U.S. patent application number 09/824920 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-18 for nape and head pillow.
Invention is credited to Bucher, Reto, Cortese, Mirko.
Application Number | 20010029630 09/824920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4527762 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010029630 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cortese, Mirko ; et
al. |
October 18, 2001 |
Nape and head pillow
Abstract
A nape and a head pillow with a neck supporting part and a
pillow part comprises two or more chambers and a set of inserts of
differing hardnesses for these chambers. The pillow allows a simple
and reproducible adjustment of the softness of the nape-supporting
part.
Inventors: |
Cortese, Mirko; (Wolhusen,
CH) ; Bucher, Reto; (Kottwil, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald S. Dowden
Cooper & Dunham LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
4527762 |
Appl. No.: |
09/824920 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/636 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 2009/1018 20130101;
A47G 9/1081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/636 |
International
Class: |
A47C 020/02; A47C
020/04; A47C 020/06; A47C 020/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2000 |
CH |
CH 672/00 |
Claims
1. Nape and head pillow, with a nape-supporting part and a
contiguous head-supporting part, characterized in that the
nape-supporting part comprises two or more superposed chambers
accessible from outside which extend transversally across the width
B of the pillow, and in that the pillow further comprises a set of
at least two inserts of differing hardness and with shapes that are
essentially adapted to the shapes of the chambers.
2. Nape and head pillow, with a nape-supporting part and a
contiguous head-supporting part, in particular as recited in claim
1, characterized in that it comprises a further nape-supporting
part at the end of the head-supporting part opposite to the first
nape-supporting part, this further nape-supporting part being lower
than said first nape-supporting part and both nape-supporting parts
encompassing at least one chamber accessible from outside and
extending transversally across the width B of the pillow, and in
that the pillow further comprises a set of at least two inserts of
differing hardness and with shapes that are essentially adapted to
the shapes of the chambers.
3. Nape and head pillow according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that the chambers extend across the entire width B of the pillow or
only across a fraction of the same.
4. Nape and head pillow according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that the nape-supporting part or the first nape-supporting part,
respectively, comprises two chambers, and in that the set consists
of three or four inserts with different hardnesses.
5. Nape and head pillow according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that the nape-supporting part or the first nape-supporting part,
respectively, comprises three chambers.
6. Nape and head pillow according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that the chambers are superposed obliquely with
respect to the base of the pillow.
7. Nape and head pillow according to claim 6, characterized in that
the longitudinal axis' of at least two chambers intersect a
longitudinal section of the pillow in points that lie on a straight
line which forms an acute angle of 75.degree. to 85.degree., and in
particular of 78.degree., with the base of the pillow.
8. Nape and head pillow according to one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that when seen in a longitudinal section of the
pillow the front surface of the nape-supporting part is concave at
least in certain intervals so that the lower part of its arch
between the base and the nape-supporting part forms a preferably
wedge-shaped support for the nape-supporting part.
9. Nape and head pillow according to one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that the front surface of the nape-supporting part
comprises a straight segment the prolongation of which, when seen
in a longitudinal section of the pillow, forms an acute angle of
65.degree. to 75.degree., and in particular of about 71.degree.
with the base of the pillow.
10. Nape and head pillow according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that when seen in a longitudinal section of the
pillow, the most forward extending part of the front of the pillow
is a quoin flush with the base of the pillow.
11. Nape and head pillow according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized in that the front surface of the pillow is concave
when seen in plan view.
12. Nape and head pillow according to claim 1, characterized in
that at least one chamber shaped to receive at least one insert is
provided in the head-supporting part, preferably at its rear
end.
13. Nape and head pillow according to one of claims 1 to 12,
characterized in that the chambers are open frontally.
14. Nape and head pillow according to one of claims 1 to 13,
characterized in that the pillow is made of natural latex and
comprises a pillow case made of raw cotton.
15. Set of inserts with different hardnesses for a nape and head
pillow according to one of claims 1-14.
16. Set according to claim 15, characterized in that the inserts
are marked differently according to their hardness.
17. Set according to claim 16, characterized in that the inserts
differ in color according to their hardness, and in particular that
a soft insert is yellow, a medium one blue, a hard one light brown
and a very hard one dark brown.
18. Set according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that
it comprises inserts of the same hardness having a length that is
less than half the length of the chamber.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of Swiss application
No. 672/00, filed Apr. 4, 2000, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a nape and a head pillow according
to the generic part of claim 1 and 2, respectively, and also to a
set of inserts according to claim 15 for such a pillow.
[0003] The document CH-A-666 394 describes a nape and head pillow
comprising an inflatable sheath that allows to modify
simultaneously the height and the hardness of the nape-supporting
part, this simultaneous modification is undesirable, however, and
requires an air pump. Further, it is doubtful whether reproducible
results are obtained. The document CH-A-645 007 discloses a
mattress with stiffening battens made of plastic or foamed plastic.
The document CH-A-592 022 discloses a gymnastic, or jumping
mattress provided with air channels in which worms made of the same
foamed material can be introduced in order to recover the normal
stiffness of the mattress.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Hence, it is a general object of the invention to provide a
nape and a head pillow that allows to regulate in a simple and
reproducible way the hardness in the region of the nape without
modifying the height of the load-free pillow.
[0005] In order to implement these and further objects, the pillow
of the invention is defined as recited in claim 1 and 2,
respectively.
[0006] The provision of superposed chambers which can receive
inserts chosen among a set of inserts with different hardnesses
allows one to obtain various hardnesses of nape-support without
changing the height of the cushion when no load is applied to it;
this can be obtained in a simple an reproducible way which enables
one to easily find, and then maintain, individually optimal
adjustments.
[0007] When using pillows with two nape-supporting parts of
different heights, this is particularly suitable for persons, in
particular children and teenagers, of very different sizes, whilst
the hardness of each nape-supporting part can still be modified
through the use or several inserts.
[0008] The chambers are preferably superposed obliquely with
respect to the base of the pillow, which makes for a very
appropriate support of the nape. Further, when seen in a
longitudinal section, and preferably also in plan view 2, the front
surface of the pillow is concave, which ensures a particularly good
fit of the pillow to the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described
with the help of the drawings in which
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a nape and head pillow
according to the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section along the line A-A of
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a section similar to that of FIG. 2 for a
further embodiment of the invention; and
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section through a further
embodiment of the pillow of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a nape
and head pillow 1, simply called pillow in odd follows. What is
shown is the pillow by itself, that is its basic shape without a
pillowcase and also without the slip which usually covers it. The
basic shape of the pillow, which is made of foamed material,
preferably natural latex, is determined by its manufacture and
changes only when the pillow is deformed elastically by a load.
When the user ceases to apply a load the pillow returns to the
shape shown in the Figure, that is its resting shape. The pillow
comprises a head-supporting part 2 intended to receive the head of
a user, and a higher nape-supporting part 3 intended for the neck
or nape, respectively, of the user. This type of basic shape of a
nape and head pillow is known in principle. The pillow has a
lengths L and a width B, and also a forward part which will be
hereafter called the frontal part 11; it also has a rear end 24. A
nape supporting pillow must take into account that the nape region
of man contains a very compact structure made of vertebra, nerves,
blood vessels, and a complex array of muscles, all contained within
a very small space. Inappropriate resting positions due to an
uncomfortable angle of the head may therefore disturb the sleep and
also lead to a sleepiness, headaches, stiffness, lack of
concentration and other symptoms. Therefore a nape pillow must
provide a comfortable sleeping position where the head and the nape
are supported in a way that makes the sleep of the user comfortable
and is beneficial for his health. Because these requirements,
especially with respect to the sleeping comfort, can be very
different for different users it is imperative that a
nape-supporting pillow can be adapted individually and in a
reproducible way to the requirements of different users.
[0015] According to the invention, the nape-supporting part 3 of
the pillow 1 comprises superposed chambers which in the embodiment
of FIG. 2 consist of two chambers 4 and 5 in the nape-supporting
part 3. The chambers 4 and 5 are accessible from outside, in this
example through slits 4' and 5' which extend form the respective
chamber to the front surface 11 of the pillow and which allow to
access the corresponding chamber by bending the material of the
pillow upwards along this slit. An insert belonging to the pillow
can be inserted in one, both or none of the chambers 4 and 5, in
order to modify the hardness of the nape-supporting part 3 of the
pillow. By way of example FIG. 1 shows the case where an insert 8
and 9, respectively, is located in each chamber. In this example
the chambers 4 and 5 extend over the entire widths B of the pillow
or its nape-supporting part 3, respectively, and these chambers are
open on the front side, as shown. Accordingly, the inserts 8 and 9
can extend over the entire width of the pillow and therefore extend
from one frontal opening of the chamber to the other frontal
opening of the chamber. The shape of the inserts is adapted to the
shape of the chamber, which in the drawing is a hollow cylinder;
accordingly, the inserts 8 and 9 have the shape of cylinders but
other shapes are of course possible. In this way the insertion of
the inserts into the chambers does not modify the height of the
basic, or unloaded shape of the pillow. However, changing the
hardness of the inserts 8 and 9 results in a modification of the
stiffness, and thereby also of the height of the nape-supporting
part 3 when it carries the load for which it is intended. This
smallest hardness of the pillow, and accordingly the greatest
degrease in height when the nape-supporting part 3 carries a load
is obtained when no insert is introduced into either chamber 4 or
5. An increased hardness is obtained through the insertion of an
insert into only one chamber, and a yet larger hardness,
respectively an even smaller depression of the nape-supporting part
3 when under load, is obtained when both chambers 4 and 5 contain
an insert. The full set of inserts for the pillow, which comprises
at least two inserts 8 and 9, allows further variations of the
hardness through the use of inserts with different hardnesses. The
inserts 8 and 9 may consist of foam material of different
hardnesses, but they can also consist of materials having various
hardnesses. The set of inserts for the pillow with two chambers
shown in the Figure can for instance consist in three inserts
having the hardness valves soft, medium, and hard, respectively. A
further insert can for instance be made very hard. Different
combinations of these inserts and of their positions in the upper,
respectively lower chamber of the pillow produce a very large
number of different hardnesses, or equivalently of different
heights of the nape-supporting part when it supports a load, whilst
the height of the nape-supporting part in its rest position always
remains the same. Preferably, all inserts of a set, or at least the
majority of these insert will have a greater hardness than the
material of the pillow which forms the chambers.
[0016] In a further embodiment the inserts may be shaped so that
their lengths is less than the full length of the chamber, and
preferably less than half the length of the corresponding chamber.
This is represented in FIG. 1 by the inserts 9' and 9" which are
shorter than the length of the chambers 4 and 5, respectively,
which extend over the entire width of the pillow. This type of
insert allows a further variation of the characteristic of the
pillow through the placing of the inserts in an arbitrary position
along the length of the chamber or the widths of the pillow,
respectively. If the inserts are for instance so placed that their
lateral front surfaces are flush with the lateral front surfaces of
the pillow, then this creates a region in the middle of the
corresponding chamber where no insert works. The full
nape-supporting part 3 then has a smaller hardness in the middle
than in both lateral regions.
[0017] FIGS. 2 and 3 show longitudinal sections through a pillow
along the line A-A in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 showing a longitudinal section
through a pillow with two chambers according to FIG. 2, and FIG. 3
a longitudinal section through a pillow with three chambers 14, 15
and 16. Chambers 4 and 5, respectively 14-16 are preferably
arranged obliquely above one another when considering the
inclination with respect to the base surface 20 of the pillow. In
the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the auxiliary line 18 through
the lengthwise axis' of the chambers forms an angle .alpha. of
approximately 78.degree. with the base 20 when seen in longitudinal
section. An angle in the range of 70.degree.-85.degree., and in
particular an angle of 78.degree., is preferred because it turns
out that this results in an especially good efficiency of the
chambers and the inserts, respectively. When three or more chambers
are present it is possible to align only two chambers at this angle
whilst the others are placed differently.
[0018] Preferably, the front surface 11 of the pillow will be
concave, as can be seen in the Figures. A lower part 7 of the arch
of such a form provides a supporting quoin for the nape-supporting
part 3, which avoids an excessive deformation of the
nape-supporting part 3 towards the front side and thus improves the
efficiency of the chambers and the inserts, respectively. Such a
form further improves the fit of the pillow to the shoulders of a
user and thereby enhances the feeling of comfort. In a specially
preferred embodiment said lower part of the arch, or support
portion 7, extends further forward than the nape-supporting part 3.
Further, the forward part of the front surface then preferably
comprises a quoin 21 of the arch 7, which quoin is flush with the
base 20 of the pillow. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the auxiliary line 6 shows
how the quoin 21 then forms the part of the pillow that extend
furthest forward.
[0019] Further, the upper part of the vertically concave frontal
surface 11 of the pillow preferably comprises a straight segment
25, the extension of which is inclined at an angle .beta. of about
70.degree. with respect to the base 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3
by the auxiliary line 19. The preferred range of angle .beta. lies
in the interval 65-75.degree. and the angle .beta. should
preferably be smaller than the angle .alpha..
[0020] FIG. 1 further shows that the frontal surface 11 is also
concave when seen in plan view. This does improve the comfort of
the pillow through a better fit with the shoulders of the user, and
through the fact that the user will then rather remain on the
pillow when turning his or her body.
[0021] The head supporting parts 2 of pillow 1 also preferably
comprises at least one chamber 22 which is preferably located at
the rear end 24 of the pillow and also accessible from outside.
This chamber, or chambers, is meant to contain inserts from the set
of inserts which are not in use in the nape-supporting part 3 and
are thus carried within the pillow and cannot be lost. Their
position in the rear part 24 ensures that these inserts do not
influence the sleeping comfort because the head of the user does
not rest on this region. However, it is also possible to use
chambers within the head supporting part for modifying the hardness
of the pillow.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment 31 of the pillow where a further
nape-supporting part 33 is provided at the end 2 of the pillow
which is opposed to the nape-supporting part 3; however, this
nape-supporting part 33 is lower than the nape-supporting part 3.
The nape-supporting part 33 preferably comprises only one chamber,
but it could also comprise a second, lower-lying chamber, the
chamber 34 or the chambers being able to contain one of the
aforesaid inserts. In this embodiment the nape-supporting part 3
preferably comprises only one chamber 35 instead of the chambers 4
and 5, but it could also comprise two or three or more chambers as
indicated by FIGS. 1 to 3. The pillow shown in FIG. 4 is preferably
intended for children and teenagers, so that as a rule it will be
smaller than the pillow 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3. The seize of the
nape-supporting part 33 can for instance be appropriate for
children of 2 to 6 years of age, whilst the nape-supporting part 3
of this pillow 31 can have a size that is appropriate for children
of 6 to 12 years of age. But it is also possible to have a
normal-seized pillow 1 shaped according to FIG. 4.
[0023] As already mentioned, the head-supporting part 2 and the
nape-supporting part 3 preferably consist of natural latex, which
material allows to combine an antibacterial and fungi resistant
pillow with an oxygen regulating and optimally distributed support
function. This also avoids an intake of humidity and a change of
shape through the warmth of the body, undesirable effects that
occur in particular with synthetic foams and thermo-foams. The
casing of the pillow (not shown in the Figures) consists preferably
of raw cotton, which also allows the passage of humidity and
oxygen. Preferably, one will use very closely woven cloth, which is
impermeable to acarus and dust.
[0024] The different inserts of a single set of inserts are
preferably marked according to their hardness. This can be achieved
by printed markings. Preferably, however, the inserts will be
colored according to their hardness and the chambers will be open
laterally as shown in FIG. 1 so that the colors visible through the
lateral opening make it easy to read off the hardness adjustment of
given pillow. A preferred array of colors is for example yellow for
the soft insert, blue, in particular light blue, for the insert of
medium hardness, light brown or mustard colored for the hard insert
and dark brown for the very hard insert.
[0025] While there are shown and described presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood
that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise
variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *