CA2314440A1 - Water pillow with restricted water flow - Google Patents

Water pillow with restricted water flow Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2314440A1
CA2314440A1 CA 2314440 CA2314440A CA2314440A1 CA 2314440 A1 CA2314440 A1 CA 2314440A1 CA 2314440 CA2314440 CA 2314440 CA 2314440 A CA2314440 A CA 2314440A CA 2314440 A1 CA2314440 A1 CA 2314440A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
pillow
tack
bag
water
seal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2314440
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Maurice R. Bard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IWI Ltd
Original Assignee
IWI Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IWI Ltd filed Critical IWI Ltd
Priority to CA 2314440 priority Critical patent/CA2314440A1/en
Priority to PCT/CA2001/000501 priority patent/WO2002007571A1/en
Publication of CA2314440A1 publication Critical patent/CA2314440A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47GHOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G9/00Bed-covers; Counterpanes; Travelling rugs; Sleeping rugs; Sleeping bags; Pillows
    • A47G9/10Pillows
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47GHOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G9/00Bed-covers; Counterpanes; Travelling rugs; Sleeping rugs; Sleeping bags; Pillows
    • A47G2009/008Bed-covers; Counterpanes; Travelling rugs; Sleeping rugs; Sleeping bags; Pillows using a liquid as filling material

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • Bedding Items (AREA)

Abstract

A water bag for a head pillow has been modified by providing a series of tack seals located interior to the periphery of the water bag. The tack seals reduce the volume of the water bag and control the displacement of the water when a person's head is supported on the pillow. In a preferred embodiment, part of the water bag is deprived or the bag is restricted to provide additional support to the areas adjacent the deprived area. This has particular application as a chiropractic pillow.

Description

TITLE: WATER PILLOW WITH RESTRICTED WATER FLOW
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to pillows and in particular, pillows which include a sealable bag for receiving a volume of liquid to provide support for the pillow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A water based pillow is disclosed in our United States Patent 4,847,931. This pillow has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of patients suffering from recurring headaches or neck pain. It is believed the thin layer of water support at the base of the pillow allows more consistent support and also responds to changing positions of the head on the pillow.
Although the pillow has met with considerable success in the market place, The weight of the water limits the size of the water bag in the standard pillow and this problem becomes more acute for larger size pillows such as jumbo, queen and king pillows.
Also, the support characteristics of the water bag change dramatically as the size of the water bag increases.
A minimum support layer of water is required to properly support the fiber and the user's head and neck as required.
Bottoming out, where the minimum support layer is eliminated, can occur as the water bag size increases.
Basically, the volume of the water bag available for water displacement greatly increases as the size of the bag increases.
The present invention seeks to overcome a number of these difficulties.

WH-10,841CA
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A pillow according to the present invention comprises an outer fabric casing, a sealable plastic bag for containing fluid therein attached to a base portion of the outer fabric casing, and a compressible material above the sealable plastic bag. The plastic bag has a peripheral seal thereabout and includes at least two tack seals interior to and spaced from the peripheral seal. Each tack seal joins opposed surfaces of the bag and restricts the volume of the bag.
According to an aspect of the invention, the bag includes two tack seals located on a center line of the bag with one tack seal being located adjacent one end of the bag and the other tack seal located adjacent the other end of the bag.
According to an aspect of the invention, the tack seals are positioned to define a large central region and two end regions located either side of the central region.
These regions define different support areas for the water layer.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, at least one tack seal is positioned between the central region and each end region.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, two tack seals form a division between the central region and each end region.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, each tack seal is of a size less than .25 square inches.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the tack seals are located to define a series of interconnected regions of restricted volume such that a person's head WH-10,841CA
resting on the pillow is supported on a thin layer of water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a sectional view through the pillow showing two tack seals and the division of the water bag.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of the pillow prior to the insertion of the compressible fill material;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the effect of the tack seal and limiting the volume of a water bag for a standard pillow;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a water bag for a jumbo pillow;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a water bag for a queen size pillow;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a water bag for a king size pillow;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a water bag for a chiropractic pillow;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a water bag for a modified chiropractic pillow; and Figure 9 is a sectional view through a pillow showing the water support beneath a user's head.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a preferred construction of the pillow. The pillow 2 has an outer fabric casing 4 which is made of a ticking material. This outer fabric casing encloses the pillow and the various components thereof.
Interior to the fabric casing is a thin plastic liquid retaining bag 8 which is attached by means of stitches 10 passing through the fastening periphery 9 and engaging the bottom surface 6 of the fabric casing 4.
WH-10,841CA
The plastic bag 8 retains water 7 and provides support layer beneath the compressible fill material 18.
Immediately beneath the water bag 8 is a thermal reflecting material 12 which is attached with the bag to the fabric casing.
The water bag 8 has at least one peripheral seal thereabout and a flange area which allows attachment to the casing. Interior to this peripheral seal, are a series of tack seals or welds 70. The tack seals have been located to define a central region 50 and end regions 60. The tack seals 70 serve to restrict the volume of the water bag 8 and allows the water bag to be used with larger size pillows. The water bag 8 is increased in size for the larger size pillow and the tack seals 70 serve to reduce the volume and reduce the amount of fluid that is required to maintain a minimum layer of liquid beneath a person's head if they place it on the pillow as shown in Figure 9.
It has been found that as the size of the water bag increases, the amount of fluid necessary to maintain a minimum layer beneath a person's head increases considerably if the tack seals are not present because of the greatly increasing volume for water displacement.
Unfortunately, the weight of the pillow increases substantially and the pillow is less desirable. The use of the tack seals 70 have divided the water bag 8 into a primary central region and the two end regions and reduced the amount of liquid that is required to maintain the fluid support. The large central region provides support similar to our standard pillow and the small tack seals cause minimal disruption in the extremities due to the four inches of fiber on top and the free movement of water about the tack seal. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, the tack seals provide more aggressive support either side of a user's head as the bulge regions are not distributed across WH-10,841CA
the entire water bag as would be the case if the tack seals were not present.
The end regions 60 are connected peripheral regions which are positioned to the exterior of the tack seals.
This is particularly true with the embodiments shown in Figures 3 through 6 where additional tack seals further define the peripheral regions 66 while maintaining a preferred large central region 50.
In Figure 2, a queen size pillow is shown without the compressible fill material. The water bag 8 has been provided with four tack seals 70 which define the central region 50 with the outer peripheral regions 60 about the central region. The peripheral .regions and the central regions are all connected and the water freely passes from one region to the other, however, the extent that the pillow can expand is limited by the tack seals. The queen size water bag is shown in Figure 5. In this way, the volume of water necessary to maintain a minimal support layer beneath a person's head, has been substantially decreased.
The area of the water bag not supporting the head allows less water to be displaced thereto due to the tacks, and the minimum support layer is maintained.
This is particularly desirable for the manufacture of a queen size pillow or a king size pillow as well as a jumbo pillow which is slightly larger than the standard pillow.
A standard pillow has dimensions of approximately 20 inches by 26 inches; a jumbo pillow has dimensions of approximately 20 inches by 28 inches; a queen size pillow has dimensions of 20 inches by 30 inches; and the king size pillow has dimensions of 20 inches by 36 inches.
_ 5 _ WH-10,841CA
The water bag for a standard pillow is approximately 12 inches by 18 inches and does not require any tack seals. A modified standard pillow increases the size to 14 inches by 20 inches and two end tack seals on the center line are provided (Figure 3). This increase in width improves neck support. For the manufacture of a jumbo pillow, the water bag is about 14 inches by 20 inches and includes at least two tack seals and preferrably 4 as shown in Figure 4. The water bag for a queen size pillow is about 14 inches by 24 inches, and again includes at least two tack seals and preferrably 4, as shown in Figure 5. These tack seals are preferrably located approximately three inches interior to the ends of the peripheral seal.
With respect to a king size pillow, the water bag is about 14 inches by 28 inches and includes at least eight tack seals as shown in Figure 6.
The tack seals can be made at the same time that the peripheral seal about the water bag is made.
Basically, the water bag is either a two layer water bag or a four layer water bag with a peripheral seal thereabouts.
The sealing equipment can also perform the tack sealing at the desired points. The use of single tack seals allows the bag to quickly bulge upwardly and this localized interruption in fluid support directly above the tack seal is not a problem.
With the water pillow of the present invention, it is desirable to maintain a thin layer of water beneath a person's head as they use the pillow. Many advantages of the pillow are not achieved if the thin layer of water supporting a person's head is not maintained. In order to achieve the support in a king size pillow, without the use of tack seals, the volume of the liquid was approximately twice that of the standard pillow. As shown in Figures 3 through 6, a preferred central region of a size of about 14 inches by 16 inches is maintained.
WH-10,841CA
Furthermore, the liquid is a very substantial thermal mass and tack seals reduce the amount of water required.
The use of the tack seals has achieved the desired support and has not caused any large creases or areas which are not supported by the liquid. Although the tack seal does provide a localized point where there is no liquid support, the water has been found to quickly bulge upwardly from the tack seal and as such, the head is properly supported. The fiber layer atop the water bag also distributes forces over a larger area and thus, the supporting effect of the water is maintained.
The actual size of the tack seals 70 are preferrably about one quarter inch in diameter to provide a proper seal and to avoid problems such as leakage. As can be appreciated, if there is a failure of the tack seal, it could well cause a failure of the bag, which is to be avoided. Therefore, the seal has to be relatively strong and this size area has proven to provide acceptable performance.
A further feature of the tack seals is the ability to lay out a pattern of tack seals to provide a particular support structure. The tack seals also allow the water to move quickly and to rapidly respond to changes of positions of a supported head.
A further embodiment as shown in Figures 7 and 8 has a water deprived area 83 generally in the most common support position for the head. This forces more water to the edges of the water bag for firmer neck support. Four tack seals are provided in Figure 7 with the water deprived area 83 being approximately three inches by three inches.
In Figure 8, the area 83 is sealed off and defines a hollow. In both cases, the neck support in areas 85 and 87 is firmer, relative to the water bags of Figures 3 through wH-10,841CA
6. The water deprived area of Figure 8 also illustrates how a single central tack seal can reduce the water bag volume. Such a tack seal could be of an area of about .25 square inches.
Additional tack seals can be provided in the water bags of Figures 3 through 6 if it is desired to reduce the required volume of water. In particular, the central region can be provided with further tack seals.
It is also possible to use only one tack seal, preferrably centrally located. This tack seal reduces the volume and still allows free flow of the meter about the tack seal. The tack seal is hidden by the fiber and the free flow of water.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention of the scope of the appended claims.
_ g

Claims (8)

1. A pillow comprising an outer fabric casing, a sealable plastic bag for containing fluid therein attached to a base portion of said outer fabric casing, and a compressible material above said sealable plastic bag, said plastic bag having a peripheral seal thereabout and at least one tack seal interior to and spaced from said peripheral seal, such at least one tack seal joining opposed surfaces of said bag and restricting the volume of said bag.
2. A pillow as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bag includes at least two tack seals with one tack seal being located adjacent one end of said bag and the other tack seal located adjacent the other end of said bag.
3. A pillow as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tack seals are positioned to define a large central region with two end regions located either side of said central region.
4. A pillow as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one tack seal is positioned between said central region and each end region.
5. A pillow as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least two tack seals form a division between said central region and each end region.
6. A pillow as claimed in claim 5 wherein each tack seal is of a size less than .25 square inches.
7. A pillow as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tack seals are generally on said centerline.
8. A pillow as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one tack seal defines a water deprived central area.
CA 2314440 2000-07-24 2000-07-24 Water pillow with restricted water flow Abandoned CA2314440A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2314440 CA2314440A1 (en) 2000-07-24 2000-07-24 Water pillow with restricted water flow
PCT/CA2001/000501 WO2002007571A1 (en) 2000-07-24 2001-04-12 Water pillow with restricted water bag

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2314440 CA2314440A1 (en) 2000-07-24 2000-07-24 Water pillow with restricted water flow

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2314440A1 true CA2314440A1 (en) 2002-01-24

Family

ID=4166767

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2314440 Abandoned CA2314440A1 (en) 2000-07-24 2000-07-24 Water pillow with restricted water flow

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2314440A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2002007571A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005110169A1 (en) * 2004-05-14 2005-11-24 Iwi Ltd. Water pillow with restricted flow

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6060105B2 (en) * 2014-04-02 2017-01-11 豊光 根橋 Support tool and bag

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3727353A1 (en) * 1987-08-17 1989-04-27 Walter A Dr Med Laabs Pneumatic repositioning and relieving plastic splint
US4847931A (en) 1988-05-10 1989-07-18 Bard Maurice R Water pillow
DE4126881C2 (en) * 1991-08-14 1994-06-09 Steppdeckenfabrik Kirchhoff Oh Pillow with fluid sack
US5363524A (en) * 1993-08-26 1994-11-15 Makura Corporation Multi-adjustment cervical pillow

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005110169A1 (en) * 2004-05-14 2005-11-24 Iwi Ltd. Water pillow with restricted flow
US7017214B2 (en) 2004-05-14 2006-03-28 Iwi Ltd. Water pillow with restricted flow

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2002007571A1 (en) 2002-01-31

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