Pillow with Removable Insert for Washable Down Hygiene

Solution Overview

Problem

Down-filled pillows become allergenic and contaminated with dust and microbes over time, reducing their lifespan and hygiene, especially when mixed with feathers, which are susceptible to breaking upon frequent washing.

Innovation Solution

A pillow design featuring a removable inner insert filled with a different material, such as feathers or synthetic fibers, that can be easily cleaned separately from the outer pillow filled with down or down-blended with feathers, maintaining hygiene and extending the pillow's lifespan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pillow is filled with down and feathers to provide softness and comfort, then the comfort and softness are improved, but the pillow becomes susceptible to contamination with dust and microbes and feathers break upon frequent washing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene and lifespanVSAvoiddust and microbial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into two separable components: an outer pillow shell filled with down and an inner removable insert filled with feathers. This segmentation allows the down-filled outer pillow to be washed for hygiene maintenance while the feather-filled inner insert remains protected from frequent washing, preventing feather breakage while reducing dust and microbial contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the pillow is washed frequently to maintain hygiene, then the cleanliness is improved, but the feathers break and the pillow lifespan is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust and microbial contaminationVSAvoidpillow lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into two separable components: an outer pillow shell filled with down and an inner removable insert filled with feathers. This segmentation allows the down-filled outer pillow to be washed for hygiene maintenance while the feather-filled inner insert remains protected from frequent washing, preventing feather breakage while reducing dust and microbial contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The feather-filled inner insert is extracted as a removable component from the down-filled outer pillow. This extraction allows the inner insert to be taken out and protected from frequent washing cycles, preventing feather breakage and extending the overall pillow lifespan while the outer pillow can be washed independently for hygiene.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the pillow uses a mixture of down and feathers to reduce cost, then the affordability is improved, but the feathers break upon frequent washing and hygiene deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost reductionVSAvoidhygiene and durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into two separable components: an outer pillow shell filled with down and an inner removable insert filled with feathers. This segmentation allows the down-filled outer pillow to be washed for hygiene maintenance while the feather-filled inner insert remains protected from frequent washing, preventing feather breakage while reducing dust and microbial contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the pillow have different washing frequencies and care requirements. The outer pillow shell filled with down is designed to be washed frequently for hygiene, while the inner insert filled with feathers is designed to be washed less frequently to prevent breakage. This local quality differentiation allows cost-effective material usage while maintaining overall hygiene and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10813480B2Pillow with a removable insert and method of manufacture thereof

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 SYSCO GUEST SUPPLY LLC

AI summary

A pillow is provided with an insert or inner pillow that is removable. Having removable insert or inner pillow enables filling of the removable inner pillow with a different filling material that is not amenable to washing. Thus the outer pillow that is in contact with a person's body and tends to accumulate dust and microbes among the fill can be washed after removal of the insert or inner pillow. The insert or inner pillow can be filled with a less expensive filling material such as synthetic fibers, viscoelastic foam, latex etc. whereas the outer pillow can have a superior quality filling material that is softer, fluffier and has better insulating properties such as down or down mixed/blended with feather, thus providing an affordable pillow with comfort and superior characteristics of down and can be laundered to maintain hygiene. The outer surface of the inner pillow may include a fluid impermeable material.