Patent Publication Number: US-5020174-A

Title: Self adjustable, neck support pillow

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.: 415,873; filed Oct. 2, 1989 and issued Sept. 18, 1990 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,886. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a new and improved adjustable pillow support for the shoulders, neck and head of a user. The pillow support is designed to enable the user to purposefully adjust the pillow and attached components to the particular body size required, and enable the shoulders, neck and head of the user to be maintained in a reasonably aligned manner, when the user is lying on the back or side. The pillow also conforms to the user&#39;s movements when asleep to apply adequate neck support on a change of sleep position from the side to the back. This in turn reduces stiffness, aching, discomfort, and chronic muscle strain. 
     Various support devices for a user&#39;s shoulders, neck and head have been proposed, and typical prior art devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 395,043; 2,952,856; 2,765,480; 3,648,308; 4,320,543; 4,393,530; 4,432,107; 4,550,459; 4,754,513; 4,829,614; 4,803,743; and, 4,821,255; and, British Patent 26,072. 
     None of these prior art devices provide a support which may be purposefully adjusted by moving it along the pillow to conform to the user&#39;s size. Also, none of these prior art devices are adapted to provide a self adjusting neck support for the user based on the user&#39;s weight and body size. Moreover, none of these support devices are self adjustable along with the user&#39;s movements on based on changes of the user&#39;s position when asleep, not only in terms of general positioning, but also in terms of vertically accommodating to the alignment of the neck and shoulders. 
     Consequently, a need exists for an adjustable pillow support which accommodates to a variety of user sizes and sleep positions without requiring too great a diverse inventory. Preferably, such a device should be inexpensive, easy to manufacture and repair, and require little or no training to use. Also, the device should appear aesthetically pleasant, and not stand out from associated furniture. 
     THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, an adjustable three-component pillow support is provided, one component being a base portion having a square or oblong shape, and a generally elliptically, oval, plano convex, etc., shaped cross section, and similar in shape to the usual pillow. The pillow is constructed typically of a cloth exterior, and with a soft fill such as polyester, cotton, nylon, foam, chip foam, etc., to enable forces of compression to be transmitted via the soft fill through the pillow. 
     The second component of the pillow support comprises a generally rectangularly-shaped cloth attachment piece which is connected to the pillow, typically by sewing, along one of the edges of the attachment piece. This leaves the other edge of the attachment piece free for connection to the third component of the pillow support and which comprises a cylindrical-shaped neck support of considerably smaller dimensions than the base portion. The attachment piece is connected by its free edge to the neck support along the longitudinal portion, and since the attachment piece is relatively wide, it can move over a fairly large area of the pillow along with the neck support. Thus, the neck support is readily adjustable by the user when awake, and self adjusts along with the user&#39;s movements when the user is asleep. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an upper, perspective view of the self adjustable neck support pillow, of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the neck support pillow, partly broken away; 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the pillow, supporting a user thereon; and, 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation view of a user being supported in a supine position on the support pillow of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The adjustable neck support pillow 10 of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and comprises a generally cylindrically-shaped pillow base structure 11 having an elliptical, oval, plano convex, or similar cross section. The pillow base structure has an outer cloth covering 12 of woven fabrics such as cotton, polyester, nylon, acrylics, etc., and blends of these materials. The interior of the pillow base structure 11 contains a soft fill 13 to enable inward forces of compression due to the user&#39;s shoulders to be transmitted inwardly along the pillow and upwardly to an adjustable neck support, which will be described, infra. A cloth attachment piece 14 with a generally rectangular shape, is connected along the edge 15 usually by sewing stitches 16, to the pillow base structure, about midway between one edge and the center of the base structure 11. The cloth attachment piece 14 is generally constructed of materials similar to the covering of the pillow base structure, i.e., cotton, polyester, nylon, acrylics, and blends of these, etc. 
     The free edge 17 of the attachment piece is connected to a neck support 18 by sewing stitches 19, the neck support resting on the pillow base structure 11, but being freely movable thereon, to the extent of the width of the cloth attachment piece. The limits of movement are such that the neck support does not extend over the edge of the pillow, and this limit is shown in dotted designation. The neck support is shown in FIG. 2, and is manufactured of the same, or similar materials as the cloth attachment piece and the pillow base structure. Thus, the outer covering 20 of the neck support is usually woven cotton, nylon, polyester, acrylics, and blends of these, etc., and the interior 21 is a soft fill material such as cotton, rice, polyester, nylon, acrylic polymers, fiber fill, loose gauze, down, foam, chip foam, air, liquid, gel, and mixtures of these. 
     If desired, a heating or cooling means may be incorporated into either the neck support and/or pillow. 
     Typically, a broad range of dimensions of the pillow base structure 11 is about 12&#34;-30&#34; wide, and about 20&#34;-40&#34; long, the cloth attachment piece 14 is up to about 6&#34; wide, and preferably about 1&#34;-6&#34; wide, and the neck support 18 is about 1&#34;-6&#34; in diameter for adults, and about 1&#34;-4&#34; in diameter for children. A narrower range of dimensions of the pillow base structure 11 is about 12&#34;-18&#34; wide, and about 30&#34;-36&#34; in length, the cloth attachment piece 14 is up to about 5&#34; wide, and preferably about 3&#34;-5&#34; wide, and the neck support 18 is about 2&#34;-4&#34; in diameter for adults, and about 1&#34;-4&#34; in diameter for children. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, a person will rest their shoulders and head on the pillow base structure 11, and their neck will be supported by the neck support 18. The person&#39;s shoulders produce an inward compression force on the pillow base structure 11, causing the pillow support structure to become compressed inwardly 22. Due to the type of soft fill employed in the pillow base structure, this inward compression will transmit an upward force to the neck support 18. Generally, the person&#39;s shoulder weight and size on the pillow will transmit an inward compression force to the neck support roughly equivalent to that necessary for providing adequate support for the neck. 
     Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, for a person lying on their back, their shoulders will spread out their weight to a greater extent, compared to lying sideways. Hence, there will be less upward linear movement of the neck support 18, which is desireable for persons in a supine position. 
     Overall, the head, neck and shoulders of the person resting on the neck support pillow 10 of this invention are reasonably aligned, and this results in less aching, discomfort, stiffness, and muscle strain of the neck muscles. Also, there is less tendency of the lower back to be adversely affected when resting on the support pillow. 
     If desired, the components of this invention can be manufactured by providing an external cover comprising the neck support 18 and cloth attachment 14 connected to the outer cloth covering 12, of the pillow base 11, without their respective fill materials. Alternatively, either one of the neck support or the pillow may be manufactured without a fill material, which is inserted subsequently, and prior to use.