Ventilated Foam Pillow Structure for Heat and Sweat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pillows and mattresses with spring or foam inserts fail to effectively manage sweat and heat due to inadequate breathability, leading to sweat accumulation and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A breathable head or body support design featuring a foam insert with open cavities and spring elements that allow for ventilation, combined with air-permeable fabric and a corrugated surface, to dissipate heat and prevent perspiration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a spring insert or foam insert is used in pillows or mattresses, then support and comfort are provided, but breathability is insufficient leading to sweat accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport functionVSAvoidsweat accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces cavities with spring elements within the foam insert, creating a porous structure that enables breathability while maintaining support. The cavities allow air circulation and heat dissipation, preventing sweat accumulation while the spring elements provide the necessary support function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The foam insert is segmented into multiple cavities distributed throughout its structure. Each cavity contains spring elements, creating a modular design that combines support functionality with ventilation channels, thereby resolving the contradiction between support and breathability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the head or body support compresses the pillow or mattress, then contact area is established, but sweat secretions are promoted due to inadequate ventilation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact areaVSAvoidheat accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a three-dimensional ventilation structure within the two-dimensional contact area. The cavities extend vertically through the foam insert, creating channels that allow air flow in the vertical dimension while maintaining horizontal contact area, thus dissipating heat without reducing contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If traditional foam inserts are used, then simplicity of structure is maintained, but internal ventilation is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidperspiration
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The foam insert is divided into multiple cavities, each containing spring elements. This segmentation creates internal ventilation channels while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured using standard foam molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The introduction of cavities creates a porous structure within the foam insert, enabling internal ventilation and heat dissipation while preserving the fundamental simplicity of the foam-based design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 design provides effective ventilation and heat dissipation, reducing perspiration and ensuring comfort by maintaining a cooler surface area through automatic internal ventilation and direct heat dissipation.

Implementation Method 1

the spring elements are loaded or unloaded when the head or body moves on the pillow or mattress, whereby the respective cavity is reduced/enlarged, which in particular causes automatic ventilation of the insert

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression and expansion of spring elements: Spring

Implementation Method 2

air-permeable fabric is attached to the side areas of the block-like foam body, which fabric in particular promotes air circulation through the pillow core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir permeation through fabric: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

the upper side of the block-like foam body be of corrugated design

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation from corrugated surface: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP1808100B1Head or body support, pillow or the like
Publication Date: 2010.01.06 FROLI KUNSTWERK HEINRICH FROMME
  • EP1808100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1808100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1808100B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The head bed (1) has a bedtick (2) with a block-shaped foam body (3) including a cavity (4), and a set of spring units (5) arranged in the cavity. The spring units have stiffness for preventing sealing of the cavity for automatic interior ventilation of the head bed during compressive stress. The cavity has channels extending transverse to a couch direction, where the channels are opened at side walls and at the body.