JP2022185578A - pillow support - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a pillow support allowing a user to comfortably use it without causing congestion in the neck or back of the head even when using it for a long period of time in a state confined to a bed or a chair or in an inappropriate sleeping state.SOLUTION: An upper surface (22) is arranged to support a pillow (10), and a lower surface (24) is configured to be at least partially convex such that a pillow support swings along a direction of convex curvature when supporting a pillow. The pillow support is comprised of a material suitable for holding an at least partially convex shape of a second surface (24) when supporting the pillow. The upper surface is disposed to support the pillow and the lower surface is configured to be at least partially convex such that the pillow support swings along the direction of convex curvature when supporting a pillow.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to pillows and pillow supports used for sleeping, and to pillows, cushions and supports for supporting and improving the comfort of a user's head and/or neck. .

Pillows are known that are used to increase comfort during sleep and reduce head, neck and back pain resulting from poor sleeping posture. Pillows usually consist of a soft or deformable filter material wrapped in a cloth cover and sometimes covered again with a second removable cover. Generally, polyester or viscoelastic polyurethane foams are used as filter materials, which are so-called memory foams because they have the necessary properties of flexibility, deformability and elasticity. Other materials such as cotton, down, feathers, or polymeric fibers are used.

Typically, pillows used during sleep are designed to compress the user against a relatively flat or deformable surface used as a bed, whether firm or not, or a mattress designed to compress the user. to support the head and neck of the A pillow can be used, for example, directly on a stone floor. Compressive deformation of the pillow material increases the contact surface between the user and the pillow and distributes the pressure due to the weight of the head and neck over the entire area of the pillow. If the pillow's filter material resists compression too much, a smaller area of the head will come into contact with the pillow, causing discomfort in that area, possible skeletal misalignment and muscle tension, thus reducing support. will be in short supply. Conversely, a pillow filter material that has too little resistance to compression not only fails to provide any of the resistance necessary to support the user, but it can also cause the user's head to sag due to the depressions and valleys created by the user's weight. In some cases, the support may be inadequate, as it may exhibit greater resistance to adjustment of the body or part of the body.

Pillows are designed to distribute the weight of the user's head and neck over a larger area and to reduce the pressure on the contact surface of the head and neck. Conventionally, providing a deformable material that fits in a volume equivalent to the average human head makes it difficult for the user to support the head and neck or move to other locations on the bed structure. Was going to be convenient. In this way, by changing the angle and placement of the pillow, the user may adapt the pillow to his or her preference, placing different parts of the head on the pillow and wanting to reposition sideways and back. If necessary, the pillow may be moved.

However, there are limits to such personalization of pillow usage. Conventional pillows must be dragged along the mattress to a new position or lifted up to support the head and neck of a side or back sleeping user. Also, if the user wants to stay in the same place on the bed while lying on their back, they have to move between the bed and pillows to get to a new position. This high level of friction and resistance can be difficult for some users to overcome for a variety of reasons, such as muscle conditions, neck and back problems, and disabilities.

In fact, if the user tilts the head to further lower or upward the jaw angle, the head must be lifted or dragged from the pillow, which can be a very uncomfortable task for users with neck or back problems. have a nature. Once tilted, the pillow may be significantly uncomfortable due to previous compression or lack thereof in the new support area, or may require adjustment as the head weight must be maintained in this position until repositioned. be. Leaning to the left or right may be easy for healthy people, but uncomfortable and difficult for other people. Patients confined to beds and chairs are particularly prone to developing pressure ulcers, especially on the back of the head and ears, and improper sleeping positions can cause long-term problems.

Such problems are due to the design of conventional pillows, which encourage the user's head to be fixed in a particular position on the pillow. The pillow mechanism is resistant to head and neck movements by designing it to deform when it receives a user's head or body part to provide comfort. In other words, the porous, low-density structure allows air to enter and exit, thereby resisting changes in head placement and movement by maintaining deformation of the pillow body by the head.

Deformations of conventional conformable pillows create troughs or depressions in which the head rests and which serve to resist rollover and adjustment of the head, thereby holding it there.

Moreover, in particular, pillows used for treatment of the neck and back may be prepared with pillows that are difficult to deform. Such pillows can be made more resilient to deformation to improve head and neck alignment, but at the expense of comfort and the ability to adjust the pillow to meet the user's needs. Such pillows are intended to limit movement of the user's head and neck in order to provide support in the proper position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome various drawbacks and problems of conventional pillows.

Thus, the present invention provides a pillow support having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface positioned to support the pillow and the lower surface swinging along a direction of convex curvature when the pillow support supports the pillow. At least a portion is configured to have a convex curvature to allow movement. In some embodiments, the pillow support is made of a material suitable to retain the convex configuration of at least a portion of the lower surface when supporting the pillow. In other embodiments, the lower surface has a first, at least partially convex curvature in a generally longitudinal direction and a second, at least partially convex curvature in a generally longitudinal direction.

In another embodiment of the invention, the pillow support is configured such that the first and/or second curvatures are uniform. Other embodiments of pillow supports may be configured such that the lower surface is predominantly convex. In other embodiments, the entire lower surface is configured to be convex. In other embodiments, the top surface is at least partially concave. In other embodiments, the majority of the top surface is configured to be concave. In other embodiments, the entire top surface is configured to be concave.

There may be some embodiments in which the upper and lower surfaces have complementary curvatures. In some embodiments, the top surface has a uniform curvature. In other embodiments, the top surface is substantially flat. Additionally, some embodiments of the present invention may consist of at least one air hole. Other embodiments may include multiple air holes. Additionally, there are embodiments that comprise more than one region of air holes.

Some embodiments of the invention may consist of hollow bodies. Other embodiments further comprise a base member and a joint configured to allow the pillow support to adjust at least one of roll, pitch and yaw relative to the base member. Other embodiments further comprise a conformable pillow. Yet other embodiments further comprise an outer cover. Other embodiments are configured to rock the pillow.

The features outlined in the embodiments above and below may be combined as defined by the claims.

In another embodiment, a pillow support suitable for use during sleep and/or rest comprises a pillow support configured to support a user's body or body part, the pillow support comprising: With an upper convex surface, the pillow support is further constructed of a material suitable to retain the shape of the upper convex surface under the weight of the user, with a degree of curvature to accommodate the user or the user's body part and optional pillow. is suitable for

In another embodiment, the upper convex surface of the cradle/pillow support has a first curvature in the longitudinal direction and a second curvature in the latitudinal direction. In other embodiments, the first and/or second curvature of the cradle/pillow support is uniform. In other embodiments, the first and/or second curvature of the cradle/pillow support is not uniform, e.g. It may become more severe towards the edges, or the first and/or second curvature may consist of several peaks and valleys, and so on. In other embodiments, in addition to any combination of features as described above, the cradle/pillow support may further comprise a lower surface opposite the upper convex surface. This lower surface may be convex, planar, concave, reflecting the curvature of the upper surface, having a uniform curvature, having a non-uniform curvature, i.e. shallower towards a given edge and more severe towards a different edge, It may be composed of a plurality of peaks and valleys, or the like.

In other embodiments, further to any of the above embodiments, the cradle/pillow support may further comprise at least one air hole. In other embodiments, any of the above embodiments may further comprise at least one plurality of air holes. In any of the above embodiments, the cradle/pillow support may be hollow.

In another embodiment, the pillow support comprises a cradle/pillow support according to any of the embodiments described above, further comprising a base member mechanically coupled to the cradle/pillow support via joints. and the joint is configured to allow the cradle/pillow support to adjust at least one of pitch, roll and yaw with respect to the base member. The base member consists of a flatbed of approximately the same size as the net of the cradle/pillow support and is chamfered or shaped to allow the cradle/pillow support to adjust its position on the base member. good too. The joint may be any suitable joint such as a ball and socket, any spherical joint, a revolute or prismatic joint, or a planar joint.

Any of the above embodiments may further support the conformable pillow and/or be wrapped in an outer cover.

In other embodiments, pillow supports suitable for use during sleep and/or rest may include an outer cover, a conformable pillow, and a cradle/pillow support, wherein the cradle/pillow support is a support for the pillow. It is substantially non-deformable under pressures and forces normal to the field, has a curvature suitable to accommodate both the conformable pillow and the user or the user's body part, and is wide enough to fit within the outer cover. . The components of the pillow support may be arranged such that the cradle/pillow support accommodates the compliant pillow, which in turn are both accommodated by the outer cover. The cradle/pillow support allows the pillow support to maintain contact with the bed structure while changing pitch, roll or yaw.

In other embodiments, a pillow support suitable for use during sleep and/or rest may comprise an outer cover, a conformable pillow, a base member and a cradle/pillow support, wherein the cradle/pillow support comprises: , substantially non-deformable under pressures and intensities normal to the field of the pillow, having a curvature suitable for accommodating both the conformable pillow and the user or the body part of the user, and the interior of the outer cover It is a suitable width to fit the The base member may be substantially flat and non-deformable, and may be of suitable size, thickness and weight to fit within the exterior cover. The base member may further include joints suitable for joining to the cradle/pillow support. The pillow components may be arranged such that the cradle/pillow support houses a compliant pillow which is connected via a joint to the base member which in turn is fully contained by the outer cover. The joints may be configured to allow the pillow to adjust pitch, roll and yaw.

In other embodiments, a pillow support suitable for use during sleep and/or rest may comprise an outer cover, a conformable pillow, a base member and a cradle/pillow support, wherein the cradle/pillow support comprises: , is substantially non-deformable under the pressures and intensities normal to the field of the pillow, has a curvature suitable for accommodating both the conformable pillow and the user or the user's body part, and is positioned inside the outer cover Suitable width to fit. The base member may be substantially flat and non-deforming, and is of suitable size, thickness and weight to fit within the outer cover. The base member may further comprise joints suitable for joining to a cradle/pillow support. The pillow components may be arranged such that the cradle/pillow support houses a compliant pillow which in turn is connected to the base member via a joint, all of which is housed by the outer cover. The joints may be configured so that the pillow adjusts pitch, roll and yaw in turn.

Preferably, embodiments of the present invention provide a synergistic relationship between the bed structure and the pillow. Bed structures are generally somewhat deformable, but necessarily provide a generally flat and supportive surface on which pillows rest. And conventional pillows allow the user to define a static but personal support force. The present invention provides this same process, but the result is a personal support that uses the flat support of the bed structure to provide more accessible and supported wide range of motion stability. do. The comfort of a conventional pillow is provided through a compliant pillow. The cradle/pillow support, or combination of the cradle/pillow support, base member and joint, provides additional comfort to the user due to reduced head and neck motion restriction. The pillow may be further customized, thus using at least one inner wrapping flap to reduce the volume of the compliant pillow and thus increase the density and stiffness of the compliant pillow, depending on user preference. , may provide additional comfort to the user.

With the use of the pillow of the present invention, the pillow-mattress or pillow-bed structure combination no longer defines a flat, static environment. Through the cradle/pillow support, it provides the user with freedom of movement and without sacrificing comfort.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings and as illustrated.

1 is an end view of a conventional conformable pillow in use; FIG. 1 is an end view of one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the invention along line VV of FIG. 4; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional end view of one embodiment of the invention along line VI-VI of FIG. 4; FIG. FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is an end view of yet another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention assembled in combination with a pillow and cover as shown in Figure 2;

In the following paragraphs, embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. It should be appreciated that the described examples are intended to aid and inform the reader, are intended to be illustrative, and are not meant as limitations that define the only way in which the invention can be practiced. The presented embodiments include features that may be combined or omitted in any number of ways not expressly disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein is a pillow support. It should be understood that the term "pillow" as used herein refers to any padded support, including cushions, pads, rests and other supports. However, pads are not necessary, and rigid or non-deformable supports may be used to practice the invention, as detailed below. Although the primary examples used herein describe a pillow support suitable for supporting a user's head, the invention is not limited to just the head and can include neck, limbs, appendages, It should be appreciated that it may be configured to support other body parts such as the torso, hips, or the body as a whole.

Since the examples shown herein refer to pillows suitable for (but not limited to) supporting a user's head and/or neck, the drawings depict the user's head Figure 1 shows a pillow support designed with a curvature specific to the range of motion of . However, other curvatures than those shown may be used, depending on the body part under consideration, or the range and/or nature of motion. Further, although the originally intended use disclosed is for support during sleep, it will be appreciated that user support may be provided during rest, recovery, or other uses.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional conformable pillow 10 is shown in end view and supported by a mattress or other bed structure 14 that receives a user's head 12 . When awake or asleep, the user may wish to move the head 12 from side to side (as indicated by arrow A), defined by compressing the pillow via the weight of the head. You must do so in a hollow or valley. The user then has to overcome the resistance provided by the troughs of the pillow, the surface being very inelastic and therefore stiffer. For users with skeletal or muscular problems, this would also be difficult and taxing.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention in top end view. Here, the user's head 12 is comfortably supported by the soft, conforming pillow 10 but also benefits from the pillow support 16 . When placed on the bed structure, the pillow support 16 contacts the bed structure through the center of the pillow support 16 in an equilibrium position with either end extending upwardly away from this point. It consists of a stadium-like structure that exhibits curvature to calm it down. The pillow support 16 consists of a shallow upper recess suitable for accommodating the user's head and neck and a shallow lower protrusion complementary to the shallow upper recess, optionally also referred to as a conforming pillow. . The pillow support 16 functions as a rocking support that accommodates the conformable pillow member 10 and the user's head and neck, although it is possible to practice the invention without the pillow member 10. be. The pillow support 16 rests directly on the bed structure 14 and is capable of supporting the rocking motion of the pillow support and thus the pillow as indicated by arrow "B". This rocking motion allows the pillow support to rock in response to the movement of the user without the user overcoming the friction provided by the valleys or depressions defined within the conformable pillow member 10. . Instead, the user can move the head within the range of motion indicated by arrow A because the resistance to movement defined by the troughs and depressions is greatly reduced. The pillow support 16 has an internal curvature configured to accommodate the user's body or body part, and the pillow support 16 as a base member to promote a natural range of motion of the user's accommodation or body part. Or it may be shaped to have an outer curvature that allows it to oscillate on a substantially flat surface.

The pillow support 16 also provides a range of motion as indicated by arrow B, where arrow B is the movement of the present invention during rocking/rolling of the pillow support in response to movement of the user or body parts of the user. Show range of motion. This changes the point of the pillow support that is in contact with the bed structure 14 to coincide with the point of the user's head 12 directly above this point, defined by head rocking. It becomes possible to almost imitate movement. In this way, the user's head wobbles and the position and orientation of the user's head 12 does not have to overcome the friction provided by the conformable pillow member 10 to change position, but rather exerts an effect on the head focal point. Pressure may be easily adjusted.

FIG. 3 shows the pillow support 16 in perspective view. The curvature and dimensions of pillow support 16 are selected to suitably accommodate the relevant body part. The particular embodiment illustrated is designed to support a user's head and neck, and as such has the size and curvature characteristic of the average human head. However, if the pillow support is to be used to support the user's lower back or lower torso, the size and curvature of the pillow support 16 will, of course, be chosen appropriately.

This pillow support is substantially non-deformable under the pressures and intensities normal in the pillow field. Non-deformable in this context is used to describe the pillow support as it provides the upholstered structural element of the present invention, although the pillow support will of course flex in response to receiving the weight of the user. , can bend. Typical materials that can be used to construct the pillow support 16 include, but are not limited to, plastic or synthetic materials such as polyurethane, PLA, polypropylene, or natural materials such as wood or bamboo.

The pillow support 16 may include at least one air hole or multiple air holes 18, 20 extending through the entire cross-section of the pillow support to improve breathability. These air holes may be sized such that air can still easily pass through the body of the pillow support 16 without compromising support for the conformable pillow member 10 . The pillow support net may be stadium shaped so that all sharp edges are removed. Additionally, the sides of the pillow support may be rounded to enhance user comfort. The thickness of the pillow support may be substantially uniform, or there may be a taper or thinning of the pillow support towards the edges. It may only taper towards the edges or edge regions that may cause discomfort to the user, with these thinner regions exhibiting greater flexibility and reduced stiffness.

The at least one air hole or plurality of air holes 18, 20 may be located at opposite ends of the body of the pillow support 16, may be centrally located, and may be distributed throughout the body of the pillow support 16. may be

FIG. 4 is a top view of one embodiment of pillow support 16. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the pillow support is rockable along both laterally and longitudinally extending axes V and VI, with the user defined by the movement permitted by the curvature of the body of the pillow support 16. The position of the head and neck, or indeed any other body part or entire body, may be adjusted within the range of motion contained within the solid angle. The pillow support 16 may consist of only one air hole or may consist of multiple air holes. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the pillow support 16 has a first plurality of air holes 18 and a second plurality of air holes 20 at opposite ends, but the pillow support 16 may have a single air hole or a plurality of air holes. It is also possible to simply provide holes. In FIG. 4, the first and second plurality of air holes 18 and 20 are substantially similar. However, the plurality 18 may indicate a different number and configuration of air holes than the plurality 20, or indeed there may be an additional plurality.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a representative face of pillow support 16 taking axis V (see FIG. 4). As can be seen, pillow support 16 is formed from one solid component having air holes 18 and 20 extending therethrough. However, in other embodiments, pillow support 16 may define a cavity between lower surface 24 and upper surface 22 . Alternatively, the pillow support may be constructed of scintillation material or composite parts that are mechanically held together. Further, the pillow support 16 is made of a material that is flexible under a strength greater than the weight of the average user's head or body or body part, such as high gauge aluminum, copper or silver wire, and foam. Or it may be covered with a nearly conformable material such as PVC. Thus, the curvature of the pillow support 16 may be provided by a pliable material under a force greater than the weight of the body or body part or consideration, and the supportiveness of the pillow support 16 may be provided by a conforming material. may be provided by Such a design allows customizable curvature for each user and/or body part.

Pillow support 16 may also provide a textured surface on upper side 22 and/or lower side 24 . Such textured surfaces may improve the engagement between pillow support 16 and the user's body or body part, bed structure 14 and/or conformable pillow member 10 .

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of the pillow support 16 used along axis VI (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment there are no air holes along this axis, although other embodiments would of course include air holes extending through part or all of the pillow support 16 . Figures 5 and 6 show an embodiment in which there is curvature present in the pillow support 16 along two different axes. Depending on the body or body part relied upon, this curvature may be more or less pronounced in one or the other axis, or in some embodiments the desired range of motion should be more limited. , may even not exist. The curvature may not be uniform, but may vary uniformly or non-uniformly along the length or width of the invention, depending on the intended use of the invention. Upper side 22 and lower side 24 may not exhibit complementary curvatures as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. In fact, upper side 22 and/or lower side 24 may be flat while the other exhibits uniform or non-uniform curvature.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the pillow support 116 is in the shape of a Cassini ellipse, or rather consists of two generally circular ends spanned by supporting struts. The generally circular end portion may include a plurality of air holes extending through the body of pillow support 116 . A first plurality of air holes 118 may extend through one region of the pillow support 116 and a second plurality of air holes 120 may extend through another region of the pillow support 116 . may exist.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the base member 28 is used with the pillow support 16 and connected with the base member 28 via the joint 26 . The joint 26 allows changing the orientation of the pillow support 16 with respect to the base member 28 while maintaining the positional relationship between the base member and the pillow support. Depending on the joint members used, the roll, pitch and yaw of the pillow support relative to the base member may be adjusted. In this embodiment, the pillow support may be rocked with respect to the base member 28 within a solid angle defined by the range of motion allowed by the joint 26 .

The pillow support 16 may employ the use of a base member 28 or may rest directly on the bed structure. Base member 28 may comprise a flat lower side and a formed upper side. The flat underside may provide stability to the base member and pillow support 16 and the contoured topside may allow movement of the pillow support 16 . For example, in embodiments of the present invention, if the pillow support 16 were to simply rock from side to side on the base member, the top side of the base member 28 would be concave to offer less resistance to this movement. may

The joint 26 is selected such that the range of motion it allows is suitable to support and facilitate movement of the user or the user's body part supported by the pillow support. For example, the range of motion required to support the user's head and neck is much greater than the range of motion required to support the user's feet and ankles. Allows the pitch, roll and yaw of the pillow to be adjusted to support the user's head and neck. However, what is needed is an adjustable roll to provide support for the user's feet and ankles. Joint 26 may be a spherical joint such as a ball and socket, or other joint, a revolute or prismatic joint, or a planar joint.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the pillow support is assembled comprising the pillow support 16, the conformable pillow member 10 and the outer cover member 30. FIG. The pillow support positions the compliant pillow member 10 over the pillow support 16 so that the pillow support accommodates the compliant pillow member 10 and then joins the pillow support 16 and the compliant pillow member with the outer cover 30 . 10 can be assembled by wrapping both. Generally, but by no means exclusively, the present invention provides the ability for a user or a user's body part to rest on the present invention such that a conformable pillow provides a deformable and comfortable surface for said body or body part. Oriented to be stationary or positioned. In a normal configuration, the user rests against the outer cover 30, against the conformable pillow member 10, against the pillow support 16, all resting on a substantially flat surface.

In some embodiments, the pillow support may support body parts associated with the user without a conformable pillow member 10 . In other embodiments, the pillow support 16 may be constructed from an integrated padding layer that generally conforms to the shape and dimensions of the area of the pillow support that faces the user or the user's body part. This integral padding layer may be constructed of polyurethane foam, memory foam, foam rubber, or other padding material.

Outer cover 30 may include a first wraparound flap at one end of the outer cover. The first enclosing flap inserts the conformable pillow member 10 into the primary volume of the outer cover defined by the walls of the outer cover 30 or fits into the reduced volume defined by the walls of the outer cover 30 and the first enclosing flap. The user is given the option of inserting the sexual pillow member 10 . If the conformable pillow member 10 were housed only by the walls of the outer cover 30, a slightly larger volume would be used for the conformable pillow member 10 to expand, as the pillow could protrude beyond the boundaries of the outer cover 30. You may By limiting the volume available for the conformable pillow via the first wraparound flap, a somewhat denser pillow is provided to the user. This may increase the level of support or provide a more comfortable accommodation facility for the user.

The outer cover 30 provides the desired comfort to the user, such as silk, cotton, satin, or other material that is sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of the compliant pillow member 10 and pillow support 16, remove therefrom, and reapply. It may be made from any suitable material that is flexible and resilient.

In other embodiments of the outer cover 30, a second containment flap defines an additional reduced volume in which the conformable pillow member 10 can be accommodated. This second wrap-around flap runs vertically along the inner wall of the outer cover 30, but the angle and position of the additional wrap-around flaps are adapted depending on the size and shape of the pillow desired. Two or more of these containment flaps may be used in combination with each other, for example, a first containment flap and a second containment flap may be used simultaneously to determine the volume available for the conformable pillow member 10 in terms of length and length. You may limit both with width. It should be appreciated that the outer cover 30 may be configured with any number of wraparound flaps in any number of combinations, allowing the user to adjust the volume of the compliant pillow to suit his/her preference and level of support required. should be recognized. The illustrated rectangular shape of the pillow is not intended to be limited to rectangular pillows, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the wrap-around flaps can be circular or generally rounded, triangular, irregular, polygonal, etc. It should be appreciated that a range of configurations suitable for pillow shapes may be employed.

It will be appreciated that the above examples and embodiments are provided for purposes of illustration and description, and that the present invention is not limited to such examples and embodiments. The invention may be implemented in any number of alternative ways not expressly described herein but which nevertheless embody the inventive concepts of the invention. For example, the present invention may be configured such that the top surface 22 is flat and supports the compliant pillow 10 while the underside 24 exhibits a convex curvature. Pillow support 16 may present a convex lower side 24 and a convex upper side 22 . Pillow support 16 may be provided with padding on upper side 24 to negate the need for conformable pillow 10 . The base member 28 may also be configured with a convex underside to provide the user with a greater range of movement. The base member 28 may be configured with a concave underside to improve matching between the base member 28 and the bed structure. The base member 28 and pillow support 16 may have surface ridges and/or suction pads and/or suction pads to improve matching between the base member 28 and the bed structure or between the pillow support 16 and the conformable pillow 10 . Velcro and/or mating surfaces may be provided. The pillow structure may be made up of one or more joints 26 and/or one or more base members 28 and/or one or more pillow supports 16 such that a composite pillow support is provided. The pillow support may consist of one pillow support 16 , one or more base members 28 and one or more joints 26 . The pillow support may consist of one base member 28 , one or more joints 26 and one or more pillow supports 16 . The pillow supports may consist of at least one pillow support without base member 28 and joints 26 and at least one further pillow support 16 with base member 28 and joints 26 .

10 pillow member 12 user's head 14 bed structure 16 pillow support 18 at least one air hole 20 plurality of air holes 22 upper surface 24 lower surface 26 joint 28 base member 30 outer cover member 116 pillow support 118 first plurality of air hole 120 second plurality of air holes

Claims (20)

a top surface (22) and a bottom surface (24), the top surface (22) being positioned to support the pillow (10) and the bottom surface (24) oriented in the direction of convex curvature of the pillow support when supporting the pillow; A pillow support configured to be at least partially convex so that it can be rocked along. 2. A pillow support according to claim 1, characterized in that the pillow support is constructed of a material suitable to retain the convex shape of at least a portion of the second surface (24) while supporting the pillow. body. 3. A lower surface (24) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower surface (24) has a first at least partially convex curvature generally in the longitudinal direction and a second at least partially convex curvature generally in the latitudinal direction. pillow support. 4. Pillow support according to claim 3, wherein the first and/or second curvature is uniform. 4. Pillow support according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower surface (24) is predominantly convex. 4. Pillow support according to claim 3, characterized in that the entire underside (24) is of convex configuration. 7. Pillow support according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper surface (22) is at least partially concave. 7. Pillow support according to claim 6, characterized in that the top surface (22) is predominantly concave. 7. Pillow support according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper surface (22) is entirely concave. 10. Pillow support according to claim 9, characterized in that the upper surface (22) and the lower surface (24) have complementary curvatures. 11. Pillow support according to claim 10, characterized in that the upper surface (22) has a uniform curvature. 7. Pillow support according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper surface (22) is substantially flat. 13. The pillow support of Claim 12, further comprising at least one air hole. 13. Pillow support according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of air holes (18). 13. A pillow support according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of regions of air holes (18, 20). 16. The pillow support of Claim 15, further comprising a hollow body. The pillow support further comprises a base member (28) and a joint (26) configured to allow the pillow support to adjust at least one of roll, pitch and yaw relative to the base member (28). 17. The pillow support of claim 16, wherein the pillow support is 18. Pillow support according to claim 17, further comprising a conformable pillow (10). 19. Pillow support according to claim 18, further comprising an outer cover (30). 20. The pillow support of Claim 19, wherein the pillow support is configured to provide pillow support for a pillow.

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