Alternating Foam Body Support Structure for Comfort and Bounce
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional body supports often underutilize visco-elastic materials due to design limitations and material choices, leading to suboptimal performance in conforming to user bodies and distributing weight.
Innovation Solution
A body support assembly comprising multiple layers of visco-elastic foam alternating with non-visco-elastic foams, such as latex and high-resiliency foams, where each layer is thin (less than 3 cm) to provide a soft, comfortable feel while maintaining adequate support and 'bounce', with a combined visco-elastic layer thickness of less than 50% of the total thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If thicker visco-elastic foam layers are used to enhance body-conforming properties, then comfort and weight distribution improve, but the support becomes too soft and loses adequate support and bounce
Solution Approach 1:
The body support is divided into multiple alternating layers of visco-elastic foam and non-visco-elastic foam, with each layer being thin (less than 3 cm). This segmentation allows the visco-elastic layers to provide comfort and conforming while the non-visco-elastic layers provide support and bounce, preventing the sinking feeling associated with thick visco-elastic layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material construction by alternating visco-elastic foam layers with non-visco-elastic foam layers (such as latex or high-resiliency foam). This composite structure combines the beneficial properties of both material types: the visco-elastic material provides body-conforming comfort while the non-visco-elastic material provides structural support and bounce.
2Ease of operation
If more visco-elastic material is used to improve weight distribution, then pressure relief improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The body support is segmented into multiple thin alternating layers of visco-elastic and non-visco-elastic foam, with each layer being less than 3 cm thick. This segmentation distributes the visco-elastic material throughout the structure rather than using large continuous blocks, achieving weight distribution benefits while managing complexity through standardized thin layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of individual visco-elastic layers to be less than 3 cm (preferably less than 2 cm), and limits the combined thickness of all visco-elastic layers to less than 50% of the total thickness. This parameter optimization maintains weight distribution capabilities while simplifying manufacturing compared to thicker, more complex visco-elastic structures.
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
The layered structure enhances body-conforming properties and support, reducing the feeling of sinking into the support while maintaining the 'bounce' and firmness of conventional supports, offering improved comfort and performance compared to thicker visco-elastic foam layers.
Implementation Method 1
visco-elastic material is used, providing the body support with an increased ability to conform to a user and to distribute the weight or other load of the user
Implementation Method 2
maintaining the 'bounce' and firmness of conventional supports
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A body support assembly comprising a first layer comprising a visco-elastic foam (e.g., a non-reticulated foam), a second layer supporting the first layer and comprising a non- visco-elastic foam (e.g., a latex foam), and a third layer supporting the second layer and comprising a visco-elastic foam (e.g., a non-reticulated foam). In one embodiment, a thickness of the first layer is less than 20% (preferably less than 10%) of a total thickness of the body support assembly, and a combined thickness of all visco-elastic layers is less than 50% of the total thickness. Preferably, the thickness of the first layer is less than 3 centimeters. The body support assembly includes a first layer comprising non-reticulated, visco-elastic foam, a second layer comprising a material different than non-reticulated, visco- elastic foam, a third layer comprising visco-elastic foam, a fourth layer comprising a material different than non-reticulated, visco-elastic foam, and a fifth layer comprising visco-elastic foam.