Multi-position pillow - Patent Review 5537703

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A pillow, comprising:

a first contact surface portion;

a second contact surface portion;

a peripheral side edge extending between said first contact surface portion and said second contact surface portion;

said first contact surface portion having a head receipt recess extending inwardly into said pillow;

said second contact surface portion including a plurality of protrusions separated by valleys;

wherein said first contact surface portion and said second contact surface portion are both dimensioned and arranged such that either contact surface portion can provide user head support while an opposite contact surface portion contacts an underlying support, and wherein said head receipt recess is essentially centrally positioned with respect to said first contact surface portion and includes a more central depression area for receiving a head of a user and a less central neck support depression area extending from a peripheral boundary of said more central depression area and opening into said more central depression area, and wherein said first contact surface includes a planar border region which defines the peripheral boundary of said more central depression area, encompasses said more central depression area, and is free of interruptions except for said neck support depression area, and said neck support depression area having an uppermost surface which is at a level below that of a portion of said bordering region closest to said neck support depression area.

2. A pillow as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of vent holes extend through said pillow so as to open out on both said first contact surface portion and said second contact surface portion and said vent holes opening out into said more central depression area.

3. A pillow as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of vent holes extend through said pillow so as to open out on both said first contact surface portion and said second contact surface portion.

4. A pillow as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of protrusions and valleys are distributed over all of said second contact surface portion, and said entire border region extends out at a common level into contact with the periphery of said pillow.

5. A pillow as recited in claim 1, wherein said protrusions include conical shaped extensions each having a base portion contacting an adjacent extension, and said valleys extending below a level of said base portions and positioned between adjacent extensions.

6. A pillow, comprising:

a first contact surface portion which has a centralized recess formed therein which is adapted to receive a head of a user, said first contact surface being a non-convoluted, planar surface and representing an exterior surface of said pillow, said first contact surface further comprising a less centralized recess defining a neck support depression which opens out at one end into said centralized recess and extends away from said centralized recess and toward a peripheral edge of said pillow, add said first contact surface including a first bordering surface portion extending in circular fashion about said centralized recess and a second bordering surface portion extending along said neck depression, and said first and second bordering surface portions being at a common level, and said neck depression having a width at a juncture of said central and neck depressions which is less than a width of said centralized recess;

a second contact surface portion opposed to said first contact surface portion, said second contact surface portion including a convoluted surface with a plurality of protrusions extending out away from an intermediate portion of said pillow.

7. A pillow as recited in claim 6, wherein said protrusions are tapered extensions with a base area greater than a top area, wherein valleys are formed between said protrusions, said pillow further including a plurality of through holes opening into said centralized recess and into at least some of said valleys provided on said second contact surface portion.

8. A pillow as recited in claim 7, wherein said first contact surface portion includes a planar surface surrounding said centralized recess, and said protrusions are all of essentially a common height so as to define a planar initial contact surface, wherein said protrusions are distributed over an entire area of said second contact surface portion.

9. A pillow as recited in claim 6, wherein said less central depression area extends off from a boundary portion of said more central depression area and toward a side edge of said pillow.

10. A pillow as recited in claim 9, wherein said more central depression area is deeper than said less central depression area and said less central depression area opens out along said side edge of the pillow.

11. A pillow, comprising:

a first main face, wherein the first main face includes a head receiving recess defined therein;

a second main face opposite the first main face, wherein the second main face includes a plurality of extending fingers, wherein the fingers extend such that a base of said finger is located closer to an intermediate portion of said pillow than a tip of said fingers, wherein the finger tips essentially lie in a common plane;

wherein a plurality of recesses are defined in the second main face in an area between a finger and surrounding, adjacent fingers;

wherein, in a portion of the second main face opposite the head receiving recess of the first main face, the recesses between adjacent fingers extend through the pillow so as to define a plurality of holes through the pillow in the head receiving recess.

12. A pillow as set forth in claim 11, wherein the fingers of the second main face are arranged in rows.

13. A pillow as set forth in claim 12, wherein the fingers are arranged in staggered rows along a longitudinal direction of the pillow, such that the fingers in one longitudinal row are located between two adjacent fingers in a next, adjacent longitudinal row.

14. A pillow as set forth in claim 11, wherein the head receiving recess includes a main head depression area and a different height level neck supporting depression area extending out away from an edge of the main head depression area.

15. A pillow as set forth in claim 14, wherein the neck supporting depression area extends in a lateral direction and is narrower in longitudinal length than the main head depression area of the head receiving recess.

16. A pillow as set forth in claim 14, wherein the neck supporting depression area of the head receiving recess extends to a longitudinal edge of the first main face such that the neck supporting depression area of the head receiving recess is visible along a side face of the pillow extending between the first main face and the second main face.

17. A pillow as set forth in claim 14, wherein the neck supporting depression area terminates a distance from the side edge of the pillow such that the neck supporting depression area does not open out into a side edge of the pillow extending between the first main face and the second main face.

18. A pillow as set forth in claim 11, wherein the pillow is a unitary body made entirely from a single type of polyurethane foam material.

19. A pillow, comprising:

a first main face including an essentially planar main surface having a head receiving recess and a neck receiving recess defined therein with said neck receiving recess opening into said head receiving recess and extending to a peripheral edge of said pillow, said first main surface representing an exterior surface of said pillow, and except for said head receiving and neck receiving recesses being non-convoluted and lying a common plane from said recesses out to the entire periphery of said pillow, and said head receiving recess being generally circular in configuration;

a second main face opposite the first main face, the second main face including a plurality of finger extensions each having a base portion and a free end defining a tip of said finger extensions, wherein a plurality of said finger extensions are of a common length such that the finger tips of said plurality of extensions essentially lie on a plane which is essentially parallel to the essentially planar main surface of the first main face; and a plurality of recesses defined in the area between a finger and the surrounding, adjacent fingers of the second main face, said recesses extending toward said first main face.

20. A pillow as set forth in claim 19, wherein, in a portion of the second main face opposite the head receiving recess of the first main face, recesses between adjacent fingers extend through the pillow to the first main face so as to define a plurality of holes through the pillow in the head receiving recess.

21. A pillow as set forth in claim 20, wherein the fingers of the second main face are arranged in rows and said holes are formed solely in said head receiving recess.

22. A pillow as set forth in claim 21, wherein the fingers are arranged in staggered rows along a longitudinal direction of the pillow such that the fingers in one longitudinal row are located between two adjacent fingers in a next, adjacent longitudinal row.

23. A pillow as set forth in claim 19, wherein the head receiving recess is located adjacent one longitudinal edge of the first main face and said neck receiving recess extends to a location adjacent an opposite longitudinal edge of the first main face.

24. A pillow as set forth in claim 23, wherein the neck support portion is narrower than a central portion of the head receiving recess in the longitudinal direction.

25. A pillow as set forth in claim 23, wherein the neck support portion of the head receiving recess extends to the longitudinal edge of the first main face such that the neck support portion of the head receiving recess is visible in a side elevational view of a side face of the pillow extending between the first main face and the second main face.

26. A pillow as set forth in claim 23, wherein the neck support portion of the head receiving recess does not extend to the longitudinal edge of the first main face such that the neck support portion of the head receiving recess is not visible along a side elevational view of a side face of the pillow extending between the first main face and the second main face.

27. A pillow as set forth in claim 19, wherein the pillow is a unitary body made entirely from a polyurethane foam material.

28. A method of forming a pillow, comprising:

modifying a body of foam material so as to provide a plurality of elongated protrusions extending out away from an intermediate portion of the body with said protrusions extending in a common direction, and so as to provide a plurality of valleys extending into the intermediate portion of the body; and

modifying the body by forming a head receiving recess which extends into the intermediate portion of the body from a side of the body that is opposite a side of the body in which the protrusions are located, wherein the head receiving recess is formed to a depth such that an innermost portion of the valleys open into a deeper region of said head receiving recess so as to define a plurality of vent holes through the body.

29. A method as recited in claim 28 wherein the head receiving recess is formed prior to said protrusions.

30. A pillow, comprising:

a first main face including an essentially planar main surface having a head receiving recess defined therein;

a second main face opposite the first main face, the second main face including a plurality of finger extensions each having a base portion and a free end defining a tip of said finger extensions, wherein a plurality of said finger extensions are of a common length such that the finger tips of said plurality of extensions essentially lie on a plane which is essentially parallel to the essentially planar main surface of the first main face; and

a plurality of recesses defined in the area between a finger and the surrounding, adjacent fingers of the second main face, said recesses extending toward said first main face, and wherein, in a portion of the second main face opposite the head receiving recess of the first main face, recesses between adjacent fingers extend through the pillow to the first main face so as to define a plurality of holes through the pillow in the head receiving recess.

31. A pillow, comprising:

a first main face including an essentially planar main surface having a head receiving recess defined therein;

a second main face opposite the first main face, the second main face including a plurality of finger extensions each having a base portion and a free end defining a tip of said finger extensions, wherein a plurality of said finger extensions are of a common length such that the finger tips of said plurality of extensions essentially lie on a plane which is essentially parallel to the essentially planar main surface of the first main face; and

a plurality of recesses defined in the area between a finger and the surrounding, adjacent fingers of the second main face, said recesses extending toward said first main face, and wherein the head receiving recess includes a neck support portion located adjacent one longitudinal edge of the first main face and a top portion located adjacent an opposite longitudinal edge of the first main face, and wherein the neck support portion of the head receiving recess does not extend to the longitudinal edge of the first main face such that the neck support portion of the head receiving recess is not visible along a side elevational view of a side face of the pillow extending between the first main face and the second main face.

32. A pillow, comprising:

a first contact surface portion;

a second contact surface portion;

a peripheral side edge extending between said first contact surface portion and said second contact surface portion;

said first contact surface portion having a head receipt recess extending inwardly into said pillow;

said second contact surface portion including a plurality of protrusions separated by valleys;

wherein said first contact surface portion and said second contact surface portion both are dimensioned and arranged such that either contact surface portion can provide user head support while an opposite contact surface portion contacts an underlying support, and

wherein a plurality of vent holes extend through said pillow so as to open out on both said first contact surface portion and said second contact surface portion, and

wherein said head receipt recess includes a more central depression area and a less central depression area extending off from a boundary portion of said more central depression area and toward a side edge of said pillow.

33. A pillow, comprising:

a first contact surface portion which has a centralized recess formed therein which is adapted to receive a head of a user;

a second contact surface portion opposed to said first contact surface portion, said second contact surface portion including a convoluted surface with a plurality of protrusions extending out away from an intermediate portion of said pillow, and

wherein said protrusions are tapered extensions with a base area greater than a top area, wherein valleys are formed between said protrusions, said pillow further including a plurality of through holes opening into said centralized recess and into at least some of said valleys provided on said second contact surface portion, and

wherein said head receipt recess includes a more central depression area and a less central depression area extending off from a boundary portion of said more central depression area and toward a side edge of said pillow .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pillow designs and construction have varied dramatically over the years. Many pillows were previously made including feathers or other relatively soft stuffing materials as the cushioning support. In more recent years, synthetic materials have been favored as the material of choice for constructing pillows.

Various pillow designs and materials are available to provide specified levels of support to the user. One such pillow design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,543 to Dixon. The pillow is described as a medical pillow for providing stabilized support for the head and neck of the user. This support is provided by incorporating a convoluted upper pillow surface to cradle the neck and head of the user. This patent is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

Anti-snore pillows are described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,014,377, 5,123,132, and D-310,610, all to Dixon. Each of these patents is entirely incorporated herein by reference. An elongated bolster area is provided on the top surface of the pillow to support the neck of the user. The bolster and base member act in conjunction with one another to decrease blockage of the user's breathing passageway when the user sleeps on his back or side. Thus, the pillow acts to decrease the tendency of a person to snore.

Several other pillow designs are available and known in the art. A brief discussion of exemplary embodiments of pillow designs is included below.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,831 (Treace) relates to a medical head support pillow for use in hospitals. The head support includes a base portion which rests on a supporting surface and inclined side pads. It is described that this pillow is suitable for use as a positioner for the head while a patient is under anesthesia for surgery. This patent is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

Ashley, U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,347 (which patent is entirely incorporated herein by reference), relates to a pillow construction that includes recesses defined therein. This pillow construction is said to dampen or eliminate the sound of the user's heartbeat while lying on the pillow.

Lake, U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,728, discloses a contoured pillow having a central aperture over which the user's face is positioned during use. It is disclosed that the aperture is located such that pressure against the user's face is reduced, thereby reducing the tendency of the face to wrinkle. Similarly, Smit (U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,893) discloses a pillow including a concave or open area located so as to reduce stress in the facial tissues, thereby reducing wrinkling. Each of these patents also is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,855 to Cohen discloses a composite pillow construction which includes a separate insertable core portion that may be used to provide variable levels of firmness. The Cohen patent is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

Sprague, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,275) discloses a shock absorbing pillow which includes a core material having small openings. This core material is wrapped with a cushion and another covering. This patent is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved pillow construction wherein a single pillow is capable of providing different levels of support. One surface of the pillow is essentially smooth to provide a relatively firm support, while another surface of the pillow is convoluted to provide relatively soft support. Preferably, the pillow is constructed from a unitary, single piece of polyurethane foam material. Also, it is preferred that this pillow include air ventilation holes to promote air circulation.

The invention relates to a multi-position pillow which includes a first contact surface portion and a second contact surface portion arranged opposite to the first contact surface portion. A peripheral side edge extends between the first and second contact surface portions of the pillow. The first contact surface portion has a head receipt or receiving recess extending inwardly into the pillow in the direction toward the second contact surface portion. Preferably, this head receiving recess is the sole recess in the first contact surface portion. The second contact surface portion includes a plurality of protrusions, preferably finger shaped protrusions, which are separated from one another by valleys. Preferably, this protrusion and valley construction covers the entire exterior contact surface of the pillow's second contact surface portion. In addition, in the pillow in accordance with the invention, the first and second contact surface portions are each dimensioned and arranged such that either contact surface portion can provide head support for the user, while the opposite surface portion contacts an underlying support, such as a mattress.

The head receipt recess in the pillow in accordance with the invention preferably is essentially centrally positioned with respect to the first contact surface portion. The preferred head receipt recess includes a more central depression area and a less central depression area extending off from a peripheral boundary of the more central depression area, wherein the less central depression area opens into the more central depression area. The less central depression area extends toward a side edge of the pillow. In one embodiment, the less central depression area may extend so as to cut away a portion of one side edge of the pillow. Advantageously, the more central depression area is deeper than the less central depression area.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pillow includes a plurality of vent holes which extend through the pillow from the first contact surface portion to the second contact surface portion, wherein the vent hole openings are provided in the more central depression area of the head receipt recess or in both of the depression areas. Preferably, the first contact surface portion of the pillow has an exterior contacting surface that is non-convoluted except for the single head receipt recess positioned inwardly of a horizontally planar surrounding region, which surrounding region represents about 30 to 50%, preferably 35-45%, of the entire surface area of the first contact surface portion of the pillow. Also, the vent holes open out at the exterior of the second contact surface portion of the pillow such that the holes extend completely through the pillow.

The protrusions in the second contact surface portion of the pillow in accordance with the invention are preferably made up of essentially conical or circumferentially tapering finger shaped extensions each having a base portion contacting at least one adjacent extension. The valleys between the protrusions extend below a level of the base portions (i.e., the level where one base portion contacts an adjacent base portion) and are positioned between adjacent extensions. It is preferred that the extensions have a length extending from the base to a tip thereof of about 3-8 cm, with about 5 cm being particularly preferred. It is also preferred that this length corresponds to about 25 to 50% of a total maximum thickness of the pillow between the first contact surface portion and the second contact surface portion, with about 35% being preferred. Preferably, the total maximum thickness is in the range of about 10-20 cm, and preferably about 14 cm. Also, it is preferred that the extensions have a maximum peripheral, cross-sectional area of less than 12 cm.sup.2 at their base, and preferably less than 8 cm.sup.2. The diameter of a cross-section of the base taken at the aforementioned level where the base of one protrusion contacts the base of another preferably has a ratio of 1:4 to 1:1 with respect to a length of a central vertical axis extending from the cross-section level up to the tip or the top surface (if planar) of the protrusion. This ratio is preferably about 3:5.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the base is essentially a square having about 2.5 cm side edges (corresponding to a base area of about 6.25 cm.sup.2), and the central vertical axis length is about 5 cm.

The first contact surface portion with the head receipt recess formed therein and with a smooth, non-contoured exterior surface is adapted to receive a head of a user. This first contact surface portion with full contact exterior surface provides firm support for the user. The second contact surface portion of the pillow includes a plurality of protrusions extending up away from an intermediate portion of the pillow (i.e., the central area of the pillow positioned between the first and second contact surface portions). This second contact surface portion also is adapted to receive the head of a user and provides a softer sup