Orthopedic pillow having improved incremental compressive resistance for improved cervical support

Abstract

An orthopedic pillow is a monolithic foam structure. Spaced apart depressed top and bottom surfaces are continuous with, and are extensive between the side surfaces. The top and bottom surfaces are each formed as a plurality of side-by-side longitudinal ribs parallel with the long side surfaces. Each one of the ribs protrudes outwardly from the apparatus and is a major portion of a semi-circle in shape. The physical conformation of the apparatus is such, that with the long side surfaces resting on a mattress, the tips of the ribs are initially spaced apart from the mattress, and with a head's weight resting on the top surface, the ribs of the top surface are compressed, and the ribs of the bottom surface are urged toward the mattress providing compressive resistance proportional to the compressive force.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

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REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Present Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to pillows and more specifically to a pillow capable of automatically accommodating persons of varying weight and head-neck conformation for improved cervical spine positioning during sleep.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Ku, U.S. 2005/0091748, discloses a pillow that is formed of a memory member, an adjustment member, and a support member. The memory member is made of an artificial sponge having a memory. The adjustment member is provided with a plurality of air sacs which are inflatable and deflatable. The adjustment member is fitted into a hollow interior of the memory member. The support member is also made of an artificial sponge and is fitted into a hollow interior of the adjustment member.

Murphy, U.S. Des 293755, discloses an ornamental design for a cover for a cervical pillow.

Vinsant, Jr., U.S. Des 320523, discloses an ornamental design for a body support for use as a nighttime cervical support or a daytime lumbo-sacral support, as shown and described.

Ward et al., U.S. Des 339020, discloses an ornamental design for a pillow.

Bonaddio et al., U.S. Des 374146, discloses an ornamental design for a two-piece interlocking pillow unit.

Jung, U.S. Des 390405, discloses an ornamental design for a travel pillow.

Frydman, U.S. Des 394977, discloses an ornamental design for improved orthopedic pillow.

Parnham, U.S. Des 48677, discloses an ornamental design for a thigh cushion.

Etal, U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,812, discloses a pillow that is comprised of a unitary elongated rectangular body formed of a synthetic foamed plastic having upper and lower longitudinal faces, a recess formed centrally in each of the faces of the body and extending longitudinally thereof from one end to the other, a plurality of apertures formed to extend through the body to communicate the recesses one with the other and spaced lengthwise of the recesses, and an outer covering of a freely porous material enclosing the body and lying taut across the recesses to form therewith enclosed air channels extending longitudinally of each face of the pillow.

Burkhardt, U.S. Pat. No. 1,821,355, discloses an orthopedic cervical pillow which has a substantially flat undersurface and an upper surface contoured to form a back engaging portion transitioning into a convex neck engaging portion further transitioning into a head engaging portion. Self-adjusting lift of the back and neck engaging portions is accomplished by means of a relieved section in the undersurface of the pillow generally beneath the head engaging portion. The relieved section extends entirely across the width of the pillow and extends from a forward most point underneath the neck engaging portion to approximately halfway under the head engaging portion wherein the contour of the relieved section assumes a substantially vertical contour at its rearmost portion.

Rothbard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,405, discloses an orthopedic pillow providing support for the head and neck of the user. The neck is supported by either of two cylindrical neck bolsters. Either of two convoluted surfaces comprising matrices of pyramid shaped nodes are utilized to give support to and cushion the head.

Dixon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,194, discloses a cervical pillow that has a multi-component polyurethane foam construction with an upper portion, intermediate portion and foundation portion. The upper portion includes a convoluted support surface preferably having multi-density upwardly extending protrusions and is laminated to the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is configured having two generally perpendicular channel depressions of equal depth for supporting and stabilizing the head and neck in an anatomically neutral position, the upper portion conforming to the channels and communicating the channel contour to the support surface. Local support adjustment along one channel is facilitated by a cut-out in the intermediate portion which houses a removable insert. The foundation portion includes a removable base to provide adjustable vertical height of the support surface to adapt to a wide range of users. In an alternative embodiment, the foundation portion also includes a removable middle section positionable between an upper section and the base to provide additional vertical support adjustment. The middle portion can be flat or wedge shaped to provide inclination of the support surface when desired. Another alternative embodiment includes a removable cover which encloses the cervical pillow and includes an external pocket positioned over a portion of a channel capable of housing a supplemental member such as a thermal pack which can be used for therapeutic purposes.

Torbik, U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,998, discloses a pillow that provides proper cervical support whether the sleeper is on his back or on his side. Side sections including cutouts on the left and right of the pillow provide clearance for the airways during side sleeping, and a multi-level construction provides the proper head and neck support for either back or side sleeping positions. A high quality fiber is used in rolled and layered sections to provide comfort for the sleeper and resiliency of the pillow over prolonged use. Dual neck rolls of different diameters allow two sleepers of different neck sizes to alternately use the same pillow.

Jung, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,177, discloses an adjustable travel pillow unit that has a pillow outer shell, a support frame within the shell and an adjustment mechanism. The mechanism allows an arm to extend or retract in alignment with a plane and is movable itself in alignment with a plane perpendicular to the first mentioned plane.

Alexander, U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,347, discloses a use of particulate stuffings such as down or fiberfill in the construction of orthopedic pillows that has previously been limited due to formidable intrinsic difficulties. On a curved wedge of support, with natural turning movement of the sleeper, fiberfill will tend to “avalanche” downhill, settle and pack down to obliterate any initial toricity or inflected curvature. Hence the sleeper is awakened to refluff or to punch the missing inflection back into place. Though simple internal partitioning can initially delay the scenario, in due course nuisance fiber sequestering and impeded normal hand refluffing are the results. The present invention focuses on structurally overcoming these impediments to the orthopedic use of particulate fillings. It notably provides a pillow that manifests to the sleeper as downy soft, and comfortingly restful. Yet, internally built-in are the specific elements and mechanisms for ‘stealth support’: A forward-reaching fiberfill overlay is carefully partitioned and co-proportioned in loft and fibre density with its underlying supporting core, to provide the inflected toric gradient of support for the sleeper. The calibrated loft of the overlay, in combination with the use of minimal stable core thickness, extensive differential slotting and feathering of the core surface, in addition to lateral fiber ‘muffs’, all work in tandem for the necessary dissimulation of the core, its interfaces, and the very presence of summated orthopedic support itself. Within the overlay, angled split partitions vaulting a retrusion chamber, force the necessary support inflection into reliable existence. Furthermore, the uniquely substructured split partitions combine stretch and non-stretch fabric portions so that, with natural turning of the sleeper, they descend and recoil to lift and recirculate fibre spheres within pillow chambers. In effect, the pillow unit refluffs ‘automatically’, as you sleep, to refresh plumpness for undisturbed sleep throughout the night. In manufacture, the supporting core is inflatable to accommodate lower back sufferers, and further serves in Traveler Edition and Sleeping Bag applications.

Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,534, discloses a support pillow that includes a U-shaped body skin that defines a U-shaped inner space therein, and a filler that is packed in the inner space and that cooperates with the body skin to form a flexible U-shaped body including a bight part and two opposite arm parts extending and angled away from two opposite ends of the bight part to define a recess there among.

Kruger, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,682, discloses a pillow that comprises four substantially identical fabric sections arranged in registry and secured together around the peripheries thereof. A line of stitching connects the middle two layers, defining a rectangular portion or other configuration, in the center of the pillow. The pillow is filled between the middle two layers from the line of stitching to the peripheral edges of the fabric sections. Filling is also present between the upper fabric section and one of the middle fabric sections, and between the lower fabric layers and the other middle fabric section, resulting in a pillow which has less fill in the center portion thereof.

Hsu, U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,512, discloses a combination pressure release ergonomic pillow comprised of a body of the pillow having its top surface in a curve complying with ergonomic requirements of the human head and neck, a channel on one side or multiple channels on both sides, a slot at bottom of the body of the pillow, and insert(s) to be inserted into the channel(s); and a support inserted into the slot to support the back of head of the user; the insert being retractable to adjust the height of the pillow body to define optimal pressure release curve according to the individual user to protect the cervical vertebrae of the user.

The related art described above discloses pillows with opposing bolster portions running laterally and depressed center portions, as particularly shown in Rothbard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,405. The related art also discloses the use of longitudinal ribs within the depressed center portions, as particularly shown in Hsu, U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,512. Finally, the prior art also discloses that it is known to form such pillows with top to bottom symmetry so that either side of the pillow may be used identically.

However, it will be shown that the present invention, although incorporating the well known features of: opposing bolster portions, central depressed longitudinal ribs and top to bottom symmetry, provides an improved conformation that provides benefits unknown in the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

Pillows tend to be problematic. One person may find a given pillow too hard while another person may find the same pillow too soft. During the hours of sleep, pillows tend to compress under the weight of the head so that over time the cervical spine may assume an uncomfortable and possibly physically harmful curvature. Pillows that are too hard tend to hold the head in an undesirable upright attitude, while those that are too soft allow the head to assume an undesirable bent-over or bent back attitude. Furthermore, if a pillow is found that is orthopedically suitable for one person, it will most often be unsuitable for another person. When a pillow is suitable for an adult, it is usually not suitable for a child. Yet, it would be most desirable to provide a pillow that automatically adjusts to the needs of those that use it no-matter the length of the neck or weight of the head within the normal range of human anatomy. The presently described apparatus is orthopedically suitable for a wide range of different body types and weights and will be found by most persons to be quite comfortable. This pillow is a monolithic foam structure of a resilience suitable for supporting the head where the weight of the head is between about 3.5 pounds and 12 pounds. It has a pair of spaced apart long side surfaces and a pair of spaced apart short side surfaces forming a generally rectangular shape. Spaced apart top and bottom recessed surfaces abut and are extensive between the side surfaces, and are each formed as a plurality of side-by-side ribs positioned in parallel with the long side surfaces. Each one of the ribs protrudes outwardly and is semicircular in cross-sectional shape. The physical conformation of the apparatus is such, that with the long side surfaces resting on a generally planar surface such as a mattress and with no weight on the top surface, the ribs of the bottom surface are spaced apart from the planar surface; and with weight (a person's head) resting on the top surface, the ribs of the top surface are compressed, and the pillow deforms over all so that the ribs of the bottom surface are urged toward the planar surface and with enough weight pressing downwardly on the top surface, the ribs of the bottom surface move into contact with the mattress and are deformed as well. Because the ribs extend downwardly away from the bottom surface, initial contact between the bottom ribs and mattress experiences relatively little resistance, allowing the pillow to compress against the mattress as the top surface is compressed under the weight of the head. When the head presses downward further, each incrementally added amount of weight causes a greater surface area of the bottom ribs to be compressed thereby increasing the amount of resistance to compression. Because the force of compressive resistance proportionally increases with compressive force the total compression of the pillow (the amount of drop of the surface in contact with the head) tends to be within an acceptable range for most persons.

A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide a pillow that is comfortable for most persons including children and adults.

A further objective is to provide such a pillow with cervical bolters to provide adequate support to the neck area.

A further objective is to provide such a pillow with depressed central portions that have ribs so that air is able to circulate between the pillow surface and the head for improved cooling whilst asleep.

A further objective is to provide such a pillow with semi-circular shaped ribs of a size and shape that deform appropriately to prevent overextension of the neck for most individuals.

A further objective is to provide such a pillow that is symmetrical top to bottom so that it is impossible to turn the pillow onto an inappropriate attitude where its advantages are not functional.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus and method of its use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention In such drawing(s):

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the presently described apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, the bottom plan view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 3 is a left side view, the right side view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, the rear elevational view being a mirror image thereof; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side views thereof showing the apparatus in use with a heavier head in FIG. 5 and with a lighter head in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawing figures illustrate the described apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of use.

The presently described apparatus is a pillow for supporting a person's neck and head when resting on an essentially planar surface 5 such as a mattress. The apparatus is constructed as a monolithic, one-piece foam structure, preferably polyurethane foam, having a pair of spaced apart, circularly shaped, longitudinal surfaces 10 (bolsters) and a pair of spaced apart, planar, lateral surfaces 20, together forming a generally rectangular shape, as shown in FIG. 2 in plan view.

The apparatus has identical top and bottom recessed surfaces 30, each extensive between the side surfaces 10 and 20. A plurality of side-by-side identical longitudinal ribs 32 of near semi-circular shape, see FIG. 3, are extensive between the lateral surfaces 20, i.e., they extend longitudinally across the entire apparatus and they mutually abruptly abut each other, that is to say the side 34 of each rib 32 is joined directly with the side 34 of ribs 32 to both its left and its right, with no radius or other feature between them. This structure has been found to be critical is forming the rib confirmation that best achieves the results of incrementally increasing resistance to compression as will be further explained below.

The physical conformation, size, bulk and material resilience of the apparatus is such, that with the apparatus resting on the planar surface 5 with no extrinsic weight resting thereupon, the ribs 32 of the bottom surface 30 are spaced apart from the planar surface 5, as best shown in FIG. 3, and with an extrinsic weight resting on the top surface 30, the ribs 32 of the bottom surface 30 are urged into contact with the planar surface 5, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The ribs 32 are of such conformation that incremental compressive resistance of the bottom ribs 32 increases faster than the incremental compression of the bottom ribs 32, so that a range of extrinsic weights are supportable over a diminished range of compression, thereby facilitating the proper support of the cervix of different individuals having a range of head weights. The downward force on a pillow, in general, from the human head ranges between about 3 pounds for a small child to about 12 pounds for an adult male. This is a significant range of weights and normally results in considerable compression of the pillow by heavier weights and relatively little compression by lighter weights. In order to find utilization of a pillow that may be used for a wide range of weights without excessive compression, the pillow must provide incrementally more support (resistance to compression) to heavier weights and such support must increase faster than the incremental increase of the weight in order to assure that compression is within a relatively narrow range over the designed weight range of the pillow. This has been found to be best achieved when the ribs are near semi-circles, i.e., approximately 90% of a semi-circle, and when the total vertical height of the ribs 30 on top and bottom is approximately 13% of the total height. Best results have been found when the ribs 30 are each approximately ⅞ inches wide and the lateral distance of all the ribs 30 is approximately 5 inches with the bolsters being 4½ inches laterally each. The initial vertical drop of the top surface 30 is about ⅝ inches whereupon the bottom ribs 30 contact the surface 5 and start to compress. This initial drop provides a comfortable curvature to the cervix with the neck surface supported by the bolters. Further drop of the top surface 30 depends on the compression of the bottom ribs 32, which, as discussed, provide a progressive resistance with incremental compression so that both light and heavy weights cause further drop within only a narrow range and therefore prevent the cervix from overextending.

As shown in the figures, the apparatus is a one piece foam structure with left to right symmetry, top to bottom symmetry and front to back symmetry. This has the advantage of enabling use of the pillow where the head may be placed from both longitudinal directions and on either side with the same result.

The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element.

The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.

Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas.

The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.

Claims

1. A pillow apparatus for supporting a person's neck and head and resting on an essentially planar surface of a mattress, the apparatus comprising:

a one-piece foam structure having a pair of spaced apart, circularly shaped, longitudinal surfaces and a pair of spaced apart, planar, lateral surfaces;

top and bottom recessed surfaces, each: a) extensive between the side surfaces, and b) providing a plurality of side-by-side identical longitudinal ribs, near semi-circular in shape and extensive between the lateral surfaces, the ribs mutually abutting abruptly;

the physical conformation, size, bulk and material resilience of the apparatus such, that with the apparatus resting on the planar surface with no extrinsic weight resting thereupon, the ribs of the bottom surface are spaced apart from the planar surface, and with an extrinsic weight resting on the top surface, the ribs of the bottom surface are urged into contact with the planar surface, the ribs of such conformation that incremental compressive resistance of the ribs increases faster than incremental compression of the bottom ribs, whereby a range of extrinsic weights are supportable over a diminished range of compression.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal surfaces conform to portions of a circle having such size as to support a cervical area of the neck when the head is supported by the top surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one piece foam structure has left to right symmetry, top to bottom symmetry and front to back symmetry.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ribs are approximately 90% of a semi-circle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the total vertical height of the ribs on the top and bottom surfaces is approximately 13% of the total height of the pillow across the ribs.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the ribs is approximately ⅞ inches wide.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lateral distance of all the ribs 30 on each of the top and the bottom surfaces is approximately 5 inches.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lateral distance of each of the longitudinal surfaces is approximately 4½ inches.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is of such resilience that the initial vertical drop due to an extrinsic weight placed on the top surface is about ⅝ inches before the bottom ribs contact the planar surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structure of the apparatus is such as to provide a progressive resistance to compression.