Stuffable Rollable Travel Pillow with Compartment for Loft Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a durable, comfortable, and versatile travel pillow that is both stuffable for desired loft and rollable for easy packing and transport, which existing pillow technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A portable pillow with a casing featuring a soft side made of fleece, a durable side made of water-resistant fabric, and a compartment accessed by a zipper or hook-and-loop closure to stuff articles for loft, which can be rolled up and secured with webbing and a G-hook for compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pillow is made with a soft padded structure for comfort, then comfort is improved, but the pillow becomes bulky and difficult to pack
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow transitions from a rigid padded structure to a flexible rolled configuration through the rolling mechanism. The soft padded layers can be dynamically compressed and rolled into a compact cylinder, allowing the pillow to switch between comfortable use state and compact storage state.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow utilizes flexible fabric layers including a soft outer layer, a waterproof middle layer, and a terry cloth inner layer. These flexible layers can be rolled and compressed while maintaining structural integrity, enabling compact packing without sacrificing comfort when deployed.
2Reliability
If the pillow is made durable with waterproof and terry cloth layers, then durability is improved, but the pillow becomes heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow combines multiple material layers including waterproof fabric, terry cloth, and soft padded material. This composite structure provides durability and functionality (water resistance, absorbency, comfort) while distributing weight across different layers, optimizing the strength-to-weight ratio.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pillow includes multiple functional layers for versatility, then versatility is improved, but the pillow becomes more complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into distinct functional layers: a soft outer layer for comfort, a waterproof middle layer for protection, and a terry cloth inner layer for absorbency. Each layer can be manufactured separately and then assembled through lamination or stitching, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow is designed to serve multiple functions: it can be used as a comfort pillow, a waterproof barrier, an absorbent pad, and a compact rolled storage item. The same multi-layer structure provides all these functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate devices for each function.
4Volume of moving object
If the pillow is designed to be rollable for compact storage, then packability is improved, but the pillow loses structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow's structure is dynamically adaptable: when rolled for storage, it maintains compact form through the flexibility of fabric layers and securing straps; when unrolled for use, the layered structure naturally provides structural support and loft, restoring full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible fabric layers and waterproof membrane maintain structural integrity when rolled, allowing compact storage. When unrolled, these same layers provide sufficient structural support to maintain pillow shape and supportiveness, as demonstrated by the ability to use the pillow immediately after unrolling without additional framing.
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
The pillow provides a comfortable, customizable loft and compact storage solution for travel, serving as both a pillow and a sitting pad, while maintaining durability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a foam layer therebetween
Implementation Method 2
foam layer therebetween
Implementation Method 3
hook-and-loop fasteners
Data Source
AI summary
A portable, packable camping pillow that features a soft side, for example a memory foam pad on one side (covered by fleece, for example) and a durable side, for example a water resistant fabric on the other. Between these two layers is a compartment accessed by a closure feature (e.g., a zipper, or hook-and-loop portions) intended to stuff articles of clothing to create a desired pillow loft by the user. The pillow can also be used (stuffed or unstuffed) as a sitting pad. When not in use, the pillow rolls up with the durable material outside, and is held in place with webbing and a G-hook, for example.