U.S. patent application number 13/582696 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-17 for novel ergonomic pillow and uses thereof in bedding.
The applicant listed for this patent is Olivier Laurent, Fabrice Requet, Fabienne Sportis. Invention is credited to Olivier Laurent, Fabrice Requet, Fabienne Sportis.
Application Number | 20130014328 13/582696 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42830439 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130014328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Requet; Fabrice ; et
al. |
January 17, 2013 |
NOVEL ERGONOMIC PILLOW AND USES THEREOF IN BEDDING
Abstract
An orthopaedic pillow designed to adapt to the morphology of
each individual, in particular to support the head and the neck. A
progressive-comfort pillow having two flexible angular blocks,
attached in the reverse direction by the common angular surfaces
thereof, the two parts being made with different flexibility and
firmness, the upper part of one being assembled with the lower part
of the other. Four separate positions are thus obtained, each of
the positions having many areas providing different support.
Inventors: |
Requet; Fabrice; (Paris,
FR) ; Sportis; Fabienne; (Paris, FR) ;
Laurent; Olivier; (Gometz La Ville, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Requet; Fabrice
Sportis; Fabienne
Laurent; Olivier |
Paris
Paris
Gometz La Ville |
|
FR
FR
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
42830439 |
Appl. No.: |
13/582696 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
March 3, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB11/00447 |
371 Date: |
October 2, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/640 ;
5/636 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 2009/1018 20130101;
A47G 9/109 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/640 ;
5/636 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/10 20060101
A47G009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 4, 2010 |
FR |
1000882 |
Feb 25, 2011 |
FR |
1100566 |
Claims
1. A progressive-comfort ergonomic pillow, comprising two flexible
angular blocks attached in reverse directions by their oblique
face, made of a material of a firmness and flexibility distinct
from one another, so as to obtain a continuous variation over the
entire width of the blocks, obtained by four distinct support areas
A-B-C-D defining four positions of use and each benefiting from
many areas providing different support, a first position where the
upper area holding the head is essentially flexible then firm at
extreme depth, whereas the area of the cervicals is firm then
immediately more flexible, a second position where the upper area
holding the head is mainly firm then flexible at extreme depth
whereas the area of the cervicals is firm in the accommodating area
then immediately more flexible, a third position where the upper
area holding the head is substantially even-handed, firm on the
surface then flexible at depth whereas the area of the cervicals is
mainly firm then flexible at extreme depth, and a fourth position,
where the upper area holding the head is substantially even-handed,
flexible on the surface then firm at depth whereas the area of the
cervicals is mainly flexible then firm at extreme depth.
2. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, the pillow formed by two
blocks having a right-angled triangle section.
3. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, the pillow formed from two
blocks having a trapezoidal section.
4. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the two
blocks are identical and of the same dimensions.
5. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the two
blocks are of different dimensions, one being thicker than the
other thus making it possible to adjust the effect of flexibility
and firmness, comprising an oblique face, extending over all or
part of the projected surface of the pillow, the less thick
trapezoid being configured at the lower limit as a triangular
section.
6. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
angular faces are straight.
7. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
angular faces are incurved according to a straight generatrix, one
being concave and the other convex, thus making it possible to
adjust the effect of flexibility and firmness.
8. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
angular faces have complementary corrugated surfaces that are
regular or irregular, the protruding parts of one interlocking in
the hollow parts of the other and thus allowing for a
mechanical-type interlocking
9. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
attached angular faces are assembled by a mechanical link of
interlocking and/or bonding type.
10. The pillow as claimed in claim 1, the pillow is jacketed by a
first slip which compresses the two blocks one against the other,
making it possible to ensure and/or complete a possible mechanical
assembly, and by a second, removable anallergenic slip, which
further comprises visual and/or tactile recognition means such as
distinct color and/or spacing and form of the stitching making it
possible to differentiate the different positions of use and
different firmness characteristics.
11. An ergonomic pillow that comprises specific accommodating
areas, and an additional area for receiving the shoulder of a
person sleeping on his or her side or flat on his or her back.
12. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, characterized in
that the additional area comprise at least one notch cut into one
of the two sides of the pillow.
13. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, in which the notch
is arranged on either side of the median part of the pillow.
14. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, characterized in
that the notch is placed at similar or different levels.
15. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, characterized in
that the notch takes the form of a narrowing arranged in the form
of the pillow.
16. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, characterized in
that the material of which the pillow is made has a plurality of
different densities conferring different types of flexibility on
the pillow.
17. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, characterized in
that the material of which the pillow is made has characteristics
of elasticity by variation of the nature of the constituent
material and by the mode of cutting of the pillow.
18. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, in which the
different characteristics of elasticity vary within wide limits
such as, for example, from flexible/comfort to comfort/tonic.
19. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11 is formed from two
blocks of viscoelastic material, assembled symmetrically face
against face, to form an assembly of prismatic form, the top and
bottom faces of which are incurved, the perpendicular portion of
each side of which is formed, on the one hand, from two elongate
sections, and, on the other hand, from a segment narrowed in its
middle and the incurved surfaces of which leave a hollow area
between them, the assembly allowing for a variable elasticity of
the pillow.
20. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, the pillow can be
made to measure and for example having a length varying from 50 to
80 cm, a width varying from 25 to 45 cm, a thickness varying from 8
to 15 cm, and having a median notch of the order of 2 cm.
21. The ergonomic pillow as claimed in claim 11, the height of
which is variable and has an asymmetrical surface, one part being
higher than the other.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the
necessities of life and in particular to the field of bedding and
sleeping arrangements ensuring a relaxed and complete sleep.
[0002] Specifically a deep and restful sleep is conditioned by the
position of the body and, above all, of the head which must allow
for a relaxation of the cervical muscles, of the intervertebral
disks and, at the same time, provide adequate support for the head
without risk of deformation of the skull, particularly with newborn
babies and very young children (see French patent 2.913.578).
[0003] The present invention relates to a progressive-comfort
orthopedic pillow which adapts to the morphology of each individual
and is specifically designed to obtain the appropriate positioning
and support of the head, of the neck and of the spinal column.
[0004] It relates in particular to a progressive-comfort pillow
which comprises two angular blocks made of flexible material
attached in reverse directions by their angular faces, the top part
of one being assembled with the bottom part of the other, so that
the bottom face and the top face of the pillow are preferentially
parallel, and so that one block has a different flexibility
compared to the other block in order to obtain a continuous
variation of flexibility over the entire width. The materials of
different flexibility and firmness can also be of different nature,
for example, viscoelastic foam with shape memory, springs, cellular
foam, latex or with air or water pockets.
[0005] This special assembly makes it possible to obtain distinct
positions with four types of support and comfort, each of these
positions benefitting from many areas providing different
support.
[0006] Depending on the position adopted by the person sleeping,
the thrust exerted differs: a first position where the upper area
holding the head is mainly flexible then firm at extreme depth
whereas the area of the cervicals is firm in the accommodating area
then immediately more flexible, a second position where the upper
area holding the head is mainly firm then flexible at extreme depth
whereas the area of the cervicals is firm in the accommodating area
then immediately more flexible, a third position where the upper
area holding the head is substantially even-handed, firm on the
surface then flexible at depth whereas the area of the cervicals is
mainly firm then flexible at extreme depth, a fourth position where
the upper area holding the head is substantially even-handed,
flexible on the surface then firm at depth whereas the area of the
cervicals is mainly flexible then firm at extreme depth.
[0007] This pillow makes it possible to ensure the appropriate
support for the head, for the vertebrae and intervertebral disks,
for the muscles, for the ligaments and for the nerves.
[0008] By virtue of the superposition of the two blocks, of the
different flexibility and firmness of the material and of the areas
of support differentiated from one area to another, the assembly
follows the contours of the areas of the body supported and
eliminates the points of compression to obtain a complete muscular
and vertebral relaxation. The aim of the invention is to best
distribute the force exerted in order to avoid over- or
under-pressures.
[0009] The different positions of the pillow make it possible to
distribute the pressures to obtain a graded absorption of the head
and of the neck. The pillow is not preformed so as not to constrain
the head and the cervicals into a given position but, on the
contrary, it is the different positions, the areas of support and
the material which follow the forms.
[0010] Furthermore, the pillow can be produced in different
thicknesses, so as to free the shoulder in position on the side,
which has a direct influence on the pressures of the head and of
the cervicals and modifies the enveloping and comfort in position
on the back. Furthermore, this pillow can be produced in different
dimensions with or without rounded corners.
[0011] This pillow can also be used for people who have to sleep in
a seated position (problems associated with asthma, gastric reflux)
or in a comfort position (television, reading) or in different
places for any type of use associated with comfort.
[0012] This pillow is therefore aimed at any individual, as a
preventive measure, and at any person who has medical and
physiological problems.
[0013] The desired aim for the user is to have four pillows in one.
This makes it possible to find the position best suited to the
user's comfort and personal support.
[0014] With this special assembly, the firmnesses and the
flexibilities of the two blocks can be varied, thus making it
possible to obtain different results. It is also possible to have
two blocks that are identical and of the same dimensions or two
blocks of different dimensions, one being thicker than the other
thus making it possible to adjust the effect of flexibility and
firmness. The angular faces can have different forms, they are
straight or incurved, one being concave and the other convex, they
can have complementary corrugated surfaces, the protruding parts of
one interlocking in the hollow parts of the other. The assembly of
the attached oblique parts can be produced by a mechanical link of
interlocking and/or bonding type. The two blocks can be either of
the same form, from a right-angled triangle section or trapezoidal
section, or be of different forms by a combination of a triangular
section and of a trapezoidal section, the two angular faces
occupying the entire projected surface of the pillow or only a part
thereof, the trapezoidal block being an angular or triangular
trapezoid and the side corresponding to the small height of the
trapezoid is zero and then defined by an angle.
[0015] As a non-limiting indication, the pillow can be covered by
two slips, a first compressing the two blocks against one another
making it possible to ensure, alone or in addition, a possible
mechanical assembly without glue. A second removable and washable
anallergenic slip, plain or jacketed with fibers or even other
conventional materials such as silk, wool, down (all for
ventilation and comfort) provided with visual and tactile means for
recognizing the different positions, even at night, such as
distinct colors on the faces and the sides and/or spacing and forms
of the stitching on the faces and sides.
[0016] The tests carried out by the Applicant have shown that there
was another problem to be resolved in order to ensure the complete
rest of the sleeping person. This is the position of the shoulders
either in position lying on the side or in position lying on the
back.
[0017] This problem has found a more satisfactory solution
according to the invention by having, on a pillow that has specific
accommodating areas, an additional area intended to receive the
shoulder of the sleeping person, consisting of a notch cut into the
two sides of the pillow. This notch is placed at similar or
different levels and preferably in the median part of the
pillow.
[0018] According to one embodiment, a more particular subject of
the invention is an enhanced bedding article ensuring a position of
support and of comfort in the recumbent position.
[0019] Its specific subject is an ergonomic pillow with shape
memory, consisting in particular of four distinct parts assembled
together, characterized in that it comprises an accommodating area
for supporting the cervicals, an accommodating area for absorbing
the shoulder in position on the side or flat on the back, an
accommodating area for the head and the whole being assembled with
different progressive cuts.
[0020] In the prior French patent application (application Ser. No.
10/00882 filed on Mar. 4, 2010), the Applicant described a
progressive-comfort pillow, formed from blocks of triangular form
interlocking through symmetrical parts, the lower part of one being
attached to the upper part of the other to produce an assembly with
parallel outer faces.
[0021] The document BF 2.778.834 describes, to this end, an
ergonomic pillow intended to simultaneously hold the head, the neck
and the scapular region in an optimum position of safety and of
well-being while sleeping on the back or on the side. The complex
pillow comprises a scallop intended to receive the head between
wedging cushions and the shoulder of the person sleeping on the
side, in another scallop. The neck-head-shoulder assembly is thus
supported and raised by virtue of inclined planes, notably in the
position on the back. The duly formed assembly is raised by as many
thickness shims as are needed to obtain the straightness and the
well-being of the vertebrae and of the head, regardless of the
position of the person sleeping.
[0022] As is indicated in that document, by virtue of the
superposition of the two blocks manifesting a different flexibility
and firmness of the material and with areas of support
differentiated from one area to another, the duly constituted
assembly follows the contours of the areas of the body supported
and eliminates the points of compression, to obtain a satisfactory
muscular and vertebral relaxation.
[0023] It takes the form of a narrowing arranged in the form of the
pillow, symmetrically reducing the section of the pillow.
[0024] In this way, the person sleeping, whether he or she adopts
the position of sleeping on the left side or on the right side or
even flat on the back, will obtain therein a support of the head
that is even-handedly firm then flexible, or, conversely, by virtue
of the texture of the pillow and a thrust and a support of the base
of the cervicals, a more or less flexible support depending on
which side of the pillow is used.
[0025] The different progressive cuts of the pillow and the mode of
assembly of the different blocks of material, such as viscoelastic
foam with shape memory, mainly of a foam derived from soya oil,
makes it possible to make a choice between a multitude of different
densities in order to thus obtain different types of pillow having
different characteristics of elasticity or of rigidity such as, for
example, flexible/comfort or comfort/tonic.
[0026] The narrowing made in the cut of the pillow takes the form
of an inflection of the section of the surface of the pillow. This
recess has the effect of locally reducing the section of the pillow
by a few centimeters in its median part, which has the effect of
allowing for a different flexibility and elasticity, in order to
better adapt to the base of the cervicals and of initially allowing
the peak of the movement of the shoulder.
[0027] Consequently, the ergonomic pillow according to the
invention is formed from two blocks of flexible materials, such as
viscoelastic foam or any elastic material, assembled symmetrically
face against face to form an assembly of prismatic form, the top
and bottom surfaces of which are incurved and the prismatic portion
of each side of which is formed, on the one hand, from two elongate
sections and, on the other hand, from a portion narrowed in its
middle.
[0028] The ergonomic pillow according to this embodiment has
variable thicknesses such as, for example, different heights. It
can have parts of varied thicknesses. It also offers the advantage
of having many areas of variable elasticity. Thus, the pillow can
have, in the top part, two firm areas and, in the bottom part, two
flexible areas, or else have, in the top part, two flexible areas
and, in the bottom part, two firm areas. Similarly, in each of the
parts, there can be a firm area and a flexible area. The objective
is therefore to produce an ergonomic pillow that has many areas of
different elasticities that can produce a bedding means which is
perfectly suited to the anatomy of the person sleeping and also to
his or her sleeping habits or to his or her muscular relaxation
needs.
[0029] According to this particular embodiment, preferably the two
assembled parts comprise varied progressive cuts, the deflection of
which contributes to the desired degree of elasticity and
flexibility of the assembly, after assembly. It is also possible
for the two parts of the pillow to comprise a planar surface and
the assembly to be made using incurved surfaces leaving a hollow
area between them, in this way ensuring a greater or weaker
variable elasticity, depending on the nature of the material used
such as foam.
[0030] It may also be advantageous for the two parts to be a
different thickness so as to better adapt to the morphology of the
person sleeping. In a particular manner, the two parts of the
ergonomic pillow according to the present embodiment will have the
same thickness.
[0031] The material of which these two parts are made is preferably
a polyurethane foam obtained by polymerizing an isocyanate formed
by reaction with soya oil.
[0032] The polymer obtained can exhibit varying degrees of
polymerization, conditioning the elasticity and the flexibility of
the material. It is thus possible to obtain blocks of polymers that
are very rigid, fairly rigid or flexible. The flexible materials
offer the advantage of exhibiting a shape memory.
[0033] The dimensions of the ergonomic pillow according to this
embodiment can also vary. The usual size of the pillow may be 50 to
80 cm long, 25 to 45 cm wide and have a thickness varying from 6 to
15 cm. A preferred dimension is of the order of 55 cm long, 35 cm
wide and to 11 cm thick. The pillow can also be made to measure
(thickness, width, length) according to the morphological problems
of the subject or the dimensions of the bedding means.
[0034] The incurved form of the assembly thus makes it possible to
bring together areas that have different characteristics, ensuring
a very firm cervical accommodation with support for the head that
is also firm then flexible or else a cervical accommodation that is
slightly firm then rapidly flexible while ensuring a support for
the head that is evenly firm then flexible. It is also possible to
produce a very flexible cervical accommodation and a support for
the head that is evenly flexible then firm. It is even possible to
produce a cervical accommodation that is slightly flexible then
rapidly firm while ensuring a support for the head that is evenly
flexible then firm.
[0035] An ergonomic pillow is thus produced that offers both an
area of accommodation for supporting the cervicals, an area of
accommodation for absorbing the shoulder surface on the side and on
the back whatever the position of the person sleeping and an area
of accommodation for the head, by virtue of the way it is cut into
two parts, of different consistencies and forms.
[0036] The ergonomic pillow according to this embodiment is
intended to be placed in a single slip of fabric having different
color visual markers, or phosphorescent or luminescent visual
markers to allow for a suitable placement, with tactile marker,
piping with notch or embroidery.
[0037] Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiment
described, it is perfectly possible to provide variant embodiments
without departing from the context of the invention as defined by
the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] Reference is made to the appended drawings in which:
[0039] FIG. 1 represents a perspective schematic view going from
one block to the other according to the invention, consisting of
two blocks (1) and (2) of angular form attached by their oblique
face, forming a common transition surface (3) which defines a
variable thickness over its entire width and which is associated
with different flexibilities and firmnesses making it possible to
define four distinct areas of comfort A, B, C, D depending on the
four possible positions of use of the pillow.
[0040] FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 are cross-sectional views of the pillow
according to FIG. 1 representing the four positions of use.
[0041] The identifiers (1) and (2) designate the two blocks of
different flexibilities and firmness, the identifier (3) indicates
a straight angular face, the identifier (4) designates the area
where the cervicals rest and the identifier (5) the area where the
head rests.
[0042] FIGS. 6 to 14 represent schematic cross sections of the
pillow according to different variant embodiments linked to the
geometry of the two blocks.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view which represents two
trapezoids of identical form, the identifiers (1) and (2) designate
the two blocks of different flexibility and firmness, the
identifier (3) represents straight angular faces.
[0044] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view which represents two
trapezoids with two blocks of different thicknesses, the
identifiers (1) and (2) designate the two blocks of different
flexibility and firmness, the identifier (3) representing straight
angular faces.
[0045] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view which represents two
right-angled triangles, the identifiers (1) and (2) designate the
two blocks of different flexibility and firmness, the identifier
(3') represents complementary angular faces, concave and convex,
incurved along a straight generatrix.
[0046] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view which represents two
trapezoids, the identifiers (1) and (2) designate the two blocks of
different flexibility and firmness, the identifier (3') represents
complementary angular faces, concave and convex, incurved along a
straight generatrix.
[0047] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view which represents two
right-angled triangles, the identifiers (1) and (2) designating the
two blocks of different flexibilities and firmness, the identifier
(3'') represents regular and complementary corrugated angular
faces, the protruding parts of one interlocking in the hollow parts
of the other.
[0048] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view which represents two
trapezoids, the identifiers (1) and (2) designating the two blocks
of different flexibility and firmness, the identifier (3'')
representing regular corrugated angular faces, the protruding parts
of one interlocking in the hollow parts of the other.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view which represents a
trapezoid and a triangle with two blocks of different thicknesses,
the identifiers (1) and (2) also designate the two blocks of
different flexibility and firmness, the identifier (3) representing
straight angular faces extending over a part of the projected
surface of the pillow. In this case, the trapezoid of different
thickness, the less thick is limited to a triangular section.
[0050] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view which represents two
trapezoids, the identifiers (1) and (2) designate the two blocks of
different flexibility and firmness, the identifier (3''')
represents complementary angular faces, corrugated discontinuously,
the variation of which is defined according to the desired effects,
the protruding parts of one interlocking in the hollow parts of the
other.
[0051] FIG. 15 shows the embodiment of the ergonomic pillow
according to the invention. The two layers (11) (11') are shown
assembled face to face, the two concave top and bottom faces (13)
(13'), comprising a corrugated cut (14) and the two notches (12)
(12') ensuring the accommodation of the shoulder. This cut confers
on the assembly qualities of flexibility or of elasticity for the
accommodation of the cervicals.
[0052] FIG. 16 represents an embodiment of the invention in which
the corrugated cut (14) is interrupted at one end by a widened
rounded segment (16) ending at the notch (12). This rounded segment
helps to confer on the assembly, depending on the density of the
material, a greater flexibility or firmness and a more targeted
support. The two rounded elements (18) (18') each represent a core
in circumferential form arranged in the pillow whose dimensions are
variable and offer a firmer consistency.
[0053] The area (1) ensures the accommodation of the cervicals and
the area (3) is a flatter area which ensures the accommodation of
the head without raising.
[0054] FIG. 17 represents another embodiment of the ergonomic
pillow according to the invention in which the circular cut (16) of
the two parts is interrupted by a partial cut (15) in sawtooth form
(14'). The thickness of the top part (13) is substantially thinned
compared to the bottom part (13').
[0055] FIG. 18 represents another embodiment according to the
invention in which the corrugated cut (14) is replaced by two
rounded segments (17) (17') having a hollow profile, arranged
symmetrically on either side of the median section (12) (12'). The
segment (17') has a greater thickness than the rounded segment
(17).
[0056] The form of this pillow has a greater or lesser thickness
and length, allowing for a different thrust on the area of the
cervicals, and consequently ensuring rest for the head. In this
way, the person sleeping will find an area of rest exactly suited
to his or her measurements.
[0057] FIG. 19 shows the two-part construction of the ergonomic
pillow according to the invention. The top part (11) has twice the
height of that of the bottom layer (11'). The material of the two
parts has two areas of different densities (medium/flexible or
firm/medium).
[0058] This type is variable for all types of embodiment.
[0059] All these figures are merely examples of many possible
variations.
* * * * *