Multi-Compartment Adjustable Pillow for Customizable Neck Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ergonomic pillows, such as those made of visco-elastic foam, fail to provide adequate neck support for all users due to varying body sizes and sleeping positions, and often lack sufficient firmness in the neck region, leading to discomfort and strain.

Innovation Solution

A pillow design featuring a cover with multiple adjacent compartments that can be adjusted by internal and external fasteners, allowing the distribution of filler material between compartments to customize the height and support, ensuring proper alignment of the cervical curve and spine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pre-formed visco-elastic pillow is used, then the pillow provides improved support for a user's head and neck, but the pillow will not provide adequate neck support for all users in all sleeping positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneck support adequacyVSAvoidadaptability to different users and sleeping positions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into multiple independent compartments that can be separately filled or emptied. This segmentation allows the pillow to be customized for different users and sleeping positions by adjusting the filler distribution in each compartment, thereby providing adequate neck support across various scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pillow incorporates adjustable compartments with fasteners that allow users to dynamically modify the pillow's structure and filler distribution. This dynamic adjustability enables the pillow to adapt to different users and sleeping positions, resolving the limitation of fixed pre-formed pillows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If visco-elastic foam molds to the individual, then the pillow conforms to the user's shape, but the support in the neck region may not be sufficiently firm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformity to user shapeVSAvoidfirmness of neck support

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Different compartments of the pillow can be filled with different amounts or types of filler materials to create local variations in firmness. The neck region can be specifically reinforced with firmer filler while other areas remain softer for comfort, thus providing both conformity and sufficient firmness in the neck region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If an adjustable pillow with multiple compartments is provided, then the pillow can be customized to suit individual needs, but the pillow structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomizability of neck supportVSAvoidcomplexity of pillow structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pillow includes accessible fasteners that allow users to easily adjust the filler distribution themselves without requiring professional assistance. This self-service capability simplifies the customization process despite the multi-compartment structure, making the complex adjustable features user-friendly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If the pillow allows easy adjustment while lying down, then the user can quickly modify neck support, but the fastening mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of adjustment during sleepVSAvoidcomplexity of fastening mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pillow uses simple mechanical fasteners such as zippers, hooks, or Velcro instead of complex locking mechanisms. These substituted mechanical systems provide easy adjustment capability while minimizing structural complexity, allowing users to modify the pillow quickly even when lying down.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10321776B2Adjustable pillow and methods of making and using same

Publication Date: 2019.06.18 COZY LINES INC

AI summary

A pillow allowing adjustment of the height, thereby minimizing neck muscles' strain and improving efficiency and quality of sleep is disclosed. The disclosed pillow contains a number of various compartments that are in communication with each other to allow adjustment of the height by the user.