Suspended Back Pillow With Flexible Attachment for Side Sleeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for encouraging side-sleeping orientation during sleep, such as using tennis balls or foam pads, are uncomfortable and often lead to physiological and psychological issues, causing individuals to revert to supine positions, which can exacerbate conditions like sleep apnea or snoring.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, elongate pillow with a longitudinal axis is used, secured to the individual's back with a flexible attachment structure, allowing bi-directional rotation and lateral offset positioning to simulate the sensation of side-sleeping, thereby encouraging and maintaining a side-sleeping orientation without physical restriction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid objects like tennis balls or foam pads are used to maintain side-sleeping position, then positional control is improved, but comfort and psychological acceptance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the physical state of the positioning object from rigid (tennis ball, foam pad) to fluid (water-filled or gel-filled bladder). This parameter change in material rigidity maintains positional control through fluid pressure while dramatically improving comfort and reducing psychological rejection by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible bladder structure filled with fluid or gel, enclosed in a thin film or fabric shell. This flexible containment structure allows the positioning device to conform to body contours and provide gentle, distributed pressure rather than concentrated rigid contact points, thereby improving comfort while maintaining positional stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If physical restriction methods are used to prevent supine rotation, then positional stability is improved, but psychological acceptance and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the interaction parameter from rigid mechanical restriction to fluid pressure resistance. The fluid-filled bladder provides gentle, adaptive resistance to supine rotation through pressure buildup, which is psychologically more acceptable than rigid physical barriers while still effectively maintaining side-sleeping position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fluid or gel medium as an intermediary between the body and the positioning structure. This intermediary provides smooth, distributed pressure that adapts to body movements and reduces psychological rejection, while still effectively preventing unwanted supine rotation through pressure resistance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If heavy positioning devices are used to maintain side-sleeping orientation, then positional control is improved, but device weight and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic or hydraulic system using a water-filled or gel-filled bladder to provide positioning force. The fluid density provides sufficient mass for positional control while the flexible bladder structure distributes the weight, reducing the perceived burden on the user compared to rigid heavy structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible bladder enclosed in a thin fabric or film shell to contain the fluid or gel. This flexible containment structure minimizes the additional weight of the device itself while allowing the fluid mass to provide the necessary positional control, thereby reducing overall device weight while maintaining effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for enabling an individual located on a bed to sustain a side-sleeping orientation on either a left or right side. The device comprises a light weight, elongate pillow having a longitudinal axis and being configured to rest at a back side of the individual when reclined in a side-sleeping orientation on the bed. The pillow includes attachment structure which is positioned along a longitudinal edge of the pillow to secure the pillow to the individual. The attachment structure provides sufficient flexibility to allow the pillow to rotate with respect to and rest against the individual's back to a laterally offset and suspended configuration in general alignment with the individual's spine. The method includes the steps of attaching the light weight, elongate pillow at the back side of the individual positioned in the side sleeping orientation on the bed and with pillow contact laterally offset from the spine between the back side of the trunk portion and the pillow, thereby capturing the pillow between the bed and back side of the individual upon attempted rotation of the body to a supine sleeping position.