Patent Application
20250057342
The present application relates to support pillows with internal support structures.
The inventor has noticed in his dental practice that many patients suffering symptoms of TMJ, teeth grinding, and other dental/jaw issues might be able to alleviate or eliminate their symptoms by using a pillow which can be configured for their body and needs to provide better support along the natural curvature of the cervical vertebrae of the neck. However, typical cylindrical cushions, made from continuous foam material, compress out of shape and/or lose their shape over time.
Thus, there is a need for an improved pillow that can be configured to provide the correct support, resiliency and cushion for a given user, while still providing a soft cushioned contact surface, but which will not excessively deform under a person's weight or lose its shape over time.
A support pillow may include an elongated core portion and an elongated cushion portion, the cushion portion extending longitudinally from a cushion portion first end to a cushion portion second end and defining a cushion portion length, the cushion portion length greater than the core portion length, the cushion portion defining a cylinder with an outer surface and an interior cavity with an interior wall surface having cross-section adapted to receive the core portion therein, the distance from the cushion portion outer surface to the cushion portion interior cavity interior wall surface defining the cushion portion thickness; the core portion extending longitudinally from a core portion first end to a core portion second end and defining a core portion length, the core portion further including an outer surface and a longitudinal centerline; wherein the core portion is insertable into the cushion portion within the cushion portion interior cavity.
A support pillow may include each of the core portion first and second ends being rounded.
A support pillow may include the cushion portion made of memory foam.
A support pillow may include the core portion material being PVC, PE, fiberglass or wood.
A support pillow may include the core portion being made from a resilient flexible material.
A support pillow may include the core portion material being urethane or hardened latex.
A support pillow may include a longitudinal centerline portion extending from the core portion first end to the core portion second end and a plurality of flange arms extending longitudinally from the core portion first end to the core portion second end, each of the plurality of flange arms connected along the core portion centerline portion and extending symmetrically radially outward to a respective flange arm head, each flange arm head including first and second flange wings extending circumferentially in opposite directions to respective flange wing terminal edges and each further including a flange arm head outer surface, the flange arm head outer surfaces together defining the core portion outer surface, the separation between adjacent flange arms defining corresponding core portion interstitial cavities extending longitudinally from the core portion first end to the core portion second end.
A support pillow may include a plurality of elongated interstitial inserts corresponding to the respective core portion interstitial cavities, each of the interstitial inserts having cross sections complimentary to the respective interstitial cavities and insertable into the respective interstitial cavities, the material for the interstitial inserts selected to achieve a desired level of longitudinal stiffness and radial resilience.
A support pillow may include the cushion portion being formed around the core portion by injection molding.
A support pillow may include the core portion exterior surface being bonded to the cushion portion interior cavity interior wall surface.
A support pillow may include an elongated core portion extending from a core portion first end to a core portion second and having a core portion outer surface and core portion diameter; a cushion portion, the cushion portion further comprising a cushion portion sheet and first and second cushion end pieces, each of the first and second end pieces having respective first and second end piece lengths and respective first and second end piece diameters, each of the end piece diameters being equal to the core portion diameter; the cushion portion sheet including opposite first and second surfaces, opposite parallel first and second edges and opposite parallel third and fourth edges, and having a cushion sheet thickness; wherein, the cushion portion sheet is wrapped around the core portion such that the cushion portion sheet first surface engages against the core portion outer surface and the cushion portion sheet first and second edges connect to each other, thereby defining first and second cushion portion end cavities to receive first and second cushion portion end pieces, and further wherein the first and second cushion portion end pieces are positioned within the cushion portion first and second end cavities, respectively.
A support pillow may include the cushion portion sheet first and second edges having complimentary dovetail edging.
A support pillow may include the cushion portion sheet first surface being bonded to the core portion outer surface, and the cushion portion sheet first edge is bonded to the cushion portion sheet second edge, and wherein the cushion portion first and second end pieces are bonded to the cushion portion first surface within the respective cushion portion first and second end cavities.
A support pillow may include the cushion portion sheet first surface being bonded to the core portion outer surface, and the cushion portion sheet first edge is bonded to the cushion portion sheet second edge, and wherein the cushion portion first and second end pieces are bonded to the cushion portion first surface within the respective cushion portion first and second end cavities.
The support pillow described and claimed herein provides numerous advantages, including: (1) providing enhanced support to the cervical vertebrae to minimize compression of the jaw and teeth; (2) providing a support pillow with enhanced comfort having a stiff but resilient longitudinal core but a soft exterior; (3) providing a support pillow that can be customized for a specified user's needs for size, longitudinal stiffness and diameter. Other advantages.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, assist in explaining the principles and implementations of the invention.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the ______ of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures:
Before beginning a detailed description of the subject invention, mention of the following is in order. When appropriate, like reference materials and characters are used to designate identical, corresponding, or similar components in differing figure drawings. The figure drawings associated with this disclosure typically are not drawn with dimensional accuracy to scale, i.e., such drawings have been drafted with a focus on clarity of viewing and understanding rather than dimensional accuracy.
In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
Referring to
Each flange arm head 24a-c includes first and second flange wings 26a-c and 28a-c, respectively, extending in opposite directions from each other, and a flange head outer surface 30a-c. Flange head outer surfaces 30a-c are curved to define a circular core portion perimeter 32. The distance from the longitudinal centerline 36 of core portion 12 and centerline portion 16 to flange head outer surfaces 30a-c defines the core portion radius 34. Each of first and second flange wings 26a-c and 28a-c extends to a respective first and second flange wing terminal edge 42a-c and 44a-c, each terminal edge 42a-c and 44a-c extending the longitudinal length of its respective flange arms 22a-c.
Core portion 12 includes interstitial cavities 46a-c, distributed symmetrically about core portion centerline portion 16 and defined by adjacent flange arms 22a-c and opposed adjacent flange wings 26a,b,c and 28b,c,a, respectively. Each of interstitial cavities 46a-c extend from respective first ends 48a-c proximate core portion first end 18 to second ends 50a-c proximate core portion second end 20, respectively. The material and thickness of first and second flange wings 26a-c and 28a-c are selected to provide a desired degree of flexion or “radial resiliency”. Interstitial cavities 46a-c provide radial resiliency in the radial direction without compromising rigidity in the longitudinal direction.
In the embodiment, core portion 12 may be made from urethane or firm latex made with a latex stiffening agent or a similar material, providing longitudinal stiffness but retaining resilience. Urethane and firm latex are also easily manufactured using extrusion methods. Outer cushion portion 14 is made from softer material, such as open cell foam, memory foam, urethane foam, polyester weave or similar materials providing a soft cushion exterior that will compress around/against the stiffer core portion 12. In the embodiment, outer cushion portion 14 extends beyond portion first and second ends 18, 20, to completely enclose core portion 12. Alternatively, outer cushion portion 14 may comprise a sheet material with interlocking dovetails, to be removable for replacement or cleaning or simply to select a softer or firmer cushion material. Alternatively, cushion portion 14 may be formed as an annulus with a center cavity to removably receive core portion 12 therein.
In the embodiment, core portion radius 34 ranges from approximately 1.5 cm to 3 cm, and the thickness of outer cushion portion 14 ranges from approximately 4.5 cm to 3 cm to retain a constant approximate 12 cm diameter, which is the proper diameter for the typical adult, to provide proper support to the neck and prevent or prevent aggravating dental problems such as TMJ and/or teeth grinding. The stiff but resilient core portion 12 surrounded by cushion portion 14 provides the proper support profile for a person's head-neck region during sleep, while still providing cushion for comfort.
Referring to
Referring to
Elongated cushion portion 114 extends longitudinally from cushion portion first end 168 to cushion portion second end 170, defining cushion portion length 160. In the embodiment, cushion portion length 160 is equal to core portion length 158. Cushion portion 114 defines a hollow circular cylinder shape with outer surface 162 and interior cavity 164 extending from cushion portion first end 168 to second end 170. Cushion portion cavity 164 includes interior wall surface 166 extending the length of cushion portion cavity 164. Cushion portion 114 has a radial thickness 176 defined by the distance from cushion portion outer surface 162 to cushion portion cavity interior wall surface 166. Support pillow diameter 198 includes
In the embodiment, core portion 112 is removably insertable into cushion portion cavity 164 and retained in place by frictional engagement. In the embodiment, core portion 112 is made from a relatively stiff but resilient material, for example: wood, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), fiberglass or hardened silicone rubber.
Referring to
Elongated cushion portion 214 extends longitudinally from cushion portion first end 268 to cushion portion second end 270, defining cushion portion length 260, and includes support pillow diameter 298. In the embodiment, cushion portion length 260 is greater than core portion length 258 and cushion portion 214 completely encloses core portion 212. Cushion portion 214 defines a hollow circular cylinder shape with outer surface 262 and closed interior cavity 264 extending from interior cavity first end wall 272 proximate cushion portion first end 268 to interior cavity second end wall 274 proximate cushion portion second end 270. Cushion portion interior cavity 264 includes interior circumferential wall surface 266 extending the length of cushion portion interior cavity 264. Cushion portion 214 has radial thickness 276 defined by the distance from cushion portion outer surface 262 to cushion portion cavity interior circumferential wall surface 266. Cushion portion 214 has first and second end wall thicknesses 278 and 280, respectively, defined by the distance between interior cavity first and second end walls 272 and 274 and cushion portion first and second ends 268 and 270, respectively. In the embodiment, core portion outer surface 232 is bonded to cushion portion interior cavity interior circumferential wall surface 266 and end walls 272 and 274 to prevent movement.
Referring to
Referring to
Cushion portion 414 includes cushion portion sheet 490 and cushion portion first and second end pieces 492 and 494. Cushion portion sheet 490 is formed as a rectangular sheet having a first surface 462 and opposite second surface 464, and perimeter defined by opposite first and second edges 482, 484, which are parallel to each other, defining cushion portion length 460, and opposite third and fourth edges 486, 488, which are parallel to each other, and having a thickness 476. In the embodiment cushion portion first and second edges 482, 484, include complementary dovetail patterns to provide positive engagement when assembled.
Cushion portion first and second end pieces 492 and 494 are round cylindrical plugs having lengths 478, 480, and diameters 500, 502, respectively, with diameters 500, 502 equal to core portion diameter 496. The pillow diameter 498 is defined by the sum of core portion diameter 496 and twice the sheet thickness 476.
Support cushion 410 is assembled by wrapping cushion portion sheet 490 around core portion 412 with sheet first surface 462 against core portion surface 432 to enclose core portion 412 within cushion portion sheet 490 and securing cushion portion sheet first and second edges 482 and 484 to each other. A bonding agent may be used to securely bond core portion outer surface 432 to sheet first surface 464. Cushion portion end pieces 492 and 494 are inserted into the first and second end cavities 504, 506, created when cushion portion sheet 490 is wrapped around core portion 412. First and second sheet edges 482 and 484, and first and second cushion portion end pieces 500, 502, may be secured mechanically, or using chemical or heat bonding, or other appropriate methods.
In use, a support pillow 10, 110, 210, 310 or 410, may be used as a sleeping or resting pillow by positioning under the user's neck, thereby providing support along the natural curve of the user's cervical vertebrae without collapsing into the pillow's center, and reducing risk of compression/distortion of the jaw and teeth. Embodiments with insertable core portions allow a user or prescriber to select a core portion that is more or less firm, trying out different options to optimize their benefit. Similarly, in reference to the first described embodiment 10, interstitial inserts 52a, b, c, may be selectively changed to achieve a desired level of stiffness and resiliency of a core portion 12. In operation, the described core portions 12, 112, 212, 312, 412 are interchangeable with the described cushion portions 14, 114, 214, 314, 414.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications and changes may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. It will, of course, be understood that modifications of the invention, in its various aspects, will be apparent to those skilled in the art, some being apparent only after study, others being matters of routine mechanical, chemical and electronic design. No single feature, function or property of the preferred embodiment is essential. Other embodiments are possible, their specific designs depending upon the particular application. As such, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the particular embodiments herein described but should be defined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
This application is a nonprovisional of, and claims priority to, copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/532,679, filed Aug. 15, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference into this Application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63532679 | Aug 2023 | US |
