Multi-Zone Foam Padding with Absorber and Band for Sustained Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mattress foams fail to provide both instant and long-lasting cooling, as existing solutions either do not work effectively or come with drawbacks such as high costs, noise, or limited thermal energy transfer.
Innovation Solution
A foam padding design with an upper section containing an electrically conducting absorber for instant cooling and a lower section with a flexible, electrically conducting band for long-lasting cooling, where thermal energy is transferred from areas of excess heat to areas of lower heat, primarily at the edges of the mattress, utilizing graphite or other high thermal conductivity materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If phase change materials are used in the upper section of the mattress, then instant cooling effect is achieved, but the cooling duration is limited and the material melts after absorbing only up to 9 kJ/kg of thermal energy
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress is divided into two functional sections: an upper section containing phase change materials for instant cooling and a lower section with copper layers for long-term thermal energy transport. This segmentation allows each section to specialize in a different aspect of cooling, resolving the contradiction between instant cooling duration and long-term cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The copper layers act as an intermediary between the phase change materials and the environment. They transport thermal energy away from the melting phase change material, extending the cooling duration by continuously removing heat from the system even after the phase change material has melted.
2Duration of action of moving object
If copper layers are added to extend cooling duration, then long-lasting cooling is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The copper layers serve multiple functions: they transport thermal energy, provide structural support, and can be integrated into the existing mattress layers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the extended cooling duration.
3Temperature
If thermal conducting materials are blended into foam or channels are cut into foam, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of blending thermal conducting materials into the foam matrix or cutting channels (which would complicate manufacturing), the invention extracts the thermal management function into separate, discrete copper layers that are placed within the mattress structure. This approach maintains cooling effectiveness while simplifying manufacturing processes.
4Temperature
If air conditioners or ventilators are used for cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the system becomes expensive and noisy
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress cooling system is self-service, utilizing the body's own heat and the natural thermal properties of phase change materials and copper layers to provide cooling without requiring external power sources, air conditioners, or ventilators. This eliminates noise and reduces operational costs.
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 achieves both instant and sustained cooling by efficiently managing thermal energy flow, maintaining comfort without energy consumption or noise, and outperforming conventional foams in temperature regulation throughout extended use.
Implementation Method 1
At least one absorber is embedded in the upper section. The absorber can absorb the thermal energy from the upper section.
Implementation Method 2
The band is configured for transferring the thermal energy within the lower section from a sub-section with the excess thermal energy to at least one sub-section without the excess thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
A foam padding has at least one upper section and at least one lower section. The foam padding comprises at least one absorber that is embedded in the upper section, the at least one absorber for absorbing thermal energy from the upper section. The foam padding further comprises at least one band that is embedded in the lower section, the at least one band for transferring thermal energy within the lower section.