JP3470226B2 - Adjustable height and shape sleep pillows and how to prepare them for use - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a height / shape variable sleep pillow having a structure capable of changing the height depending on how the head rests on the pillow while sleeping.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various inventions have been made for pillows used at bedtime, and since a human head has a considerable weight, a pillow that supports it at bedtime is a pillow of a sleeper. According to the body, it is deformed so that the neck is not overloaded and the height is changed to some extent.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when using a pillow,
The body of the sleeping person can be in a supine, recumbent or lying down state, and never sleeps in one form. Therefore, when sleeping, the pillow is adjusted so that the relationship between the body and the head is in the most comfortable state. such as to cause unreasonable or shoulder, not only sleep is inhibited, may also cause strain Toka shoulder stiffness in reverse while sleeping occurred, the measures have been desired.

In order to improve these, a pressure-sensitive height adjustable sleep pillow adapted to the orientation of the body while sleeping has been proposed (JP-A-6-343540, JP-A-8-420,
JP-A-8-299138, Utility model registration No. 306
0522 publication, utility model registration No. 3064571 publication, utility model registration No. 3071127 publication).

The above-mentioned prior example is a pillow in which the material of pillow already on the market can be changed, and the shape and height can be adjusted (published by Asahi Shimbun, May 1993, "Asahi Family Handbook").
The effect of adapting to body orientation such as turning over while sleeping and sideways, which was not possible with the back cover cover, was achieved, but it may be unnatural due to the way the head and cervical spine hit the pillow. It was necessary to make further improvements.

Also, a pillow has been proposed in which the pressure in a balloon which is vertically expanded and contracted by pressurized air is detected and the height is adjusted based on the detected pressure (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-64072).
In this pillow, two sets of upper and lower balloons are connected by a flow rate adjusting hole that regulates the intake / exhaust volume of a smaller diameter than the pressurized air inlet pipe, and each time the pressure of the upper and lower balloons changes Air flows through the flow rate adjusting hole, and sound may be generated depending on the size of the hole and the flow rate of the air.
Further, trial and error are required to make the size of the flow rate adjusting hole appropriate.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a pillow having a simple mechanism and a function of smoothly adjusting to a comfortable state.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned object, the inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive studies, and as a result, when using a pillow for a sleeping person, the head and the cervical vertebrae have different heights and shapes. The present invention has been completed by finding that the head height of the pillow can be automatically adjusted to the optimum height and shape according to the head shape of the user by using the adjustable mechanism.

That is, according to the present invention made on the basis of the above knowledge, the head height can be changed by the inflow / outflow of air into / from the bottom base of the pillow in which the head is placed.
An air pressure actuator is fixed, and a second air pressure actuator for adjusting the cervical vertebrae height shape is fixed therein, and an air supply / exhaust pipe for each air pressure actuator and an air supply / exhaust pipe for controlling these air pressure actuators
The switching valve operating wiring can be connected as an integrated cable to the air pressure generation / release device and the load / height control adjustment device housed in the control box via the one-touch coupler. , A sensor that can detect the air pressure inside the air pressure actuator is arranged, and a select switch for head height adjustment, a push button switch for head height adjustment, and a push button switch for cervical vertebrae height / shape adjustment are provided in the control box. The main feature of the pillow is the height and shape variable sleep pillow, which is placed on top of the pillow and is covered with a stretchable outer covering material. The present invention also provides an air supply / exhaust pipe for an air pressure actuator and an air supply / exhaust for control.
Pipe switching Valve switching wiring and switch signal wiring are covered or molded in parallel or coaxially to form an integrated cable that is easy to handle and has rigidity.The one-touch coupler attached to one end of the cable makes it a pillow body. The removable height / shape variable sleep pillow and the pillow height / shape adjustment device are based on the height / shape variable sleep pillow controlled by the control CPU housed in the control box. There is.

Further, according to the present invention, the head pressure adjusting select switch is used to set the internal pressure of the first pneumatic actuator so that the pillow height position is adjusted to the shape of the pillow user's recumbent state. while the user was supine pillow, I by the operation of a push-button switch cervical section height and shape adjustment, a control air supply and discharge switching valve first
1st air pressure actuator side to 2nd air pressure actuation
Switching to the user side and supplying air inside
More, the internal pressure of the second air pressure actuator, cervical portion of the pillow height and shape to solid <br/> constant to match the corresponding portion shape of the pillow user and subsequently press adjustment head height button Operate the switch to switch the control air supply / exhaust pipe
To the first air pressure actuator side,
By supplying air into the pneumatic pressure actuator, the head height of the pillow is adjusted to the pillow height position that matches the shape of the pillow user's lying position.
So as to then was raised, the pillow user becomes supine state, by operating the push button switch for head height adjustment again, the switching valve controlling air supply and discharge pipe
Is switched to the discharge side, the air in the first air pressure actuator is gradually discharged by being pushed by the head of the pillow user, and when the internal pressure becomes almost atmospheric pressure, the exhaust is stopped,
It is fixed to both the cervical vertebra and the occipital region of the pillow user with a height and shape with a small burden, and the state is maintained, and the preparation method for using the height and shape variable sleep pillow described above is summarized. There is.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The structure and operation of the present invention will be described.
The sleep pillow of the present invention has a mechanism in which the height and shape of the pillow of the head of the sleeping person and the pillow of the cervical vertebrae supporting portion are separately adjusted.

The present inventors diligently studied a structure capable of surely performing the above-mentioned operation. As a result, the head support and the cervical spine support are adjusted in height and shape by separate pneumatic actuators. That is, a structure is adopted in which the height and shape of the cervical vertebrae are adjusted by the second pneumatic pressure actuator, and then the head height is adjusted by the first pneumatic pressure actuator.

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The present invention is not limited to this. Figure 1
1 is an outline of the pillow of the present invention, and a first air pressure actuator capable of varying the head height by inflow / outflow of air into / from a bottom base in a pillow body 7 on which a head is placed. Fix 1

A second pneumatic pressure actuator 2 for adjusting the height and shape of the cervical vertebra is mounted inside the first pneumatic pressure actuator 1.

The air pressure actuators 1 and 2 are bags that can be inflated and shrunk at low air pressure (01.0 to 10.0 Kpa) and have no stretchability as a material, for example, a product manufactured by Okamoto Co., Ltd. A rectangular bag in which urethane is laminated on nylon such as No. NUR210-300 is suitable, and a rectangular bag having a corrugated (bellows-like) fold is more preferable.

A sensor (height / load sensor) capable of detecting the pressure in each air pressure actuator is arranged in the air pressure circuit in the control box, and the air supply / discharge pipe 3 for each air pressure actuator 1, 2 is provided. Control four
It can be connected to the air pressure generation / release device and the load / height control adjusting device housed in the control box 11 (see FIG. 2) via the one-touch coupler 15 via the switching valve 5 for the air supply / exhaust pipe , A head height adjusting push button switch 8 is provided on the side surface of the pillow, a head height adjusting select switch 10 and a head height adjusting push button switch (not shown) are provided in the control box 11, and a cervical vertebrae height. The shape adjusting push-button switch 12 is arranged, and the pillow 7 is covered with the elastic outer covering material on the entire outer surface. There are no moving parts inside the pillow other than the air pressure actuators 1 and 2 and the control air supply / exhaust pipe switching valve 5, and there is almost no need for maintenance.

The sensor is arranged in the air circuit of the air pressure actuator, and measures the load applied to the pillow by detecting the pressure in the actuator. The sensor may be located in the pneumatic actuator, but in this case the wiring for sending the sensor output signal to the control box must be provided in the form of an integral cable with the air supply and exhaust pipes.

FIG. 5 shows an integrated cable in which wiring for sending signals to the control box is combined with air supply / exhaust pipes.
(A) (b), the wiring 9 ₁ and the air supply and the exhaust pipe 3, 4 integrated cable 6 summarizes in parallel, one-touch coupler code plug 15 which is mounted on the distal end
Structure of, as shown in the sectional view shown in FIG. 5 (c) or FIG. 5 (d), the integrated cable 6 is the wiring 9 ₁ and the air supply and discharge pipe 3, 4 summarizes coated 6 ₁ coaxially It is adopted, but it does not limit the number of wiring and air supply / exhaust pipes.

As the sensor, for example, a product code ADP12A23 manufactured by Matsushita Electric Co., Ltd. is used.
It goes without saying that other sensors having the same action / function can be used. Air pressure generation / release device and load
A diaphragm pump (product code DP0140) manufactured by Meadow Sangyo Co., Ltd. can be used as the low air pressure generating compressor that is the drive source of the height control adjusting device.
As the control CPU in the present invention, for example, a CPU (product number HD-500) manufactured by Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd. is used, but other CPUs having similar functions and characteristics may be used. The device unit thus integrated is fixedly housed in a control box made of a soundproof material such as synthetic resin.

The power source for operating the air pressure generating / releasing device may be a commercial power source (100 VAC), a portable power source (battery) or a combination of both. The load / height control adjusting device normally uses 5 V DC, but is not limited to this.

When the height / shape suitable for the user of the pillow is set, by removing the one-touch coupler, the pillow is maintained in the optimum height / shape when the pillow is used by the user. As long as the pressure in the pressure actuator does not drop, it can be used independently in that state.

When the use condition becomes defective due to the pressure drop, the one-touch coupler is connected to the pillow, and the air pressure generating / releasing device and the load / height control adjusting device in the control box are recorded in the control CPU. The pillow is restored to the optimum use state again by driving the pillow under the optimum conditions of the user.

The pillow may have any size as long as it is commercially available. The commonly used materials can be applied to the outer cover of the pillow as they are. A zipper that can be opened and closed is convenient for removing and washing when it becomes dirty. The pillow body may be made of any commonly used fiber product, but polyester fiber, polyurethane cloth, and cotton are particularly preferable.

Next, the manner of use of the height / shape variable type sleep pillow of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a sectional view showing the state of the pillow 7 before the start of use. First, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the switching valve 5 for the control air supply / discharge pipe
Is operated to feed pressurized air into the second air pressure actuator 2. In the supine state of the user shown in FIG. 1C, the head height is adjusted by the first pneumatic actuator 1, and the height and shape of the cervical vertebra are adjusted by the second pneumatic actuator 2. Second pneumatic actuator 2
The small size makes it easy to adjust the height and shape of the cervical spine.

When taking a recumbent posture, the head height is adjusted only by the first pneumatic pressure actuator 1 as shown in FIG. 1D while keeping the second pneumatic pressure actuator 2 in the supine position. The first pneumatic actuator 1 is large in size, and as the pillow rises, the curved shape of the upper surface of the pillow becomes smooth, and the contact surface with the user's recumbent posture head side surface expands, so that the pillow shape is suitable for recumbence.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the pillow of the present invention in which the second pneumatic pressure actuator 2 for adjusting the height and shape of the cervical vertebra is attached inside the first pneumatic pressure actuator 1 for adjusting the head height. It is a figure. 6 is an integrated cable of control air supply / exhaust pipe to the air pressure actuator and control wiring, 7 is a pillow, 8 is a push button switch for adjusting the head height, and a control box (not shown) It is provided on the left and right side parts of the pillow. By pressing this button switch, for example, the head is raised or lowered to a predetermined position and stopped. The above operation is repeated,
The head height of the pillow can be adjusted. Reference numeral 9 indicates wiring in the pillow for the push button switch for adjusting the head height.

Reference numeral 11 is a control box, which is an air pump for driving an air pressure actuator, an exhaust device, and a control CP.
U, a pressure sensor, etc. are built in, and 10 is a head height adjusting select switch, which is arranged on the side surface of the control box. When the position of the head height (for example, high, middle, or low) is selected by this switch, by pressing the head height adjusting push button switch 8, the first air is moved to the selected height. Air is pumped into the pressure actuator. Then, when the head height adjusting push button switch 8 is pushed, the air in the first air pressure actuator is gradually exhausted, and the exhaust is stopped when the internal pressure becomes almost atmospheric pressure. 12 is a push button switch for adjusting the height and shape of the cervical vertebra, 13 is a pilot lamp for displaying the input power source, and 14 is AC100V DC10.
An AC adapter for converting to V, 15 is a one-touch coupler to which the integrated cable 6 for air supply / exhaust pipes and operation wiring can be attached / detached simultaneously.

The usage of the pillow of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, a supine posture is taken with respect to the pillow, and at this time, the first and second pneumatic actuators are in a contracted state. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cervical vertebrae height and shape are adjusted by the second pneumatic actuator in the supine posture.

In the control operation of the second pneumatic actuator, air is supplied / exhausted by operating a push button switch for adjusting the cervical vertebrae height shape provided in the control box.
Adjust by expanding and contracting the pneumatic actuator. The control switching valve automatically switches from the first pneumatic pressure actuator side to the second pneumatic pressure actuator side in accordance with the operation of the cervical vertebrae height shape adjusting push button switch.

The pillow for which the height and shape of the cervical vertebrae have been adjusted in the supine posture has a recumbent posture as shown in FIG. 3C, and a recumbent posture with the first pneumatic actuator as shown in FIG. 3D. Adjust the head height according to. in this case,
The second pneumatic actuator remains. First
The air pressure actuator is controlled by operating the push button switch for head height adjustment provided on the pillow.
Discharge and inflate the first pneumatic actuator
Adjust by contracting.

A predetermined pillow height adjustment range is set by operating the head height adjusting select switch arranged on the control box, and a predetermined head height adjusting push button switch arranged on the left and right sides of the pillow is operated. With the operation to adjust the pillow height, the control switching valve automatically switches to the first pneumatic pressure actuator side, and after reaching the predetermined pillow height (up / down position), the control operation automatically stops. . The optimum conditions of the pillow user determined by these operations are recorded in the control CPU as data, and when the usage state of the pillow changes, the control operation for restoring the optimum state by using the data can be performed. I can.

The head height adjusting means suitable for the supine posture of the user will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 (1) shows a state in which both the first and second pneumatic actuators have contracted. After setting the head height adjustment select switch located in the control box to the pillow height position that suits the recumbent posture, the user adjusts the cervical spine height and shape in the control box while lying on the pillow. Push button switch for
By injecting air into the second pneumatic actuator, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), the height and shape of the pillow suitable for the cervical vertebra are formed and fixed.

Then, the pillow may be in the same posture or in a recumbent posture, but by pushing the push button switch for adjusting the head height on the side face of the pillow, the pillow is moved to the first pneumatic actuator as shown in FIG. 4 (3). The air is sent to, and it rises up to the lying position height already set.

Then, the user is placed in a supine posture, and the push button switch for adjusting the head height is pushed again, so that FIG.
As shown in (4), it is pushed by the user's head and the first
The air in the air pressure actuator is gradually discharged, and the pillow height of the part supporting the head is lowered, and the cervical vertebra is supported by the second air pressure actuator which is already at the set height. When the head load applied to the first air pressure actuator is reduced and the internal pressure approaches the atmospheric pressure as much as possible, the sensor instructs and the exhaust is stopped. This state is the supine state of the user,
Optimal pillow height and shape. The internal pressure of the first pneumatic actuator when stopped is 0 according to user preference.
It can be adjusted within the range of 0.10 to 01.00 Kpa.

In this way, the pillow in the fixed state is
As long as the air inside the air pressure actuator does not leak and the pressure does not change, you can use the pillow as the optimum state for the user, and when the pillow state changes, connect the pillow to the control box and If the internal pressure of the actuator is readjusted by the data recorded in the control CPU, the pillow will be restored to the optimum use condition again. By recording the data of each user in the control CPU, it is possible to adjust multiple pillows with one control box, and even if another person uses the same pillow, the control CPU for that user With the data recorded in, you can immediately change and set the optimum usage condition.

[0036]

The height / shape variable type sleep pillow according to the present invention is constructed as described above, so that it is easy to manufacture and the use state of the pillow is easily restored to the optimum state. At the same time, it is possible to adjust multiple pillows to individual states with one control box, and when using the pillow, it is possible to eliminate or reduce unnatural pressure and twist that acts on the neck and shoulders. The effect of being able to sleep well at all times can be expected, which is extremely beneficial in maintaining health.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a usage state in which a second pneumatic pressure actuator is arranged in a first pneumatic pressure actuator of a height / shape variable type sleep pillow of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a pillow of the present invention in which a second pneumatic pressure actuator for height / shape adjustment of the cervical vertebra is attached inside a first pneumatic pressure actuator for head height adjustment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a usage procedure of the pillow of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the pneumatic actuator for adjusting the height and shape of the pillow of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of an integrated cable of an air supply / exhaust pipe and wiring for connecting the pillow of the present invention and a control box.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 First Air Pressure Actuator 2 Second Air Pressure Actuator 3 First Air Pressure Actuator Control Air Supply / Discharge Pipe 4 Second Air Pressure Actuator Control Air Supply / Discharge Pipe 5 Control Air Supply / Discharge Switching Valve 6 Control Integrated cable of air supply / exhaust pipe and signal wiring 6 ₁ Cable coating 7 Pillow 8 Head height adjustment push button switch 9 Head height adjustment push button switch pillow internal wiring 9 _{1 In} cable Wiring 10 Head height adjustment select switch 11 Control box 12 Cervical height / shape adjustment push button switch 13 Pilot lamp 14 Lightweight AC adapter 15 One-touch coupler 15 ₁ Air supply / exhaust pipe coupler 15 ₂ Socket pin

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP 2000-5012 (JP, A) Registered utility model 3064571 (JP, U) Registered utility model 3060522 (JP, U) Registered utility model 3071127 (JP, U) ( 58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47G 9/00-9/10

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. On a bottom base in a pillow in which the head is placed,
The first air pressure actuator whose head height can be changed by the inflow and outflow of air into the inside is fixed, and the second air pressure actuator for adjusting the cervical vertebrae height shape is fixed therein, and the respective air pressures are fixed. Air supply / exhaust pipe to actuator and air supply / exhaust for these control
The outlet valve switching valve operating wiring can be connected to the air pressure generation / release device and load / height control adjustment device housed in the control box via a one-touch coupler, and the air pressure generation / release can be performed. The device is equipped with a sensor that can detect the air pressure inside the air pressure actuator, and includes a head height adjustment select switch, a head height adjustment push button switch, and a cervical vertebrae height / shape adjustment push button switch. , A pillow with variable height and shape, which is placed on the control box, and the pillow is entirely covered with a stretchable outer covering material. 2. A push-button switch for adjusting the head height is also arranged on the side of the pillow, and wiring for the switch signal is provided for an air supply / exhaust pipe and control for an air pressure actuator.
2. The height and shape variable sleep pillow according to claim 1, which is connectable to a control box via a one-touch coupler as an integrated cable together with wiring for operating a switching valve for the air supply / exhaust pipe . 3. A valve for switching the air supply / exhaust pipe to the air pressure actuator and the control air supply / exhaust pipe.
The operation wiring and the switch signal wiring are covered and molded in parallel or coaxially to form a single integrated cable that is easy to handle and has rigidity, and is attached to and detached from the pillow body by the one-touch coupler attached to one end of the cable. The height and shape variable sleep pillow according to claim 2, which is freely movable. 4. The height / shape variable sleeping pillow according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the pillow height / shape adjusting device is controlled and operated by a control CPU housed in a control box. 5. The head height adjusting select switch sets the first air pressure actuator internal pressure so that the pillow height position matches the pillow user's recumbent shape, and then the user first in a state where the supine to the pillow, I'm with the operation of the push-button switch cervical section height and shape adjustment,
Set the control air supply / discharge switching valve to the first air pressure
From the actuator side to the second pneumatic actuator side
The internal pressure of the second pneumatic actuator is fixed so that the height / shape of the cervical vertebra of the pillow matches the shape of the corresponding portion of the pillow user, and then the head height is increased. The push button switch for adjusting the
The control air supply / exhaust pipe switching valve has the first pneumatic pressure.
Switch to the force actuator side and activate the first pneumatic pressure
The height of the head of the pillow is adjusted by supplying air to the user.
Pillow height position to match the recumbent shape of the
After raising the pillow , the pillow user is in the supine state and operates the push button switch for head height adjustment again,
The switching valve for the control air supply / exhaust pipe is switched to the exhaust side.
It is replaced and pushed by the head of the pillow user to gradually discharge the air in the first air pressure actuator. When the internal pressure becomes almost atmospheric pressure, the exhaust is stopped and the pillow of the pillow user's neck <br / > Use of the height / shape variable sleep pillow according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is fixed to both the vertebral part and the occipital region at a height / shape that is less burdensome and is maintained in that state. How to prepare.