mattress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflatable and foam mattresses face challenges in providing consistent pressure relief when the underlying mattress support frame moves, causing stress and compression that affects their ability to support individuals effectively, especially when transitioning from a recumbent to a seated position.
Innovation Solution
A mattress design featuring a polyurethane cover enclosing an inflatable bladder with a one-way valve and a frame with intersecting channels on its surface, allowing the mattress to flex and conform to underlying frame movements while maintaining pressure relief and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mattress support frame moves to enable position transitions, then the mattress can adapt to different user positions, but the mattress bends and twists causing stress and compression that reduces pressure relief effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress is divided into multiple independent inflatable bladders arranged in a grid pattern. Each bladder can independently deform, expand, or contract without affecting adjacent bladders, allowing the mattress to accommodate frame movements and position changes while maintaining consistent pressure distribution across the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The mattress uses an inflatable bladder system that can dynamically adjust its firmness and shape by controlling air pressure in each bladder. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the mattress to adapt to different user positions and frame movements while maintaining optimal pressure relief characteristics throughout the mattress surface.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the mattress is made rigid to maintain support, then structural stability is improved, but the mattress cannot flex and conform to frame movements
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress structure is segmented into multiple modular bladders that can independently deform. This segmentation allows individual bladders to flex and conform to frame movements while the overall mattress structure maintains stability through the distributed bladder array and supporting frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The mattress uses flexible inflatable bladder elements enclosed in durable covers. These flexible shells can bend, twist, and deform to accommodate frame movements while maintaining internal air pressure to provide structural support and stability to the mattress overall.
3Reliability
If the mattress uses foam material to provide support, then pressure relief is achieved, but the mattress cannot be easily reconfigured and maintains constant shape
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress replaces traditional foam with an inflatable pneumatic bladder system. By controlling air pressure in each bladder independently, the mattress can dynamically adjust its shape, firmness, and pressure distribution to provide pressure relief while being easily reconfigured for different user positions and requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mattress uses adjustable air pressure parameters in each bladder to control firmness and shape. By changing the pressure parameter in individual bladders, the mattress can adapt to different user needs, positions, and body weights while maintaining pressure relief effectiveness, unlike fixed-foam mattresses with constant properties.
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 design enables the mattress to effectively reduce pressure sores by maintaining suitable support and pressure relief across all regions, even when the underlying frame moves, ensuring comfort and safety for individuals in prolonged recumbent or seated positions.
Implementation Method 1
The bladder may further comprise an inflation inlet, which may be provided with a one-way valve, for limiting the flow of a fluid, such as air, into the bladder during inflation thereof
Implementation Method 2
The bladder may further comprise a pressure relief cap, which is removably insertable within the inflation inlet, to cause the valve to open to release air from within the bladder for deflating the bladder
Implementation Method 3
The side members and end members are rigidly coupled to the base, preferably upon the upper surface thereof, via an adhesive or bonding agent for example
Data Source
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AI summary
A mattress is disclosed. The mattress comprises a base having a lower surface and an upper surface, and a frame which extends around at least a portion of a periphery of the base. The frame extends above the upper surface of the base to define a mattress cavity, for receiving an inflatable bladder disposed in the cavity.