Inflatable cushion structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inflatable cushions with air passages packed with warming materials like fluff or cotton wool suffer from uneven distribution of these materials due to air circulation, leading to reduced warming or thermal insulation effects and slower inflation.
Innovation Solution
The inflatable cushion structure incorporates multiple spacing layers created by separation plates within the air passages, which are divided by TPU-coated connecting members, ensuring even distribution of warming materials and slowing air flow to enhance insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air passages are packed with warming materials like fluff or cotton wool, then thermal insulation effect is improved, but the materials become unevenly distributed due to air circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The air passage is divided into multiple sub-passages by partition walls, with each sub-passage containing a portion of the warming material. This segmentation prevents the material from shifting freely while maintaining even distribution throughout the cushion structure.
2Temperature
If air passages are packed with warming materials, then thermal insulation is improved, but inflation speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the air passage into multiple smaller sub-passages with partition walls, the warming material is distributed more efficiently. This allows air to flow through multiple parallel paths simultaneously, maintaining faster inflation speed while achieving better thermal insulation with properly distributed material.
3Speed
If air circulation is allowed through air passages, then inflation function is maintained, but warming materials cannot be fixed at the same position
Solution Approach 1:
The air passage is segmented into multiple sub-passages by partition walls, which act as structural frameworks that hold the warming material in fixed positions. Air can still circulate through the segmented paths, maintaining inflation functionality while preventing material displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls serve as intermediary structures between the air flow and the warming material. They allow air to pass through while providing a stable framework that prevents the warming material from moving, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of air circulation and material stability.
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
This design achieves a more efficient warming effect by evenly distributing warming materials and slowing air flow through the cushion, thereby improving thermal insulation and inflation speed.
Implementation Method 1
The TPU layers of the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer are air impermeable and are adhered mutually
Implementation Method 2
A periphery of the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer is sealed and fused
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable cushion structure includes an inflatable cushion, a connecting unit, and a separating material unit. The inflatable cushion includes a upper surface layer, a lower surface layer, and multiple air passages. The connecting unit is mounted in each of the air passages and includes a first connecting member provided with multiple first transverse slits and a second connecting member provided with multiple second transverse slits. The separating material unit includes multiple separation plates each having a left end passing through one of the first transverse slits and a right end passing through one of the second transverse slits. Thus, the separation plates divide each of the air passages into multiple partition layers, so that the partition layers form a spacing between the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer.