GB2212719A

GB2212719A - A cushion

Info

Publication number: GB2212719A
Application number: GB8727717A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eyal Lederman
Original assignee: MAZOR Ltd
Current assignee: MAZOR Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-26
Filing date: 1987-11-26
Publication date: 1989-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-26
Also published as: WO1989004625A1; GB2212719B; GB8727717D0; AU1080188A

Abstract

A pillow (10) is disclosed which includes a first cover (12) and a second cover (16) within which is disposed a mixture of polystyrene beads (18) and down feathers (20). In use, the beads (18) adjust to the shape of the head and neck of a user. The feathers (20) cling to the beads (18) to reduce noise caused by the beads (18) rubbing against one another during movement.

Description

A CUSHION This invention relates to a cushion.

In this specification the term 'cushion' is to be construed as including any means which provides conformable support, whether forming part of an item of furniture, or otherwise and in particular includes seat cushions, pillows and mattresses.

Pillows provide support for the head of a sleeping person. Conventional pillows are soft elevated structures which gives some rest for the sleeper.

However, these do not provide proper cervical support.

Premoulded pillows have been proposed which are contoured to give such proper support but these have many disadvantages in concept and design, in particular because the contours of the back of the head and neck vary from person to person. As premoulded pillows have a fixed shape and height most people have to mould themselves to the contours of the pillow. Furthermore, during sleep the position of the head changes continuously and it is impossible to keep the head in the suggested correct anatomical position unless the user is awake. Thus the user may find himself lying directly on a part of the premoulded pillow which does not allow rest or support. These incorrect positions may actually be dangerous and lead to muscular tension or ligamentous strains of cervical structures. Also, although a night sleep is conceived as rest, there is continuous physical activity.Often pillows are moved about into different positions and sometimes reversed.

This means that a user might end up lying in completely the wrong anatomical position during some part of the night.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cushion to alleviate these difficulties.

According to the invention there is provided a cushion having a first filling and a particulate second filling wherein said fillings are attracted to or cling to one another whereby the friction between particles of the second filling is reduced.

Preferably the second filling comprises polystyrene beads and the first filling comprises down feathers at an approximate ratio of 1 to 1.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

With reference to figure 1, a pillow, generally designated 10, being a first embodiment of the invention, is illustrated. The pillow includes an outer cotton cover 12 within which a bag 14 is disposed. The bag 14 comprises a foam or polyester fibre cover 16 and is filled with a mixture of polystyrene beads 18 and down feathers 20.

The aim of the pillow 10 is to give individual anatomical support to the head and the cervical spine in recumbency by continuously moulding to the shape of the head and neck of a user.

In use, the weight of the head of a user forces the polystyrene beads to shift position to areas of lower contact pressure with the head thus filling and supporting the cervical concavity.

The primary purpose of the down feathers is to reduce the frictional noise associated with the movement of the beads, which would otherwise disturb sleep every time the user moves his/her head.

Increasing the size of the beads does also reduce the frictional noise somewhat, as the beads have a larger volume to surface area ratio, although the beads must be of a sufficiently small size to conform the shape of the head and neck of the user. A size of approximately 3 to 6 mm diameter is preferred.

Down feathers have the property that they are attracted to the polystyrene beads and thus tend to cling to the beads reducing the frictional noise. The inventor believes that the beads and feathers are attracted electrostatically to one another.

The ratio by weight of polystyrene to down is preferably in the range 45-55% polystyrene to 55-45% down.

Other materials to replace the polystyrene beads and/or down feathers may be used provided the replacement for the beads is some form of particulate material which will adjust the shape of the pillow to that of the head and neck of a user and the replacement for the feathers is attracted or clings to the particulate material. For example, particles of latex foam or wool may be used with the polystyrene beads instead of the down. The particle size should be less than the size of the beads. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 2 and is generally designated 30. The pillow 30 includes an inner bag 32 substantially of the same construction as the bag 14 of the embodiment of figure 1. The outer cover 34, however, includes, on opposed internal sides thereof, complementary sets of press studs 36, 38 which may be selectively engaged or disengaged by the user.

The purpose of the press studs is to allow the density of the pillow 30 to be changed. It will be apparent that if the sets of press studs 36, 38 are all engaged, the space within the outer cover 34 for the bag 32 will be reduced, thus compressing the contents of the bag 32. This in turn increases or decreases the density and thus the 'hardness' of the pillow. The sets of press studs allow grades of density to be achieved.

With reference to figure 3 a further embodiment of the invention is shown in which the press studs 36, 38 of figure 2 have been replaced by VELCRO hook/loop mechanism strips 40, 42 attached to the inner opposed surfaces of the cover 34.

A further embodiment is shown in figure 4 in which velcro strips SO, 52 are attached to an a like manner to that shown in figure 3 except that they are spaced in a transverse direction of the pillow and will thus give a continuously variable density control between the limits defined by the velcro strips 50, 52 being completely engaged or completely disengaged.

In general, density control may be achieved by narrowing/shortening any of the three dimensions of the pillow using any constricting means in addition to those described, e.g. zips, strings or strips of material / fabric or by the use of an inflateable / deflateable cushion inseriAeither into inner or outer cover.

Whilst the embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to a pillow, this is not to be construed as limitative and the invention is applicable to any other kind of cushion as herein before defined.

Claims

1. A cushion having a first filling and a particulate second filling wherein said fillings are attracted to or cling to one another whereby friction between particles of the second filling is reduced.

2. A cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second filling comprises polystyrene beads.

3. A cushion as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first filling comprises down feathers.

4. A cushion as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein the ratio of first filling to second filling by weight is in the range 45%/55% to 55%/45%.

5. A cushion as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first filling comprises particles of latex foam.

6. A cushion as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first filling comprises particles of wool.

7. A cushion as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims further comprising a first cover containing said first and second fillings and a second cover enclosing the first cover.

8. A cushion as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first cover is formed from polyester fibre.

9. A cushion as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first cover is formed from a foam material.

10. A cushion as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second cover is formed from cotton.

11. A cushion as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 further comprising means connected to the second cover for reducing the internal volume of the second cover.

12. A cushion as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means comprises first and second connectable formations provided on opposed internal sides of the second cover.

13. A cushion as claimed in claim 12 wherein said complimentary formations comprise engageable parts of a press stud.

14. A cushion as claimed in claim 12 wherein said engageable formations comprise a hook material and an engageable loop material.

15. A cushion as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein said means is arranged to provide a variable said volume between two limits.

16. A cushion comprising a first container including a conformable material and a second container enclosing said first container, said second container including means for restricting the internal volume thereof, within which the first container is disposed so as to adjust the hardness of the cushion.

17. A cushion substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.