Side-Lying Pillow

Abstract

A side-lying pillow that provides back, pelvis, and joint support comprising a main pillow body connected along a connection side to a wedge support pillow. In use, the side-lying pillow is secured in place by the support wedge pillow, which is compressed under a user's body. The side-lying pillow provides the user with support from the main pillow body.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is directed to a side-lying pillow that provides back and joint support. The side-lying pillow has a wedge-shaped pillow body connected to a round or cylindrical main pillow body to create the side-lying pillow.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Pregnant woman and breastfeeding mothers produce a hormone called relaxin. Relaxin is a hormone produced by the ovaries and the placenta with important effects in the female reproductive system and during pregnancy. In preparation for childbirth, it relaxes the ligaments in the pelvis and softens and widens the cervix.

Relaxin can cause symptoms such as reduced stability in the pelvis and joints. As a result, when both pregnant side-lying sleepers and side-lying breastfeeding mothers stay lying down on their sides, there is increased discomfort in their joints, pelvises, and backs.

Nonetheless, there are many benefits to lying on the side. For pregnant women, lying on their sides provides optimum circulation. For breastfeeding women, lying on their sides allows them to rest while nursing. Despite these benefits, lying on the side can lead to a lot of physical discomfort for these women.

Thus, there is a need to reduce pain and discomfort in side-lying pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the subject of this invention to provide a side-lying pillow that reduces pain and discomfort in side-lying pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. The side-lying pillow of the present disclosure is designed to support breastfeeding moms who nurse in the side-lying breastfeeding position as well as side-lying sleepers such as pregnant women or any other side-lying sleeper. The side-lying pillow allows the user to shift their body weight backward while maintaining a side-lying position thereby providing support and comfort to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a side-lying pillow.

FIG. 2 depicts a side-lying pillow in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment is depicted wherein the side-lying pillow 10 has a main pillow body 12 and has a support wedge pillow 14. The main pillow body 12 has a cylindrical shape 13 having cylindrical surface 15 in one embodiment, and in other embodiments may have other shapes. The support wedge pillow 14 has opposed first and second wedge sides 16, 18 that meet with a connection side 20 having a concave side 19 and concave surface 19a (numeral not depicted). The connection side 20 of the wedge support pillow 14 connects to the main pillow body 12 along a stitch line 22 with thread 24, or adhesives 25 can be used to connect the wedge support pillow 14 and the main pillow body 12. The main pillow body 12 also has opposed first and second ends 40, 42. The wedge support pillow 14 further has opposed first and second ends 44, 46. As shown, the opposed first and second wedge sides 16, 18 slope towards one another and meet at a pillow edge 47. In another embodiment the main pillow body 12 and wedge support pillow 14 are integrally formed as a one-piece body as indicated by the dashed line and reference numeral 21.

In one embodiment, the main pillow body 12 has a diameter of 7.5 inches and the wedge support pillow 14 has a width of 5.5 inches as measured from the pillow edge 47 to the main pillow body 12. Although the dimensions for one embodiment have been described, the dimensions may be different in other embodiments.

In one embodiment, the main pillow body 12 and support wedge pillow 14 are made of cotton, linen, polyester, or any other suitable natural or synthetic or combination material commonly indicated by reference numeral 49.

In one embodiment the main pillow body 12 has a main pillow body outer layer 50 and the support pillow wedge 14 has support pillow wedge outer layer 52. The main pillow body outer layer 50 houses or is stuffed with foam filling 58, feathers 56 or any suitable natural or synthetic fillings commonly referred to by reference numeral 60 or combinations thereof. Similarly, the support pillow wedge outer layer 52 houses or is stuffed with foam filling 58, feathers 56 or any suitable natural or synthetic fillings commonly referred to by reference numeral 60 or combinations. The thread 24 may also be any suitable synthetic or natural material, or combination material.

FIG. 2 depicts the side-lying pillow 10 in use. When a user 100 is in a side-lying position 200, the user 100 abuts her or his back 102 against the main pillow body 12 with the support wedge pillow 14 compressed under the body 104 of the user 100, such that main body pillow 12 cannot move or roll away.

The side-lying pillow 10 allows the user 100 to shift her body weight backward while maintaining the side-lying position 200. This relieves downward pressure on the knees 106, hips 108, and back 102. It also allows for easier breastfeeding when the user 100 is in the side-lying position 200 by providing support and comfort to the back 102 and hips 108. One of the reasons the design is an improvement over prior designs is because it has a support wedge pillow 14 feature that is positioned such that it abuts the bed 210 and at the same time abuts the the knees 106 and hips 108, thus securing it in place while the user 100 shifts her body weight. The side-lying pillow 10 is secured in place and decreases the ability for the side-lying pillow 10 to move due to pressure from the back 102. With the side-lying pillow 10 secured in place, by the support wedge pillow 14, the user 100 has optimum support from the round or cylindrical main pillow body 12, which serves as a support cushion. Additionally, the main support pillow 12 provides increased relief from discomfort in the joints 110, pelvis 112, and back 102 of the user 100.

As can be envisioned, while the side-lying pillow 10 has been described as being particularly suited for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, the side-lying pillow 10 is suitable for any individual, and male or female, suffering from discomfort or pain caused by joint problems or other problems and who sleep in a side-lying position. In particular, side-lying pillow 10 can be used between the knees of a a side-lying sleeper (not depicted).

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the side-lying pillow has been described in detail herein, the invention is not necessarily so limited and other examples, embodiments, uses, modifications, and departures from the embodiments, examples, uses, and modifications may be made without departing from the process and all such embodiments are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A side-lying pillow comprising: a main pillow body 12 having a cylindrical shape 13 having cylindrical surface 15;support wedge pillow 14 having opposed first and second wedge sides 16, 18 that meet with a concave side 19 having a concave surface 19a; the concave surface of the support wedge pillow abuts and is secured to the cylindrical surface of the main pillow body.

2. The side-lying pillow according to claim 1 wherein the main pillow body is stitched with thread to the support wedge pillow.

3. The side-lying pillow according to claim 1 wherein the main pillow body is adhered to the support wedge pillow with an adhesive.

4. The side-lying pillow according to claim 1 wherein the main pillow body and the support wedge pillow are made of at least one of the following: cotton, linen, polyester, or combinations thereof.

5. The side-lying pillow according to claim 1 wherein the main pillow body 12 has a main pillow body outer layer 50 and the support pillow wedge 14 has support pillow wedge outer layer 52; and, the main pillow body outer layer 50 is stuffed with at least one of the following:foam filling 58, feathers 56, natural fillings, and synthetic fillings 60, or combinations thereof.

6. The side-lying pillow according to claim 5 wherein the the support pillow wedge outer layer 52 is stuffed with at lease one of the following: foam filling 58, feathers 56, natural fillings, and synthetic fillings 60, or combinations thereof.

7. The side-lying pillow according to claim 1 wherein the the main pillow body is adhered with an adhesive to the support wedge pillow.

8. A side-lying pillow comprising: a main pillow body 12 having a cylindrical shape 13 having cylindrical surface 15;support wedge pillow 14 having opposed first and second wedge sides 16, 18 that extends from cylindrical surface;and wherein the main pillow body and the support wedge pillow are made from at least one of the following:cotton, linen, polyester, or combinations thereof.

10. A method of providing a side-lying pillow comprising the acts of: providing a main pillow body 12 having a cylindrical shape 13 having cylindrical surface 15;providing a support wedge pillow 14 having opposed first and second wedge sides 16, 18 that meet with a concave side 19 having a concave surface 19a; abutting the concave surface of the support wedge pillow to the cylindrical surface of the main pillow body and securing the main pillow to the support wedge pillow.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the main pillow body is stitched with thread to the support wedge pillow.

12. The method according to claim 10 further including adhering the main pillow body to support wedge pillow with an adhesive.

13. The side-lying pillow according to claim 10 including the step of making the main pillow body and the support wedge pillow from at least one of the following: cotton, linen, polyester, or combinations thereof.

14. The side-lying pillow according to claim 10 further providing the main pillow body 12 with a main pillow body outer layer 50 and the support pillow wedge 14 with a support pillow wedge outer layer 52; and, stuffing the main pillow body outer layer 50 with at least one of the following:foam filling 58, feathers 56, natural fillings, and synthetic fillings 60, or combinations thereof.

15. The side-lying pillow according to claim 14 further including stuffing the support pillow wedge outer layer 52 with at lease one of the following: foam filling 58, feathers 56, natural fillings, and synthetic fillings.