EP2298139A1 - Neck support pillow - Google Patents

Abstract

The neck support cushion has a pillow cover which covers a cushion core comprising width, depth and height. The cushion core has three zones (BZ1,BZ2,BZ3) over its width and three zones (TZ1,TZ2,TZ3) over its depth and has different supporting hardness. The zones of different hardness are formed through sections introduced into a foam block in a support area. The sections are formed starting from the support area of the cushion core across a section depth in meander shape in such a way that an extension and a contraction of the section width are formed below the support area.

Description

The invention relates to a neck support cushion with a cushion cover which encloses a width, depth and height having pillow core having at least three zones over its width and at least two zones over its depth different support hardness, across the width of a zone of lower hardness a middle range and at least one zone of greater hardness forming the respective edge region.

Neck support pillows are used as an alternative to pillows and serve to achieve improved storage and support of the head while sleeping. The support of the head is problematic because the pillow is intended to support the neck at the transition from the not supported by the pillow shoulder, on the other hand, however, the head may not lift too much to ensure a relaxed storage of the head.

Known neck support pillow use as a pillow core a foam block that is adapted to the shape to be supported, that has a profiled support surface, which is increased in the neck and the skull has a lower height. Possibly. is also a head recess formed, in which the head can be embedded, which is to be carried out by the profiling in the neck area, a support of the cervical spine.

In order to allow for an individual adaptation of the shaping to the person using, it is known to use special materials which perform a very delayed recovery after deformation. As a result, an individual negative mold is formed in the material of the initially unprofiled cushion core by the support of the head and the neck, which generates virtually no restoring forces in the maintenance of the support of the head.

A disadvantage of the known neck support pillow forming a head recess, however, is that it is optimal only for a defined position of the person using it, but considerably restricts the mobility of the sleeping person. As is known, a sleeping person performs considerable movements for which the neck support pillow formed with a head recess is a hindrance, for example if the change takes place from a supine position to a side position of the sleeping person.

By DE 295 10 134 U1 is a neck support pillow is known, which has three zones of different hardness in the width direction and in the depth direction, wherein the widthwise and depthwise middle zone is formed softest. It uses a pillow with a filling of foam flakes / latex flakes, synthetic fibers or natural fibers or a mixture of these substances.

DE 36 27 286 A1 discloses a neck support pad in which zones of differing hardnesses are defined by foam components of different hardness and recesses introduced into the surface through which narrow, upwardly tapering ribs remain on the support surface. However, the resulting ribs or support points affect the comfort feeling for the resting on the neck support pillow head.

US Pat. No. 6,381,784 B1 discloses a profiled neck support cushion, whose support hardness is determined by a plurality of incisions arranged parallel to each other.

A similar solution for mattresses is through EP 0 367 607 A1 known, which extend through the incisions extending over the width of the mattress strips as a support surface extending meandering from the support surface of a depth of incision with two extensions and two constrictions, with a minimum constriction is on the support surface.

The present invention has for its object, a neck support cushion of the type mentioned in such a way that the support functions is guaranteed for a sleeping person, a comfortable support is achieved and an advantageous manufacturability is given.

To achieve this object, a neck support cushion according to the invention of the type mentioned above is characterized in that the zones of different hardness are formed by introduced into a pillow block forming foam block in a bearing surface cuts, which are formed starting from the support surface of the pillow core meandering over a cutting depth so at least one extension and at least one constriction of the incision width is formed underneath the support surface and their cross-sectional area determines the hardness of the zones delimiting the incisions up to the predetermined incision depth, that the zones are formed by punches which are exposed by angular incisions and at least some of the punches are limited to adjust their support hardness of leading to different hardnesses incisions.

The embodiment of the neck support cushion according to the invention is based on the recognition that the support function through the neck support cushion for the person sleeping on the back must be different than for the person sleeping on the side. Further, the invention is based on the recognition that the neck support pad is used by the person sleeping on the back in the central region to maintain the symmetry of the lateral support of the head, while the support of the head on the neck support pillow in lateral margins, in order not to interfere with nasal breathing by the head sinking into the pillow. Accordingly, the neck support cushion according to the invention is formed in the central region for the support of the head in the supine position, while at the edge regions of the neck support cushion is provided for the support of the head in a side position. Since the length of the head is regularly significantly greater than the width, a deeper sinking of the head (the back of the head) is allowed in the middle of the area in the cushion, as in the edge regions, when the head rests with one ear on the pillow. Therefore, according to the invention, the edge regions are formed with a greater hardness enabling a smaller sinking depth than the middle region.

The advantageous support by the neck support cushion according to the invention is supplemented by the fact that at least two zones of different hardness are formed with respect to the depth, with a harder zone serving to support the cervical spine, while a softer zone is formed softer for the support of the head to a allow deeper sinking of the head into the pillow.

If, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least three zones of different hardness are formed with respect to the depth, wherein a middle zone is formed with a hardness which is lower than the adjacent zone, the neck support cushion according to the invention can also extend in the direction of its depth to a width extending across the width Be formed symmetrically center plane, wherein the zones adjacent to the central zone may have the same hardness, but also a different hardness. With equal hardness of the adjacent zones, the cushion can be rotated in the plane width-depth by 180 ° about a vertical axis, without changing the support properties. But it is also possible to use different hardnesses in the adjacent zones, so that at a same sinking depth of the head different degrees of support of the cervical spine can be realized, from which the person using the neck support pillow can select the currently Pleasant.

According to the invention, the cushion core is formed by a foam block or latex block. The zones of different hardness are realized by incisions introduced into a support surface whose cross-sectional areas determine the hardness of the zone bounded by the incisions up to a predetermined incision depth. The more material has been removed by the cuts, the better the adjacent material of the foam block can expand under load, whereby the adjacent material is softer compared to the person lying on it as with smaller incisions. According to the invention, stamps of the foam or latex block which are responsible for the formation of the hardnesses in the zones are exposed by incisions which are at an angle to each other.

The incisions are formed starting from a contact surface of the cushion core in a meandering shape over the incision depth, so that at least one constriction and at least one extension of the material adjacent to the incision is formed below the support surface. Preferably, two constrictions and extensions are formed below the support surface. The consequence of expansion and constriction results in a stamp shape having a progressive spring characteristic. By pressing in the punch, the expansion-limiting flanks of the material, which preferably form an angle in a straight line, are pressed against one another such that the angle is reduced. Characterized reaches after a certain Eindrückiefe material on both sides of the extension to each other, which reduces the extension with an air gap between the flanks and increased in the further load the now additionally superimposed material of the original extension the resistance to further impressions of the punch. Since more and more material comes together when pressing the stamp, the result is the mentioned progressive spring characteristic unlike a linear spring characteristic that would result for a die exposed by straight cuts.

The incisions themselves need not be symmetrical. On the contrary, advantageous effects can be achieved in that at least some of the incisions have lower constrictions towards an adjacent material zone than towards the other material zone. The deeper constrictions lead to a softer formation of the adjacent material, while the less deep cuts provide greater hardness of the adjacent material zone. This training may be particularly useful if the width of a stamp corresponds to the width of a zone, as is preferred for the inventive design of a neck support pad. The same applies in the depth direction, where the depth of a stamp can correspond to the depth of the zone.

The incisions extending over the width or depth of the cushion core are preferably formed uniformly over the width or depth, that is to say as far as all material zones adjoining this incision on one side are concerned. The different hardness formation of in the direction of the incision adjacent material zones or punches is effected by the perpendicular to this incision incisions.

Since the cushion core has notches on its support side which could possibly be felt by the user, it is preferred if a cover layer is provided between the support surface of the cushion core and the cushion cover. This may also consist of a foam or be formed from a good air-permeable fabric.

The cushion core may have two opposing support surfaces, so that a rotation of the cushion core about a horizontal axis is possible, that is, a former underside of the neck support cushion as the top is usable. For this purpose, the cushion core can be formed over its width and depth with a constant height. This embodiment is preferred for the practice of the present invention. However, it is also possible to support the effect by the different hardness zones of the pad by profiling for a neck curl at the edge and / or a head recess in the middle region.

The neck support cushion according to the invention is preferably formed with a greater width than depth, wherein the width is dimensioned so that a central support surface for the soft central zone are supplemented by sufficiently large lateral edge regions on which the head can rest comfortably in the lateral position.

Figur 1

eine schematische Aufteilung einer Auflagefläche eines Kissens mit erfindungsgemäß vorgesehenen Zonen unterschiedlicher Här- te;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Hochschnitts durch einen Kissenkern in Breitenrichtung mit für die Erfindung bevorzugt vor- gesehenen Einschnittformen zur Ausbildung von Stempeln unter- schiedlicher Härte;

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines Hochschnitts in Tiefenrich- tung durch den Kissenkern analog Figur 2;

Figur 4

ein Schema für die Härtenverteilung an der Auflagefläche des Kis- senkerns, die sich aus dem Aufbau gemäß Figur 2 und 3 ergibt.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic division of a bearing surface of a pad with inventively provided zones of different hardness te;

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of a high section through a cushion core in the width direction with preferably provided for the invention incision forms for the formation of punches of different hardness;

FIG. 3

a schematic representation of a high section in the depth direction through the cushion core analog FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4

a scheme for the distribution of hardness on the bearing surface of the box core, which results from the construction according to FIG FIG. 2 and 3 results.

FIG. 1 shows the top view of a cushion core and thus a bearing surface of the cushion core with a width B and a depth T.

In the in FIG. 1 illustrated embodiment, the cushion core is divided over its width in three zones BZ 1, BZ 2 and BZ 3. This results in a middle region M of the cushion core, which is delimited by one edge region R in the width direction. The edge regions R are formed so wide that a comfortable lateral head mounting on the respective edge region R is possible. With an exemplary width of the cushion core of about 60 cm, the three areas R, M, R can be made the same size and each approximately 20 cm in the width direction.

At the in FIG. 1 shown cushion core close in the direction of depth three zones TZ 1, TZ 2 and TZ 3 to each other, so that there is a surface of 9 hardness zones. In this case, the hardness of the zones in the central region M is less than the hardness of the zones in the edge region R. Similarly, in the depth direction, the hardness of the central zone TZ 2 is less than the hardness of the adjacent edge zones TZ 1, TZ 3. Thus results a distribution of zone hardness ZH 1 to ZH 4, as in FIG. 1 is registered. The middle zone in the width direction and the depth direction respectively has a zone hardness of ZH 1 and is bounded laterally in the middle of the depth direction by zone hardness ZH 2 in the edge regions R.

The zone hardness in the middle region M in zones TZ 1 and TZ 3 is shown as zone hardness ZH 3. This is followed in each case in the edge regions R, the zone hardness ZH 4.

This results in a function of the neck support cushion, in which the head of the central zone with the zone hardness ZH 1 comes to lie in the supine position and sinks to a maximum. By lying in the depth direction zone TZ 1 in the middle region M, the cervical spine is optimally supported. A lateral support in this position results from the adjacent harder zones TZ 2 and TZ 1 in the edge regions R. Thus, the central zone with the lowest hardness ZH 1 is bounded laterally by zone hardness ZH 2, while the zone with the hardness ZH To support the neck spine is laterally limited by zone hardness ZH. 4

For the lateral position, the head lies on the zone TZ 2 in the edge regions R, thus being supported with a zone hardness ZH 2. The support of the neck area with a hardness ZH 4 takes place.

From the above explanations, it is clear that the zone TZ 3 is of subordinate importance for head mounting. The zone TZ 3 is equal to the Zone TZ 1 is formed so that a rotation of the pillow in the in FIG. 1 illustrated horizontal (character) level is possible without changing the support properties of the neck support pad.

FIG. 2 shows a partial section in the height direction, seen in the width direction, by an embodiment of a neck support cushion according to the invention. This neck support cushion has seen in the width direction on nine punches S, which are separated by a respective incision E from each other.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cushion core of the neck support cushion has a height H and the incisions E extend from the two surfaces, which can act as support surfaces A, perpendicular to the support surfaces A in the height direction. At a conceivable height of the cushion core of 10.8 cm, the depth ET of the incisions E may preferably be 4 cm, ie extend over about 33 to 42% of the height H. Particularly preferred is a shape of the incisions, as shown schematically in FIG FIG. 2 is shown. Accordingly, the incisions on the support surface A are very narrow, for example, only 0.5 cm wide. As the incision depth increases, the width of the incisions with a substantially straight flank F1 increases to a maximum width T1, and then decreases to a minimum width T2 with a corresponding second straight flank F2. The minimum width T2 may correspond to the width of the incision E at the support surface A. At the in FIG. 2 illustrated embodiment, this shape of the incision E is repeated again, so that two bulges of the incision E to the maximum width T1 and two constrictions result to the minimum width T2.

In FIG. 2 It can be seen that two types of incisions E1, E2 are provided, wherein both incisions E1, E2 have the same shape in principle, but the difference between the width T1 and the width T2 is formed differently. In the incisions E1, the broadening is to the maximum Width T1 compared to the minimum width T2 formed smaller than the incisions E2.

In one embodiment, the difference between T1 and T2 is 1.0 cm for the first incisions E1 and 1.5 cm for the second incisions E2.

The described shape of the incisions E results in a shape of the punches, which has a maximum width at the support surface A and is formed in the regions T1 with two constrictions, between which there is a bulge. At a pressure on the support surface A in the height direction H of the affected punch S is compressed in the direction of the height of the mattress core, whereby the flanks F1, F2 are increasingly on each other, whereby the spring action is increased by the punch progressively.

A stamp S, which is provided on both sides with second cuts E2, thereby developing a much lower hardness against the deformation than a stamp which is limited on both sides with first cuts E1. Consequently, a stamp S of medium hardness arises when on one side a first incision E1 and on the other side a second incision E2 is realized, as for the in FIG. 2 second stamp is shown from the left. As will be explained later, in each case nine rows of punches are realized across the width B of the cushion core.

Similarly, cuts E1, E2 are made across the width B, leading to the formation of a plurality of punches S in the depth direction, as shown in FIG FIG. 3 is indicated. Again, cuts E1, E2 are provided to realize different hardnesses of the stamp S. In the depth direction, five punches are provided one behind the other.

For manufacturing reasons, it makes sense that the incisions E1, E2 always extend in the same direction across the entire width B and depth T of the cushion core both in the width direction and in the depth direction. The production of the special shape of the incisions E1, E2 makes most sense with a narrow foam saw whose narrow saw blade extends over the entire width B and depth T of the cushion core.

The in the Figures 2 and 3 illustrated training with incisions E on both large surfaces of the cushion core, which thus can serve as both support surface A, has the advantage that the neck support pillow can also be rotated about a horizontal axis, so that a previous bottom can now be used as the top of the neck support pillow. However, this training is not preferred in all cases, since it can be quite advantageous to define a bottom without cuts, especially when the support surface A also undergoes a supportive effect of the punch S supporting profiling, so that the neck support cushion over the width and Deep formed surface has different heights H.

The in the Figures 2 and 3 illustrated embodiment of the neck support pad leads to a stamp distribution, as in FIG. 4 is shown. In the width direction B nine punches are in a row, while in the depth direction T five rows are formed one behind the other. Similar to the arrangement of FIG. 1 is given both a symmetry to parallel to the depth direction T extending center axis as the width direction B parallel center axis.

In FIG. 4 is drawn for the incisions E, whether it is in the depth direction T and in the width direction B by incisions E1 or E2. For the reasons mentioned above, the incisions E1 and E2 extend over the entire width B or depth T of the cushion core, so that all adjacent to an incision E punch S have the same incision contour, which in FIG. 4 is illustrated by the different incisions E1, E2 with different cutting depths.

In FIG. 4 are assigned to the individual stamps S hardness H0 to H4, which result from how many cuts E1 and E2 limit this stamp.

The in FIG. 4 Stamp shown on the top left is bounded on all four sides by the smaller incisions E1, so that a maximum hardness H4 results. The underlying punch S is bounded on three sides by incisions E1 and on one side by a notch E2, resulting in a resulting hardness H3. The in turn underlying punch S is bounded on two sides by cuts E2 and on two sides by cuts E1, so that a total hardness H2 can be determined.

In the middle region M of the neck support cushion are stamps S, which are bounded on three sides by cuts E2 and on one side by a cuts E1. This results in a spring hardness H1. The central punch with respect to the width direction B and the depth direction T is bounded on all four sides by the larger incisions E2 and therefore has the lowest hardness H0.

It can be seen that in the middle region M of the cushion core in the middle of the depth direction T, a very soft region results with the punch having the hardness H0 and four punches H1 adjacent in the width direction and height direction. The star-shaped adjacent punches with the hardness H2 thus form transitions to the edge punches (in the depth direction T) with the hardness H3.

In the marginal areas are the hardnesses H2, H3 and H4, wherein the stamp with the hardnesses H3 a transition from the zone hardness ZH 2 to the zone hardness ZH 4 according to FIG. 1 form.

It can be seen that considerable variations in the hardness of the punches S are already possible by means of two different incisions E1, E2 in order to realize the inventive structure of the neck support cushion. Of course, it is also possible to provide additional cuts E, which have larger or smaller maximum extensions T1, so as to provide intermediate stages, if this should make sense.

FIG. 4 indicates, moreover, that in particular the stamp S with the total hardness H3 and H1 form a transition region in a particular direction B or T and are used accordingly. The same applies to the stamps with the hardness H2, which are more difficult to deform in one direction than in the other direction.

The cushion core according to the invention is completed with a cushion cover and expediently with one or two cover layers over the contact surfaces A to the neck support cushion. Preferred dimensions of the neck support pillow are between 60 x 30 and 80 x 40 for the dimensions B x T. The height of the neck support pillow is usefully between 8 and 15 cm.

Claims (12)

Neck support pillow with a cushion cover which encloses a width (B), depth (T) and height (H) having pillow core, over its width (B) at least three zones (BZ 1, BZ 2, BZ 3) and over its depth (T) at least two zones (TZ 1, TZ 2, TZ 3) has different support hardness, over the width (B) a zone of lower hardness form a central region (M) and at least one zone of greater hardness the respective edge region (R) , characterized in that the zones of different hardness are formed by cuts (E) made in a cushion block forming foam block in a support surface (A), which are formed meandering starting from the support surface (A) of the cushion core over a cutting depth (ET) in that at least one extension (T 1) and at least one constriction of the incision width is formed below the support surface (A) and the cross-sectional area thereof is up to the predetermined incision depth ( ET) determine the hardness of the zones delimiting the sipes (E) that the zones are formed by punches (S) exposed by angular cuts (E) and that at least some of the punches for setting their contact hardness vary too much leading incisions (E1, E2) are limited. Neck support pillow according to claim 1, characterized in that with respect to the depth (T) at least three zones (TZ 1, TZ 2, TZ 3) of different hardness are formed, wherein a middle zone (TZ 2) with one with respect to the adjacent zones (TZ 1, TZ 3) low hardness is formed. Neck support pillow according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that over the incision depth (ET) at least two extensions (T1) and constrictions (T2) of the incision (E) are formed. Neck support pillow according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the width of the incisions (E) on the support surface (A) of the cushion core with respect to the width of the total incision depth (ET) is minimal. Neck support pillow according to claim 4, characterized in that the width of the incisions (E) in the regions of the constriction (T2) corresponds to the width of the incisions (E) on the support surface (A). Neck support pillow according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that extending the incisions (E) both in the width direction and in the depth direction in the same way over the entire width (B) and depth (T) of the cushion core. Neck support pillow according to claim 6, characterized in that the incisions (E1, E2) are each formed symmetrically to adjacent punches (S). Neck support pillow according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one incision (E), the two adjacent material zones separated from each other, over the incision depth (ET) at the same height at least one extension (T1) and at least one constriction (T2) are formed the extent of the at least one extension (T1) is different for the two material zones. Neck support pillow according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that between the support surface (A) of the cushion core and the cushion cover, a cover layer is provided. Neck support pillow according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cushion core has two mutually opposite bearing surfaces (A). Neck support pillow according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cushion core is formed over its width (B) and its depth (T) with a constant height (H). Neck support pillow according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cushion core has a profiling for a neck curvature on the edge and / or a head recess in the central region.

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