Patent Application
20140008036
The present application is directed to a pillow having a filler contained therein to provide heat dissipation.
Generally, pillows comprise an outer enclosure containing a filler, such as down or foam. However, the fillers in pillows do not conduct heat away from the body, resulting in discomfort for a user. In fact, many of the fillers currently used in pillows are thermal insulators.
There have been many attempts to provide pillows having a cooling effect on the body of the user. However, these pillows often require refrigeration (e.g., for a pillow insert) or electrical power. This restricts the locations that the pillow can be used and adds additional bulky components to the pillow. Therefore, a need clearly exists for a pillow having that has the ability to provide heat dissipation without restricting use of the pillow.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide, in a single enclosure, a cooling pillow having a filler mixing (1) a viscous liquid with heat dissipation properties and (2) a support material made up of small, individual units, such as foam beads (“beads”). The viscous liquid, such as a polymer gel, creates a lasting cooling sensation upon human contact when used in an environment in which the air temperature is cooler than the typical temperature of human skin. The beads, when mixed with the viscous liquid, keep the pillow stable during use without inhibiting the heat dissipation properties of the viscous liquid.
It is a further object to provide a cooling pillow comprising a cooling portion and a pillow portion attached to each other along a common edge. The cooling portion comprises a filler having a viscous liquid with heat dissipation properties, or a mixture of a viscous liquid and a support material. The pillow portion comprises a filler that is a common pillow filler, such as polyester fiber fill.
The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.
Referring to
Filler 104 is formed by mixing (1) a viscous liquid with heat dissipation properties with (2) a support material made up of small, individual units, such as foam beads (“beads”), The viscous liquid, such as a polymer gel, creates a lasting cooling sensation upon human contact when used in an environment in which the air temperature is cooler than the typical temperature of human skin. The beads keep the cooling pillow 100 stable during use without inhibiting the heat dissipation properties of the viscous liquid. For example, if foam beads are used, their limited compressibility helps to keep the “shape” of the pillow during use while aiding in even heat dissipation throughout the viscous liquid.
In a preferred embodiment, the beads are circular polystyrene foam beads having a diameter of approximately one millimeter and the viscous liquid is a mixture of sodium polyacralate and water (e.g., 99% water mixed with 1% sodium polyacralate). The beads may be any set of objects that are, individually, sufficiently small such that the viscous fluid can flow around them while being flexible enough for use in a pillow. Similarly, the viscous liquid can be any liquid or gel, such as propylene glycol, having ample heat dissipation properties.
Each bead must be sufficiently small so that the heat dissipation properties of the viscous liquid are not adversely affected (i.e., the beads cannot break up the viscous liquid into different sections that are not in contact with each other). However, there should be enough beads such that the cooling pillow 100 retains its shape and stability during use.
Filler 104 creates a cooling effect by absorbing heat, through outer enclosure 104, from an object warmer than filler 104 (such as a human head). The cooling effect is created by dissipating the heat from the object throughout the entirety of filler 104, such that the filler 104, at the point of contact with the object, remains at a lower temperature than the object itself. For example, if cooling pillow 100 is kept in a room that is 75° Fahrenheit and then comes into contact with a human head that is 95° degrees Fahrenheit, the filler 104 will draw heat from the head and then dissipate the heat throughout filler 104. Eventually, a point of equilibrium is reached where enough heat has been absorbed in filler 104 that it no longer draws heat from the object. The greater amount of filler 104 in pillow 100, the longer it takes to reach this point of equilibrium.
As an example, a cooling pillow 100 approximately 25 inches long by 20 inches wide, comprising a filler 104 having approximately 10 million one-millimeter circular polystyrene beads and approximately 10-20 pounds of viscous fluid allows cooling pillow 100 to remain cooler than the human body for over an hour under standard room temperature conditions. It should be obvious to one skilled in the art that the amount of filler 104 in cooling pillow 100 can be adjusted based upon the desired cooling level. Additionally, filler 104 can be used in other pillow-like objects, including, but not limited to, mattress pads, dog-beds, body pillows, head rests, car seats, etc.
Upon removal of the object in contact with cooling pillow 100, the heat that has been absorbed by filler 104 is released into the air through outer enclosure 102 (assuming the air is cooler than the gel).
In some embodiments, cooling pillow 100 may contain a pocket (not shown) for insertion of an ice pack to absorb heat dissipated throughout filler 104. The ice pack can be either a standard ice pack, containing water or a gel-like substance, or an instant ice pack, including a filler such as solid ammonium nitrate or ammonium chloride dissolved in water. When not in use, the ice pack can be stored in a freezer.
Referring now to
As shown in
It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/454,688, filed Mar. 21, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/562,104, filed Nov. 21, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US12/29424 | 3/16/2012 | WO | 00 | 9/17/2013 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61454688 | Mar 2011 | US | |
| 61562104 | Nov 2011 | US |
