Waterbed Mattress Stabilizing Insert for Firmness and Hygiene

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing waterbed mattresses with polyester fleece or foam inserts face issues of low strength, tendency to form microorganisms, reduced pressure-relieving effect, and instability over time due to sagging, which affect lying comfort and longevity.

Innovation Solution

A stabilizing body composed of two textiles held apart by supporting threads, made of plastic materials, with adjustable elastic properties and buoyancy devices for enhanced strength and reduced nucleation, allowing for customizable firmness and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If polyester fleece inserts are used as stabilizing bodies, then the firmness of the waterbed mattress is improved, but the strength of the insert is low leading to dissolving or tearing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefirmnessVSAvoidstrength
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing body is constructed as a composite structure combining an upper textile, a lower textile, and supporting threads made of plastic material. This composite design integrates the firmness-providing function of textiles with the high strength and low nucleation properties of plastic threads, resolving the contradiction between firmness and durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If polyester fleece inserts are used as stabilizing bodies, then the firmness of the waterbed mattress is improved, but the formation of microorganisms is promoted due to dense fleece material

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefirmnessVSAvoidmicroorganism formation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing body uses a porous construction with supporting threads arranged at distances from one another, creating open spaces between the textile layers. This porous structure prevents the dense fleece configuration that promotes microorganism nucleation, while still providing sufficient firmness through the textile components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Strength

If foam inserts are used as stabilizing bodies, then the pressure-relieving effect is reduced with high cushioning, but the lying comfort is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecushioningVSAvoidlying comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing body applies firmness and cushioning locally through the supporting threads and textile structure, rather than uniformly throughout a dense foam insert. This localized approach maintains pressure-relieving properties in areas where needed while preserving lying comfort through the breathable, less dense construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Strength

If foam inserts are used as stabilizing bodies, then the pressure-relieving effect is reduced, but the aging properties are poor leading to sagging over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure reliefVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing body uses synthetic plastic materials for the supporting threads that are resistant to water degradation and aging. These materials maintain their structural integrity and elastic properties over time in the waterbed environment, preventing the sagging and deterioration that occurs with foam inserts, effectively creating a long-lasting stabilizing component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 provides a durable, low-nucleation stabilizing body with improved strength and adjustable firmness, maintaining pressure relief and comfort while preventing detachment and promoting long-term stability and hygiene.

Implementation Method 1

stabilizing bodies are arranged as damping inserts to calm the waterbed. The stabilizing bodies break up the swell of the liquid stored in the waterbed cover

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

at least one buoyancy device is arranged between the upper textile and the lower textile of a stabilizing body and/or below at least one stabilizing body and/or between two stabilizing bodies for the floating arrangement of the at least one stabilizing body in the waterbed cover

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP2361532B1Water bed mattress
Publication Date: 2012.08.22 AQUA COMFORT
  • EP2361532B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The waterbed mattress (1) has a waterbed cover (2) that is filled with liquid, where the waterbed cover is provided with a bearing surface (4), a lower side surface (5) and a side surface (6) that connects the bearing surface and the lower side surface. A stabilizing body (3.1,3.2) is formed from a flat surface textile, from a flat lower textile and from the supporting threads that hold surface textile and lower textile at a distance to each other. The supporting threads are arranged between the surface textile and the lower textile.