Pocket Spring Pillow Structure for Airflow and Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pillows either lack airflow and resilience due to random fiber or foam orientations, leading to overheating and flattening, or restrict airflow and provide inadequate pressure relief with uniform foam layers.
Innovation Solution
A pillow design featuring passive air channels and uniform blocks of foam engaged with pocket coil springs, along with a matrix of positive displacement air pumps for active airflow, to maintain consistent resilience and reduce localized pressure points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If random fiberfill or foam blocks are used for pillow construction, then airflow and moldability are improved, but resilience and structural consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into multiple independent foam blocks arranged in a grid pattern, each block maintaining its own structural integrity while collectively providing consistent support. This segmentation allows airflow between blocks while preventing the random orientation problems of fiberfill.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pillow use different foam block configurations - the head support area uses uniform blocks for consistency, while the neck area uses contoured blocks for localized pressure relief. This allows different zones to optimize for their specific functions.
2Reliability
If uniform sheet foam layers are used for pillow construction, then resilience and structural consistency are improved, but airflow and pressure relief capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous sheet foam is segmented into discrete blocks with gaps between them, creating channels for airflow while maintaining the structural consistency of foam material. This resolves the contradiction by keeping foam's reliable properties while adding cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow structure incorporates intentional void spaces between foam blocks, creating a porous architecture that allows air circulation. The foam blocks themselves maintain their closed-cell structure for consistency, while the macro-porosity provides airflow paths.
3Adaptability or versatility
If random orientation of filling material is used, then moldability and spot pressure reduction are improved, but predictability and flattening resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Specific foam blocks are contoured to match particular anatomical features (e.g., cervical curve blocks for the neck, contour blocks for the head), providing localized adaptability without requiring random orientation throughout the entire pillow.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam blocks are designed to be slightly compressible and reconfigurable under load, allowing them to adapt to sleeping position while maintaining their overall structured arrangement. This provides dynamic adaptability within a stable framework.
4Adaptability or versatility
If hybrid construction with solid foam center and random fiberfill is used, then both advantages are partially achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The entire pillow uses uniform foam block construction throughout, eliminating the need for hybrid materials. This homogeneous approach simplifies manufacturing while achieving both support consistency and airflow through the block configuration rather than material diversity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a pillow comprising a plurality of pocket spring units. Each of the pocket spring units comprise a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side portion. The pillow further comprises an attachment layer comprising a top portion comprising an upper surface and a lower surface. The pillow further comprises a plurality of first cushion elements engaged with the upper surface of the top portion of the attachment layer. The bottom surface of the top portion of the attachment element being engaged with the top portion of the plurality of pocket springs units such that each of the first cushion elements act only upon one of the pocket spring units.