Ventilated Gel Support Layer for Body Thermal Regulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support elements for the body, such as mattresses and pillows, face challenges in air circulation and thermal regulation due to continuous gel layers that prevent airflow, and modular designs can be laborious and costly to produce, while alternative structures compromise on comfort and ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A support element comprising a first layer of gel associated with a second layer of a different material, featuring through openings for air circulation, and a non-stick film to ensure optimal transpiration and thermal regulation, with a method involving casting and cutting to create a single plate with air passages, allowing for maximum contact surface area and ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a continuous layer of gel is used to ensure comfort and weight distribution, then the contact surface area increases, but air circulation is prevented and thermal regulation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous gel layer is segmented by introducing through openings that penetrate the entire thickness of the layer. This segmentation allows air to circulate through the gel layer while the gel material between the openings maintains contact with the user's body, thus resolving the contradiction between providing large contact surface area and enabling air circulation for thermal regulation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If modular elements are used to enable air circulation, then air can pass through the mattress, but the manufacturing process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The gel layer and foam layer are merged into a single integrated structure where the gel layer is directly associated with the foam layer. The through openings are formed in this combined structure during a single manufacturing process, eliminating the need to separately assemble modular elements. This merging approach enables air circulation while significantly reducing manufacturing time and labor requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If modular elements are assembled to create gaps for air circulation, then ventilation is improved, but the structural complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gel layer and foam layer are combined into a single integrated plate structure with through openings formed during manufacturing. This eliminates the need to assemble multiple modular elements with anchoring means, significantly reducing structural complexity and assembly difficulty while maintaining effective air circulation pathways.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If through openings are introduced in the gel layer, then air circulation is enabled, but the mechanical strength and elasticity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The gel layer is designed with through openings at specific locations and densities optimized to balance air circulation needs with mechanical strength requirements. The gel material between the openings maintains sufficient structural integrity and elasticity, while the openings provide adequate ventilation pathways. This local quality approach ensures that the gel layer remains mechanically sound while enabling effective air flow.
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 solution enables optimal air circulation and thermal regulation, maintaining elasticity and comfort while reducing production time and costs, ensuring a high contact surface area without compromising on mechanical characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
when one of such materials is compressed in one direction, it expands in the other two directions perpendicular to the compression direction, according to the well known Poisson effect and according to the Poisson coefficient of the material itself
Implementation Method 2
such a first layer made from gel and such a second associated layer made from a different material are crossed by through openings that are suitable for the proper circulation of air
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A support element 1, for example a plate, a mattress, a pillow, a seating plane of a chair, of an armchair, a saddle for vehicles and the like, equipped with a resting surface for a user, comprises at least one first layer 2 in gel associated with at least one second layer 3 of different material; such a first layer 2 in gel and such a second layer 3, that are associated, are crossed by through openings 4 that are suitable for the proper circulation of air from one side to the other of the support element 1, so as to allow the optimal transpiration and thermal regulation of the parts of the body of the user positioned resting on the support element 1 itself.