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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. An ergonomic pillow assembly operable to receive and support a person's
head having a skull section connected to a neck portion, spinal assembly,
lumbar, and waist area thereon, comprising:
a) a head support assembly to receive and support a person's skull section
and neck portion connected to a thoracic support assembly which, in turn,
is connected to a waist and lumbar support assembly;
b) said head support assembly and said waist and lumbar support assembly
extended laterally of said thoracic support assembly; and
c) said thoracic support assembly includes a shoulder cut-out retainer area
between said head support assembly and said waist and lumbar support
assembly operable to receive the person's shoulder therein when resting on
the person's side.
2. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 1, wherein:
a) said head support assembly includes a head support member having an
arcuate upper surface to receive a person's head resting thereon and
including a side cervical support member; and
b) said side cervical support member includes a neck support section
integral with an arcuate jaw support section to receive the person's neck
and jaw thereagainst when resting on the person's side.
3. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 1, wherein:
a) said thoracic support assembly is secured to a central portion of said
head support assembly and a central portion of said waist and lumbar
support assembly having one of said shoulder cut-out retainer areas on
both sides of said thoracic support assembly to receive the person's
shoulder therein, respectively, when resting on either the person's left
or right side.
4. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 1, wherein:
a) said head support assembly having a side cervical support member thereon
provided with a neck support section and a jaw support section positioned
adjacent said shoulder cut-out retainer area to receive and support the
person's neck and jaw areas therein.
5. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 1, including:
a) said head support assembly having mounted therein a speaker resonating
chamber;
b) an audio transmitter assembly having a speaker member mounted within
said speaker resonating chamber and connected to an audio source and an
audio control assembly;
c) said audio source connected to a power source to provide enjoyable
sounds therefrom and connected to said audio control assembly which, in
turn, is connected to said speaker member to achieve audio output
therefrom; and
d) said audio control assembly having a timer and clock and volume control
for the selective use of the person utilizing the ergonomic pillow
assembly.
6. An ergonomic pillow assembly operable to receive and support a person's
head, spinal assembly, lumbar, and waist area thereon, comprising:
a) a head support assembly having a side cervical support member operable
to receive and support the person's face and jaw when resting on the
person's side;
b) said head support assembly connected to a thoracic support assembly
which slopes downwardly and outwardly from said head support assembly;
c) a waist and lumbar support assembly connected to said thoracic support
assembly which slopes outwardly and laterally therefrom; and
d) said thoracic support assembly includes a shoulder cut-out retainer area
between said head support assembly and said waist and lumbar support
assembly operable to receive the person's shoulder therein when resting on
the person's side.
7. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 6, wherein:
a) said thoracic support assembly includes a main thoracic support member
having one of said shoulder cut-out retainer area on both sides thereon to
receive the person's shoulder therein when resting on either the person's
left or right side.
8. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 6, wherein:
a) said head support assembly is provided with a pair of spaced ones of
said side cervical support members positioned adjacent and laterally of
said thoracic support assembly and adjacent said shoulder cut-out retainer
area; and
b) said side cervical support member having a neck support section integral
with an arcuate jaw support section having an arcuate jaw support surface
and said arcuate upper surface to provide support through said arcuate jaw
support surface and said jaw support section to the person's head
utilizing same.
9. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 6, wherein:
a) said head support assembly includes a head support member having a pair
of outer head retainer sections curved upwardly to achieve a means for
preventing the person utilizing same from rolling its head off said head
support assembly.
10. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 6, wherein:
a) said waist support assembly includes a waist support member integral
with a lumbar support member; and
b) said thoracic support assembly includes a thoracic cage retainer member
having an outer, arcuate, upwardly retainer surface to keep the person
utilizing same from rolling off said waist and lumbar support assembly
area.
11. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 6, wherein:
a) said head support assembly having a speaker resonating chamber on
opposite sides thereof;
b) an audio transmitter assembly having stereo speaker members mounted in
respective ones of said speaker resonating chambers and operably connected
to an audio control assembly which, in turn, is operably connected to an
audio source; and
c) said audio source provides audio signals therefrom as connected to a
power source and sends power signals to the audio control assembly which,
in turn, transfers the audio signals to said stereo speaker members.
12. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 6, wherein:
a) said head support assembly having a head support member with an arcuate
upper surface extended in a concave curve from a back wall to its
connection to said thoracic support assembly;
b) said thoracic support assembly from its connection to said head support
assembly extends in an arcuate concave curve downwardly towards its
junction with said waist and lumbar support assembly which curves upwardly
to form an elongated concave curve to receive the neck area and lumbar
area of the person's body to be rested thereon; and
c) said waist and lumbar support assembly extends from its connection to
said thoracic support assembly upwardly and then downwardly to present a
convex curve thereon to support lumbar and waist areas of the person
utilizing same.
13. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 6, wherein:
a) an upper surface of said head support assembly, said thoracic support
assembly, and said waist and lumbar support assembly is of a generally
sloping S-shape conforming to the normal curvature of the person's spinal
assembly to provide maximum support thereto while holding in a natural,
unstrained condition.
14. A dual ergonomic pillow assembly to be supported on an upper bed
mattress surface and operable to be used by two (2) persons to receive and
support their respective head, spinal assembly, lumbar, and waist area
thereon, comprising:
a) a pair of ergonomic pillow assemblies interconnected by a central
support section;
b) each of said ergonomic pillow assemblies includes a head support
assembly connected to a thoracic support assembly which, in turn, is
connected to a waist and lumbar support assembly; and
c) respective ones of said thoracic support assemblies having adjacent ones
of said head support assembly and said waist and lumbar support assembly
extended laterally therefrom and forming a shoulder cut-out retainer area
therebetween;
whereby said shoulder cut-out retainer area is operable to receive a
person's shoulder therein when resting on the person's side.
15. A dual ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 14, wherein:
a) each of said head support assemblies having a side cervical support
member positioned adjacent said shoulder cut-out retainer areas and
operable to receive a portion of the person's face, neck, and jaw areas
for support thereon when the person is resting on the person's left or
right side with the person's shoulder within said shoulder cut-out
retainer area.
16. A dual ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 15, wherein:
a) said head support assembly having a pair of spaced speaker resonating
chambers on respective opposite sides of respective ones of said thoracic
support assemblies;
b) an audio transmitter assembly having an audio source connected to a
power source to transmit audio signals therefrom;
c) a pair of stereo members for each of said ergonomic pillow assemblies
connected to said audio source through an audio control assembly; and
d) said audio control assembly having independent volume controls so that
each set of said stereo speaker members utilized on a different person on
a spaced pair of said ergonomic pillow assemblies can control the audio
volume and time of operations through said audio control assembly.
17. A dual ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 15, wherein:
a) said side cervical support members on adjacent ones of said pair of said
ergonomic pillow assemblies being removed as well as inner ones of an
arcuate upwardly retainer surface of a thoracic cage retainer member of
said thoracic support assembly to allow commingling of the people
utilizing the dual ergonomic pillow assembly of this invention.
18. An ergonomic pillow assembly being custom designed for a person having
a predetermined shoulder width, such as 20 inches, hereinafter referred to
as SW, and a spinal length, such as 30 inches, hereinafter referred to as
SL, and operable to support the person's head, spinal assembly, lumbar,
and waist area thereon, comprising:
a) a head support assembly;
b) a thoracic support assembly having one end connected to a center portion
of said head support assembly and extended laterally therefrom;
c) a waist and lumbar support assembly connected to another end of said
thoracic support assembly and extended laterally therefrom;
d) said head support assembly and said waist and lumbar support assembly
having a width of 1.2 SW.+-.10 percent;
e) said thoracic support assembly having a width of 0.4 SW.+-.10 percent;
and
f) said ergonomic pillow assembly having a length of 1.07 SL.+-.10 percent.
19. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 18, wherein:
a) said head support assembly having a height at a center of a concave
curve equal to 0.25 SW.+-.10 percent;
b) said thoracic support assembly having a concave curve leading from said
head support assembly to said waist and lumbar support assembly having a
height of 0.3 SW sloping downwardly to a minimum height of 0.06 SW.+-.10
percent which then curves upwardly and outwardly to an outer maximum
height of 0.1 SW.+-.10 percent thereby forming a concave curve conforming
to the curvature of a person's spinal assembly in the lumbar area to
provide necessary and desired support thereto.
20. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 18, wherein:
a) said head support assembly includes a head support section having an
arcuate upper head support section with an arcuate upper support surface
having a width thereof equal to 0.2 SL.+-.10 percent.
21. An ergonomic pillow assembly as described in claim 20, wherein:
a) said head support member includes a head retainer section extended at
outer lateral areas to retain the person's head from rolling off therefrom
without affording resistance to such movement.
22. An ergonomic pillow assembly operable to receive and support a person's
head having a skull section connected to a neck portion, spinal assembly,
lumbar, and waist area thereon, comprising:
a) a head support assembly to receive and support a person's skull section
and neck portion connected to a thoracic support assembly which, in turn,
is connected to a waist and lumbar support assembly; and
b) said thoracic support assembly includes a shoulder cut-out retainer area
between said head support assembly and said waist and lumbar support
assembly operable to receive the person's shoulder therein when resting on
the person's side. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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PRIOR ART
This invention relates to an ergonomic pillow assembly for sleeping or
relaxation of a person utilizing same which includes an improved sound
system for the promotion of relaxation and accommodation for sleeping on
either the right or left side or on the back.
A patent search revealed the following United States patents:
______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. Inventor
______________________________________
1,045,228 Weltmer
3,626,526 Viel
4,218,792 Kogan
4,441,221 Enste et al
4,550,458 Fiore
4,635,306 Willey
4,876,755 Parrish
4,901,384 Eary
4,996,734 Rowe
5,123,133 Albert
______________________________________
The Weltmer patent discloses pads for use in conjunction with mattresses.
The Albert patent discloses a combined support of the head with sound
emitting devices which can provide music or sounds of a relaxing nature.
The Viel patent discloses a compound, multi-layered mattress formed with a
plurality of cut-outs from a base layer joined to one horizontal surface
of the base layer.
The Enste et al and Willey patents disclose supports and other cushions
which are dedicated principally to engaging the front or reverse of a
user's torso while the user remains in a sitting or partially reclining
position.
The Kogan and Fiore patents disclose complex forms which are molded to
conform to the head and cervical portions of the user's body.
The Parrish patent discloses an array of semi-cylindrical pillows which
provide for the support of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of a
user's body by attaching them in various configurations for different body
positions.
The Eary patent discloses a body pillow which attempts to position the
user's spine in a natural position while sleeping on one side.
The Rowe patent discloses a pillow incorporating various levels of firmness
to support the head and neck with an accommodation of persons wearing
orthodontic headgear.
While these and other examples of the pillow, cushion, and support arts
enable a user to remain in one or more positions with varying degrees of
comfort, none of them address the alignment of the entire spine and the
head in both side and back sleeping positions. They do not allow
sufficient freedom of the user to change positions from left to right to
back without reconfiguration of the pillow, cushions, or mattresses, or
without being restricted to one or the other position. None of the prior
art references combine relaxing music or sound with complete spinal
support for the most common sleeping postures.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, an ergonomic pillow assembly
is provided which may be of one-piece construction or formed in separate
elements joined together by various means including the use of adhesives.
The ergonomic pillow assembly includes 1) a head support assembly; 2) a
thoracic support assembly integral with the head support assembly; 3) a
waist and lumbar support assembly integral with the thoracic support
assembly; and 4) an audio transmitter assembly mounted on the head support
assembly.
The head support assembly includes an elevated head support member and a
rear cervical support member. The head support member is used to support
rear and side portions of a user's head thereon.
The side cervical support member is used to support jaw and cheek portions
of the user's head thereon.
The rear cervical support member is used to support a neck portion of the
user thereon.
The thoracic support assembly includes 1) a thoracic support member; 2) a
thoracic cage retainer member; and 3) a shoulder cut-out retainer area.
The thoracic support member inclines downwardly from and integral with the
rear cervical support member.
The thoracic cage retainer member extends upwardly and outwardly of the
thoracic support member and acts to retain the user's body on the
ergonomic pillow assembly.
The shoulder cut-out retainer area is positioned on both sides of the
thoracic support member and acts to receive a respective one of the user's
shoulder therein when resting on one's left or right side.
The waist and lumbar support assembly includes 1) a waist support member;
and 2) a lumbar support member.
The waist support member includes an arcuate waist support surface of a
concave shape first extended upwardly from its connection to the thoracic
support member and then extended downwardly to a support member having the
ergonomic pillow assembly mounted thereon.
The lumbar support member includes an arcuate lumbar support surface to
receive and support the user's lumbar section or lower back thereon.
The audio transmitter assembly includes 1) a pair of stereo speaker members
mounted within speaker resonating chambers in the head support assembly;
2) an audio source member, such as a compact disc player, radio, etc.,
operably connected to the stereo speaker members; and 3) an audio control
assembly mounted between the stereo speaker members and the audio source
member. The audio control assembly is operable in a conventional manner to
control audio sounds to the stereo speaker members through a timer
circuit, on-off switch, and volume controls.
A second embodiment of this invention is a dual ergonomic pillow assembly
for conjoint use by two (2) user's and substantially similar to joining
together two (2) of the ergonomic pillow assemblies described above.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow assembly
with which a neutral spine alignment can be maintained while sleeping on
either the back or the side of a user to provide 1) a support which
disperses the weight of an upper torso of a user away from the shoulder
and equally toward other skeletal structures while sleeping on one's side;
and 2) a spinal support which accommodates a complex curvature of the
user's neutral aligned spine while sleeping on one's back while
distributing body weight equally over contacting surfaces of the body. By
maintaining one's spine assembly in a neutral position while sleeping or
reclining on one's back or side, this ergonomic pillow assembly maintains
advantages over prior art which only supports a cervical region of the
user's body.
Another object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow assembly
which provides support necessary to the user's spine assembly, namely, in
cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sections to prevent the spine assembly from
flexing to the right or left while one is reclining on either the right or
left side. The cervical section of the spine assembly is that group of
seven (7) vertebrae extending from the base of a skull to the top of the
rib cage, commonly referred to as the neck. The thoracic section of the
spine assembly is that group of twelve (12) vertebrae extending down from
the cervical section to approximately the bottom of the rib cage, commonly
referred to as the upper back. The lumbar section of the spine assembly is
that group of five (5) vertebrae extending down from the thoracic section
of the spine assembly to the sacrum, commonly referred to as the lower
back.
One other object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow
assembly allowing for ample range of motion of the user's lower arm and
shoulder while sleeping or reclining on one's side by ensuring that no
part of the ergonomic pillow assembly impedes a reasonable shoulder or arm
angle with respect to the user's body.
One further object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow
assembly including 1) a head retaining section to prevent the user's head
from rolling off either side of the ergonomic pillow assembly; 2) a
thoracic cage retainer member to retain the user's thoracic cage; and 3) a
shoulder cut-off retainer area providing containment for the user's
shoulder while sleeping on either side.
Another further object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow
assembly which allows for the freedom of motion common with a sleeping
person with the ability to switch between a face down, back, and side
resting positions without the need to reconfigure the ergonomic pillow
assembly.
An additional object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow
assembly which eliminates problems associated with conventional pillows
which move out of position as a user changes positions while sleeping. The
ergonomic pillow assembly of this invention has the advantage of remaining
in place since the user's entire torso is supported on top of the
ergonomic pillow assembly.
Another object of the ergonomic pillow assembly of this invention is that
the design is simple with no moving parts or sections which must be
reconfigured to obtain the complete utility thereof.
Another specific object of the ergonomic pillow assembly of this invention
is to allow the user thereof to hear music or relaxation sounds emanating
from stereo speaker members clearly regardless of whether the user is in a
face down, side, or back resting position.
Another object of the ergonomic pillow assembly of this invention is to
provide an environment in which relaxation and sleep are promoted through
a combination of ergonomic support for the user's head and spine assembly
and the use of relaxing sounds such as ocean waves, babbling brooks,
chirping birds, etc. working together to relax the user's muscles of the
neck and back areas.
Another object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow assembly
constructed of a resilient foam or of an inflatable and flexible bladder
that allows for a reasonable range of differences in the user's body
dimensions or spinal curvature.
One further object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow
assembly that would be manufactured in three or four sizes to accommodate
people of different ages and heights plus custom designed ergonomic pillow
assemblies could be manufactured for people 1) of unusual dimensions; 2)
having severe spinal curvature problems; and 3) to exact shoulder width
and spine length dimensions for maximum comfort.
Another object of this invention is to provide a dual ergonomic pillow
assembly with two (2) of the ergonomic pillow assemblies interconnected
and usable by two (2) people with the same object and advantages as noted
above for the single ergonomic pillow assembly.
Still, one other object of this invention is to provide an ergonomic pillow
assembly that is economical to manufacture; simple to use; providing
soothing, relaxing sounds to the user thereof; achieving the ideal support
to the user's torso; and substantially maintenance free.
Various other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURES OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ergonomic pillow assembly of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded transparent perspective view of the ergonomic pillow
assembly with broken lines showing location of speaker resonating chambers
and stereo speaker members which are to be placed in the subject speaker
resonating chambers;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ergonomic pillow assembly showing use
by a person while reclining on one's back;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 of the ergonomic pillow
assembly showing use by a person while reclining on one's left side;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ergonomic pillow assembly divided into
increment blocks of relative sizes in regard to shoulder width and spine
length of the user thereof;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating
relative width and height size relationships in regard to shoulder width
and spine length of the user thereof;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating
relative width and height size relationships in regard to shoulder width
and spine length of the user thereof; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7 of a second embodiment of
this invention being a dual ergonomic pillow assembly.
The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific
embodiments of the ergonomic pillow assembly and the dual ergonomic pillow
assembly of this invention, such being made with reference to the
drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the
same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such
discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in detail, and in particular to FIG. 1, an
ergonomic pillow assembly of this invention, indicated generally at 12, is
utilized by a user or relaxing person 14 while resting or sleeping
thereon.
As will be discussed herein, the relaxing person 14 in this particular
testing environment is taken to have a shoulder width indicated by the
letter "A" (FIG. 9) and a spinal length indicated by the letter "B" (FIG.
8).
A person's skeleton 16 is noted in FIG. 9 as having 1) a skull section 18;
2) a cervical section 20; 3) a thoracic section 24; and 4) a lumbar
section 26 which are joined together to form a person's spinal assembly
17.
The skull section 18 has a base skull portion 28 which is connected to the
cervical section 20 and, more particularly, to a neck portion 30. The neck
portion 30 is referred to as a a person's "neck" and comprises seven (7)
vertebrae extending from the base skull portion 28 to the top of the
person's rib cage.
The thoracic section 24 has twelve (12) vertebrae extending down from the
cervical section 20 of the person's spine assembly 17 to approximately an
end bottom of a bottom rib cage portion 32. This area is commonly referred
to as the "upper back".
The lumbar section 26 of the person's spinal assembly 17 is a group of five
(5) vertebrae extended downwardly from the thoracic section 24 to a sacrum
portion 34, commonly referred to as the "lower back".
On referring to FIG. 1, the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 includes a head
support assembly 36 which is connected or integrally formed with a
thoracic support section 38 which, in turn, includes a waist and lumbar
support assembly 39 connected to or integrally formed with the thoracic
support section 38, and an audio transmitter assembly 40 which is mounted
in portions of the head support assembly 36.
As noted in FIG. 6, the head support assembly 36 includes a head support
section 41 and a head retainer section 47 (FIG. 1). The head support
section 41 is adapted to rest on a bed support surface 49 and having an
upper arcuate surface 43 to receive and support the skull portion 18 of
the relaxing person 14. Further, the head support section 41 includes a
pair of spaced speaker resonating chambers 45 for reasons to be explained.
The head retainer section 47 includes an outer arcuate retainer portion 50
extended and curved upwardly from the head support section 41.
As shown in FIG. 1, the side cervical support members 44 include a neck
support section 52 integral with a jaw support section 54. The neck
support section 52 has an elevated body portion 56 to receive the cervical
section 20 of the person 14 thereagainst when in the left side relaxing
position as noted in FIG. 4.
At this time, the jaw support section 54 has an arcuate support surface 60
on which the jaw of the relaxing person 14 is being received and rested
(FIG. 6).
As noted in FIG. 5, the rear cervical support member 46 includes a cervical
support body 62 having an upper arcuate inclined support surface 64. The
rear cervical support member 46 with the support surface 64 is inclined
downwardly from its attachment to the head support member 42.
The thoracic support member 66 has an upper arcuate downwardly inclined
thoracic support surface 67 connected to or integrally formed with the
head support assembly 36 to form a thoracic cage support area 69.
The thoracic cage retainer member 68 is provided with an arcuate upward
retainer surface 72 which operates to contact the rib cage of the person's
skeleton 16 as noted in FIG. 4 to act as a body retainer.
The shoulder cut-out retainer area 70 is operable to receive the shoulder
and arm area of a person's skeleton 16 therein when sleeping on one's side
as noted in FIG. 4. The shoulder cut-out retainer area 70 is provided on
each side of the thoracic support member 66 with a front wall section 74,
a side wall section 76, and a back wall section 78.
The waist and lumbar support assembly 39 includes a waist support section
80, as shown in FIG. 6, and a lumbar support section 82 as shown in FIG.
5. The waist support section 80 is provided with an upper arcuate waist
support surface 84 of concave shape to receive and support a waist portion
of the person 14 thereof whether in a back or side rest position as noted
in FIGS. 5 and 6.
As noted in FIG. 5, the lumbar support section 82 is provided with an
arcuate lumbar support surface 86 to receive and support the lumbar
support section 26 of the user 14 thereof.
As noted in FIG. 2, the audio transmitter assembly 40 includes 1) a pair of
spaced speaker resonating chambers 45; 2) a pair of stereo speaker members
90; 3) an audio source member 92; and 4) an audio control assembly 94
operably connected between the stereo speaker members 90 and the audio
source member 92.
The spaced speaker resonating chambers 45 are each rectangular cut-out
openings 96 within the head support assembly 36 to receive a respective
one of the stereo speaker members 90 therein. Each stereo speaker member
90 is provided with a speaker connector cord 91 extended therefrom and
connected to the audio control assembly 94.
The audio control assembly 94 is provided with 1) an integrated on/off and
volume switch 98; 2) sound quality control switches 104 for base and
treble sounds; 3) a stereo balance control 102 connected individually and
respectively to each of the stereo speaker members 90; and 3) a source
connection cord 105 for connecting the audio control assembly 94 to the
audio source member 92.
The audio source member 92 can be of various types of sound reproduction
systems, such as a tape player, compact disc player, or radio/clock, etc.
connected to the audio control assembly 94 by the source connection cord
105.
The sound control by the audio control assembly 94 is independently
transferred through the speaker connector cord 91 to the respective stereo
speaker members 90.
As shown in FIG. 10, a second embodiment of the invention is a dual
ergonomic pillow assembly 110 for use by a pair of relaxing persons 14 to
be supported on a queen or king size bed. The dual ergonomic pillow
assembly 110 is basically constructed of an interconnected pair of the
ergonomic pillow assemblies 12 joined at adjacent side wall portions with
a central support section 112.
As noted in FIG. 10, each ergonomic pillow assembly 12 has a central
longitudinal axis indicated by a line X--X which conforms to an identical
longitudinal axis in the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 as noted in FIG. 1.
The central axis of the dual ergonomic pillow assembly 110 is noted by the
line X1--X1 in FIG. 10. In this area, it is noted that the arcuate head
retainer sections 47 and the thoracic cage retainer members 68 in the
center portion of the interconnected ergonomic pillow assemblies 12 have
been removed.
Another modification of the dual ergonomic pillow assembly 110 is wherein
an elongated central side cervical support member 44 extends between the
spaced ones of the ergonomic pillow assemblies 12.
On referring to FIG. 7, the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 has been custom
constructed for a relaxing person 14 having a shoulder width, referred to
as "SW", of 20 inches and a spine length, referred to as "SL", of 30
inches. The relationship of the shoulder width and the spine length
relative to the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 is shown to achieve various
slopes and curves of ideal configuration therein which is important to the
resultant comfort of the relaxing person 14.
The length of the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 is 1.07 SL and the width is
1.2 SW. On translating, the length thereof is 1.07 SL.times.30 which is
32.1 inches and the width is 1.2 SW.times.20 or 24 inches. This allows
sufficient clearance for the relaxing person 14 having the shoulder width
of 20 inches and spinal length of 30 inches.
FIG. 8 shows size relationships in regard to shoulder width and spine
length to ideally support a person's spinal assembly 17 when relaxing on
one's back position as noted in FIGS. 3 and 5.
The various arcuate curves as described in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10, being a
combination of concave and convex curves, produces the most satisfactory
result when the relaxing person 14 is utilizing the ergonomic pillow
assembly 12.
Medical evidence indicates that, when the spinal assembly 17 of a relaxing
person 14 is held and supported in the condition as noted in FIG. 8, this
provides the most soothing, relaxing, and least pressure on the spinal
assembly 17 which results in the relaxation of the person 14 utilizing the
ergonomic pillow assembly 12.
A second position of the relaxing person 14 is to lie on either the left
side, as noted in FIG. 4, or on the right side being opposite therefrom
but having the same relaxing and soothing effects. This left side relaxing
position is noted in FIGS. 4, 6, and 9 which shows the support given to
the neck portion 30, bottom rib cage portion 32, and sacrum portion 34 of
the relaxing person 14, including a waist portion.
As noted in FIG. 9, the retainer area 70 is operable to receive a shoulder
portion of the relaxing person 14 therein without applying any undue
pressures against the spinal assembly 17 of the relaxing person 14 which
would normally cause pain and discomfort.
On referring to FIG. 1, the head support assembly 36 with the side cervical
support member 44 with the neck support section 52 and the jaw support
section 54 provides substantial support to the skull section 18 of the
relaxing person 14.
Further, the size, height, length, and width relative relationships of the
ergonomic pillow assembly 12, as shown in FIGS. 6, 9 and 5, 8, provides
the most relaxing support to the spinal assembly 17 of a relaxing person
14 to achieve the new and novel feature of this invention.
USE AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION
In the use and operation of the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 of this
invention, the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 is to be placed on a support
surface, normally a bed mattress, as indicated by a bed surface 49. The
ergonomic pillow assembly 12 can be covered with a sheet-like material
being of a close fit and removable for laundering purposes.
The manner of usage of the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 is shown in FIGS. 3
and 4 wherein 1) FIG. 3 illustrates the relaxing person 14 in a reclining,
face-up position; 2) FIG. 4 indicates use when the relaxing person 14 is
lying on its left side; and 4) the relaxing person 14 could be in a
face-down position (not shown).
The usage described herein for the relaxing person 14 lying on its right
side would be opposite that disclosed in FIGS. 4 and 6 on residing on
one's left side.
As noted in FIG. 3, the back lying positions place the head of the relaxing
person 14 in the center of the head support assembly 36 with the relaxing
person 14 having the person's spinal assembly 17 aligned along a central
longitudinal axis of the ergonomic pillow assembly 12.
In this way, the neck of the relaxing person 14 is supported by the rear
cervical support member 46; the upper back of the relaxing person 14 is
supported by the thoracic support assembly 38; and the lower back of the
relaxing person 14 is supported by the waist and lumbar support assembly
39.
In the support position as noted in FIG. 3, no support is provided for the
shoulders of the relaxing person 14 and the arms of the relaxing person 14
may lay beside its torso supported by the waist support section 80.
The arms of the relaxing person 14 may be positioned away from its torso
laying in the area between the head support assembly 36 and the waist and
lumbar support assembly 39 being supported by the bed mattress surface 49
under the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 and being contained by the shoulder
cut-out retainer area 70.
In regard to FIG. 6 which shows the relaxing person 14 reclining in a face
left position, this side laying position places the skull section 18 of
the relaxing person 14 on the end of the head support member 42 which is
to the user's left side.
The side cervical support members 44 support the neck area of the relaxing
person 14. The side cervical support members 44 include the neck support
section 52 to provide support to the subject neck and the jaw support
section 54 and supports the side of the face and jaw areas of the relaxing
person 14.
The head retainer section 47 of the head support member 42 maintains
contact with a left side of the head portion of the relaxing person 14 to
provide support thereto. This particular support begins on the left cheek
of the relaxing person 14 and extends up to its eyebrow and forehead.
Thus, the head retainer section 47 prevents the head of the relaxing
person 14 from rolling off the head support member 42 while keeping the
air passages of the nose and mouth free from obstructions.
In the condition of FIG. 4, the left shoulder of the relaxing person 14
extends downwardly into the shoulder cut-out retainer area 70. In this
left side face left position, the left arm of the relaxing person 14 rests
on the bed surface 49 which supports the ergonomic pillow assembly 12. In
this position, the rib cage of the relaxing person 14 is supported by the
thoracic cage retainer member 68 and the waist and lumbar assembly 39
(FIG. 1). The relaxing person 14 has its rib cage making contact with the
thoracic cage retainer member 68 signaling the relaxing person 14 where
the left edge of its torso support is located.
The right arm of the relaxing person 14 can lay on the side of its body as
illustrated in FIG. 4 or, alternatively, a standard pillow member can be
placed in front of the chest of a shoulder portion of the relaxing person
14 whereupon the right arm can rest upon it.
The use of the ergonomic pillow assembly 12 with the relaxing person 14 in
a face right position is identical to the usage described above for the
left face position except that all indications of right and left are
reversed.
The relaxing person 14 may rotate between left facing, right facing, up
facing, or face down positions through use of its legs and feet and
through a normal twisting motion of the shoulders and hips.
Prior to reclining on the ergonomic pillow assembly 12, the relaxing person
14 attaches the audio transmitter assembly 40 through an audio source
member 92 to a standard electrical power source. The audio control
assembly 94 is energized thro | | |
