Beds – Support means for discrete portion of user – useable with bed... – For head or neck
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-21
2004-03-09
Grosz, Alexander (Department: 3673)
Beds
Support means for discrete portion of user, useable with bed...
For head or neck
C005S636000, C005S640000, C005S645000, C005S951000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06701555
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dual-filled, adjustable postural health pillow construction that combines an adjustable conforming support element with a cushioning comfort element to provide a pillow that fits the user precisely and can be configured to support the preferred sleep position. Included in this invention is a double-chambered pillow comprising a grain-filled or other appropriate flowable-particles component in the bottom chamber and a soft, compressible-fill component in the top. The grain-filled chamber, a cloth casing, has a zipper or hook and loop aperture that allows the user to adjust the volume of fill for a customizable fit. It further allows the grain fill to be refurbished as needed. In the preferred embodiment, the chambers, discreet cloth casings, are held together in designated position within an outer bag body that is three dimensionally rectangular with at least one opening in the shorter end. The present invention maximizes the benefits of each of its discreet fillings while simultaneously eliminating their undesirable actions by proportioning the volume of fills anatomically and relationally, by pairing them in top/bottom order in an ergonomically shaped configuration, and by allowing adjustment of the amount of filling.
Grain-filled pillows have been used for centuries to provide proper postural alignment for the body, as generated by their superior ability to conform precisely to the position of the head and neck and to keep the head steadily elevated and in alignment with the neck and spine throughout the night. A major complaint with traditionally constructed, prior art grain-filled pillows is the rough texture of the grains against the face. A second complaint is that when sleeping on the side, these pillows are uncomfortably hard against the user's ear. Therefore, the present invention positions a selectively filled soft compressible-fill component on top of the grain-filled component comprising enough volume and density to negate the complaints but not in an amount that would inhibit the responsiveness of the grain or flowable-particle filling beneath.
A second reason that traditionally constructed grain-filled pillows feel hard against the ear is due to their knife-edged construction, which produces a mound in the center whereby the greatest volume of filling, hence the greatest firmness, is posited directly under the ear. The proportional filling and three dimensional casing of the present invention resolve this problem by presenting the head with a level bed of grains/hulls in a quantity that allows room for displacement within the casing when the head nestles into the pillow. This means less fill under the ear and preconditions the formation of a deeper head “crater” in the grain filling to hold the head steady in its aligned position.
A third complaint with traditionally constructed and filled grain/hull pillows is that in commonly sold sizes they lack a sufficient volume and height to provide correct alignment for side sleeping positions. Within a normal size range, according to shoulder width, the user requires approximately 4″-5.5″ of pillow height to elevate his head, keep his neck straight, and hold his head, neck and spine in alignment for side sleeping. Most commercially sold buckwheat hull pillows provide only 2.5″-3.5″ of pillow height which is sufficient for back sleeping, but insufficient for side sleeping. The present invention provides pillow heights of 4″-5.5″ which can be adjusted down to 2.5″-3.5.″
Traditional, single bodied compressible-fill pillows with luxury fills like pure fluffed wool, feather and down, or synthetic fibers are used for their superior resilience and softness. They resolve the problem of a grainy texture against the face but fail to keep the head elevated, losing significant loft under the weight of the head and continuing to compress throughout the night. In failing to keep the head elevated at an optimally aligned position, they can contribute to restless sleep as well as neck, shoulder and back pain. Essentially the traditional bag-of-fluff, mounding pillow design has the wrong technology. It provides the greater volume of filling under the head where it is least needed and the lesser volume of filling at the edge where much more filling is required to support the neck. Its cross-sectional shape is almond or oval—similar to that of the head's. When “firm” or very full this type of pillow tips the head up, causing the neck to bend up, (
FIG. 7.
) Pillows that are “medium” or “soft” tip the head down, also causing the neck to bend down, (
FIG. 8.
) To provide steady support, a pillow's shape needs to compliment the shape of the head and neck, not be similar to it. Therefore, the preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a boxed construction holding two compliant fillings which allow the user's head to remain level and comfortably cradled with an ample amount of the filling flowing into the neck edge for complete cervical support, (
FIG. 6.
)
Recognition of the inadequacy of traditional pillows led to the production of contoured foam (discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,347), and pre-formed, temperature sensitive or memory pillows, which are shaped appropriately to provide more pillow height at the neck edge and less in the middle to accommodate the user's head. However, they are contoured according to generalized measurements that never exactly match the individual user's dimensions. For instance, a user with a short neck would be unable to get his head over the neck cylinder and rest in the central cavity. The conforming filling of the present invention that molds exactly to the user's contours is an improvement.
Additionally, preformed foam pillows have 4″-5″ of cylindrically shaped foam at the neck edge and 2″ of foam comprising the concave area under the head. An average 13 lb. head sinks easily into the thinner foam whereas the neck lacks sufficient weight or strength to compress the thick neck cylinder proportionately. Since foam seeks to return to its original form when compressed the cylindrical neck support can be experienced as aggressive, exerting an uncomfortable pushing sensation against the neck. Grain fillings, on the other hand, displace when the user's head rests on the pillow, molding up and around the head, and moving into the periphery to form a neck bulge that conforms to the neck to passively cradle the neck and hold it straight without exerting pressure. Additionally the foam neck edge cylinder is not able to bend around the shoulder and mold to the user's side-sleeping position, whereas the grain filling is user compliant and moves in all directions simultaneously. Yet another reason grain filling is superior is that it can be removed or added to to adjust pillow height whereas foam materials cannot.
Furthermore, because foam doesn't breathe it generates heat around the head—a condition less healthy than one which provides ventilation around the head, as does the grain filling. Additionally, visco-elastic foam is considered unhealthy, especially for persons with chemical sensitivities, because of the unpleasant and potentially toxic fumes that out gas from this polyurethane based material. Since grain-filling, especially the organic grain filling of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has greater moldability than visco elastic foam, is adjustable, and is free of toxic trace chemicals, it is an improvement over the prior art of contour and memory foam pillows.
Several uniquely designed pillows, each disclosing a top and a bottom chamber filled with discreet fillings have been patented, but their designs and utility are surpassed by the present invention which provides greater ergonomic function, more adjustability for the individual's size and sleep preferences, by virtue of the extremely compliant, passively moldable filling and the fact that the pillow height, which is ample for side sleeping, can
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