Maternity pillow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing maternity pillows, particularly U-shaped ones, are not suitable for postpartum use, such as breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, due to their length and shape, necessitating additional nursing pillows, which increase costs and storage issues.
Innovation Solution
A maternity pillow with two interconnected sections that can transform from a U-shape to a C-shape, allowing it to be used as both a pregnancy and breastfeeding/feeding pillow, by moving the filling between internal volumes of two covers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a U-shaped maternity pillow is used during pregnancy, then it provides support and relieves the weight of the belly, but it is not suitable for postpartum breastfeeding use due to its length and shape
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is designed with a cover that can be configured in multiple shapes (U-shape for pregnancy support, C-shape for breastfeeding support) by folding different sections, allowing a single pillow to perform multiple functions that previously required separate pillows
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is divided into multiple sections that can be folded in different configurations, enabling the pillow to transform between U-shape and C-shape to suit different usage scenarios during and after pregnancy
2Ease of operation
If separate nursing pillows are purchased for postpartum use, then appropriate support for breastfeeding is achieved, but costs and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The same pillow serves both pregnancy support and breastfeeding support functions by reconfiguring the cover folds, eliminating the need to purchase and store separate nursing pillows
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pillow cover is designed to transform between U-shape and C-shape, then versatility is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into multiple sections with defined fold lines, allowing transformation between shapes through simple folding actions rather than complex mechanical mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
When not in use, the cover sections can be folded and nested within each other to maintain a compact form, managing the structural complexity by allowing the pillow to collapse into itself
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a maternity pillow (1) comprising a shell (2) and padding (3) which is contained inside the shell. The shell has a first cover (10) and a second cover (20) which each delimit an internal volume and are permanently attached to one another, the respective internal volumes of the first and second covers being in communication with each other such that the padding is movable in its entirety from one of the respective internal volumes of the first and second covers to the other in order to reversibly switch the maternity pillow between first and second use configurations. In the first use configuration, all of the padding and the second cover in its folded condition are arranged in the internal volume of the first cover, the first cover thus being U-shaped in the unfolded condition. In the second use configuration, all of the padding and the first cover in its folded condition are arranged in the internal volume of the second cover, the second cover thus being C-shaped in the unfolded condition.