Triangular Pillow

Abstract

A pillow comprising a pillow body having a triangular shaped cross-section is disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the pillow comprises a first angle at a right angle; a second angle at an arcual angle; and a third angle at a plane angle. The width of the second and third angles are provided at 4 cm to 8 cm and the length of each side along the right angle of the pillow is provided at 8 cm to 22 cm. The pillow is structured such that the physical curvature of the user's neck vertabra is reasonably and comfortably maintained and supported when the user lies horizontally. The pillow is structured to adapt to the curvature along the head, neck, and chest of a user, such that the neck is relaxed and moderately drawn, while the muscular ligaments of the neck and small articulation of the neck vertebrae are automatically adjusted, thereby effectively protecting the neck vertebra.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Chinese Patent Application no. 200620067416.6, filed Nov. 10, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] Aspects of the invention relate to a pillow, and more particularly to a triangle-shaped pillow.

[0004] 2. Background

[0005] Currently there exist pillows designed to shape the physical curvature of a human neck vertebra in a convex shaped manner so as to provide comfort to the neck in different positions. However, these existing pillows are not ideal in providing practical comfort or protection. Studies show that the reasons which contribute to the problem of providing adequate support and comfort with these pillows include 1) the designs of pillows having normally focused on only the structure of the neck without taking into account the arrangement of the entire head, thus neglecting the structure of the head and affecting proper neck protection; and 2) since the cervical flexure bulges forward when the human body lies horizontally, the upper section of which is the occipital bone bulges backward and the lower section of which is the thoracic vertebra bulges backward. Due to such a three-section relationship among the head, neck and chest, the actual curvature is larger than the "cervical flexure" radian when the human body lies horizontally. Therefore, it is difficult to protect the neck vertebra if the design is always limited to just the neck vertebra section.

[0006] Accordingly, a need exists for a pillow which takes into account the head structure as a whole and not just the structure of a neck vertebra.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is directed to a triangular pillow which adapts to the natural and physical curvature of the head, neck, and chest, thereby fully protecting the curvature of the neck vertebrae.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is a triangular pillow comprising a pillow body having a right-angled triangular cross section. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cross section of the pillow body comprises a first angle at a right angle; a second angle at an arcual (arcuate) angle; and a third angle at a plane angle.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cross section of the pillow body is a right angled isosceles triangle, wherein a first angle of the right-angled triangle is a right angle; and a second and a third angles are arcual angles.

[0010] The pillow is structured such that the arcual angle of the pillow body is designed to support the neck sufficiently, allowing the head to rest on an inclined surface of the pillow body, forming a large curve along the head, neck, and chest of a user of the pillow when the user lies horizontally, thereby effectively protecting the neck vertebrae. Furthermore, due to an inclined surface of the pillow, the weight of the head shifts from the neck to the head, relaxing the neck vertebrae and muscles, allowing the neck to be drawn moderately. The structure of the pillow results in an automatic adjustment in the muscular ligaments of the neck and small articulation of the neck vertebrae of the user that lies upon the pillow. The triangular pillow of the present invention thereby improves protection of the neck vertebra while providing a simple and easy to use structure.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pillow body is made of flexible and elastic materials.

[0012] These and other embodiments of the present invention are further made apparent, in the remainder of the present document, to those of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order to more fully describe embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are not to be considered limitations in the scope of the invention, but are merely illustrative.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a triangular pillow, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a triangular pillow, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a triangular pillow in use, according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the user is lying horizontally on the back.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a triangular pillow in use, according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the user is lying laterally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The description above and below and the drawings of the present document focus on one or more currently preferred embodiments of the present invention and also describe some exemplary optional features and/or alternative embodiments. The description and drawings are for the purpose of illustration and not limitation. Those of ordinary skill in the art would recognize variations, modifications, and alternatives. Such variations, modifications, and alternatives are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a pillow body in which the cross-section of the pillow body has a shape of a right-angled triangle, wherein a first angle 1 is a right angle, a second angle 2 is an arcual angle or acute angle, and a third angle 3 is a plane angle. In an embodiment, the second angle 2 is between about 4 cm and about 8 cm wide; the third angle 3 is between about 4 cm and about 8 cm wide; and the length of each side of the pillow along the first angle 1 is between about 8 cm and about 22 cm long.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention comprising a pillow body having a cross-sectional shape of a right-angled isosceles triangle, wherein a first angle is a right angle, and the other two angles and are arcual (or acute) angles. The two arcual angles are both no less than about 4 cm wide and between about 4 cm and about 8 cm wide externally. The length of each side of the pillow body along the right angle is between about 8 cm and--about 22 cm long.

[0021] The pillow body comprises three angular faces to serve as neck resting faces. As shown in FIG. 2, there a three angular rest ends or resting edges (faces) of the pillow used for neck resting. A first rest end 4 resides along one of the arcual angles of the pillow, a second rest end 5 along the right angle of the pillow, and a third rest end 6 along the other arcual angle of the pillow. The pillow further comprises three inclined surfaces to serve as head resting surfaces. As shown in FIG. 2, there are three planar surfaces between the rest ends of the pillow used as head resting surfaces. In an embodiment, a first planar surface 7 resides between rest end 4 and rest end 6; a second planar surface 8 resides between rest end 4 and rest end 5; and a third planar surface 9 resides between rest end 5 and rest end 6. The three planar surfaces and rest ends may be used selectively as desired by a user in various positions on the body for providing support.

[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pillow is shown in use when the user lies horizontally. While resting on the pillow, the right angle of the pillow points toward the shoulders, the neck rests at an angular end and the head rests upon an inclined surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. By this method of using the pillow, the arcual angle sufficiently supports the user's neck, the head rests on an inclined face of the pillow, thus forming a large curve along the head, neck and chest of the user when the user lies horizontally.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the pillow is shown in use when the user lies laterally. While the user lies on the side, the material used for the pillow allows the user's ears to comfortably rest on the angles of the pillow. The user's head displaces the elastic angled end to become flat. While lying on the side, the user's head may also displace a head resting surface such that the ears may comfortably rest along the surface.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pillow body is made of any viable, flexible and elastic materials including but not limited to sponge materials, sponge (PU), flexible plastics, polyurethanes (PU), latex, other elastomeric materials and combinations thereof. The material used for the pillow has adequate tension to work with the weight of a user's head and neck and allow the pillow to adjust in height and radian to maintain a proper supporting force along the curvature of the neck vertebra. The terminal edges along the pillow sides, vertices or corners of the pillow may be curved or shaped accordingly for further comfort.

[0025] Throughout the description and drawings, example embodiments are given with reference to specific configurations. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms. Those of ordinary skill in the art would be able to practice such other embodiments without undue experimentation. For example, a user may selectively use the three planar surfaces and angular faces. The scope of the present invention, for the purpose of the present patent document, is not limited merely to the specific example embodiments of the foregoing description, but rather is indicated by the appended claims. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents within the claims are intended to be considered as being embraced within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A pillow comprising a pillow body having a triangular shaped cross-section, at least two resting edges along the pillow and three planar resting surfaces, wherein the cross-section includes a right angle, an arcual angle and a plane angle.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein a length of the pillow body along each side of the right angle is between 8 cm and 22 cm long.

3. The pillow of claim 1, wherein a width of the arcual angle is between 4 cm and 8 cm wide.

4. The pillow of claim 1, wherein a width of the plane angle is between 4 cm and 8 cm wide.

5. The pillow of claim 2, wherein a width of the arcual angle is between 4 cm and 8 cm wide.

6. The pillow of claim 2, wherein a width of the plane angle is between 4 cm and 8 cm wide.

7. The pillow of claim 3, wherein a width of the plane angle is between 4 cm and 8 cm wide.

8. The pillow of claim 5, wherein a width of the plane angle is between 4 cm and 8 cm wide.

9. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the pillow body is made of a flexible and elastic material.

10. The pillow of claim 5, wherein the flexible and elastic material is selected from a group consisting of sponge, polyurethane, latex, flexible plastics and combinations thereof.

11. The pillow of claim 1, wherein two of the resting edges are curved.

12. A pillow comprising a pillow body having a cross section shaped as a right-angled isosceles triangle with two arcual angles, at least two resting edges and three planar resting surfaces.

13. The pillow of claim 12, wherein a length of the pillow body along each side of the right angle is between 8 cm and 22 cm long.

14. The pillow of claim 12, wherein an external width of each of the two arcual angles is between 4 cm and 8 cm wide.

15. The pillow of claim 13, wherein an external width of each of the two arcual angles is between 4 cm and 8 cm wide.

16. The pillow of claim 12, wherein a width of each of the two arcual angles is no less than 4 cm.

17. The pillow of claim 13, wherein a width of each of the two arcual angles is no less than 4 cm.

18. The pillow of claim 12, wherein the pillow body is made of a flexible and elastic material.

19. The pillow of claim 12, wherein the flexible and elastic material is selected from a group consisting of sponge, polyurethane, latex, flexible plastics and combinations thereof.

20. The pillow of claim 12, wherein two of the resting edges are curved.