Inclined support pillow

Details Inclined support pillow Inclined support pillow

2001-02-05

2001-09-25

Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)

Beds

Support means for discrete portion of user, useable with bed...

C005S632000, C005S655000, C005S657000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06292964

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
FEDERAL SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inclined support pillow with a foam wedge, a resilient foam section attached to the foam wedge, a covering over the foam wedge and the foam section, along with two resilient cushions positioned to be attached to the covering. The invention provides comfort and cervical/lumbar area support for individuals having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal hernia problems and other similar conditions. More particularly, the invention allows users to rearrange the cushions to desired location for comfort, and neck and lower back support.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of foam wedge pillows and multiple pillows to help individuals having GERD and other health conditions is known in the prior art. The elevation of the upper torso helps relieve the discomfort of GERD by decreasing esophageal acid exposure while the users of the pillows are on their backs. Elevation of the upper torso also helps individuals with esophageal hernias and other conditions where esophageal acid exposure causes discomfort or physical damage.
By providing elevation the users of the foam wedge pillows and multiple pillows are able to more efficiently sleep, read and watch television.
Most of the prior foam wedge pillows for such elevative use lack adequate cervical area and/or lumbar area back support. Separate supports are not provided for the lower back and neck. Additionally, foam wedge pillows, to give adequate support, are formed from rather rigid material. The rigid nature of the wedge pillow increases the discomfort of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,112 to Colavito, et al., discloses a foam wedge pillow useful for treating GERD and other applications. This pillow consists of a foam wedge pillow with a plastic container in a recess in the top surface of the wedge pillow. Weight distribution, and the lessening of neck and back stiffness, is obtained by filling the container with a fluid, such as water. Although the foam wedge pillow of this patent provides the desired function of lessening some of the back and neck discomfort associated with wedge shaped pillows, it is rather bulky to operate and maintain. The invention of this patent lacks the separate and movable resilient cushions for back support provided by the present invention. An additional layer of support is also provided by the present invention.
Therefore, the need exists for an improved inclined support pillow of sound ergonomic design, which is of a relatively simple construction, yet provides for individual, and rearrangeable, lower back and neck support. Additional comfort is also provided by having a resilient foam section attached to the top surface of the relatively less resilient foam wedge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in known types of foam wedge pillows or multiple pillows, the present invention provides an improved support pillow for individuals having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other physical ailments, allowing users to read, watch television and sleep in greater comfort. The general purpose of the invention, which will be described in greater detail, is to provide separate cushions for the neck and lower back areas of users, which cushions can be located as needed by the user. An additional layer of support is also provided by having a relatively more resilient foam section on the top surface of a foam wedge.
The present invention comprises a foam wedge having a top and bottom surface, with a relatively elevated upper first end and a relatively lowered second end. A resilient foam section, having a top surface, bottom surface, and a first and second end, and substantially the same length and width of the top surface of the foam wedge, is attached to the top surface of the foam wedge. The first end of the foam section is aligned with the upper end of the foam wedge and the second end of the foam section is aligned with the lower second end of the foam wedge.
The foam wedge and foam section combination is inserted into a covering made of fabric or cloth. At least least two fastening strips, having a first and second end, are attached to the covering, and are positioned on the surface of the covering that is parallel to the top surface of the foam section. The first end of each of the fastening strips is attached approximately four inches from the edge aligned with the first end of the resilient foam section and run longitudinally to approximately the edge aligned with the second end of the foam section.
A first resilient and second resilient foam cushion, each with a generally semi-circled shaped top surface and flat bottom surface, are provided to be attached to the top surface of the covering parallel with the foam section for lower back and neck support. The cushions are substantially the same width as the top surface of the foam section. The first cushion, used for lower back support, is relatively larger than the second cushion which is used for neck support. The cushions are individually inserted into a covering of fabric or cloth dimensioned for securement over the cushions. At least two complementary fastening strips are attached to the covering of each cushion, and are positioned on the surface of the covering that is parallel to the flat bottom surface of the cushions. The complementary fastening strips are attached to the covering of the cushions in a location so as to allow engagement with the fastening strips. The cushions can then be engaged to the surface of the covering running parallel to the top surface of the foam section by press mating the complementary fastening strips to the fastening strips.
The cushions can be adjusted to fit the needs of individuals taking into consideration the height and the location of the individual's neck for support with the second cushion.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved inclined pillow for sleeping, reading, watching television and/or any other situation where comfort and angled support are needed for persons having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other similar ailments.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an additional layer of support to the foam wedge pillows now on the market.
It is another object of the present invention to provide separate cushions for lower back and neck support on the inclined surfaces which cushions can be located and readjusted on the inclined surface of the pillow to compensate for the individual's upper torso size.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3009172 (1961-11-01), Eidam
patent: 3648308 (1972-03-01), Greenawalt
patent: 4471767 (1984-09-01), Guimond
patent: 4862535 (1989-09-01), Roberts
patent: 5014376 (1991-05-01), Doran
patent: 5237713 (1993-08-01), Prager
patent: 5439008 (1995-08-01), Bowman
patent: 5448790 (1995-09-01), Saro et al.
patent: 5697112 (1997-12-01), Colavito

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