WO1989004625A1

WO1989004625A1 - A cushion

Info

Publication number: WO1989004625A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000920
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eyal Lederman
Original assignee: Mazor Limited
Priority date: 1987-11-26
Filing date: 1987-12-23
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Also published as: GB2212719B; AU1080188A; GB8727717D0; GB2212719A

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 terra '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 areεoft 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

SUBSTITUTE SHEET directly on a part of the premoulded pillow which does not allow rest or support. These incorrect poεitionsmay 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;

SUBSTITUTESHEET 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.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of a fifth 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 noiεe 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 beadε does also reduce the frictional noise somewhat, as the beads have a larger volume to εurface area ratio, although the beadε muεt be of a sufficiently εmall εize to conform the shape of the bead and neck of the user. A εize of approximately 3 to ^O mm diameter is preferred.

Down featherε have the property that they are attracted to the polyεtyrene beadε and thus tend to cling to the beadε reducing the frictional noiεe. The inventor believes that the beadε and featherε are attracted electroεtatically to one another.

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

Other materialε to replace the polyεtyrene beadε and/or down featherε may be uεed provided the replacement for the beadε iε εome 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 featherε iε attracted or clingε to the particulate material. For example, particleε of latex or polyurethane foam or wool may be uεed with the polyεtyrene beadε inεtead of the down. The particle size should be less than the size of the beadε. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 2 and iε 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 preεs studε 36, 38 which may be selectively engaged or disengaged by the user.

The purpose of the preεs studs iε 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 compreεεing the contents of the bag 32. Thiε in turn increases or decreaεeε the density and thus the 'hardness' of the pillow. The εetε of preεs 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 iε shown in figure 4 in which velcro strips 50, 52 are attached to an a like manner to

SUBSTITUTE SHEET that shown in figure 3 except that they are spaced in a transverεe direction of the pillow and will thuε 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 insert either into inner or outer cover.

Alternatively the conεtricting meanε may be applied to the outside of one face of the cover, rather than opposed inner side faces, as shown in figure 5, with the connector elements (eg male 70 and female 72 preεε εtudε) being arranged next to one another and the face of the cover folded to engage the male stud 70 with one of the female studs 72.

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 (20) and a particulate second filling (18) wherein said fillings are attracted to or cling to one another whereby friction between particles of the second filling (18) is reduced .

2. A cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second filling (18) comprises polystyrene beadε.

3. A cushion as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first filling (20) comprises down feathers.

4. A cushion as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein the ratio of first filling (20) to second filling (18) 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 (18) comprises particles of latex or polyurethane foam.

6. A cushion as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the firεt filling (18) compriεeε particleε of wool.

7. A cuεhion aε claimed in any one of the preceeding claimε further compriεing a firεt cover (16) containing said first and second fillings and a second cover (12) encloεing the first cover.

8. A cushion as claimed in claim 7 wherein the firεt cover (16) iε formed from polyeεter fibre.

9. A cushion as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first cover (16)iε formed from a foam material.

10. A cuεhion aε claimed in claim 7 wherein the εecond cover (12) iε formed from cotton.

11. A cuεhion aε claimed in any one of claimε 7 to 10 further compriεing meanε (36, 38) connected to the second cover for reducing the internal volume of the εecond cover.

12. A cuεhion aε claimed in claim 11 wherein εaid means comprises firεt (36) and εecond (38) connectable formations.

13. A cushion as claimed in claim 12 wherein said complimentary formations comprise engageable parts of a press stud(36, 38).

14. A cushion aε claimed in claim 12 wherein εaid engageable formations comprise a hook material (40) and an engageable loop, material (42).

15. A cuεhion aε claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein εaid meanε iε arranged to provide a^' variable said volume between two limits.

16. A cushion comprising a firεt container (32) including a conformable material and a εecond container (34) encloεing εaid firεt container, εaid εecond container (34) including meanε for reεtricting the internal volume thereof, within which the firεt container (32) iε disposed so as to adjuεt the hardneεε of the cuεhion.