Connectable Mat Structure for Secure Pillow Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor leisure mats and sleeping solutions, such as those described in JP-A-7-213337, JP-A-8-215024, JP-A-2005-6956, and JP-UM-A-7-12158, fail to prevent pillows from slipping and moving away from users' heads, leading to discomfort and disturbed sleep, and often incur increased material costs and weight due to joint margins along the edges.
Innovation Solution
A mat design featuring a primary mat body with straps to attach pillows, and engaging members at corners or edges for connecting additional mat bodies, allowing for secure attachment of pillows and other mats without joint margins, thereby preventing slipping and reducing material usage and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If joint margins are formed at the ends of the mat and joined together to create a sturdy structure, then the mat becomes more reliable and durable, but the material costs and weight of the mat increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the joint margins from the mat structure entirely. Instead of joining mat edges together with additional materials, the mat is designed as a single integrated piece without peripheral joining structures, thereby eliminating the extra weight and material costs associated with joint margins while maintaining structural reliability through the strap-based connection system.
2Reliability
If joint margins are formed at the ends of the mat and joined together, then the mat becomes more reliable and durable, but the material costs and weight of the mat increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates joint margins and the materials required for joining mat edges. The mat is constructed without peripheral joining structures, directly reducing material consumption and costs while achieving the desired structural stability through alternative means (straps and engaging members).
3Ease of operation
If a pillow is placed on the mat without attachment mechanisms, then the mat remains simple and lightweight, but the pillow slips and moves away from the user's head causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates straps and engaging members as pre-integrated components on the mat before use. These attachment mechanisms are built into the mat structure in advance, allowing the pillow to be securely fastened without requiring additional external devices or complex assembly steps during setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the pillow attachment function with the mat structure itself. The straps and engaging members are integrated directly onto the mat, merging the support function and the attachment function into a single unified device, thereby achieving pillow positioning stability without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the mat is designed as a single large piece, then it provides continuous support, but it becomes difficult to store and carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mat into multiple separable sections or components that can be easily stored and carried. The mat structure is segmented into modular units that maintain structural integrity when assembled but can be separated for storage, achieving both portability and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the mat components to nest within each other when not in use. Smaller mat sections or attached components can be stored within larger sections, creating a compact storage configuration that maintains structural integrity when deployed but facilitates easy portability and storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A mat can be connected to a pillow, a sleeping bag, or other mats, and is comfortable to sleep on, sturdy, and convenient to carry around. A strap is provided on a mat body for attaching a pillow A mat may include multiple mat bodies each having first engaging members located near at least two corners located at the ends of a first diagonal line, and second engaging members for engaging with the first engaging members and located near at least two corners located at the ends of a second diagonal line intersecting with the first diagonal line, to connect mat bodies together. A mat body may be made of multiple laminated layers, with edges of an outer layer forming a joint distal from the mat edges on a surface where a user of mat lies down, or the reverse surface thereof.