Configurable Travel Mat Fastening Layout for Portable Body Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long-distance travel often involves uncomfortable seating in cramped environments, where existing cushions and pillows are either cumbersome or limited in their ability to provide multiple configurations for support and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A portable mat with a foam body and pliable fabric cover, equipped with male and female fasteners along its longitudinal sides, allowing manual configuration into various shapes for use as a cushion, pillow, or body support, which can be easily rolled and secured for portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate cushions and pillows are used to provide different body support configurations, then comfort and support for different body parts is improved, but device complexity and portability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate cushions and pillows into a single integrated mat structure. The mat includes a main body with multiple foldable sections that can be configured to provide head, neck, back, and leg support simultaneously, eliminating the need to carry multiple separate support devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The mat is divided into multiple segmented sections that can be independently folded or positioned. These sections include a head section, neck support section, back support section, and leg support section, each capable of being adjusted to provide targeted support while remaining part of a single portable unit.
2Device complexity
If a single mat is used for multiple configurations, then portability is improved, but adaptability for different body positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mat incorporates dynamic, movable sections that can be folded and unfolded into different configurations. The foldable design allows the mat to transition from a compact flat state for portability to multiple expanded states for providing head, neck, back, and leg support, adapting to different body positions and comfort needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The single mat structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it can serve as a flat sleeping surface, a contoured back support, a head and neck pillow, or a leg rest. This multi-functionality is achieved through the foldable sections that can be arranged in various configurations to address different support requirements.
3Strength
If public transportation seats are designed for durability, then strength and reliability are improved, but comfort and softness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mat provides pre-configured cushioning layers with varying densities and softness levels. The top layer is designed to be soft and comfortable for direct body contact, while underlying layers provide firmer support, creating a graduated cushioning system that compensates for the hard, durable public transportation seats.
Solution Approach 2:
The mat utilizes composite material construction with multiple foam layers of different densities and properties. The combination of soft memory foam or latex layers with more supportive base layers creates a multi-layered cushioning system that provides both comfort and support, addressing the hardness of durable public transportation seating.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable mat that includes a pliable foam body having a rectangular shaped with a fabric cover. Said mat includes a plurality of fasteners disposed along each longitudinal side and tabs or other connectors that allow the first and second fasteners to be used for manually configuring the travel mat into a plurality of different individual configurations resulting in cushions, pillows, back rests at rests or lying down comfortable pillows for the user. Indicia in the form of numerals can be individually placed next to fasteners for guiding the user to establish the same previously formed configuration. The mat is lightweight for travel and can be rolled up and carried easily when traveling.