Integrated Pump Deflation Port to Reduce Mattress Leaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of multiple components, such as pumps and deflation ports, into inflatable mattresses increases manufacturing costs and the likelihood of leaks due to additional gluing or welding, which complicates the deflation process.
Innovation Solution
A unified pump design with a housing that includes a blower chamber and an integrated deflation port, featuring a removably attachable cover and a valve system for airtight sealing, reduces the number of components attached to the mattress, minimizing manufacturing costs and leak risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple components (pump and deflation port) are separately glued or welded to the mattress, then the deflation function is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase and leak risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing and deflation port are merged into a single integrated component. The deflation port is formed as an integral part of the pump housing structure, eliminating the need for separate attachment of these components to the mattress. This reduces the total number of glued/welded connections and minimizes potential leak points.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple components are separately glued or welded to the mattress, then the deflation function is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump and deflation port are combined into a single molded housing component, reducing the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured, inventory managed, and assembled. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated housing serves multiple functions: it acts as the pump housing, contains the blower mechanism, and incorporates the deflation port functionality. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and simplifies the system architecture.
3Ease of operation
If the pump is integrated into the mattress with separate deflation port, then the blower function is achieved, but the number of glued/welded connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the deflation port into the pump housing, the number of separate connections required is reduced. The cover assembly with integrated deflation access requires only one main attachment to the mattress, rather than multiple separate attachments for pump and deflation port.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump assembly is segmented into removable components (housing, cover, blower mechanism) that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The cover can be removed to access the deflation port without requiring separation of multiple glued/welded connections.
Data Source
AI summary
A pump for an inflatable device includes a housing that defines a blower chamber configured to be inserted into the inflatable device. The blower chamber includes an exhaust port configured to communicate air out of the pump. The housing also defines a deflation port, which is adjacent to the blower chamber, and an attachment portion configured to make a substantially airtight seal with the surface of the inflatable device. The pump also includes a removably attachable cover configured to substantially cover the blower chamber. The cover defines an opening through which the deflation port extends, and at least one vent through which air is communicated into the pump.