U.S. patent application number 12/171014 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-15 for pillow to provide direct head, neck, jaw, and chin support, and to relax cervical and shoulder muscles.
This patent application is currently assigned to BioMed DB Design. Invention is credited to Xiaohong Yang.
Application Number | 20090013471 12/171014 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40229068 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090013471 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Xiaohong |
January 15, 2009 |
PILLOW TO PROVIDE DIRECT HEAD, NECK, JAW, AND CHIN SUPPORT, AND TO
RELAX CERVICAL AND SHOULDER MUSCLES
Abstract
A neck-support pillow comprising a resilient pillow body having
a column-shaped medial portion and two cantilever arms, each arm
attached proximate to an end of the medial portion, is described
herein. In various embodiments, the arms may encircle a vertical
axis, the vertical axis being perpendicular to a plane comprising a
line formed between attachment locations of the two arms to the
medial portion. Also, the arms and medial portion may form a well
that is a size of a user's neck. Further, an arm height may be
equal to a distance between the user's shoulder and jaw, the arm
height being measured in a direction parallel to the vertical axis.
Additionally, a medial portion height may be equal to a distance
between an upper portion of the user's ear and the user's shoulder,
the medial portion height being measured in a direction parallel to
the vertical axis.
Inventors: |
Yang; Xiaohong; (Tacoma,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON & WYATT, P.C.
1420 FIFTH, SUITE 3010
SEATTLE
WA
98101
US
|
Assignee: |
BioMed DB Design
Tacoma
WA
|
Family ID: |
40229068 |
Appl. No.: |
12/171014 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60948895 |
Jul 10, 2007 |
|
|
|
61066564 |
Feb 21, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/640 ; 5/636;
5/644 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/086 20130101;
A47C 7/383 20130101; A61G 7/072 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/640 ; 5/636;
5/644 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/10 20060101
A47G009/10 |
Claims
1. A neck-support pillow comprising: a resilient pillow body having
a column-shaped medial portion and two cantilever arms, each arm
attached proximate to an end of the medial portion, wherein the
arms encircle a vertical axis, the vertical axis being
perpendicular to a plane comprising a line formed between
attachment locations of the two arms to the medial portion, the
arms and medial portion form a well, the well being approximately a
size of a user's neck, a height of at least one of the arms is
approximately equal to a distance between the user's shoulder and
jaw, the height of the arms being measured in a direction
approximately parallel to the vertical axis, and a height of the
medial portion is approximately equal to a distance between an
upper portion of the user's ear and the user's shoulder, the height
of the medial portion being measured in a direction approximately
parallel to the vertical axis.
2. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, wherein ends of the arms
almost meet, forming a small opening to the well, and a height of
those ends is taller than the height of non-end portions the arms,
forming engorged arm ends to support the user's chin.
3. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, wherein the medial portion
is wider than a width of the user's neck to support the user's head
when the head is reclined backward and to a side.
4. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, wherein a middle of the
medial portion is narrower than ends of the medial portion, forming
a generally hour-glass-shaped medial portion to allow the user's
head to recline further backward, and a height of the middle of the
medial portion is approximately equal to a distance between a
bottom portion of the user's occipital bone and a base of the
user's neck, the height of the middle of the medial portion being
measured in a direction approximately parallel to the vertical
axis.
5. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, wherein the pillow body is
comprised of one or more materials selected from the group
consisting of polyfill material, foam, feather-down material,
cotton, silicone, wool, polyester fiber, silk, polystyrene, nylon,
plastic, buckwheat, beans, micro-beans, and composite material.
6. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, further comprising a cover
surrounding the pillow body, the cover having been assembled from
two horse-shoe-shaped pieces of material and either 1) two
tennis-racket-shaped pieces of material or 2) a piece of material
shaped as a pair of door-knobs, the horse-shoe-shaped pieces having
enlarged medial portions.
7. The neck-support pillow of claim 6, wherein the pieces of
material are mated by seems or by glue.
8. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, wherein the neck-support
pillow is washable.
9. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, wherein the pillow body is
inflatable and an exterior surface of the pillow body includes an
air valve for facilitating inflating and deflating the pillow.
10. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, wherein the heights of the
arms, arm ends, and medial portion and the size of the well are
customized based on measurements of a different user.
11. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, further comprising a handle
attached to the pillow body to facilitate the user in carrying the
neck-support pillow.
12. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, wherein the upper portion
of the user's ear is a top of the user's ear.
13. A neck-support pillow comprising: a resilient pillow body
having a column-shaped medial portion and two cantilever arms, each
arm attached proximate to an end of the medial portion, wherein the
arms encircle a vertical axis, the vertical axis being
perpendicular to a plane comprising a line formed between
attachment locations of the two arms to the medial portion, the
arms and medial portion form a well, the well being approximately a
size of a user's neck, a height of at least one of the arms is
approximately equal to a distance between the user's shoulder and
jaw, the height of the arms being measured in a direction
approximately parallel to the vertical axis, a height of the medial
portion is approximately equal to a distance between an upper
portion of the user's ear and the user's shoulder, the height of
the medial portion being measured in a direction approximately
parallel to the vertical axis, and the heights of the arms, arm
ends, and medial portion and the size of the well are customized
based on measurements of a different user.
14. The neck-support pillow of claim 13, wherein ends of the arms
almost meet, forming a small opening to the well, and a height of
those ends is taller than the height of non-end portions the arms,
forming engorged arm ends to support the user's chin.
15. The neck-support pillow of claim 13, wherein the medial portion
is wider than a width of the user's neck to support the user's head
when the head is reclined backward and to a side.
16. The neck-support pillow of claim 13, wherein a middle of the
medial portion is narrower than ends of the medial portion, forming
a generally hour-glass-shaped medial portion to allow the user's
head to recline further backward, and a height of the middle of the
medial portion is approximately equal to a distance between a
bottom portion of the user's occipital bone and a base of the
user's neck, the height of the middle of the medial portion being
measured in a direction approximately parallel to the vertical
axis.
17. The neck-support pillow of claim 13, wherein the pillow body is
comprised of one or more materials selected from the group
consisting of polyfill material, foam, feather-down material,
cotton, silicone, wool, polyester fiber, silk, polystyrene, nylon,
plastic, buckwheat, beans, micro-beans, and composite material.
18. The neck-support pillow of claim 1, further comprising a cover
surrounding the pillow body, the cover having been assembled from
two horse-shoe-shaped pieces of material and either 1) two
tennis-racket-shaped pieces of material or 2) a piece of material
shaped as a pair of door-knobs, the horse-shoe-shaped pieces having
enlarged medial portions.
19. A neck-support pillow comprising: a resilient pillow body
having a column-shaped medial portion and two cantilever arms, each
arm attached proximate to an end of the medial portion, wherein the
arms encircle a vertical axis, the vertical axis being
perpendicular to a plane comprising a line formed between
attachment locations of the two arms to the medial portion, the
arms and medial portion form a well, the well being approximately a
size of a user's neck, a height of at least one of the arms is
approximately equal to a distance between the user's shoulder and
jaw, the height of the arms being measured in a direction
approximately parallel to the vertical axis, a height of the medial
portion is approximately equal to a distance between an upper
portion of the user's ear and the user's shoulder, the height of
the medial portion being measured in a direction approximately
parallel to the vertical axis, the heights of the arms, arm ends,
and medial portion and the size of the well are customized based on
measurements of a different user, ends of the arms almost meet,
forming a small opening to the well, and a height of those ends is
taller than the height of non-end portions the arms, forming
engorged arm ends to support the user's chin, the medial portion is
wider than a width of the user's neck to support the user's head
when the head is reclined backward and to a side, and a middle of
the medial portion is narrower than ends of the medial portion,
forming a generally hour-glass-shaped medial portion to allow the
user's head to recline further backward, and a height of the middle
of the medial portion is approximately equal to a distance between
a bottom portion of the user's occipital bone and a base of the
user's neck, the height of the middle of the medial portion being
measured in a direction approximately parallel to the vertical
axis.
20. The neck-support pillow of claim 19, wherein the pillow body is
comprised of one or more materials selected from the group
consisting of polyfill material, foam, feather-down material,
cotton, silicone, wool, polyester fiber, silk, polystyrene, nylon,
plastic, buckwheat, beans, micro-beans, and composite material.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present non-provisional application claims priority to
provisional application No. 60/948,895, entitled "Pillow to Provide
Direct Head, Neck, Jaw, and Chin Support, and to Relax Cervical and
Shoulder Muscle", filed Jul. 10, 2007, the specification and
drawings of which are incorporated herein in full by reference. The
present non-provisional application also claims priority to
provisional application No. 61/066,564, entitled "Customized Neck
Pillow", filed Feb. 21, 2008, the specification and drawings of
which are incorporated herein in full by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of
medical and ergonomic devices, in particular, to a neck-support
pillow comprising a resilient pillow body having a column-shaped
medial portion and two cantilever arms.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Conventional techniques to provide head and neck support
rely on U-shaped pillows with uniform cross sections, or
column-shaped pillows. This type of design puts heavy pressure to a
user's jaw and neck. It often causes discomfort during napping.
Improved designs focus on providing extra support to a person's
cheek. However, such designs do not provide any direct support to a
user's head. This lack of support results in tension to the neck
and shoulder muscles which hold the head in an up-right position.
Shoulder and neck pain often occur after use due to this
compensation mechanism during napping. In addition, prolonged
pressure to the cheek can cause discomfort, especially during long
travel journeys. Currently, no pillows are known that provide
direct head and chin support.
SUMMARY
[0004] In various embodiments, a neck-support pillow may comprise a
resilient pillow body having a column-shaped medial portion and two
cantilever arms, each arm attached proximate to an end of the
medial portion. Also, in some embodiments, the arms may encircle a
vertical axis, the vertical axis being perpendicular to a plane
comprising a line formed between attachment locations of the two
arms to the medial portion. Further, the arms and medial portion
may form a well, the well being approximately a size of a user's
neck. Also, a height of at least one of the arms may be
approximately equal to a distance between the user's shoulder and
jaw, the height of the arms being measured in a direction
approximately parallel to the vertical axis. Additionally, in some
embodiments, a height of the medial portion may be approximately
equal to a distance between an upper portion of the user's ear and
the user's shoulder, the height of the medial portion being
measured in a direction approximately parallel to the vertical
axis.
[0005] In some embodiments, the ends of the arms may almost meet,
forming a small opening to the well, and a height of those ends is
taller than the height of non-end portions of the arms, forming
engorged arm ends to support the user's chin. Also, the medial
portion may be wider than a width of the user's neck to support the
user's head when the head is reclined backward and to a side.
Further, a middle of the medial portion is narrower than ends of
the medial portion, forming a generally hour-glass-shaped medial
portion to allow the user's head to recline further backward, and a
height of the middle of the medial portion may be approximately
equal to a distance between a bottom portion of the user's
occipital bone and a base of the user's neck, the height of the
middle of the medial portion being measured in a direction
approximately parallel to the vertical axis.
[0006] In various embodiments, the pillow body is comprised of one
or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyfill
material, foam, feather-down material, cotton, silicone, wool,
polyester fiber, silk, polystyrene, nylon, plastic, buckwheat,
beans, micro-beans, and composite material.
[0007] In some embodiments, the neck-support pillow may further
comprise a cover surrounding the pillow body, the cover having been
assembled from two horse-shoe-shaped pieces of material and either
1) two tennis-racket-shaped pieces of material or 2) a piece of
material shaped as a pair of door-knobs, the horse-shoe-shaped
pieces having enlarged medial portions. Also, the pieces of
material may be mated by seems or by glue.
[0008] In various embodiments, the neck-support pillow may be
washable. Also, the pillow body may be inflatable and an exterior
surface of the pillow body may include an air valve for
facilitating inflating and deflating the pillow.
[0009] In some embodiments, the heights of the arms, arm ends, and
medial portion and the size of the well may be customized based on
measurements of a different user.
[0010] In various embodiments, the neck-support pillow may further
comprise a handle attached to the pillow body to facilitate the
user in carrying the neck-support pillow.
[0011] In some embodiments, the upper portion of the user's ear may
be a top of the user's ear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will be described by way of exemplary
embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top right perspective view of a neck-support
pillow, in accordance with various embodiments;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plane view of the pillow, in accordance with
various embodiments;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a first left side elevation view, in accordance
with various embodiments (with the right side being mirror image
of, in some embodiments);
[0016] FIG. 4 is a second left side elevation view, customized for
a different user than the user of the pillow shown in FIG. 3, in
accordance with various embodiments (with the right side being
mirror image of, in some embodiments);
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top plane view of the top horse-shoe shaped
casing fabric member, in accordance with various embodiments (with
the bottom fabric member being mirror image of, in some
embodiments);
[0018] FIG. 6 is a top plane view of the left side racket-shaped
casing fabric member, in accordance with various embodiments (with
the right side fabric member being the mirror image of, in some
embodiments);
[0019] FIG. 7 shows exemplary fabric for making a larger or smaller
neck hole in the horse-shoe shaped fabric members, in accordance
with various embodiments;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a top plane view of the top horse-shoe shaped
casing fabric member embodiments, in accordance with various
embodiments (with the bottom fabric member being mirror image of,
in some embodiments);
[0021] FIG. 9 is a top plane view of the doorknob-shaped casing
fabric member, in accordance with various embodiments;
[0022] FIG. 10 shows exemplary fabric for making a larger or
smaller neck hole in the horse-shoe shaped fabric members, and
making narrower neck band, in accordance with various
embodiments;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a top left perspective view of a neck-support
pillow, where the pillow is inflatable, in accordance with various
embodiments;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a top right perspective view of a neck-support
pillow including a handle, in accordance with various embodiments;
and
[0025] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart view of various operations
for customizing the pillow, in accordance with embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be
described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art
to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.
However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
alternate embodiments may be practiced with only some of the
described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers,
materials, and configurations are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it
will be apparent to one skilled in the art that alternate
embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. In other
instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order
not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
[0027] Further, various operations will be described as multiple
discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in
understanding the illustrative embodiments; however, the order of
description should not be construed as to imply that these
operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these
operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
[0028] The phrase "in one embodiment" is used repeatedly. The
phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it
may. The terms "comprising," "having," and "including" are
synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. The phrase "A/B"
means "A or B". The phrase "A and/or B" means "(A), (B), or (A and
B)". The phrase "at least one of A, B and C" means "(A), (B), (C),
(A and B), (A and C), (B and C) or (A, B and C)". The phrase "(A)
B" means "(B) or (A B)", that is, A is optional.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a top right perspective view of a neck-support
pillow, in accordance with various embodiments. As shown, a
neck-support pillow may comprise a resilient pillow body 100
(hereinafter pillow body 100). The pillow body 100 may itself
include a medial portion 105 and cantilever arms 130 and 135
(hereinafter arms 130), the arms 130 attached proximate to ends of
the medial portion 105. Thus, arms 130 and medial portion 105 may
be integrated in one piece. Also, the medial portion 105 may itself
comprise a number of sub-portions, such as sub-portions 110 and 115
for providing temporal bone support and sub-portion 120 for
providing occipital bone support. In some embodiments, the ends of
arms 130 may be engorged ends 140 and 145 (hereinafter ends 140),
the ends 140 being engorged to provide chin and jaw support during
usage. Additionally, as illustrated, the arms 130 and medial
portion 105 may form a well 150, the well 150 being approximately
the size of a user's neck. In various embodiments, the size of the
arms 130, ends 140, well 150, and medial portion 105 may be based
on measurements of a user, such as measurements of the distance
between a user's shoulder and jaw and/or measurements of the
distance between an upper portion of a user's ear and a user's
shoulder. By basing the sizing on such measurements, pillow body
100 may provide enhanced support for a user's head, neck, chin,
jaw, cheek, and/or shoulder. Further, in some embodiments (not
shown), the neck-support pillow may comprise a cover to surround
pillow body 100. Portions of material for making exemplary covers
are illustrated in FIGS. 5-10, and are described in greater detail
further herein.
[0030] In various embodiments, pillow body 100 may be made of any
one or more materials known in the art. For example, pillow body
100 may be comprised of one or more of polyfill material, foam,
feather-down material, cotton, silicone, wool, polyester fiber,
silk, polystyrene, nylon, plastic, buckwheat, beans, micro-beans,
and composite material. Pillow body 100 may also or instead be
comprised of woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, fleece-like materials,
fluffy material, stretchy material, leather, or plastic. In some
embodiments, such as those where pillow body 100 is comprised of
feather-down material, pillow body 100 may comprise a casing to
hold the filling material (not to be confused with the cover
described below, which would surround pillow body 100). In one
embodiment, the pillow body 100, including its casing and fill, and
its cover are washable. In one embodiment, the fill material of
pillow body 100 may provide differing levels of firmness when using
the same type of filling, such as polyester fibers.
[0031] In other embodiments, pillow body 100 may comprise a hollow
inflatable chamber, a casing surrounding the chamber, and a means
of inflating and deflating the chamber. Such a pillow body 100 is
illustrated in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 11, pillow body 100 may
include an air valve 1110 and a stopper 1120 to plug the air valve
1110 after the pillow has been inflated. In one embodiment, the air
valve 1110 may be added to a location where no body contact will
occur during use, such as on the left side of arm 130, as shown in
FIG. 11. The air valve 1110 may have a channel leading to the
inflatable chamber of the pillow body 100, thereby allowing air
flow in and out. In some embodiments, the stopper 1120 may be mated
with air valve 1110 stop the air flow when the pillow is in use. In
various embodiments, when the neck-support pillow is inflatable,
the pillow body 100 may be made from man-made material such as
plastic and sealed with man-made material to allow a user to blow
air in before use and let air out after use.
[0032] In some embodiments, pillow body 100 may be manufactured via
any means known in the art. In some embodiments, the manufacturing
may take into account custom measurements of a user or users. A
process for gathering such custom measurements is shown in FIG. 13
and described in greater detail herein. By manufacturing the pillow
to customized metrics, the pillow body 100 may better support a
user's head, neck, chin, jaw, cheek, and/or shoulder.
[0033] As illustrated and mentioned above, medial portion 105 may
be a column-shaped pillow having sub-portions 110 and 115 to
provide temporal bone support and sub-portion 120 to provide
occipital bone support. In some embodiments, a middle of the medial
portion 105, corresponding to sub-portion 120, may be narrower than
ends of the medial portion 105, corresponding to sub-portions 110
and 115 forming a generally hour-glass-shaped medial portion 105 to
allow the user's head to recline further backward. A height of
sub-portion 120 may be based on the distance between a lower
portion of the user's occipital bone and a base of the user's neck,
in some embodiments, and the height of sub-portion 120 may be
measured in a direction approximately parallel to a vertical axis
160 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Also, in some embodiments, the medial
portion 105 may be wider than a width of the user's neck to support
the user's head when the head is reclined backward and to a side.
In one embodiment, the width of medial portion 105 may be
approximately equal to a distance greater than the width of the
user's neck but less than or equal to the width of the user's
shoulders.
[0034] In various embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 2 (which is a
top plane view of the pillow of embodiments of the present
invention (with the bottom being the mirror image of)), areas 210
and 215, which may roughly correspond to sub-portions 110 and 115
may rise during use relative to the area 120 that may receive a
user's occipital bone and upper neck during use of the pillow body
100.
[0035] In some embodiments, as illustrate in FIGS. 3 and 4, a
height 180 of the medial portion 105 may be measured in a direction
approximately parallel to a vertical axis 160. The vertical axis
160 may itself be perpendicular to a plane (not shown) comprising a
line formed between attachment locations of the two arms 130 to the
medial portion 105. Further, the height 180 of medial portion 105
may be approximately equal to a distance between an upper portion
of the user's ear and the user's shoulder. In one embodiment, the
upper portion of the user's ear may be the top of the user's ear.
In some embodiments, height 180 may be either the height of
sub-portions 110/115 or of sub-portion 120, with the height of the
other sub-portion(s) being either larger or smaller. In other
embodiments, height 180 may be the height of all or sub-portions
110, 115, and 120.
[0036] As further illustrated, and mentioned above, arms 130 may be
attached proximate to an end of the medial portion 105. Also, as
shown in FIGS. 1-4, arms 130 may encircle vertical axis 160,
forming a well 150 that may be proximately the size of the user's
neck. In some embodiments, the ends 140 of arms 130 may almost
meet, creating a small opening that is the size of the user's neck
or smaller. If smaller, arms 130 may be at least partially flexible
to all the opening to be temporarily made wider for the user to fit
the user's neck through the opening. Also, as mentioned above, ends
140 of arms 130 may be engorged to support a user's jaw and
chin.
[0037] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a height
170 of at least one of the arms 130 may be measured in a direction
approximately parallel to the vertical axis 160. Further, the
height of the arms 130 may be approximately equal to a distance
between a user's shoulder and jaw. Also, in some embodiments, a
height of the engorged ends 140 may be larger than the height 170
of non-end portions the arms 130, thereby providing additional
support for the user's jaw and chin. In other embodiments, arms 130
and their ends 140 may have the same height 170. Also, because
height 170 is approximated to the distance between a user's jaw and
shoulder, and height 180 is approximated to the distance between an
upper portion of the user's ear and the user's shoulder, height 180
may always be larger than height 170. In other words, the medial
portion 105 may always have a greater height than arms 130.
[0038] In some embodiments, portions of arms 130 that are closer to
medial portion 105 may have a smaller size (in comparison to ends
140) to minimize the pressure to a user's cheek when a user is
sitting in a reclined position.
[0039] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, areas 230 and 235 of arms 130 may
move closer to a user's jaw and cheek during use. Further, the ends
140 may rise to closer to a user's chin and jaw during use to
prevent head nodding, and the ends 140 may touch user's front
shoulder or upper chest.
[0040] As illustrated and mentioned above, the arms 130 and medial
portion 105 may form a well, the well being approximately a size of
a user's neck. In some embodiments, pillow body 100 may be
configured to receive the neck of a user sufficiently closely to
hold the pillow body 100 in position.
[0041] Above, numerous references are made to measurements of a
user, such as a distance between the user's jaw and shoulders, a
distance between an upper portion of a user's ear and a user's
shoulders, a distance between a lower portion of a user's occipital
bone and a base of a user's neck, and a size of the user's neck. In
some embodiments, the measurements and sizes may be "one-size-fits
all" measurements of a "standard"/average user, the measurements of
the standard/average user determined based on known anatomical
averages for parts of a human body. In other embodiments, the
measurements and sizes may be grouped into a number of discrete
user sizes, such as "small", "medium", "large", etc. These various
sizes may also be determined with reference to known anatomical
metrics for parts of a human body.
[0042] In yet other embodiments, the pillow body 100 may be
configured for a given user or group of users based on obtained
metrics of those user(s). Thus, in such embodiments, the
measurements and sizes spoken of above may by the obtained metrics
of the given user(s). For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a side view
of pillow body 100, where heights 180 and 170 have been customized
for a first user, and FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of pillow body
100, where heights 180 and 170 have been customized for a second
user. In various embodiments, user metrics for customized those
heights and other pillow body 100 dimensions, including heights of
ends 140, may be obtained by a computer-implemented method, such as
the method illustrated in FIG. 13. In other embodiments, other
methods of obtaining user metrics may be used.
[0043] In various embodiments, pillow body 100 may be sized
proportionally in dimensions so that the pillow fits a user's body
according to the user's neck size, head size, jaw size, and chest
size, providing best fit, comfort, and support. Also, such a
customized pillow can have reduced occipital bone support by means
of cutting away part of medial portion 105, making medial portion
105 smaller.
[0044] In some embodiments, a customized neck-support pillow may
provide support to a user's temporal bone, occipital bone, jaw, and
chin, with reduced cheek pressure while sitting in a reclined
position when napping. Also, the neck-support pillow may relax a
user's cervical and shoulder muscles while the user is sitting
upright or in a reclined position.
[0045] FIGS. 5-10 illustrate exemplary fabric members for
assembling a cover for pillow body 100. In a first embodiment,
illustrated by FIGS. 5-7, the cover may be made by joining two
pairs of fabric members. The two pairs of members may include two
horse-shoe-shaped pieces of material (shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) two
tennis-racket-shaped pieces of material (shown in FIG. 6). In a
second embodiment, illustrated by FIGS. 8-10, the cover may be made
by joining two horse-shoe-shaped pieces of material (shown in FIGS.
8 and 10) and a piece of material shaped as a pair of door-knobs
(shown in FIG. 9). In both the first and second embodiments, the
horse-shoe-shaped pieces may have enlarged medial portions.
[0046] As mentioned, in the first embodiment, the pillow cover may
be made by joining two pairs of fabric members:
a) one pair may be shaped as a horse-shoe with an enlarged and
relative square shape at the closed end, and of substantial
similarity in shape and size with each member having a perimeter
edge (labeled 5000 in FIG. 5, FIG. 5 showing only one of the pair);
and b) the other pair of fabric members (labeled 5001 in FIG. 6,
FIG. 6 showing only one of the pair) may be shaped as a tennis
racket with an enlarged handle piece, and of substantial similarity
in shape and size with each member having a perimeter edge, along
with said horse-shoe fabric members thereby shaped to provide means
to provide direct head support, to reduce cheek pressure, and to
add chin support to prevent head nodding during sleep. Each
racket-shaped fabric member 5001 may be connected to both
horse-shoe-shaped fabric members 5000 by means of a seam around one
side of their perimeter edges, or glue if man-made materials such
as plastic are selected. The two horse-shoe-shaped fabric members
5000 may be connected to each other at the square-end 5010 and at
the inside center of crotch end around marking 5040, when not
connected to the racket-shaped fabric members 5001, by means of a
seam around their perimeter edges, or glue if man-made material
such as plastic is selected.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a top plane view of a horse-shoe shaped casing top
fabric member (with the bottom fabric member being mirror image
of), in accordance with various embodiments. Perimeter edge lines
are shown with numbers with starting and ending points. The
following is a list of the line numbers, starting and ending
points, also marked with numbers, and a brief note explaining each.
They are:
TABLE-US-00001 Line number start end NOTE 5010 5016 5015 seaming
two horse-shaped fabric 5020 5016 5040 seaming with line 5095 5030
5015 5040 seaming with right side racket-shaped fabric 5011 stitch
line 1/4'' from edge 5010 5021 stitch line 1/4'' from edge 5020
5031 stitch line 1/4'' from edge 5030
[0048] The following list shows the marking points with their
numbers and a brief note explaining each:
TABLE-US-00002 Marking number NOTE 5015 cross point between line
5030 and 5010 5016 cross point between line 5020 and 5010 5040
middle point in the crotch 5055 overlap 5051 on FIG. 6 5075 overlap
5076 on FIG. 6 5085 overlap 5086 on FIG. 6
[0049] In FIG. 6, three marking points may be overlapped with
marking points on the horse-shoe shaped bottom fabric member 5000
when seamed together. They are: [0050] 5081 [0051] 5071 [0052]
5051
[0053] In FIG. 5, three marking points may be overlapped with
marking points on the racket-shaped right-side fabric member (not
shown in FIG. 6). They are: [0054] 5050 [0055] 5070 [0056] 5080
[0057] Marking points 5115 and 5110 may show the need to make
wrinkles between marking points 5055, 5075, and 5085, and also
between marking points 5050, 5070, and 5080. The fabric line 5020
between marking points 5085 and 5055 may be lengthier than line
5095 between marking points 5086 and 5051 before wrinkling. As a
result, the arm end may be bigger because more fill material can
fit. The matching marking points may ensure uniformity.
[0058] FIG. 6 is a left side plane view of the racket-shaped casing
left side fabric member (with the right side fabric member being
the mirror image of), in accordance with various embodiments.
[0059] Perimeter edge lines are illustrated and numbered in FIG. 6.
The following is a list of the line numbers, starting marking
points, end marking points, and a brief note to explain each. They
are:
TABLE-US-00003 Line number start end NOTE 5090 5100 5051 seaming
with bottom horse-shoe fabric piece 5095 5100 5051 seaming with
line 5020 5091 stitch line 1/4'' from edge 5090
[0060] Marking Points in FIG. 6 are shown in the list below. Each
number is accompanied by brief note to show its function. They
are:
TABLE-US-00004 Number NOTE 5051 end point 5076 overlap 5075 5086
overlap 5085 5071, 5081 overlap bottom piece of horse-shoe
fabric
[0061] The size of fabric members may change while the ratio of
vertical and horizontal edges and shape of the fabric members may
remain the same. The required size changes may be specified by a
requesting user.
[0062] FIG. 7 shows exemplary fabric member 700 for making
different-sized neck receiving areas so that the pillows differ in
neck size, even when all other pieces remain the same size and
shape. This alteration may allow the accommodation of different
head to neck ratios, such as in children (high ratio) and in
well-built muscular adults (low ratio). Line 710 illustrates an
exemplary cutting for making a larger neck hole. Line 730
illustrates an exemplary cutting for making a smaller neck hole.
The locations of line 710 or 730 are drawn depending on the desired
neck size. In order to maintain the pillow shape, the cutting may
not exceed 3/4 of the original leg area fabric width 720, in some
embodiments.
[0063] To make pillows of different sizes, a manufacturer may
simply photo copy the sample fabric members and apply a desired
reduction or enlargement ratio, using the same ratio for fabric
members 5000 and 5001.
[0064] Also as mentioned, in the second embodiment, the cover may
be made by joining 3 fabric members:
a) one pair may be shaped as horse-shoes with enlarged and
relatively square shapes at the closed ends, and of substantial
similarity in shape and size with each member having a perimeter
edge (labeled 800 in FIG. 8, FIG. 8 showing only one of the pair).
b) the other fabric member (labeled 900 in FIG. 9) may be shaped as
a pair of doorknobs (has both knobs on both sides of a door) with
two enlarged end pieces, two enlarged middle pieces, narrower
middle piece, with each member having a perimeter edge. The
doorknob-shaped fabric member 900 may be connected to both
horse-shoe-shaped fabric members 800 by means of a seam around one
side of their perimeter edges, or glue if man-made materials such
as plastic are selected. The two horse-shoe-shaped fabric members
800 may be connected to each other at the square-end 810, by means
of a seam around their perimeter edges, or glue if man-made
material such as plastic is selected.
[0065] FIG. 8 is a top plane view of a horse-shoe shaped casing top
fabric member, in accordance with various embodiments (with the
bottom fabric member being mirror image of). Perimeter edge lines
are shown with numbers with starting and ending points. The
following is a list of the line numbers, starting and ending
points, also marked with numbers, and a brief note explaining each.
They are:
TABLE-US-00005 Line number start end NOTE 810 816 815 seaming two
horse-shaped fabric 820 816 840 seaming with line 920 830 815 840
seaming with line 920
[0066] The following list shows the marking Points with their
numbers and a brief note explaining each.
TABLE-US-00006 Marking number NOTE 815 cross point between line 830
and 810 816 cross point between line 820 and 810 840 middle point
in the crotch 815 overlap 908 in FIG. 9 880 overlap 930 in FIG. 9
870 overlap 940 in FIG. 9 850 overlap 950 in FIG. 9 855 overlap 960
in FIG. 9 875 overlap 970 in FIG. 9 885 overlap 980 in FIG. 9 816
overlap 909 in FIG. 9
[0067] In FIG. 9, line 922 is to seam with the bottom
horse-shoe-shaped fabric member 800 (not shown). Marking points in
FIG. 9 may overlap with marking points on the bottom
horse-shoe-shaped fabric member 800 when seamed together (not shown
in FIG. 8). They are: 911, 982, 972, 962, 952, 942, 932, 910.
[0068] The fabric line 830 between marking points 850 and 880 may
be lengthier than line 920 between marking points 930 and 950. The
lengthier line 830 may need to be wrinkled, or the shorter line 920
may be stretched when seaming together, in some embodiments. As a
result, the arm ends may be bigger because more fill material can
fit. The matching marking points may ensure uniformity.
[0069] FIG. 9 is a top plane view of the doorknob-shaped casing
fabric member, in accordance with various embodiments.
[0070] Perimeter edge lines are illustrated and numbered in FIG. 9.
The following list shows the line numbers, starting marking points,
end marking points, and a brief note to explain each. They are:
TABLE-US-00007 Line number start end NOTE 920 908 909 seaming with
line 830 and line 820 in FIG. 8 922 910 911 seaming with bottom
horse-shoe fabric member 914 952 950 virtual line for distance
marking 916 962 960 virtual line for distance marking 912 dashed
dashed line 916 length between line 914 line 914 and line 916 994
910 911 virtual line for distance marking 990 909 908 virtual line
for distance marking 992 dashed dashed line 990 length between
dashed line 994 line 994 and dashed line 990 995 908 930
alternative cutting for line 920 996 909 980 alternative cutting
for line 920 998 line 920 dashed line 995 distance between line 920
and dashed line 995
[0071] Marking Points in FIG. 9 are shown in the following list.
Each number is accompanied by brief note to show its function. They
are:
TABLE-US-00008 Number NOTE 908, 909, 910, 911 end point 930 overlap
880 940 overlap 870 950 overlap 850 960 overlap 855 970 overlap 875
980 overlap 885
[0072] The size of fabric members may change while the ratio of
vertical and horizontal edges and shape of the fabric members may
remain the same. The required size changes may be specified by a
requesting user.
[0073] The distance 912 between line 914 and line 916 may change
according to a user's neck size, and the size of fabric member 800.
The length between marking point 855 and 850 may be equal to line
912, in some embodiments.
[0074] The distance 992 between dashed line 994 and dashed line 990
may change according to a user's vertical neck length. For normal
neck length (3 inches), the distance 992 may be from 0 inch to 2
inches (including the seaming allowance). The pillow shown in FIGS.
1-4 may be made with distance 992 equal 0 inches. For a person with
longer neck, such as 5 inches or longer, the distance 992 may be
from 3 inches to 4 inches. Dashed lines 994 and 990 may parallel to
each other, in some embodiments.
[0075] A user's specification may determine the distance 998
between dashed line 995 and line 920. Line 922 may or may not use
alternative cutting similar to dashed line 995 and dashed line 996,
in some embodiments. Therefore, the resulting pillow may be
asymmetrical vertically.
[0076] FIG. 10 shows exemplary fabric member 1000 for making
different-sized neck receiving areas so that the pillows differ in
neck size, even when all other pieces remain the same size and
shape, except matching fabric member 900 at length 912. This
alteration may accommodate different head to neck ratios, such as
in children (high ratio) and in well-built muscular adults (low
ratio). Line 1080 represents the normal cutting from marking 1070
through marking 1050 to marking 1060. Dashed line 1030 illustrates
an exemplary cutting for making a larger neck hole by moving line
1080 outward. Dashed line 1040 illustrates an exemplary cutting for
making a smaller neck hole by moving line 1080 inward. The
locations of line 1030 or 1040 are drawn depending on the desired
neck size, in some embodiments.
[0077] FIG. 10 also shows exemplary fabric member 1000 for making
modified occipital bone support areas so that the pillows have
weaker occipital bone support, even when all other pieces remain
the same size and shape. Line 810 represents the normal cutting.
Curved and dashed line 1020 represents alternative cutting when
weaker neck support is desirable. The distance 1010 between line
810 and 1020 may vary according to a user's specification.
[0078] FIG. 10 also shows exemplary fabric member 1000 for making a
modified head support area so that the pillows have adequate head
support for users with sloping shoulders. Dashed lines 1090 and
1092 show optional cutting. The distance 1094 may be determined by
a user's specification, as well as the distance 998 in FIG. 9.
[0079] In one embodiment, the pillow shown in FIGS. 1-4 may be made
with distance 1010 equal to 2 inches, distance 1094 equal to 0
inches, line 1080 with no alteration, and therefore distance 912
equal to line 1080 from marking point 1060 to marking point
1070.
[0080] To make pillows of different sizes, a manufacturer may
simply photo copy the sample fabric members and apply a desired
reduction or enlargement ratio, using the same ratio for fabric
members 800 and 900.
[0081] FIG. 12 is a top right perspective view of a neck-support
pillow including a handle, in accordance with various embodiments.
As shown, pillow-body 100 may have a handle 1202 attached to a
location on the pillow body 100, such as a location on medial
portion 105. In some embodiments, the location on medial portion
105 may be a place that is unlikely to physically contact the user,
such as a location opposite the user's neck. In various
embodiments, handle 1202 may have any shape and size and may be
made of any material known in the art. In one embodiment, the
handle 1202 may be made of the same material as pillow body
100.
[0082] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart view of various operations
in accordance with embodiments of the invention. As illustrated, to
manufacture a neck-support pillow, such as the pillows described
above, user data describing the pillow user may be collected, block
1302. Such collecting may be performed by a computing device or a
person. The user data may then be stored by a computing device in a
data structure, block 1304. Then, a computing device may analyze
the user data, block 1306, and compute a pillow design, dimensions,
and filling material, block 1308, based on the stored user data. In
one embodiment, the computed/suggest product/pillow may then be
displayed by the computing device, block 1310.
[0083] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill
in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent
implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments
shown and described, without departing from the scope of the
embodiments of the present invention. For example, the length,
ratio of the fabric members, horizontal and vertical edges, and
marking overlapping points may be modified in other implementations
consistent with embodiments of the present invention. This
application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of
the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly
intended that the embodiments of the present invention be limited
only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *