Pillow with firmness providing element

Abstract: The invention relates to a pillow (1) comprising a cover (2) containing filling material (3), wherein a firmness-providing element (5,7) is also arranged in the cover (2). This firmness-providing element (5,7) is preferably elongate in form and can for instance be manufactured from foam material. In order to prevent the firmness-providing element (5,7) from beginning to drift inside the cover, a number of variants are proposed in the application for fixing the element to the cover.

Description: The present invention relates to a pillow, comprising a cover containing filling material, wherein an elongate firmness-providing element is arranged inside the cover. Such a pillow is known from Swiss patent publication 590,035, where the firmness-providing element is attached directly to the cover along the edge of the pillow, which edge is in use directed toward the body of a sleeping person, and on which edge his or her neck rests. The material, from which the firmness-providing element is produced in the known pillow, can be latex foam as a material, which is harder than the conventional filling material used in pillows. The known pillow has for a disadvantage, that because the firmness-providing element is itself relatively hard and stiff under pressure, and is arranged directly against the edge of the pillow against the cover, comfort of the known pillow is low. Although the known pillow does provide a good neck support, the different feel of the pillow in the vicinity of the firmness-providing element in comparison with the rest of the pillow for support of the head results in an uncomfortable sensation in the neck area, when using the known pillow. The present invention is directed at obviating the above mentioned drawbacks of the known pillow. To this end a pillow is provided, which is distinguished in that the element is positioned in the pillow by fastening means, comprising a projecting portion of woven material enclosing the element at least partially, said projecting portion being connected to the cover, or cords, where the firmness providing element is joined to the cover with interposing of said cords. In a preferred embodiment the element is at least partially enclosed by a woven material, a projecting portion of which is connected to the cover. This woven material can for instance be formed by material from which the cover is also made. The enveloping with woven material of a significant part of the firmness-providing element ensures a good anchoring, without disruptive changes of shape in the firmness providing element, and without thickening portions, which can be irritating during use. Another advantage of enveloping a significant part of the element with woven material is, that the filling material in the element can be prevented from coming into contact with each other over any large distance. For instance in the case of an element of foam material can thus be prevented that hard parts of the filling material, such as in particular the quills of feathers, penetrate into the foam material. In yet another preferred embodiment the pillow according to the present invention is distinguished in that the firmness-providing element is joined to the cover with interposing of cords. Such cords do not inhibit the freedom of movement of the filling material in the cover. Using such cords it is thereby possible to achieve a practically complete fixation of the firmness-providing element in the cover without limiting the freedom of movement of the filling material to any considerable extent. It will be apparent, that such cords can also be employed in combination with other fastening methods. In a combined preferred embodiment a pillow according to the present invention is distinguished, in that the projecting portion and the cords extend in opposite directions from the element through the filling material to the cover. Hereby an optimal fixation and positioning of the firmness-providing element is ensured, i.e. parallel to the plane of support for the head provided by the pillow. Other preferred embodiments, advantages and features of the present invention will be further elucidated with reference to the non-limitative embodiment in the accompanying figures, wherein: fig. 1 shows a partly cut away perspective view of a known pillow; and fig. 2 shows a partly cut away perspective view in more detail of the pillow according to the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a known pillow 1 whereof a cover 2 is filled with filling material 3. Also arranged round pillow 1 is a pillow case 4. In order now to obtain the desired support, in particular of the neck, a neck-cushion 5 is also arranged in pillow 1. The neck-cushion 5 will generally be manufactured from a resilient foam material, while the filling material of the pillow is formed by a material with a differing support characrteristic. Fig. 2 show a pillow 6 according to the present invention in which a neck-cushion 7 is arranged. It can be seen clearly in this figure that neck-cushion 7 is enclosed by a woven material 8, a projecting portion 9 of which is connected to the cover 2. Neck-cushion 7 is also fixed to cover 2 by means of cords 10. The position of neck-cushion 7 in pillow 6 is defined by the stated steps. It will be apparent that only one of the said steps, i.e. only the woven material envelope 8 with projecting portion 9, or the cords 10, can also be applied. The neck-cushion 7 shown in fig. 2 differs in shape from the neck-cushion 5 shown in fig. 1. Very many variants are conceivable in respect of the shape of the neck-cushion 7, or a different firmness-providing element. The chamferings 11 of neck-cushion 7 shown here serve only to illustrate the potential for variation.

Claims: Pillow (1), comprising a cover (2) containing filling material (3), wherein an elongate firmness-providing element (5; 7) is arranged inside the cover, characterized in that the element (5; 7) is positioned in the pillow (1) by fastening means (9; 10), comprising a projecting portion (9) of woven material (8) enclosing the element (5, 7) at least partially, said projecting portion (9) being connected to the cover (2). Pillow (1), comprising a cover (2) containing filling material (3), wherein an elongate firmness-providing element (5; 7) is arranged inside the cover, characterized in that the element (5; 7) is positioned in the pillow (1) by fastening means (9; 10), comprising cords (10), where the firmness providing element (5; 7) is joined to the cover (2) with interposing of said cords (10). Pillow according to claim 1, wherein the woven material (8) which encloses the element (5; 7) is the same as the woven material of the cover (2). Pillow according to claims 1 and 2, where the projecting portion (9) and the cords (10) extend in opposite directions from the element (5; 7) through the filling material (3) to the cover (2). Pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, where the element (5; 7) is elongate. Pillow according to claim 6, where the element (5; 7) is a roll. Pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, where the element (5; 7) is manufactured from any one of the materials from the group, comprising foam material, latex and polyether.

Inventors: ACHTEREEKTE HENDRIKUS LEONARDU, ACHTEREEKTE LEONARDUS GERARDUS, ACHTEREEKTE, HENDRIKUS LEONARDUS, ACHTEREEKTE, LEONARDUS GERARDUS
Applicants: JADE B V, JADE B.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A47G9
IPC codes: A47G9