Mattress with Inflatable Bladder and Valve for Compact Shipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mattresses are bulky and require specialized delivery, increasing costs and complexity due to their large size and weight, especially when featuring adjustable air bladders that need pumping or blower systems for pressure regulation.
Innovation Solution
A mattress design incorporating an inflatable bladder with open-cell foam that biases to an inflated position, a manually actuated valve for pressure regulation, and a user detection system using pressure sensors to adjust firmness based on user presence, allowing for compact shipping and storage without the need for pumps or blowers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mattresses with adjustable air bladders are used, then firmness adjustment capability is provided, but delivery cost and complexity increase due to large size and weight requiring specialized delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress transitions from a static inflated state to a dynamic deflatable state for shipping. The air bladder can be dynamically adjusted between inflated and deflated configurations, allowing the mattress to adapt its volume and weight based on whether it is in use or being transported, thereby resolving the contradiction between functionality and delivery complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the mattress (volume, weight, density) are changed by releasing air from the bladder. This parameter transformation allows the same mattress to meet different requirements: when inflated it provides firmness adjustment, when deflated it enables standard shipping without specialized delivery services
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mattresses with pumps or blowers are used for pressure regulation, then adjustable firmness is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex pump or blower systems are extracted and removed from the mattress design. Instead of using active mechanical devices to regulate pressure, the patent relies on passive user manipulation of the valve and the natural properties of the air bladder, significantly simplifying the system while maintaining adjustable firmness capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mattress system becomes self-regulating through the one-way valve mechanism. The valve automatically maintains pressure by allowing air in when the bladder deflates and preventing air escape when inflated, eliminating the need for external pumps or blowers and reducing system complexity
3Stability of the object's composition
If mattresses are shipped in inflated position, then shape and functionality are maintained, but shipping cost and storage space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress employs a dynamic configuration approach where the air bladder can transition between inflated and deflated states. During shipping, the bladder is deflated to minimize volume, and before use, it is inflated to restore the proper shape and functionality, resolving the contradiction between maintaining shape and reducing shipping volume
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
Enables compact shipping and storage of mattresses while providing adjustable firmness based on user preferences, reducing delivery costs and complexity by eliminating the need for pumps or blowers, and enhancing user comfort through automatic firmness adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
an open-cell foam material positioned inside the air bladder and configured to bias the air bladder to an inflated position when the open-cell foam material is exposed to atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 2
A user detection system can be included in the mattress, which can sense user presence, heartbeat, breathing, motion, or the like. The user detection system includes a pressure sensor fluidically connected to the air bladder for sensing pressure changes within the air bladder
Data Source
AI summary
A mattress can include one or more layers of foam material, an adjustable air layer including an air bladder, and a valve. The valve can be fluidically connected to the air bladder and configured to regulate pressure of the air bladder in response to actuation. Some embodiments can include a foam material positioned inside the air bladder.