Pillow with Cylindrical Neck Support

Abstract

A pillow for a human being with a cylindrical neck and shoulder support that conforms to the user's anatomy to promote alignment and support healthy sleep and rest with added comfort and superior support.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The pillow has existed in one form or another since the beginning of recorded history. Traditionally, the purpose of the pillow is to elevate the head of a human being during the act of sleep or rest. While the art in the field of pillows is highly established, most pillows exist to support the head and in very limited instances the neck. Additionally, recent advances in the art of pillows included designs to allow the user to sleep on the side, addressing the problem of balancing firmness and comfort with the obstruction of the mouth and nose that could restrict breathing during sleep.

Currently there is a district absence in the art of a pillow that offers support for the head, neck and shoulders while allowing proper positioning for breathing. There is a need for a universal pillow that allows a user to sleep in any position, including but not limited to back, side and stomach positions, without obstructing breathing and providing adequate support for the entire upper body to help the user achieve optimum health in sleep. Furthermore, many users adjust the preferred sleep position during the act of sleeping, requiring a pillow that is optimized to perform at any position at any time without having to stop and adjust the pillow, such as by adjusting air pressure in an inflatable pillow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a multi-sectional pillow with varying firmness in the different sections of the pillow that support the head, neck and shoulders. In the preferred embodiment, the area of the pillow that supports the shoulders and neck is in the shape of a cylinder and constructed from a material with a high degree of firmness, in varying embodiments, the pillow can be constructed with differing degrees of firmness in both the neck and shoulder supporting cylinder area as well as the area typically used to support the head. In the preferred embodiment, the area of the pillow that supports the head is constructed of a material consisting of a lesser degree of firmness than that of the shoulder and neck supporting cylinder. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the shoulder and neck supporting cylinder of the pillow in addition to surrounding material naturally forms a convex shape to mirror the curves of the typical human being in the side or back sleeping positions.

The cylindrical shape of the shoulder and neck area of the pillow, coupled with the increased degree of firmness in this area, provides support to the user as to limit the user's need to move and reposition throughout the sleeping process. The pillow is also able be constructed with varying degrees of firmness in the area typically used to support the head area. This allows a user to have a pillow of any degree of firmness, from the typical soft to firm, so that the area of the pillow that supports the head essentially mimics the firmness currently available in existing pillows. For example, if a user prefers a very firm pillow, then can have the present invention with a degree of firmness comparable to traditional firm pillow in the area of the invention that supports the head. To provide adequate support, in the preferred embodiment would have less variation in the degree of firmness in the areas of the pillow supporting the neck and shoulders.

In the preferred embodiment, the pillow is constructed as one piece. In alternative embodiments, the area of the invention that supports the head of the user can be constructed with additional varying “fills” ranging from synthetic materials to natural fibers and/or other materials, such as down or feathers, as is typically used in other pillows currently available in the art to provide additional support and/or comfort. The shoulder and neck supporting areas of the pillow provide the base of support and alignment for the user. The uniform construction, whether one-piece as in the preferred embodiment, or multi-piece that is secured during the manufacturing process, ensures that the user's head, neck and shoulders are properly aligned and supported throughout the sleep process.

In the preferred embodiment, the portion of the invention that supports the shoulder and neck sits flush with internal pillow stuffing, with the overhead view of the pillow having a rectangular shape. In an alternative embodiment, the cylindrical neck and shoulder support portion of the pillow is permanently attached and positioned at the mid-lower portion of the top face of the pillow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the alternative embodiment of the invention shown from above. The neck and shoulder cylindrical-shaped support portion is secured to the outer surface of the head supporting portion of the pillow. This pillow is one-sided and can only be functional as intended by using the pillow with the neck and shoulder cylindrical-shaped support portion facing the user.

FIG. 2 is the same alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except this version of the invention is altered whereby a second neck and shoulder cylindrical-shaped support portion is added to allow for a second user. In this embodiment, two users can use the one pillow at the same time.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, the neck and shoulder cylindrical support portion is secured internally to the head supporting portion of the pillow. The neck and shoulder cylindrical-shaped support portion is positioned near the lower edge of the base pillow, allowing for ample room for the user's head to fit comfortably on the head supporting portion of the invention. FIG. 4 is the invention cut in half depicting the inside of the pillow from the side point of view.

FIG. 5 is preferred embodiment of the invention shown from above, with the neck and shoulder cylindrical-shaped support portion shown as positioned inside the base pillow.

FIG. 6 is the preferred embodiment of the invention with the addition of a second head and neck support portion to accommodate two users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the alternative embodiment of the invention, the base pillow, shown in FIG. 1 as label 1, has a neck and shoulder supporting portion of the pillow, labeled as 2, secured to the base pillow, 1, whereby the user can rest their head on the base pillow, while the neck and shoulder supporting portion, 2, contours to the anatomy of the user's neck and shoulders and adequately supports the neck and shoulders. The placement and shape of the neck and shoulder supporting portion of the pillow, 2, is the critical feature to the invention. This portion is constructed of a material allowing compressibility while being denser and more firm than the base section of the pillow, 1. The cylindrical shape of the neck and shoulder supporting section, 2, allows the pillow to conform to the user's anatomy. The neck and shoulder supporting section, 2, also aligns the user's head on the base pillow, 1, so that the head, neck and shoulders of the user are positioned in a straight and comfortable position promoting optimum health. Continued use of the preferred embodiment has been shown to promote comfortable and deep sleep. Although no medical evidence exists to prove any health benefits associated with the continued use of the invention in question, it has been shown in limited circumstances and test use by the inventor to show an increase in over-all quality of sleep and reduction of ailments associated with sleep such as snoring.

FIG. 2 depicts the alternative embodiment of the invention whereby two users can utilize one pillow simultaneously. In this embodiment, two separate neck and shoulder portions exist, label 2 on FIG. 2, one support for each user. Additional neck and shoulder supports could be added to accommodate additional users.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the alternative embodiment of the pillow depicted in FIG. 1, showing the difference in density and firmness of the multiple sections of the invention. The neck and shoulder supporting section, 2, is shown as comprised of a material of higher density and a greater firmness than the material used to comprise the remaining base section, 1, of the pillow. The two portions, 1 and 2, are permanently secured to form a single unit.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical shaped neck and shoulder support portion of the invention, 2, is contained and permanently secured within the base pillow, 1. In this embodiment the pillow appears at first glance to be an ordinary pillow. The benefits and unique features of the pillow are not apparent to the user until her or she touches or lays on the pillow. This embodiment of the pillow can be used on either side, but the upper and lower sections must remain properly arranged so that the cylindrical-shaped neck and shoulder support portion is aligned with the user's neck and shoulder in use. The invention must be arranged so that the user's head engages in the are labeled as 5 in FIG. 4, with a smaller amount of cushioning material present in area 4, between the cylindrical-shaped neck and shoulder support portion of the pillow and the bottom edge of the pillow. The same or similar material is likely to be used to comprise areas 4 and 5, with the cylindrical-shaped neck and shoulder support portion of the pillow, 2, being comprised of a compressible material of higher density and firmer to the touch.

FIG. 5 is the preferred embodiment of the invention from the top view. Prior to use, the pillow appears to be an ordinary pillow, since the neck and shoulder support portion, 2, in permanently secured inside the covering of the base pillow, 1. The user's head engages the pillow in the area labeled 5, thus aligning the user's neck and shoulder with the cylindrical-shaped neck and shoulder support portion of the pillow, 2. FIG. 6 is the preferred embodiment of the invention made for 2 users. A second cylindrical-shaped neck and shoulder support portion of the pillow, 2, is added. Each cylindrical-shaped neck and shoulder support portion of the pillow can accommodate one user. The pillow can be constructed with additional cylindrical-shaped neck and shoulder support portions to accommodate additional users.

The relative size of the pillow can be scaled to accommodate any size user. The pillow can be constructed to be as large or as small as needed to accommodate a large user or a small person. The material of the pillow can be any natural or synthetic compressible material, particularly materials that are commonly used in pillow construction. The firmness of the material in the fill of the base pillow, 1, and the neck and shoulder supporting section, 2, can be altered to accommodate the personal comfort of individual users. The neck and shoulder supporting section, 2, will typically be constructed of a material of greater firmness than that of the base pillow, 1.

Claims

1. A pillow, comprised of a generally rectangular shaped body proportioned to a typical human user's anatomical features comprising:

a neck and shoulder supporting portion comprising a generally cylindrical shape with a diameter sufficient to conform to the anatomy of the typical human user comprised of a firm compressible material;

a head supporting portion comprising the entire width of the pillow and of a length sufficient to support the entire head of a typical human user, comprised of a compressible material of generally consistent thickness;

whereby the neck and shoulder supporting portion and the head supporting portion are permanently secured together.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the neck and shoulder supporting portion is positioned within the pillow and secured to the head supporting portion of the pillow.

3. The pillow in claim 2, wherein the neck and shoulder supporting portion and the head supporting portion are comprised of one material

3. The pillow in claim 2, wherein the neck and shoulder supporting portion and the head supporting portion are separate pieces and are permanently secured together.

4. The pillow of claim 2, wherein the head supporting portion is elongated for a plurality of users and a plurality of neck and shoulder supporting portions are positioned to accommodate the plurality of users.

5. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the neck and shoulder supporting portion is secured to the outer portion of the head supporting portion of the pillow.

6. The pillow in claim 5, wherein the neck and shoulder supporting portion and the head supporting portion are comprised of one material

7. The pillow in claim 5, wherein the neck and shoulder supporting portion and the head supporting portion are a separate pieces and are permanently secured together.

8. The pillow of claim 5, wherein the head supporting portion is elongated for a plurality of users and a plurality of neck and shoulder supporting portions are positioned to accommodate the plurality of users.