Five-Zone Slatted Bed Base for Spinal Alignment Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional slatted bases fail to maintain a straight spinal column and preserve natural lordoses and kyphoses during sleep, as they lack distinct support zones that adapt to the human anatomy, leading to inadequate support and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A slatted base with fixed-position slat holders and a segmented inner frame that allows for adjustable tilt angles in specific zones, ensuring a level difference between lumbar and other zones, and adjustable elasticity to accommodate individual anatomical characteristics, with the lumbar segment fixed for optimal support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional slatted bases use uniform slat support across the entire base, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the base cannot adapt to different anatomical zones and fails to maintain proper spinal alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The slatted base is divided into five distinct anatomical zones (head, shoulder/upper back, lumbar, pelvis, leg/foot), each with its own slat holders positioned at specific levels. This segmentation allows each zone to provide tailored support corresponding to the natural contours of the human body, resolving the contradiction by making the base adaptable to anatomical zones while maintaining a systematic rather than chaotic complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the slatted base have different support characteristics - the lumbar zone has slat holders positioned higher to support the natural lumbar curve, while the shoulder and pelvis zones have lower slat holders. This local differentiation of support quality allows the base to adapt to anatomical variations in different body regions, achieving zone-specific adaptability through purposeful structural variation
2Adaptability or versatility
If slat holders are made adjustable to adapt to individual anatomy, then anatomical adaptation is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slat holders are pre-positioned at five specific anatomical zones during manufacturing, with each holder located at the optimal position for its designated zone. This preliminary positioning of support elements eliminates the need for users to perform complex adjustments, achieving individual anatomical adaptation through pre-configured zone-specific support rather than user-adjustable mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The slatted base automatically adapts to the user's anatomy through its pre-configured zone-specific slat holders, which naturally conform to the user's body shape when the mattress is placed and the user lies down. The structure self-adjusts to provide appropriate support at each anatomical zone without requiring user intervention or complex adjustment mechanisms
3Reliability
If the slatted base is made rigid to provide stable support, then support stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate different sleeping positions and anatomical variations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The slatted base combines rigid frame structure with flexible slat elements that can independently deflect and conform to different body shapes and sleeping positions. The slats maintain stable support through their rigid attachment at predetermined zones while dynamically adapting their angle and pressure distribution to accommodate various anatomical variations and sleeping positions, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability
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 ensures a straight spinal column and preservation of natural anatomical shapes during both side and back sleeping positions, reducing pressure on the iliopsoas muscle and facet joints, and providing adjustable support for various users.
Implementation Method 1
the slatted base is provided with elastic slats that span the width of the slatted base
Implementation Method 2
slats that are held in slat holders
Data Source
AI summary
Slatted base (8) provided with slats (24) held in slat holders (13) for supporting a mattress (3) in a bed, that comprises five zones, i.e. a head zone (15), a shoulder and upper back zone (16), a lower back or lumbar zone (17), a pelvis zone (18), and a leg and foot zone (19), characterised in that for the slatted base (8) in the horizontal situation the level difference of the slats (24) between the level determined by the highest slat holder of the lumbar zone (17) and the level determined by the highest slat holder of the shoulder and upper back zone (16) and/or the pelvis zone (18) is at least 4 cm at all times.