Flexible Gel Panel Bedding for Cooler Memory Foam Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sleep products, particularly those with memory foam, tend to retain heat, leading to uncomfortable sleeping surfaces and potential sleep deprivation, which is linked to weight gain and other health issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a flexible gel panel with a cured gel layer between a TPU film and a fabric layer into mattresses, mattress toppers, and pillows to provide a cooler sleeping surface, which can be sewn into bedding products or attached using fasteners for easy removal and laundering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If memory foam is used in sleep products, then comfort and support are improved, but heat retention increases causing hot sleeping surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfort and supportVSAvoidsleeping surface temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines memory foam with gel panels to create a composite sleep product. The gel panel layer is integrated into the memory foam mattress or pillow, creating a multi-layer composite structure that leverages the comfort properties of memory foam while adding the cooling properties of gel material to reduce surface temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If gel panels are incorporated into sleep products, then cooling effect is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleeping surface temperatureVSAvoidproduct structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gel panel is constructed with flexible outer layers including a flexible top layer and a fabric bottom layer, allowing the gel panel to conform to the underlying mattress or pillow surface. This flexible shell structure simplifies integration into existing sleep products without requiring complex rigid frameworks or assembly mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 gel panel significantly prolongs the time it takes for sleep products to warm up, providing a cooler surface for extended periods, promoting restful sleep and potentially aiding in weight management by improving sleep quality.

Implementation Method 1

incorporating flexible gel panels into sleep products provides a cooler surface temperature for an extended period of time

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the gel panel significantly prolongs the time it takes for sleep products to warm up, providing a cooler surface for extended periods

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy storage: Thermal Energy Storage

Data Source

PatentUS9204731B2Bedding products having flexible gel panels

Publication Date: 2015.12.08 COMFORT REVOLUTION LLC

AI summary

A bedding product, such as a mattress, mattress topper, or pillow case, includes a flexible gel panel having a cured gel layer with a top surface and a bottom surface, a flexible top layer overlying the top surface of the cured gel layer, and a fabric bottom layer overlying the bottom surface of the cured gel layer. The bedding product has a major surface and the flexible gel panel is integrated into the bedding product so that the flexible top layer of the flexible gel panel is juxtaposed with the major surface of the bedding product. The flexible gel panel is removable from the bedding product for laundering the bedding product.