AU2004100637A4 - Therapeutic Pillow - Google Patents

Description

EDITORIAL NOTE Page 13 of the description is a blank page.

THERAPEUTIC

PILLOW

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a therapeutic pillow, which is able to give specific support to the neck and head areas.

BACKGROUND

ART

There are many types of pillows each with a different structural profile. The majority of these pillows are aimed at providing a cushioning or pillowing effect by use of a range of different density foams.

In another form pillows are filled with down or feathers or mixtures. In this form the multitude of different shape and length of material form an amorphous density of material. Also the cushioning effect and resilience of the natural material provides the overall cushioning or pillowing effect. Often more than just a cushioning effect is required. The structure of the pillow together with its contents is therefore important.

Some shaped pillows are known. These are particularly used as travel pillows. One type of such pillow is in a peanut or dumbbell shape where two bulbous ends are connected by a slimmer middle portion. Generally such pillow fits into the nape of the neck and tends to support the upper vertebrae when in a sitting position for a long time such as in long distance plane or motor vehicle trips extending for many hours. Another variation having the same function is an inflatable horseshoe collar which when inflated is hooked around the neck. However none of these structures are suitable for a user in a lying position.

These pillows do not provide any support of the head and the upper spine area when in a sleeping mode for extended time and therefore allow incorrect positioning of the neck in relation to the upper spine and makes such pillows ineffective in providing true good posture.

From undertaking a search it is revealed that there are a number of granted patents for pillows. These are not generally known in Australia but are mentioned here to assist in more clearly defining our invention.

US Patent No. 2,700,799 discloses a rectangular cushion having various sleeping positions depending on whether the user is sleeping on the side or back. The cushion includes a section 12 that fully depresses and supports the upper spine. There is no conforming to the neck shape. A user must move to different parts of pillow to lie on the user's back or on the user's side. The user is not able to rotate on the pillow but will fall off the pillow or encounter an adjacent part which is not suitable to support in that position.

In US Patent No. 5,933,890 there is disclosed a therapeutic pillow for inducing a state of physiological relaxation. The pillow is formed from a substantially shaped sustaining material and comprises an upwardly facing concave supporting surface formed by four component surfaces which are separated by a cruciform shaped recess. More particularly 2 the therapeutic pillow comprises a substantially rigid base portion and an upwardly facing concave supporting surface formed by four component surfaces which are separated by a cruciform shaped recess; said four component surfaces being formed by four pads projecting from said base being of a material that is softer than said base and is substantially shape sustaining relative to pressure exerted by the weight of a user's head.

This article is so dependent on its snug fit of the head and does not appear to allow rotation of the head to a different position.

However US 5,727,267 describes a therapeutic sleeping pillow for a user which is generally rectangular with longer front and rear edges and a pair of shorter side edges and upper and lower surfaces. A central portion of the upper surface is provided with a cavity for receiving the user's head, with a neck- supporting ridge formed between the front edge of the pillow and the cavity in the central portion. A wedge-shaped extension of the pillow projects from the front edge to support the upper back of the user. At least one of the pair of shorter side edges has an extension disposed thereon. Each such side extension is provided with a relatively shallow central cavity on the upper surface for receiving and supporting the user's head and a front edge for supporting the user's neck.

The upper surface of each such side extension slopes generally downwardly from the front edge towards the rear edge. More particularly there is disclosed an orthopaedic pillow of generally rectangular configuration having two longer sides and two relatively shorter sides comprising a centre portion having a centrally disposed relatively deep cavity on an upper surface adapted to receive and support the rear of a user's head; a neck-supporting ridge formed on a front edge of said pillow, said ridge merging smoothly 3 with said cavity and being concave along the length of the pillow and convex across the front edge of said pillow; a wedge shaped extension merging smoothly with said front edge and projecting forwardly from the front edge of said pillow to support the upper back of said user; at least one side extension disposed on at least one of the two sides of said centre portion; each said side extension having a generally centrally disposed relatively shallow cavity on an upper surface adapted to receive and support the user's head, and a front edge adapted to support the user's neck; and the upper surface of each said side extension sloping generally downwardly from the front to the rear of the pillow.

However such an article is fixed and therefore not suitable for any but one group of people having certain sized shoulders and certain sized head. Anyone else with a different sized head for example will have a neck protruding at an incorrect postural angle. In particular it is beneficial to maintain the head and neck at an angle similar to standing position.

An object of the invention is to address one or more of the shortcomings of the prior art or at least provide an alternative pillow which is suitable for supporting a users neck and head in a relative position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a therapeutic pillow for giving specific support to the neck and head areas of the user, including a head receiving part and a neck roll cushion portion extending adjacently and sized and shaped to follow the head shape and neck hollow of 4 the user to allow the user to lie with head and neck in same relative position as if standing. The therapeutic pillow has three relative heights which are optimised to the user including a first base height which conforms with the back of the user and the body mattress, a neck hollow height which is the height of the neck roll to comfortably fill the neck hollow of the user and the head resting height of the head receiving part which thereby allows the user to lie with head and neck in same relative position as if standing.

The therapeutic pillow can have adjustment means to adjust one or more parts of the therapeutic pillow to effect the three heights relative to the user's relative head neck and upper torso measurements. This can be by inflatable means of any one or more distinct parts of the therapeutic pillow. In another form the pillow can have a base structure upon which are a series of laminations such as over the neck roll and the head receiving part are placed to allow the relative variations.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a therapeutic pillow for use by a person in a lying position, the pillow including: a) a central substantially planar head portion formed of a cushioning material and having a head receiving part for receiving the head of the user and a surrounding space allowing the head to be rotated from side to side; b) a neck roll cushion portion extending along the front of the central head portion and being raised relative thereto for fitting and supporting the neck when the head is resting in the central portion; and c) two side parts positioned on either side of central head portion and extending upwardly from the lower central head portion providing side protection of the head of the user when rotating the head, the angle of the side parts allowing support of the side of the head when the user has rotated while allowing the user to breath and be comfortable.

In a particular form the therapeutic pillow includes adjustment cushion parts to overly the central head portion or the neck roll portion to adjust the heights of the central head portion and the neck roll portion relative to each other and to the base of the central portion in order to adjust the pillow to the required relative dimensions of the upper torso and head of the user such that the user can sleep with the head and neck in a postural position similar to standing position.

According to a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a pillow comprising a pillow head portion and adjacent neck portion wherein the head portion includes a head depression and the neck portion includes a protruding neck support wherein a vertical cross section of the pillow through the head portion and neck potion provides a silhouette matching the silhouette of a user when standing and the structure of the cushion along that line-corresponds with the weight to be supported such that the user is supported in a position corresponding with a standing position.

The relationship of the pillow bottom and the pillow back and the shape are crucial in determining correct support for the human body and are determined by the characteristics 6 of the substances the pillow will be manufactured in. For example, a pillow made with soft foam will mean a slightly different positioning of the pillow bottom relative to the back, to that of a pillow made with firm foam. There will also be differences in whether a foam is an overlay or the shape is cut or injection moulded in foam. The critical area of the invention is the relationship between the central head portion and the neck portion and the shoulder width and neck indent relative to the head of the user to maintain the neck in correct postural position.

The height of the pillow back and the length of the pillow bottom will vary according to the application of the invention.

The pillow is anatomically and biomechanically sound. The elevated side ballasts would accommodate the increased neck-shoulder distance found lacking in most pillows. By employing a contoured lower central section for use whilst sleeping supine, the cervical spine is cradled in a neutral position, lessening any potential for development of any joint problems. In fact the supine support provided could be useful in rehabilitative procedures where the cervical curvature has been lost. By extending the neck at the occipito-atlantal junction there is the possibility that the upper respiratory tract can be opened further, which can alleviate symptoms, associated with snoring or episodic sleep apnoea.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is described a therapeutic pillow for supporting a users head and neck portions in a position corresponding with a standing condition including: a centrally located compressible planar head portion, the planar head portion having an upper surface, on which a users head is received when in lying condition, and an opposite facing surface separated by a peripheral edge, the planar head portion further including a concave depression on the upper surface for receiving a users head; a compressible hemi-spherical neck portion removably attached to a front edge portion of the planar head portion so that when a users head is received within the concave depression a users neck is supported by the neck portion, the neck portion further having a flat base adapted to be coplanar with the opposite facing surface of the planar head portion in attached condition; two removable substantially symmetrical raised side parts positioned on either side of planar central head portion, the side parts having equal and opposite sloping sides which extend upwardly from the upper surface of the planar central head portion to provide support of the side of the head when the user has rotated while allowing the user to breathe and feel comfortable.

The therapeutic pillow can further include laminated adjustment cushion parts on the two side portions which are able to be peeled away and subsequently used to overly the planar head portion and/or the neck roll portion thus allowing for fine adjustment of the heights of the central head receiving portion and the neck roll portion relative to each other and to the lower opposing surface of the planar portion such that a user can sleep with the head and neck in a postural position similar to a standing position.

The neck roll can include a series of peelable and replaceable laminated layers which enables self-adjustment of relative heights of different portions to suit a range of different sizes thus allowing fine adjustment of the heights of the central head receiving portion and the neck roll portion relative to each other and to the lower opposing surface of the planar portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In order that the invention is more readily understood, preferred embodiments will be described by way of illustration only with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a therapeutic pillow for use in keeping the neck and upper spine in a correct pillowed position in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective cutaway view of the pillow of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the pillow of Figure 1; and FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective cutaway view of a pillow in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings there is shown a therapeutic pillow 11 in accordance with a preferred embodiment for use by a person in a lying position. The pillow 11 includes a central substantially planar head portion 21 formed of a cushioning material. The planar head portion 21 includes a first upper surface 41 and an opposing lower surface 28 separated by a surrounding peripheral edge 33. In figure 2 the planar head portion 21 further includes a head receiving part 22 for receiving the head of the user and a surrounding space 27 allowing the head to be rotated from side to side. The head receiving part of the planar head portion is generally a concave depression formed in the upper surface and compresses to conform to the shape of a users head. Adjacent the front peripheral edge 42 of the planar head portion, the pillow includes a neck roll cushion portion 23 which extends the length of the front peripheral edge and is elevated relative to the edge for fitting and supporting the neck when the head is resting in the head receiving portion 22. As illustrated in Figure 2 and 4 the neck roll 23 is hemi-spherical shaped and formed integral to the planar head portion so that the lower surface 34 of the neck roll is coplanar with lower surface 28.

The pillow, as shown in figure 3, has two substantially symmetrical raised side parts 31, and 32 positioned on either side of planar central head portion 21. The side parts exhibit a block-like configuration having equal and opposite sloping sides 24, and 25 which extend upwardly from the upper surface of the planar central head portion 21 to provide side protection of the head of the user when rotating the head. The angle of the sloping sides of each side part 31 and 32 allows support of the side of the head when the user has rotated while allowing the user to breathe and feel comfortable. The two symmetrical raised parts include flat base portions 50 which when attached to the planar head portion and neck roll sit in coplanar alignment with the corresponding base portions 28 and 34 of the planar head portion and neck roll respectively. Each of the components of the therapeutic pillow can be removably attached and is capable of being altered to suit different sized users. It is understood that each of the components can be fabricated from materials such as foam having different density and compression characteristics.

In a further embodiment of the invention referred to in Figure 4 there is shown a particular form of the therapeutic pillow including laminated adjustment cushion parts which are able to be peeled away and subsequently used to overly the planar head portion 21 or the neck roll portion 23 if required. Similarly the neck roll 23 can include a series of peelable and replaceable laminated layers which enables self-adjustment of relative heights of different portions to suit a range of different sizes. The laminations thus allow for fine adjustment of the heights of the central head receiving portion 22 and the neck roll portion 23 relative to each other and to the lower surface 28 of the planar portion 21.

The pillow 11 is thereby adjusted to the required relative dimensions of the upper torso and head of the user such that the user can sleep with the head and neck in a postural position similar to standing position.

It can be seen that along the plane of the spine of the user when using the pillow, the pillow head portion 21 and adjacent neck portion 23 and the head depression receiving 11 part 22 form a vertical cross section of the pillow through the head portion and neck potion providing a silhouette matching the silhouette of the user when standing. The structure of the cushion along that line corresponds with the weight to be supported such that the user is supported in a position corresponding with a standing position.

The therapeutic pillow thereby has three relative heights which are optimised to the user including a first base height which conforms with the back of the user and the body mattress, a neck hollow height which is the height of the neck roll to comfortably fill the neck hollow of the user and the head resting height of the head receiving part which thereby allows the user to lie with head and neck in same relative position as if standing.

The above description shows the invention and the necessary features which are provided for the invention to be satisfactorily applied. It will be appreciated that this description effectively provides the constraints met by the pillows made in accordance with the invention and, whilst two embodiments have been described, generally, it will be appreciated that pillows made in accordance with the invention may vary widely. In particular by use of varying cushioning densities the therapeutic pillow shape can vary considerably. However pillows can clearly be formed in accordance with the disclosure whereby various density foams are used depending on the expected weight on each part such that in the used position the user's head and neck are well supported substantially similar to the relative position when standing. However variations will be understood by persons skilled in the art without any inventiveness and such variations are included within the scope of this invention.

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