Blanket with channels filled with substantially spherical objects for therapeutic treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Therapeutic blankets with point-like fillings, such as plastic pellets or balls, often result in thick, difficult-to-handle and poorly insulating products that are challenging to clean and fold, and fail to provide adjustable pressure for optimal tactile stimulation.

Innovation Solution

A therapeutic blanket with channels filled with substantially spherical objects that adapt to the body, exert sporadic pressure, and are designed to prevent objects from clumping, featuring adjustable channel widths and structural barriers like stitching or zippers for easy handling and washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If patches filled with therapy balls are used to provide point-shaped pressure, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the blanket becomes thick and difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidhandling ability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The blanket is divided into multiple channels that are segmented and distributed throughout the blanket structure. Each channel contains therapy balls that can move independently, providing localized pressure points while the overall blanket remains flexible and manageable in size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If patches filled with therapy balls are used to provide point-shaped pressure, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the blanket becomes thick and difficult to wash

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidcleaning and washing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The channels are constructed as thin, flexible structures that allow the blanket to maintain a slim profile while containing therapy balls. This thin-film approach enables the blanket to be easily folded and washed without the bulk associated with traditional patched designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Temperature

If standard filled blankets are used for thermal insulation, then insulating properties are improved, but temperature regulation becomes poor and handling becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulating propertiesVSAvoidhandling ability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than uniformly filling the entire blanket with insulating material, the invention provides localized thermal properties through channels containing therapy balls. This allows specific regions to have different thermal characteristics, improving overall temperature regulation while keeping the blanket thin and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If therapy balls are allowed to move freely in channels, then pressure adaptability is improved, but object clumping may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure adaptabilityVSAvoidobject distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The channels are designed to allow therapy balls to move dynamically within defined boundaries. The balls can shift and reposition themselves in response to body contours and movement, providing adaptive pressure while the channel structure prevents complete freedom of movement that would lead to clumping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2983567B1Blanket with channels filled with substantially spherical objects for therapeutic treatment

Publication Date: 2017.06.07 PROTAC

Figure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to therapeutic blankets. More specifically, the invention relates to a therapeutic blanket with channels filled with substantially spherical objects.