Patent Application
20200268183
The present invention relates to pillows and, more particularly, to a restorative head and neck pillow that is geometrically configured in a manner to provide proper support, orientation and the most beneficial positions of the head and neck for reducing spinal stress, maximizing air flow via the respiratory pathway and promoting healthy restorative sleep in a user. It also relates to a contoured path that provides the support when the user transitions from side to supine and supine to side resting positions. It also relates to a contoured path that provides the support when the user transitions from side to prone and prone to side resting positions.
Conventionally, pillows consists of a top and bottom surface sewn together at the perimeter edges to form an exterior casing which defines an interior cavity which holds stuffing or padding. The standard rectangular pillows have been in use for many years. However, these type of pillows suffer from serious drawbacks in that they provide relatively poor resting support to the user. The support that is provided is generally uneven and can result in serious discomfort and exacerbation of pre-existing injuries. Poor support during sleep can cause all kinds of body aches including but not limited to head ache, neck ache, and other muscular discomfort.
Further, there is a fundamental flaw with traditional resting or sleeping pillows. All previously available pillows do not support the head and neck in the most beneficial positions for minimizing stress, and maximizing air flow through the respiratory pathway. One conspicuous example is the unnecessary stress previous pillows place on the spine of back position sleepers. Previous pillows lift back sleeper's head up in a chin to chest position thereby distorting the neutral as well as the most stress free natural curve of the cervical spinal area. This poor alignment not only adds to stress, but also restricts the respiratory pathway. Another noticeable example is the extra stress previous pillows place on the spine of stomach position sleepers. Stomach resting positions cause the head to turn in a stressful position. Previous pillows force the stomach sleeper's turned head back further thereby exerting an additional stress to the cervical spinal area. The present invention reduces cervical stress and improves breathing for a healthier more restorative sleeping experience.
In addition, previous pillows are not designed to provide an ideal supportive contoured path that maintains favorable spinal alignment of the head and neck when a user transitions from right-side to supine to left-side resting positions or right-side to prone to left-side resting positions. Therefore, previous pillows do a poor job at positioning and supporting the head and cervical spine in a manner that is advantageous to minimizing stress and improved breathing. They do not provide the paramount positioning and support required for optimal stress reduction, improved breathing, and healthy restorative sleep. As such there is a continuing unmet need for an improved and restorative head and neck pillow which provides proper support, orientation and the most beneficial positions of the head and neck for reducing spinal stress, maximizing air flow via the respiratory pathway and promoting healthy restorative sleep in a user.
The present invention, disclosed and described herein, achieves the above mentioned objects by providing a restorative head and neck pillow which is geometrically configured in a manner that reduces stress, promotes healthy restorative sleep and improves breathing by supporting the head and neck in the most effective and beneficial positions.
The present invention discloses a restorative head and neck pillow comprising (i) an open head positioning support area positioned in the middle of the head and neck pillow; (ii) a first neck support area and a second neck support area positioned at the front and back of the open head positioning support area; (iii) a first side of the head and neck pillow wherein the first side comprises of curved transition surfaces, a first side head support area, a first side neck support area and a second side neck support area; and (iv) a second side of the head and neck pillow wherein the second side comprises of curved transition surfaces, a second side head support area, a third side neck support area and a fourth side neck support area. In an embodiment, the first side head support area of the first side and the second side head support area of the second side are positioned adjacently and at opposite sides of the open head positioning area. Further, the first side neck support area is adjacent to the first neck support area, the second side neck support area is adjacent to the second neck support area, the third side neck support area is adjacent to the first neck support area and the fourth side neck support area is adjacent to the second neck support area.
In an embodiment, the head and neck pillow comprises curved transition surfaces on the first side as well as the second side for supporting the head and the neck of the user when the user transitions from supine or prone to right or left side resting positions.
In a preferred embodiment, the second neck support area of the present invention is slightly more elevated than the first neck support area for providing different level of support to the user for the back of the neck. Further, the second side neck support area adjacent to the second neck support area is slightly more elevated than the first side neck support area adjacent to the first neck support area. Additionally, the fourth side neck support area adjacent to the second neck support area is slightly more elevated than the third side neck support area adjacent to the first neck support area for providing different level of support to the user for the side of the neck.
In another embodiment, the first side head support area and the second side head support area of the restorative head and neck pillow are configured with curved edges allowing the nose and the face area to protrude over the edges and with sunken areas for reducing pressure to the side of the nasal cavity. The invention further comprises two seams on either side of the first neck support area and the second neck support area.
In an embodiment, the head and neck pillow optionally comprises a removable foam core fixed in the middle of the head and neck pillow. The invention further optionally comprises a fabric covering, a separating zipper, and a zipper retaining box allowing removal of the head and neck pillow.
The invention further discloses a head and neck pillow comprising (i) an open head positioning support area positioned in the middle of the head and neck pillow; (ii) a handle and a neck support area positioned at the front and back of the open head positioning support area; (iii) a first side of the head and neck pillow wherein the first side comprises of curved transition surfaces, a first side head support area, and a first side neck support area; and (iv) a second side of the head and neck pillow wherein the second side comprises of curved transition surfaces, a second side head support area, and a second side neck support area. In an embodiment, the first side head support area of the first side and the second side head support area of the second side are positioned adjacently and at opposite sides of the open head positioning area and the first side neck support area of the first side is adjacent to the neck support area, and the second side neck support area of the second side is adjacent to the neck support area.
In an embodiment, the invention comprises curved transition surfaces on the first side and second side for supporting the head and neck of the user when the user transitions from supine or prone to right or left side resting positions. In another embodiment, the first side head support area and the second side head support area are configured with curved edges allowing the nose and the face area to protrude over the edges and with sunken areas for reducing pressure to the side of the nasal cavity. In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a fabric cover with a handle for covering the head and neck pillow.
The figures depict embodiments of the present invention for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the invention illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
Without limitation, a restorative head and neck pillow (100) is further described below in detail along with its geometrical configuration.
In an embodiment, when the user transitions from supine or prone to left or right side resting positions onto the second side (117), the restorative head and neck pillow (100) is configured to provide the curved transition surfaces (110) (not seen in
In an embodiment, the curved transition surfaces (104), (105) and (106) follows the head and the neck along the turning path on the right side when the user transitions from supine or prone to right side resting position on the first side (116). Without limitation, the curved transition surfaces (110), (111) and (112), follows the head and neck along the turning path on the left side when the user transitions from supine or prone to left side resting position on the second side (117). The perpendicular distance between the user's turning axis which is located along either the right or left shoulder/hip sides to the spinal cord generally defines the boundary of said supportive curved transition surfaces thereby allowing the head to move naturally along a beneficially stress reducing curved path. This movement is considerably smoother and beneficial in the restorative head and neck pillow (100) disclosed herein than the previously available or known pillows which owing to its poor geometry is unable to achieve the same movement. Due to the poor geometry of the known pillows, during the supine position resting the pillow causes the head to tilt forward and when the user turns from supine to a side resting position, the head either moves back and forth or retains a more stressful and air restrictive forward tilt position. Right to supine to left side transitioning and vice versa is considerably improved by the present invention's curved transition surfaces.
The present invention further discloses the configuration of side resting positions for the user. In an embodiment, when the user is resting in a right side position on the first side (116), the head is conveniently supported by the first side head support area (107) and the neck is appropriately supported by (i) the first side neck support area (108) adjacent to the first neck support area (102), and (ii) the second side neck support area (109) adjacent to the second neck support area (103). In an embodiment, when the user is resting in a left side position on the second side (117), the head is conveniently supported by the second side head support area (113) and the neck is appropriately supported by (i) the third side neck support area (114) adjacent to the first neck support area (102) and (ii) the fourth side neck support area (115) adjacent to the second neck support area (103).
In a preferred embodiment,
In an embodiment,
In an exemplary embodiment,
Many doctors and chiropractors claim supine resting is the most favorable position for reducing spinal stress, and side resting is the next best position. They also recommend avoiding stomach resting because this position adds excessive stress to the spine due to the extreme head turn angle. That being said, stress from stomach resting can be reduced by placing the side of the head with face pointing towards the bed on the right or left end of said invention or by placing the right or left side of the head with face pointing towards the bed on the funnel surface. These positions support and limit the skull's turn angle and attenuate to some degree the stress to the spine caused by the more extreme stomach resting head turn angle.
When resting in supine position, the open head positioning support area (101) in
In an exemplary embodiment,
In an embodiment, the curved transition surfaces (54) and (56) follow the head and the neck along the turning path on the right side when the user transitions from supine or prone to right side resting position on the first side (55). Without limitation, the curved transition surfaces (60) and (62) follows the head and neck along the turning path on the left side when the user transitions from supine or prone to left side resting position on the second side (58). The perpendicular distance between the user's turning axis which is located along either the right or left shoulder/hip sides to the spinal cord generally defines the boundary of said supportive curved transition surfaces thereby allowing the head to move naturally along a beneficially stress reducing curved path. This movement is considerably smoother and beneficial in the restorative head and neck pillow (50) disclosed herein than the previously available or known pillows which owing to its poor geometry is unable to achieve the same movement. Due to the poor geometry of the known pillows, during the supine position resting the pillow causes the head to tilt forward and when the user turns from supine to a side resting position, the head either moves back and forth or retains a more stressful and air restrictive forward tilt position. Right to supine to left side and vice versa transitioning is considerably improved by the present invention's curved transition surfaces.
The present invention further discloses the configuration of side resting positions for the user. In an embodiment, when the user is resting in a right side position on the first side (55), the head is conveniently supported by the first side head support area (57) and the neck is appropriately supported by the first side neck support area (59) adjacent to the neck support area (53). In an embodiment, when the user is resting in a left side position on the second side (58), the head is conveniently supported by the second side head support area (63) and the neck is appropriately supported by the second side neck support area (65) adjacent to the neck support area (53). The support pressure is evenly distributed between the head and the neck to a level that provides optimal alignment of the spine, thereby reducing stress and promoting healthy restorative sleep. Although the restorative head and neck pillow (50) has less neck supporting areas than the restorative head and neck pillow (100) illustrated in
In an exemplary embodiment,
A person having ordinary skill in the art can fashion said invention out of various materials. For example, an airtight fabric shell can be used to fashion an air pillow. Different types of foam can be used such as polyurethane or visco-elastic (memory foam). Use of cooling gels or other such materials may add value to the pillow. Various types of feathers, cotton, synthetic fibers, water etc. may also be used for the construction of the said invention.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.).
It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various portions depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.
Although embodiments for the present invention have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.
This application claims priority from the U.S. application No. 62/809,591 which is a provisional application filed on Feb. 23, 2019 titled ‘STRESS REDUCING HEAD AND CERVICAL PILLOW’ at the USPTO. The contents of the provisional application are included herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62809591 | Feb 2019 | US |
