AU635838B2 - A cushion - Google Patents

Description

635838 6-yg" Q1% 6h 3 53 1 YVONNE MACFARLANE VAN DER VELDE FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "A CUSHION" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: THIS INVENTION relates to a cushion suitable for supporting a persons head when in an upright or seated sleeping position such as might be experienced during travel.

Cushions are known which are of generally U-shaped configuration having spaced legs and a bridging portion extending between the legs so the cushion, in use, can bridge between and extend at either side of the neck of a user so that the cushion affords both rear and side support.

While these known cushions are generally suitable for 10 adult use, they present a number of difficulties when scaled down to infant size. One problem is that the known cushions tend to force the infant's head forward when the infant is seated. As an infant tends to have greater flexibility o compared with an adult, the head and shoulders of a drowsing 15 infant tend to roll forward to a greater degree even when the infant is constrained in a travel seat by straps. The known cushions tend to accentuate this forward rolling which therefore reduces the efficacy of the legs as side supports.

It is an object of the present invention therefore, to provide an improved cushion which can be made in sizes suitable for adults, children or infants and which alleviates at least to some degree the aforementioned problems associated with the prior art.

In one aspect therefore, the present invention resides in a cushion of generally U-shaped configuration having spaced, legs and a bridging portion extending between the legs so that in use, the cushion can bridge between and extend either side of the neck of the user, the legs having respective free ends remote from the bridging portion, a hook formation adjacent each said free end, the hook formation being adapted to improve the tendency of the cushion to hold the head of a user when sleeping.

The cushion is preferably made from a blank of resilient material with a suitable cover. The blank preferably has sufficient elasticity to enhance the holding action of the hook formation. The applicant has found that foam available from FOAMLITE, a division of Pacific Dunlop Pty Ltd, of Jackson Road, Sunnybank, Queensland, Australia and having the manufacturer's code number 23/130 is particularly suitable. However, foams having the following code numbers are also suitable.

SS18/100 20/110 27/160 0e 31/180 27/100 30/130 32/80 36/80 36/100 36/130 The code numbers include a number before the which represents a density factor while the number after the represents a hardness factor. The foams from 27/100 through to 36/130 are known as "premium grade foams" and are differentiated from the other foams listed by being of longer life. Softer foams can be used but in general, additional supporting structures or reinforcing would be required. For example, the holding action of the hook formation can be enhanced by employing a cover made from less flexible material than would normally be used with a more rigid foam.

In any event, foam and cover selection should be governed by making the cushion as comfortable as possible while still retaining enough holding action.

The blank can be made from a single grade of foam or o~oo 10 for example, different grades of foam can be used for the sees °o :0different parts of the blank.

The legs can be of any shape but are preferably of generally square or rectangular transverse cross-section.

Each leg can include a surface contoured to the general shape 15 of the cheek region of a person. The contoured surface in each case preferably extends from adjacent the bridging S portion along the leg to a location adjacent the hook formation so as to cradle the head of a person when in use.

ooo• Advantageously, the cushion appears symmetrical in plan about a mid-line sagittal plane taken through an imaginary person using the cushion.

The bridging portion can be of any shape but is preferably not too bulky so that it serves principally to carry the legs rather than provide any substantial supporting function itself. The bridging portion preferably includes fasteners so that the cushion can be coupled to the back of a chair, car seat or the like.

The hook formations can be of any shape which affords comfort while performing a holding action as the persons head moves forward and to the side during drowsiness. Ideally, the hook formation should not be positioned too high where they may interfere with the user's eyes or nose. Preferably, in use, the hook formations locate adjacent the chin of a user when performing the holding action.

In order that the invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings and wherein:- Figure 1 is a perspective view from above illustrating ease :00 a cushion according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the cushion illustrated in Figure 1; 15 Figure 3 is a section through 3-3 of the cushion illustrated in Figure 1; and Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating use of the cushion of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is illustrated a cushion 10 of generally U-shaped configuration, the cushion having spaced legs 11 and 12 and a bridging portion 13 extending between the legs so that in use, the cushion 10 can bridge between and extend either side of the neck of a user (see Figures 4 and The legs 11 and 12 have free ends 14 and 15 respectively, the free ends being located remote from the bridging portion 13, respective hook formations 16 and 17 are located adjacent the free ends 14 and 15 respectively and are adapted to improve the tendency of the cushion to hold the head of a user when the user is sleeping (see Figure 6).

In the illustrated embodiment, the hook formations are formed as the apical intersection between the peripheral edges 19 and 20 of respective contoured surfaces 21 and 22.

The surfaces 21 and 22 are adapted to cradle the cheek and chin region of a person when in use as the person's head rolls to the side. Thus, the hook formation and contoured surface together have composite holding effect.

6e*9 10 As can be seen in figure 3, the bridging portion 13 is 19 much narrower than the legs 14 and 15 and therefore does not provide very much bulk behind the neck of the user and therefore reduces the tendency of the cushion when located between the neck of a user and a chair to force the user's head in the forward direction.

The cushion 10 is made from a blank of suitable foam material whL.ch is then cut to the form illustrated or a similar form and covered with a suitable cover 23. The cover 9**9 or bridging portion 13 can include suitable fasteners (not shown) on its rear wall 24 for the purpose of securing the cushion to the backrest of a seat.

The overall dimensions of the cushion in the case of an infant, are optimised for comfort and for the most comfortable and beneficial hooking action provided by the hook formations 16 and 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the dimensions of the cushion are as follows:- The outer periphery occupies in plan a square of about x 20cm while the space between the legs is about 6cm.

7 The legs themselves are about 5cm high by 6.5cm wide. The applicant has found that these dimensions are most preferred but as long as the cushion performs the described function, many other dimensions may be appropriate.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the application of the teachings of the present invention to an infant cushion are illustrated. As can be seen in Figure 4, the infant is awake 0•0: .and is holding her head in an upright position. The legs 11 and 12 extend either side of the infant's neck and the 6:00 o 1" 0 bridging portion 13 is located behind the neck. Au can be seen, the bridging portion 13 can tuck quite neatly between co• the infant's head and the backrest of any seat which may be located behind the infant without any undue force being delivered to move the head in the forward direction. The oo r *.15 hook formations 16 and 17 are spaced slightly from the cheek e• and chin region and the contoured surfaces 21 and 22 are similarly spaced so that there is no noticeable direct contact between the infant and the cushion as long as the

SOS.

.o t infant's head is in its upright position as illustrated in Figure 4. Should the infant drowse, unless there is direct forward movement of the head (which is uncommon), the tendency will be for the infant's head to move to either side or for the infant to consciously locate her head and thereby engage with the relevant hook formation in order for the cheek and chin region of the infant to be cradled on the relevant contoured surface 21 or 22.

A typical sleeping position is illustrated in Figure wherein the infant as depictid in Figure 4 has drowsed off to sleep and has her head comfortably cradled in the contoured surface 22 of the leg 12 and the hook formation 17 reduces the tendency of the infant's he'd to fall forward.

Thus, by using a cushion of the type illustrated according to the present invention, an infant sitting in an upright position can sleep comfortably. Likewise, a cushion of this type can be scaled up in size and used by older 0@ children or adults to similar benefit.

It will therefore be appreciated that there are many 90 10 variations and modifications to the present invention that 6, will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

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Claims (9)

1. A cushion of generally U-shaped configuration having spaced legs and a bridging portion extending between the legs so that in use, the cushion can bridge between and extend either side of the neck of the user, the legs having respective free ends remote from the bridging portion, a hook formation adjacent each said free end, the hook formation being adapted to improve the tendency of the cushion to hold the head of a user when sleeping. S.

2. A cushion according to claim 1 wherein the legs are of generally square or rectangular transverse cross-section.

3. A cushion according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each leg includes a surface contoured to the general shape of the cheek region of a person.

4. A cushion according to claim 3 wherein the contoured surface in each case extends from adjacent the bridging *9 9 portion along the leg to a location adjacent the hook formation so as to cradle the head of a person when in use. •4

5. A cushion according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cushion appears symmetrical in plan about a mid- line sagittal plane taken through an imaginary person using the cushion.

6. A cushion according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bridging portion is not too bulky so that it serves principally to carry the legs rather than provide any substantial supporting function itself.

7. A cushion according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hook formations are not too high where they may interfere with the user's eyes or nose.

8. A cushion substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this ninth day of May, 1991. YVONNE MACFARLAN'E VA~N DER VELDE 9:4. By her Patent Attorneys too* TRe~cg. tzR~Is Astoctiore5 PI- A~z PETER MAXWELL- G-I IR REG

9* SS toI ou 4s ABSTRACT A cushion of generally U-shaped configuration having spaced legs and a bridging portion extending between the legs so that in use, the cushion can bridge between and extend either the side of the neck of a user, the legs having respective free ends remote ti:n the bridging portion, a hook formation adjacent each said free end, the hook formation being adapted to improve the tendency of the cushion to hold the head of a user when sleeping. 4* A* 04 W 4 04 P 44 S* *0 4