US20090126117A1

US20090126117A1 - Conforming multi-position pillow with pressure dispersal system

Info

Publication number: US20090126117A1
Application number: US11/940,666
Authority: US
Inventors: Julian Eric Lazarus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-15
Filing date: 2007-11-15
Publication date: 2009-05-21

Abstract

This pillow is comprised of two separate three dimensionally casings. The smaller case comprised of a four-way stretch material is filled with polyethylene microbeads or similar granule. This smaller case fits inside of the second larger case. The outer larger case is made of a cotton or other appropriate pillow material and encompasses both the smaller case and a quantity of polyester filler material as a top layer adjacent to the smaller case.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pillow and more particularly to a conforming multi-position pillow with a pressure dispersal system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a conforming pillow and particularly a pillow that enables the user to place their arm under the pillow and have the pressure of the weight of their head dispersed as to avoid cutting off the blood flow to the extremity. This pillow also allows the user to adjust the height and curvature of the pillow to conform to the user's body by supporting their head and neck for a more comfortable sleep experience in multiple sleep positions without an extended manual adjustment of the pillow.
A sound night of sleep has been shown to be essential for healthy living. Nearly everyone uses a pillow to aid in their comfort while sleeping. There are many different prior art examples that attempt to provide solutions for common sleep problems, such as improper support for head and neck during sleep. The various height discrepancies created by different sleep positions (side, back, and stomach) and the discomfort of the reduction of blood flow to the upper extremities is caused by supporting the head and neck at proper height to increase the ease of breathing. Many of these prior art pillows attempt to solve these problems through the use of different fillers such as down feathers, cotton filling, polyester fibers, inflatable bladders, flax seed, Buckwheat hulls, and beads. These prior art pillows can be found designed in many specialty shapes that force the end user to conform to the pillow and or use special pillow covers. In addition many of the prior art pillows can only be adjusted through folding, inflating, adding or removing material, tightening or loosening straps, or inserting foam wedges.
The present invention uses some of the aforementioned materials in a new construction resulting in a superior product that remedies many of the prior arts insufficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a conforming multi-position pillow. The pillow is defined as having an outer casing sealed to defining a first cavity therein and an inner bladder sealed to defined a second cavity therein. The inner bladder is freely positioned within the first cavity, with microbeads positioned within the second cavity to define a conforming inner bladder. A filler material is positioned within the first cavity and around an exterior of the inner bladder, such that the inner bladder may freely move and adjust within the first cavity. The pillow of this embodiment may also include polystyrene microbeads and/or a polyester cluster fiber filler material. In addition, it may be preferably to include an inner bladder made from a 4-way stretchable material.
In another embodiment, a pillow is provided to include an outer casing sealed to defining a first cavity therein and an inner bladder made from a 4-way stretchable material sealed to defined a second cavity therein. The inner bladder is freely positioned within the first cavity and includes microbeads positioned within the second cavity to define a conforming inner bladder. A filler material positioned within the first cavity and around an exterior of the inner bladder, such that the inner bladder may freely move and adjust within the first cavity.
In yet a third embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a pillow defined to include an outer casing sealed to defining a first cavity therein and an inner bladder made from a 4-way stretchable material sealed to defined a second cavity therein. The inner bladder is freely positioned within the first cavity and includes microbeads positioned within the second cavity to define a conforming inner bladder. In addition, a filler material is positioned within the first cavity and around one side of the inner bladder, such that the inner bladder is positioned against an internal surface of the outer casing and yet may freely move and adjust within the first cavity.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a conforming multi-position pillow in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a user's head lying on the pillow with their arm positioned under the pillow;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pillow with a user's head lying thereon;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an internal component of the pillow;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the pillow;

FIG. 5 is perspective cross view of the pillow; and

FIG. 6 is an end perspective view of the pillow shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a pillow or cushioning device 100 that both conforms to and cushions a user's head while dispersing pressure of the weight of the user's head throughout the cushioning device 100. The present embodiment is comprised of an unattached inner bladder 110 sealed to define an internal cavity that is preferably filled with microbeads 120, such as polystyrene or other like grain materials (shown in FIGS. 3-6) which prevent the inner bladder from creating a memory type shape. The inner bladder 110 may contain the microbeads 120 within a four-way stretch material 125 outer layer. The four-way stretch material is preferably used because it helps reduce the possibility that the microbeads become compressed and hard under the weight of a person's head.
The completely sealed inner bladder 110 is then freely placed within a larger cavity defined by a cotton or other appropriate pillow material outer casing 130. With the unattached “floating” inner bladder 110 lying in a lower portion 135 of the larger casing 130 the remaining volume of the outer casing 130 is filled with a stuffing material 135, such as a polyester cluster fiber or other appropriate pillow material. The larger case is then sealed shut allowing the lower inner bladder 110 to “float” in the bottom of the larger outer casing 130. Due to this unique construction the present invention maintains distinctive cushioning properties. In other embodiments of the inner bladder 110 may be surrounded by the filler material 135 or may be positioned against an internal surface of the larger casing 130.
When pressure is applied to either side of the pillow 100, the pillow 100 will conform to the object shifting the microbeads 120 in the floating inner bladder 110 to the sides of the pillow 100 creating a custom complimentary negative space to the object producing the pressure. This has, as U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,151 describes, a “hammocking” effect to the object. By doing so the pillow 100 not only conforms to the pressure of the object but also surrounds the object on the sides by creating a “dog bone” shape helping to eliminate the rolling of the object from one side to another.
Referring now to the individual figures, in FIG. 1 the pillow 100 is shown conforming to the head and arm of a user, with the microbeads within the inner bladder 100 being pushed out towards the side of the pillow. This produces the dog bone shape helping eliminate the rolling of the object. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the user is lying on its back permitting the inner bladder to easily conform to the head and neck of the user. In FIG. 6, the head is cradled and prevented from rocking or falling forward or backward during sleep from the extra material in the inner bladder that has readjusted on either side of the arm and head. In addition, the pressure from the weight of the user's head is dispersed from the arm by spreading it out over a larger surface area.
As mentioned, the present invention is unique as it is able to be used during a variety of sleep positions. By placing the pillow with the floating bladder against the internal surface of the larger casing side up the end user can sleep on their back while the pillow both conforms to the unique curvatures of the persons head neck and shoulders while creating that aforementioned hammocking, dog bone shape limiting the users head from rolling side to side during their sleep. Also, by placing the pillow with the floating inner bladder down towards the sleep surface the end user can lie on their side or stomach stretching their arm out under the present invention in any position and the floating bladder will conform around the users extremity and create a dispersion of the weight of the users head off of the extremity. This combination allows for the user to keep the head neck and spine in line while preventing the extremity form losing circulation.
From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it is observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the embodiments illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pillow comprising:

an outer casing sealed to defining a first cavity therein;

an inner bladder sealed to defined a second cavity therein, the inner bladder being freely positioned within the first cavity;

microbeads positioned within the second cavity to define a conforming inner bladder; and

a filler material positioned within the first cavity and around an exterior of the inner bladder, such that the inner bladder may freely move and adjust within the first cavity.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the microbeads are polystyrene microbeads.

3. The pillow of claim 2, wherein the inner bladder is made from a 4-way stretchable material.

4. The pillow of claim 3, wherein the filler material is a polyester cluster fiber.

5. A pillow comprising:

an outer casing sealed to defining a first cavity therein;

an inner bladder made from a 4-way stretchable material sealed to defined a second cavity therein, the inner bladder being freely positioned within the first cavity;

6. The pillow of claim 5, wherein the microbeads are polystyrene microbeads.

7. The pillow of claim 6, wherein the filler material is a polyester cluster fiber.

8. A pillow comprising:

an outer casing sealed to defining a first cavity therein;

a filler material positioned within the first cavity and around one side of the inner bladder, such that the inner bladder is positioned against an internal surface of the outer casing and yet may freely move and adjust within the first cavity.

9. The pillow of claim 8, wherein the microbeads are polystyrene microbeads.

10. The pillow of claim 9, wherein the filler material is a polyester cluster fiber.