Knee Sleeve Cushion Design for Side-Sleeper Leg Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side sleepers often experience misalignment between their legs and back, which can lead to discomfort and stiffness, and conventional solutions like pillows are ineffective in maintaining alignment during position changes or movement, disrupting sleep patterns.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve with a compressible padding compartment is worn on the knee, ensuring consistent alignment by positioning the padding between the knees, adjustable for optimal alignment and comfort, using flexible and stretchable materials with various attachment mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pillow is placed between the legs to maintain alignment, then leg and back alignment is improved, but the pillow falls out when the sleeper changes positions or moves, causing disruption to sleep patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the alignment function with the sleepwear itself by integrating a compartment into a sleeve that is worn on the knee. The compartment contains padding that maintains leg alignment while the sleeve remains securely attached to the body during sleep movements, eliminating the problem of the pillow falling out and disrupting sleep.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is designed with elastic properties allowing it to stretch and move with the body during sleep position changes while maintaining secure attachment. The compartment within the sleeve dynamically adjusts with body movements, ensuring the padding remains in position between the knees without requiring the sleeper to readjust or preventing sleep disruptions.
2Manufacturing precision
If a rigid structure is used to maintain consistent distance between knees, then alignment precision is improved, but comfort and adaptability to position changes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a flexible sleeve made of elastic material that can stretch and conform to body movements. The sleeve contains a compartment with padding that maintains consistent distance between knees through its structured design, while the flexible nature of the sleeve itself allows adaptability to position changes and comfortable wear during sleep.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve material properties are designed to change with body movements - the elastic fabric stretches when the leg moves and returns to its original form, maintaining the alignment function. The padding within the compartment provides structural support for consistent spacing while the overall system adapts to different sleep positions through the flexible sleeve's deformation capabilities.
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 solution provides consistent alignment of legs and back, promoting restful sleep and reducing stiffness, allowing users to change positions without disturbing the padding, thus enhancing overall sleep quality.
Implementation Method 1
compressible padding enclosed within the compartment such that the compressible padding is configured to positioned between a user's knees when they sleep on their side
Implementation Method 2
The sleeve is a tube of material configured to compress on the knee of the user such that the compartment will stay in position relative to the knee and the compressible padding will stay between the knees of the user
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a sleeve configured to be worn on a knee of a user and a compartment coupled to the sleeve. The includes an upper opening and lower opening. The compartment is configured to be located on an inside of the knee when the sleeve is worn such that the compartment is positioned between the knees of the user. The upper opening is positioned above the knee of the user and the lower opening is positioned below the knee of the user. The apparatus further includes a compressible padding enclosed within the compartment such that the compressible padding is configured to positioned between a user’s knees when they sleep on their side. The compressible padding separates the legs of the user to align the legs and back of the user when they sleep on their side.