Self-storing multifunctional travel set
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional travel accessories like neck pillows, eye masks, and travel blankets are often sold separately, leading to disorganization, loss, and cumbersome storage, and fail to promote deep, restorative sleep or proper ergonomic support during travel.
Innovation Solution
A self-storing, multifunctional travel set integrating a contoured headrest pillow, adjustable eye mask, and sling-style blanket into a compact unit, with internal storage and securing straps, ensuring ergonomic alignment, light isolation, and warmth, promoting restorative upright sleep.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional travel accessories (neck pillows, eye masks, blankets) are sold separately or in non-integrated bundles, then each item can be optimized for its specific function, but users experience disorganization, loss, and cumbersome storage requiring separate external pouches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple travel accessories (neck pillow, eye mask, blanket) into a single integrated unit where the pillow serves as the central structure containing storage compartments for the other items. This merging eliminates the need for separate external pouches while maintaining all individual functions, directly resolving the contradiction between functional versatility and storage complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow unit serves multiple functions: it provides neck support, contains storage compartments for eye masks and blankets, includes integrated eye masks with adjustable straps, and incorporates blankets with hood attachments. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple separate accessories, reducing storage complexity while maintaining adaptability
2Ease of operation
If accessories are bundled in separate external pouches, then storage is consolidated, but the pouches are frequently lost or misplaced during transit, resulting in disorganization and user frustration
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the storage compartments directly into the pillow structure rather than using separate external pouches, the invention ensures that all accessories remain attached to the main unit during transit. The compartments are permanently built-in, eliminating the risk of loss or misplacement while maintaining easy access and organization
3Volume of stationary object
If accessories must be folded or packed in specific ways to fit into carrying cases, then storage space is optimized, but the process is not intuitive or convenient, especially in tight travel conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The accessories are pre-configured in specific forms that enable easy storage: the eye masks have flexible frames that naturally collapse, the blankets are designed with hood attachments that fold into predetermined configurations, and the pillow contains pre-formed storage compartments. This preliminary design of foldable structures eliminates the need for complex packing instructions or tight travel conditions, making the process intuitive and convenient
4Weight of moving object
If current travel sets do not provide adequate neck and torso alignment, then portability is maintained, but users experience pain, stiffness, or longer-term posture issues upon waking
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is designed with differentiated zones: a contoured shape that specifically supports the neck and head in proper alignment, integrated eye masks positioned to block light without disturbing posture, and blankets with hood attachments that support the torso. This local optimization of different regions addresses posture-related harms while maintaining overall portability
Data Source
AI summary
A self-storing multifunctional travel set includes a compressible headrest pillow, a removable eye mask, and a sling-style blanket integrated into a compact, portable unit. The headrest pillow defines an internal storage cavity accessible via a zippered closure, dimensioned to enclose the eye mask and sling-style blanket when not in use. The set is configurable between a deployed state, in which the components provide head, eye, and torso support during seated travel, and a stored state, in which all components are enclosed within the pillow. One or more straps are affixed to the pillow and serve both to compress the stored contents and to secure the pillow to a seatback during use. The sling-style blanket includes anchoring elements and adjustable connectors for stabilizing the torso, while the eye mask includes a strap and is compactable for storage. All components are fabricated from washable, compressible materials suitable for portable travel use.