Micro-adjustment of cushions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pillows and mattresses fail to maintain neutral spinal alignment during sleep, leading to disrupted cerebrospinal fluid flow and inadequate toxin removal, which can result in poor sleep quality and increased risk of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, due to their inability to dynamically adjust to individual body types and sleep positions over time.
Innovation Solution
A volume-adjustable cover system for cushions, featuring a pliable body with gathering elements that allow incremental adjustments in length and volume, preventing migration of cushioning materials and maintaining optimal support and comfort by molding to the shape of the body without introducing noticeable tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional pillows and mattresses are used, then basic cushioning is provided, but they fail to maintain neutral spinal alignment and cannot dynamically adjust to individual body types and sleep positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the pillow cover adjustable in volume through gathering elements (zippers, drawstrings, or elastic bands) that allow users to modify the cover's circumference. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the pillow to adapt to different body types, sleep positions, and stages of infill material decomposition over time, thereby maintaining reliable spinal alignment support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing modification of the cover's volumetric parameters (circumference and volume) through the gathering elements. Users can adjust these parameters to match their specific needs, and the system can accommodate changes in infill material properties over time, ensuring continued effectiveness in maintaining spinal alignment.
2Reliability
If infill material is placed in the pillow, then cushioning support is provided, but the infill material migrates away from the supported object over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by providing adjustable gathering elements that allow the cover to be tightened around the infill material. This dynamic adjustment mechanism compensates for the natural migration and settling of infill material over time, maintaining the pillow's supportive properties and preventing loss of cushioning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the adjustable gathering elements that allow users to monitor and respond to changes in pillow firmness and shape. As infill material migrates or decomposes, users can adjust the gathering elements to restore the desired pillow characteristics, creating a feedback loop that maintains reliable support.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pillow cover is made tight to prevent infill migration, then material stability is improved, but tension is introduced that affects the pillow's ability to support the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by providing adjustable gathering elements that allow the cover tension to be modified. Users can tighten the cover sufficiently to prevent infill migration while avoiding excessive tension that would compromise the pillow's ability to conform to and support the body. The adjustability enables optimization of the tension level for each user's specific needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for adjusting a cushioning element, such as a pillow, by adjusting a length and a volume of a cover of the pillow. The cover includes one or more gathering elements that can alter the length and the volume of the cover. Each gathering element may extend around an end of the cover. 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). Micro-adjustment of the length and volume of the cover may enable adjustment of a position and/or an orientation of at least one endpoint of a closed kinematic chain of an individual's spine, which may provide control over a curvature of the spine.