AU2006251849B2 - Pillow selection and sleeper appraisal - Google Patents

Pillow selection and sleeper appraisal Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2006251849B2
AU2006251849B2 AU2006251849A AU2006251849A AU2006251849B2 AU 2006251849 B2 AU2006251849 B2 AU 2006251849B2 AU 2006251849 A AU2006251849 A AU 2006251849A AU 2006251849 A AU2006251849 A AU 2006251849A AU 2006251849 B2 AU2006251849 B2 AU 2006251849B2
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AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
pillow
indicia
neck
mirror
user
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Ceased
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AU2006251849A
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AU2006251849A1 (en
Inventor
Andrew Robert Macfarlane
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Healthcare Alliance Pty Ltd
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Healthcare Alliance Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2005902618A external-priority patent/AU2005902618A0/en
Application filed by Healthcare Alliance Pty Ltd filed Critical Healthcare Alliance Pty Ltd
Priority to AU2006251849A priority Critical patent/AU2006251849B2/en
Priority claimed from PCT/AU2006/000676 external-priority patent/WO2006125250A1/en
Publication of AU2006251849A1 publication Critical patent/AU2006251849A1/en
Priority to AU2011235944A priority patent/AU2011235944B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU2006251849B2 publication Critical patent/AU2006251849B2/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current
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Abstract

A neck measurement device (20) and a method of selecting a pillow (1, 41, 51) which takes into account the physique of the user are disclosed. A neck compression index (NCi) is calculated being the weight of the sleeper in kilograms divided by the shoulder width (ear to outer arm dimension) of the sleeper in centimetres. Preferably a compensated NCi is calculated which takes into account the softness or hardness of the mattress. A pillow resiliency is then selected based on the (compensated) NCi. Colour coded pillow slips can be used to assist sleepers to self-select a pillow appropriate for their physique.

Description

WO 2006/125250 PCT/AU2006/000676 PILLOW SELECTION & SLEEPER APPRAISAL Field of the Invention The present invention relates to pillows and, in particular, to the selection of the correct pillow characteristics to suit the physique of the user and the bed on which 5 the user sleeps. Background Art Many different types of pillows are manufactured and their properties vary considerably according to factors which as the shape of the pillow, the material from 10 which the pillow is fabricated, the resiliency of that material, the age of the pillow, and so on. Similarly, there are many variations in mattresses each of which results from a different manufacturing technique, different materials, different resiliency and so on. 15 Since persons come in many different shapes, sizes, and weights, inevitably there will be many mismatches between sleepers, pillows and mattresses. In particular, poor pillow support is thought to require the neck muscles to partially support the head during sleep. As these neck muscles tire, the sleeper tosses and turns in order to provide some respite for the neck muscles but thereby disturbs their sleep. 20 The genesis of the present invention is a desire to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, the abovementioned difficulties by the provision of a pillow selection process and apparatus which takes into account the physique of the user and type of bed and/or mattress (eg slats, spring mattress, foam mattress, latex mattress etc.). 25 Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a neck measuring device for pillow selection, said device comprising a generally planar body having at least one corner defined by two substantially straight edges which are 30 substantially perpendicular to each other, one surface of said body having a scale extending along one of said edges and having regularly spaced marked indicia extending along said scale, wherein said indicia are mirror reversed whereby a user WO 2006/125250 PCT/AU2006/000676 standing in front of a mirror and holding said device to his shoulder and neck, can read said indicia in said mirror. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of selecting a pillow to suit the physique of a user, said method comprising 5 the steps of: (i) measuring the width of a shoulder of said user, (ii) ascertaining the weight of said user, (ii) from the results of steps (i) and (ii) calculating a neck compression index comprising the user's weight divided by their shoulder width, 10 (iv) for each calculated neck compression index selecting a corresponding pillow. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 15 reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pillow in accordance with a preferred embodiment, Fig. 2 is a schematic side elevation of a bed illustrating a sleeper sleeping on his side and utilising the pillow of Fig. 1, 20 Fig. 3 is a plan view of a measuring device able to be utilised by a prospective purchaser, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section (ie in the long dimension of the bed) through a conventional pillow, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section through the pillow of Figs. 1 and 2, 25 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section through a pillow most suitable for habitual back sleepers, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section through a pillow most suitable for those sleepers who alternate between sleeping on their side and sleeping on their back. 30 Detailed Description The pillow 1 of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in Fig. I has a longitudinal side 2 and a transverse side 3 (the other longitudinal side and the other transverse side not being apparent in Fig. 1). The upper surface 5 of the pillow 1 is 2 WO 2006/125250 PCT/AU2006/000676 shaped such that the longitudinal cross-section of the pillow is substantially constant. The transverse side 3 is preferably approximately 330mm long and has an appreciable vertical extent 6 (unlike conventional pillows which have negligible vertical extent at their transverse side). 5 In addition, the upper surface 5 is formed with a crest 8 which is located closely adjacent the transverse side 3. Moving away from the crest 8 in a longitudinal direction towards the other transverse side the upper surface 5 falls away. The longitudinal side 2 is approximately 590mm in length and substantially vertical. The 10 longitudinal side 2 has substantially the same appearance as any longitudinal cross section through the pillow 1. This is in marked contrast to conventional pillows where the longitudinal sides are substantially merely an edge. Preferably the pillow 1 is formed from two, or even three, layers of foamed 15 plastics or other elastomeric materials, such as polyurethane or latex, which preferably have different densities. As seen in Fig. 2, a user 10 is depicted sleeping on a mattress 11 having a surface of negligible resilience or "give" and is also depicted sleeping on his side. It 20 will be seen that the lower shoulder 12 of the user 10 either abuts, or is closely adjacent to, the transverse side 3. The crest 8 supports the neck of the user, in particular in the region between the ear and the shoulder. The upper portion of the head, in particular above the ear, is supported by the sloping surface of the pillow 1 which faces away from the shoulder 12. 25 An important advantage obtained by the pillow 1 is that the crest 8, in particular, supports the neck and lower head and thus the neck muscles are, in large part, relieved of this obligation. In addition, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, the lower shoulder 12 in practice at least to some extent, sinks into the mattress 11 or 30 other supporting surface of the bed on which the user is sleeping. It is also desirable to gauge the resilience or firmness of the mattress so that this can be taken into account in assessing the effective vertical depth of the shoulder 12 in the sleeping position illustrated in Fig. 2. 3 WO 2006/125250 PCT/AU2006/000676 In order to assist the user 2 to carry out the requisite measurements on himself, a generally L-shaped measuring device 20 as illustrated in Fig. 3 is provided. The device 20 has first and second edges 21, 22 which are substantially mutually 5 perpendicular and each of which is provided with a ruled scale, preferably having two series of indicia. The first series of indicia is a conventional numerical scale and the second series of indicia is a mirror image reversal of the numbers of that scale. As a consequence of the mirror image reversal of the numbers of the scale, a user 10 can utilise the device 20 himself by standing in front of a mirror in order to measure the 10 height of his head above the shoulder, and the horizontal extent from neck to shoulder. The shoulder width is the horizontal dimension from the user's ear to the outside edge of the adjacent arm. The head height is the vertical dimension from the upper surface of the shoulder to the top of the head. By looking in the mirror, the mirror reversed numerals are again reversed and thus are readily legible to the user 10. 15 Preferably the device 20 in addition to including instructions also includes an orifice 25 through which the user 10 may insert a thumb, for example, in order to assist the holding of the device 20 on the user's shoulder in order to take the requisite measurements. The device 20 is preferably fabricated from cardboard and has the 20 scale, numbers and instructions printed thereon. Turning now to Figs. 4-7, a number of different pillows are illustrated in longitudinal cross-section. Fig. 4 shows a conventional pillow 31 which has narrow transverse edges. Fig. 5 essentially repeats the shape of Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrates 25 the shape of the pillow 1 suitable for persons who habitually sleep on their side. Fig. 6 shows the shape of a pillow 41 suitable for a person who habitually sleeps on their back. It will be seen that the crest 8 is essentially reduced or abolished giving a generally level upper surface 5. For those persons who sleep alternatively on their back and on their side, a pillow 51 of the shape illustrated in Fig. 7 is best with a 30 lesser crest 8A than the crest 8 of Fig. 5. The inventor has observed that head size, and hence head weight, differs little from one individual to another, but that body size including shoulder width, and hence 4 WO 2006/125250 PCT/AU2006/000676 the weight which compresses the mattress 11, varies to a very substantially degree from one individual to another. In response to this observation the inventor has developed a Neck Compression Index which is the total weight of a person in kg divided by the width (or sideways extent) of the person's shoulder in centimetres. 5 Thus a first person weighing 110 kg and having a slight build with a shoulder width of only 18 cms has a neck Compression Index (NCi) of 110/18 = 6.1. Similarly another person who weighs 95 kg and has a normal build with a shoulder width of 18 cm has an NCi of 5.28. Conversely a 55 kg person with a shoulder width of 13 cms would have an NCi of 4.23. Typically the NCi is normally between about 3 and about 8. 10 The NCi provides an indication of the degree of pressure or force to which the pillow is subjected during sleep. The lower the NCi the less the density and/or hardness of the pillow which best matches the user's physique. 15 A very small percentage of the human population has either very long necks or very "tall" heads (or both) and thus need a pillow which is lengthened in the head to toe sleeping direction. The advantage of measuring the head height by the device 20 of Fig. 20 is that it enables this small percentage of the population to be accorded the different treatment they require. 20 The nature of the mattress is also preferably taken into account. For example, a very soft mattress compresses under the weight of the sleeper to an appreciable extent below the undeformed upper level of the mattress, for example by as much as 15cm. Therefore before the neck compression index is calculated the shoulder width 25 should be adjusted to account for the nature of the mattress. Furthermore, a pillow top (an additional layer of padding) can reduce the shoulder width by from 2-5cms. These adjustments are summarised in the following table. 5 WO 2006/125250 PCT/AU2006/000676 Table 1 Mattress Type Adjustment to measured shoulder width Hard Subtract 2cm Medium Subtract 2-5cm Soft Subtract 5-8cm Pillow Top Subtract 2-Scm That is, using the adjusted shoulder width an Nci can be calculated which is compensated for the nature of the mattress (and also any pillow top). 5 Turning now to the pillow, different manufacturing techniques have different ways of measuring the resilience of the pillow. For latex pillows there is a standard referred to as "indent deflection loading" or IDL which utilizes the pressure or weight required to compress by 40% a block of foam typically one foot by one foot in area to 10 be compressed and eight inches thick. Very soft latex or foam pillows which compress to a substantial degree have an IDL of typically 6-8 whereas "hard" latex or foam pillows which only compress a small amount have an IDL of typically 10-15. Pillows made from polyurethane foam, or latex, use a different measuring 15 criteria, namely the mass or density of the foam material expressed in kilograms per cubic meter. "Soft" pillows are typically 50-65 kg/m 3 whilst "hard" pillows are typically 70-75 kg/m 3 . In addition, pillows made from polyurethane or latex foam use a still further 20 standard rating which utilises two letters and a pair of two digit numbers. "Soft" foam pillows have a rating such as VF52-40, or OP35-1 10 or HF18-35 whereas "hard" foam pillows have a rating such as AA15-60, or AA17-80 or LR38-40. These figures need to be modified somewhat if the pillow is provided with an array of vertical holes (eg 5mm in diameter) and/or horizontal channels, both of which reduce the effective 25 hardness. 6 WO 2006/125250 PCT/AU2006/000676 With the above in mind it is possible to draw up a selection table which enables a pillow to be selected once the neck compression index, and preferably the compensated neck compression index, has been calculated. Table II is such a selection table. 5 Table II Compensated Latex Pillow Latex Pillow Foam Pillow NCi Range IDL Range kg/m 3 range Hardness & Density Grade 3-4 8-9 50-60 HS18-35 4-5 9-10 65 VF52-40 5-6 10-12 70 ST29-60; LR38-40 6-8 12-15 75 MA25-60; AA17-80; AA15-60 A preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly applicable to accommodation establishments such as hotels, motels, and the like. Such establishments pride themselves on offering their customers a good night's sleep 10 which naturally requires that the customer, mattress and pillow be matched to the maximum possible extent. This can be achieved in accordance with the preferred embodiment as follows. The accommodation establishment normally has a single type (or a restricted 15 number of types) of mattress throughout all its bedrooms. Thus the establishment can select, say, four different types of pillows which cover the expected range of uncompensated neck compression indices for substantially all their customers. These pillows are then placed in corresponding colour coded pillow slips and all four types of pillows are provided for each bed in each room. In addition, each room is 20 provided with the device of Fig. 3 and instructions (labelled Personal Pillow Selection) to the room occupant to use the device of Fig. 3 to measure his NCi. Once this has been calculated it falls within one of the ranges of pillows and so the correspondingly coloured pillow slip is determined and the correct pillow thereby 7 WO 2006/125250 PCT/AU2006/000676 selected. The uncompensated Nei can be used because the nature of the mattress is known beforehand. In another embodiment, a mail order pillow purchasing business can be 5 conducted in which the customers using a personal measuring kit determine their weight and their neck and head dimensions and supply these together with their details of their mattress to the vendor. The vendor then calculates the compensated NCi and determines a suitable pillow which is then either fabricated or selected from the range of pillows on offer by different pillow manufacturers. 10 The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. 15 In this specification, inferences to the masculine gender are to be taken to include the feminine gender, and vice versa. The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including" and not in the exclusive sense of 20 "consisting only of'. 8

Claims (8)

1. A neck measuring device for pillow selection, said device comprising a generally planar body having at least one comer defined by two substantially straight edges which are substantially perpendicular to each other, one surface of said body having a scale extending along one of said edges and having regularly spaced marked indicia extending along said scale, wherein said indicia are mirror reversed whereby a user standing in front of a mirror and holding said device to his shoulder and neck, can read said indicia in said mirror.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said edges has a scale and said mirror reversed indicia.
3. The device as claimed in claim I or 2 wherein said planar body is generally L shaped.
4. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 and having an orifice therein dimensioned to receive at least one of the fingers of said user.
5. The device as acclaimed in any one of claims 1-4 being fabricated from cardboard and having said scale and indicia printed thereon.
6. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 wherein said two substantially straight edges meet at a rounded comer.
7. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1-6 wherein said indicia comprises both said mirror reversed indicia and indicia which are not mirror reversed.
8.. A neck measuring device substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 21st day of September 2011 HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE PTY LIMITED By: FRASER OLD & SOHN Patent Attorneys for the Applicants 9
AU2006251849A 2005-05-23 2006-05-23 Pillow selection and sleeper appraisal Ceased AU2006251849B2 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2006251849A AU2006251849B2 (en) 2005-05-23 2006-05-23 Pillow selection and sleeper appraisal
AU2011235944A AU2011235944B2 (en) 2005-05-23 2011-10-11 Pillow Selection and Sleeper Appraisal

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2005902618 2005-05-23
AU2005902618A AU2005902618A0 (en) 2005-05-23 Pillow manufacture
PCT/AU2006/000676 WO2006125250A1 (en) 2005-05-23 2006-05-23 Pillow selection & sleeper appraisal
AU2006251849A AU2006251849B2 (en) 2005-05-23 2006-05-23 Pillow selection and sleeper appraisal

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2011235944A Division AU2011235944B2 (en) 2005-05-23 2011-10-11 Pillow Selection and Sleeper Appraisal

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AU2006251849A1 AU2006251849A1 (en) 2006-11-30
AU2006251849B2 true AU2006251849B2 (en) 2011-10-13

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Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE348189A (en) *
DE1686893U (en) * 1952-11-08 1954-11-11 Erwin Eggimann TRIANGLE SIGN TEMPLATE.
EP0137612A2 (en) * 1983-09-14 1985-04-17 The Richman Brothers Company Method & apparatus for producing custom manufactured items
US4524522A (en) * 1984-03-16 1985-06-25 Butterick Company, Inc. Fitting curve and ruler
DE9419311U1 (en) * 1994-12-02 1995-02-02 Fischer Kurt Tilt angle measuring device
US5457832A (en) * 1994-08-04 1995-10-17 Tatum; Eugene T. Cervical pillow with variable thickness head and neck portions
JPH10168631A (en) * 1996-12-10 1998-06-23 Nishikawa Sangyo Kk Device for measuring head
EP1136868A1 (en) * 2000-03-14 2001-09-26 Dietrich Dehmer Method for indirect adjustment of selected spectacles and model for carrying out the method
JP2001299545A (en) * 2000-04-24 2001-10-30 Rofutee Kk Advice system for choosing pillow
JP2001330424A (en) * 2000-05-19 2001-11-30 Nkk Corp Inclination measuring apparatus for vertical louver carriage
JP2002336217A (en) * 2001-05-14 2002-11-26 Osaka Nishikawa:Kk Cervical vertebra height measuring instrument for designing pillow
JP2004209099A (en) * 2003-01-07 2004-07-29 Shuori Yamada Method for adjusting height of pillow

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE348189A (en) *
DE1686893U (en) * 1952-11-08 1954-11-11 Erwin Eggimann TRIANGLE SIGN TEMPLATE.
EP0137612A2 (en) * 1983-09-14 1985-04-17 The Richman Brothers Company Method & apparatus for producing custom manufactured items
US4524522A (en) * 1984-03-16 1985-06-25 Butterick Company, Inc. Fitting curve and ruler
US5457832A (en) * 1994-08-04 1995-10-17 Tatum; Eugene T. Cervical pillow with variable thickness head and neck portions
DE9419311U1 (en) * 1994-12-02 1995-02-02 Fischer Kurt Tilt angle measuring device
JPH10168631A (en) * 1996-12-10 1998-06-23 Nishikawa Sangyo Kk Device for measuring head
EP1136868A1 (en) * 2000-03-14 2001-09-26 Dietrich Dehmer Method for indirect adjustment of selected spectacles and model for carrying out the method
JP2001299545A (en) * 2000-04-24 2001-10-30 Rofutee Kk Advice system for choosing pillow
JP2001330424A (en) * 2000-05-19 2001-11-30 Nkk Corp Inclination measuring apparatus for vertical louver carriage
JP2002336217A (en) * 2001-05-14 2002-11-26 Osaka Nishikawa:Kk Cervical vertebra height measuring instrument for designing pillow
JP2004209099A (en) * 2003-01-07 2004-07-29 Shuori Yamada Method for adjusting height of pillow

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