Rotatable Assembly Mattress Design to Replace Noisy Air Bladders

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mattresses fail to accommodate individual preferences for firmness, as they often require manual adjustment through air bladders that can leak or are noisy, and do not adapt to changing user needs over time.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable firmness mattress system featuring rotatable assemblies with orientation-specific firmness, a bridge assembly to distribute force, and a support assembly to minimize compression, allowing for independent adjustment of firmness on each side and accommodating different user preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If air bladders are used to adjust firmness, then firmness adjustment is enabled, but the system becomes noisy and prone to leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmness adjustmentVSAvoidleak resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the air bladder system entirely and replaces it with a solid mechanical adjustment mechanism using rotatable assemblies with compressible elements. This extraction eliminates the leakage problem inherent in pneumatic systems while maintaining firmness adjustability through mechanical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the pneumatic system (air bladders and pumps) with a purely mechanical system consisting of rotatable assemblies, compressible elements, and linkages. This substitution eliminates noise from pumps and motors while providing reliable mechanical firmness adjustment through user-operated rotatable mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If air bladders are used to adjust firmness, then firmness adjustment is enabled, but the system generates noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmness adjustmentVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pneumatic system (air bladders and pumps) with a purely mechanical system consisting of rotatable assemblies, compressible elements, and linkages. This substitution eliminates noise from pumps and motors while providing reliable mechanical firmness adjustment through user-operated rotatable mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the air bladder system entirely and replaces it with a solid mechanical adjustment mechanism using rotatable assemblies with compressible elements. This extraction eliminates the leakage problem inherent in pneumatic systems while maintaining firmness adjustability through mechanical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If rotatable assemblies with orientation-specific firmness are used, then customizable firmness levels are achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmness customizationVSAvoidassembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the mattress support system into multiple discrete rotatable assemblies, each capable of independent rotation to achieve different firmness orientations. This segmentation allows localized firmness customization without requiring complex overall system redesign, as each assembly operates independently with simple rotational mechanics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs rotatable assemblies that can dynamically change orientation to adjust firmness characteristics. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the mattress to adapt to different user preferences and positions without requiring multiple static mattress layers or complex mechanical linkages, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides customizable firmness levels, reducing noise and maintenance issues, and adapts to changing user needs by allowing rotation of compressible elements to alter firmness, enhancing comfort and support.

Implementation Method 1

a roller assembly attached to and configured to rotate one or more compressible elements that have an orientation-specific firmness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

The firmness of the mattress refers to the deflection properties of the mattress as force is applied to the top surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression and elastic deflection: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12256845B2Adjustable firmness mattress system

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 HAARSTAD INNOVATIVE SYST LLC

AI summary

Apparatuses, components, devices, methods, and systems for an adjustable firmness mattress are provided. An example rectangular shaped adjustable firmness mattress extends lengthwise from a head end to a foot end, widthwise from a first side to a second side, and depth-wise from a top side to a bottom side. The example mattress may include an adjustable firmness support layer disposed between the bottom side of the mattress and the top side of the mattress. The adjustable firmness support layer may include at least one rotatable assembly having an orientation-specific firmness, a bridge assembly disposed between the at least one rotatable assembly and the top side of the mattress; and a support assembly disposed between the at least one rotatable assembly and the bottom side of the mattress.