The air temperature control system includes an air intake component having inner and outer seals to inhibit or facilitate the flow of air into and out of the air mattress. The air temperature control system also includes a temperature control element in fluid communication with the air intake component. The temperature control element is positioned within the air mattress inside of the outer seal. The air temperature control system further includes a controller configured to direct the air intake component to open and close the inner and outer seals and operation of the temperature control element.