Inflatable matress for use in a vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflatable mattresses for vehicles often occupy excessive space, are inconvenient to inflate due to multiple chambers, and may not be supported evenly on non-flat surfaces, leading to discomfort and manufacturing inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable mattress design featuring a first longitudinal chamber with collapsible columns and a flexible seam, optionally including a second chamber, with integrated collapsible columns and a removable air pump cavity for efficient inflation and deflation, and materials like PVC, urethane film, and fabric for durability and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an inflatable mattress is sized to accommodate two adults, then sleeping capacity is improved, but space occupation in the vehicle increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress is divided into multiple separate inflatable chambers (first chamber and second chamber) that can be independently inflated or deflated. This allows the mattress to accommodate one or two adults by selectively inflating the appropriate number of chambers, thereby providing adaptability while minimizing space occupation when only single occupancy is needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an inflatable mattress has more than one separate internal chamber, then sleeping capacity is improved, but inflation time and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress incorporates flexible longitudinal seams that allow dynamic reconfiguration of the chambers. The flexible seam between the first and second chambers enables them to be inflated independently or connected to form a unified sleeping surface, providing adaptability in inflation process and reducing time loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle does not have a flat cargo space, then vehicle design flexibility is improved, but mattress support evenness and user comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress employs separate inflatable chambers with individual air pressure control, allowing different sections of the mattress to be adjusted independently. This enables local adjustment of support characteristics to compensate for non-flat vehicle cargo spaces, thereby maintaining user comfort despite vehicle design flexibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an inflatable mattress has unnecessary complexity, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturability and cost deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress is constructed as modular separate chambers that can be manufactured independently and then assembled using flexible longitudinal seams. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process for each individual chamber while maintaining overall adaptability through the modular configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable mattress for use in a vehicle is disclosed and claimed. The inflatable mattress may include a removable air pump, and a first longitudinal chamber that may include a pump cavity that receives and stores the removable air pump. The pump cavity may include a first inlet that is adapted to mate with an outlet of the removable air pump within the cavity for ready inflation of the first longitudinal chamber without removal of the air pump from the cavity. The inflatable mattress may further include a second independently-inflatable longitudinal chamber having a second inlet for mating with the outlet of the removable air pump at a second inlet location that is disposed outside of the cavity.