U.S. patent application number 12/131121 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-12 for sleeping posture supporting apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Jin Kyu HAN. Invention is credited to Jin Kyu Han, Il Hee Hong.
Application Number | 20090038077 12/131121 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40345107 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090038077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Han; Jin Kyu ; et
al. |
February 12, 2009 |
SLEEPING POSTURE SUPPORTING APPARATUS
Abstract
Provided is a sleeping posture supporting apparatus for
supporting and maintaining a person's entire body lying at full
length (lying on one side) and increasing breathing capacity while
sleeping so as to prevent the person from snoring, thus allowing
the person to have a good sleep.
Inventors: |
Han; Jin Kyu; (Seoul,
KR) ; Hong; Il Hee; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jason Y. Pahng and Associates, LLC
12178 Bridgend Run
Fairfax
VA
22030
US
|
Assignee: |
HAN; Jin Kyu
Seoul
KR
EVEZARY CO., LTD.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
40345107 |
Appl. No.: |
12/131121 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/634 ;
5/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 20/021 20130101;
A47C 20/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/634 ;
5/633 |
International
Class: |
A47C 20/04 20060101
A47C020/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 6, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0078731 |
Claims
1-5. (canceled)
6. A sleeping posture support apparatus comprising: an inclination
support comprising an inclination unit supporting a person's
shoulders and supporting the person's chest at a predetermined
angle with respect to a bottom surface, and a horizontal unit
horizontally extending from an upper portion of the inclination
unit; first and second long cushions spaced apart from each other
in the inclination unit (12), each including a fixing unit that is
partially fixed to a lower surface, the fixing units being spaced
apart from each other from upper ends of the first and second long
cushions, forming first and second concave units in a surface where
the first and second long cushions face each other so that the user
can be placed on one side, and supporting the user's back; and a
pillow supported by the horizontal unit (11) and supporting the
user's head.
7. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the
pillow comprises a cover that can be opened and closed, and a
pillow stuffing that is included in the cover.
8. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 7, further
comprising: an adjusting unit adjusting an inclination angle of the
inclination unit.
9. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
adjusting unit comprises a base plate forming a bottom surface of
the inclination support, a movable plate connected to a hinge with
respect to the base plate and corresponding to the inclination unit
(12), a motor fixed to the base plate and having a screw rod that
can turn by generated power, and a hollow pipe having one end
rotatably connected to the rotation plate (14) and another end
screwed to the screw rod.
10. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 6, wherein at
least one of the first and second long cushions comprises a frame
maintaining an inner space and is in the shape of a net with a
cushion, a ventilation cover surrounding the frame and being
ventilated, and an air blower sending air into the frame.
11. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 10, further
comprising: an adjusting unit adjusting an inclination angle of the
inclination unit.
12. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 11, wherein the
adjusting unit comprises a base plate forming a bottom surface of
the inclination support, a movable plate connected to a hinge with
respect to the base plate and corresponding to the inclination unit
(12), a motor fixed to the base plate and having a screw rod that
can turn by generated power, and a hollow pipe having one end
rotatably connected to the rotation plate (14) and another end
screwed to the screw rod.
13. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 6, further
comprising: an adjusting unit adjusting an inclination angle of the
inclination unit.
14. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the
adjusting unit comprises a base plate forming a bottom surface of
the inclination support, a movable plate connected to a hinge with
respect to the base plate and corresponding to the inclination unit
(12), a motor fixed to the base plate and having a screw rod that
can turn by generated power, and a hollow pipe having one end
rotatably connected to the rotation plate (14) and another end
screwed to the screw rod.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0078731, filed on Aug. 6, 2007, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a sleeping posture
supporting apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for
supporting and maintaining a person's entire body lying at full
length (a person lying on one side) and increasing a person's
breathing capacity during sleep so as to prevent the person from
snoring and thus allowing him or her to have a good sleep.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the
resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing
while sleeping, and thus it may be a symptom indicating a
difficulty in breathing while sleeping.
[0006] Air flows over soft structures such as the palate, the
uvula, the tonsils, the tongue, etc. during breathing. However, the
airflow is not obstructed when the person is awake since these soft
structures are supported by the muscles around them.
[0007] However, during sleep, the muscles are relaxed, the airway
partially narrows, soft structures vibrate when air flows through
the airway, and thus snoring occurs.
[0008] When the airway is completely obstructed due to serious
muscle relaxation or due to the accumulation of fat, air does not
flow to the lungs, resulting in sleep apnea.
[0009] In particular, fat male adults or persons who have small
jaws that are positioned back or who have short thick necks tend to
snore excessively. In this case, the uvula is narrow and it is
difficult to open the airway. Such severe snoring is accompanied by
loud noise and sleep apnea.
[0010] Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in
breathing during sleep, and lasts long enough so that one or more
breaths are missed. In particular, a drunk person can die from
suffocation since the speed of autonomic nerve reflex responses are
reduced and the airway may be obstructed for a long time.
[0011] Sleep apnea causes a loud snoring sound and a reduction in
sound sleep, is accompanied by daytime sleepiness and drastic
fatigue in spite of a sufficient sleep time, and involves memory
loss and lack of concentration due to a lack of oxygen while
sleeping.
[0012] Sufferers may experience severe daytime sleepiness and
fatigue, which causes car accidents. Furthermore, a long period of
sleep apnea increases the burden on the heart or lungs, and may
cause serious complications such as hypertension, a heart attack,
or a stroke.
[0013] Snoring prevention pillows are used to prevent snoring or
sleep apnea, which does not work since the pillows are not used
correctly during sleep.
[0014] Furthermore, although a nose pendant or an oral closing tool
induces nose breathing so as to prevent snoring, persons are
reluctant to wearing such tools or a cold or a blockage in the nose
makes it difficult to use such tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention provides a sleeping posture supporting
apparatus for maintaining a person's entire body lying at full
length and for increasing breathing capacity and oxygen supply
during sleep, thereby preventing a person from snoring or
experiencing sleep apnea, thus allowing the person to have a good
sleep.
[0016] The present invention also provides a sleeping posture
supporting apparatus for controlling an angle of the chest in order
to ensure comfort, according to a user's body size.
[0017] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of
[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detail
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
drawings in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sleeping posture supporting
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a sleeping posture supporting apparatus
applied to a user according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a pillow of a sleeping
posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a long cushion of a sleeping posture
supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an inclination support
of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary
embodiments of the invention are shown.
[0026] According to the sleeping posture supporting apparatus of
the present invention, a person's entire body can be supported and
maintained lying at full length and the person's chest is
positioned to face upward during sleep so as to expand the lungs,
so that breathing capacity and oxygen supply can increase, thereby
preventing a person from snoring or experiencing sleep apnea, thus
allowing the person to have a good sleep.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sleeping posture supporting
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 illustrates the sleeping posture supporting apparatus applied to
a user according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sleeping posture supporting
apparatus comprises an inclination support 10 that is disposed on
the floor and includes an inclination unit 12 and a horizontal unit
11, a pillow 40 that is placed on the horizontal unit 11, and a
pair of first and second long cushions 20 and 30 that are disposed
on the inclination unit 12.
[0029] The inclination unit 12 of the inclination support 10
supports a user's shoulders so as to support the user's chest at a
predetermined angle with respect to a bottom surface.
[0030] The first and second long cushions 20 and 30 are spaced
apart from each other by the inclination unit 12 so that a lower
surface of each cushion is fixed by fixing units 27 and 37. A first
concave unit 21 and a second concave unit 31 are formed in a
surface where the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 face
each other so that a user's body can lie at full length and a
user's back can be supported.
[0031] A space is formed between the first and second concave units
21 and 31 so that the user's body can lie at full length when lying
on one side. A gap between the first and second long cushions 20
and 30 may be adjusted according to a user's body size. Thus, the
fixing units 27 and 37 may use a "Velcro tape" 50 so as to easily
fix the first and second long cushions 20 and 30.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the pillow 40 of the
sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of
the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the pillow 40 is
adhered to the horizontal unit 11 by using the Velcro tape in the
same manner as the fixing units 27 and 37.
[0033] The pillow 40 comprises a cover 41 that can be opened and
closed by a zipper 41 a and pillow stuffing 42 included in the
cover 41.
[0034] An example of the pillow stuffing 42 can be a wooden pillow
or cushion.
[0035] Meanwhile, FIG. 4 is a diagram of a sleeping posture
supporting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the sleeping posture supporting
apparatus comprises a frame 35 that forms an inner space of the
first and second long cushions 20 and 30, and is in the shape of a
net with a cushion (not shown), a ventilation cover 36 that
surrounds the frame 35 and can be ventilated, and an air blower 50
that sends air to the frame 35. For example, the frame 35 can be
made of bamboo.
[0036] In the present embodiment, the air blower 50 sends air to
the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 and the ventilation
cover 36 ventilates wind to the outside so that a user can lie at
full length and can have a cool sleep in summer.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an inclination support
of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, an
adjusting unit capable of adjusting an inclination angle of the
inclination unit 12 comprises a base plate 13 that forms a bottom
surface of the inclination support 10, a movable plate 14 that
moves up and down with respect to the base plate 13 by a hinge 15
and corresponds to the inclination unit 12, a motor 17 that is
fixed to the base plate 13 and includes a screw rod 17a that can
appear according to power, and a hollow pipe 18 having one end
rotatably connected to the movable plate 14 and another end screwed
to the screw rod 17a.
[0038] The adjusting unit adjusts an inclination angle by moving
the movable plate 14 up or down with respect to the hinge 15 when
the screw rod 16a turns according to a rotation direction of the
motor 17 and the hollow pipe 18 is elevated.
[0039] A method of using the sleeping posture supporting apparatus
having the above structure will now be described.
[0040] A gap between the first and second cushions 20 and 30 and
the position of the pillow 40 are adjusted according to a user's
body size and are fixed.
[0041] The gap between the first and second cushions 20 and 30 can
allow a user's back to be supported by the first cushion 20 or the
second cushion 30 when the user lies on one side.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 2, the user's body is placed between the
first and second cushions 20 and 30 so as to lie on one side with a
lower arm placed under the second cushion 30 and an upper arm
placed above the second cushion 30 so as to hold the user's body in
a user's arms.
[0043] While lying on one side, a user's upper leg is above the
second cushion 30 to be supported by the second cushion 30 and a
lower leg is under the second cushion 30 to surround the second
cushion 30 or to stretch straight.
[0044] Power is applied to the motor 17 to make the screw rod 17a
turn so that the inclination angle of the inclination unit 12 is
adjusted for the user's convenience.
[0045] When the user lies on one side, the user's chest is inclined
upward by the inclination unit 12, the user's head is placed on the
pillow 40, and the user's back is supported by the first cushion
10.
[0046] In this case, since the user's chest is inclined upward, the
user's lungs are expanded so that breathing capacity increases and
oxygen is smoothly supplied, thereby preventing the user from
experiencing sleep apnea.
[0047] The user's arms and legs are naturally induced to hold the
second cushion 30 so as to naturally lie on a user's side.
[0048] The first and second cushions 20 and 30 make it possible to
position the user in an opposite manner to that shown in FIG. 2,
i.e., the user may lie on his or her other side instead of that
shown in FIG. 2.
[0049] On the other hand, referring to FIG. 3, in summer, a wooden
pillow can be used as the pillow stuffing 42 in the cover 41 of the
pillow 40. Referring to FIG. 4, the air blower 50 sends air into
the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 so as to enable the
user have a cool sleep.
[0050] The advantages of the sleeping posture supporting apparatus
of the present invention are described below.
[0051] First, the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 that are
spaced apart from each other according to a user's body size can
maintain a user's position lying on one side during sleep, thereby
preventing the user from snoring. The inclination support 10 makes
the user's chest lean upward, which increases breathing capacity
and oxygen supply, thereby preventing the user from experiencing
sleep apnea. Thus, the user can sleep well.
[0052] Second, an adjusting unit capable of adjusting the
inclination of the inclination support 10 can adjust an angle of
the user's chest in order to ensure comfort, according to the
user's body size.
[0053] Third, the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 can be
ventilated by air flow, so that the user can have a cool sleep in
summer.
[0054] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various
changes in form and details may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. The exemplary embodiments should be considered in
a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the
detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims,
and all differences within the scope will be construed as being
included in the present invention.
* * * * *