Inflatable Neck Pillow With Ear-Covering Headrests for Noise Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing travel pillows fail to maintain a fully relaxed head position, especially near airplane windows, and do not effectively mitigate unwanted noise that can keep users awake.
Innovation Solution
A U-shaped pillow with inflatable headrests that deform to accommodate the user's head, providing firm ear coverage and maintaining an upright position, and featuring independently inflatable and fluidly connected headrests that can be adjusted for optimal pressure and attachment via hook and loop fastening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing travel pillows are used with a U-shaped configuration, then the pillow can be retained around the neck, but it is not easy to rest the head in a fully relaxed position
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into a U-shaped body and separate inflatable headrest portions. The headrest can be segmented into different sections that can be independently inflated to provide support where needed, allowing the head to rest in a fully relaxed position without compromising the overall simple U-shaped structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest incorporates inflatable portions that can be dynamically adjusted in firmness and volume. This dynamic element allows the headrest to adapt to different head positions and user preferences, enabling a fully relaxed head position while maintaining structural support.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing travel pillows are used, then the pillow provides basic neck support, but it does not mitigate against unwanted noise that might keep a user awake
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is nested within or integrated with the U-shaped body of the pillow. The inflatable headrest portions can be positioned to cover the ears while being contained within the overall pillow structure, providing noise mitigation without adding external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable headrest serves multiple functions: providing head support, covering ears for noise mitigation, and offering customizable firmness. This multi-functionality addresses noise concerns while maintaining a simple integrated pillow design.
3Reliability
If the headrest is made firmly to maintain upright position, then ear coverage is maintained, but the pillow becomes less adaptable to different users
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest uses inflatable portions that can be dynamically adjusted in firmness and volume. Users can inflate or deflate the headrest to achieve the desired balance between maintaining upright position for ear coverage and adapting to different head sizes and preferences.
Solution Approach 2:
The firmness and volume parameters of the headrest can be changed by adjusting the inflation level. This allows the same pillow structure to adapt to different users and different situations, maintaining reliable ear coverage when needed while providing comfort for various head types.
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 pillow effectively maintains the user's head in a substantially upright position, blocking ambient noise and allowing for customizable use, enhancing sleep quality during long haul flights.
Implementation Method 1
the inflated headrests must deform to accommodate the user's head. In particular the lower parts of the headrests are deformed by the jaw of a user. This in turn pressurizes the upper part of each headrest
Implementation Method 2
This in turn pressurizes the upper part of each headrest such that each headrest is held firmly against each side of a user's head
Implementation Method 3
The U-shaped body comprises a covering at least partly made of a material that acts as one half of hook and loop fastening
Data Source
AI summary
A pillow comprises a substantially U-shaped body defining a recess adapted to house the neck of a user. The U-shaped body has a rear portion and first and second side portions that define a rear wall and first and second side walls of the recess and define a shoulder-contacting base and an upper surface. The pillow has a first inflatable headrest having a lower part housed in the recess adjacent the first side wall of the recess and a second inflatable headrest having a lower part housed in the recess adjacent the second side wall of the recess. The first and second inflatable headrests are each alterable between a first configuration wherein they are deflated and a second configuration wherein they are inflated such that respective upper parts of the headrests extend upwardly from the recess so as to cover respective ears of a user.