Height adjustment pillow with bottom-mounted handle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing height-adjustable pillows face issues with external impact protection, manufacturing complexity, and stability on uneven surfaces due to exposed manipulation handles and rigid structures, requiring manual height adjustments for posture changes.

Innovation Solution

A height-adjustable pillow design featuring a left and right body with an elastic middle body, a drive shaft, rotation members, and a geared power train, where the manipulation handle is integrated into the pillow body, allowing for easier adjustment and improved stability on uneven surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the manipulation handle is arranged on the circumferential part of the pillow body to allow external access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the protection from external impact deteriorates and the pillow cover manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation handle accessibilityVSAvoidexternal impact protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The manipulation handle is nested within a receiving groove part formed in the lower member, allowing the handle to be housed within the pillow body structure rather than exposed on the exterior. This enables the pillow cover to completely enclose the pillow body while still providing access to the manipulation handle through the fabric material, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving impact protection and simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving groove part acts as an intermediary structure that accommodates the manipulation handle within the pillow body. The groove provides a dedicated space that allows the handle to be accessible through the pillow cover fabric without requiring holes or gaps, serving as a mediator between the need for external access and the need for complete enclosure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the manipulation handle is arranged on the circumferential part of the pillow body, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision and process convenience deteriorate due to required holes or gaps in the pillow cover

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation handle accessibilityVSAvoidpillow cover edge finishing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The manipulation handle is nested within a receiving groove part formed in the lower member, allowing the handle to be housed within the pillow body structure rather than exposed on the exterior. This enables the pillow cover to completely enclose the pillow body while still providing access to the manipulation handle through the fabric material, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving impact protection and simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The problematic requirement for holes or gaps in the pillow cover is extracted and eliminated by providing an alternative solution: the receiving groove part allows the pillow cover to remain intact and complete, removing the need for post-manufacturing edge finishing operations while still enabling handle accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the drive shaft is arranged in horizontal direction orthogonal to upward and downward directions, then the lifting device configuration is established, but the device complexity increases due to rotational handle configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustment functionalityVSAvoidlifting device configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of arranging the drive shaft in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the upward and downward directions, the invention inverts the arrangement by positioning the drive shaft in the upward and downward directions. This simplifies the overall lifting device configuration while maintaining the height adjustment functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive shaft in the upward and downward direction configuration serves multiple functions: it directly controls the height adjustment mechanism, provides a simpler structural arrangement, and allows the manipulation handle to be positioned in the protruding lower end part for easy access. This single configuration achieves what would otherwise require a more complex orthogonal arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If the pillow has rigid structure to protect the lifting device, then the reliability is improved, but the stability on uneven surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting device protectionVSAvoidstability on uneven surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is segmented into a left body and a right body that are spaced apart from each other, connected by an elastic middle body. This segmentation allows each side to independently adapt to uneven surfaces while the elastic connection maintains overall structural integrity and protects the lifting device, resolving the contradiction between rigidity for protection and flexibility for stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 provides enhanced protection from external impacts, simplifies manufacturing, and allows for convenient height adjustments and stable use on uneven surfaces, ensuring user safety and comfort.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic middle body connecting the left body with the right body therebetween and capable of being elastically transformed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic transformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3607857B1Height adjustment pillow with bottom-mounted handle
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 MOTEX PROD CO LTD
  • EP3607857B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3607857B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3607857B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a height adjustment pillow including a lifting device adjusting the height of an upper member with respect to a lower member, the lifting device comprising: a drive shaft passing through the lower member with a lower end part thereof protruding from a lower part of the lower member and having a manipulation handle provided in the lower end part; at least one or more rotation members mounted on the lower member to be rotatable relative to upward and downward directional shafts thereof; a power train transmitting a rotational force of the drive shaft to the rotation members; and lifting operation equipment converting a rotational movement of the rotation member into a rectilinear movement of the upward and downward directions so as to lift and lower the upper member.