Support pillow

A generally rectangular or other suitably shaped support pillow adapted to be removably secured around a users neck. A single elongated wedge-shaped pillow segment is provided with fasteners for joining one end to the other. The wedge shape gives increased lateral support to the users neck and head. Worn with the fasteners under the user's chin, it gives increased head and neck support whereas if it is worn with the fasteners behind the users head, it gives increased chin and head support. A three piece version is also provided and the various pillow segments may be of various sizes. A laminate may be applied to render the support pillow bacteria proof, flame retardent and waterproof while allowing heat and perspiration to escape. A spring-like closure version is also shown.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVNETION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to a head and neck support pillow and more 
particularly to a support pillow not of the medical type for primary 
restriction such as surgical collars and the like but which can serve a 
multiple of mild support purposes including providing improved lateral 
head and neck support, providing chin and head support, and/or providing 
improved support to the back of the neck. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
For years infants, toddlers, and small children sitting or riding in car 
seats, carriers, walkers, strollers, swings, jumpers, high chairs, and 
similar seat-like devices have been rudely awakened when their heads fell 
forward, backward, or sideways as they drifted off to sleep or due to 
bumps or acceleration variations in the ride. Such infants, toddlers, and 
children were not only rudely awakened, but, in many instances, suffered 
injuries which resulted in at least prolonged crying or the like. 
More seriously, modern doctors realize the importance of protecting a 
child's delicate neck and head from twisting, turning, sudden shifts in 
direction, and of course contusions and the like. These children can not 
be routinely provided with any type of restrictive surgical brace or 
collar so the standard prior art solution was to place a common pillow 
behind the child's head. This, of course, left the sides of the neck and 
head and front exposed unless the person protecting the child decided to 
stuff four separate pillows or a blanket or the like around the baby for 
protection purposes. This, of course, overheated the baby or child making 
it extremely uncomfortable and difficult to sleep, and often squeezed it 
into the seat adding still additional discomfort. Bib-like devices or 
simplistic collars of the prior art offered no real solution to these 
problems. 
The travel industry is also an important source of support pillow useage. 
Air travel, trains, busses, subways and other forms of mass transportation 
illustrate the need for support pillows for older children and adults as 
well as infants, toddlers, and small children, regardless of the 
particular type of seat used. As increased amounts of time are spent on 
airplanes, trains, busses, automobiles and the like, the carrier must plan 
on offering the traveler an opportunity to rest up or sleep in preparation 
for arrival at his destination or at least see that he rests comfortably 
during the trip. However, most types of mass transportation require that 
any resting or sleep which the traveler gets he must get in a seated or 
substantially vertical position. Sleeping in this position often permits 
the head to bob and/or twist, turn or rest for long periods of time in an 
unnatural position. This results in lack of sleep or rest and often in a 
cramped neck, sore muscles or the like. The prior art recognized the need 
to provide some type of light support to the head and neck area so as to 
permit more comfortable rest during travel and resolved the problem by 
using standard type pillows and rolled up blankets which have proved 
wholly unsatisfactory. These standard pillows, and more often than not, 
substandard pillows, offered little or no support and provided a simple 
head rest at best at either the back of the head or the back of the neck 
but seldom both. Furthermore, the covers to these pillows were often dirty 
and unsanitary, absorbed sweat and moisture from the travelers head and 
neck area and smelled. 
Another area in the prior art recognizing the need for support pillows is 
the medical area. While the medical area is replete with braces and the 
like to provide primary restriction, such devices are not useable to 
provide simple light support and comfort for its users, particularly small 
children and the like. Further, the medical area has recognized the need 
for a support device to discourage a user, often a medical patient, from 
rolling out of a predetermined position while sleeping in a horizontal 
position. Surgical pillows provide excellent support to the back of the 
neck while sleeping in a horizontal position but they offer little or no 
restriction to keep the person from physically rolling out of the desired 
position or even out of bed. 
Further, the prior art teaches the need for a light comfortable support 
apparatus for use when a primary restrictive apparatus such as a surgical 
collar for the neck and head was not presently being worn or was not 
required. For example, patients having difficulty with muscle control of 
the neck or patients bound to wheelchairs often require or desire some 
form of neck support even during periods when rigid braces or collars 
which were used as primary restrictive devices were removed. There was no 
apparatus available for use when the primary restrictive apparatus is 
temporarily removed and thus those patients who require secondary or 
relatively mild support during the interum periods, remain wanting. 
Therefore, a need still exists in the prior art for a relatively mild or 
comfortable support pillow or apparatus which is capable of providing less 
than true restrictive support to the head and neck area of a person and 
thus provide comfort and/or medical benefits to that person. 
Furthermore, the need exists for a relatively simple, light weight, 
washable, medically acceptable, head and neck support capable of providing 
various types of support for comfort and protection. Yet further, a need 
exists for a support pillow which permits restful sleep for the user in 
the vertical position, which provides improved support to discourage the 
user from rolling out of the desired position when used during periods of 
horizontal rest, and which provides improved support as a supplement to 
primary restrictive apparatus during periods of non-use. Lastly, the prior 
art teaches the need for a support pillow which offers head and neck 
support and substantial protection to infants, toddlers, and small 
children in various seat-like devices; and which can be rendered fire 
proof, water proof, moisture proof, bacteria proof, while being able to 
breath to eliminate evaporation and perspiration; able to pass heat to 
prevent rashes and the like; and which may be quickly and easily assembled 
and/or put on and taken off a user's neck. 
The support pillow of the present invention solves substantially all of 
these problems and provides a relatively low cost, extremely simple means 
whereby a user can receive head and neck support of various types 
depending upon the positioning of the pillow. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a support pillow having a geometric shape 
adapted to be disposed substantially around the user's neck and at least 
partially carried on his shoulders. The pillow includes at least one 
elongated pillow segment and adjustably positionable fastening tabs for 
securing the pillow segment longitudinally to substantially encircle the 
user's neck. The fastening means is of sufficient length for to allow 
adjustment to provide for an individual user's comfort and to provide a 
tighter fit, if required for added support. 
In the preferred embodiment, the pillow segment is laterally wedge-shape 
and radially positioned with the wider wedge-shaped portion disposed away 
from the user's neck to give greater lateral head and neck support. While 
the present invention contemplates that the fastening means secures the 
pillow segment about the user's neck to form a rectangle, a pillow of any 
conventional shape such as a polygon, square, triangle, circle, oval or 
the like may also be used with the present invention, at least for various 
aspects thereof. 
The preferred embodiment also contemplates that the pillow segments are 
stuffed or filled with a non-allergetic fill material and that the pillow 
be covered or coated with a laminated membrane, such as GORE-TEX.RTM. 
(this is a registered trademark which describes a waterproofing material 
that has TEFLON.RTM., which is a registered trademark, material laminated 
with other material), at least for medical purposes, which render the 
pillow segments heat resistant, water proof, impervious to bacteria, and 
include breathability for allowing perspiration and evaporation 
therethrough and for dissipating heat to the atmosphere to prevent 
overheating, rashes and the like. 
Yet further, an additional embodiment includes a three-part pillow segment 
support pillow wherein each of two elongated sides are connected to one 
another in the rear via a third pillow segment and the front of the first 
and second elongated pillows includes fastener means for securing the 
pillow about the user's neck as previously described. Various thicknesses 
and different sizes of pillows and pillow segments may be provided 
depending upon medical reasons, if applicable. Other advantages and 
meritorious features of the present invention will be more fully 
understood from the following description of the drawings and the 
preferred embodiments, the appended claims and the drawings which are 
described hereinbelow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the support 
pillow 15 of the present invention. The support pillow 15 includes a 
single elongated body or pillow segment 17 having one end 19 detachably 
secured to the opposite end 21 through the use of a quick action 
attach-detach member 23. Once the ends 19, 21 of the pillow segment 17 are 
attached together, the elongated segment 17 takes on a generally 
rectangular shape with a generally circular or oval aperture 25 in the 
middle thereof for removably receiving a person's neck. The bottom 27 of 
the pillow segment 17 is adapted to rest or be positioned on the user's 
shoulder and the rear portion 29 is relatively thick compared to the 
central front portion where the fastening means 23 is attached. The terms 
back and front are used for describing the figures only and it will be 
understood that the pillow can be rotated on the user's head or installed 
in the opposite direction so that back and front are reversed with respect 
to the user's face, as hereinafter described. 
The inside surface or edge portion 31 of the pillow segment 17 is adapted 
to be comfortably positioned against the user's neck and is, in the 
preferred embodiment of the present invention, relatively thin in its top 
to bottom dimension. The outside 33, however, is relatively thick compared 
to the thickness of the inside portion 31 so as to form a laterally 
wedge-shaped elongated member 17 which provides increased lateral support 
to the user's head and neck. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, it is 
understood that the actual size, shape and dimensions of the support 
pillow 15 may be varied depending upon whether or not the support pillow 
is for an infant, a child or an adult. Likewise, the shape may be changed 
for medical reasons as hereinafter described. Further, the rectangular 
shape may be polygonal, square, triangular, circular, oval, or the like 
provided the dimensions are such that the objects of the present invention 
are still met. 
The inside of the elongated pillow segment 17 is stuffed or filled with a 
conventional non-allergenic fill material. For at least some applications, 
including medical use, the material of the support pillow 15 can be 
sprayed or covered to laminate it with a unique membrane such as 
GORE-TEX.RTM.. The addition of this laminated membrane renders the pillow 
15 flame retardant, waterproof, bacteria proof so bacteria cannot 
penetrate the membrane and establish an internal breeding ground, 
breathable to allow perspiration to evaporate and heat to dissipate so as 
to prevent heat rash and the like thereby making the pillow 15 comfortable 
to wear. Being waterproof, any bodily discharge will not be absorbed by 
the pillow segment 17 but can be easily wiped off to keep the pillow 15 
clean at all times. 
FIG. 2 is a front view of the support pillow 15 of FIG. 1 and it further 
illustrates the thicker rear portion 29, the ends 19 and 21 of the 
elongated segment 17, the fastener 23 connecting the ends 19 and 21 and 
the relatively thick lateral sides 33 of the pillow segment 17 which form 
the general wedge-shaped configuration 35 which slopes from the outer edge 
33 into the area encircling the user's neck. 
FIG. 3 is a top view of the support pillow of FIG. 1 with the fasteners 23 
opened to separate the ends 19, 21 of the tubular pillow segment 17 for 
putting it on or taking it off of the user's neck. The interior cavity or 
opening 25 is opened further than usual to receive or allow removal of the 
neck and the inside surface 31 may be temporarily out of contact or 
proximate contact therewith. The outer surfaces 33 are spread while the 
back portion 29 remains substantially the same. The fastening device 23 is 
shown as including a pair of conventional VELCRO.RTM. (this is a 
registered trademark and describes a hook and loop fastening mechanism or 
material) fastener tabs 37, 38 with tab 37 secured to end 19 and tab 38 
secured to end 21. As conventionally known, one of the tabs 37, 38 
contains the hook members while the other contains the latching pad or 
loops so that when the tabs 37, 38 are overlayed on top of one another and 
selectively adjusted to provide the correct degree of tightness while 
still providing for user comfort, they are pressed together to secure the 
ends 19, 21 thereby positioning the pillow segment 17 around the user's 
neck restoring it to its generally rectangular shape. 
FIG. 4 is a top view of the support pillow 15 of FIG. 3 and illustrates the 
elongated pillow segment 17 in the closed position so as to form a 
generally circular or oval aperture 25 for receiving the user's neck in 
the center thereof, with the inside edge surface 31 in proximate contact 
to the user's neck, and the outer edge 33 being substantially thicker to 
provide the wedge-shape of the pillow for lateral support. The back 29 is 
shown as generally opposite the front portion having end 19 and end 21 
removably secured by the fastening tabs 23. 
FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the support pillow 15 of the present 
invention on a user 39. The bottom surface 27 rests generally on the 
user's shoulder while the wedge-shape 35 produced from the outer edge 33 
to the portion 31 adjacent the user's neck provides increased lateral 
support. Further, since the generally thick back portion 29 of FIG. 1 is 
positioned behind the user's 39 head while the fastener 23 connects the 
ends 19, 21 and is disposed generally under the user's chin, the support 
pillow 15 provides the following advantages in this position. Firstly, it 
provides increased lateral support due to the wedge-shaped configuration 
thereof and secondly, when it is worn with the fastening tabs 23 in the 
front, the back portion 29 will give added support to the back of the 
neck. As shown in FIG. 6, when the relatively thick back portion 29 is 
disposed adjacent to or under the chin of the user 39, so that the ends 
19, 21 and fastener 23 of FIG. 1 are disposed behind the user's head, the 
support pillow 15 offers a different set of advantages. Firstly, it still 
provides improved lateral support due to the relative thickness of sides 
33 compared to the thickness of the sides 31 adjacent the user's neck. 
Secondly, with the fastening tab worn in the back, the thicker back 
cushion portion 29 will give additional support under the chin to keep the 
user's head from falling forward. 
FIG. 7 shows a separated view of the three piece support pillow 15 of an 
alternate embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, a first 
elongated side pillow portion or member 47, a second elongated side pillow 
portion or member 49 and a small pillow portion 51. Each of the pillow 
portions 47, 49 and 51 has a pair of VELCRO.RTM. pads so that it can be 
detachably connected to form a generally rectangular support pillow 15. 
The rear tab 53 at the back end 52 of pillow segment 47 is detachably 
connected to tab 55 at one end of the small pillow 51. The tab 57 at the 
opposite end of the small pillow 51 is detachably connected to a tab 59 at 
the rear end 54 of the elongated side pillow portion 49. The front 56 of 
side pillow portion 49 and the front 58 of side pillow portion 47 are 
connected together by tabs 61 and 63 for forming a generally rectangular 
support pillow 15 from three individual pillow pieces. 
The FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the three piece pillow support 15 of 
FIG. 7 connected together to form a support pillow 15. The first side 
pillow member 47 has its rear end 52 connected via fasteners 62 including 
the tabs 53 and 55 to one end of the small pillow 51. The opposite end of 
the pillow 51 is connected to the rear end of the elongated side pillow 
member 49 by fastener 64 comprising tabs 57 and 59. The front portion 56 
of side pillow portion 49 and the front portion 58 of side pillow portion 
47 are connected together by fasteners 66 comprising tabs 61 and 63 for 
forming a three piece support pillow 15. The inside surface 31 of the 
pillow 15 or at least the pillow portions 47 and 49 are adapted to be 
operably disposed adjacent or against the user's neck and the general 
shape of at least the first pillow portion 47 and second pillow portion 49 
is wedge-shaped to provide lateral support. The shape of the small pillow 
51 is not as critical but may also be wedge-shaped. It will, of course, be 
understood that each of the pillow segments or portions 47, 51 and 49 may 
be of a different size, thickness or shape for particular uses, such as 
medical needs or the like. 
FIG. 9 is a front view of the three piece support pillow 15 of FIG. 8 
illustrating the left side pillow portion 47, the rear pillow 51, the 
right side pillow portion 49, the front 56 of pillow portion 49, the front 
58 of pillow portion 47, and the fastener device 66 connecting the ends 58 
and 56 to form the generally rectangular support pillow of the present 
invention. Furthermore, the sides 35 are generally wedge-shaped for added 
lateral support. 
FIG. 10 is a rear view of the perspective view of the three piece support 
pillow 15 of FIG. 8 showing the rear surface 52 of left pillow portion 47, 
the rear surface 54 of right pillow portion 49, the fastening device 64 
including the tabs 57 and 59 which connect one end 54 of pillow portion 49 
to one end of pillow 51 and a second fastening device 62 including tabs 53 
and 55 which connect the opposite end 52 of the elongated pillow segment 
47 to the small pillow 51 at the other end thereof. 
FIG. 11 shows a generally circular support pillow 71 having a generally 
circular or oval inner surface 75, having a first thickness, a single 
elongated pillow portion 73, a generally thicker outer portion 77 of the 
elongated pillow 73 for providing a generally wedge-shape between the 
outer surface 77 and the inner surface 75 for increased lateral support. 
The support pillow 71 of FIG. 11 also includes fastener means 81 for 
securing one end of the elongated pillow segment 73 to the other for 
operational use. 
FIG. 12 is another alternate embodiment of the support pillow 83 of the 
present invention. The support pillow 83 includes a single elongated 
pillow segment 84 having a first end 85 and a second end 86. An outer 
surface 89 is sufficiently thicker than the inner circular collar portion 
90 to provide a wedge-shape to increase lateral support, as previously 
described. The interior or inside of the elongated pillow segment 84 is 
stuffed or filled with a fill material or the like, and, in the preferred 
embodiment of the present invention, a non-allergenic film material or 
laminate is used to cover the pillow surface. Retainably disposed within 
the fill material 87 is a U-clamp or spring 88. The clamp or spring 88 may 
include spring metal, resilient plastic, or some similar type of 
conventional spring-type material. The rear 92 of the elongated pillow 
portion 84 is preferably thicker than the area adjacent the ends 85, 86 to 
establish a front and back and FIG. 12 shows the front ends 85, 86 as they 
have been manually separated by pulling outward against the bias of the 
U-shaped spring 88 to allow the pillow 83 to be put on or taken off a 
user's neck 91. 
FIG. 13 shows the pillow support 83 of FIG. 12 in the closed position with 
the user's neck 91 within the inner surface 90. After the user has placed 
and opened support pillow 83 of FIG. 12 around his neck 91, he slowly 
releases the ends 85, 86 allowing the spring 88 to return to its 
normally-biased position which closes the ends 85, 86 upon one another at 
95. As with the support pillow 15 of FIG. 1, the support pillow 83 of 
FIGS. 12 and 13 provide a lateral support at all times and additionally, 
whenever the portion 95 is worn in the front adjacent the user's neck 91, 
the thicker rear cushion portion 92 will give increased support to the 
back of the neck and when the end portion 95 is worn adjacent the back of 
the neck, the thicker portion 92 is operably disposed beneath and against 
the user's chin to prevent his head from falling forward and the like. 
Further, VELCRO.RTM. fastener pads could be applied to ends 85, 86 for 
detachably securing the ends 85, 86 together after the spring 88 has 
closed them upon one another. 
With any of the embodiments described herein and particularly for those 
which find medical use, the support pillow may be sprayed, covered, or 
laminated with a unique membrane material such as GORE-TEX.RTM.. This 
membrane renders the support pillow waterproof, fire retardent, bacteria 
proof, breathable to allow perspiration to escape and evaporate and heat 
conductive to allow heat to escape and dissipate thus making the pillow 
more comfortable to wear. Furthermore, being waterproof allows any bodily 
discharges to be easily wiped off rather than absorbed by the pillow. 
While various suitable types of fasteners may be used, the present 
invention contemplates conventional VELCRO.RTM. tabs which can be of 
sufficent length to be adjustable for user comfort. The VELCRO.RTM. tabs 
also allow the support pillow to be placed in a position of minimal 
movement and allows placement on person's who are sleeping without 
disturbing them. Furthermore, the tabs make possible a tighter fit around 
the neck for greater comfort and support, if desired. 
Similarly, the pillows 15 may be provided in varying thicknesses and sizes 
and the wedge-shaped portions may have the outside to inside ratios 
changed, as desired. The support pillow 15 of the present invention may be 
laundered by conventional means, dry-cleaned or cleaned under 
hospital-like sterilization processes. Furthermore, the material may come 
in various colors and designs making the pillow more cheerful and 
attractive to the user. Some pillows may be manufactured with unisex 
preference materials while others are manufactured with male preference 
materials, female preference materials, children preference materials, and 
infants preference materials. 
The support pillow 15 described herein is not designed to immobilize head 
movement like a surgical collar or for any other type of medical 
requirement employing a tight restriction, but rather as a comfortable 
support for a head and neck to be used while sleeping or resting in a 
seated or vertical position. Furthermore, the support pillow can be used 
for a horizontal rest. This application gives excellent support to the 
back of the neck as does a surgical pillow. However, unlike a surgical 
pillow, the pillow 15 of the present invention discourages the user from 
rolling out of position due to its shape, the encircling effect, and the 
fasteners. The pillow 15 has proved ideal for children riding in carseats 
or any other type of seats and particulary effective at allowing children 
to sleep safely and peacefully by eliminating irritating head bobbing. 
Adults as well may use the pillow for getting rest while they travel and 
it can even be provided with a travel case for convenience of storage and 
for keeping it clean when not in use. The pillow 15 covers can, as known 
in the art, be made removeable, if desired, for cleaning purposes or cover 
changes to different colors etc. 
Commercial air carriers, trains, busses, subways and the like may find the 
present invention a substitute for individual cloth pillows with 
throw-away covers and inherent sweat absorption and smell problems. The 
present pillow 15 may also have many medical applications. For example, a 
patient having difficult with muscle control of the neck and simply as a 
comfort item to patients bound to wheelchairs. While the pillow 15 is not 
designed as a primary restrictive apparatus but rather as a supplement to 
be worn for comfort and support during those periods when the primary 
apparatus is not worn, or as an item to fill the void where such apparatus 
is not necessary and only light support is required. The support pillow of 
the present invention is being tested by several doctors and is approved 
by all those who have completed their testing. 
With this detailed description of the specific apparatus used to illustrate 
the present invention and the operation thereof, it will be obvious to 
those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is 
limited only by the appended claims.