Central access duvet cover with coverable opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional duvet covers are labor-intensive to assemble and maintain, particularly in commercial settings like hotels and hospitals, where they often require daily replacement and sorting, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to entanglement issues and size matching challenges.

Innovation Solution

A duvet cover system with a central access design featuring a pocket between two fabric layers, allowing for easy insertion and removal of a fill layer through a wide opening, and utilizing color-coded fastening elements to simplify size identification and assembly, reducing the need for constant orientation adjustments and minimizing interference with users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional duvet cover with peripheral opening is used, then the fill layer can be inserted, but the fill layer bunches up and folds over itself causing significant difficulties and delays in positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fill layer insertionVSAvoidtime to position fill layer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The opening is divided into two separate openings positioned at opposite ends of the duvet cover, allowing the fill layer to be inserted from one end and pulled through to the other, preventing bunching and folding issues that occur with a single peripheral opening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The opening configuration transitions from a single peripheral opening to two distributed openings at opposite ends, changing the spatial arrangement to enable linear insertion through the length of the duvet cover rather than attempting to maneuver the fill layer through a single side opening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a widthwise opening along the bottom panel is used, then the fill layer can be inserted, but user's appendages can become entangled with or caught in the opening during use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fill layer insertionVSAvoiduser discomfort from entanglement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The opening is extracted from the bottom panel location and repositioned to the long edges of the duvet cover, removing it from the area where it could entangle user's appendages during sleep while maintaining its functionality for fill layer insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The opening position shifts from the widthwise bottom edge to the lengthwise edges, changing the orientation and location to eliminate the harmful entanglement effect while preserving the insertion function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional duvet covers are used in commercial settings, then bedding can be covered, but significant time and energy is expended identifying and sorting bedding materials based on size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with various bed sizesVSAvoidtime to identify and sort bedding sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Different colors are applied to the fastening elements corresponding to different duvet cover sizes, providing a visual identification system that enables rapid sorting and matching of bedding materials by size without requiring manual measurement or inspection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Reliability

If conventional duvet covers are used, then the blanket or comforter is protected, but the duvet cover requires removal and cleaning on a regular basis which is labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of blanket or comforterVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The duvet cover is segmented into two separate panels that are joined by fastening elements, allowing the cover to be quickly disassembled for cleaning by separating the panels and removing the fill layer, significantly reducing the time and labor required for maintenance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10945542B2Central access duvet cover with coverable opening

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 STANDARD TEXTILE COMPANY

AI summary

A duvet cover includes first and second fabric layers with a pocket defined between the layers, and which is configured to have an opening defining an entrance to the pocket that can receive a separate fill layer, defined by a blanket or comforter. At least a section of one of the fabric layers defining a flap configured to engage with a corresponding section of the duvet cover and cover the opening via fastening elements. At least some of the fastening elements can be color-coded to identify the size of the bed for which the duvet cover is to cover. One of the fabric layers and the fill layer can include fastening elements that engage one another to secure the fill layer in position within the cover assembly. The duvet cover hides the appearance of the fill layer in the pocket and covers the opening through which the fill layer is received.