THERAPEUTIC PILLOW

Abstract

A therapeutic pillow includes a combination neck and head support pillow designed to support a neutral anatomical position. The pillow includes a fabric cover surrounding soft fill and defines an outer periphery with a lower edge opposite an upper edge, into a side edges therebetween. A slit extends from a midpoint of the upper edge in parallel to the side edges toward the middle of the pillow and has a length of between about ½ to ⅔ of the length of the pillow. The slit defines two identical upper sections in the pillow whose facing edges are positioned adjacent one another, wherein a user may position his or her head in the slit with a lower section of the pillow supporting the user's neck.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/762,074, filed Feb. 7, 2013, and also to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/704,481, filed Sep. 22, 2012, the disclosures of both of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a therapeutic pillow and, more particularly, to a pillow shaped to provide therapeutic support for the neck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The human neck in optimal non-degenerative state should have a lordotic curvature. Lordosis is the inward curvature of a portion of the lumbar and cervical vertebral column. Two segments of the vertebral column, namely cervical and lumbar, are normally lordotic, that is, they are set in a curve that has its convexity anteriorly (the front) and concavity posteriorly (behind), in the context of human anatomy. The optimum curve should be about 60 degree measured by the intersection of lines drawn through the posterior sides of cervical vertebrae C2 and C7. Loss of the cervical curve results in degenerative changes altered spinal mechanics and nerve pressure. Prolonged nerve pressure to various degree will result in tissue damage to tissue that nerve attends.

The secondary damage to body results from elevated levels of cortisol which is released by adrenals as natural anti-inflammatory agents. Prolonged cortisol levels result eventually in elevated sugar in the blood, hardening of coronary arteries, and elevated estrogen. Most cancers are estrogen based and most heart attacks are due to damaged arteries. It is not an understatement, therefore, to say that proper cervical curvature can either prolong or increase the quality of a user's life.

Unfortunately, most people exacerbate any cervical curvature issues every night they lay down to sleep. A typical pillow supports the back of the head, which

There remains a need for a pillow that induces cervical curvature while one is in a prolonged sitting or lying down position

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application pertains to a therapeutic pillow that provides a combination neck and head support in a neutral anatomical position. The pillow has contouring so as to be usable as a standalone neck support or an all-purpose soft pillow, and is ideal to induce neck extension and support as well as lateral head support.

The present application describes methods and pillow apparatus for neck and head support to induce anatomically correct position. Significantly, the pillow allows the back of the head to fully rest upon mattress while inducing neck elevation and support. In this way, the pillow supports cervical lordosis, supports the head to the spine in coronal and sagital planes, reduces stress on muscles and provides improved rest and deeper sleep. It is believed that the pillow induces more restful sleep and peaceful dreams. The pillow is beneficial in sleep, resting, meditation, and travel.

The therapeutic pillow induces neck extension during sleep and keeps head and neck in neutral position relative to the spinal column. The pillow provides a number of distinct physiological benefits, including: neck support, head support, lordotic curve correction. Also, the pillow reduces back pain and neck pain as a spine director, and follows the user as normal sleeping motions occur to maintain most appropriate anatomical positioning.

When used in conjunction with a strap, the pillow maintains the most appropriate anatomical positioning with full mobility for the user. In addition, with the strap the pillow provides sleep walkers full or near full head protection. Sound proofing is provided by the pillow with or without a strap, and light proofing is added with application of a forehead strap.

The present application pertains to a pillow with the following features:

It supports the cervical curve and helps restore the curve while sleeping. Pressure towards anterior helps restore proper cervical lordotic curvature. The effect is aggregated by the time used in conjunction with the distance of correction, especially during such a prolonged time as a night of sleep over multiple nights.

An open back feature allows the head to fall back in an extension fully, thus assisting in correcting the curvature of the cervical spine.

The sides of the pillow support the head from falling to side, keeping the muscle tone of the cervical spine in relaxed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will become appreciated as the same become better understood with reference to the specification, claims, and appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the therapeutic pillow;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an upper end of the therapeutic pillow;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a front face of the pillow shown exploded from a similarly-shaped pillowcase;

FIG. 4 shows a person in the process of positioning the therapeutic pillow under the neck;

FIG. 5 shows a person using the therapeutic pillow so as to provide neck support;

FIG. 6 shows a person with her head resting on the pillow and with a pair of lower straps engaged so that the pillow follows the person's motion during sleep;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in a sagittal plane of a person's skeleton when resting on the therapeutic pillow showing a beneficial cervical curvature;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an upper end of a person's head resting on the therapeutic pillow;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative therapeutic pillow; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a person in a prone position utilizing the therapeutic pillow for lower back support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention pertains to a therapeutic pillow or “neck support system,” designed to contour the neck region then wrap around the forehead bilaterally meeting at mid forehead or over the eyes. The system supports the neck and provides near to perfect or perfect bilateral head support as subject rolls to either side. The pillow system does not interfere with the face nor with the hair. Straps may be used to hold the pillow on the wearer's head during sleep.

One version of the initial neck lordotic curve support is made from super supportive and soft materials designed to support the neck with enough firmness to support the neck yet soft enough when rolled to side to have near zero load on the ears where most sensitivity is felt during sleep. This feature is important to obtain true rest, rem sleep, and nrem stage 3.

The exemplary pillow supports the neck in such a way to induce extension and cradle the head to keep the head from falling to one side versus another. Depending on size of the pillow, the cradle part of the head also may bilaterally encompass the ears, thus inducing sound proofing/sound diminishment to the exterior environment. The head support part may optionally be equipped with small white noise speakers or wiring for audible or iPod, iPad and other electronic devices.

The pillow is soft, preferably made from down. The pillow may have regular or king size dimensions as a practical application, but in a preferred embodiment is at least 10″ long. A mid-section of the pillow is cut half way in the very center leaving a split. This pillow shape is designed to contour the neck region then wrap around the forehead bilaterally meeting at mid forehead. This system supports the neck and provides near to perfect or perfect bilateral head support as subject rolls to either side. This system does not interfere with the face nor with the hair.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a therapeutic pillow 20 as seen from an upper end 22 thereof, while FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the upper end. The directions up and down are relative to a person resting with his or her head on the pillow in the primary therapeutic position. In the illustrated embodiment, the pillow 20 as a generally rectangular outer profile with a lower edge 24, a parallel upper edge 26, and two side edges 28 extending perpendicularly therebetween. The pillow 20 is generally broken up into three sections: a lower section 30 and two identical upper sections 32a, 32b separated by a slit 34 along a midline of the pillow. The slit 34 extends from the upper edge 26 of the pillow to an upper edge 36 of the lower section 30. In a preferred embodiment, the slit 34 extends approximately half of the height of the pillow that extends from the lower edge 24 to the upper edge 26. Depending on the width of the pillow 20, the upper sections 32a, 32b may form squares or rectangles, or alternative non-quadrilateral shapes as described below.

As with conventional pillows, the therapeutic pillow 20 is constructed with an outer fabric case or cover surrounding soft inner fill or batting (not shown) to provide volume. The fill may be any typically used with pillows, including polyester fiber fill, down, cotton batting, or the like. The outer fabric layer in a conventional pillow will be sewn around the outer peripheral edges, typically in a rectangular shape. Similarly, the pillow 20 has a seam 40 that extends substantially around the entire periphery of the pillow, aside from the discontinuity at the slit 34. A single seam 40 as shown may also be replaced with a peripheral panel that circumscribes the outer periphery and has two seams, one along a top edge and one along the bottom. In this way the outer edge of the pillow 20 is more flat and therefore has “shoulders,” as opposed to being rounded or tapered as is the case with a single seam. The therapeutic pillow 20 additionally has seams (not numbered) that extend along the slit 34 on the facing edges of the upper sections 32a, 32b, and a seam (also not numbered) extending laterally along the upper edge 36 of the lower section 30, thus separating the fill within the lower section from the fill within the two upper sections 32a, 32b. The seams thus define the three sections of the pillow 20. The seam at the upper edge of the lower section 30 prevents the internal fill from migrating out of the upper sections 32a, 32b and into the lower section, or vice versa, but is optional.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a set of four straps 42 attached at the four corners of the generally rectangular pillow 20. As will be explained below, the straps 42 may be utilized to help retain the pillow 20 in a desirable position supporting the neck of the user over the course of a night's sleep when the user may move around or roll over in the bed. The straps 42 are shown as simple cords or strands which can be tied together, but may also be provided with fasteners such as Velcro, snaps, or the like.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a front face of the pillow 20 shown exploded from a similarly-shaped pillowcase 50. The pillowcase 50 has a lower edge 52 defining an opening extending across the width of the pillowcase for receiving the pillow 20. The pillowcase 50 has a similar shape to the pillow 20, with two lateral side edges 54 extending perpendicularly from the lower edge 52 and terminating at an upper edge 56 that is interrupted at its midpoint by a slit 58. In a sense, the upper sections 32a, 32b of the pillow 20 resemble legs and the user puts the pillowcase 50 on over the pillow in the same manner as donning a pair of pants, with the legs of the pillow fitting in the two pockets formed on either side of the slit 58. In this manner, the pillowcase 50 maintains the discrete slit 34 of the pillow. It should be noted that the pillowcase 50 may include small openings at its upper corners for passage of the straps 42 on the pillow 20.

FIG. 3 also indicates representative dimensions for a rectangular pillow 20, with an overall length L extending from the lower edge 24 to the upper edge 26, and an overall width W extending between the lateral side edges 28. As mentioned, the slit 34 extends along the midline of the pillow 20 so that the upper sections 32a, 32b have identical widths w which are equal to half of the overall width W. The overall width W can vary depending on the size of the pillow; i.e., standard, queen, king, etc. Typically, the overall width W varies between 26-36 inches, although other atypical widths are possible. The overall length L of conventional pillows is typically about 20 inches. The lower section 30 has a length l that preferably varies between 5-10 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the length l is about 10 inches so that the upper sections 32a, 32b also have a length of about 10 inches.

Desirably, the slit 34 is essentially non-existent, with the facing seams of the upper sections 32a, 32b touching or spaced apart by no more than an inch. This is so that the user's head can fit into the slit 34 so that it rests on the mattress at the same elevation as the torso, while at the same time the upper sections 32a, 32b flanking the head provide lateral stability. The pillow is not intended to be used like previous neck pillows, which have a relatively large neck-sized opening between two wings, and so the slit 34 is as small as possible. The idea is to provide the opening for the head while still having pillow volume on either side of the head for comfort and stability. Just the lowermost generatrix of the head contacts the mattress, while the upper sections 32a, 32b are in full contact with the sides of the head.

In alternative embodiments, the lower section 30 has a length l that is less than the length of the upper sections 32a, 32b. As will be explained below, the lower section 30 provides support for the neck of a user, and therefore may be selected to match the length of the user's neck. For example, the length l′ indicates a reduced length for the lower section 30, resulting in an overall length L′. For instance, the overall length L′ may be about 15 inches, with the length 1′ being about 5 inches.

In a still further alternative, the lower edge of the pillow 20 may be rounded, as shown in dashed line at 24′. In this embodiment, then lower edge 24′ forms an arc that starts at intersections between the upper edge 36 of the lower section 30 and the side edges 28, and is symmetric about the midline of the pillow such that the apex of the arc is aligned with the slit 34. The arcuate lower edge 24′ has a maximum height or length l′ as indicated, which may be between 5-10 inches. More generally, the length l or l′ of the lower section 30, whether rectangular or a partial circular segment is preferably between about 50-100% of the length of the upper sections 32a, 32b. Stated another way, the length of the lower section 30 is preferably between about ⅓ to ½ of the overall length of the pillow 20, meaning the upper sections 32a, 32b (and slit 34) have a length between about ½ to ⅔ of the overall length of the pillow.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a person positioning the therapeutic pillow 20 under the neck so as to provide neck support. As mentioned, the lower section 30 provides support for the neck and as such the user pulls the pillow 20 against the shoulders so that the head falls back into the slit 34 between the upper sections 32a, 32b. In this way, the head essentially rests on the bed or mattress, or on the same level as the back, with the lower section 30 supporting the neck from underneath. At the same time, the two upper sections 32a, 32b flank the user's head and provide cushioning to the sides thereof. This also serves to maintain the head within the slit 34. Desirably, the back of the head should be touching the mattress and the pillow 20 supports the neck and in keeping the head from falling sideways it allows for relaxed contoured neck.

FIG. 6 shows a person with her head resting on the pillow 20 and with the pair of lower straps 42 tied together underneath the person's chin. In this configuration, the pillow 20 is held around the person's head and follows the person's motion during sleep. The upper straps could also be tied to further secure the pillow 20 to the person's head.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in a sagittal plane of a person's skeleton when resting on the therapeutic pillow 20 showing a beneficial cervical curvature. That is, the lower section 30 provides support to the cervical vertebrae CV and maintains a desirable lordotic curvature therein. When used over time, the therapeutic pillow described in the present application initiates a process that corrects degenerative changes usually accompanying an inflammatory cascade of events. The patient will become more comfortable as the proper cervical curve returns, which curve is sometimes called the arc of life due to its importance and health benefits.

FIG. 8 is a view from the top of a person's head resting on the therapeutic pillow 20, showing how the head rests on the sleeping surface 60. The lateral support provided to the head by the two upper sections 32a, 32b is also clear in this view.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative therapeutic pillow 70 which has a shape similar to that of the earlier-described the pillow 20, with a generally rectangular outer periphery defined by a lower edge 72, an upper edge 74, and two side edges 76. The upper edge 74 is interrupted by a slit 78 at the midline of the width of the pillow extending parallel to the two side edges 76. As before, the length of the slit 78 can vary, but is typically between about ½ to ⅔ of the overall length of the pillow. The alternative pillow 70 generally defines a rectangular lower section 80 and two upper sections 82, though these sections are not defined by a seam running across the width of the pillow, as before. Instead, the pillow 70 has a single inner cavity filled with polyester fiber, down or the like. In a still further alternative, a series of upholstered points or seams may be provided around the pillow so as to help prevent the internal fill from migrating to one side or the other.

Although the therapeutic pillows described herein are primarily useful for providing neck support to a user, they also may be utilized for other therapeutic purposes. For example, FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a person in a prone position with the therapeutic pillow 20, 70 positioned under the lower back. More particularly, the wearer positions the slit of the pillow under the back such that the bifurcated upper sections 32, 82 lie on either lateral side of the person's torso. In this way, the lower section 30, 80 (not shown) provides support to the lower back.

Certain preferred an optional features for the pillows described herein are listed below:

The strap feature, when attached to the forehead will allow for all forementioned features to function while following the motion of the user throughout any movement including going from supine to side postures etc. The forehead straps will traverse across the forehead so as to leave the face area open.

The pillow will be designed from light weight material such as poly-fill or down, or maybe a blow-up configuration for mobility and wide range of applications from home resting/sleeping to travel sleeping at hotels and air travel etc.

The cavity cutout in the material creates an empty space where it minimizes or reduces or eliminates mechanical pressure on the ear.

The ear cavity may optionally have 3 audio features: Passive noise blocking by the virtue of the materials used to block sound within the ear cavity; Active noise canceling that enhances the passive noise insulation of the pillow to create a virtually noise free environment; and Audio relaxation variety of sounds connected to the iPod device leaving the user of his choice or suggested trance meditative sounds.

Thumb straps can be added to pillow or casing at edges or anywhere most comfortable to allow for side posture thumb lock in where the weight of the arm can assist with cradling.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description and not of limitation. Therefore, changes may be made within the appended claims without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A therapeutic pillow, comprising:

a fabric cover surrounding soft fill and defining a generally rectangular outer periphery with a lower edge opposite an upper edge and defining a length of the pillow, and two side edges therebetween and defining a width of the pillow, wherein the pillow further has a slit extending from a midpoint of the upper edge in parallel to the side edges toward the middle of the pillow that has a length of between about ½ to ⅔ of the length of the pillow, the slit defining two identical upper sections in the pillow whose facing edges are positioned adjacent one another, wherein a user may position his or her head in the slit with a lower section of the pillow supporting the user's neck.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the lower section extends from the lower edge to the two upper sections and is separated from the two upper sections by a seam extending the full width of the pillow.

3. The pillow of claim 1, further including at least two straps extending from either the upper corners or the lower corners of the rectangular outer periphery having a length sufficient to extend around the user's head.

4. The pillow of claim 3, wherein there are four straps extending from all four corners of the rectangular outer periphery.

5. A therapeutic pillow, comprising:

a fabric cover surrounding soft fill and defining an outer periphery with a lower edge opposite an upper edge and defining a length of the pillow, and two side edges therebetween and defining a width of the pillow, wherein the pillow further has a slit extending from a midpoint of the upper edge in parallel to the side edges toward the middle of the pillow that has a length of between about ½ to ⅔ of the length of the pillow, the slit defining two identical upper sections in the pillow whose facing edges are positioned adjacent one another, wherein a user may position his or her head in the slit with a lower section of the pillow supporting the user's neck.

6. The pillow of claim 5, wherein the lower section extends from the lower edge to the two upper sections and is separated from the two upper sections by a seam extending the full width of the pillow.

7. The pillow of claim 5, further including at least two straps extending from either the upper corners or the lower corners of the outer periphery having a length sufficient to extend around the user's head.

8. The pillow of claim 7, wherein there are four straps extending from all four corners of the outer periphery.

9. The pillow of claim 5, wherein the lower edge extends parallel to the upper edge.

10. The pillow of claim 5, wherein the lower edge forms a curve having an apex at a midpoint generally aligned with the slit and curving in an upward direction to the side edges.

11. The pillow of claim 10, wherein the distance from the apex of the lower edge to the slit is between about ⅓ to ½ of the length of the pillow.

12. The pillow of claim 11, wherein the distance from the apex of the lower edge to the slit is about ½ the length of the pillow, and the length of the slit is about ½ the length of the pillow.