FR2506151A1 - Therapeutic pillow for neck - comprises hollow plastics vessel filled with hot liq. and with curved supple upper surface - Google Patents

Abstract

The pillow supports and warms the neck and has an internal cavity (2) with a filling opening (3) which can be hermetically sealed. The lower face (4) of the pillow is flat and rests on the support surface and the upper face (6) is contoured to support the neck. The upper face has a supple central zone (7) and a pair of curved lateral portions which are more rigid. The pillow is filled with liq. warmed to the desired temp. and the user lies on his back with the pillow supporting the neck.

Description

 The present invention relates to a cervical support, correction and warming device respecting physiological lordosis.

 There are already known multiple devices for holding certain parts of the human body, for therapeutic purposes, these devices being generally used on an outpatient basis by the patient.

 Correction devices of the same type are also known as the aforementioned holding devices.

 Finally, it is also known to heat, for therapeutic purposes, certain parts of the body by hot water bottles or other flexible devices of the same type.

 However, there is no known device allowing at the same time the maintenance, the correction and the warming in particular of the cervical region and respecting the logical lysosis.

 The object of the invention is to overcome these various drawbacks and to this end provides a flexible device for maintaining, correcting and warming up the cervix respecting physiological lordosis, characterized in that it comprises, by one, a zone for maintaining and correction of the cervical spine in a position respecting the physiological curvature, on the other hand a cavity filled with a fluid previously heated and brought to the desired temperature, said device being intended to be used by the patient in a position where the posterior part trunk and nape of the neck are supported on a support plane.

 The support plan concerned could advantageously be a bed, or relax armchair, or equivalent. Very advantageously, the device according to the invention will be used by the patient in the lying position for preparation for sleep, the pains and contractures then opposing annoyingly at slackening and falling asleep.

The proposed device, which looks like a hot water bottle by the warming effect that is sought, is original in that it causes relaxation and rest of the cervical spine, in a subject in supine position by means of three effects
- the upkeep,
- correction (possibly),
- reheating.

 The first effect consists in keeping the cervical spine in a position respecting the physiological curvature, the support zone therefore affecting this level an anatomical profile.

 The second effect consists in restoring the cervical spine to a normal physiological curvature, for example when contracted muscles have disturbed the normal statics of the cervical spine.

 The third effect is achieved by simply filling the cavity of the device with a liquid previously heated and brought to the desired temperature.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description below of a nonlimiting example of implementation, with reference to the appended drawings in which
FIG. I is a top view of the device,
FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section,
- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view in the use position.

 The device of the invention has the general appearance of a bladder (1) or sealed container made of flexible material comprising an internal cavity (2) and a filling or emptying orifice (3) which can be hermetically sealed.

Referring to Figure 2, the device essentially comprises
- a lower face (4) in close contact with the support plane (5),
- an upper face (6) in direct contact with the subject's cervical region.

The upper face (6) has a holding zone consisting of
- a flexible central part (7),
- two lateral parts (8,9) bulged and more rigid than the central part.

 The central part (7) can reproduce a typical physiological curvature, but it is also possible to provide several sizes. By modulating the more or less significant filling of the cavity (2), the device will be adapted for each user.

 As shown in Figure 3, the central part (7) maintains the cervical spine over its entire length (vertebrae C1 to C7) and the possible correction of the bure court.

 The lateral bulges (3) provide lateral support for the cervical spine and also act as a reserve of calories.

As shown in Figure 3, the device is simply placed under the patient's neck in the extended position, and rests on a support plane (bed, relax chair, etc.)
The device can, as necessary, be adapted to each user and each use by playing on the following elements
- temperature of the fluid in the cavity (2),
- degree of filling of the cavity (2),
- possible wrapping of the device,
- placement in a raised position (for example using a pillow or a bolster).

 The device of the invention may be made of any flexible synthetic material supporting without excessive softening the temperature of the heating fluid.

 It would not go beyond the scope of the invention to replace the heating fluid with an equivalent electrical device ensuring the same functions while maintaining the flexibility of the area (7) and the greater rigidity of the bulges (8, 9).

Claims (2)

 CLAIMS 1. Flexible cervical support, correction and warming device respecting physiological lordosis, characteristic in that it comprises on the one hand a zone (6) for maintaining and correcting the cervical spine in a position respecting the physiological curvature, on the other hand a cavity (2) filled with a fluid previously heated and brought to the desired temperature, said device (1) being intended to be used by the patient in a position where the posterior part of the trunk and the neck are supported on a support plane (5). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the zone (6) comprises a flexible central part (7) and two lateral parts (8,9) swollen and more rigid than the central part