INFLATABLE PILLOW
An inflatable pillow usable in a first mode for a person sleeping on their back and in a second mode for a person sleeping on their side, wherein the pillow when inflated has a profile which features a generally flat base for stable support of the pillow, a first end wall curving upwardly to a first height, and an opposed end wall curving upwardly to a second height, the end walls leading to the upper surface of the pillow which inclines downwardly from each end wall into a valley within the central part of the pillow, wherein the first height is greater than the second height, and when used in the first mode the pillow is orientated so that the end wall of greater height and upper surface provide support for the upper spine region and head of a person lying on their back, and when the pillow is used in the second mode, the end wall of lesser height and the upper surface provide support for the upper spine region and head of a person lying on their side.
The present invention relates to an inflatable pillow appropriately contoured to support an adult person sleeping in a lying position.
The inflatable pillow of the invention is specially contoured to provide two alternative modes of use. In a first mode it better suits a person who prefers to sleep on their back and in the second mode it better suits a person who prefers to sleep on their side. The contouring is such that in each of the two modes good support of the spine is achieved.
More specifically, the invention provides an inflatable pillow usable in a first mode for a person sleeping on their back and in a second mode for a person sleeping on their side, wherein the pillow when inflated has a profile which features a generally flat base for stable support of the pillow, a first end wall curving upwardly to a first height, and an opposed end wall curving upwardly to a second height, the end walls leading to the upper surface of the pillow which inclines downwardly from each end wall into a valley within the central part of the pillow, wherein the first height is greater than the second height, and when used in the first mode the pillow is orientated so that the end wall of greater height and upper surface provide support for the upper spine region and head of a person lying on their back, and when the pillow is used in the second mode, the end wall of lesser height and the upper surface provide support for the upper spine region and head of a person lying on their side.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings in which:
The basic form of the pillow is shown in
The profile of the pillow in its inflated state as viewed from the side is critical to the correct functioning of the pillow in its two operational modes and this will now be described in detail. It is to be noted that due to the inherent tendency of the flexible material to “balloon” or form an arcuate shape in the zones between the adjacent webs 8a, 8b which define the basic shape of the pillow when inflated, its cross sectional profile will not remain absolutely constant along its entire length but nevertheless its profile can be satisfactorily defined with reference to the profile seen at each lateral side and which, with relatively minor variation due to the ballooning effect just described, is repeated along the length of the inflated pillow. From
The pillow in the embodiment shown has six tubes 2 each with a width of about 3 to 3½ inches. However a smaller version with just four tubes of the same width may be preferred for some uses.
The embodiment has been described by way of example and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An inflatable pillow usable in a first mode for a person sleeping on their back and in a second mode for a person sleeping on their side, wherein the pillow when inflated has a profile which features a generally flat base for stable support of the pillow, a first end wall curving upwardly to a first height, and an opposed end wall curving upwardly to a second height, the end walls leading to the upper surface of the pillow which inclines downwardly from each end wall into a valley within the central part of the pillow, wherein the first height is greater than the second height, and when used in the first mode the pillow is orientated so that the end wall of greater height and upper surface provide support for the upper spine region and head of a person lying on their back, and when the pillow is used in the second mode, the end wall of lesser height and the upper surface provide support for the upper spine region and head of a person lying on their side.
2. A pillow according to claim 1, wherein the first height is about 5½ inches and the second height is about 4¾ inches.
3. A pillow according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second wall has a greater curvature than does the first wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 19, 2011
Publication Date: Jul 21, 2011
Applicant: ARTOON PTY LTD (Brunswick)
Inventor: Michael David Calder (Brunswick)
Application Number: 13/009,667
International Classification: A47G 9/10 (20060101);