WO2015004409A1

WO2015004409A1 - Improved head support

Info

Publication number: WO2015004409A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/000262
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominic Francis John CHEETHAM
Original assignee: Cheetham Dominic Francis John
Priority date: 2013-07-09
Filing date: 2014-06-30
Publication date: 2015-01-15
Also published as: GB201411606D0; GB2518038A; GB2518038B

Abstract

A head support comprising a pillow (10) having a substantially flat central area (32) and raised areas (30) near opposite long edges (12, 14). The long edges curve inwardly (20, 22) so that the raised areas taper from width W near the outer end of each long edge to width M at the centres of the curves. In operation the user selects a position along one long edge so that the head is comfortably supported whether the user has a long neck LN or a short neck SN. The user may also add one or more risers (40. 64) so that the head is comfortably supported whether the user has a long shoulder LS or a short shoulder SS.

Description

IMPROVED HEAD SUPPORT

This invention relates to a head support, such as a pillow, and especially to pillows suitable for use by persons having neck or shoulder problems, eg an orthopaedic pillow.

It is known to have a pillow which is contoured in a curve along an axis parallel to the spine of the user so that the head rests in a depression while the neck is supported on a raised area, and it is also known to provide planar supports to vary the height of the pillow. Such an arrangement is disclosed in utility model CN20102022249 U, Shanghai Shuixing Home Textiles Co. Ltd.

The arrangement is shown in Fig. 1A. A pillow 100 has, along an axis A parallel to the spine of the user (not shown) a first raised area 110 remote from the body of the user; a second raised area 120, of lower height than the first raised area; and between the first and second raised areas a depressed area 130. The first and second raised areas and the depressed area form in section a smooth curve. Under the areas 110, 120 and 130 are two planar supports 140 which, when in position, raise the height of the pillow above the supporting surface, if required by the user.

It is also known to provide a cervical vertebra healthcare massaging pillow, as disclosed in utility model CN201624982U, Shuzhong Chen. The arrangement is shown in Fig. 1B. A pillow 1 has a recess 3 arranged at its centre, the recess 3 being inwardly concave to form a head placement position.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved pillow.

According to the invention a pillow comprises a substantially planar base, and adjacent a first edge of said base a raised area which tapers in width in a direction substantially parallel to the first edge. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figures 2A and 2B are different perspective views of a first embodiment of a pillow according to the invention;

Figure 2C is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a pillow according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a riser or height adjuster;

Figures 4A and 4B show a head support in use by a person having a long neck and a shoulder of medium length;

Figure 5 shows a head support in use by a person having a short neck and a long shoulder;

Figure 6 shows a head support within a cover;

Figures 7A and 7B show the assembly of a head support into a cover;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a pillow according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a section of Fig 8 along P-P; and

Figure 10 is a section of Fig 8 along Q-Q.

Figures 2A and 2B show in different perspectives a generally rectangular pillow 10 with opposite long edges 12, 14 and opposite short edges 16, 18. The short edges 16, 18 are straight but the long edges 12, 14 curve inwardly of the pillow over a substantial part of their length, as shown at 20, 22. The pillow 10 has adjacent each long edge 12, 14 a raised area 30 of greater height than a flat central area 32. The effect of the inward curves 20, 22 is that the width of the raised area 30 tapers from a maximum width W at its outer ends adjacent the short edges 16, 18 to a minimum width M at the centre of the long edges 12, 14. In this embodiment, the side edges of the raised areas 30 remote from the long edges 12, 14 are indicated at 13, 15 by straight lines, although the change in height is smooth and gradual with no sharp edges.

Figure 2C shows an alternative generally rectangular pillow 110 which has opposite long edges 112, 114 and opposite short edges 116, 118. The long edges 112, 114 curve inwardly of the pillow over a substantial part of their length, as shown at 120, 122. In addition the side edges of the raised areas 130 remote from the long edges 112, 114 have inward curvatures 113, 115 along the full lengths of the raised areas 130. The sides of the raised areas are thus biconcave and the widths of the raised areas 130 taper towards the centres of the long edges 112, 114. The tops of the raised areas 130 are slightly domed as shown at 134, so as to fit the slight curvature of the human neck.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a riser or height adjuster 40; comparison with Fig 2 will show that the riser has the same plan view as the pillow 10, with straight short edges 42, 44, and long edges 46, 48 which curve inwardly over a substantial part of their length. The riser 40 is of constant thickness t.

Figures 4A and 4B show a person 50, who has a long neck and a medium length shoulder, using a head support comprising a pillow 10 according to the invention and two risers 40. The person 50 has positioned his head 52 on the long edge 14 so that it is not central but is near to the short edge 18. The long neck of person 50 is fully supported on the flat top 30 of the raised area, which near the short edge 18 is of greater width than at the centre of the long edge 14. The thickness of the two risers 40 plus the thickness of the raised area of the pillow in total is equal to the length of the person's shoulder. Figure 4B shows that the head and neck of the person 50 are in alignment with the person's spine; there is no tilting of the head. This position is regarded as medically desirable.

Figure 5 shows a person 60, who has a short neck and a long shoulder, using a head support comprising a pillow 10 according to the invention and three risers 40. The person 60 has positioned his head 62 on the long edge 14 so that it is central. The short neck of person 60 is fully supported on the flat top 30 of the raised area, which at the centre of the long edge 18 is of minimum width. The thickness of the three risers 40 plus the thickness of the raised area person 60 is lying with his head and neck in alignment with his spine.

It will be clear that the user positions his head along the long edge 18 in accordance with neck length. The selection of the number of risers 40 to match shoulder length is made in advance - for a very short shoulder, there may be no riser in place; for a short shoulder, one riser will be used.

Figure 6 shows a head support within a fabric cover 70. The cover 70 has an upper layer 72 of the same general shape as the riser shown in Figure 3, the upper layer being quilted as indicated at 72A to 72F. Below the upper layer 72 is a gusset 74 which is attached to the four sides of the upper layer 72. Along three edges of the gusset is a zip fastener 76 having tags 78, by which the gusset is attached to a lower layer 80 (see Fig 7). The depth d of the gusset 74 is selected to match the maximum thickness of the pillow 10, plus the thickness of any risers to be used. The cover 70 is the equivalent of a conventional pillow case, and is preferably cotton. The quilting 72 further improves comfort, and may be filled with down. The cover 70 also holds in place any risers which are required.

Figures 7A and 7B show the assembly of the head support into its cover. Into an unzipped cover 70 is placed first a pillow 10 with its contoured side next to the quilted side of the cover. Onto the flat underside 11 of the pillow 10 is placed one or more risers 40, and the lower layer 80 is zipped to the gusset 74.

Typically the pillow 10 and the risers 40 are made of a resilient foam material, such as expanded polyurethane. Typically the thickness t of each riser is 2 cm and typically the maximum thickness of the pillow 10 is 8 cm.

Figure 8 shows an alternative, simpler embodiment of a pillow according to the invention. A pillow 82 is substantially rectangular with opposite long edges 84, 86. The pillow 82 is largely flat, as indicated at 88. Near one long edge 86 the pillow has a raised part 90. The smooth change in thickness lies between the broken line 92 and the dotted line 94, and is more clearly seen in the sections P-P and Q-Q of figs 9 and 10. At section P-P, Figure 9, the raised part 90 is narrow in width, and a person with a short neck SN would choose to lie on pillow 82 at this position along the long edge 86. At section Q-Q, Figure 10, the raised part 90 is wider, and a person with a long neck LN, would choose to lie on pillow 82 at this position. A riser 96 for the pillow 82 is of rectangular plan.

In other variations (not illustrated), the first and second embodiment pillows 10, 110 may have only one curved edge 12 or 14, 112 or 114. The third embodiment pillow 82 may have two raised areas along opposite long edges 84, 86. It is an advantage of a pillow having two oppositely positioned raised areas that the user has the option of turning the pillow through 180 degrees during the night to bring a cool area under the head, which many people prefer.

The pillows 10, 110 or 82 may be used without a riser, or with one, two or more risers, as the user wishes.

While the central surfaces 32, 132 of the pillows 10, 110 are shown as flat, they may alternatively be slightly hollow. A similar variation may be applied to the pillow 82, and the raised area 90 may be slightly domed.

Claims

1. A pillow comprises a substantially planar base, and adjacent a first edge of said base a raised area which tapers in width in a direction substantially parallel to the first edge.

2. A pillow according to Claim 1 in which said first edge of the pillow has an inwardly curved indentation along a substantial part of its length whereby said raised area is caused to taper in width from its outer ends towards the centre of the first edge.

3. A pillow according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising a second raised area adjacent a second edge of the pillow opposite to the first edge, said second raised area tapering in width in a direction parallel to said second edge.

4. A pillow according to Claim 3 in which said raised areas taper in width both on their sides adjacent the first and second edges and on their sides remote from the first and second edges.

5. A pillow according to any preceding Claim in which the top of the raised area is domed.

6. A head support comprising a pillow according to any preceding claim, and at least one planar height adjuster having a shape matching said planar base of said pillow.

7. A cover for a pillow according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or for a head support according to claim 6 comprises an upper layer, a gusset, and a lower layer, the lower layer being attached to three sides of the gusset by zip fastener means.

8. A pillow substantially as described with reference to Figure 2 or Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A head support substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 or to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A cover for a pillow or a head support substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.