Telescoping Travel Pillow Support for Adjustable Neck Rest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing travel pillows lack portability, comfort, and privacy, and fail to provide balanced neck and head support, with previous designs being ergonomically flawed, fragile, and lacking independent height adjustment and media compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A portable, adjustable resting apparatus with telescoping legs, leg anchors, and a u-shaped pillow that can be angled and locked at different heights, featuring a durable locking mechanism and media support, ensuring comfort and privacy while allowing for independent leg height adjustment and media use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a neck pillow wraps around the user's neck to provide neck support, then neck support is provided, but full support for head and neck is lacking and the design is ergonomically flawed
Solution Approach 1:
The resting apparatus is divided into distinct functional segments: a pillow portion for head support, a support structure with telescoping legs for positioning, and a mounting mechanism for attachment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the pillow for comfort and the support structure for ergonomic positioning - resolving the contradiction between providing reliable neck support and ensuring ergonomic comfort.
2Volume of moving object
If a portable travel pillow is designed to be compact, then portability is improved, but full support and comfort are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure features telescoping legs that nest within each other when collapsed, allowing the apparatus to be compact for portability while extending to provide full support when in use. The pillow mounts to the support structure, creating a nested configuration that minimizes volume during transport but expands functionality during use, resolving the contradiction between portability and support quality.
3Reliability
If a table-based resting device is used to provide support, then head and neck support is provided, but the device lacks portability and requires the user's body weight to maintain position
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses telescoping legs with locking mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of height and angle. The legs can be extended to the required length to provide proper support, then locked in place using friction or mechanical locking without requiring the user's body weight. This dynamic design provides reliable head and neck support while remaining portable, as the structure adapts to different user needs without being overly heavy or requiring continuous user input to maintain position.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a locking mechanism using buttons, wires, and screws is used to maintain device position, then position stability is achieved, but the mechanism becomes fragile and prone to loss or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The design removes fragile components such as buttons, wires, and screws from the locking mechanism. Instead, it uses integrated friction-based or cam-based locking systems that are inherently more durable and less prone to loss or breakage. The locking feature is taken out as a separate fragile component and replaced with a robust integrated system that maintains position stability without the reliability issues of traditional mechanical fasteners.
5Ease of manufacture
If a detachable pillow is used, then the pillow can be removed for cleaning or replacement, but the pillow may become shifted, detached and lost from the mounted head support
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is pre-mounted to the support structure using an integrated mounting mechanism that secures it firmly in place. The mounting design includes features such as slots, clips, or friction-fit connections that prevent the pillow from becoming shifted or detached during use. While the pillow remains attached during operation, it can be easily removed when needed for cleaning or replacement, resolving the contradiction between ease of maintenance and attachment stability through a secure yet removable mounting system.
Data Source
AI summary
A resting apparatus and system. The apparatus and system comprise two telescoping legs having two longitudinal rotatable leg anchors having frictional padding to prevent slipping. The telescoping legs are attached to a locking mechanism that uses a bracket having a clip that fits into various holes depending on the user's desired sleep angle. The bracket is integrally formed in the body of the substantially u-shaped pillow. The telescoping legs also have a height locking system primarily comprising of two separate channels, a first channel allowing for vertical movement and side channels used to lock in the desired height. The resting apparatus and system can be broken down such that the rotatable leg anchors form a handle for ease of use while traveling.