Adjustable bed system having split-head and joined foot configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional adjustable beds for two people either lack individual control, offering a single adjustment for both sides or have an aesthetically unpleasing and functionally flawed separate-mattress design with a gap in the middle, providing limited support.

Innovation Solution

A sleep system with a longitudinally split mattress allowing independent adjustment of upper sections for head and torso and synchronized adjustment of lower sections for legs, maintaining a unified appearance and support across the bed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single mattress is used for both users, then the bed maintains aesthetic appeal and provides unified support, but individual positional control for each user is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual positional controlVSAvoidmattress configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mattress is divided into multiple independently controllable sections (head section, upper leg section, lower leg section) that can be adjusted individually for each user while maintaining the appearance of a unified mattress structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the mattress have different degrees of independence - the head sections are fully independent for individual control, while the lower leg sections are coupled to move together, providing localized adaptability where needed while maintaining unity where appropriate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If two separate adjustable mattresses are used, then individual positional control is achieved, but the bed becomes aesthetically unpleasing and provides limited support along the gap

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual positional controlVSAvoidbed appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The mattress is designed as a single unified structure with continuous surface appearance, merging the benefits of separate adjustable mattresses while eliminating the visual gap and providing continuous support across the entire bed width

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

While maintaining a unified appearance, the mattress is segmented into independently controllable sections that allow individual adjustment, combining the aesthetic unity of a single mattress with the functionality of separate adjustable units

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If two separate adjustable mattresses are used, then individual control is provided, but support along the longitudinal middle axis is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual head adjustmentVSAvoidsupport along gap

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lower leg sections and middle portions of both mattresses are coupled together to move as a single unit, providing continuous and reliable support along the longitudinal middle axis while still allowing independent head adjustment for each user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10750875B2Adjustable bed system having split-head and joined foot configuration

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 SLEEP NUMBER CORP

AI summary

A sleep system comprises a mattress including a movable first section extending laterally along a first portion of a width of the mattress and extending longitudinally along a first portion of a length of the mattress, a movable second section extending laterally along a second portion of the width of the mattress and extending longitudinally along the first portion of the length of the mattress, and a movable third section extending laterally across substantially the entire width of the mattress and extending longitudinally along a second portion of the length of the mattress, and an articulation system configured to independently articulate the first section, the second section, and the third section.