Pillow Cover Neck Support With Adjustable Retention Pocket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pillows lack adjustability in height and stiffness, making them uncomfortable for individual neck support, and are often too bulky for travel, failing to meet personal style and portability needs.
Innovation Solution
A pillow cover with a neck support system featuring a removable and adjustable retention pocket and interchangeable neck supporting elements, including an inflatable bag, allowing for customizable stiffness and portability by accommodating various pillow types and fillings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a memory foam pillow is used to automatically adjust shape to fit the user's head, then the pillow provides flexible shape adjustment and comfort, but the pillow becomes too heavy and bulky for travel
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow system is divided into two separate components: a reusable pillow cover with integrated neck support structure and a removable pillow insert. This segmentation allows the user to carry only the lightweight cover when traveling, while leaving the heavy memory foam insert at home or in the hotel room.
Solution Approach 2:
The heavy memory foam material is extracted from the pillow cover and placed in a separate removable insert. The cover itself becomes a lightweight shell that can be easily carried, while the dense supporting material remains stationary.
2Device complexity
If a traditional pillow with fixed filler is used, then the pillow structure is simple, but the pillow cannot be selectively adjusted for height and stiffness to fit individual needs
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow insert is designed to be removable and replaceable, allowing the user to dynamically adjust the pillow's characteristics by swapping inserts with different filling materials, heights, or stiffness levels according to different sleeping needs or preferences.
Solution Approach 2:
The user can change the physical parameters of the pillow (height, stiffness, volume) by replacing the insert with different filling amounts or types, while the cover structure remains simple and unchanged.
3Ease of manufacture
If a pillow cover is used to cover the pillow, then the appearance can be changed and the pillow remains clean, but the pillow cover cannot provide substantial neck support
Solution Approach 1:
The neck support function is merged into the pillow cover design through an integrated retention pocket structure that holds a neck supporting element. This combines the protective/ aesthetic function of the cover with the supportive function previously provided only by the pillow insert.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow cover is designed to perform multiple functions: protecting the pillow insert, providing aesthetic appearance, and delivering neck support through the integrated retention pocket and supporting element.
4Ease of operation
If an adjustable pillow is used to allow height and position adjustment, then the user can achieve comfortable sleeping position, but the pillow becomes bulky and difficult to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into two parts: the lightweight pillow cover with retention pocket that provides the adjustment framework, and the removable insert that contains the actual filling material. The cover can be carried alone without the bulky insert.
Data Source
AI summary
A pillow cover includes a pillow casing and a neck support provided thereon. A neck support includes an elongated retention pocket and a neck supporting element received in the retention pocket therewithin. The user is able to use his or her own pillow to incorporate with the pillow cover such that when the user sleeps in a bed by using his or her own pillow for head support in a comfortable way, the neck support of the pillow cover provides a substantial neck support to keep the neck of the user in alignment with the spine while sleeping.