EP1046365A1

EP1046365A1 - Pillow

Info

Publication number: EP1046365A1
Application number: EP20000201335
Authority: EP
Inventors: Willy Poppe
Original assignee: Imhold NV
Current assignee: Imhold NV
Priority date: 1999-04-23
Filing date: 2000-04-13
Publication date: 2000-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-13
Also published as: EP1046365B1; ES2199738T3; DE60002519T2; ATE239409T1; DE60002519D1; BE1012627A3

Abstract

This invention relates to a pillow consisting of a tick (2) and a core (3), which in its turn is composed of a central part (4) and an edge portion (5), whereby the central part (4) consists of resilient, tubular elements (6), the wall of which does possess a series of radial openings (9), characterized in that at least at one edge of this central part (4) a tubular roll (10-12) is provided which is made in the same manner and of the same material as the aforementioned resilient elements (6) of the central part (4).

Description

This invention relates to a pillow, more particularly a pillow which is provided with resilient elements.
More particularly, the invention relates to a pillow which substantially is filled with resilient elements, such as known from the Belgian patent No. 1.007.171, consisting of a tubular body of foam having openings in its wall which are directed inward from the exterior.
Such pillow is known from the Belgian patent No. 1.010.041.
In the aforementioned Belgian patent No. 1.010.041, a pillow is described which substantially consists of a cover in which a springy core is arranged, consisting of a plate made of foam, in which openings are provided through which the resilient elements forming said core extend, whereby these resilient elements are constricted by the aforementioned plate at the height of the center of their tubular body.
The resilient elements arranged along the edge of the aforementioned plate are less high than those which are arranged more towards the center. Moreover, the edges of the resilient core have to be filled up with another springy material, in order to provide a suitable thickness for the pillow towards its circumference.
The advantage of such resilient elements in the core is that a maximum softness and elasticity is obtained during a long period of time, which is not the case when other materials of foam with a very low specific weight are applied.
After a certain period of time, most of the known light-weight foams will lose their springyness as they harden and shrink, which is not the case with the aforementioned resilient elements.
This known pillow according to BE 1.010.041, however, shows the already mentioned disadvantage that the edges of the pillow still have to be filled up with another light-weight, springy material which has to be as soft as the resilient elements, in order to provide for that the resilience at the edges of the pillow is comparable to the resilience of the rest of the pillow.
Such light-weight springy material, however, has a very low specific weight which results in that, after a relatively short period of time, the resilience of the light-weight springy material disappears, as a result of which the pillow, so to speak, gradually diminishes until there does not much remain of the filling material along the edges. The pillow seems to have shrunk and does no longer offer a good support for the neck during sleeping.
The invention has a pillow as its object which does not show the aforementioned and other disadvantages and which therefore does possess a maximum softness and elasticity, at the same time offering a comfortable support for head and neck, which advantages are maintained also after a very long use.
According to the invention, this advantage is achieved by a pillow consisting of a tick and a core which, in its turn, is composed of a central part and a edge portion, whereby the central part consists of resilient, tubular elements, the wall of which has a series of radial openings, whereby a tubular roll is provided at least at one edge of this central part which is made in the same manner and of the same material as the aforementioned resilient elements of the central part.
The diameter of this roll shall preferably be equal to the height of the aforementioned resilient elements.
Still preferably, the entire periphery of the edge portion of the core is provided with such roll.
This edge portion of the core may consist of one roll which extends around the entire central part of the core.
The resilient elements preferably are contracted at the height of the center of their tubular body, for example by means of a plate provided with openings, wherein these bodies are held and which also stabilizes these latter in respect to each other.
Such plate can be made, for example, of foam.
With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, hereafter, as an example without any limitative character, several preferred forms of embodiment of a pillow according to the invention are described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 represents a perspective view with a partial cut-off of the tick of a pillow according to the invention;
figure 2, at a larger scale, represents a cross-section according to line II-II in figure 1;
figure 3 represents a view similar to that of figure 1, but in respect to an embodiment variant;
figure 4, at a larger scale, represents a cross-section according to line IV-IV in figure 3;
figure 5 represents a top view of a pillow according to figures 3 and 4, whereby the tick is removed.
As represented in the figures, a pillow 1 consists of a tick 2 in which a core 3 is provided, whereby this core is formed by a central part 4 and an edge portion 5.
The central part 4 of the core 3 is composed of resilient elements 6 which are anchored in respect to each other in a known manner or which, in a manner known as well, are anchored in respect to the tick 2 in a manner not represented in the figures.
The aforementioned resilient elements 6 consist of a tubular body 7 of springy foam, for example, polyurethane foam, with a central opening 8, and the wall of which shows a series of radial openings 9.
The resilient elements 6 are formed, for example, of a plate of foam which is provided with short incisions over its entire surface, which incisions extend through the thickness of the plate and which preferably are arranged according to a staggered pattern.
Subsequently, this plate is deformed, such that its extremities are located against each other, after which these extremities are connected to each other.
A first form of embodiment of a pillow according to the invention is represented in figures 1 and 2, whereby the core 3 of the pillow 1 is provided at its edge with an aforementioned edge portion 5 formed by a roll 10 of the same material as the resilient elements 6.
The remaining edges of the core 3 can be filled, for example, with another material 11, for example, a suitable synthetic foam.
The diameter of the roll 10 is approximately equal to the height of the resilient elements 6 of the central part 4 of the core 3.
As the resilient elements 6 of the central part 4, the roll 10 of the edge portion 5 can also be formed of a foam plate with suitable dimensions, in which incisions are provided which continue through the entire thickness of the foam plate.
Subsequently, the foam plate is deformed to a roll the extremities of which are attached to each other, preferably by means of a suitable glue.
Due to the construction and composition of the roll 10 of the edge portion 5, this latter provides for a permanent resilience and softness, such that also after a long period of time, a good neck support remains guaranteed.
In consideration of the fact that one mostly will sleep on the same edge of the pillow 1, the three other edges can be filled up with another, and possibly cheaper, material 11.
The roll 10 can be attached to the adjacent springy elements 6 by means of cords, ribbons, glueing or such, whereby the diabolo shape of the elements 6 facilitates the positioning of the roll 10.
In figures 3 to 5, a second embodiment of a pillow according to the invention is represented.
Hereby, the core 3 of the pillow 1 is surrounded by an edge portion 5 which is formed by a roll 12, similar to the roll 10 in the first form of embodiment, but whereby the roll 12 is provided entirely around the central part 4 of the core 3. The two extremities of the roll 12 then are attached to each other, preferably also by means of a suitable glue.
In this case, too, the roll 12 will be suitably attached to the springy elements 6.
In figure 4, it is represented that the roll 12 of the core 3 provides in that the tick 2 is filled up completely. Due to the permanent resilience of the aforementioned roll 12, the shape of the pillow 1 is maintained even after a long period of time and multiple use.
It is clear that in this manner a pillow is obtained which offers a maximum softness and elasticity and which keeps offering a good support for head and neck even after multiple use.
Moreover, the invention is not limited to the forms of embodiment described heretofore and represented in the figures, on the contrary may such pillow be realized in different variants, dimensions and materials without leaving the scope of the invention.

Claims

Pillow, consisting of a tick (2) and a core (3), which in its turn is composed of a central part (4) and an edge portion (5), whereby the central part (4) consists of resilient, tubular elements (6), the wall of which does possess a series of radial openings (9), characterized in that at least at one edge of this central part (4) a tubular roll (10-12) is provided which is made in the same manner and of the same material as the aforementioned resilient elements (6) of the central part (4).
Pillow according to claim 1, characterized in that the roll (12) completely surrounds the core (3) of the pillow (1) at the four edges.
Pillow according to claim 2, characterized in that the roll (12) is realized in one piece.
Pillow according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diameter of the roll (10-12) is approximately equal to the height of the resilient elements (6).
Pillow according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular elements (6) are made of springy foam material.