CA2224630A1 - The universal pillow - Google Patents

Abstract

It is thought that one-third of the average person's life is spent sleeping in bed. In the adult, this lordosis extends from the atlas to the second thoracic vertebra. Most cervical pillows are designed to support the cervical lordosis while resting or sleeping. Proper use of the "right" kind of pillow during sleep may be important in improving the posture of the whole body.
Health practitioners know from their clinical experience that not all patients can adapt to the contoured cervical foam pillow.
While almost half of patients "fall in love" with the pillow, some have no desire to use the pillow.
This pillow (Universal Pillow) is invented by considering the fact that each individual has different neck and shoulder size.
Although introducing certain curvatures in a pillow promotes proper head and neck positioning, size of the pillow's height and curvature has critical rule in achieving comfort and support.
Moreover, the position of body and consequently head and neck while lying on the pillow has been ignored in the previous inventions. They have simply assumed that the same curvature is sufficient for lying supine(on the back), lateral recumbent(on the side) and prone(on the stomach).
Most pillows offer an specific height throughout the entire pillow which could alter the ideal position for head/neck and cause discomfort when the user changes sleep posture from supine position to lateral recumbent position or vice versa. Due to the difference in neck thickness and shoulder width, a different height of pillow is required when the person is on his/her back or side. This problem is addressed in this invention by providing a shorter height throughout the middle curved area for supine sleeping and a higher height on the either side of the curved area for lateral recumbent sleep posture. Moreover, this invention has four sides of increasing height. Although this pillow is not totally customized for each person, it allows the individual to choice one of the four possible heights.
This pillow also contains a slightly protruded rectangular wedge in the middle third of each of the four sides. The wedge shape protrusion provides the lower neck area with an extra support.

Description

SPECIFICATIONS:
The physical characteristics of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
The top or plan view contour of the pillow is a convoluted square shape with four rounded corners and four slightly protruded rectangular wedges in the middle third of each four sides. The circular corners and the middle rectangular shaped wedges produce two semicircular shaped curves on each four sides.
The top view is also presented with a number of circles with a common centre but varying radiuses producing the visual effect of a number of circular waves that have been produced from the same origin and have expanded to the edges of the pillow.(Fig.1) Viewed from a 45 degree angle with respect to top and the sides, contour of pillow is a convoluted square shape with rounded corners and protruded middle parts. Each side also presents two semicircular curves which are the product of round corners and the protruded middle portions.
This angled view can clearly show the circular waves with a common origin at the centre of pillow. There is a gradual increase in height of the circular waves from the central waves towards the more lateral waves. This gradual increase in height produces a concave depression in the middle of the pillow.(Fig.2) Viewed from the sides the pillow is flat at the bottom. The pillow has an inward curve in the middle third of each side.
This inward curve has protruded out on each side of pillow producing a rectangular extension. This rectangular extension can be seen as small extensions on either side of the pillow when looking straight at each side. Each side of this pillow has an slightly different height in comparison to the other three sides.
The comparison in different heights has been illustrated with four different side views.(Fig. 3)

Claims (14)

1- A cervical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a person.

2- A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which the pillow is a convoluted square shape with four equal sides.

3- A pillow as defined in claim 2, in which each side of the pillow has an slightly different height in comparison to the other three sides.

4- A pillow as defined in claim 2, in which the pillow has four rounded corners.

5- A pillow as defined in claim 4, in which the pillow has four slightly protruded rectangular wedges in the middle third of each sides.

6- A pillow as defined in claim 5, in which the circular corners and the middle rectangular shaped wedges produce two semicircular shaped curves on each four sides.

7- A pillow as defined in claim 6, in which the pillow has an inward curve in the middle third of each side.

8- A pillow as defined in claim 7, in which the inward curve has protruded out on each side of pillow producing a rectangular extension.

9- A pillow as defiend in claim 8, in which the rectangular extension can be seen as small extensions on either side of the pillow when looking straight at each side.

10- A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which the pillow's top side has a number of circles with a common centre but varying radiuses and depths producing the visual effect of a number of circular waves that have been produced from the same origin and have expanded to the edges of the pillow.

11- A pillow as defined in claim 10, in which there is a gradual increase in height of the circular waves from the central waves towards the more lateral waves.

12- A pillow as defined in claim 11, in which the gradual increase in the height of circular waves produce a concave depression in the middle of the pillow.

13- A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which the pillow's bottom is flat.

14- A pillow as defined in claim 1, in which the pillow is constructed of polyurethane foam.