Heated Massage Pillow Fluid Jet Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for spa designs and accessories that enhance user comfort by providing both support for the head and neck while also offering warmth and massage through fluid expelled from jets in fluid-containing vessels.
Innovation Solution
A massage pillow with a cushion and retainer assembly is designed to be positioned over fluid jets, allowing fluid to pass into the pillow, providing massage and warmth, and is securely mounted to the vessel's wall using a retainer assembly that aligns with the jet, ensuring fluid expulsion into the pillow's interior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional headrest or pillow is used in a spa, then it provides support for the head and neck, but it does not provide warmth or massage therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a traditional headrest structure with a fluid-containing bladder system into a single integrated unit. The bladder is positioned within the headrest to receive pressurized fluid from spa jets, enabling the device to provide both mechanical support and hydrotherapeutic massage/warmth functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural support for the head and neck, contains a fluid bladder that receives pressurized fluid for massage therapy, and can be removed and cleaned separately. This multi-functionality allows a single device to serve both ergonomic and therapeutic purposes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a headrest is designed to allow fluid flow through it for massage, then it provides warmth and massage therapy, but it may compromise the structural support function
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is divided into distinct functional components: a rigid outer shell or frame that provides structural support, and an internal fluid-containing bladder that provides hydrotherapeutic function. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible bladder made of suitable material that can contain and distribute pressurized fluid while conforming to the user's head and neck contours. The flexible nature of the bladder allows it to provide gentle pressure for massage without compromising the overall structural integrity provided by the outer shell.
3Ease of operation
If a headrest is made removable for easy cleaning and installation, then it improves ease of operation, but it may reduce reliability of mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the headrest to be easily installed and removed from the spa seat. The mounting mechanism includes features that ensure secure attachment during use while enabling simple removal for cleaning, balancing ease of operation with reliable mounting.
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 enhanced comfort and therapeutic effects by offering a soft pulsing and vibration massage sensation, adjustable intensity, and warmth, while maintaining support for the head and neck, even without fluid flow, and can be easily installed and removed as a post-manufacture accessory.
Implementation Method 1
fluid expelled from the at least one jet passes into the interior of the cushion, so that the pillow provides at least massage and/or warmth due to the expelled fluid
Implementation Method 2
the cushion includes a front surface, a rear surface, and side surfaces extending between the front surface and the rear surface
Data Source
AI summary
A massage pillow configured to be positioned over a fluid jet includes a cushion and a retaining assembly. The cushion includes a front surface, a rear surface, and side surfaces extending there between. The rear surface includes an annular edge defining an opening providing access to an interior of the cushion sized to at least partially cover the jet. The retainer assembly includes an opening configured to align with the jet and a peripheral edge configured to retain the annular edge of the cushion. The retainer assembly is configured to be removably fixed to a wall surrounding the jet with the jet aligned with the opening of the retainer assembly and the opening of the cushion, such that fluid expelled from the jet passes into the interior of the cushion, so that the pillow provides massage and/or warmth due to the expelled fluid.