Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

kickstarter.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

121–127 of 127 posts

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#121

Post by mogrim »

kisielk wrote: post #117
jlgreco wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are bigger, but most people aren't exactly using their ceiling space anyway so that isn't really the downside. The downside is the installation.

A lot of ceiling fans can easily be installed on to an existing light fixture by anyone who knows how to connect a few electrical wires together. I'd say the bigger downside is that it's fixed in one location.

I managed to install mine, and if I can do it anyone can :)

The fact that it's fixed in one location often isn't that much of a problem, given that ceiling lights are traditionally mounted in the center of the room, which is just where you want the fan.

(Traditionally: if you have recessed LED or halogen lighting that would of course be a different matter.)

One warning: if you don't use it all winter, make sure you clean it before you switch it on the first time in spring...

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#122

Post by dragonikola »

marcamillion wrote: post #104

I don't get all the negative, visceral reactions to this product. Who cares if the physics/technology is "breakthrough"? It's clear that this is being positioned as a suitable alternative to the battery operated pumped up mattress. The ones sold in Walmart, Target, etc. I own one of those, and they are a pain to deal with. This looks awesome. Who cares if there are others out there already - that proves that the mark…

If you were an avid camper, you would know better.

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#123

Post by specialist »

robomartin wrote: post #48
UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking of which, I wonder if they'll need to deal with patents. From what I understand Dyson has that technology wrapped up tight. PS - Dyson's fans are also terrible. Great concept, poorly executed. They wanted them to be sleek, so they used tiny motors which are LOUD making Dyson's Air Multiplier far louder than other fans WITH blades. PPS - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVbEE0Qe4BQ

I haven't (and will not) invest any time doing the numbers but, a quick think about the Dyson fans leads me to conclude the whole thing is a big marketing scam. Kudos for pulling it off, but the thing ain't magic. For starters, it has blades. It definitely has blades. They are simply concealed. It's like saying my computer has no fans when the fans are not visible from the outside. Nonsense. Second, it takes a certai…

Lady who cuts my hair has a bunch of the dyson ring fans. She likes them because they're easier to clean and stylish.

My pet peeve with most consumer products is how difficult they are to clean. Too many nooks, crannies, seams, etc.

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#124

Post by specialist »

UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #44
kaolinite wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm planning to buy a Dyson Air Multiplier heater/fan very soon so this comment intrigued me. I'll be sure to go to a store to check them out in advance. I didn't really like the video you linked as I find it to be a bit of a red flag when someone calls something "overpriced", especially when they go on to be very negative about it - it almost feels like jealousy. Still, I'll look into it before I buy. I don't suppos…

I've played with Dyson's Air Multipliers in a department store and they really are that loud when you turn them up to mid-high setting. "Too loud." I wish I could recommend you a high quality fan, I've looked, and frankly it is pretty slim pickings out there. Currently I have an unbranded Chinese-made one. I'd kill for an ultra-quiet nighttime one, and pay good $$$ for it too.

A loud fan doubles as white (?) noise. Helps mask the neighbors, street noise, etc.

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#125

Post by joonix »

devmach wrote: post #13

Ok, i'll play devil's advocate : Windcatcher works as same principle as evacuation slides on planes and even if it's about physics i think it's somehow ( design ? ) patented. So, what about patents ? Is there any patent that product violate and may cause later any problem ?

Evacuation slides use pressurized gas canisters to inflate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuation_slide

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#126

Post by [deleted] »

specialist wrote: post #123
robomartin wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't (and will not) invest any time doing the numbers but, a quick think about the Dyson fans leads me to conclude the whole thing is a big marketing scam. Kudos for pulling it off, but the thing ain't magic. For starters, it has blades. It definitely has blades. They are simply concealed. It's like saying my computer has no fans when the fans are not visible from the outside. Nonsense. Second, it takes a certai…

Lady who cuts my hair has a bunch of the dyson ring fans. She likes them because they're easier to clean and stylish. My pet peeve with most consumer products is how difficult they are to clean. Too many nooks, crannies, seams, etc.

[deleted]

Re: New closure allows camping mattress to be inflated in seconds

#127

Post by JohnHaugeland »

v13inc wrote: post #114
jgrahamc wrote: post #58

The Kickstarter itself says: "You're supporting an entirely new type of technology that has the potential to inspire new ideas and future innovative products." No, you are not. Exploiting the pressure difference like this for inflation is not new by a long shot. Just pop down to REI: http://www.rei.com/product/829645/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag Edit: read rest of replies below for clarification.

I think it is extremely misleading to summarize this technology as just "exploiting pressure differences for inflation". Technically isn't it impossible to inflate something without exploiting pressure differences? Back to the OP -- this technology looks like a legitimate advance compared to all the valve technologies I have used previusly for camping. Inflating a mattress is a pretty small part of setting up a camps…

You could use springs, in sort of a reverse bellows effect.
Post reply on HN