Adjustable ergonomic pillows

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pillows lack the ability to be adjusted in size, thickness, or firmness, requiring users to purchase new pillows if they do not meet personal preferences, and there is no known solution to customize the filler material distribution within the pillow.

Innovation Solution

A modular pillow design featuring separate, fillable compartments with accessible closures, allowing users to adjust the volume and firmness of different parts using various filler materials like sheep's wool, cashmere, alpaca wool, silk, and shredded foam rubber, enabling customization of the pillow's thickness and firmness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a pillow is designed with fixed size and thickness, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but the user cannot personalize the pillow for their sleeping preferences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalization capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into multiple separate compartments that can be independently filled with different amounts and types of filler material. This segmentation allows users to customize each section's thickness and firmness while maintaining a manageable overall structure through modular construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pillow incorporates adjustable elements including removable panels and accessible compartments that allow users to modify the filler material distribution. This dynamic design enables personalization without requiring a completely complex reconfigurable structure, as adjustments can be made incrementally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a pillow uses uniform filler material throughout, then manufacturing is straightforward, but the user cannot customize firmness in different parts of the pillow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmness customizationVSAvoidfilling process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into multiple separate compartments that can be independently filled with different amounts and types of filler material. This segmentation allows users to customize each section's thickness and firmness while maintaining a manageable overall structure through modular construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different compartments can be filled with different types and amounts of filler material to create varying firmness levels in different regions of the pillow. This allows localized customization of support characteristics without requiring a completely complex manufacturing process, as each compartment can be filled independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a pillow cannot be adjusted, then the structure is simple and durable, but the user must buy a new pillow if it does not meet their preferences

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidclosure system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow incorporates adjustable elements including removable panels and accessible compartments that allow users to modify the filler material distribution. This dynamic design enables personalization without requiring a completely complex reconfigurable structure, as adjustments can be made incrementally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pillow design includes removable panels and accessible compartments that allow users to take out and replace filler material. This enables adjustment and personalization of the pillow without needing to discard the entire pillow structure, extending its usability and reducing waste

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS11627821B2Adjustable ergonomic pillows

Publication Date: 2023.04.18 NOBLE JAMIE

AI summary

A triangular-shaped lower-body pillow has an upper and a lower triangular fabric panel joined along outer edges, seams joining the upper and lower fabric panels, forming a plurality of separate, fillable compartments, and closures along outer edges of the lower-body pillow, allowing access to the separate, fillable compartments. With the closures open, compartments are filled to a same or different thickness, and the closures are then closed.