The present invention relates to water pillows and in particular, relates to water pillows having a desirable distribution of a water support layer maintained within an envelope.
A water based pillow is disclosed in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,931 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,388 where a water envelope is positioned adjacent a base portion of a pillow and supports a compressible fill material thereabove. This pillow has proven quite successful and has been found to assist those who suffer from headaches and neck pain.
Other pillows have used an air bladder for supporting of a compressible fill material, however, these pillows have not proven particularly effective. In addition, some pillows have used a fluid retaining envelope with a series of partitions or partial seals for modifying the fluid distribution in the pillow. For example, my co-pending Canadian Patent 2,314,440 discloses a number of envelope designs where different seal areas are provided for modifying the distribution of fluid and fluid flow within the envelope.
In a pillow having an envelope for receiving of a fluid such as water, there are applications where it is desirable to modify the envelope in a manner to reduce the amount of fluid necessary for the pillow to provide the same desired fluid support and fluid flow characteristics. The reduction in fluid would reduce the weight of the pillow and also reduce the thermal mass of the fluid layer.
Various attempts to produce a water pillow which operates in a satisfactory manner and has reduced weight have been proposed, however, these attempts have not been successful.
The present invention provides a water based pillow with improved water distribution properties for providing specific head and neck support.
A pillow according to the present invention comprises an outer ticking casing, a fill material contained within the ticking casing, and a fluid retaining envelope within the ticking. The fluid retaining envelope is divided in a manner to define a neck support portion and a head support portion. The neck support portion is bound along a longitudinal edge by a continuous seal and opens onto and is in fluid communication with the head support portion along an opposite longitudinal edge. The head support portion has a series of intermediate seals joining the envelope intermediate its length and width restricting the amount of fluid which is retained in the head support position relative to the neck support position. The neck support portion with fluid retained in said envelope is more responsive and has a higher variation in thickness relative to the head support portion when the pillow is used to support a person's head and neck.
According to an aspect of the invention, the head support portion includes a series of heat sealed islands at spaced positions in the head support portion with each heat sealed island forming a connection area of said envelope.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, each heat sealed island is elongate with rounded ends.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, each heat sealed island has a peripheral seal surrounding an unsealed portion.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the envelope is generally rectangular with a single fill plug provide adjacent one end of the neck portion.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the neck support portion and the head support portion generally equally divide the envelope longitudinally.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the pillow is elongate and each of the neck support portion and the head support portion are elongate.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the series of heat sealed islands include a first series of islands adjacent one longitudinal edge of the envelope and a second series of islands separated from said one longitudinal edge by said first series of said islands.
In a further aspect of the invention, heat sealed sealable island includes a continuous peripheral seal surrounding an unsealed portion.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the first series of islands includes at least four islands.
In a further aspect of the invention, the second series of islands includes at least three islands.
According to a further aspect of the invention, each island is about three centimeters in length.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the second series of islands are positioned in an arc-shaped pattern across the envelope and centered thereon.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:
The water based pillow 2 shown in
The envelope 8 as shown in
As can be appreciated from
As shown in
With this arrangement, the fluid that is retained in the head portion 74 of the envelope 8 is significantly reduced and thus the weight of the pillow and the thermal mass of the pillow is substantially reduced. This reduction in the amount of fluid has been accomplished without sacrificing the wrapping or cradling action of the fluid envelope supporting the neck of a user. Similarly, the neck support area remains in efficient fluid communication with the head support area. The use of island seals allows this efficient fluid communication while providing the desired support. The fluid dynamics of the pillow have been marginally dampened, due to the reduction in volume of fluid in the head support area, however, the desirable support of the head of the user on a thin fluid layer, in combination with the cradling support of the neck has been maintained. Some users may also prefer the pillow due to the dampened fluid response. This fluid response and support can also be varied by adjusting the fill volume. The layout of the heat seal areas and the spacing thereof from the periphery of the outer heat seal boundary has been found to be practical in maintaining the integrity of the envelope for the expected life of the pillow.
The modified water based pillow 2 has described the pillow with respect to the preferred head support area having a restricted fluid volume and restricted fluid flow and the neck support area. It is possible to use the pillow in the reverse orientation where the head support area and the neck support area are reversed. A user may find this orientation preferable, for example, if he does not desire the responsible neck cradling action of the “neck support portion”. Thus, the head support portion is an elongate portion of reduced fluid and less responsive fluid dynamics and the neck support portion is an elongate portion having more fluid and high fluid dynamics.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.