The present invention relates to a pillow, and more particularly to a pillow having an independent-supporting structure.
Many people nowadays suffer from sleep disorder. People may be still hyperactive before going to bed and may struggle to fall asleep due to fast-paced life, stressful work, and drinks with caffeine. Moreover, people usually relieve stress by browsing information on cell phones before falling asleep. However, blue light emitted from the cell phones also disturbs secretion of melatonin that helps people to fall asleep.
In order to improve sleep quality, a conventional pillow with Marshall coils is provided. The conventional pillow with Marshall coils has multiple springs respectively disposed in multiple cotton pockets for supporting the cervical spine of a user to provide proper support to the cervical spine of the user and to resolve the problem of sleep disorder. However, the multiple springs of the conventional pillow with Marshall coils have a same coefficient of elasticity and cannot provide various supporting forces to different body parts of the user. For example, the user's cervical spine needs larger supporting force than the user's head. Nevertheless, under the restriction that the springs have the same coefficient of elasticity, the conventional pillow with Marshall coils cannot provide various supporting forces to the different body parts of the user.
To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional pillow with Marshall springs, the present invention provides a pillow with an independent-supporting structure to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a pillow that provides independent support to the cervical spine of the user.
The pillow has an independent-supporting structure, a headrest cushion, and a supporting cushion. The independent-supporting structure has a supporting plate. The supporting plate has multiple supporting elements disposed at intervals. Each one of the multiple supporting elements is elongated and is able to be independently pressed, to independently restore, and to be independently deformed. The multiple supporting elements are parallelly disposed and apart from one another. The headrest cushion is resilient and is supported by the supporting plate for supporting a head of a human. The supporting cushion is resilient and is disposed below the multiple supporting elements for supporting. When a user rests his head on the pillow, each supporting element is deformed independently to provide independent support to the cervical spine of the user.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
With reference to
The two connecting element 12 are connected to the multiple supporting elements 11, are pre-stressed, and are disposed oppositely in the elongating direction of each one of the multiple supporting elements 11. When the pillow 100 in accordance with the present invention is placed in a bed, the two connecting elements 12 are configured to support the pillow 100.
Practically, the independent-supporting structure 10 may have one connecting element 12 only. The connecting element 12 and the multiple supporting elements 11 surround a receiving space for receiving cell phones, portable chargers, or audio players. The connecting element 12 may have an extending arm being parallel to each one of the multiple supporting elements 11 to form an opening disposed at one of the two sides 103, 104 of the pillow 100. Structure of the connecting element 12 can be designed according to various needs and for requirements of different visual effects. The structure of each connecting element 12 is not restricted as long as each one of the multiple supporting elements 11 can be independently pressed, can be independently deformed, and can independently restore.
In the present invention, the independent-supporting structure 10 is made of a composite material with thermoplastic matrix. Practically, the independent-supporting structure 10 may be made of metal, plastic, or even wood as long as each one of the multiple supporting elements 11 can be independently pressed, can be independently deformed, and can independently restore. The material of the independent-supporting structure 10 is not restricted.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, a prepreg is bended at two sides of the prepreg. Then, multiple slits are defined through the prepreg to form the multiple supporting elements 11 and the two connecting elements 12 respectively connected to the two opposite ends of each one of the multiple supporting elements 11.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the independent-supporting structure 10 is composed by a carbon fiber composite layer and two glass fiber composite layers. The carbon fiber composite layer is clamped between the two glass fiber composite layers having better tenacity than carbon fiber composite layer, so the independent-supporting structure 10 has good ductility to sustain loads and is less breakable.
Moreover, when carbon fibers of the carbon fiber composite layer are broken, the two glass fiber composite layers wrap the carbon fiber composite layer that is broken to avoid exposure of the broken carbon fibers. Practically, the independent-supporting structure 10 may be implemented as a carbon fiber composite layer covered by a glass fiber composite layer or even be implemented as a carbon fiber composite layer according to practical requirements.
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Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the independent-supporting structure 10 is made of composite materials with thermoplastic matrix. Each one of the two connecting elements 12 has two sheets. One of the two opposite ends of each supporting element 11 is clamped between the two sheets of one of the two connecting elements 12. The other one of the two opposite ends of the supporting element 11 is clamped between the two sheets of the other one of the two connecting elements 12. Each supporting element 11 is connected to the two connecting elements 12 via hot pressing. Practically, the two connecting elements 12 may be made of different materials.
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In the fifth embodiment, the pillow 100 also has the independent-supporting structure 10, the headrest cushion 20A and the supporting cushion 20B with the headrest cushion 20A and the supporting cushion 20B being wrapped around and covering the independent-supporting structure 10. And the independent-supporting structure 10 also has the recess 13. In the fifth embodiment, the pillow 100 further has multiple flexible sensors 30. In the fifth embodiment, the recess 13 is disposed at one of the two lateral sides 103, 104 of the pillow 100. The supporting plate of the independent-supporting structure 10 has multiple through holes 14 and multiple slits 15. Each one of the through holes 14 is formed between two of the supporting elements 11 that are disposed adjacent to each other, is elongated, and is parallel to the multiple supporting elements 11. Each two of the slits 15 are formed between two of the supporting elements 11 that are disposed adjacent to each other, and the two slits respectively extend from two opposite ends of a corresponding one of the through holes toward opposite directions. Each slit 15 has a width being narrower than a width of each through hole 14.
In the fifth embodiment, the headrest cushion 20A has multiple vents 21. The multiple vents 21 are respectively aligned with the through holes 14 and respectively communicate with the through holes 14 for providing good ventilation and convection to the head of the user.
With reference to
Each flexible sensor 30 may be a pressure sensor and is disposed on a top face of a corresponding one of the supporting elements 11. When the user's head and neck are resting on the headrest cushion 20A, pressure caused by weight of the user's head and neck is transmitted to each flexible sensor 30. Then, each sensor 30 obtains data of the pressure.
With further reference to
In the present invention, each supporting element 11 can be independently pressed and independently restore. Therefore, the pillow 100 in accordance with the present invention provides function of independent support similar to Marshall coils. With reference to
The through hole 14 disposed between each two adjacent supporting elements 11 communicates with a corresponding one of the vents 21, which not only provides ventilation and convection, but also promotes degree of deformation of each supporting element 11. Therefore, the supporting elements 11 produce different deformations according to contour of the user's head and provide sufficient support to the user's neck. Compared to the conventional pillow with Marshall coils that is difficult to be equipped with sensors, the top face and the bottom face of each supporting element 11 can be conveniently equipped with the flexible sensor 30 to obtain the data of contact between the user and the pillow 100.
In the fifth embodiment, the two slits 15 disposed between each two adjacent supporting elements 11 further promote the degree of deformation of each supporting element 11. Each supporting element 11 can rapidly and agilely deform according to the pressure generated by the user's head and neck. The data obtained by the multiple flexible sensors 30 is distinguishable and reliable. Particularly, when each flexible sensor 30 is a flex sensor, the two slits 15 disposed between each two adjacent supporting elements 11 facilitate each supporting element 11 to deform with ease and facilitate a corresponding flexible sensor 30 to obtain data.
With reference to
In addition, though the independent-supporting structure 10, the headrest cushion 20A, the supporting cushion 20B, and the flexible sensors 30 are applied to pillows, these features may be also applied to mattresses, seat cushions, or back cushions. Arranging patterns and structures of the multiple supporting elements 11 may be designed according to different products.
With reference to
In the seventh embodiment, the headrest cushion 20A has an inner surface facing to the independent-supporting structure 10 and multiple ribs 201A protruding from the inner surface of the headrest cushion 20A. Each supporting element 11 is disposed between two of the ribs 201A. That is, two adjacent supporting elements 11 are separated by a corresponding one of the ribs 201A.
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The pillow 100 in the seventh embodiment further has two end cushions 20C, two limiting elements 40, and a thin speaker 50. The two end cushions 20C are respectively disposed at the two ends 101, 102 of the pillow 100. Each end cushion 20C is resilient and may be made of foam, rubber, emulsion, or similar flexible materials as well. Each end cushions 20C has two positioning protrusions 201C respectively engaging with two engaging cavities 202A formed in the inner surface of the headrest cushion 20A. The two positioning protrusions 201C of each end cushion 20C and respective two engaging cavities 202A of the headrest cushion 20A keep the end cushion 20C and the headrest cushion 20A from moving relative to each other.
Each limiting element 40 is made of elastic materials such as rubber and is elastic. Each limiting element 40 has multiple mounting holes 41. The multiple mounting holes 41 of one of the limiting elements 40 are respectively sleeved on the multiple supporting elements 11 and said limiting element 40 is adjacent to the first ends of the multiple supporting elements 11. The multiple mounting holes 41 of the other one of the limiting elements 40 are also respectively sleeved on the multiple supporting elements 11 and said the other limiting element 40 is adjacent to the second ends of the supporting elements 11. Preferably, the end cap 111 sleeved on the first end of each supporting element 11 is connected to one of the limiting elements 40 that is adjacent to the first end of the supporting element 11 via a strip 42 being elastic. The end cap 111 sleeved on the second end of each supporting element 11 is connected to the other one of the limiting element 40 that is adjacent to the second end of the supporting element 11 via a strip 42 being elastic. The strip 42 connected to the end cap 111 sleeved on the first end of each supporting element 11 and the supporting element 11 form a cable hole 43. The strip 42 connected to the end cap 111 sleeved on the second end of each supporting element 11 and the supporting element 11 form a cable hole 43 as well.
The thin speaker 50 is attached to one of the supporting elements 11 and has a cable 51 extending through the cable holes 43 respectively formed by the supporting elements 11 and the strips 42.
In the seventh embodiment, the connecting elements 12 are omitted, the first ends of the multiple supporting elements 11 are detached, the second ends of the multiple supporting elements 11 are detached as well. The first ends and the second ends of the multiple supporting elements 11 are free from being restricted by the connecting elements 12 respectively. Therefore, the degree of deformation of each supporting element 11 is further promoted. Each supporting element 11 can react to larger forces accordingly.
In addition, size of each cushion block 201B can be adjusted for tuning support conditions to the supporting elements 11. That is, a length, parallel to each supporting element 11, of each cushion block 201B can be increased to strengthen the support to the supporting elements 11 or can be decreased to reduce the support to the supporting elements 11. Practically, the size of one of the cushion blocks 201B disposed at the middle section of the pillow 100 is smaller than one of the cushion blocks 201B disposed adjacent either ends 101, 102 of the pillow 100. Specifically, the length of one of the cushion blocks 201B disposed at the middle section of the pillow 100 is smaller than the length of one of the cushion blocks 201B disposed adjacent to either ends 101, 102 of the pillow 100. Furthermore, a height of one of the cushion blocks 201B disposed at the middle section of the pillow can be lower than a height of one of the cushion blocks 201B disposed adjacent to either ends 101, 102 of the pillow 100.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 17/093,678 filed on Nov. 10, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17093678 | Nov 2020 | US |
Child | 17970778 | US |