Inflatable Anti-Snore Bed With Sensor-Guided Position Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bedding products fail to effectively prevent snoring by changing a person's sleeping position without disturbing their sleep, as they either restrict movement or frequently awaken the snorer.
Innovation Solution
A bedding product comprising a mattress, a topper, and an inflatable bladder assembly with a sensor system that detects snoring sounds and adjusts air flow to inflatable bladders to gently encourage the snorer to change positions, using a combination of foam, fiber, or springs, and an air supply system to control the inflation and deflation of the bladders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a padded board is hinged and locked at an angle to force a side sleeping position, then snoring is prevented, but the sleeping person is pinned in position and cannot turn around, which is not conducive to restful sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an inflatable bladder system that can dynamically adjust the sleeping surface in response to detected snoring. Unlike a fixed hinged board, the bladder can inflate and deflate to gently guide the sleeper into a non-snoring position without physically constraining movement, allowing the person to remain comfortable and free to move while still preventing snoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable bladder acts as an intermediary between the sleeper and the mattress, providing a compliant, adaptive barrier that prevents snoring by modifying the sleeping surface rather than directly restraining the sleeper's body. This intermediary approach achieves position guidance without the harsh constraints of a locked board.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a vibrator is used to shake the head up and down to wake the sleeping person, then snoring ceases, but the sleep of the person is interrupted numerous times throughout the night
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic sensing of snoring and responds only when necessary, rather than continuous vibration. The inflatable bladder inflates periodically in response to detected snoring events, providing gentle position guidance only when needed, thereby avoiding unnecessary sleep interruptions while still effectively preventing snoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical vibration system with a pneumatic inflatable bladder system. Instead of using vibrations to wake the sleeper, the system uses controlled inflation and deflation of the bladder to gently guide the sleeper into a non-snoring position, achieving the same goal without the harsh mechanical stimulation that causes sleep interruption.
3Ease of operation
If sound devices or vibrators are used to interrupt snoring without awakening the subject, then sleep is maintained, but the snorer is not encouraged to change sleeping position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic system using an inflatable bladder to physically modify the sleeping surface in response to detected snoring. This pneumatic approach provides direct mechanical guidance to change sleeping position, which is more effective than sound or vibration alone, while still maintaining sleep continuity by operating quietly and gently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where a sensor detects snoring and triggers the inflatable bladder to inflate, which in turn modifies the sleeping surface to prevent further snoring. This closed-loop feedback ensures that the intervention is applied only when needed and continues to work effectively without requiring awakening or strong stimulation.
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 solution allows for subtle adjustments to a person's sleeping position to reduce snoring without interrupting their sleep, accommodating multiple users and distinguishing between different snoring sounds to tailor responses effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor assembly adapted to detect a sound associated with human snoring
Implementation Method 2
an air supply system operatively coupled to the sensor assembly and adapted to control a supply of air to at least one of the inflatable members
Data Source
AI summary
A bedding product (5) comprises a mattress (10) and padding (20) and an inflatable bladder assembly (30). The bedding product (5) may have a plurality of inflatable members (31, 32) located underneath select portions of the padding (20). The bedding product (5) may have a sensor (41) adapted to detect a sound associated with human snoring and an air supply system (50) operatively coupled to the sensor (41) and adapted to control a supply of air to one of the inflatable members (31, 32).