THERAPEUTIC PILLOW

Abstract

A therapeutic pillow includes a soft central section which received the back of one's head and pair of bolster segments for restraining the head from turning to either side. Underlying the central section is a dense buttress. The lateral ends of the buttress project upwardly and comprise a stiffening outer portion of each bolster. Both the central section and the buttress have a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section such that central section nests within the buttress when the composite pillow is assembled. A convex gradient neck extends forwardly from the central section and transitions to a convex cervical lordosis support at the central section. The buttress includes a central spherical cap depression. A portion of the central section occupies the depression to provide increased comfort for the occipital protuberance at the back of one's head.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to pillows and more particularly to pillows configured to maintain a sleeper in a supine orientation.

2. Antecedents of the Invention

A study by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has revealed that sleeping on one's side or stomach contributes to the development of facial wrinkles. Facial wrinkles form in response to distortion created when the face is pressed against any sleep surface. The study, published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal, claims that sleeping supine, or on the back, is the best way to limit facial wrinkles, by relieving compression, tension and shear forces applied to the face during sleep.

Various other health benefits have been attributed to sleeping in a supine position. Such benefits include maintaining spine alignment, reducing chest compression, alleviating sinus conditions, alleviating acid reflux and reducing tension headaches.

While there have been attempts to provide pillows for maintaining a supine position, these have not met widespread acceptance, perhaps in part because the user felt constricted and they have not provided a comfortable head supporting surface for inducing sleep.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A composite therapeutic pillow includes a soft central section for receiving the back of one's head. Projecting upwardly at the lateral ends of the central section is a pair of bolster segments configured to restrain the head from turning to either side.

A firm or dense buttress underlies the central section. The buttress includes a pair of bolster stiffeners for engagement against the outer face of each bolster segment. Both the central section and the buttress have a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section such that central section nests within the bolster when the composite pillow is assembled. The buttress includes a central spherical cap depression occupied by portion of the central section to provide increased comfort for the occipital protuberance.

From the foregoing compendium, it will be appreciated that an aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved pillow of the general character described which is not subject to the aforementioned disadvantages of the antecedents of the invention.

A feature of the present invention is to provide an improved pillow of the general character described which facilitates the maintenance of a supine sleeping position.

A consideration of the present invention is to provide an improved pillow of the general character described which accommodates the occipital protuberance.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide an improved pillow of the general character described which promotes proper spinal alignment.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved pillow of the general character described which reduces the likelihood of developing facial wrinkles.

A further consideration of the present invention is to provide an improved pillow of the general character described which may be beneficial in the reduction of sinus conditions.

An additional consideration of the present invention is to provide an improved pillow of the general character described which reduces chest compression.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide an improved composite pillow of the general character described which includes a firm lower buttress and soft head cradling cushion nested within the buttress.

To provide an improved pillow of the general character described which is well suited for economical mass production fabrication is yet a further consideration of the present invention.

Other aspects, features and considerations of the present invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

With these ends in view, the invention finds embodiment in various combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and series of steps by which the above-mentioned aspects, features and considerations and certain other aspects, features and considerations are attained, or with reference to the accompanying drawings and the scope of which will be more particularly pointed out and indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, wherein one of the various possible exemplary embodiments of the invention is shown:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a therapeutic pillow constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, the therapeutic pillow comprising an upper central section nested within a buttress, both having a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view through the therapeutic pillow, the same being taken along the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing a forwardly projecting gradient neck.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the buttress showing a spherical cap and;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples of the invention so as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Notably, the figures and examples below are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, but other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements.

Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present invention will be described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components will be omitted so as not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not be considered limiting; rather, the invention is intended to encompass other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein.

Applicant does not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration.

Referring now to the drawings the reference numeral 10 denotes generally to a therapeutic pillow constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. The therapeutic pillow 10 includes front and rear parallel edges edge 11, 13 respectively, together with parallel right and left lateral edges, 16, 17, respectively which provide a generally rectangular foot print. The therapeutic pillow 10 may be formed of molded two piece construction including a central section 12 comprising a soft head support surface 15 and a pair of laterally spaced bolster segments 14A, 14B which extend upwardly.

With attention directed to FIGS. 1 and 2, it should be noted that a ramp-like convex neck gradient 18 extends forwardly from the front edge 11 of the foot print and transitions toward the rear edge 13 to a convex surface having an apex 20 followed by a concave curvature 22 for cervical lordosis support. From the concave curvature 22, the head support surface 15 is generally planar as it progresses toward the rear edge 13.

Underlying the central section 12 and the neck gradient is a firm stiffening buttress 24, best depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. The buttress 24 comprises a central portion 26 which underlies the central section 12 and the neck gradient 18. The buttress includes a pair of upwardly projecting bolster stiffeners 28A, 28B which abut and stiffen the lateral bolsters segments 14A, 14B when the composite pillow is assembled. The central section 12 nests within the buttress 24 with both having a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section.

One should note that the central portion 26 of the buttress 24 includes a reduced thickness zone formed by a spherical cap depression 30. The spherical cap depression 30 is filled with a portion of the soft central section 12 whereby one's occipital protuberance will lie in registration with a relatively thick portion of the soft central section area and a reduced thickness area of the stiffer buttress.

Both the central section 12 and the buttress 24 can be each unitarily molded of a suitable foam material. The central section 12 and the buttress 24 can subsequently be bonded in nested configuration with chemical bonding or adhesives. Alternately, both the central section and the buttress may be molded in a single cavity or the central section may be molded over the buttress or the buttress may be molded over the central section.

The central section comprises foam which is less dense, i.e., softer and more compressible than the buttress foam, e.g. viscoelastic polyurethane foam.

By way of example only, the composite pillow 10 dimensioned for use by an adult may comprise an overall width of 51 cm, a depth of 30 cm, a buttress width of 15 cm, a buttress height of 13 cm, a thickness of 5 cm at the planar portion of head support surface 15, a width of 19 cm between the bolster segments 14A, 14B, a neck gradient extension of 6 cm and a neck gradient maximum width of 18 cm. The neck gradient 18 extends forwardly approximately 20% of the depth of the composite pillow, excluding the neck gradient 18. It is significant that the neck gradient maximum width is not greater than the distance between the bolster segments to assure alignment of the user's neck and head with the head support surface 15.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided a therapeutic pillow which achieves the various aspects, features and considerations of the present invention and which is well suited to meet the condition s of practical usage.

The particular combinations of elements and features in the above-detailed embodiment are exemplary only; the interchanging and substitution of these teachings with other teachings in this application are also expressly contemplated. As those skilled in the art will recognize, variations, modifications, and other implementations of what is described herein can occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed.

Further, in describing the invention and in illustrating embodiments of the invention in the figures, specific terminology, numbers, dimensions, materials, etc., are used for the sake of clarity. However the invention is not limited to the specific terms, numbers, dimensions, materials, etc. so selected, and each specific term, number, dimension, material, etc., at least includes all technical and functional equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

Use of a given word, phrase, number, dimension, material, language terminology, product brand, etc. is intended to include all grammatical, literal, scientific, technical, and functional equivalents. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation.

Having described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will now become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating the concept may be used. Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the embodiment of the invention described herein can be modified to accommodate and/or comply with changes and improvements in the applicable technology and standards referred to herein.

Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what is described herein can occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the invention as claimed. It is felt therefore that these embodiments should not be limited to the disclosed embodiment but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position, the therapeutic pillow having a generally rectangular foot print comprising parallel front and rear edges, and parallel right and left lateral edges, the therapeutic pillow further comprising a central section including a head support surface for accommodating the back of one's head and a pair of upwardly projecting laterally spaced bolster segments configured to maintain one's head in an upwardly facing position, a buttress underlying the central section, the buttress having a pair of laterally spaced bolster stiffeners, the central section and the buttress both having a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section, the central section being nested within the bolster with the bolster stiffeners abutting the bolster segments, the therapeutic pillow further including a neck gradient ramp positioned between the bolsters and projecting forwardly of the front edge.

2. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the neck gradient includes a convex upper surface.

3. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the central section and the buttress are both fabricated of molded foam material, the buttress foam material being stiffer than that of the central section.

4. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the foam material comprises polyurethane foam.

5. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the central section is fabricated of viscoelastic polyurethane foam.

6. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the buttress includes a spherical cap depression, a portion of the central section being positioned within the spherical cap depression.

7. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the neck gradient ramp is configured as a forward extension of the central section overlying a forward extension of the buttress.

8. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 6 wherein the thickness of the buttress is reduced at the spherical cap depression.

9. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the neck gradient ramp extends forwardly of the front edge approximately 20% of the distance between the front and rear edges.

10. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the width of the neck gradient ramp does not exceed the distance between the bolster segments, whereby alignment of the user's neck and head with the head support surface is assured.

11. A therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position, the therapeutic pillow comprising having a generally rectangular foot print comprising parallel front and rear edges, and parallel right and left lateral edges, a central section including a surface for accommodating the back of one's head and a pair of laterally spaced bolster segments projecting upwardly, a buttress underlying the central section, the buttress having a pair of laterally spaced bolster stiffeners, the central section and the buttress both having a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section, the central section and the buttress being fabricated of molded foam, the buttress foam being stiffer than that of the central section, the central section being nested within the buttress with the bolster stiffeners abutting the bolster segments, the buttress further including a spherical cap depression, a portion of the central section being positioned within the spherical cap depression.

12. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein the molded foam comprises polyurethane foam.

13. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 11 further including a neck gradient ramp positioned between the bolsters and projecting forwardly of the front edge.

14. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the neck gradient ramp extends forwardly of the front edge approximately 20% of the distance between the front and rear edges.

15. The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the width of the neck gradient ramp does not exceed the distance between the bolster segments, whereby alignment of the user's neck and head with the head support surface is assured.

16. A therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces thereby reducing the likelihood of the development of facial wrinkles, the therapeutic pillow comprising central section formed of a first molded foam material and configured for accommodating the back of one's head, the central section including head support surface and a pair of upwardly projecting laterally spaced bolster segments, a buttress formed of a second molded foam material, the buttress underlying the central section, the buttress having a pair of laterally spaced bolster stiffeners, the first molded foam material being softer and less dense than the second molded foam material, the central section being nested within the buttress with the bolster stiffeners abutting the bolster segments, the buttress further including a spherical cap depression wherein the thickness of the second molded foam material is reduced, a portion of the first molded foam material being positioned within the spherical cap depression, the spherical cap depression being configured for accommodating an occipital protuberance at the back of one's head.

17. The therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces in accordance with claim 16 further including forwardly projecting neck gradient ramp positioned between the bolsters.

18. The therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces in accordance with claim 17 wherein the width of the neck gradient ramp does not exceed the distance between the bolster segments, whereby alignment of the user's neck and head with the head support surface is assured.

19. The therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces in accordance with claim 16 wherein the first molded foam material comprises polyurethane foam and the second molded foam material comprises polyurethane foam

20. The therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces in accordance with claim 16 wherein the first molded foam material comprises viscoelastic polyurethane foam.