Beds – Support for users body or part thereof – Specially adapted for infant support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-15
2001-11-27
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Support for users body or part thereof
Specially adapted for infant support
C005S637000, C005S644000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321403
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of support pillows. In particular, the invention relates to pillows for supporting the head of an infant when reclining in a supine position, and to methods of supporting the infant's head when so reclining.
Medical advice now suggests that infants should be placed on their backs when sleeping in order to reduce the number of incidents of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or “crib death” as it is commonly known. Complying with this advice sometimes leads to a situation where the back of the baby's head becomes flattened. Although probably not a medical condition, “flat head” syndrome may cause concern to some parents.
Although numerous pillows are available which are specifically adapted to provide additional support for infants, young children, and the like, such pillows have not been designed to reduce the pressure on the back of the head. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,513 describes a pillow referred to as a head protector which includes a panel with a U-shaped roll. In use in car-seats, infant carriers and the like, the roll is placed around the infant's head and shoulders, thereby protecting and supporting the top and sides of the infant's head. However, the back of the infant's head still experiences considerable pressure.
Hence, this invention is related to techniques for reducing or redistributing the pressure applied to the back of the head when lying in the supine position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides exemplary pillows and methods for supporting a person's head, and especially an infant's head, when reclining in a supine position. In one embodiment such a support pillow comprises a cushion member having a support region at least partially surrounding a pressure relief region. The support region is configured to support at least a portion of the head while the pressure relief region is disposed beneath at least a portion of the back side of the head. In this way, the pressure applied to the back side of the head is reduced or is more evenly distributed than would be the case with a conventional pillow or other traditional resting surface. By reducing or more evenly applying the pressure to the back of the head in this manner, the “flat head” syndrome may be obviated or alleviated.
In one aspect, the pressure relief region may comprise a recessed portion in the cushion member. The recessed portion may be an aperture that extends completely through the cushion member or may simply be a depression, such as a concave surface, into which the back of the head rests. Conveniently, the recessed portion may have a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes, including, for example, circular, oval, elliptical, and the like, as well as shapes specifically configured according to an infant's head.
In another aspect, the length across the recessed portion may be in the range from about 2 inches to about 4 inches, and more preferably from about 2 inches to about 3 inches. Further, the support region surrounding the recessed region may have a thickness in the range from about 1 inch to about 3 inches, and more preferably from about 1.25 inch to about 2.25 inches. The size of the perimeter, the thickness, and the resiliency of the support region may be varied depending on a variety of factors, including, for example, the size and/or weight of the head, the amount of pressure applied to the head by the support region verses that applied by the pressure relief region and/or another surface onto which the head rests, and the like. In another aspect, the recessed region may have walls of various shapes, including, for example, vertical walls, tapered walls, curved walls, and the like.
In still another aspect, the pressure relief region may be less resilient that the support region. For example, the pressure relief region may be at least 10% less resilient than the support region so that more pressure is applied to the back of the head by the support region that the pressure relief region.
In one particular aspect, the cushion member includes an extended region extending from the support region. The extended region may conveniently be used to receive an infant's body. For instance, the extended region may be padded to cushion the infant's back side when lying in a supine position. Optionally, the edge of the extended region may be have a curved or scalloped design.
The cushion member may be configured in a variety of ways. For example, the cushion member may have an inclined surface for supporting an infant's body at an inclined angle. As another example, the cushion member may have an outer periphery that is circular, semicircular, rectangular or the like. As still another example, the cushion body may be ring shaped.
In one exemplary aspect, the pillow further includes an arcuate flange that is disposed around at least a portion of the pressure relief region (and may also extend around at least a portion of the support region). The flange is disposed on top of the cushion member and may be padded. The flange may be used, for example, to help prevent the infant from rolling off the pillow or to provide stability to the infant's neck when traveling.
The support pillows of the invention may be configured to be stand alone units or may be incorporated into other types of pillows/cushions, either integrally or as an add on feature. For example, the cushion member may simply be positioned beneath the user's head. Alternatively, the cushion member may have a padded extension for resting other parts of the body as previously described. As a further example, the pillow may be placed onto a fabric layer having an padded flange that is disposed about the head as previously described. Further, the support pillows of the invention, as a stand alone unit or a multi-featured system, may be used with a variety of other products which are designed to hold infants or small children. For example, the pillows may be used within cribs, strollers, swings, car seats, infant carriers, and the like.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for supporting an infant's head. The method utilizes a support pillow comprising a cushion member having a support region at least partially surrounding a pressure relief region. An infant is placed in a supine position, with a back of the infant's head resting on the support region. Further, at least a portion of the infant's head is disposed over the pressure relief region such that pressure applied to the back side of the head is reduced.
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Camp Kazoo, Ltd.
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
Trettel Michael F.
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