US20060174413A1

US20060174413A1 - Substitutive pillow

Info

Publication number: US20060174413A1
Application number: US11/052,031
Authority: US
Inventors: Tomoki Kakehashi
Original assignee: ACTINTERIOR Corp
Current assignee: ACTINTERIOR Corp
Priority date: 2005-02-08
Filing date: 2005-02-08
Publication date: 2006-08-10

Abstract

The present invention provides a substitutive pillow, which feels like a real arm pillowing one's head and provides a variety of modes of use.

In a substitutive pillow formed in mimicry of human torso and arm, the arm part includes an upper arm part 2 a mimicking a human upper arm and a forearm part 2 b mimicking a human forearm which is capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part 2 a. By this structure, this pillow feels like a real arm pillowing one's head and gives unity and ease, with which the users sleep well. Further, it can be suitable for various modes of use.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a substitutive pillow, which is used as a substitute for one's arm pillowing one's head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A pillow is used for supporting one's head mainly in sleeping time, and various types of pillows are used. In some instances, however, a so-called ‘Ude-makura’ in Japanese may be a substitute for a pillow, which is one's arm situated under his/hers or another one's head so as to keep a comfortable form of body and give a psychological basis for good sleep.
A pillow imitating such ‘Ude-makura’ is described in JP-S63-150562-U. The pillow described in this publication has a face surface showing a woman's leg, the face surface imitating a so-called ‘Hiza-makura’ in Japanese, which is woman's leg to be situated under another one's head, and a reverse surface showing a man's upper arm, the reverse surface imitating the ‘Ude-makura’.
Here, the ‘Ude-makura’ provided by one's partner gives unity and ease with him/her, for example, as it gives a feeling as if a mother lying with her baby did so to make the baby go to sleep, and a substitutive pillow for the ‘Ude-makura’ is also demanded to give such effects. Further, since people take a variety of forms of body in sleeping time, the substitutive pillow for the ‘Ude-makura’ is also demanded to have various modes of use.
However, since the pillow described in JP-S63-150562-U is simply designed to show a pattern on its main body, and the pillow supports a head as usual, providing only imagination of the ‘Ude-makura’ by taking a look at the pattern before resting, no real feeling such as unity and ease with a person, possibly given by ‘Ude-makura’, can be attained. Further, since the shape of the pillow is constant, its mode of use is limited and it is impossible to meet the needs for various modes of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a substitutive pillow, which feels close like real ‘Ude-makura’, and provides a variety of modes of use.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a substitutive pillow, which comprises a torso part mimicking human torso and an arm part mimicking human arm, the arm part extending from at least one side of the torso part, and the arm part including an upper arm part mimicking human upper arm and a forearm part mimicking human forearm, wherein the forearm part is capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part.
According to the substitutive pillow of the present invention, mimicking human torso and arm, it feels as like real ‘Ude-makura’ giving unity and ease, with which the users may sleep well. Further, since the forearm part is capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part, it can correspond variously to the mode of use.
For example, in a case where the upper arm part is used as a pillow and the forearm part is used as a cover from shoulder to arm, it gives unity and ease, with which the users may sleep well. In this mode, the users can hold a part at the front end of the forearm part corresponding to a hand, and more secure ease can be given especially in case when a baby gets to sleep.
Further, the torso part may be used as a pillow and the forearm part may be used as a backrest. Furthermore, the torso part may be used as a body pillow (or a comforter), and in this instance, the forearm part may be used as a back support. Further, when the forearm part is stretched straight, it may be used as a pillow long enough for a use with two persons.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the forearm part is capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part through a dent at a boundary between the upper arm part and the forearm part, the dent being formed by quilting.
According to this embodiment, it is possible to bend the forearm part relatively with the upper arm part by a simple means.
In the present invention, it is preferred that a core material is embedded in the arm part, the core material being capable of bending through a hinge part thereof situated at a boundary between the upper arm part and the forearm part.
By this embodiment in which the core material is embedded in the arm part, the pillow can be firmly formed, the shape at the time of bending can easily be maintained, and it is hardly sagged even when it has been repeatedly bent, whereby the durability can be improved.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the substitutive pillow of the present invention further comprising a connecting means made of a Hook-and-Loop fastener, the connecting means being formed on an opposing side of the torso part to the side of the torso part from which the arm part extends, such that another substitutive pillow is symmetrically connectable through the connecting means, making a shape mimicking an upper half of a human body.
By this embodiment in which two substitutive pillows of the present invention are detachably attached through a connecting means made of a Hook-and-Loop fastener, for either use with one person or two persons, the mode of use can be appropriately selected according to the preference of users, with the convenience improved. And, for a use with two persons, both persons' bodies do not contact to each other by the torso part as a partition, whereby they may have a sound sleep. Further, since the gap between them is stuffed with the torso part, an excellent feature of retaining heat can be attained with atmospheric air being kept away.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the arm part the arm part extends from each of both sides of the torso part to mimic an upper half of a human body.
In this embodiment, for a use with two persons, both persons' bodies do not contact to each other by the torso part as a partition, whereby they may have a sound sleep. Further, since the gap between them is stuffed with the torso part, an excellent feature of retaining heat can be attained with atmospheric air being kept away.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the arm part is capable of bending relatively with the torso part.
In this embodiment the arm part can be bent relatively with the torso part at a boundary corresponding to a human shoulder. Therefore, when the mode of the pillow in use is uncomfortable to sleep, for example, one can appropriately bend the arm part to adjust the portion on which the head is rest and the portion to which one's torso touches, in order to improve the feeling on sleep, and the user can be further relaxed and may have a good sleep. Further, while the arm part being bent, the upper arm part and the forearm part can be freely bent, and its mode of use can therefore be varied.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the substitutive pillow of the present invention further comprising a head part mimicking a human or animal face, the head part being attached to the torso part.
In this embodiment, the head part mimicking a human or animal face may be changed to, for example, the face of one's reliable person, darling person or darling animal, and the user can feel maximum ease and satisfaction and get the best sleep.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show the first mode in use of the substitutive pillow of the present invention, i.e. FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing the state where a forearm part of the pillow is stretched, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view showing the state where a forearm part of the pillow is bent.
FIGS. 2(a) to 2(f) show modes of use in the first embodiment, i.e. FIG. 2(a) is an explanatory view showing the state where the forearm part is used as a cover from shoulder to arm, FIG. 2(b) is an explanatory view showing the state where the person holds a part at the front end of the forearm part corresponding to a hand, FIG. 2(c) is an explanatory view showing the state where the forearm part is used as a backrest, FIG. 2(d) is an explanatory view showing the state where a torso part is used as a body pillow (or a comforter), FIG. 2(e) is an explanatory view showing the state where the forearm part is used as a back support, and FIG. 2(f) is an explanatory view showing the state where the forearm part is stretched straight.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the second embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the third embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention.
FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show modes of use in the third embodiment, i.e. FIG. 5(a) is an explanatory view showing the state where a torso part is used as a partition, and FIG. 5(b) is an explanatory view showing the state where the torso part is used as a body pillow (or a comforter).
FIG. 6 is a plane view showing the fourth embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention.
FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) show the fifth embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention, i.e. FIG. 7(a) is a perspective view showing the state where a forearm part is stretched, and FIG. 7(b) is a perspective view showing the state where the forearm part is bent.
FIG. 8 is a plane view showing another mode of use in the fifth embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
The substitutive pillow of the present invention comprises a torso part 1 mimicking a part of a human torso and an arm part 2 mimicking a human arm, wherein the arm part 2 extends from one side of the torso part 1 and both are integrally formed.
The arm part 2 includes an upper arm part 2 a mimicking a human upper arm and a forearm part 2 b mimicking a human forearm. Quilting at a boundary between the upper arm part 2 a and the forearm part 2 b, corresponding to an elbow, forms a dent 2 c through which the forearm part 2 b is capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part 2 a.
A flexible cushion material and an outer material that covers the outer periphery of the cushion material constitute the arm part 2. These materials are not particularly limited, and for example, as the outer material, cotton cloth, synthetic fibers and the like are used, like conventional pillows. On the other hand, the cushion material may be selected from cotton, feather, silk cotton, spongy rubber and the like depending upon the desired softness, and by adjusting the stuffed amount thereof, the properties of cushioning can be adjusted.
Here, not only the quilting but also the following means may be used. For example, a partition part made of a cloth or the like is situated inside the part corresponding to an elbow of the arm part 2. And this partition part partitions the above-mentioned cushion material, resulting with the forearm part 2 b being capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part 2 a.
Then, the mode in use of the substitutive pillow of the present invention and its effects will be described below.
According to the substitutive pillow of the present invention, forming it in mimicry of human torso and arm, it can be used for getting a feeling close to that from real ‘Ude-makura’, whereby the users may sleep well with unity and ease. Further, by forming the forearm part 2 b to be bendable to the upper arm part 2 a, it is able to correspond variously to the modes of use as mentioned below.
Here, by quilting at a boundary between the upper arm part 2 a and the forearm part 2 b forms a dent 2 c, the forearm part 2 b is capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part 2 a by a simple means.
FIGS. 2(a) to 2(f) show modes of use of the substitutive pillow.
FIG. 2(a) shows the mode of use in the state where the forearm 2 b is bent, and where the upper arm part 2 a is used as a pillow and the forearm part 2 b is used as a cover from shoulder to arm. By such a mode, unity and ease can be attained, resulting in one's good sleep.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2(b), since the user can hold a part at the front end of the forearm part 2 b, more secure ease can be given especially in case when a baby gets to sleep. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2(c), the torso part 1 may be used as a pillow and the forearm part 2 b may be used as a backrest.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2(d), the torso part 1 may be used as a body pillow (or a comforter), and in this instance, the forearm part 2 b may be used as a back support as shown in FIG. 2(e). Furthermore, when the forearm part 2 b is stretched straight as shown in FIG. 2(f), it may be used as a pillow long enough for a use with two persons.
FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention. Here, the substantially same parts as the previous embodiment are indicated with the same numerals as above to omit the explanation thereof.
The arm part 2 of the substitutive pillow has an internal structure as shown in FIG. 3. Namely, it is constructed such that a pair of the core materials 3 is movably connected via the hinge portion 4, the outer periphery of the core material 3 is covered with the above-mentioned cushion material 5, and further the outer periphery of the cushion material 5 is covered with the above-mentioned outer material 6.
Here, as the core material, for example, paper, metal, synthetic resin, fiber or the like formed in a rod-like shape, plate-like shape or the like may be used.
According to the second embodiment, since the core material 3 is embedded in the arm part 2, the pillow can be firmly formed, the shape at the time of bending can easily be maintained, and it is hardly sagged even when it has been repeatedly bent, whereby the durability can be improved.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the third embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention. Here, the substantially same parts as the above embodiments are indicated with the same numerals as above to omit the explanation thereof.
In this substitutive pillow of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, an arm part 2 extends from one side of a torso part 1, a connecting means 7 made of a Hook-and-Loop fastener is formed at opposing side of the torso part 1, and the two substitutive pillows are connected through the connecting means 7 to make a shape mimicking an upper half of human body.
According to the third embodiment, since the two substitutive pillows are detachably connected through the connecting means 7 made of a Hook-and-Loop fastener, for either use with one person or two persons, the mode of use can be appropriately selected according to the preference of users, with the convenience improved. And, for a use with two persons, as shown in FIG. 5(a), since the torso part 1 is used as a partition, both persons' bodies do not contact to each other by the torso part as a partition, whereby they may have a sound sleep. Further, since the gap between them is stuffed with the torso part 1, an excellent feature of retaining heat can be attained with atmospheric air being kept away. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5(b), when the torso part 1 is formed long, it can preferably be used as a body pillow.
In the third embodiment, a pillow for two persons is obtained by connecting two substitutive pillows of the present invention. In another embodiment, the arm part 2 may extend from each of both sides of the torso part 1 to make a shape in mimicry of an upper half of human body. In this instance also, the pillow is used with two persons as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), whereby similar effects can be attained.
FIG. 6 shows the fourth embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention. Here, the substantially same parts as the above embodiments are indicated with the same numerals as above to omit the explanation thereof. Further, in the case of FIG. 6, a pillow obtained by connecting two substitutive pillows through the connecting means 7, is shown. However, it may be a single substitutive pillow having a shape in mimicry of an upper half of human body as described above.
The substitutive pillow in this embodiment is different from those in the above embodiments in that the arm part 2 is formed to be capable of bending relatively with the torso part 1.
According to the fourth embodiment, the arm part 2 can be bent relatively with the torso part 1 at a boundary corresponding to a human shoulder. Accordingly, when the mode of the pillow in use is uncomfortable to sleep, for example, one can appropriately bend the arm part 2 to adjust the portion on which the head is rest and the portion to which one's torso touches, in order to improve the feeling on sleep, and the user can be further relaxed and may have a good sleep. Further, while the arm part 2 being bent, the upper arm part 2 a and the forearm part 2 b can be freely bent, and its mode of use can therefore be varied.
The arm part 2 may be made bendable to the torso part 1, by quilting with a dent 2 c as mentioned above or by placing inside a partition part made of cloth or the like, or, as in the above second embodiment, by movably connecting a pair of core materials 3 via a hinge portion 4 positioned at a boundary corresponding to a human shoulder.
FIG. 7 shows the fifth embodiment of the substitutive pillow of the present invention. Here, the substantially same parts as the above embodiments are indicated with the same numerals as above to omit the explanation thereof.
The substitutive pillow in this embodiment is different from the above embodiments in that a head part 8 formed in mimicry of a human or animal face is attached to the torso part 1.
In this embodiment, the head part 8 mimicking a human or animal face may be designed according to, for example, one's reliable person, darling person or darling animal, thereby the user can feel maximum ease and satisfaction and get the best sleep.
As a face drawn on the head part 8, it is preferably mentioned to use a portrait of not only a close person or a pet, but also a famous person or other animal. In that, warm and loving face is preferred so as to provide ease as much as possible.
Further, on the head part 8, a made-to-order portrait may be employed to comply with the user's preference, which may be based on illustration, data, photograph and the like. For example, a substitutive pillow accompanying with a beloved person, that is only one in the world, can be prepared. By doing so, the users can attain the maximum ease and satisfaction.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the arm part 2 may extend from each of both sides of the torso part 1 to make a shape in mimicry of an upper half of human body.
In the above-mentioned embodiments, the torso part 1 is formed in mimicry of a part of human torso. However, it may be formed to make a shape in mimicry of entire human torso; with not only a torso but also a part corresponding to lower limbs (or legs), more real human-like feeling can be provided, then more effective for getting unity and ease. Further, in the above embodiment, at the front end of the forearm part 2 b, parts corresponding to a palm and fingers are formed. However, these parts may be omitted from the substitutive pillow of the present invention.

Claims

1. A substitutive pillow, which comprises a torso part mimicking human torso and an arm part mimicking human arm, the arm part extending from at least one side of the torso part, and the arm part including an upper arm part mimicking human upper arm and a forearm part mimicking human forearm, wherein the forearm part is capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part.

2. The substitutive pillow according to claim 1, wherein the forearm part is capable of bending relatively with the upper arm part through a dent at a boundary between the upper arm part and the forearm part, the dent being formed by quilting.

3. The substitutive pillow according to claim 1, wherein a core material is embedded in the arm part, the core material being capable of bending through a hinge part thereof situated at a boundary between the upper arm part and the forearm part.

4. The substitutive pillow according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting means made of a Hook-and-Loop fastener, the connecting means being formed on an opposing side of the torso part to the side of the torso part from which the arm part extends, such that another substitutive pillow is symmetrically connectable through the connecting means, making a shape mimicking an upper half of a human body.

5. The substitutive pillow according to claim 1, wherein the arm part extends from each of both sides of the torso part to mimic an upper half of a human body.

6. The substitutive pillow according to claim 1, wherein the arm part is capable of bending relatively with the torso part.

7. The substitutive pillow according to claim 1, further comprising a head part mimicking a human or animal face, the head part being attached to the torso part.