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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to support devices, such as pillows and the
like, used during sleeping, resting and similar periods of general
inactivity in a recumbent or reclining posture. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a support device of the foregoing type
adapted to constrain the user to lie in a supine position.
It is of course widely recognized that differing people tend to naturally
assume widely varying postures when in a recumbent position during
sleeping and other resting periods. Basically, such diverse recumbent
positions may be loosely groups into three categories, postures wherein
the individual lies in a prone position, i.e. with the abdominal area
essentially downward and the face to one side, postures wherein the
individual lies in a sidewise position, i.e. with one side of the body
essentially downward and the face to one side, and postures wherein the
individual lies in a supine position, i.e. essentially with the back
downward and the face upward. Conventional wisdom has generally assumed
that an individual's normal recumbent resting position is primarily a
matter of personal preference and natural inborn proclivities, although
childhood learning and training may also be influential.
Little attention is known to have been given to the ramifications of
differing sleeping and resting positions on the individual's health and
general well-being. It has now been discovered that in fact a person's
normal sleeping position may directly affect the occlusion of the teeth.
Particularly, it has been found that a greater incidence of malocclusion
tends to occur in persons who normally sleep in a prone or sidewise
position wherein persons typically hug or otherwise press a pillow against
the face transferring pressure from the shoulder, upper arm, forearm or
hand to the face, jaws and teeth causing the lower jaw to assume an
unnatural relationship with respect to the upper jaw. Malocclusion in the
form of rotated, overlapping teeth, temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
dysfunction, overbites, crossbites and midline deviations have been found
to be directly related to habitual "pillow hugging" in a sidewise or prone
sleeping position. As a result, individuals who sleep in a prone or
sidewise position are considerably more likely to require orthodontic
treatment and, moreover, orthodontic correction of malocclusion in such
persons normally requires a longer treatment period, e.g. six months to
one year longer. Further, orthodontic correction may be less likely to
achieve long-term beneficial results in persons who sleep in a prone or
sidewise position in that the malocclusion will tend to reoccur if that
person discontinues retainer wear.
It has also been found that attempts to relieve harmful pressures on the
teeth during sleeping by attempting to prevent pillow hugging are
generally unsuccessful. Thus, sleeping without a pillow, with a pillow
under a fitted bedsheet, with the head and shoulders elevated, or with
various commercially available orthopedic pillows has not been found to
significantly affect the incidence of malocclusion.
Accordingly, at least from the standpoint of promoting proper occlusion of
the masticatory surfaces of the maxillary and mandibular teeth, a supine
rather than prone or sidewise sleeping positions should be encouraged.
Furthermore, it is believed that a supine sleeping position is of greater
comfort and promotes a more restful and beneficial sleep, so that the
overall health and well-being of an individual will also be benefited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a support
device and method which are particularly adapted for constraining a user
to lie in a supine position during sleeping, resting and similar periods
of general inactivity for treatment and prevention of malocclusion of the
teeth.
Briefly described, the support device of the present invention basically
comprises a main body adapted for supporting a user's torso and head when
supine. The main body has an upper surface formed with a relatively
elevated marginal region bordering a relatively recessed user support
region which generally conforms in shape to the human torso and head. In
this manner, a user is enabled to comfortably lie supine with the user's
torso and head within the recessed user support region, while the elevated
marginal region acts to resist any tendency of the user to turn from the
supine position. As a result, the device promotes the natural development
of the occlusion of the user's teeth by deterring the user from sleeping
and resting in prone and sidewise positions wherein the user's jaws may
assume an unnatural relationship.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support device is
constructed as a pillow with the main body having a lower surface for
resting disposition on a generally horizontal support surface suitable for
sleeping and resting such as a mattress, bed or the like and with the
upper surface of the main body being cushioned and extending at an acute
angle with respect to the lower surface for dispostion at an upward
incline with respect to horizontal. The recessed user support region of
the upper surface has a torso support area and a head support area
generally conforming in shape to the human torso and head with a cervical
support area intermediate the torso and head support areas relatively
elevated therefrom to provide support to the user's neck when lying supine
with the user's torso and head within the recessed torso and head support
areas. The main body of the pillow is fabricated with a first
substantially wedge-shaped body member which forms the lower surface of
the main body, a second substantially planar body member secured in
superposed relation to the first body member for forming the user support
region, a third substantially planar body member secured in superposed
relation to the second body member and having an opening formed
therethrough in the general shape of the human torso and head for forming
the elevated marginal region and defining the recessed user support
region, and a fourth body member secured in superposed relation to the
second body member intermediate the torso and head support areas of the
user support region for forming the cervical support area. Preferably, the
main body of the pillow is covered by a suitable upholstery material.
The support device may be provided with one or more support members which
are selectively attachable to and detachable from the upper surface of the
main body for selectively adjusting the recessed user support region to
the user. For this purpose, a cervical support member may be selectively
attachable to and detachable from the recessed user support region at the
cervical support area between the torso and head support areas and,
similarly, a lumbar support member may be selectively attachable to and
detachable from the recessed user support region at a lumbar support
portion of the torso support area. Preferably, each of the cervical and
lumbar support members are selectively positionable to some extent within
their respective mounting areas to suit the user's particular preferences
and needs. An elongated auxiliary cushion member may also be provided for
selective attachment to and detachment from the upper surface of the main
body within the recessed user support region to extend substantially along
the full extent of the marginal region adjacent the user support region,
to permit the selective adjustment of the size of the user support region
to be compatible with users of varying sizes. Preferably, the main body of
the support device and each of the support members have mating fastener
members thereon, e.g. VELCRO fastener strips, to provide for attachment,
positioning and detachment of the respective support members as described.
According to the method of the present invention, malocclusion of a
patient's teeth is treated and prevented by constraining the patient to
lie in a supine position during sleeping. Basically, the method
contemplates providing a support device of the above-described type and
causing the patient when sleeping to lie supine within the recessed user
support region of the device wherein the elevated marginal region resists
any tendency of the patient to turn from the supine position, thereby
permitting the occclusion of the patient's teeth to develop naturally
without being affected by unnatural relative disposition of the patient's
jaws often caused by sleeping in prone and sidewise positions. Preferably,
the support device is inclined in use upwardly with respect to horizontal
to provide the patient with a sense of balance and stability, for example
by forming the support device of a wedge shape as described. To avoid
possible stress on the patient's lower back, the patient's legs may be
supported with an auxiliary cushion or the like. Similarly, the method may
include providing supplementary support for the patient's neck and lower
back in the cervical and lumbar areas.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the supine
support device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view thereof;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the main body thereof; and
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of
the supine support device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the accompanying drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a
supine support pillow according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention is indicated generally at 10. The pillow 10 has a main body 12
which is generally of an overall wedge-like shape having a substantially
rectangular planar lower surface 14 (FIG. 2), a correspondingly
rectangular upper surface 16 oriented at an acute angle with respect to
the lower surface 14, and a pair of triangular side surfaces 18 and a
rectangular back surface 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which extend essentially
perpendicularly between the lower and upper surfaces 14,16.
The main body 12 is fabricated of a suitable cushioning material, which may
preferably be the densified batting material currently manufactured and
sold by the William T. Burnette Company located in Statesville, North
Carolina. As seen in FIG. 4, the main body 12 is basically formed of four
body members 22,24,26,28, each preferably formed of the selected
cushioning material. The first body member 22 is substantially of a
triangular wedge-like shape, while the second bdy member 24 is of a
substantially rectangular parallelipiped configuration and is secured in
superposed relation to the upper face of the wedge-shaped body member 22,
in a suitable manner such as by stitching, adhesive or other appropriate
means. The third body member 26 is of a substantially identical
rectangular parallelipiped configuration as the body member 24, but is
formed lengthwise with an opening 30 therethrough of a shape generally
conforming in outline to the normal shape of the human upper torso and
head. The third body member 26 is secured in superposed relation to the
upper face of the second body member 24 in similar fashion to its
securement to the wedge-shaped body member 22, with the torso area 30' of
the opening at the declining lengthwise end of the second body member 24
and the head area 30" of the opening 30 at the opposite inclining end of
the second body member 24. The fourth body member 28 is of a generally
cylindrical shape secured to the upper face of the second body member 24
to extend generally co-extensively with the third body member 26
transversely intermediate the torso and head areas 30',30" of its opening
30. The main body 12 is preferably upholstered with a suitable textile
fabric or other appropriate upholstery material 32.
By the above-described construction, the underside of the first body member
22 of the pillow 10 forms the lower surface 14 of its main body 12 to be
adapted for disposition on a generally horizontal support surface such as
a mattress, bed, floor or the like. The upper faces of the second and
third body members 24,26 form the upper surface 16 of the main body 12 of
the pillow 10, the third body member 26 forming a relatively elevated
marginal region 16' which borders and defines a relatively recessed user
support region 16" formed by the upwardly exposed central area of the
second body member 24. The recessed region 16" of the upper surface 16 of
the pillow 10 is basically divided into a torso support area 34 defined
within the torso portion 30' of the opening 30 in the third body member 26
and a head support area 36 defined within the head portion 30" of the
opening 30 in the body member 26, separated by a relatively elevated
cervical support area 38 formed by the fourth body member 28.
In use, the pillow 10 is placed with its lower surface 14 as aforedescribed
on a bed or other suitable generally horizontal surface of which a user
wishes to lie for sleeping or resting, whereby the cushioned upper surface
16 extends from its torso support area 34 to its head support area 36 at
an acute upward incline with respect to horizontal. The user may then
comfortably lie supine on the bed or other support surface with the user's
torso and head resting within the recessed torso and head support areas
34,36 while the cervical support area 38 provides support to the user's
neck. The relative elevation of the marginal region 16' formed by the
third body member 26 makes it difficult and uncomfortable for the user to
turn to a sidewise or prone position, at least without first moving to a
sitting position and awakening, and thereby resists any such tendency of
the user so as to maintain the user in the desired supine resting
position. The slight inclination provided by the wedge shape of the pillow
10 provides the user with an increased sense of balance and stability in
comparison to a substantially horizontal supine position, which further
promotes user comfort in the supine position and aids in preventing any
user tendency to turn or move therefrom. If necessary or desirable, an
auxiliary cushion or pillow may be placed under the user's legs to relieve
any possible stress on the lower back area.
In this manner, users may become conditioned to sleeping and otherwise
resting in a supine position with a high degree of comfort and minimal
disruption of normal sleep patterns. As a highly beneficial result, the
occlusion of each user's teeth will be enabled to develop naturally.
Long-term use of the pillow of the present invention will thereby minimize
and, in at least some cases, eliminate, the need for orthodontic
treatment, particularly if use is begun during early childhood. For users
who nevertheless require orthodontic treatment, use of the present pillow
will shorten the time period required for correction of orthodontic
problems by six months' to one year's time and thereafter will prevent or
at least minimize any tendency of such problems to return. For sake of
comfort, convenience and to promote optimal results, it is anticipated
that the pillow of the present invention may be fabricated in varying
sizes to accommodate users of all ages and physical sizes. As necessary or
desirable, the present pillow may be provided with a restraining strap to
assist the user during the initial periods of use. Moreover, apart from
the foregoing advantages of the present pillow, it is also anticipated
that the pillow will provide enhanced sleeping comfort in comparison to
prone sleeping positions to promote more restful and beneficial sleep
habits for all users, whether or not orthodontic problems are present.
Referring now to the FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the supine
support pillow of the present invention is indicated generally at 110, the
pillow including a wedge-shaped main body 112 of generally the same
construction as that of the pillow 10 of FIGS. 1-4. According to this
embodiment, however, the pillow 110 is provided with a plurality of
supplementary support members each of which is selectively attachable to
and detachable from the upper surface 116 of the main body 112 to enable
the user to selectively adjust the size and support characteristics of the
recessed user support region 116" to suit the user's own particular needs
and desires. Specifically, instead of the permanent cervical support 38 of
the first embodiment, a generally rounded cervical support member 140 is
provided for selective attachment to and detachment from the cervical
support area 138 of the recessed region 116" by mating fastener strips
142,144, e.g. VELCRO type fastener strips, affixed respectively along the
cervical support cushion 140 and across the cervical support area 138. The
fastener strips 142,144 are sufficiently dimensioned to enable the
selective positioning of the cervical support cushion 140 within a
reasonable range of possible positions at the cervical support area 138
for proper positioning of the cushion 140 to underlie the user's neck for
optimal cervical support. Similarly, a rectangular lumbar support cushion
146 is selectively attachable to and detachable from the lumbar area 148
of the recessed user support region 116" by a plurality of mating fastener
strips 150,152 affixed to the lumber support cushion 146 and to the lumbar
area 148 of the upper body surface 116 for selective positioning of the
lumbar cushion 146 to provide comfortable support for the user's lower
back.
As an alternative to the aforementioned possibility of constructing the
pillow 10 in varying sizes, an elongated auxiliary cushion member 154 may
be provided for selective attachment to and detachment from the upper
surface 116 of the main body 112 to extend substantially along the full
extent of the marginal region 116' adjacent the recessed user support
region 116" so as to define the torso and head support areas 134,136 of a
smaller size, thereby enabling the selective adjustment of the size of the
recessed user support region 116" to be compatible with users of a variety
of ages and sizes. The auxiliary cushion member 154 is provided with a
fastener strip 156 affixed to one side of the cushion member 154 along
substantially its full length and the marginal region 116' of the upper
body surface 116 is provided with a mating fastener strip 158 affixed
along the generally upright surface of the marginal region 116' inwardly
facing the recessed region 116", to facilitate attachment of the auxiliary
cushion member 154 in place as described. As necessary or desirable,
auxiliary cushion members 154 may be constructed of varying
cross-sectional thicknesses for selective alternative attachment to the
main body 112 to enable the size of the recessed region 116" to be
selectively changed among a variety of differing possible sizes. In this
manner, one main body 112 may be adapted to accommodate virtually all
possible users. This is of particular advantage for the orthodontic
treatment of children and adolescents in that the size of the recessed
region 116" may be enlarged as the patient grows in size. The selective
positionability of the cervical and lumbar support cushions 140,146
compatibly permits these cushions to be adjustably positioned with respect
to the growth of the patient.
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art
that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and
application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention
other than those herein described, as well as many variations,
modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or
reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing
description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the
present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been
described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is
to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary
of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a
full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is
not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or
otherwise to exclude any such other embodiment, adaptations, variations,
modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being
limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.
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