Body Support Assembly with Dual-Zone Air Distribution to Reduce Drafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body support assemblies, such as mattresses, often suffer from discomfort due to directed air flows creating drafts and requiring high air velocity to overcome pressure drops through channels, which can lead to less comfortable sleeping experiences.
Innovation Solution
A body support assembly with a top surface having higher air permeability than the bottom surface and side walls, featuring an upper cushion zone and a lower cushion zone separated by a permeable separation sheet, where air flows through the compressible material of both zones and is distributed evenly across the top surface, minimizing drafts and discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air is directed through channels in the mattress to provide heating or cooling, then temperature control is achieved, but directed air flows create drafts and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress is divided into multiple independent air channels that distribute air flow across different zones. This segmentation disperses the directed air flow into multiple smaller streams, reducing the intensity of drafts at any single location and improving comfort while maintaining temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mattress are provided with different air flow characteristics. The channels are designed to deliver higher air velocity where temperature control is most needed, while other areas receive gentler air flow. This localized optimization allows effective thermoregulation without creating uncomfortable drafts across the entire sleeping surface.
2Productivity
If air flow velocity is increased to overcome pressure drops through channels, then air circulation is improved, but comfort decreases due to perceptible air movement
Solution Approach 1:
The air distribution system transitions from a single-dimension direct channel flow to a multi-dimensional distribution pattern. Air is introduced through multiple channels at different locations and angles, creating a three-dimensional flow pattern that disperses velocity across space. This dimensional transformation allows adequate air circulation while reducing localized air movement intensity to perceptible levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel structure acts as an intermediary that modifies air flow characteristics. Instead of delivering high-velocity air directly to the sleeper, the channels intermediate the air flow by distributing it across multiple pathways and reducing velocity through extended flow paths and expansion zones, thereby maintaining circulation effectiveness while minimizing perceptible movement.
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 provides a comfortable sleeping experience by maintaining a small flow of heated air just below body temperature, reducing noise from air displacement means, and allowing for easier storage, stacking, and transportation due to the internal placement of components.
Implementation Method 1
the cushion volume comprises a heating element
Implementation Method 2
air displacement means, a flow path for air comprising an air inlet in the bottom surface, air displacement means, a heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
Body support assembly (1) having a top surface (2) and a spaced away bottom surface (3) defining a cushion volume (4) and defining side walls (5). The air permeability of the top surface (2) is higher than the air permeability of the bottom surface (3). The cushion volume (4) comprises an upper cushion zone (7) and a lower cushion zone (8) and separated by a separation sheet (9). The upper cushion zone (7) and the lower cushion zone (8) comprise of a compressible material (10) which is permeable for air in all directions. The cushion volume (4) further comprises a flow path for air comprising an air inlet (6) in the bottom surface (3), air displacement means (20), a heat exchanger (21), a flow path through the compressible material of the lower cushion zone (8), through openings in the separation sheet (9) and through the compressible material (10) of the upper cushion zone (7) and multiple air outlets as present in the top surface (2).