WO2007129896A1

WO2007129896A1 - Inflatable pillow

Info

Publication number: WO2007129896A1
Application number: PCT/NO2006/000169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Einar Wilhelm Vedvik
Original assignee: Tango Products Nuf
Priority date: 2006-05-05
Filing date: 2006-05-05
Publication date: 2007-11-15

Abstract

Inflatable pillow to be filled with air and water, said pillow comprising two separated sections adapted to be inflated, one section (2) adapted to being filled with water and one section comprising the rest of the pillow, being adapted to be inflated by air at a desired pressure, the combination of the air inflating and the water filled into the water section (2) making it possible to obtain an anatomically resting position and giving relief by conveying heat for the relief position for the specific part of the human body which may be selected.

Description

Inflatable pillow

The present invention is related to an inflatable pillow to be filled with air and water.

Pains and stiffness in the neck region are all too common and well known as one in five suffers on a daily basis from neck pain. Many have experienced that heat provide a relieving effect. Furthermore, it is also obvious that a good resting position for the head is most important. Therefore the objective for the present invention is to provide an anatomically satisfactory resting position for the neck and head and simultaneously conveying heat to the neck and head.

The above objective is achieved with the pillow according to the present invention as defined by the features stated in the claims. The drawing discloses in figure 1 a perspective view for the side of the pillow according to the present invention, figure 2 discloses a perspective view from above, figure 3 and figure 4 disclose a longitudinal section of the pillow, figure 3 with the internal water section empty and figure 4 with the internal water section filled.

Basically, the pillow according to the present invention combines water and air to provide comfort and an anatomically correct shape of the pillow, whereby unprecedented flexibility in usage is obtained. The pillow 1 comprises one section in which inflatable water section 2 can be filled or emptied through a water channel 4. Additionally, the rest of the pillow can be filled with air through an air inlet 5.

The lower part of the pillow comprises channel walls made for example of soft PVC and being welded to the upper and lower part of the pillow to secure the correct shape of the pillow.

Although the pillow is made of two sections to be inflated by air respectively inflated by water, it may be decided not to use the water section. In this case more air should be inflated to compensate for the missing water. As disclosed in figure 2, air may be pressed into spaces between the pillow side walls and the water section 2, thereby contributing to stabilize and maintain the shape of the pillow.

The pillow according to the present invention may be used for neck, shoulder, back and legs in various positions. The pillow is easily adjustable by changing the volume respectively the quantity of the air and the water to ensure maximum comfort. The anatomically correct shape provides obvious advantages over conventional hot water bottles.

It is well known that heat has a fantastic relieving effect to the human body. The internal water section 2 of the pillow may be used for hot water for example at approximately 45 ⁰C which is medically recommended max. temperature for direct skin contact. However, the pillow is designed to withstand water temperatures up to 100 ⁰C. It is, however, important that the temperature of the water always should be adjusted to actual usage. For muscle injuries, such as sport injuries, ice water is well known to provide relieve and comfort, As such the pillow according to the present invention may be filled with ice through the water inlet into the internal water section 2, instead of heated water.

As the pillow according to the present invention is specially designed to provide good insulation around the water section 2, a long lasting heating effect, respectively cooling effect, is secured effectively to the designated body part.

The pillow according to the present invention may be used in many different everyday situations, such as in the chair or in the sofa for the neck of the back. When used for the back the thickest part of the pillow should be positioned downwardly.

The pillow may be used in the bed to substitute a conventional pillow, under the back or below the legs. In a bath tub the pillow suitably may be used as rest for the neck and the head. Furthermore the pillow according to the present invention may be used in cars, on the beach as well as in the garden.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1. Inflatable pillow to be filled with air and water, characterized in that the pillow comprises two separated sections adapted to be inflated, one section (2) adapted to being filled with water and one section comprising the rest of the pillow, being adapted to be inflated by air at a desired pressure, the combination of the air inflating and the water filled into the water section (2) making it possible to obtain an anatomically resting position and giving relief by conveying heat for the relief position for the specific part of the human body which may be selected.

2. Pillow according to claim 1, characterized in that the water section (2) being adapted to be filled with heated water up to 100 ⁰C as well as ice water.

3. Pillow according to claims 1-2, characterized in that the part of the pillow comprising the water section (2) being at least twice as thick as the rest of the pillow to be inflated by air, thereby to adapt the shape to different body parts.