Pillow lifting system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many individuals, particularly those with temporary or permanent conditions such as bedridden patients or post-surgery recovery, face difficulties in sitting up due to the expense and impracticality of traditional mattress elevators, which are often heavy and difficult to move.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, portable torso lifting system comprising a base, pivotally coupled backrest, and actuator that can rotate from a flat lying to a vertical sitting position, with adjustable leg assemblies and armrests for stability, allowing users to easily transition from a supine to a seated position, and can be folded for storage or transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mattress elevator is used to help people sit up, then the lifting function is reliable, but the device becomes expensive and difficult to move
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress elevator is divided into separate modular components: a base unit with actuator, a backrest assembly with pillow, and attachment mechanisms. This segmentation allows the system to be disassembled and moved easily while maintaining the reliable lifting function when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable attachment mechanism serves as an intermediary between the base unit and the mattress, allowing the lifting system to be easily connected and disconnected without permanently modifying the mattress or requiring heavy integration.
2Force
If a traditional mattress elevator is used, then the lifting capability is sufficient, but the weight and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the user's own body weight and position on the mattress as part of the lifting mechanism. The actuator only needs to provide enough force to initiate and assist the sitting motion, rather than supporting the entire weight, reducing the required lifting force and overall device weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed to provide variable force throughout the sitting motion, applying maximum force during the initial lifting phase when most assistance is needed, and reducing force as the user approaches the sitting position, optimizing the lifting capability while minimizing device weight.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the backrest is designed for full range of motion, then the adaptability to various positions is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing it to move through various positions from flat to upright. The actuator controls the backrest angle, providing adaptability to different positions while using a simple linear actuation mechanism rather than complex multi-axis joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The backrest assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the pillow, acts as the attachment point for the actuator, and forms the lifting lever arm. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for used to lift the torso of a human from a supine position to a sitting position. This is a lightweight apparatus which can be easily carried and placed on a bed or other flat surface. It is placed under the torso of the subject and includes a base, back rest and actuator. The back rest is pivotally coupled to the base and the actuator is used to rotate the back rest from a flat lying position to a vertical sitting position.