Multi-Zone Pillow Design for Side, Back, and Stomach Sleeper Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pillows do not adequately support multiple sleep positions, as side, back, and stomach sleepers require different pillow heights for proper neck alignment, and existing pillows are not universal enough to accommodate various sleep preferences.

Innovation Solution

A universal pillow with a curved top surface divided into distinct zones for side, back, and stomach sleepers, featuring different thicknesses and materials to provide appropriate support and comfort for each position, including the option for adjustable inserts to customize height and material distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a pillow is designed with a specific height for one sleep position, then it provides proper neck alignment for that position, but it fails to accommodate other sleep positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of multiple sleep positionsVSAvoidpillow structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into multiple zones with different thicknesses: a first zone for side sleepers, a second zone for back sleepers, and a third zone for stomach sleepers. Each zone is positioned to correspond to different head positions, allowing the pillow to adapt to multiple sleep positions while maintaining proper neck alignment for each.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the pillow have different thicknesses and material properties tailored to specific sleep positions. The first zone has greater thickness for side sleepers, while the second and third zones have reduced thickness for back and stomach sleepers respectively, providing locally optimized support for each sleep position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If a pillow uses uniform thickness throughout, then it is simple in structure, but it cannot provide proper support for different sleep positions requiring different heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for multiple sleep positionsVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow construction is segmented into distinct zones with varying thicknesses, where each zone is tailored for a specific sleep position. This segmentation allows the pillow to provide appropriate support for side, back, and stomach sleepers while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pillow employs nested structures where inner components are positioned within outer layers, allowing different thickness zones to be constructed by nesting smaller pillow sections or inserts within a larger pillow shell. This approach achieves variable thickness profiles while simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10806282B2Universal pillow

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 HOMTEX INC

AI summary

A universal pillow for seating on a base surface includes a top surface having a negative parabolic shape or a convex shape relative to the base surface and a bottom surface having a concave shape relative to the base surface. The pillow includes up to five zones I-V, with a center zone I being designed for side sleepers, the two adjacent zones II, III being designed for back sleepers, and the two adjacent, outer zones IV, V being designed for stomach sleepers. The pillow may have different sections and parts in order to vary the feel of the pillow.