U.S. patent application number 10/091973 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for pillow design to aid proper sleeping position which avoids facial wrinkle development.
Invention is credited to Ense, Stephen F..
Application Number | 20030188383 10/091973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28673481 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030188383 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ense, Stephen F. |
October 9, 2003 |
Pillow design to aid proper sleeping position which avoids facial
wrinkle development
Abstract
A sleeping or resting device designed to prevent improper
sleeping and/or resting that leads to the damage of facial tissues,
wrinkles and premature aging. The pillow's design adjusts the
sleeper's body position to prevent the face from supporting the
weight of the sleeper's head by supporting the user's head
primarily behind the temple. The novel design prevents wrinkling of
the face that occurs during the sleeping process caused by a
traditional pillow. The novel design can be generally described as
an elongated foam box, having an upper concavity, an integrated
coaxial cylindrical member at the leading edge, with laterally
tapering triangular ends of various design.
Inventors: |
Ense, Stephen F.; (Fairfax,
VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Matthew J. Gerike
9126 Ashmeade Drive
Fairfax
VA
22032
US
|
Family ID: |
28673481 |
Appl. No.: |
10/091973 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/636 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 9/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/636 |
International
Class: |
A47G 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pillow comprising: a substantially rectangular main section
having a main upper surface, a main lower surface, a vertical main
front surface, a vertical main rear surface, at least one laterally
situated substantially tetrahedral end section, having a lower
surface coplanar with the main lower surface, being situated at an
end of the main section.
2. The pillow according to claim 1, wherein the main section has at
least one integral cervical support member being colinear with the
main section, having a radius of curvature that is centered within
the main section, the cervical support member being located
proximal to the intersection of the main front surface and the main
upper surface, the additional cervical support member being located
proximal to the intersection of the main rear surface and the main
upper surface, and a concavity located on the main upper
surface.
3. The pillow according to claim 2, wherein the tetrahedral end
sections each have a front vertical surface, a rear vertical
surface and an upper facing surface, wherein each surface may be
faced with a concavity of varying radii of curvature.
4. The pillow according to claim 3, wherein the pillow is
constructed of a compressible and resilient material.
5. The pillow according to claim 3, wherein the intersecting
surfaces of the main and tetrahederal sections incorporate a radius
of curvature that avoids the creation of a sharp edge between
neighboring surfaces.
6. A pillow comprising: a substantially rectangular main section
having a main upper surface, a main lower surface, a vertical main
front surface, a vertical main rear surface, at least one laterally
situated substantially tetrahedral end section, having a lower
surface coplanar with the main lower surface, being situated at an
end of the main section, the main section exhibiting a slight
radius of curvature along its entire length.
7. The pillow according to claim 6, wherein the main section has at
least one integral cervical support member being colinear with the
main section, having a radius of curvature that is centered within
the main section, the cervical support member being located
proximal to the intersection of the main front surface and the main
upper surface, the additional cervical support member being located
proximal to the intersection of the main rear surface and the main
upper surface, and a concavity located on the main upper
surface.
8. The pillow according to claim 7, wherein the tetrahedral end
sections each have a front vertical surface, a rear vertical
surface and an upper facing surface, wherein each surface may be
faced with a concavity of varying radii of curvature.
9. The pillow according to claim 8, wherein the pillow is
constructed of a compressible and resilient material.
10. The pillow according to claim 8, wherein the intersecting
surfaces of the main and tetrahedral sections incorporate a radius
of curvature that avoids the creation of a sharp edge between
neighboring surfaces.
11. A pillow comprising: a substantially rectangular main section
having a main upper surface, a main lower surface, a vertical main
front surface, a vertical main rear surface, at least one laterally
situated substantially tetrahedral end section, having a lower
surface coplanar with the main lower surface, being situated at an
end of the main section.
12. The pillow according to claim 11, wherein the main section
having at least one integral cervical support member being colinear
with the main section, having a radius of curvature that is
centered within the main section, the cervical support member being
located proximal to the intersection of the main front surface and
the main upper surface, the additional cervical support member
being located proximal to the intersection of the main rear surface
and the main upper surface, and a concavity located on the main
upper surface.
13. The pillow according to claim 12, wherein the tetrahedral end
sections each have a front vertical surface, a rear vertical
surface and an upper facing surface, wherein the front vertical
surfaces and rear vertical surfaces may be faced with a convexity
of varying radii of curvature, and a concavity with a radius of
curvature facing the upper facing surface.
14. The pillow according to claim 13, wherein the pillow is
constructed of a compressible and resilient material.
15. The pillow according to claim 13, wherein the intersecting
surfaces of the main and pentahederal sections incorporate a radius
of curvature that avoids the creation of a sharp edge between
neighboring surfaces.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION/INTRODUCTION
[0001] This field of invention relates to various pillows designed
to reduce damage to the tissues of the face within the dermis and
underling layers, thus reducing the appearance of wrinkles and
aging of the skin of the neck and facial regions. Inappropriate and
consistent sleep patterns can cause damage to the dermis,
endodermis, adipose tissues and collagen over a lifetime of
improper sleeping with a conventional pillow. This invention
corrects the position of the sleeper to prevent the user from
damaging these tissues.
[0002] The instant invention is designed to encourage the user to
sleep in a supine, left or right lateral incumbent position and to
discourage a prone sleep position. A prone position leads to the
sleeper damaging his/her facial and neck tissues, especially when
using a conventional pillow.
[0003] While sleeping in a laterally recumbent position with the
invention, the user is encouraged to rest his/her head posteriorly
of the temple. In this position, the user is encouraged by the
technologically advanced design of the invention not to sleep on
the face, hence avoiding the production of tissue damage to the
face.
[0004] Whatever position the sleeper tries to obtain while
sleeping, the instant invention causes natural unpracticed
adjustments to the user's resting position. Its technologically
advanced design accounts for the human form and its needs for
protection from antiquated, underdeveloped pillow designs that do
not take into account the needs of a modern, beauty-conscious
society. Square stuffed pillows of conventional filling, that have
no design at all other than cushioning the head in the facial area,
are a threat to the appearance of the user.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART
[0005] Many other pillows have been designed to reduce the aging
process and to encourage the user to sleep in a specific position,
yet they are all limited in their claimed abilities. Other designs
support the sleeper's head incorrectly and promote sleeping on
various regions of the face and neck. Sleeping on one's face
accelerates the wrinkling and the aging process. Incorrect support
of the sleeper's head also leads to stiff muscles, loss of sleep,
and improper spine alignment. Many prior art pillows are also
limited in their ability to reduce the aging process by supporting
the user in an incorrect fashion on his/her ocular, zygomatic
(cheek), temple and mandible regions.
[0006] Other retroactive methods of avoiding the aging process
include plastic surgery, face lifts, face creams, oils, lotions,
retin-a, and other "beauty" products. Some of these methods
actually accelerate the aging process. Plastic surgery is costly
and will incapacitate the recipient for some time. Surgery exposes
the patient to other risks such as permanent scaring and infection.
All of these methods can be avoided with the use of the instant
invention. None of these methods are proactive in their treatment
of the problem at hand. They address the problem of wrinkling, skin
folds and premature aging after the problem has occurred in a
costly manner.
[0007] The prior art pillows are manufactured of an inappropriate
material, support the user incorrectly, allow the user to sleep on
his/her face, deform/flatten after little use, collect mold and
allergens and advance the aging process by damaging facial and neck
tissues. These characteristics leave much to be desired.
[0008] Prior art devices fail to incorporate modem technology in
the design or manufacturing processes such as CAM (computer
assisted manufacturing) or CAD. The prior art is also lacking in
its use of medical scan equipment, thus not allowing the designer
to clearly understand the proper alignment of the body, thus
neither accommodating for proper body alignment, nor protecting the
cervical or anatomical alignment of the user. These faults in the
prior art lead to improper sleep patterns and other medical and
health problems that become time consuming and monetarily costly to
the user.
Objects and Advantages
[0009] One cannot sleep on one's face without damaging the facial
tissues. The instant invention solves the prior art limitations by
supporting the user's head without contributing to the aging
process of the face, or damaging the epidermis and endodermis of
the face.
[0010] The novel design provides support for the user's head, neck
and face by positioning the user's head such that the side and back
of the head are comfortably supported while the face is protected
from adverse contact with the pillow. Avoidance of pillow contact
with the face inhibits premature aging and wrinkling of the tissues
of the face. The avoidance of contact between the user's face and
pillow is the spirit of this invention.
[0011] The instant invention also allows for:
[0012] a) Numerous sleeping positions required for restful
sleep.
[0013] b) Proper support of the head while avoiding adverse facial
contact that is common with prior art pillows. The prior art pillow
forces the face into folds that cause wrinkles. A novel form, shape
and texture of the instant invention changes the pressure points
upon which the head rests when the user is sleeping.
[0014] c) Anatomically correct support of the head and neck which
suppress cervical deviations and mastication and promote correct
posture.
[0015] d) Support of the head at positions behind the face, at the
back and side of the head, laterally of the face, which avoid the
promotion of facial folds and wrinkles.
[0016] e) Prevention of premature aging and wrinkling of the dermis
of the face. The instant invention stops wrinkles before they
start.
[0017] f) Sleepers with allergies can avoid the annoying causes of
allergies (allergens) which build up rapidly in traditional pillows
(artificial down, synthetic fibers, feathers and fillers). The
instant invention is constructed of a hypoallergenic foam and other
choice materials.
[0018] g) Improved facial circulation, thus avoiding premature
aging of the facial skin and underlying tissues
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1-20
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the primary embodiment of
the invention
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the primary embodiment of
the invention in use
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the primary embodiment
[0022] FIG. 4 is a top view of the primary embodiment
[0023] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the primary embodiment
[0024] FIG. 6 is a front view of the primary embodiment
[0025] FIG. 7 is a view of the concavity upon the upper main
surface
[0026] FIG. 8 is a view of a larger concavity upon the upper main
surface
[0027] FIG. 9 is a view of a convexity upon the upper main
surface
[0028] FIG. 10 is a view of larger convexity upon the upper main
surface
[0029] FIG. 11 is a view of a first pentahedral end section
[0030] FIG. 12 is a view of a second pentahedral end section
[0031] FIG. 13 view of a third pentahedral end section
[0032] FIG. 14 view of a fourth pentahedral end section
[0033] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of
the invention
[0034] FIG. 16 is a view of the frontal recess
[0035] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the
invention
[0036] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of
the invention
[0037] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the
invention
SUMMARY/DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] The instant invention is focused toward providing an
improved sleeping device that avoids the creation of wrinkles and
premature aging, by supporting the user's head in a novel fashion.
This is accomplished by a design which discourages sleeping on the
face. This novel design also provides proper support of the user's
head by encouraging the user not to sleep on his/her face.
[0039] According to the spirit of the invention the sleeping device
is shaped with a main rectangular box like section, having
triangular tapering end sections, a central concavity upon the
uppermost surface of the main section and an integrated cylindrical
portion proximal to an upper major edge of the upper-most
surface.
[0040] Formed of rectangular parallelepiped or a substantially
rectangular parallelepiped, the main section (11) of the sleeping
device has a vertical main front side (12), a vertical main rear
surface (13), a main lower surface (14) and a main upper surface
(15). The main section is integral with one or two laterally
situated triangular or pentahedral-like end sections (16, 17), each
with a lower surface that is coplanar with the main lower surface
(14). The main section can also be described as having a major
axis, which is parallel with the length of the main section and a
minor axis, which is parallel with the width of the main
section.
[0041] The surfaces of the main section, namely the front side (12)
and the rear side (13) may be plainer, normal to the lower surface
(14) or exhibit a slight upward tapering characteristic so that the
upper surface (15) width is narrower than the lower surface (14)
width. Each of these surfaces may also exhibit a slight convexity
or concavity having a radius of curvature for a nominal sized
sleeping device.
[0042] A radius of curvature may be introduced into the main
section along the major axis, thus creating an arcuate like main
section (11) which creates a sleeping device in a "C" shape. This
design will accommodate users with special needs, such as those who
sleep in a fetal position and will accommodate those with special
medical needs such as the mentally and physically challenged. An
embodiment with this feature may be seen in Figure x.
[0043] A frontal recess may also be incorporated into the front
main vertical section to allow for proper support of the user's
head by allowing an increased proximity of the user's body with the
center of invention.
[0044] An integral cylindrical member, heretofore known as a
cervical support member (18), may also be incorporated into the
design of the main section. The cervical support member may be
located at an upper front major edge (19) of the main section (11)
with a radius of curvature. The design of the sleeping device may
also incorporate an additional cylindrical support member (20)
located at the upper rear major edge (21) having a similar, smaller
or larger radius of curvature. The cervical support member and the
cylindrical support member are also used to facilitate the creation
of the convexity (30) of the main upper surface.
[0045] The main upper surface may exhibit a convexity (30) having a
major cord length from zero to the full height of the sleeping
device to aid in proper and correct support of the user's neck and
head. The convexity may be described as a spherical section, a
section of an oblique spheroid, or a section of an elliptical
spheroid. The main upper surface (15) may also be textured with a
plurality of ribs undulating along the major axis, or along the
minor axis or along any diagonal there between. Other textures can
also be used that are well known in the art of sleeping devices and
foam manufacturing, such as an egg crate or the corrugated
pattern.
[0046] It is the concavity which aids the user of the device to
balance one's head on the edge of the upper main surface, thus
allowing the user's face to avoid contact with the end section.
This practice avoids facial contact with the device and arrests the
development of facial tissue damage due to improper sleeping
positions.
[0047] The main upper surface may exhibit a concavity (31) having a
major cord length from zero to the full height of the sleeping
device to aid in proper and correct support of the user's neck and
head. This design is intended for those users who have difficulty
in maintaining a correct sleeping position.
[0048] Capped at either end, the main section ends have two
integral pentahedral sections (41, 42) (triangular or
tetrahedral-like sections) each having a substantially triangular
lower surface (51, 52) coplanar with the main lower surface (14) of
the main section. The pentaherdal sections (41, 42) may share other
planes with the planes of the main section, such as the main
vertical front (12) and main vertical rear sides (13) in an
ipsilateral or bilateral fashion.
[0049] The exposed surfaces of the pentahedral sections have each a
front vertical surface (45, 44) a rear vertical surface (47, 46)
and an upper facing surface (48, 49). These surfaces may be planar
or exhibit a concavity or a convexity to facilitate the proper
positioning and support of the user's head and to accommodate for
the user's body shape.
[0050] Normally a slight convexity may be exhibited by the upper
facing surfaces of the pentahedral sections, so as to aide in
support of the minor lateral edges of the main section that are
normally in contact with the user's head, but not in contact with
the user's face. It is this slight convexity that helps the user of
the sleeping device to avoid sleeping on his/her face, which is the
cause of facial tissue damage.
[0051] Pentahedral sections may terminate in a sharp point where
the upper facing surfaces merge. The sections may also terminate in
a more rounded shape such as a hemisphere with a small or a
relatively large radius of curvature that emanates from within the
pentahedral section.
[0052] In another embodiment one of the end sections may be removed
from the design creating a sleeping device for someone who sleeps
only on one side of their body such as an invalid, comatose or the
physically challenged.
[0053] The width of the upper plane shall have a range between the
cervical supports that allows the head room to support itself on
the upper plane free of contact with the secondary cervical
support.
[0054] Foam is the most logical choice of material for use in the
instant invention due to is versatility in the manufacturing
process and its broad array of characteristics. Most notably, foam
is selected for its quality and critical performance
characteristics. These characteristics include density, air flow,
IFD (indention force deflection), support factor, resiliency,
dynamic and static flex fatigue rating, tensile strength, tear
resistance, elasticity and elongation. Other well known
characteristics in the art are used in the selection process of
specific materials.
[0055] Single or hybrid foams may also be used in the construction
process. For example, the main section and pentahedral sections may
be formed of foam having a lower density than the foam used for the
cervical support member. Also, foam with a greater air-flow may be
used for the main section and the cervical support member(s) in
contrast to the foam used for the pentahedral sections. Some
designs of the instant invention call for a sleeping device having
a sheath of a slightly greater dynamic flex fatigue rating than
that of the core of the sleeping device.
[0056] Foams for the construction of the invention may be chosen
from conventional foams, hypoallergenic foams, standard foams from
super-soft to very firm having varying densities from light to
heavy, porosities from small to large. In the United States,
California has imposed stricter guidelines than most other states
on manufacture of foam and foam products, such as those found in
Technical Bulletin 117 that require foam manufactures to conform to
increasingly environmentally friendly practices. EnduroFoam.TM. is
known in the industry as an economical, high-resilience-type foam
specifically formulated for superior cushioning with value in mind.
It also complies with CA Technical Bulletin 117. Fire retardant
foams such as the high performance foam Code*Red II.RTM. Foam can
be used for the British and California markets which may need to
comply with California 133 specifications or the like. High
resilience foams, filled foams, polyester foams, anti-static foams
and closed celled foam are also good choices for material. The
choice of a colored foam may aide in the aesthetic pleasantries of
sleeping devices. All the aforementioned foams as well as other
foams well known in the industry and to those skilled in the art
may also be used singly or in combination with each other to
produce the instant invention.
[0057] Typical dimensions of the invention are substantially:
[0058] Overall length of main section and pentahedral sections: 12
inches to 24 inches.
[0059] Overall width of main section: 11 inches to 16 inches.
[0060] Width of main upper surface of main section: 10 inches to 14
inches.
[0061] Width of main lower surface of main section: 11 inches to 16
inches.
[0062] Depth of central concavity: 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch
[0063] Height of main section at lowest point of central concavity:
2 inches to 41/2 inches
[0064] Height of main section at apex of cervical support member: 2
inches to 5 inches.
[0065] Radius of curvature of front cervical support member: 1/2
inch to 8 inches.
[0066] Radius of curvature of rear cylindrical support member: 1/2
inch to 8 inches.
[0067] Angle of taper of front main vertical plane with respect to
the vertical plane: 0 degrees to 38.7 degrees.
[0068] Angle of taper of rear main vertical plane with respect to
the vertical plane: 0 degrees to 45 degrees.
[0069] Length of pentahedral section: 2 inches to 6 inches.
[0070] Radius of curvature of upper surface of pentahedral section:
1/2 inch to 4 feet.
[0071] The above described dimensions of the invention are used to
aid the reader in his/her understanding of the invention and to
lend a sense of dimension to the description of the design and to
lend understand to the physicality and principles involved with the
invention and its manufacture.
[0072] For many of the drawing figures of the instant invention the
comers and intersections of various planes are shown with sharp
edge. For ease of manufacturing these edges may be softened with a
relatively small radius of curvature so as to create a more
aesthetically pleasing device, a more supportive device, a less
costly device and a more comfortable device with out deviating from
he desired functionality and scope of the invention.
[0073] Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have
been described herein, it is of course to be understood that
various changes, modifications, and omissions in form, size and
detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the following claims:
* * * * *