Layered Body Support Airflow Structure for Heat and Humidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional body supports often fail to effectively regulate temperature and humidity, leading to user discomfort due to poor design and material choices, and existing solutions are costly to install and maintain while being inefficient in performance.
Innovation Solution
A body support assembly featuring layers with non-planar surfaces defining passages for air flow, equipped with fans and sensors to control temperature and humidity, allowing for independent air flow management and user interface settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional foam materials are used in body supports, then the body support can conform to user body and distribute weight, but the temperature and humidity regulation capability is poor leading to user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The body support is divided into multiple functional layers including a first layer with convoluted surface, a second layer with passages, and a third layer with channels, creating a segmented structure that enables both conformability and temperature regulation. The segmentation allows different regions to perform different functions - the convoluted surface conforms to the body while the passages and channels regulate temperature and humidity.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid system acts as an intermediary between the user's body and the environment, circulating through passages and channels to transfer heat and moisture. The fluid medium enables temperature and humidity regulation by absorbing excess heat and moisture from the body and dissipating them through the system.
2Ease of operation
If temperature and humidity regulation systems are added to body supports, then user comfort is improved, but the system becomes costly to install and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The body support system is designed to be self-regulating through passive thermal and moisture management features. The convoluted surface geometry and fluid channels work together to automatically regulate temperature and humidity without requiring external power sources or complex control systems, thereby reducing installation and maintenance costs while improving user comfort.
3Temperature
If existing temperature regulation devices are installed in body supports, then temperature control is achieved, but the systems are inefficient in performance and difficult to service
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature regulation system extends into the third dimension by incorporating vertical passages and channels that run through multiple layers of the body support. This three-dimensional fluid distribution network improves thermal efficiency by providing multiple pathways for heat transfer, while the integrated design within the foam structure makes the system easier to service compared to separate external devices.
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 enhances user comfort by effectively regulating temperature and humidity, reducing heat and moisture retention, and providing efficient cooling and ventilation, while being cost-effective and easy to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
A fan is positioned (e.g., in a cavity in at least one layer) to move air through the passages
Implementation Method 2
At least one of the upper and lower surfaces is at least partially defined by a non-planar surface to thereby define a plurality of passages between the first and second layers
Implementation Method 3
Some visco-elastic body support materials are also temperature sensitive, thereby also enabling the body support to change firmness based at least in part upon the temperature of the body part(s) supported thereon
Data Source
AI summary
A body support assembly comprising a first layer (e.g., a visco-elastic foam) having a lower surface, and a second layer supporting the first layer and having an upper surface. One of the upper and lower surfaces is defined by a non-planar surface to define a plurality of passages. A fan is positioned to move air through the passages. Preferably, the non-planar surface comprises a plurality of protrusions (e.g., a convoluted surface). The body support can further comprise a sensor that detects a parameter and produces a signal, and a controller coupled to the sensor and programmed to control the fan. Multiple fans and sensors can be provided, and the controller can control the fans to provide different air flows through different locations of the body support assembly. A user interface can be coupled to the controller to allow selection of a desired parameter of the body support assembly.