PILLOWS

Abstract

A pillow comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable members connected in series and in an endless manner to form a head bearing surface and a support surface for supporting the head bearing surface. In this pillow, nicknamed Contracks Pillow, each of the head bearing surface and the support surface comprises a plurality of the resiliently deformable members and the members are reconfigurable like a track. This pillow arrangement mitigates the shortcomings of premature permanent deformation of conventional pillows having a constant head bearing portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pillows, and more particularly to pillows comprising a resiliently deformable head bearing surface. More specifically, although not sole limited thereto, this invention relates to pillows having a reconfigurable head bearing surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A pillow comprises a head bearing surface which is adapted to provide head support to a user during sleeping or rest. The head bearing surface is typically formed from a resiliently deformable material, such as sponge, latex, or foam, so that the head bearing surface could provide a soft support to a user while returning to its original shape after weight is removed from the pillow. However, it is known that the resiliently deformable materials commonly used in pillows always lose their elasticity and resilience, and become permanently deformed after prolonged repeated use. As a result, the comfort level and the functional effectiveness of the originally designed ergonomic shape of the head bearing surface will diminish. When permanent deformation occurs, a user will have to bear with a less-than ideal pillow or to get a new pillow.

Therefore, it will be advantageous if improved pillows which will alleviate at least some or all of the above shortcomings could be provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a pillow comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable members connected in series and in an endless manner to form a head bearing surface and a support surface for supporting the head bearing surface, wherein each of the head bearing surface and the support surface includes a plurality of the resiliently deformable members. This pillow is advantageous because it allows the head bearing surface to be reconfigurable from time to time to shift and/or reconfigure the weight bearing portion of the pillow. As a result, the load bearing is evenly distributed and is not limited to a localized portion of the pillow. Accordingly, premature permanent deformation could be avoided and a more environmentally friendly pillow is available to the public. Furthermore, as the pillow is less deformation prone, sleeping health and comfort could be enhanced. In addition, because such a pillow is more durable due to resistance against premature deformation, pollution due to abandonment of deformed pillows, as well as resources and energy consumed in manufacturing new and recycling abandoned pillows, could be reduced

The resiliently deformable members may be connected in the form of a continuous track or a caterpillar track. Such a continuous track design, nicknamed ‘Contracks Pillow’ or “Track Pillow”, provides a quick and convenient way for reconfiguration of the head bearing surface to extend service life.

The track of resiliently deformable members may be collapsible to form a two-layer pillow in which the first layer defines the head bearing surface and the second layer defines the support surface. The two-layer design permits a head bearing surface to be selectively reconfigured to become a support surface and vice versa at the will of a user.

In particular, the resiliently deformable members forming the supporting surface and the resiliently deformable members forming the head bearing surface may be user-selectable. The re-configurability enables the weight bearing surface to be changed from time to time, thereby extending the usable life of a pillow. For example, a user may select a resiliently deformable member having the longest serving time as a member of the support surface to become a new member of the head bearing portion so that sufficient time is given to the resiliently deformable member to return to its original moulded shape. As a further example, instructions may be provided to ask a user to move a resiliently deformable member of the head bearing surface to become a member of the support surface from time to time or at regular intervals, thereby avoiding the same resiliently deformable members being deformed for a long period of time due to extended load bearing.

The adjacent resiliently deformable members may be hingedly connected along their long sides so that each resiliently deformable member is hingedly movable relative to an immediately adjacent resiliently deformable member. Such a hinged connection makes it easier for the resiliently deformable members to be arranged in layer form, and to be moved to different positions.

In an embodiment, each of the resiliently deformable members is marked with a positioning indicium, the positioning indicia being markings adapted for tracking reconfiguration of the head bearing surface. The indicia help a user to keep track on the most recent or most ancient use of a resilient member as a head bearing members.

The positioning indicia may comprise digits or numerals corresponding to the days of a week or the days of a month, and consequential digits or numerals are spaced at regular intervals with non-consecutive digits or numerals filled between a pair of consecutive digits of numerals to ensure adequate spacing is provided between each shifting. Days of a week or month provide easy tracking for a user without the need of additional markings or tracking. For example, digits 1 to 7 may be used to represent Monday to Sunday respectively and several digits are inserted between two consecutive date representing digits to ensure that a resiliently deformable member of the head bearing portion is moved into the support portion when reconfiguring a pillow.

Each of the resiliently deformable members may be received within an elongate pocket and axially turnable with respect to its longitudinal axis. This further reconfiguration permits cleaning of the pillow case, as well as the use of different surfaces of a resiliently deformable member as a head bearing surface to further extend the working life of a pillow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be explained below by way of example and with reference to the accompany Figures, in which—

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pillow of FIG. 1 expanded in a circular track form, and

FIG. 3A is a side view of a pillow illustrating a second embodiment in a first configuration of the present invention, and

FIG. 3B shows a second configuration of FIG. 3A, and

FIG. 3C shows a third configuration of FIG. 3A.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The pillow 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a track pillow of the present invention and comprises a plurality of resiliently deformable pillow members 110 which are connected in series and in an endless manner similar to that of a caterpillar track commonly seen in heavy machinery such as bulldozers and excavators. Each of the pillow members 110 is an elongate member moulded of sponge foam and having its longitudinal axis extending substantially orthogonal to the direction of extension of the track. Each elongate moulded pillow member is received inside a fabric pocket adapted to receive the moulded pillow member. The adjacent bottom edges of a pair of adjacent pockets are joined together by a sewn edge 150 which runs substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate pillow member. The bottom sewn edge permits the upper free corners of adjacent pillow members to pivot relative about a hinge defined by the sewn edge. The collection of sewn edges permits the elongate pillow members to roll and fold similar to that of adjacent track members of a caterpillar track, albeit driven by a user. More specifically, the sewn edge 150 permits rolling and folding of a pillow member as it forms a pivotal hinge between a pair of adjacent pillow members. Formation of the sewn edge at corresponding corners at the bottom provides a maximal degree of freedom of pivotable movement. The fabric pillow casing comprising the pockets provides enhanced user comfort while the sewn edges 150 provide a very flexible hinge especially suitable for this Contracks Pillow.

The plurality of elongate pillow members collectively defines a head bearing surface 120 and a support surface 130 for supporting the head bearing surface. Unlike conventional pillows, the pillow members forming the head bearing portion and the support portion could be selected and reconfigured at the will or discretion of a user.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the resiliently deformable pillow members 110 are connected in the form of a continuous track 140 or a caterpillar track. Such a configuration means that the resiliently deformable members could be easily configured and re-configured to change the pillow members which form the instantaneous head bearing layer 120 or the support layer 130.

As shown in the Figures, each of the resiliently deformable members 110 is elongate having its longitudinally axis extending transversely to the direction of the track. More specifically, the first (or lower) pillow layer includes a lower surface which is adapted for resting on a support surface (such as a bed surface) and an upper surface which is adapted to bear the weight of the second layer as well as the weight of a person resting on the pillow. In use, the combined weight of the pillow is distributed on the support surface via the lower surface of the first pillow layer.

The second or upper pillow layer includes an upper surface which is adapted to receive the head of a person and therefore defines the head bearing portion, and a lower surface which transmit the weight of a person to the first pillow layer. In other words, the first pillow layer defines the head bearing layer 120 and the second layer forms the support layer 130 of the pillow. More specifically, the elongate pillow members are identical and are arranged such that, when in the folded configuration, a pillow member on the head bearing portion is aligned with and supported by a corresponding pillow member on the support layer as shown in FIG. 1.

Each of the pockets is optionally provided with a re-sealable or re-closable fabric cover so that the pillow members could be removed from the pockets to permit washing of the fabric casing.

In use, the pillow track 140 is collapsed or folded into two substantially planar layers, namely, a first head bearing layer and a second support layer, as shown in FIG. 1. The second layer lies on top of the first layer and fully rests on the first layer to support the weight transmitted from the second layer.

As can be expected, the head bearing surface will be repeatedly subject to deforming pressure when in use, and the flexibility to select various combination of individual pillow members to form the head bearing layer and the support layer enables the pressure bearing surface to be shifted at intervals to even out or distribute deformation force.

To alleviate problems arising from prolonged localized pressure on a localized portion of the head bearing portion, a user can shift the track either clockwise or anti-clockwise to vary the pillow members constituting the instantaneous head bearing layer and the support layer. More particularly, a user can rotate the track until a pressure bearing pillow member is shifted several pillow positions away to bring it away from the pressure bearing region, or even to move it to form part of the support layer.

In the second embodiment as depicted in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, parts which are the same or equivalent to that of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 will bear the same numerals plus 100. In this embodiment, the pillow 200 of FIG. 3A are substantially identical to that of FIG. 1, except that a number representing a particular day as an example of a date or positioning indicium is marked on the lateral end of a pillow member for user tracking and recognition.

As depicted in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the pillow comprises 14 elongate pillow members 210 and the lateral end of each pillow member is marked with a unique integer between 1 and 14. The integers 1 to 14 are adapted for use as date indicia representing a 14-day cycle such that each day in the 14-day cycle has a unique corresponding or identification integer. Each pair of consecutive date indicating integers in the integer range 1 to 14 is separated by four integers to ensure adequate movement of a member 210 away from the pressure bearing region for four pillow member positions when shifted by a user according to instructions with reference to the date indicia.

Exemplary uses of the Contracks Pillow will be explained below with reference to the pillow configurations of FIGS. 3A to 3C. In a first exemplary use, the elongate pillow 200 is laid on a support surface with pillow members 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 2 & 5 in the first or upper pillow row and pillow members 12, 09, 06, 03, 14, 11 and 08 in the second or lower row as a support layer as shown in FIG. 3A.

Assuming that this pillow is used in a conventional way in which a user lies with the head centrally supported on the pillow and the body extending transversely to the overall length of and away from the pillow, thereby forming a “T” shaped configuration with the pillow. In this use configuration, the overall length of the pillow extends transverse to the length of a person using the pillow with the longitudinal axis of each pillow member transverse to the overall pillow length but parallel to the body axis of the user.

In use, the lateral ends or lateral halves of the pillow members 07, 10 & 13, which are proximal the user, collectively form a head bearing surface to support the head of a user, while the pillow members on the lower layer, namely, pillow members 12, 09, 06, 03, 14, 11, & 08, collectively form a support layer. In this application, the pillow members 07, 10 & 13 will bear the head weight of a user when use in this conventional T-shaped sleeping posture.

On the second day, a user will in accordance with user instructions shift the pillow track anti-clockwise by five consecutive pillow members, so that the pillow member 02 is shifted to the position previously occupied by pillow member 1 as shown in FIG. 3B. When this happens, the five pillow members marked 8, 11, 14, 03 & 06, which are pillow members originally in the second pillow layer of the first day, will be shifted to the first pillow layer. After this shift, the first pillow layer will still comprise two pillow members of the first day configuration, namely, pillow members 02 & 05, while five pillow members are shifted from the support layer to the upper layer.

Likewise, on the third day, the pillow members marked 09, 12, 01, 04 & 07 which were originally in the second pillow layer of the second day will be shifted to the first pillow layer as shown in FIG. 3C. On the fourth to the fourteenth day, the track pillow could be shifted in the like manner without lose of generality. On the fifteenth day, the pillow will resume the day one configuration.

By shifting the pillow members in this exemplary way, the head weight bearing portion of the pillow will be constantly changed, thereby alleviating the problem of premature permanent or plastic deformation due to prolonged weight bearing by a localized portion of the pillow.

Assuming now that the pillow 200 of FIG. 3A is used in a second application in which the body of a user still extends transverse to the overall length of pillow but the user's body and the pillow collectively form an inverted “L”-shape. In this configuration, the head of a user is supported by the lateral end portions of pillow members 01, 04 & 07 for a left-side sleeper and pillow members 13, 02 & 05 for a right side sleeper. The risk of premature permanent or plastic deformation could be mitigated by shifting the pillow members, whether clockwise or anticlockwise, in the same or like manner as described above to enhance pillow life or durability.

In yet another exemplary use, the pillow 200 is used in a configuration such that the length of the pillow is parallel to the body axis. In such a configuration, the axis of an individual pillow member is substantially orthogonal to the body axis while the user and the pillow collectively form an “i” or “I” shape. When the pillow of FIG. 3A is used in such a configuration, the central portion of the pillow members 01, 04, or even 07 will form the head bearing portion and shifting of the pillow members in the same or like manners above will mitigate the problem of premature permanent deformation.

This cyclical or track arrangement of this Contracks Pillow enables the pillow members to shift or swap their responsibilities at intervals or regular intervals so as to even out the adverse effect of deforming force on the pillow members.

While the present invention has been explained with reference to the exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the embodiments are only for example and reference only and are not meant to restrict the scope of invention. For example, while the elongate pillow members are of a rectangular cross section, it will be appreciated that the pillow members could be of circular, polygonal, or rounded polygonal cross section without loss of generality, although a generally prismatic shape is preferred. Furthermore, while a track pillow comprising 14 pillow members have been described above, it will be appreciated that a track pillow of the present invention may comprise 4 or more pillow members without loss of generality. Also, while a fabric cover and fabric pockets are described herein, it will be appreciated that the cover and pockets could be formed of other materials such as soft plastics without loss of generality. Furthermore, while the term “head bearing” has been used herein in light of the usual application of pillows, it should be appreciated that the meaning of this term should not be restricted to head bearing only, but would extent to other appropriate meaning such as “weight bearing” where appropriate. For example, the term “head bearing surface” would mean “weight bearing surface where appropriate without loss of generality.

Table of Numerals
100 Pillow
110 Resiliently deformable member
120 Head bearing surface
130 Support surface
140 Continuous track/caterpillar track
150 Long side

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

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5. (canceled)

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7. (canceled)

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17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. A rotational counter-deformation pillow comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable members connected end to end in series to form a roll of pillow segments;

wherein the adjacent resiliently deformable members are hingedly, seamlessly and hooklessly connected along their longer sides so that each of the resiliently deformable member is hingedly movable relative to the immediately adjacent resiliently deformable member.

20. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 19, wherein the quantity of the plurality is fixed from 14 to any multiple of 14.

21. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 19, wherein the roll of pillow segments can be folded and laid flat to form a double decked pillow.

22. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 19, wherein the upper deck pillow segments (quantity is 7) of the double decked pillow can be placed on an external support surface which is shorter (length of 5 segments) than the double decked pillow to form a single decked pillow.

23. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 20, wherein each of the quantity-fixed resiliently deformable members are marked with an indicial number starting from 1 to X wherein X is the quantity of the fixed plurality.

24. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 23, wherein the indicial numbers of this roll of pillow segments are positioned with a special permutation.

25. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 24, wherein when this roll of pillow segments rotate according to this special permutation sequence, an evenly and endlessly repeatable rotation is formed.

26. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 25, wherein rotation with this special permutation sequence, the highest calculated counter-deformation percentage can be reached.

27. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 19, wherein the head of the pillow user can be placed on the pillow either transversely or lengthwise to the direction of the connected longer sides of the resiliently deformable members.

28. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 19, wherein the head bearing surface is rotated from time to time within a user decided period to shift the user's head weight onto, and to be relayed by all of the resiliently deformable members.

29. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 19, wherein the hinge connections are fixed and the connected resiliently deformable members are either non-detachable or not releasable.

30. A rotational counter-deformation pillow according to claim 19, wherein the resiliently deformable members can be made of molded sponge, latex foam, memory foam materials, air bags; and whatever applicable deformable materials