Micro-adjustable covers for cushions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pillows and mattresses fail to maintain neutral spinal alignment during sleep, leading to restricted cerebrospinal fluid flow and inadequate toxin removal, which can disrupt sleep quality and increase the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Innovation Solution
A volume-adjustable cover system for cushions that allows for precise adjustment of the cushioning element's length and volume, preventing migration of infill materials and maintaining optimal support and loft, thereby ensuring neutral spinal alignment and efficient cerebrospinal fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional pillows and mattresses are used, then basic cushioning support is provided, but neutral spinal alignment cannot be maintained and cerebrospinal fluid flow is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a volume-adjustable cover that can dynamically change its internal volume to adapt to different spinal alignment requirements. The cover includes an adjustable volume mechanism that allows the cushioning element to be compressed or expanded, enabling the pillow to maintain neutral spinal alignment in various sleeping positions while managing infill material migration through controlled volume changes.
2Quantity of substance
If the cushioning element volume is increased to support larger body types, then support capability is improved, but infill material migration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cushioning element into multiple compartments or sections within the cover. This segmentation prevents infill material migration by creating separate chambers that contain the infill material, allowing each section to maintain its volume and support capacity independently while preventing material from moving to areas where it is not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable volume mechanism allows the cover to dynamically adjust its internal volume to match the required support capacity. When volume is increased for larger body types, the adjustment is done in a controlled manner that maintains infill material position stability through the segmentation and controlled compression/expansion mechanism.
3Shape
If the pillow loft is increased to elevate the head, then spinal alignment is improved, but the pillow becomes less comfortable and more firm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different local qualities within the pillow structure. The volume-adjustable cover allows different regions of the pillow to have different firmness and loft characteristics. The adjustable mechanism enables localized compression or expansion to achieve the desired loft height for spinal alignment while maintaining comfort in the areas that contact the body, rather than uniformly increasing firmness throughout the entire pillow.
Data Source
AI summary
A cover for a cushioning element, such as a pillow, volume adjustable. The cover includes one or more gathering elements that can alter a length and a volume of the cover. Each gathering element may extend around an end of the cover (e.g., circumferentially, helically around a circumference of the cover, etc.). Each gathering element may enable adjustment of the length and volume of the cover in extremely small increments or even continuously (i.e., in micro adjustments). The length and volume of the cover may be adjusted in a manner that limits or prevents migration of a cushioning element (e.g., an infill material, etc.) within the cover. A cushion, such as a pillow, may include a volume-adjustable cover with a cushioning element therein. Methods for adjusting the manner in which a cushioning element supports, molds around, underfills, and/or backfills a load and its form are also disclosed.