U.S. patent application number 09/983346 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-02 for cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae.
Invention is credited to Kim, Chang-Gyu.
Application Number | 20020050007 09/983346 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27350251 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020050007 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Chang-Gyu |
May 2, 2002 |
Cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae
Abstract
A cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae includes
a pillow body filled with stuffing materials, the pillow body
having a neck supporting section which is formed at a front center
portion of the pillow body, a concaved section which is formed
behind the neck supporting section, and a pair of auxiliary
supporting sections which are respectively formed at both sides of
the neck supporting section and each of which is defined with an
ear accommodating opening. The neck supporting section is formed to
have a height which enables the cervical vertebrae to preserve
their normal C-shaped lodortic curvature when the neck supporting
section supports the neck of a user while the user lies down. Each
auxiliary supporting section is formed to have a front height and a
rear height which are greater than the height of the neck
supporting section so that the cervical vertebrae and thoracic
vertebrae are held parallel to a bed when the user lies on his or
her side. The front height is slightly greater than the rear height
so that the neck and the head can be adequately supported by the
auxiliary supporting section. By separately regulating amounts of
first and second stuffing materials, heights of the neck supporting
section and auxiliary supporting sections can be freely adjusted to
be suited to an individual size of the user.
Inventors: |
Kim, Chang-Gyu; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert E. Bushnell
1522 K Street, N.W., Suite 300
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
27350251 |
Appl. No.: |
09/983346 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/636 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 9/10 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 |
Oct 27, 2000 |
KR |
2000-30105 |
Feb 7, 2001 |
KR |
2001-2953 |
Jun 11, 2001 |
KR |
2001-17290 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae,
comprising: a pillow body filled with stuffing materials, the
pillow body including a neck supporting section formed at a front
center portion of the pillow body; a concaved section formed behind
the neck supporting section; and a pair of auxiliary supporting
sections being respectively formed at both sides of the neck
supporting section and each of the pair of auxiliary supporting
sections being defined with an ear accommodating opening.
2. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of
the neck supporting section being formed to have a height enabling
the cervical vertebrae to preserve a C-shaped lodortic curvature
when the neck supporting section supports the neck of a user while
the user lies down, each auxiliary supporting section being formed
to have a front height and a rear height being greater than the
height of the neck supporting section accommodating the cervical
vertebrae and thoracic vertebrae being held parallel to a bed when
the user lies on a side, and the front height being slightly
greater than the rear height accommodating the neck and the head
being supported by the auxiliary supporting section.
3. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of
a pair of partitioning members being respectively arranged at
boundary regions between the neck supporting section and the
auxiliary supporting sections of the pillow body in a manner
accommodating a first stuffing material for the neck supporting
section and second stuffing materials for the auxiliary supporting
sections prevented from being mixed with each other, and a first
zipper and second zippers being respectively installed on the neck
supporting section and the auxiliary supporting sections
accommodating by separately regulating amounts of the first and
second stuffing materials, heights of the neck supporting section
and auxiliary supporting sections to be adjustable according to an
individual size of the user.
4. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 1, further comprising a
head supporting section being integrally formed with a concaved
section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body.
5. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 3, further comprising a
head supporting section being integrally formed with a concaved
section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body.
6. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 1, further comprising
one zipper half being installed on a rear surface of a neck
supporting section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body,
and the other zipper half being installed on a front surface of a
head supporting section filled with a third stuffing material,
accommodating the other zipper half to be detachably coupled with
the one zipper half.
7. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 3, further comprising
one zipper half being installed on a rear surface of a neck
supporting section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body,
and the other zipper half being installed on a front surface of a
head supporting section filled with a third stuffing material,
accommodating the other zipper half to be detachably coupled with
the one zipper half.
8. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprising of
a head supporting section being integrally formed with a concaved
section of a pillow cover corresponding to the concaved section of
the cervical pillow.
9. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 3, further comprising of
a head supporting section being attached with the concave section
and including a third stuffing material.
10. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 9, further comprised of
progressively decreasing a height of the head supporting
section.
11. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 8, further comprised of
progressively decreasing a height of the head supporting
section.
12. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of
the pillow body including a plurality of ventilating holes.
13. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of separate stuffing materials within the pillow body and
the auxiliary support sections.
14. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of
the front height of the auxiliary support sections being greater
than the rear height of the auxiliary support sections.
15. A cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae,
comprising: a pillow body including a neck supporting section
formed at a front center portion of the pillow body; a concaved
section formed behind the neck supporting section; and a pair of
auxiliary supporting sections being respectively formed at both
sides of the neck supporting section and each of the pair of
auxiliary supporting sections being defined with an ear
accommodating opening.
16. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 15, further comprised
of the neck supporting section being formed to have a height
enabling the cervical vertebrae to preserve a C-shaped lodortic
curvature when the neck supporting section supports the neck of a
user while the user lies down.
17. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 15, further comprised
of each auxiliary supporting section being formed to have a front
height and a rear height being greater than the height of the neck
supporting section accommodating the cervical vertebrae and
thoracic vertebrae being held parallel to a bed when the user lies
on a side, and the front height being slightly greater than the
rear height accommodating the neck and the head being supported by
the auxiliary supporting section.
18. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 17, further comprised
of a pair of partitioning members being respectively arranged at
boundary regions between the neck supporting section and the
auxiliary supporting sections of the pillow body in a manner
accommodating a first stuffing material for the neck supporting
section and second stuffing materials for the auxiliary supporting
sections prevented from being mixed with each other, and a first
zipper and second zippers being respectively installed on the neck
supporting section and the auxiliary supporting sections
accommodating by separately regulating amounts of the first and
second stuffing materials, heights of the neck supporting section
and auxiliary supporting sections to be adjustable according to an
individual size of the user.
19. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 18, further comprising
a head supporting section being integrally formed with a concaved
section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body.
20. A method ofmaking a cervical pillow for protection of cervical
vertebrae, comprising the steps of: filling a pillow body with
stuffing materials, the pillow body formed with a neck supporting
section at a front center portion of the pillow body; forming a
concaved section behind the neck supporting section; forming a pair
of auxiliary supporting sections respectively on both sides of the
neck supporting section; and forming on each of the pair of
auxiliary supporting sections an ear accommodating opening.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application makes reference to, incorporates the same
herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U. S. C.
.sctn.119 from my applications for NECK PILLOW FOR PROTECTION OF
THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE earlier filed in the Korean Industrial
Property Office on Oct. 27, 2000 and there duly assigned Serial No.
2000-30105, for A NECK PILLOW FOR PROTECTION OF THE CERVICAL
VERTEBRAE earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on
Feb. 7, 2001 and there duly assigned Serial No. 2001-2953, and for
A NECK PILLOW FOR PROTECTION OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE earlier
filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jun. 11, 2001 and
there duly assigned Serial No. 2001-17290.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a cervical pillow for
protection of cervical vertebrae, which is used for supporting the
neck while a person lies down to have a sleep or take a rest, so
that the cervical vertebrae of the neck can maintain a normal
lodortic curvature and muscle of a nuchal region is relaxed and
prevented from tensing.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Most modern people such as office workers who use computers
throughout almost all office hours, students who study late at
night, housewives who manage household duties, and so on, tend to
lean their heads forward throughout their everyday lives. In that
sense, they have poor postures. Due to this, as muscle of a nuchal
region and muscle of the shoulder are tensed, the neck and the
shoulder can experience pain, a tension headache can be induced,
and a person can often feel fatigued. If the tensed muscle of the
neck and the shoulder is not relaxed in a proper time, because the
tensed muscle exerts pressure on blood vessels running to the
brain, smooth blood circulation to the brain is impeded. As a
consequence, one's mind may not be lucid, loss of concentration may
be induced, and the person may be enervated.
[0006] If fatigue is built up, while the muscle of the neck and the
shoulder can be relaxed by virtue of physical measures such as
finger-pressure therapy, massage, etc., it is the norm to have a
sleep or take a rest while lying down in a comfortable sleeping
posture. In this regard, because most of the conventional pillows
which are used upon sleeping or taking a rest while lying down, are
configured in a manner such that they support the head rather than
the neck, when they are used in a state where a user lies on his or
her back, cervical vertebrae of the neck which connects to the
head, cannot preserve a normal C-shaped lodortic curvature, and,
instead, as the neck is flexed forward, the cervical vertebrae are
substantially flexed forward. By this, muscle of a nuchal region
cannot be adequately relaxed, and, as a disk is excessively pressed
at a place where the cervical vertebrae are most severely flexed
forward, an intervertebral disk hernia is caused in the cervical
vertebrae. Also, as force is continuously applied to the nuchal
region while using the pillow, muscle of the nuchal region still
remains tensed when the user gets up, and the neck grows stiff. In
the case that the pillows are used in a state where a user lies on
his or her side, the ear of the user is compressed. Further, since
thoracic vertebrae are positioned higher than the cervical
vertebrae, the cervical vertebrae and the thoracic vertebrae are
not held parallel to each other, whereby the cervical vertebrae
cannot but become laterally bent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae,
which allows the cervical vertebrae of the neck to preserve their
normal C-shaped lodortic curvature upon having a sleep or taking a
rest and muscle of a nuchal region of the neck to be relaxed under
a comfortable posture, and which prevents an intervertebral disk
hernia from being caused in the cervical vertebrae.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae, which
prevents the ear of a user from being compressed upon having a
sleep or taking a rest in a state where the user lies on his or her
side, and enables the cervical vertebrae to be held parallel to
thoracic vertebrae, thereby keeping the cervical vertebrae from
being flexed forward.
[0009] In order to achieve the above objects, according to the
present invention, there is provided a cervical pillow for
protection of cervical vertebrae, including a pillow body filled
with stuffing materials, the pillow body having a neck supporting
section which is formed at a front center portion of the pillow
body, a concaved section which is formed behind the neck supporting
section, and a pair of auxiliary supporting sections which are
respectively formed at both sides of the neck supporting section
and each of which is defined with an ear accommodating opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of
the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the
same or similar components, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pillow body in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the pillow body of FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a state where the pillow
body of FIG. 1 is used while a user lies on his or her back;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating a state where
the pillow body of FIG. 1 is used while a user lies on his or her
side;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a pillow body in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating
the pillow body of FIG. 7;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating the pillow body of FIG.
7;
[0020] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating cushion
packs in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0021] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a head
supporting section in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Turning now to the drawings, referring to FIGS. 1 through
11, there are illustrated first through fourth embodiments of the
present invention. A cervical pillow 1 for protection of cervical
vertebrae according to the present invention includes a pillow body
100. The pillow body 100 is filled with stuffing materials 12 and
22 such as a synthetic resin tube, cotton, etc. The pillow body 100
has a neck supporting section 10 which is formed at a front center
portion of the pillow body 100, a concaved section P which is
formed behind the neck supporting section 10, and a pair of
auxiliary supporting sections 20 which are respectively formed at
both sides of the neck supporting section 10. Each auxiliary
supporting section 20 is defined with ear accommodating openings 30
at its center portion, respectively.
[0023] In the embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of
ventilating holes 100a are defined on an outer surface of the
pillow body 100 in a manner such that the pillow body 100 can be
satisfactorily ventilated. In the present invention, the neck
supporting section 10 is formed to have a height h2 which enables
the cervical vertebrae to preserve their normal C-shaped lodortic
curvature when the neck supporting section 10 supports the neck of
a user while the user lies down. Each auxiliary supporting section
20 is formed to have a front height h1 and a rear height h3 which
are greater than the height h2 of the neck supporting section 10 so
that the cervical vertebrae and thoracic vertebrae are held
parallel to a bed when the user lies on his or her side. At this
time, the front height h1 is slightly greater than the rear height
h3 so that the neck and the head of the user can be adequately
supported by the auxiliary supporting section 20.
[0024] In the first embodiment of the present invention which is
shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the neck supporting section 10 and the
pair of auxiliary supporting sections 20 of the pillow body 100 are
communicated with each other. In this connection, only one zipper
11 is installed on a front surface of the neck supporting section
10 so that respective inner spaces of the pillow body 100 can be
filled with the stuffing materials 12 and 22. In the second
embodiment of the present invention which is shown in FIGS. 7
through 9, a pair of partitioning members 40 are respectively
arranged at boundary regions between the neck supporting section 10
and the auxiliary supporting sections 20 of the pillow body 100 in
a manner such that a first stuffing material 12 for the neck
supporting section 10 and second stuffing materials 22 for the
auxiliary supporting sections 20 are prevented from being mixed
with each other. A first zipper 11 and a pair of second zippers 21
are respectively installed on the neck supporting section 10 and
the auxiliary supporting sections 20 in a manner such that, by
separately regulating amounts of the first and second stuffing
materials 12 and 22, heights of the neck supporting section 10 and
auxiliary supporting sections 20 can be freely adjusted to be
suited to an individual size of the user.
[0025] Of course, it is to be noted that the pillow bodies 100 of
the first and second embodiments can be enveloped with pillow
covers having outlines which correspond to configurations of the
pillow bodies 100, respectively.
[0026] On the other hand, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, there are
respectively illustrated the third and fourth embodiments of the
present invention. When the neck supporting section 10 is used to
support the neck of the user in a state where any supporting means
is not connected to the concaved section P of the pillow body 100
as in the first and second embodiments, the head of the user is
brought into direct contact with the bed and, in this sense, a user
who is accustomed to the conventional pillow, cannot be easily
adapted to the use of the cervical pillow. In consideration of this
fact, in the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention,
a head supporting section 210 is provided to a concaved section P
of a pillow cover 200. In other words, in the third embodiment
shown in FIG. 10, the head supporting section 210 which has a
bag-shaped outline, is integrally formed with the concaved section
P of the pillow cover 200. In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
11, one zipper half 201 is installed on a rear surface of a neck
supporting section 10 of the pillow cover 200, and the other zipper
half 211 is installed on a front surface of the head supporting
section 210 which is filled with a third stuffing material, so that
the other zipper half 21 1 can be detachably coupled with the one
zipper half 201.
[0027] In the third embodiment, a zipper 211 is installed on a rear
surface of the head supporting section 210. In this third
embodiment of the present invention, as can be readily seen from
FIG. 10, at least one cushion pack 220 can be inserted into the
head supporting section 210 or a predetermined amount of stuffing
material can be directly inserted thereinto. In the case where the
cushion pack 220 is used, a zipper 221 is installed on a rear
surface of the cushion pack 220 so that a preset amount of stuffing
material can be filled into the cushion pack 220.
[0028] In the cervical pillow 1 for protection of cervical
vertebrae according to the present invention, constructed as
mentioned above, as shown in FIG. 5, if the user lies on his or her
back so that a nuchal region of the neck is supported by the neck
supporting section 10 and the head which is positioned in the
concaved section P is brought into contact with the bed, as the
cervical vertebrae of the neck can preserve their normal C-shaped
lodortic curvature, the cervical vertebrae are kept from being
flexed forward, and at the same time, muscle of the nuchal region
can be relaxed in a comfortable posture.
[0029] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, if the user lies on his or her
side so that the ear of the user is accommodated into one of the
ear accommodating openings 30 and the head is supported by one of
the pair of auxiliary supporting sections 20, it is possible to
prevent the ear from being compressed while sleeping or taking a
rest. At this time, due to the fact that the cervical vertebrae and
the thoracic vertebrae are held parallel to each other, the
cervical vertebrae are prevented from being twisted leftward or
rightward.
[0030] Further, in the present invention, by the fact that the pair
of partitioning members 40 are respectively arranged at the
boundary regions between the neck supporting section 10 and the
auxiliary supporting sections 20 of the pillow body 100 and zippers
11 and 21 are separately installed on the front surfaces of the
neck supporting section 10 and the auxiliary supporting sections
20, it is possible to keep the first and second stuffing materials
12 and 22 from being moved from place to place inside the pillow
body 100 due to vertical load unevenly applied to the cervical
pillow, and the heights of the neck supporting section 10 and the
auxiliary supporting sections 20 can be constantly maintained. In
addition, by selectively increasing or decreasing amounts of the
first and second stuffing materials 12 and 22, heights of the neck
supporting section 10 and the auxiliary supporting sections 20 can
be freely adjusted in such a way as to be suited to an individual
size of the user.
[0031] In the present invention, in the case that the head
supporting section 210 is provided to the concaved section P of the
pillow cover 200, while the cervical vertebrae is flexed forward to
some extent in comparison with the case that no head supporting
section is provided, shock which is applied to the head when the
head is brought into contact with the bed, can be relieved. Also,
in this case, since the head of the user is slightly raised, a
user's reluctancy to the initial use of the present cervical pillow
for protection of cervical vertebrae can be significantly
mitigated. Consequently,by progressively decreasing a height of the
head supporting section 210, as the user is gradually adapted to
the use of the present cervical pillow, it is possible to have a
sleep or take a rest even in a state where the head supporting
section 210 is completely removed from the cervical pillow.
[0032] As a result, the cervical pillow for protection of cervical
vertebrae according to the present invention provides advantages in
that the cervical pillow supports the neck and the head is brought
into contact with a bed upon having a sleep or taking a rest in a
state where a user lies on his or her back, whereby the cervical
vertebrae can preserve their normal C-shaped lodortic curvature.
That is to say, since muscle of a nuchal region can be relaxed in
the course of having a sleep or taking a rest, the muscle of the
nuchal region is prevented from being tensed when a user gets up.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent poor postures from being
caused due to the fact that most modern people tend to lean their
heads forward throughout their everyday lives. Because the muscle
of the nuchal region and muscle of the shoulder are prevented from
being tensed, the neck and the shoulder do not experience pain, a
tension headache is not induced, and the user is prevented from
often feeling fatigued. Moreover, a phenomenon is avoided that the
tensed muscle exerts pressure on blood vessels running to the brain
and thereby smooth blood circulation to the brain is impeded.
Further, a phenomenon is avoided that one's mind is not lucid, loss
of concentration is induced, and the person is enervated.
Furthermore, it is possible to prevent an intervertebral disk
hernia from being caused in the cervical vertebrae due to the fact
that the neck is flexed forward and the cervical vertebrae are
flexed forward. Also, by maximally opening of the airway of the
trachea, it is possible to prevent the user from snoring while
having a sleep.
[0033] In addition, according to the present invention, it is
possible to keep stuffing materials from being moved from place to
place due to vertical load unevenly applied to the cervical pillow.
Also, by separately regulating amounts of the stuffing materials,
heights of a neck supporting section and auxiliary supporting
sections can be freely adjusted in such a way as to be suited to an
individual size of the user. Besides, a user of the conventional
pillow who is not accustomed to the use of a cervical pillow, can
be gradually adapted to the use of the cervical pillow by the
presence of a head supporting section.
[0034] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed
typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although
specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the
scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *