Multi-Chamber Inflatable Mattress With Single-Valve Air Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional inflatable mattresses with multiple air chambers often require separate valves for inflation and deflation, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, and lack adequate stability and user security features.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber inflatable mattress design featuring a main air chamber, upper and lower peripheral air chambers, and an upper air chamber, where the main air chamber is directly inflatable via a single valve, and the peripheral and upper air chambers are in secondary and tertiary fluid communication respectively, providing stability and user security through internal tensioning structures and fluid communication apertures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple separate valves are used for each air chamber, then each chamber can be independently controlled, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to multiple valves being cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple air chambers (main chamber, upper peripheral chamber, and upper air chamber) into a single integrated inflatable structure with one inflation valve. The chambers are interconnected through internal fluid communication passages, allowing a single valve to control inflation of all chambers simultaneously, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining structural functionality.
2Productivity
If air chambers are in direct fluid communication with the valve, then inflation is efficient, but stability and user security deteriorate without peripheral support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the internal structure into distinct air chambers (main chamber, upper peripheral chamber, upper air chamber) with specific functions. The upper peripheral chamber is positioned at the periphery to provide stability and support, while the upper air chamber provides the sleeping surface. This segmentation allows each chamber to serve its specific function while maintaining overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate fluid communication passages that connect the main air chamber to the upper peripheral chamber and upper air chamber. These intermediary passages allow controlled fluid flow between chambers, enabling the peripheral chamber to provide structural support while the upper chamber provides a comfortable sleeping surface, thus mediating between inflation efficiency and stability requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If peripheral air chambers are added for stability, then user security improves, but device complexity increases due to additional chambers and fluid communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the upper peripheral air chamber to serve multiple functions: it provides structural stability and support at the periphery, creates a ridge-like structure for user security and comfort, and maintains fluid communication with the main chamber for coordinated inflation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate stabilizing structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 design allows for efficient inflation and deflation via a single valve while enhancing stability and user security with a ridge-like structure around the sleeping surface, preventing rolling or buckling and providing a comfortable, flat sleeping surface.
Implementation Method 1
The main air chamber receives pressurized fluid directly from a valve
Implementation Method 2
the lower and upper peripheral air chambers are in direct fluid communication with the main air chamber
Implementation Method 3
The upper air chamber is in direct fluid communication with the upper peripheral air chamber
Implementation Method 4
The main air chamber includes internal tensioning structures which cooperate with a bottom mattress panel and a lower intermediate panel to provide a generally box-shaped, mattress-sized inflatable structure upon pressurization
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-chamber inflatable mattress includes a main air chamber, upper and lower peripheral air chambers, and an upper air chamber. The main air chamber includes internal tensioning structures which cooperate with a bottom mattress panel and a lower intermediate panel to provide a generally box-shaped, mattress-sized inflatable structure upon pressurization. A second, upper intermediate panel cooperates with a top mattress panel to define an upper air chamber which defines the sleeping surface. The main air chamber receives pressurized fluid directly from a valve, while the lower and upper peripheral air chambers are in direct fluid communication with the main air chamber but not the valve. The upper air chamber is in direct fluid communication with the upper peripheral air chamber, but not the main chamber or valve.