Sleep System Pressure Evaluation for Personalized Mattress Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The selection of a suitable sleep system is complicated due to various factors influencing comfort and support, and current methods lack an objective way to evaluate a person's suitability for a sleep system, often requiring prolonged use to determine long-term suitability, which is not feasible in showroom settings.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that measure and analyze a person's pressure on a sleep system using inflatable members within the comfort and support layers, calculating optimal pressure levels and recommending suitable sleep system components based on these measurements to provide personalized comfort and support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a person selects a sleep system based on showroom testing, then the selection process is quick and convenient, but the selected sleep system may not be the most suitable for long-term use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime required for sleep system evaluationVSAvoidaccuracy of sleep system suitability determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces subjective human judgment and prolonged physical testing with an automated sensor-based measurement system. Pressure sensors, load cells, and other detection devices objectively measure body weight distribution, pressure points, and spinal alignment, substituting the need for weeks of subjective sleeping trials with immediate quantitative data analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simulated sleeping environment in the showroom using adjustable support surfaces and comfort layers that replicate various mattress configurations. This allows customers to experience different sleep system characteristics immediately through controlled adjustments rather than requiring them to purchase and test multiple actual mattresses over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If multiple factors are considered for sleep system suitability, then the evaluation becomes more accurate and personalized, but the selection process becomes more complicated and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of sleep system suitability evaluationVSAvoidcomplexity of sleep system selection process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time feedback through sensors that continuously monitor pressure distribution, body position, and support characteristics. The system processes this data and provides immediate recommendations to the customer, automatically adjusting support parameters based on measured values. This closed-loop system handles multiple evaluation factors simultaneously without requiring the customer to manually analyze complex information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The evaluation system automatically performs measurements, analyzes data, and generates recommendations without requiring expert intervention or complex customer analysis. The apparatus independently evaluates multiple factors including weight distribution, pressure points, and spinal alignment, then self-generates a personalized sleep system recommendation, simplifying the process for the customer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If objective measurement methods are implemented, then the evaluation accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobjectivity of sleep system evaluationVSAvoidcomplexity of measurement apparatus
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the measurement system into modular sensor units distributed across the support surface, each independently measuring local pressure and force. These segmented sensors (pressure-sensitive films, discrete pressure sensors, load cells) are positioned at specific zones to capture body weight distribution without requiring a single complex centralized measurement device, making the system more manageable and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables objective evaluation and recommendation of the most suitable sleep system for an individual by simulating various components and adjusting pressure levels to provide optimal comfort and support, facilitating informed purchasing decisions.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a pressure of the comfort layer inflatable member as a first measured comfort value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP2255293B1Apparatuses and methods for evaluating a person for a sleep system
Publication Date: 2012.10.31 KINGSDOWN INC
  • EP2255293B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2255293B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2255293B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for evaluating a person for a sleep system, the method including: while the person is not positioned on an evaluating member, adjusting a pressure of a comfort layer inflatable member disposed within a comfort layer of the evaluating member to an initial comfort value; positioning the person on the evaluating member in a first position; while the person is positioned on the evaluating member in the first position, measuring a pressure of the comfort layer inflatable member as a first measured comfort value; calculating a difference between the first measured comfort value and the initial comfort value as comfort pressure 1; calculating a first optimal pressure level for the comfort layer inflatable member using comfort pressure 1; and recommending a sleep support member for the person using the calculated first optimal pressure level for the comfort layer inflatable member and using data measuring quality of sleep.