System for supporting the human body, or a human body segment, provided with an improved cushioning arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support systems for the human body lack the ability to provide regions with varying stiffnesses, limiting their ability to offer optimal support and comfort tailored to individual morphology, as they are typically made of uniform materials and designs.
Innovation Solution
A modular support system with a covering lining featuring removable pockets that can be filled with elements of different stiffnesses, allowing for customizable cushioning arrangements adapted to specific body segments and user needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform material and design are used for all modules, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the ability to provide differentiated support and comfort for different body segments is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning is divided into multiple independent pockets that can be separately filled with different filling elements. Each pocket corresponds to a specific body segment and can be customized independently, allowing differentiated support while maintaining a standardized modular structure for ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
Different filling elements with varying stiffness, density, and material properties are inserted into specific pockets based on the local requirements of different body segments. This allows each region to have optimized properties tailored to its specific support and comfort needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular structure with interchangeable modules is used, then adaptability to specific morphology is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into modular pockets that can be independently configured and assembled. Each pocket is a standardized module that can be combined in different arrangements to adapt to various body morphologies, reducing the complexity of designing entirely custom modules for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines standardized modular pockets with variable filling elements (different materials, densities, and stiffnesses) to create customized composite cushioning structures. This allows adaptability through material variation rather than structural redesign.
3Reliability
If regions with different stiffnesses are provided, then support and comfort are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning is segmented into multiple pockets that can be independently filled with different filling elements having different stiffnesses. This segmentation allows varied stiffness regions to be created through simple insertion of different materials rather than complex multi-material manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Different filling elements with specific stiffness properties are selectively placed in specific pockets based on the local support requirements of different body segments. This enables localized variation in stiffness without requiring the entire cushioning structure to be manufactured with complex variable properties.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a support system (1) for the human body, or a human body segment, which system comprises a covering lining (3) in which a plurality of pockets (5a-5d) are defined in which there are inserted one or more filling elements (7, 9) forming together a cushioning arrangement of the support system. Advantageously, the invention allows inserting filling elements (7, 9) with different physical properties, for example different stiffnesses, into different pockets (5a-5d) of the covering lining. It is also possible to provide that said pockets be independent of one another and removably connected to one another, so that they can be combined with one another in the way that best adapts to the specific morphology of a single user. Said support system can be made, for example, in the form a cushion, a seat, a backrest, a mattress or with any other shape that may be desired.