Sealed Bedding Vent Filtration Against Strikethrough and Bursting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infection control bedding products, such as pillows and mattresses, face challenges with 'strikethrough' where contaminants penetrate, leading to cross-infection risks, and lack adequate ventilation, resulting in discomfort and potential bursting under pressure.
Innovation Solution
A hermetically sealed infection control bedding product with a venting system using a filter membrane that combines a strengthening layer with a hydrophobic or oleophobic thermoplastic non-woven material, allowing air flow while preventing liquid and microbial particles, and is bonded to the cover to ensure a sealed and impermeable seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hermetically sealed cover is used to prevent strikethrough, then protection against liquid and microbial ingress is improved, but ventilation is insufficient leading to discomfort and potential bursting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a microporous membrane in the vent means that allows air molecules to pass through while blocking larger microbial particles and liquids. The membrane has controlled pore sizes that enable selective permeability - permitting ventilation while maintaining protection against strikethrough, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing and ventilation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent means comprises a composite structure combining a microporous membrane with a strengthening layer. This composite material provides both the filtration capability of the membrane and the mechanical strength needed to withstand pressure, allowing the product to maintain hermetic sealing while providing adequate ventilation without bursting.
2Ease of operation
If a vent opening is provided for ventilation, then air flow is improved, but liquid and microbial particles can penetrate through the vent
Solution Approach 1:
The microporous membrane in the vent means has carefully controlled pore sizes that allow air molecules to pass through for ventilation while being small enough to block larger microbial particles and liquid droplets. This resolves the contradiction by enabling air flow while preventing harmful factors from penetrating through the vent.
3Reliability
If the cover is made completely sealed to prevent infection, then protection against cross-infection is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to lack of ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The microporous membrane enables the vent to maintain infection control by blocking microbial particles while allowing air flow for ventilation. This resolves the contradiction between complete sealing for infection control and the need for ventilation for user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent means with microporous membrane provides localized controlled permeability at the vent opening while the rest of the cover remains hermetically sealed. This allows ventilation where needed for comfort while maintaining infection control protection overall.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the vent means uses only a filter membrane, then microbial filtration is achieved, but mechanical strength is insufficient under user pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The vent means combines a microporous filter membrane with a strengthening layer to create a composite structure. The membrane provides microbial filtration while the strengthening layer adds mechanical strength to withstand user pressure, resolving the contradiction between filtration and structural integrity.
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 solution provides effective ventilation, prevents liquid and microbial ingress, and withstands user pressure, reducing the risk of cross-infection and product bursting, while being suitable for mass production and use in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
a filter medium including a filter membrane for the removal of particles of microbial size
Implementation Method 2
a strengthening layer of material for providing mechanical strength to the filter medium
Implementation Method 3
whereby the filter medium allows air flow therethrough but is substantially impermeable to liquid while maintaining a barrier to particles of microbial size
Implementation Method 4
a hydrophobic or oleophobic thermoplastic non-woven material
Data Source
AI summary
A hermetically sealed infection control bedding product such as a pillow, duvet, mattress, cushion or such like having a sealed cover and having a resiliently deformable filling material, comprising a vent means in the cover, characterized in that the vent means comprises a filter medium including a filter membrane for the removal of particles of microbial size and wherein the filter medium also comprises a strengthening layer of material for providing mechanical strength to the filter medium whereby the filter medium allows air flow therethrough but is substantially impermeable to liquid while maintaining a barrier to particles of microbial size.