Segmented Pillow Assembly with Rotatable Head Support for Sleep Apnea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for addressing snoring and sleep apnea, such as stepped pillows, fail to maintain the head stationary during sleep and do not allow for adjustable positioning, which reduces their effectiveness in treating these conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a body assembly and a head assembly with a slit that allows for rotation relative to the body assembly, enabling the head to be maintained in a recessed position, providing adjustable support and maintaining the head stationary during sleep.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a stepped pillow is used to position the user's head, then the user can attain a head position beneficial for treating sleeping conditions, but the user's head cannot be maintained stationary, resulting in negative effects for sleep and health
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into a head assembly and a body assembly as separate functional units. The head assembly can be rotated relative to the body assembly through a slit mechanism, allowing independent positioning of the head while maintaining overall structural integrity. This segmentation enables both adjustable positioning and stationary maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The head assembly is designed to be dynamically adjustable through rotation along a slit, allowing the user to attain beneficial head positions. Once positioned, the elastic materials and structural design maintain the head stationary. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between adjustability and stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a stepped pillow is used to position the user's head, then the user can attain a head position beneficial for treating sleeping conditions, but the pillow does not allow for adjustable positioning, decreasing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The head assembly can be rotated to different positions along the slit, providing adjustability for treating various sleeping conditions. The elastic materials ensure that once positioned, the head remains stationary, maintaining treatment effectiveness. This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction between versatility and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow allows changes in the position parameter of the head assembly through rotation. The elastic materials and structural design ensure that parameter changes are maintainable, allowing users to adjust to beneficial positions while keeping the head stationary for effective treatment.
3Reliability
If the head assembly is made rigid to maintain the head stationary, then head stability is improved, but the ability to rotate and adjust position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is segmented into a rigid head assembly and a body assembly connected by a slit mechanism. The head assembly itself is rigid to maintain head stability, while the connection mechanism provides rotation capability. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between rigidity for stability and flexibility for adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The slit mechanism acts as an intermediary between the rigid head assembly and the body assembly. It allows rotation and adjustment while the head assembly maintains its rigid structure for stability. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction between rigidity and rotational capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for supporting a human body is disclosed. The apparatus has a body assembly configured to support a back of the human body, a head assembly attached to the body assembly via an attachment portion, the head assembly including one or more members forming a recess configured to receive a head of the human body, and a slit disposed between the body assembly and the head assembly, the slit configured to open from a closed position to an open position to provide rotation of the head assembly relative to the body assembly.