WO1992010966A1

WO1992010966A1 - A head support

Info

Publication number: WO1992010966A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/002269
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dennis George Pearson-Love
Original assignee: Mackworth Medical Products Limited
Priority date: 1990-12-19
Filing date: 1991-12-18
Publication date: 1992-07-09
Also published as: IE914373A1; AU9101491A; IL100414A0; GB9027536D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a head support, in particular a pillow (10), comprising a filling (12) enclosed in a gas or fluid tight cover (14) with through ventilation holes (18) interconnecting the two major faces of the pillow.

Description

"A HEAD SUPPORT"

This invention relates to a head support such as a pillow, particularly for use in nursing.

Laundering and sterilisation of pillows is difficult, costly, and considerably reduces the life of the pillow. Also the cleaning process necessitates considerable stocks of pillows.

One object of the present invention is to provide a pillow which negates the need for laundering, increases the pillow life expectancy, considerably reduces pillow stocks, and thus will reduce expense.

According to the present invention we propose a head support such as a pillow comprising a filling enclosed in a gas or fluid tight cover of impermeable material with through ventilation holes interconnecting the two major faces of the pillow. Such a cover can be easily cleaned and thoroughly sterilised by spraying or wiping with an antiseptic fluid and protects the filling from contamination when in use.

_

In a preferred embodiment, the pillow is provided with the aforementioned ventilation holes together with one or more sealable openings which allow the admission of a sterilising gas or vapour to sterilise the filling, or the expulsion of air or other gas to facilitate packing for storage and/or transit.

The primary cover may be made from one sheet of impermeable material which is folded over and sealed at the edges or separate sheets or strips which are sealed together. In preferred embodiments however, the cover comprises two substantially rectangular sheets (or whatever preferred shape) which are sealed together at their peripheries and at the peripheries of the ventilation holes. Without the ventilation holes the gas-tight cover could become uncomfortable for the user since it could retain perspiration.

The two sheets of material may be also interconnected at further discrete positions to ensure an even distribution of material and to allow the passage of air from one part of the pillow to another. This allowance for air movement between the interconnections allows the pillow to compress for comfort when in use and avoids the ballooning effect one would normally associate with a gas-tight sealed container. The discrete interconnections also serve to strengthen the pillow as a whole. The upper and lower surfaces of the pillow may be sealed together as described above, in any convenient manner, such as gluing or stitching, with single, double, or more, seams as appropriate but preferably the sealing is effected by welding the two sheets together.

Any suitable impervious material may be employed for the cover although polyvinyl chloride is preferred. Similarly, any filling material may be used but man- made fibres are preferred.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pillow according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken across the middle of the pillow in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an alternative pillow in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the Figs. 1 and 2, a pillow 10 contains five blocks of filling 12 such as polyester fibres enclosed in a gas-tight cover formed from two rectangular sheets 14 of hospital grade polyvinyl chloride. The two sheets 14 are sealed together around their peripheries by two adjacent parallel welds 16 to ensure that no contact between the atmosphere and the filling can occur after manufacture.

The two sheets 14 may also be welded together by a plurality of non-continuous welds for example, as at 15, so as to ensure that the filling material, in use remains substantially evenly distributed throughout the pillow, but they are so spaced as to allow circulation of air or gas within the pillow, no one portion being completely sealed from the remaining space within the cover, thus ensuring maximum comfort, and avoiding pressure on any single part or parts of the assembly, when compressed.

Since the use of PVC for the pillow primary cover means that the pillow 10 would retain perspiration moisture as well as heat and could be uncomfortable for the user, a plurality of through ventilation holes 18 are provided which interconnect the major surfaces of the cover. In this embodiment the holes 18 are located on the same lines as the welds 15.

The periphery of each hole 18 is sealed by welding the upper and lower PVC sheets together to ensure an effective seal between the atmosphere and the interior filling 12 of the pillow 10.

The welding of the pillow seams 16 should be sufficient to prevent contamination of the filling during use, even in a hospital, but as a further precaution a sealable opening or valve 20 is provided for the admission of a sterilising gas or vapour. The spacing of the internal welds 15 and holes 18 allows the gas or vapour to flow through the entire contents of the pillow 10 when it is required to sterilise it. The valve 20 may also be used to enable the extraction of air from within the pillow to facilitate packing, storage and transport.

The external surface of the pillow may, of course, be sterilised simply by wiping or spraying with a suitable antiseptic liquid.

The pillow described above is thus suitable for use in hospitals and negates the need for laundering thus will considerably reduce costs.

In practice the pillow may be enclosed in the usual removable and washable fabric outer cases, although this is not essential especially if the pillow itself is manufactured from a type of PVC which is pleasant to the touch. The pillow 30 shown in Fig. 3 comprises a cover 32 which is barrel-shaped prior to filling i.e major sides 33, 34 are convex whereas minor sides 35, 36 are parallel. When filled the major sides 33, 34 are substantially parallel. The pillow construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may have in practice major sides which are not parallel when filled. The substantially parallel major sides of the pillow shown in Fig. 3 improve user comfort. The pillow is filled with five blocks of polyester fibre filling in a similar manner to the pillow of Figs. 1 and 2 and has a similar cross section to that pillow.

The cover 32 comprises two sheets 38 (lower sheet 38 not shown) welded at their periphery 40. The sheets are also joined together by non-continuous welds 42, 44. The welds 42, 44 permit the circulation of air or other gas around the pillow. Ventilation holes e.g 46, 47 extend welds 42, 44. The welds 42, 44 are reinforced by spot welds 48, 49, 50, 51. A valve 52 is provided to permit flushing of the interior of the pillow with a sterilising gas.

Claims

1. A head support comprising a filling enclosed in a cover with through ventilation holes interconnecting the two major faces of the head support, the cover enclosing the filling in a gas or fluid tight manner.

2. A head support according to claim 1 which is a pillow.

3. A head support according to claim 1 or 2 which is provided with at least one sealable opening through which gas or liquid can be introduced into or expelled from the interior of the cover.

4. A head support according to any preceding claim in which the cover is formed by two sheets joined at their peripheries.

5. A head support according to any preceding claim in which portions of the cover forming the two major faces of the head support are interconnected at discrete positions.

6. A head support according to claim 5 in which the ventilation holes are defined at some or all of the said discrete positions.

7. A head support according to claims 5 or 6 in which the interconnected cover portions are connected by welding.

8. A head support according to any preceding claim in which the unfilled cover is barrel-shaped.

9. A head support according to any one of claims 5 to 9 in which the cover major surface portions are joined along two elongate regions extending substantially parallel to major edges of the cover.

10. A head support according to claim 9 in which the regions extend transverse to one or more of the major edges of the cover.