AU650051B2 - Bed pillow - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 ORIG INAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: BED PILLOW S S. S *0*e 5@ S S 0*5 S 55*

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-

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C 0 BED PILLOW This invention relates to bed pillows.

The choice of a bed pillow is influenced, more often than not, by mere personal preference. Nevertheless, there are valid physiological reasons for a person to choose either a softer or harder pillow. As shown in Fig.

1, a person needs a pillow that will enable his neck to remain generally in a straight line with th, spine when the person is lying down. Unfortunately, a pillow manufacturer must provide a large range of pillow sizes to cater for the great variety of preferences of consumers.

According to the present invention there is provided a bed pillow comprising at least three separate and removable components which can be juxtaposed or removed from the bed pillow to alter the height and surface topography of the bed pillow, comprising: a base component; (ii) a main component having an upper surface which includes a channel having a first predetermined depth; and (iii) an insert having a contoured bottom surface which matches the channel of the .ee main component so as to fit into the channel; and wherein the main component is locatable on the base component to form a pillow having a first predetermined height or the base component can be removed from the pillow to form a pillow having a second 0 predetermined height which is less than the first predetermined height, and wherein the insert can be located 066. in the channel to change the surface topography of the upper surface of the main component and therefore of the pillow.

S* o. Said componentz may be made from resilient foam material.

In order that the present invention may be more lI." 3 fully understood, embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of a reclined person whose neck is positioned correctly, Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a bed pillow according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 shows the bed pillow of Fig. 2 when the components are juxtaposed.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 2 illustrates three components of a kit which may be juxtaposed to form a bed pillow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

A main component 1 consists of a slab of se: 0*

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::40 *5 *oo* o So 4 resilient foam having a pair of longitudinal ridges 2 positioned on the upper surface of the main component. The two ridges define a channel 3 of predetermined depth which is positioned between the ridges. The undulating top surface topography of the main component 1 conforms generally to the curvature of a persons neck and head, as illustrated in Fig. i. One of the two ridges 2 supports the neck whilst the channel 3 supports the head.

It can be seen from Fig. 1 that the optimum height of the ridged portion 2 of a pillow of the embodiment will depend on the breadth of the persons shoulders. Whilst the main component 1 may suffice for a person having ordinary build, a person with broader shoulders may require a neck-supporting ridge 2 of greater height. A base component 4 in the form of a rectangular panel, which has the same plan surface area as the main 9000 component i, is able to be positioned under and in combination with the main component 1 to form a pillow assembly of greater overall height. Alternatively, the oo 20 base component 4 may be wedge shaped so that when the main component 1 is arranged on the base component 4, the main component slopes slightly to provide a slightly inclined pillow.

An insert component 5 is able to be laid in the 25 shallow channel 3 in order to increase the height df the oo: D o portion of the pillow which supports the persons head. The 0:0. insert has a bottom surface 6 which matches the contour of the channel 3 so as to fit into the channel 3. The upper surface 7 of the insert 3 may have a channel of a second V. 30 predetermined depth somewhat less shallow than the channel 3 or may be flat. If a person's head does not fit comfortably into channel 3 the insert 5 can be used to change the profile of the pillow to obtain a more comfortable pillow.

It can be seen that the present embodiment can be configured to provide two possible heights for the ridge portion that supports a person's neck, and to provide three possible heights of the central channel region 3 for supporting a person's head. That is, the height of the ridge portion 2 of the main component may be used to support a persons neck with or without the extra height of the base component 4, and the height of the central channel portion 3 of the main component may be augmented with the extra height of the base component 4 and the insert component 5 used in various permutations. Thus, it can be seen that the three component parts i, 4, 5 may be used in a number of combinations to produce pillows which will satisfy a broad range of users. Hence, a pillow manufacturer or retailer need only provide a single pillow which can be configured to satisfy a number of customers.

Fig. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention which is a pillow that has been formed by juxtaposing the main component I, the base component 4 and •the insert component o oe The components 1, 4 and 5 can be held together by a pillow case (not shown). Since the components are formed 0-from resilient foam they will not tend to slip with respect oi• 20 to one another and therefore to be easily held by the pillow case even if of a large fit.

In other embodiments different contoured inserts (not shown) may be provided to change the profile of the s ridges 2 or the width or length of the pillow.

a•Q 25 The embodiments have been advanced by way of *•ea bac example only and modifications, such as to the materials used and the shapes of the components, are possible within 0 0• the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims (6)

1. A bed pillow comprising at least three separate and removable components which can be juxtaposed or removed from the bed pillow to alter the height and surface topography of the bed pillow, comprising: a base component; (ii) a main component having an upper surface which includes a channel having a first predetermined depth; and (iii) an insert having a contoured bottom surface which matches the channel of the main component so as to fit into the channel; and wherein the main component is locatable on the base component to form a pillow having a first predetermined height or the base component can be removed from the pillow to form a pillow having a second predetermined height which is less thau the first @predetermined height, and wherein the insert can be located in the channel to change the surface topography of the upper surface of the main component and therefore of the o •pillow.

2. The bed pillow of claim 1 wherein the insert has an upper surface which is flat.

3. The pillow according to claim 1 wherein the insert has an upper surface which is provided with a channel of a second predetermined depth which is less than the predetermined depth of the channel in the main o*oo *component.

4. The pillow according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the main component has a flat bottom surface and wherein the base component has flat upper and lower surfaces. 7 A bed pillow kit comprising at least three separate and removable components according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A bed pillow substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A kit for forming a pillow substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 31st day of March 1994 LEON PARNHAM By His Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. 00 o0 0 0 oO*o **oo oe*o *ooo 0 0 °t 0 o 0 000 0 00 00 0 0 0 00cC