Sleeping Pillow

Abstract

A pillow accommodating a variety of sleep positions, including left and right side variants of these positions, is shown and described. The pillow includes two scallops or recesses at a body facing lower edge, and an intermediate projection between the recesses. The projection is tapered to enable a user to lie on an inclined ramp. The pillow may be constructed from stacked polymeric foam slabs, with a pocketed fabric cover. Three pockets for accepting conventional pillow fill may be provided. A form fitting pillow case may enclose the fabric cover.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pillows, and more particularly to a pillow ergonomically configured to promote sleep.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pillows have long been used as an accessory for sleeping. Pillows have been configured to support the head and neck in various body positions. However, people typically change body positions during sleep. There exists a need for a pillow which supports the head and provides advantageous neck alignment with the head or torso in various positions of sleep.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a pillow contoured to cooperate with the body in several positions of sleep. Most notably, the novel pillow includes two downwardly opening recesses for receiving the head of a user, or shoulders of a user, in various positions of sleep. A projection projects between the recesses. This projection may be tapered to define an inclined ramp for enabling a person to lie on the back, with the back and neck aligned straight relative to one another. Configuration of the novel pillow accommodates various sleep positions, with left side and right side variations, to further comfort and good posture.

The pillow may be fabricated from three slabs of polymeric foam of descending length and width. These may be stacked to make a stable assembly, which may then be enveloped within a pocketed fabric cover. The pockets may receive conventional pillow fill, such as down feather and polyester fiber, to further increase overall thickness of the pillow. The pillow may have a form fitting pillow case.

The present invention provides improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a pillow, showing only the basic overall shape while omitting minor details for clarity of the view, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an environmental top perspective view showing the pillow of FIG. 1 with a person in a one sleep position;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows an alternative sleep position;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows a further alternative sleep position;

FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of a pillow according to at least one further aspect of the disclosure, showing a person in still another sleep position, and is taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded top perspective view of internal components of the pillow of FIG. 1, according to still another aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the components of FIG. 6 shown in an assembled condition;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a cover used to envelop the assembled components shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a pillow case usable with the pillow of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown a pillow 100 for promoting sleep in different body positions. Pillow 100 may comprise an oblong body 102 including, in an orientation of use lying on a horizontal surface (e.g., a mattress, not shown), an upper surface 104, an opposed lower surface 106, a right edge 108 located at a right side 110 of a user 112 in a deployed orientation existing when user 112 (see Fig.) lies on his or her back with his or her head 114 against pillow 100, an opposed left edge 116 at a left side 118 of user 112 when user 112 lies on pillow 100 with his or her head 114 against pillow 100, an upper edge 120 between right edge 108 and left edge 116. Upper edge 120 faces away from feet (not shown) of user 112 when user 112 lies with his or her head 114 against pillow 100. Pillow 100 comprises an opposed lower edge 122 between right edge 108 and left edge 116. Lower edge 122 faces away from upper edge 120. Oblong body 102 may comprise a resilient constituent material which compresses under a weight of head 114 of user 112. In plan view, lower edge 122 may comprise a concave curved first recess 124 opening away from upper edge 120, a concave curved second recess 126 beside first recess 124 and opening away from upper edge 120, and a curved convex projection 128 projecting away from upper edge 120 and located between first recess 124 and second recess 126.

It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upper and lower refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in posture and position of the novel pillow. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.

Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not either require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item.

In the deployed orientation, lower surface 106 of pillow 100 faces a supporting mattress (not shown) or the like.

Concave curved first and second recesses 124, 126 accommodate a number of sleep positions. Turning now to FIG. 2, user 112 is shown sleeping on his or her right side 110, with a shoulder pressed against pillow 100. Head 114 is supported on upper surface 104 proximate left edge 116 of pillow 100. In the example of FIG. 2, the illustrated sleep position can be performed in mirror image, with similar body support. This accommodates sleepers who prefer this sleep position, but change which side of the body is against a mattress.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, concave curved first and second recesses 124, 126 also accommodate those who would sleep on the abdomen, but want a modicum of head support. Again, sleeping on the abdomen is enabled with the head facing right or facing left. Curved first and second recesses 124, 126 cooperate with the head (FIGS. 3 and 4) and with the shoulders (FIG. 2) in close fit.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3, right edge 108 and left edge 116 are each convex and curved in plan view. This minimizes overall volume and quantity of constituent materials in pillow 100, while still providing satisfactory area for supporting the body during sleep.

With reference to FIG. 5, curved convex projection 128 of body 102 is tapered and includes a relatively thick proximal end 130 proximate a lateral centerline 132 (FIG. 1) of body 102, and a relatively thin opposed distal end 134. It will be recognized that there is no discrete end of curved convex projection 128. Proximal end 130 is a semantic tool to differentiate the upper end of curved convex projection 128 from opposed distal end 134. Distal end 134 may terminate in a point, or as much of a sharp point as is feasible within constraints imposed by constituent materials of pillow 100.

Tapered nature of curved convex projection 128 accommodates people who prefer to sleep with the back of the torso against pillow 100 and, for example, a mattress (not shown), but with head 114 elevated. Taper of pillow 100 as shown enables this body position, with the spine and neck straight, for comfort and good posture.

Turning now to FIG. 6, body 102 may be formed from a base slab 136 of the resilient constituent material at lower surface 106 (FIG. 1) of body 102, an intermediate slab 138 of the resilient constituent material above and abutting base slab 136 when body 102 of pillow 100 is in the deployed orientation, and a top slab 140 of the resilient constituent material above and abutting intermediate slab 138 when body 102 of pillow 100 is in the deployed orientation. This construction enables fabrication from die cut sheet stock, as opposed to potentially requiring molding using a relatively expensive die.

Top slab 140 may be less in area in plan view than intermediate slab 138, and intermediate slab 140 may be less in plan view than base slab 136. In this usage, area refers to the area visible in plan view. This construction results in tiered configuration of progressively broader area at lower locations of pillow 100, when in the deployed orientation. This promotes stability during sleep.

Base slab 136, intermediate slab 138, and top slab 140 may comprise polymeric open cell foam. Polymeric open cell foam is resilient, inexpensive, and is air permeable for cooling and providing mild antimicrobial action by exposure to oxygen. Base slab 136 may be for example one inch thick, and of a relatively hard type foam. Intermediate and top slabs 138, 140 may be an inch thick, and of a relatively light or easily compressible foam. The collective maximum thickness of slabs 136, 138, 140 will be three inches, a dimension which will produce optimum body support and comfort levels for most people. Relative hardness of slabs 136, 138, 140 improves rigidity and form holding capability, while providing reasonable accommodation of comfort due to easily compressed layers against the body of the user when pillow 100 is in the deployed orientation.

As shown in FIG. 8, pillow 100 may further comprise a cover 142 cooperating with and covering body 102. Cover 142 may comprise a fabric material and may include a first pocket 144 opening along a straight slit 146 along one side of first pocket 144, wherein first pocket 144 covers and abuts top slab 140 (FIG. 7) of body 102 when body 102 is in the deployed orientation.

At least one of first pocket 144, second pocket 148, and third pocket 152 may be filled with down feather fill material. Alternatively, at least one of first pocket 144, second pocket 148, and third pocket 152 may be filled with polyester fiber fill material. This construction increases overall thickness of pillow 100, when compared to a cumulative height or thickness due to stacked base, intermediate, and top slabs 136, 138, 140.

Cover 142 may further comprise a second pocket 148 opening along a straight slit 150 along one side of second pocket 148, and a third pocket 152 opening a long a straight slit 154 along one side of third pocket 152. Second pocket 148 and third pocket 152 are above and abutting first pocket 144 when body 102 is in the deployed condition. Second pocket 148 may be proximate left edge 116 (FIG. 1) of body 102, and third pocket 152 may be proximate right edge 108 (FIG. 1) of body 102. This construction further builds maximum thickness of pillow 100, in particular, generating a valley 156 between first and second pockets 144, 148 as second pocket 148 and third pocket 152 may be spaced apart to define valley 156 between second pocket 144 and third pocket 148. Valley 156 may assist in stabilizing and supporting head 114 of user 112, e.g., in particular with the sleep position shown in FIG. 5.

Straight slit 146 of first pocket 144, straight slit 150 of the second pocket 148, and straight slit 154 of third pocket 152 may each include a respective manual closure 158. Manual closure 158 is shown representatively as a handle for a slide fastener. The manual closure may take other forms, such as buttons, snaps, and hook and loop material (none shown).

As shown in FIG. 9, cover 142 may in turn be enclosed within a form fitting pillow case 160. Pillow case 160 may include a closure seam 162, such as a series of snaps or buttons.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.

Claims

1. A pillow for promoting sleep in different body positions, the pillow comprising: an oblong body including, in an orientation of use lying on a horizontal surface, an upper surface, an opposed lower surface, a right edge located at a right side of a user in a deployed orientation existing when the user lies on his or her back with his or her head against the pillow, an opposed left edge at a left side of the user when the user lies on the pillow with his or her head against the pillow, an upper edge between the right edge and the left edge, the upper edge facing away from the feet of the user when the user lies with his or her head against the pillow, and an opposed lower edge between the right edge and the left edge, the lower edge facing away from the upper edge, the oblong body comprising a resilient constituent material which compresses under a weight of the head of the user, wherein in plan view, the lower edge comprises a concave curved first recess opening away from the upper edge, a concave curved second recess beside the first recess and opening away from the upper edge, and a curved convex projection projecting away from the upper edge and located between the first recess and the second recess.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the right edge and the left edge are each convex and curved in plan view.

3. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the curved convex projection of the body is tapered and includes a relatively thick proximal end proximate a lateral centerline of the body, and a relatively thin opposed distal end.

4. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a base slab of the resilient constituent material at the lower surface of the body,an intermediate slab of the resilient constituent material above and abutting the base slab when the body of the pillow is in the deployed orientation, anda top slab of the resilient constituent material above and abutting the intermediate slab when the body of the pillow is in the deployed orientation.

5. The pillow of claim 4, wherein the top slab is less in area in plan view than the intermediate slab, and the intermediate slab is less in plan view than the base slab.

6. The pillow of claim 4, wherein the base slab, the intermediate slab, and the top slab comprise polymeric open cell foam.

7. The pillow of claim 1, further comprising a cover cooperating with and covering the body, the cover comprising a fabric material and including a first pocket opening along a straight slit along one side of the first pocket, the first pocket covering and abutting the top slab of the body when the body is in the deployed orientation

8. The pillow of claim 7, wherein the cover further comprises a second pocket opening along a straight slit along one side of the second pocket and a third pocket opening a long a straight slit along one side of the third pocket, wherein the second pocket and the third pocket are above and abutting the first pocket when the body is in the deployed condition;the second pocket is proximate the left edge of the body; andthe third pocket is proximate the right edge of the body.

9. The pillow of claim 8, wherein the straight slit of the first pocket, the straight slit of the second pocket, and the straight slit of the third pocket each include a respective manual closure.

10. The pillow of claim 8, wherein the second pocket and the third pocket are spaced apart to define a valley between the second pocket and the third pocket.

11. The pillow of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first pocket, the second pocket, and the third pocket is filled with down feather fill material.

12. The pillow of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first pocket, the second pocket, and the third pocket is filled with polyester fiber fill material.

13. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the right edge of the body and the left edge of the body are curved in plan view.

14. A pillow for promoting sleep in different body positions, the pillow comprising: an oblong body including, in an orientation of use lying on a horizontal surface, an upper surface, an opposed lower surface, a right edge located at a right side of a user in a deployed orientation existing when the user lies on his or her back with his or her head against the pillow, an opposed left edge at a left side of the user when the user lies on the pillow with his or her head against the pillow, an upper edge between the right edge and the left edge, the upper edge facing away from the feet of the user when the user lies with his or her head against the pillow, and an opposed lower edge between the right edge and the left edge, the lower edge facing away from the upper edge, the oblong body comprising a resilient constituent material which compresses under a weight of the head of the user, wherein in plan view, the lower edge comprises a concave curved first recess opening away from the upper edge, a concave curved second recess beside the first recess and opening away from the upper edge, and a curved convex projection projecting away from the upper edge and located between the first recess and the second recess,the right edge and the left edge are each convex and curved in plan view,the curved convex projection of the body is tapered and includes a relatively thick proximal end proximate a lateral centerline of the body, and a relatively thin opposed distal end,the body is formed from a base slab of the resilient constituent material at the lower surface of the body, an intermediate slab of the resilient constituent material above and abutting the base slab when the body of the pillow is in the deployed orientation, and a top slab of the resilient constituent material above and abutting the intermediate slab when the body of the pillow is in the deployed orientation, wherein the top slab is less in area in plan view than the intermediate slab, the intermediate slab is less in plan view than the base slab, the base slab, the intermediate slab, and the top slab comprise polymeric open cell foam; and whereinthe pillow further comprises a cover cooperating with and covering the body, the cover comprising a fabric material and including a first pocket opening along a straight slit along one side of the first pocket, the first pocket covering and abutting the top slab of the body when the body is in the deployed orientation, wherein the cover further comprises a second pocket opening along a straight slit along one side of the second pocket and a third pocket opening a long a straight slit along one side of the third pocket, wherein the second pocket and the third pocket are above and abutting the first pocket when the body is in the deployed condition, the second pocket is proximate the left edge of the body and the third pocket is proximate the right edge of the body, wherein the straight slit of the first pocket, the straight slit of the second pocket, and the straight slit of the third pocket each include a respective manual closure,the second pocket and the third pocket are spaced apart to define a valley between the second pocket and the third pocket, and at least one of the first pocket, the second pocket, and the third pocket is filled with down feather fill material or with polyester fiber fill material.