Patent Application
20060123548
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to but is not limited to the field of pillows, cushions, mattresses and other reclinatory furniture devices of any type attached or otherwise utilizing a centrally placed, variably flexible, valved, single or multi-chambered, liquid-filled, hydraulically activated and valvically controlled method for support of the head or body. Devices such as those described herein are intended primarily for use during periods of travel, relaxation, reconstitution and rehabilitation and for potential orthopedic enhancements therein.
2. Prior Art
There is a substantial amount of prior art relating to the field of ergonomic, orthopaedic and other types of cranial, cervical and general physical support devices for the human body. Generally speaking, the historical intent and direction of these efforts is to provide support for the head, neck and spine which simulates the optimal position attainable when the person is standing or sitting during waking hours. Many of these devices are formed from types of enclosed plastic foams. Others are essentially ergonomically shaped containers of grain or sand. Most if not all of this type are by nature asymmetrically shaped, having a lower portion that is thicker for neck support. Such pillows also have an upper portion that is thinner for support of the head and necessarily represented as possessing a definable top surface portion and a definable bottom surface portion. Other theorists have used an approach involving various gas and/or liquid filled bladders and often providing some user initiated and directed capability for affecting the overall firmness of the device.
Some previously proposed configurations combine many or all of these qualities at once with more or less success. As shall be demonstrated in detail below, all of the noted approaches suffer from one or another of these shortfalls which detracts from the efficacy of a device of the type as is herein described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,999 filed Jan. 20, 1998, describes a support pillow composed of a top portion surfaced by a bolster covering shaped as previously indicated and a bottom portion described as an inflatable under-pillow composed of a plurality of parallel rows of fluidly communicating air chambers interconnected with one another through means of headers. A nozzle connecting a header to an air source could be utilized by the user to alter the pressure in the entire body of the chambers in order to raise or lower the height at which the top portion rests.
As can be seen, the basic shape of the device described by this patent is the key impediment against general implementation. This is because use of the device requires it to be in only one position which is an ergonomically shaped bolster component on the top with the inflatable header-chamber support component lying below it. While the inflatable component allows control of the setting of the height of the neck and head support functions of the bolster component and is a key intent of the design, it creates a problem with utilization of the device other than as designed for top surface over bottom surface configuration. The result is a device that cannot be used upside down and still provide the expected benefits. In addition, there is no method for altering the firmness of the bolster component.
As can be imagined, both the fixed usage position attribute and the fixed firmness of the bolster can be a distraction at the least and an annoyance at best since one is restricted to such positions and resultant comfort levels as are allowed by the design.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,514 filed on Jun. 30, 1998, envisioned as an adjustable contour pillow addresses the second issue of the firmness of the head to pillow interface, but like all of the contour pillows identified it leaves the primary issue of asymmetrical or bottom over top use unresolved as it has a defined top surface and bottom surface. In this concept multiple, individually adjustable, inflatable, internal chambers utilize air or some other fluid and an externally induced means of compressing this fluid to provide variable levels of firmness and support in the top laterally oriented chambers of the device such as those beneath the head and neck.
In one embodiment, the device is additionally proposed to incorporate heating, cooling and massage mechanisms, to store user preferences and other capabilities through means of an attached or detachable motor, control box and AC electrical connections or batteries.
Portability of this configuration of the device for the elderly or impaired, even if powered by batteries, is severely impacted as a result of this electrical requirement, and this would reduce opportunities for use in areas where electrical connections are inconvenient or unavailable. Previously noted shortfalls of this conception are present in this exemplification as well.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,415, an inflatable cervical pillow formed of an airtight and watertight thermoplastic material comprises an association of variably shaped water chambers including valves and interlocking air chambers including valves, flexibly fitted with one another such that pressure upon the surface of the device, using the physical interaction between the different chambers resulting from the differing densities of air and fluids, effects changes in the firmness and support vectors provided to the head.
This invention provides the necessary variable firmness and support of the head by exploiting the differing densities and resultant interactions of gases and fluids, sometimes in combination, within separate, pressurized, interrelated contained spaces.
An obvious drawback to an innovation of this type is, of course, the manufacturing complexity of a design in which multiple chambers containing different substances must interact, interface, remain integral, and which require optimal positioning with one another during use. Additionally, as specified in the various provided drawings and verbiage, this device also has a shape incorporating an identifiable top surface and a bottom surface and an identifiable front end and rear end. As a result, in addition to issues of comfort, the internal valving mechanisms used to alter firmness based on pressure differentials cannot function if the device were to be inverted. This fixed position usage problem has been a significant shortfall present in all previous designs of this type seen and noted.
U.S. patent application publication No. US 2002/0078507 identifies a pillow including a plurality of variably inflatable bladders surrounded by a resilient layer, that layer potentially being further surrounded by a less dense resilient layer and optionally provided with an integral hand pump for inflation purposes.
This approach is primarily intended to resolve one recurring problem with other concepts including that of the inability of previous designs to consider two sided use.
The physical attributes of the device can be described as symmetrical with respect to one axis so that the device may be turned over and used on both sides. When not inflated and viewed from above or below, the shape could be described as a rectangle. When viewed uninflated from either side, a similar rectangle would be perceived. Subsequent to inflation of this device, a top or bottom view still exemplifies a rectangular shape.
A perspective side view of this concept in an inflated condition would, however, convey an image of two parallel cylindrical channels with an identifiable larger elongated lower cylinder on one edge for the support of the neck and an identifiable elongated smaller upper cylinder for support of the head on the other edge, each laterally extended across the device. A method of selectively modifying pressure within each chamber is provided via reticulation of an integral pump and valve assembly similar to that found in athletic shoes.
Though this device resolves the issue of two sided use, it still consists of a designated top edge and a designated bottom edge respectively such that as a result of design it cannot be easily inverted as the cylindrical internal bladders contained therein possess significantly different internal diameters. Additionally, changes to the firmness of the bladders require manual reticulation of the air chamber pressurizing valve.
Based on the hydraulic effect of Pascal's Principle that an enclosed fluid under pressure exerts that pressure throughout its volume and against any surface in which it is contained, the device herein disclosed is a multi-chambered hydraulic pillow using differently shaped and sized, variably elastic internal chambers combined with a plurality of internal valves which automatically control, communicate, balance and contain the flows of the liquid and differences in pressure and resulting changes in the external dimensions provided by the changes in the variably elastic flexible chambers.
The basis for all hydraulic systems is expressed by Pascal's law which states that anywhere upon an enclosed liquid is transmitted undiminished in all directions to the interior of the container. This principal allows large forces to be generated with relatively little effort. In the case of the device herein, the force generated in a second chamber by the projecting portion of the top of the user's head will communicate liquid therefrom into a first chamber through a back flow control valve. The first chamber upon filling will exert force on the back of the head and neck of the user and will cease accepting fluid from the smaller chamber once the pressure in the two equalize.
Since the second chamber of the pillow will collapse from the weight and area of the projecting top end displacing fluid, the first chamber will enlarge to fill the voids of the back of the head and neck, below the top of the head. As depicted in all the current favored embodiments, the second chamber is smaller than the first chamber, and this configuration worked well due to the dimensional characteristics of the back of the human head. However, the relative size of the two chambers could be reversed or equal and they still adjust. This operation is initiated by simply laying one's head on the pillow and automatically provides optimal comfort and conforming support for the neck, head or other extremities using only the pressure generated on the surface of the device by the mass of a user's head. To accomplish this task both chambers of the device are best filled with water or some other liquid or a gel. In the case of a gel, such a medium would minimize any potential noise from air gaps in the system as well as minimize movement of the head. Both chambers should also be elastic such that they will shrink as fluid leaves the chamber and enlarge with the entry of more fluid and avoid air pockets. However, the smaller chamber could be flexible plastic since the walls would only need to collapse in use as fluid is pumped into the larger chamber.
With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components or steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatuses and methods of the invention are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once they review this disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other devices, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the objects and claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further objectives of this invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.
Referring now to the drawings,
As shown, the device features two or more chambers depicted as first chamber 12 which worked best in a configuration where it was larger than a second chamber 14. The larger volume of the first chamber 12 more easily accommodates the void on the back of the head below the projecting top of the head on most persons. Both the first chamber 12 and a second chamber 14 are both made of a flexible elastic material through which a fluid substance 26 can communicate and be stored long term without leakage. Directional control of the fluid flow is provided by the valve mechanism 16 positioned in internal passage of the conduit 17 communicating between the first chamber 12 and second chamber 14.
In the depicted preferred embodiment's of the device 10, when the user lies their head on the top of the exterior of the device 10, the force generated in the smaller chamber by the weight and dimensions of the projecting portion of the top of the user's head will cause liquid to exit the second chamber 14 and communicate through the conduit 17 and in-line valve 16, and into the first chamber 12. A mechanical advantage for weight lifting and support, from the larger size of the first chamber 12, is believed to be also at work in supporting the user's neck and lower head from the increase in fluid pushed into the first chamber 12 from the second chamber 14. The first chamber 12 upon filling to a point that an even contact is made with the user's head will exert force on the back of the head and neck of the user resulting in an equalization of the pressure between the two chambers and will cease accepting any additional fluid from the second chamber 14 once that pressure equalizes.
Because the second chamber 14 of the pillow will collapse from the weight and actual projecting area of the top end of the user's head displacing fluid, the first chamber 12 will then enlarge to fill the voids of the back of the head and neck, below the top of the head. Pillow size and dimension adjustment is caused by simply lying one's head on the pillow and automatically provides optimal comfort and conforming support for the neck, head or other extremities using only the pressure generated on the surface of the device by the mass of a user's head.
As noted, the fluid material of choice for both chambers of the device 10 is water or some other inert liquid or a gel. Gel would be especially advantageous because of its ability to minimize noise from air gaps in the system and provide a shock absorber of sorts that thinner water lacks. Both chambers should in the preferred mode of the device be formed like a bladder made of elastic material which will shrink as fluid leaves the respective chamber and enlarge with the entry of more fluid. This avoids noisy air pockets as well as the lack of support caused by air in the system.
Of course there are times when the pillow needs readjustment for a new person or just because the same person wants a change. This would be accommodated by providing a means to override the valve 16 and allow back flow such as a release 19 shown as a button on the valve 16 which can be activated from the exterior of the device 10, without the need to open it, when the user wants to allow back flow of fluid into the second chamber 14 from the second chamber 12.
Finally, it has been found that the optional addition of padding 23 to the voids in the internal cavity formed by the covering 20 can be advantageous. Such padding 23 works especially well if it is memory foam that reacts to the heat of the user and forms to their anatomy. However any one or combination of a variety of padding materials can be included such as foam, batting, down, and feathers. The expansion and contraction of the size of the two chambers will continue to work well with the foam 22 included in the voids between them and in the rest of the cavity defined by the covering 20.
Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. While the invention as shown in the drawings and described in detail herein discloses arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present invention, it is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed in accordance with the spirit of this invention. Any and all such changes, alternations and modifications, as would occur to those skilled in the art, are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.
Further, the purpose of the attached abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
