U.S. patent application number 14/883812 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-21 for positional pillow.
This patent application is currently assigned to Greendale Partners, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Greendale Partners, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kevin Thomas Vargas.
Application Number | 20160106238 14/883812 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55748022 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160106238 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vargas; Kevin Thomas |
April 21, 2016 |
POSITIONAL PILLOW
Abstract
A positional pillow includes an elongate back support and an
L-shaped pillow portion for supporting a side-sleeper in a
comfortable lateral position. The elongate back support includes a
resiliently flexible insert disposed within a cushioning wrap. The
L-shaped pillow includes a head section extending from one end of
the back support, and an elongate body section extending
perpendicularly generally parallel to the elongate back
support.
Inventors: |
Vargas; Kevin Thomas; (West
Covina, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Greendale Partners, Inc. |
West Covina |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Greendale Partners, Inc.
West Covina
CA
|
Family ID: |
55748022 |
Appl. No.: |
14/883812 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62122279 |
Oct 17, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/636 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 20/027 20130101;
A47C 20/023 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/10 20060101
A47G009/10 |
Claims
1. A positional pillow, comprising: an elongate back support
including a resiliently flexible insert disposed within a
cushioning wrap; and an L-shaped pillow including a head section
having a first end extending perpendicularly from one end of the
elongate back support, and an elongate body section extending
perpendicularly from a second end of the head section generally
parallel to the elongate back support.
2. The positional pillow of claim 1, wherein the elongate back
support and the L-shaped pillow are associated within a unitary
liner.
3. The positional pillow of claim 1, wherein the L-shaped pillow is
substantially filled with 60%-40% polyester cluster fiber material
and 60%-40% polyester down alternative material.
4. The positional pillow of claim 3, wherein the L-shaped pillow is
substantially filled with a 50% polyester cluster fiber/50%
polyester down alternative material.
5. The positional pillow of claim 1, wherein the resiliently
flexible insert comprises a polyurethane foam block.
6. The positional pillow of either claim 1 or 5, wherein the
cushioning wrap comprises at least a dual layer wrap.
7. The positional pillow of either claim 1 or 5, wherein the
cushioning wrap comprises a low-melt fiber.
8. The positional pillow of claim 7, wherein the low-melt fiber
comprises a polyester fiber.
9. A positional pillow, comprising: an elongate back support
including a resiliently flexible foam block insert disposed within
a cushioning wrap; an L-shaped pillow including a head section
having a first end extending perpendicularly from one end of the
elongate back support, and an elongate body section extending
perpendicularly from a second end of the head section generally
parallel to the elongate back support; the L-shaped pillow being
substantially filled with a polyester cluster fiber/polyester down
alternative material; wherein the elongate back support and the
L-shaped pillow are associated within a unitary liner.
10. The positional pillow of claim 9, wherein the cushioning wrap
comprises at least a dual layer wrap of a low-melt fiber.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 62/122,279, filed Oct. 17, 2014.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to pillows which
encourage either left or right side position sleeping.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, there
are over 18 million people suffering from sleep disorders, most of
which are caused by Obstructional Sleep Apnea. It is well known
that the lateral or side-sleep position is a means for preventing
Obstructional Sleep Apnea or OSA.
[0004] Sleeping on one's back can cause the tongue and soft palate
to rest against the back of the throat which will block the airway
and cause snoring. Sleeping in the lateral or side-sleep position
has been validated as a way to treat or reduce Sleep Apnea events
and snoring because it helps to prevent the collapse of the
breathing cavity.
[0005] Many people who suffer from Obstructional Sleep Apnea are
prescribed use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
devices as a meanings of effective treatment. However, many find
that such devices interfere with restful sleep and prefer to do
without expensive CPAP equipment and supplies. Sleeping on one's
side helps to make CPAP therapy more tolerable and offers added
support for the CPAP appliance.
[0006] Untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure,
heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, memory lost, obesity, and
various other health conditions including death. Accordingly, there
is a need for a positional pillow that may be utilized with or
without CPAP machines and which facilitates sleep in the lateral or
side-sleep position. Such a positional pillow must be easy to use,
preferably offer dual head and torso support allowing the sleeper
to start and stay on his or her side to help reduce tossing and
turning, and also separate adjacent sleepers to help prevent the
sleep disorder from affecting the sleeping companion.
[0007] The present invention fulfills these needs and provides
other related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention resides in a positional pillow that
provides comfort and support for persons desiring or who need to
sleep in a lateral or side-sleep position. The positional pillow of
the present invention comprises, generally, an elongate back
support including a resiliently flexible insert disposed within a
cushioning wrap, and an L-shaped pillow. The L-shaped pillow
includes a head section having a first end extending
perpendicularly from one end of the elongate back support, and an
elongate body section extending perpendicularly from a second end
of the head section generally parallel to the elongate back
support. The elongate back support and the L-shaped pillow are
associated within a unitary cotton liner.
[0009] Preferably, the L-shaped pillow is substantially filled with
a 60%-40% polyester cluster fiber material/60%-40% polyester down
alternative material, and most preferably a 50% polyester cluster
fiber material/50% polyester down alternative material.
[0010] The resiliently flexible insert within the elongate back
support comprises a polyurethane foam block disposed within a dual
layer wrap of a low-melt fiber material, such as a polyester
fiber.
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such
drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a positional
pillow embodying the present invention and shown in use;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front and top perspective view of the positional
pillow of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear and top perspective view thereof;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the positional pillow of the
present invention, showing, with dashed lines, the relative
positioning of the elongated back support, on the one hand, and the
L-shaped pillow portion, on the other;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of
FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along
the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective and partially sectional
view of the positional pillow of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the
present invention is directed to a positional pillow generally
identified by the reference number 10. The positional pillow 10
offers an alternative support option for those who are trying to
maintain the lateral or side-sleep position during sleep as a means
for preventing Obstructional Sleep Apnea or OSA.
[0021] For those diagnosed with sleep apnea, nightly use of
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a most effective
treatment. The positional pillow 10 of the present invention is not
a cure for sleep apnea or a replacement for CPAP therapy. However,
the positional pillow 10 of the present invention does make the use
of CPAP equipment much more comfortable and increases of the
likelihood that CPAP patients will use the required equipment over
longer periods of time.
[0022] Generally speaking, the positional pillow 10 of the present
invention is a lower case "n"-shaped two component body pillow
which differs from other body pillows in its dual cushioning
design. Opposite sides of the positional pillow 10 are stuffed
differently. It combines the comfort of an L-shaped side sleeper
pillow 12 with the support of an elongate back support portion 14.
The positional pillow 10 is intended for use for those suffering
from positional sleep apnea, untreated sleep apnea, excessive
snoring, tossing and turning, restless sleepers, and virtually
anyone who wants to adopt the good sleeping hygiene habit of
sleeping on one's side.
[0023] More particularly, and with reference to the accompanying
drawings, the elongate back support 14 includes a resiliently
flexible foam block insert 16 which is disposed within a cushioning
wrap 18. The L-shaped pillow 12 includes a head section 20 having a
first end 22 extending perpendicularly from one end of the
elongated back support, and an elongate body section 24 extending
perpendicularly from a second end 26 of a head section generally
parallel to the elongate back support 14.
[0024] All of the foregoing structure, namely the elongate back
support 14 and the L-shaped pillow 12, are associated within a
unitary liner 28.
[0025] The L-shaped pillow 12 is substantially filled with a
60%-40% polyester cluster fiber material and a 60%-40% polyester
down alternative material 30. Most preferably, the L-shaped pillow
12 is substantially filled with a 50% polyester cluster fiber/50%
polyester down alternative material 30.
[0026] The foam block insert 16 disposed within the elongate back
support 14 comprises a polyurethane foam block disposed within a
dual layer wrap 18. Preferably, the dual layer (cushioning) wrap 18
comprises a low melt fiber such as a polyester fiber mesh.
[0027] In use, the positional pillow 10 is typically placed within
a typical cotton pillow case 32 which may be occasionally removed
and washed, and replaced as necessary or desirable
[0028] The positional pillow 10 is typically placed on a bed with
the head section 20 disposed where the sleepers head will normally
be positioned. The sleeper then lies down in the lateral or
side-sleep position inside the pillow with the elongate back
support 14 to the sleeper's back. With the sleeper's head on top of
the head section 20, the sleeper may adjust the elongate body
section 24 for comfort. If the sleeper wants to switch sides, it is
very simple just to flip the positional pillow 10 over. When
properly used, the two-sided support minimizes tossing and turning
and prevents the sleeper from falling into the supine position.
[0029] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the
positional pillow 10 of the present invention provides a soft
support to encourage one to sleep in the lateral or side-sleep
position in a manner which may be utilized with or without CPAP
machines and other sleep aids.
[0030] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be
limited, except as by the appended claims.
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