Side-Sleeping Limb Restraint With Flexible Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for maintaining a side-sleeping position often fail to effectively attach to both the sleeper and the bed, leading to inadequate prevention of snoring and positional sleep apnea, which can worsen when sleeping on the back.

Innovation Solution

A limb restraint system comprising a flexible limb sleeve and a strap that secures to the mattress or bedframe, allowing intentional insertion and removal while awake but inhibiting unintentional removal during sleep, positioning the sleeve in front of the sleeper to maintain the side-sleeping position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a limb restraint device is attached to both the person and the bed for involuntary restraint, then the person is securely restrained, but the device becomes complex and intrusive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestraint effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The restraint system is divided into two separate components: a limb restraint device attached to the person's limb and a corresponding attachment point on the bed or mattress. This segmentation allows the system to function effectively while reducing overall complexity compared to a single integrated restraint mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary attachment mechanism that connects the limb restraint to the bed or mattress. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system by providing a dedicated connection interface rather than requiring a complex integrated restraint structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a device is attached to the bed to interfere with movement, then movement is limited, but the device does not attach to the person reducing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement controlVSAvoidattachment to person

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If a limb restraint uses a flexible sleeve that permits intentional insertion, then the sleeper can insert their limb while awake, but the sleeper may unintentionally remove the limb while sleeping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelimb insertionVSAvoidlimb retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The limb restraint employs a flexible sleeve that can be easily inserted into during wakefulness but provides sufficient resistance to prevent unintentional removal during sleep. The flexibility of the sleeve material allows for comfortable insertion while maintaining retention throughout the night.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12011383B1Apparatus and methods for maintaining a side-sleeping position

Publication Date: 2024.06.18 FINBERG FAMILY TRUST

AI summary

A limb restraint includes a flexible limb sleeve and a strap. The limb sleeve permits a sleeper to insert or remove a limb into or out of the sleeve, intentionally while awake, yet inhibits unintentional removal of the limb from the sleeve by the sleeper while sleeping. The strap connects the limb sleeve to a mattress or bedframe so that the limb sleeve is in front of the sleeper while in a side-sleeping position, and with an upward-side limb of the sleeper inserted into the limb sleeve, so that the limb restraint maintains the sleeper in the side-sleeping position while asleep.