US20070067915A1

US20070067915A1 - Shaped pillow system

Info

Publication number: US20070067915A1
Application number: US11/519,650
Authority: US
Inventors: Terry Pryor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-29
Filing date: 2006-09-12
Publication date: 2007-03-29

Abstract

A pillow system including a support section an angled section and a neck support. The angled section is coupled with the support section. The neck support is coupled with the support section or the angled section.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/721,642, entitled “SHAPED PILLOW”, filed Sep. 29, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pillow system, and, more particularly, to a pillow system directed to the specific support of the neck.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pillows have long been used to comfort the body in various positions. Pillows have also been decorated and have taken on a decorative aspect in our culture. Commonly pillows are used to maintain a position of the body by utilizing various pillows and positions under the shoulders, legs and head so as to properly position a portion of the body, such as the spine, legs, arms or neck. Often it is difficult to maintain a position with any degree of comfort for long time periods.
The modern lifestyle has caused many people to spend significant amount of time utilizing computers and video games. In addition, work pressure has often caused the reduction of exercise time for many people. Conventionally, people walk or jog as a way of exercise. However, such exercise can only train the body. As to relaxation, proper positioning of the body including the head and spine during sleeping is desirable.
Further, specific hairdos of individuals preclude the resting of the head upon a pillow, which can alter or damage the hair design.
What is needed in the art is a flexible, comfortable, ergonomic pillow system to support the neck of an individual.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pillow system that supports the neck of an individual.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a pillow system including a support section an angled section and a neck support. The angled section is coupled with the support section. The neck support is coupled with the support section or the angled section.
Advantageously the present invention supports the neck, thereby protecting a hair arrangement.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it is adjustable and can be used to properly position the neck relative to the spine.
Yet still another advantage of the present invention is that heating or cooling can be applied to the neck by way of a temperature arranged pack that is inserted into a pocket of the pillow arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shaped pillow system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the shaped pillow system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pillow of another embodiment of the shaped pillow system of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the shaped pillow system of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is yet another perspective view of the shaped pillow system of FIGS. 3 and 4.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a shaped pillow system 10 including a support section 12, an angled section 14 and a neck support 16. Support section 12 is adjacent to angled section 14 and may be coupled therewith by way of a detachable system, such as a hoop and loop arrangement. Neck support 16 is inserted into support section 12. Support section 12 may be U-shaped with neck support 16 being inserted into the U-shaped portion of support section 12. Support section 12 has a channel 18, which can be understood to be the inside surface of the U-shape. It is within channel 18 that neck support 16 is positioned and held in place. Neck support 16 includes a neck receiving portion 20 that has a specific shape along two orthogonal vertical planes. When viewed in a vertical plane, which transects support section 12 through the U-shaped portion, neck support 16 has a concave shape. When neck support 16 is viewed along an orthogonal vertical plane the shape of neck support 16 is convex in nature.
A person that lays on angled section 14 has their shoulders elevated above the bed surface upon which shaped pillow system 10 rests. The neck is placed upon neck receiving portion 20 with most of the head being cantilevered beyond neck support 16 so as to prevent significant contact of the hair with any of the bedding material.
Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 3-5, there is shown another embodiment of shaped pillow system 10 including another neck support 22 having a rod-like shape with a receiving pocket 24 located along one side of neck support 22. A packet 26 can be inserted into receiving pocket 24 in order to provide further ergonomic enhancements to the neck of an individual. Packet 26 may be a heat or cold retaining element, with packet 26 being heated or cooled prior to insertion into receiving pocket 24. Additionally, packet 26 may be chemically activated causing the heating or cooling thereof. Packet 26 may additionally simply be a heat conduction material, such as a gel, which is utilized to redistribute heat from the neck of an individual. Still further, packet 26 can include material having magnetic properties to thereby establish a magnetic field approximate to an individuals neck.
Neck support 22 additionally includes connection portions 28, which may be in the form of hook and loop technology or other fastening techniques in order to connect neck support 22 to other portions of shaped pillow system 10. Connection portions 28 may exist along certain hidden surfaces of the various elements of shaped pillow system 10 to hold the portions or sections together as a unit. In addition to a first angled portion 30, which can be identical to angled section 14, there is an additionally angled portion 32 placed thereon. Second angled portion 32 is angled more sharply than first angled portion 30, thereby allowing a variation in the angular support of shaped pillow section systems 10. Another support section 34, which can also be referred to as an elevation section 34 is positioned beneath neck support 22, to thereby elevate neck support 22 when second angled portion 32 is utilized as a part of shaped pillow system 10.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, neck support 22 may be positioned directly on first angled portion 30 as yet another manner in which shaped pillow system 10 can be utilized by connecting various portions to provide proper support to the neck of an individual.
An individual that utilizes shaped pillow system 10 has their shoulders supported by angled portion 14, 30 and/or 32 and the neck is placed upon neck support 16 or 22 with the upper part of the head being unsupported by pillow system 10. This advantageously allows an individual to reduce or prevent disturbing of their hairdo while they sleep. Another advantage of the present invention is that it may be utilized by an individual having a medical condition that would preclude the head from contacting the bed, thereby reducing pressure on the head while the neck is supported. The individual's hair either doesn't touch the bed or touches it in a minimal way so as to not significantly alter the hair style or place pressure upon the head of the individual.
Support section 12 may be made of a material that is of a firmer nature than neck support 16 and angled portion 14. While support section 12 is firmer than portion 14 and support 16, it can be made of a compressible material, such as a foam rubber. Angled portion 14 and neck support 16 may be of substantially similar materials that are more easily compressed than support section 12. Neck receiving portion 20 may be shaped as illustrated and described above or have some other ergonomic shape. The neck of the individual is completely supported while the head remains substantially unsupported and cantilevered beyond neck support 16. This orientation may cause the pharyngeal axis and the laryngeal axis to become substantially parallel and may aid a persons breathing.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pillow system, comprising:

a support section;

an angled section coupled with said support section; and

a neck support coupled with at least one of said support section and said angled section.

2. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein said support section has a U shape with said neck support being coupled with said support section within said U.

3. The pillow system of claim 2, wherein said neck support has a concave shape in a vertical plane.

4. The pillow system of claim 3, wherein said neck support has a convex shape in an other vertical plane, said vertical plane being substantially orthogonal to said other vertical plane.

5. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein said angled section is coupled with said support section by way of a plurality of hook and loop connections.

6. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein said neck support is positioned above said angled section.

7. The pillow system of claim 6, wherein said support section is positioned between said neck support and said angled section.

8. The pillow system of claim 7, wherein said neck support is substantially rod shaped.

9. The pillow system of claim 8, wherein said neck support includes a receiving pocket.

10. The pillow system of claim 9, further comprising an insert packet insertable into said receiving pocket.

11. The pillow system of claim 10, wherein said insert packet is one of a heating packet, a cooling packet, a gel packet and a magnetic packet.

12. The pillow system of claim 7, further comprising an other angled section positioned on said angled section and being adjacent to said neck support.

13. A method of supporting a human neck, comprising the steps of:

positioning a support section adjacent to an angled section; and

coupling a neck support with at least one of said support section and said angled section.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said support section has a U shape with said neck support being coupled with said support section within said U.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said neck support has a concave shape in a first vertical plane and a convex shape in a second vertical plane, said first vertical plane being substantially orthogonal to said second vertical plane.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said neck support is positioned above said angled section.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said support section is positioned between said neck support and said angled section.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said neck support is substantially rod shaped and said neck support includes a receiving pocket.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising an insert packet insertable into said receiving pocket, said insert packet being one of a heating packet, a cooling packet, a gel packet and a magnetic packet.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising an other angled section positioned on said angled section and being adjacent to said neck support.