Patent Publication Number: US-2006016011-A1

Title: Sleeping pillow with a depression

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Technical Field of the Invention  
      The present invention generally relates to sleeping pillows. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a sleeping pillow having a depression to facilitate comfortable, restful and therapeutic sleeping position for a person, while mitigating the production costs associated with specifically contoured pillows.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Invariably, rest and sleep are among the body&#39;s numerous mechanisms to heal itself from the postural, physical and nervous assaults throughout the previous day. Conventional pillows, each comprising a pillow casing and fill material, are known in the art and they have not undergone many changes in the many years of pillow making. However, specifically contoured pillows have been deigned in recent years to improve the quality of rest and repair, thereby permitting an individual to wake up more relaxed, rested and ready to face another day.  
      A variety of specifically contoured pillows are available on the market. These pillows are molded from materials, such as a variety of foam materials, designed to improve the body&#39;s position during sleep, thereby providing more restful and therapeutic sleep. A variety of pillows have been designed for use between a person&#39;s knees, providing spinal support to keep the lower spine in a neutral position. Furthermore, a variety of pillows have been designed for use below a person&#39;s head, providing upper back, neck and head support to keep the upper spine and neck in neural positions. The foregoing pillows provide for comfort and support, and may make a difference in alleviating and/or avoiding back pain, neck pain and getting a restful and therapeutic night&#39;s sleep.  
      Regarding the contoured pillows designed specifically for use below a person&#39;s head to support the upper back, neck and head, there have been a number of different pillows produced, including concave pillows or doughnut-shaped pillows having a portion touching the neck that is high and a portion touching the head that is low. However, the foregoing specifically contoured pillows are expensive to manufacture as compared to conventional pillows.  
      Notwithstanding the various improvements in the foregoing contoured sleeping pillows, there is a need in the art to provide a sleeping pillow with a depression to facilitate a comfortable, restful and therapeutic sleeping position for a person, while mitigating production costs associated with the specifically contoured pillows.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping pillow to support the neck and head of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising: a pillow casing filled with a fill material, the pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing, the depression formed securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another.  
      According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising: a pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a gusset having an approximately elliptical figure eight shape located at a predetermined position in the interior of the pillow casing, the gusset securing the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing along the length thereof, the gusset forming a first section and a second section in the interior of the pillow casing and a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another, wherein the first section and the second section are filled with different quantities of a fill material, different fill materials, or different quantities of different fill materials, respectively.  
      According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising: a pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing, the depression formed securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another; and a first section and a second section in the interior of the pillow casing filled with different quantities of a fill material, different fill materials, or different quantities of different fill materials, respectively  
      According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising: sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one open side; securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined position of one or more of the top support surface and the bottom support surface, where the top surface is at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface; filling the pillow casing with a predetermined amount of fill material via the at least one open side; and closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side, wherein a depression at the predetermined position of the one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface is formed.  
      According to yet a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising: sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one open side; filling the pillow casing with a predetermined amount of fill material via the at least one open side; closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side; and compressing and securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface and at a predetermined distance form one another, wherein a depression at the predetermined position of the one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface is formed.  
      According to a still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising: sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a piece of fabric of an elliptical figure eight shape sewn therein at a predetermined position, a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one open side, the piece of fabric forming a first section and a second section; filling the first section and the second section of the pillow casing with predetermined amounts of fill material via the at least one open side; and closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description in combination with the attached drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary top perspective view of a sleeping pillow with a depression according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow depicted in  FIG. 1  according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary top perspective view of the unfilled pillow casing according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary exploded lateral cross-sectional view of the stitching depicted in  FIG. 3  that forms the depression depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow casing depicted in  FIG. 3  being filled with fill material according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary top perspective view of the unfilled pillow casing made according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow casing depicted in  FIG. 6  being filled with fill material according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary top perspective view of the pillow casing depicted  FIGS. 6-7  filled with fill material and sealed according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary formation of a depression in the filled and sealed pillow casing depicted in  FIG. 8  according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 10  depicts an exemplary top perspective view of a sleeping pillow assembly comprising a top fabric portion, a bottom fabric portion and a gusset according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  depicts an exemplary top perspective view of the sleeping pillow assembly depicted in  FIG. 10  being sewn together and filled according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 12  depicts is an exemplary top perspective view of a finished sleeping pillow made in accordance with  FIGS. 10 and 11 , according to the present invention; and  
       FIGS. 13 and 14  depict exemplary uses of the pillow according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to providing a sleeping pillow with a depression to facilitate a comfortable, restful and therapeutic sleeping position for a person, while mitigating production costs associated with the specifically contoured pillows.  
       FIG. 1  is an exemplary top perspective view of a sleeping pillow  100  according to the present invention. The pillow  100  comprises a pillow casing  102 , fill material  104  and a depression  106 . The pillow  102  has a dimension including a length and a width, depicted herein in  FIG. 3 . It is preferable that the pillow dimension is 15 inches by 22 inches or 20 inches by 26 inches. However, the pillow may be of any conventional dimension, or otherwise. The fill material  104  may be a slick fill, e.g., silicon-coated material, or a dry fill, e.g., a garneted fill material. Alternatively, the pillow  100  may be blow-filled. Although fill materials are not described herein for brevity and clarity of the present invention, they are nonetheless considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The pillow casing  102  is preferably made of cotton or a combination of cotton and another material.  
      Further with reference to  FIG. 1 , the depression  106  is located at a predetermined position on the pillow casing  102 . It is preferable that the depression is located about centrally along the length and width dimension of the pillow  100 . It is further preferable that the shape of the innermost or bottom portion of the depression  106  is generally circular. However, the depression also may be offset from about the center depending on the particular requirements. If offset, it is preferable that the depression is located at about one third of the width of the pillow casing  102  plus one half of the diameter of the innermost portion of the depression. It is noted that bottom portion of the depression  106  is lower than the outer portion  108  of the sleeping pillow  100  outside the depression. It is preferable that the innermost diameter of the depression  106  is from about ⅝ of an inch to about 3 and ⅞ of an inch. However, the shape and size of the bottom portion of the depression may vary and such variation is considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape of the innermost portion of the depression may be a point or have a length and a width, such as a square or a rectangle or other geometrical shape of a different dimension. Although other shapes are not depicted for brevity and clarity of the present invention, they are nonetheless considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The advantage of the point or circular shape of the preferred size is that the depression  106  is of an approximately conically sloped shape, having approximately outwardly sloped walls, which approximates the size of the head of a person. That is, the person&#39;s head is cradled in the depression  106  and supported laterally by the outwardly sloping walls, while the higher portion  108  of the sleeping pillow  100  supports the neck and a part of the upper back of the person. Therefore, the sleeping pillow  100 , having the depression  106 , facilities a person&#39;s comfortable, restful and therapeutic sleeping position.  
       FIG. 2  is an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the sleeping pillow  100  depicted in  FIG. 1  according to the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sleeping pillow  100  has a top support surface  206  and a bottom support surface  210 . The top support surface  206  and the bottom support  210  surface are similar and may be interchanged by turning the sleeping pillow  100  over. The cross-section of the sleeping pillow  100  illustrated in  FIG. 2  depicts the depression  106  formed on the pillow casing  102  of the top support surface  206  and a similar depression  106  on the bottom support surface  210 . The depression  106  has an approximately conical shape with outwardly sloping walls  202 . The angle of the sloping walls is preferably from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. The slope of the walls  202  is a function of the quantity of fill material  104  in the sleeping pillow  100  and the distance between the bottom portion  204  of each depression  106  (i.e., on the top support surface  206  and the bottom support surface  210 ). As is further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the depression  106  has a depth of  208 , which generally represents the difference between the top support surface  206  and the bottom of the depression  204 . The depth  208  of the depression  106  is further a function of the quantity of fill material  104  in the sleeping pillow  100  and the distance between the bottom portion  204  of each depression  106 .  
       FIGS. 3-5  depict perspective views for making the sleeping pillow  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an exemplary top perspective view of the unfilled pillow casing  102  according to the present invention. The pillow casing  102  of the sleeping pillow  100  is made conventionally. More specifically, two portions of fabric  308 ,  310  (preferably of cotton or a combination of cotton and another material) having a length  302  and a width  304  are sewn together along the edges thereof. That is, the two portions of fabric are sewn along three of the four edges, thereby forming the pillow casing  102  having one edge open. Preferably, the edge along the width of the pillow casing  102  is left open. The pillow casing  102  is then inverted to hide the stitching along the three edges on the inside of the pillow casing  102 . In accordance with the present invention, a generally circular stitching  306  having a predetermined diameter (depicted and described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 4 ) is sewn at a predetermined location along the length and width of the pillow casing  102 , thereby securing the two portions of fabric around the predetermined location. The predetermined location of the stitching  306  may be about the center of the pillow casing  102  or may be offset from the center depending on the particular requirements. If offset, it is preferable that the stitching  306  is located at about one third of the width of the pillow casing  102  plus one half of the predetermined diameter. After the pillow  100  is filled with fill material  104 , the circular stitching  306  will define the bottom portion  204  of the depression  106  and the outwardly sloping walls of the depression  202  will terminate at the top support surface  206  (as well as the bottom support surface  210 ).  
       FIG. 4  is an exemplary exploded lateral cross-sectional view of the stitching  306  depicted in  FIG. 3  that forms the depression  106  depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to the present invention.  FIG. 5  is an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow casing  102  depicted in  FIG. 3  being filled with fill material  104 . As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the top fabric portion  310  and the bottom fabric portion  308  are sewn along three of four edges, including the exemplary edge  502 , with one edge  504  left open. The top fabric portion  310  and the bottom fabric portion  308  are secured at a predetermined location via circular stitching  306  having a diameter  406 , at a predetermined distance  408  from one another. As described hereinbefore, it is preferable that the diameter  406  is from about ⅝ of an inch to about 3 and ⅞ of an inch. Furthermore, it is preferable that the distance  408  between the top fabric portion  310  and the bottom fabric portion  308  at the circular stitching  306  is from about zero inches to about 0.5 of an inch. The distance  408  may be achieved by adding fill material  104  to achieve the necessary distance and stitching the top fabric portion  310  and the bottom fabric portion  308  to secure them. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the pillow casing  102  is thereafter filled through the open edge  504  with a desired amount and type of fill material  104  described with reference to  FIG. 1 . Thereafter, the open edge  504  is stitched to seal the pillow casing  102  and complete the sleeping pillow  100  according to the present invention. The complete sleeping pillow  100  is depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
       FIGS. 6-9  depict perspective views for making the sleeping pillow  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is an exemplary top perspective view of the unfilled pillow casing  102  made according to the present invention. The pillow casing  102  of the sleeping pillow  100  is made conventionally. More specifically, two portions of fabric (preferably of cotton or a combination of cotton and another material), a top fabric portion  602  and a bottom fabric portion  604 , having a length  606  and a width  608  are sewn together along the edges thereof. That is, the two portions of fabric are sewn along three of the four edges, thereby forming the pillow casing  102  having one edge open. Preferably, the edge along the width of the pillow casing  102  is left open. The pillow casing  102  is then inverted to hide the stitching along the three edges on the inside of the pillow casing  102 . The pillow casing is thereafter filled with fill material  204  and stitched along the open edge.  
       FIG. 7  is an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow casing  102  depicted in  FIG. 6  being filled with fill material  104  according to the present invention. It is noted that no depression is formed on the pillow at this stage. As described hereinabove with reference to  FIG. 6 , the top fabric portion  602  and the bottom fabric portion  604  are sewn along three of four edges, including edge  702 , with one edge  704  left open. After the pillow casing  102  is inverted, it is filled with a desired amount and type of fill material  104  through the open edge  704 . The pillow casing expands as the desired quantity of fill material  104  fills the pillow casing  102 .  
       FIG. 8  is an exemplary pillow casing  102  that has been filled with fill material  104  and stitched at all edges to seal the contents of the pillow casing  102  in accordance with the invention.  
       FIG. 9  depicts in exemplary fashion the formation of a depression  106  in the filled pillow casing  102  of  FIG. 8  according to the present invention. More specifically, the depression  106  is formed using a compression tack machine  902 , which compresses the filled pillow casing  102  at the predetermined position along the length  606  and width  608  thereof, and secures the top surface  602  to the bottom surface  604  at a predetermined distance from one another, as similarly depicted in  FIG. 4  hereinabove. The compression tack machine  902  may be used to form the foregoing shape alternatives of the depression  106 , i.e., point, square, rectangle and the like. It is noted, there are other alternative means that can form the depression  106  as described herein, and thus they are considered within the scope of the present invention. The sleeping pillow that results from the teachings of  FIGS. 6-9  is similar to the sleeping pillow  100  depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 .  
       FIGS. 10-12  depict perspective views for making the sleeping pillow  100  according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is an exemplary top perspective view of a sleeping pillow assembly  1002  comprising a top fabric portion  602 , a bottom fabric portion  604  and a gusset  1000 , according to the present invention. The assembly is sewn together and filled to generate the sleeping pillow as depicted in and described with reference to  FIG. 12  hereinbelow. The gusset  1000  provides a barrier to mitigate the movement of fill material  104  from one part of a pillow to another part of a pillow, facilitates different quantities of fill material in the different parts of the pillow, as well as providing a depression in accordance with the present invention. The gusset  1000  is a piece of fabric made preferably of cotton or a combination of cotton and another material, and has a shape of an elongated figure eight. The gusset  1000  has a length that is approximately the length of the pillow  100  and a height from its lowest edge  1010  to its highest edge  1008  that is approximately the height of the pillow casing  102  when filled with fill material  104 , as particularly depicted in and described with reference to  FIG. 2 . It is preferable that the height from the lowest longitudinal edge  1010  to the highest longitudinal edge  1008  is greater than the height of the filled pillow casing  102 . This creates a flexible barrier that does not form a ridge centrally along the length of the pillow when the pillow casing  102  is filled with fill material  104 . The gusset  1000  also has a middle thinnest part  1004  and slopping edges  1002  that connect the highest edges  1008  and the thinnest part  1004 . The middle thinnest part  1004  has a predetermined height that facilitates the provision of a distance (similar to the distance  408  depicted in  FIG. 4 ) between the top fabric portion  602  and the bottom fabric portion  604  when the assembly  1002  is sewn together.  
       FIG. 11  is an exemplary top perspective view of the sleeping pillow assembly  1002  depicted in  FIG. 10  being sewn together and filled according to the present invention. The gusset  1000  provides a barrier to mitigate the movement of fill material  104  from one part of the pillow  100  to another part of the pillow, as well as providing a depression in accordance with the present invention. More specifically, the gusset  1000  is sewn along its longitudinal bottom edge  1010  to a bottom fabric portion  604  (or alternatively the top fabric portion  602 ). The positioning of the gusset  1000  is preferably central along the width of the top and bottom fabric portions  602 ,  604 . It is noted that the gusset can be positioned easily at another location along the width of the fabric portions  602 ,  604 . Thereafter, the top fabric portion  602  (or alternatively the bottom fabric portion  604 ) is sewn to the gusset  1000  along its longitudinal top edge  1008 . In this way, the gusset  1000  is sewn to a top fabric portion  602  and a bottom fabric portion  604  along edges  1008  and  1010 , respectively. Thereafter, the edges of the top fabric portion  602  and bottom fabric portion  602  are preferably sewn together along three of four edges as described in reference to  FIG. 6 , forming the pillow casing  102  having sewn therein the gusset  1000 . The gusset  1000  subdivides the one open edge into two openings  1106  and  1108  along the width of the pillow casing  102 . Furthermore, the gusset  1000  also subdivides the inside of the pillow casing  102  into two sections, a first section  1102  and a second section  1104 . The first section  1102  of the pillow casing  102  is filled via opening  1108  along the open edge and the second section  1104  is filled via opening  1106  along the open edge. Once filled, the open edge (i.e., openings  1106 ,  1108 ) are sealed.  
       FIG. 12  is an exemplary top perspective view of a finished sleeping pillow  100  made in accordance with  FIGS. 10 and 11 , according to the present invention. As depicted in  FIG. 12 , the first section  1102  includes a greater amount of fill material  1202  than does the second section  1104  that includes an amount of fill material  1204 . The different amounts of fill material  104  provide for different densities in the respectively filled sections  1102 ,  1104 . More specifically, the gusset  1000  facilitates the provision of different amounts of fill material  104  in the respective sections  1102 ,  1104 , or alternatively different fill materials in the sections  1102 ,  1104 , to thereby provide for firmer or softer density in the respectively filled sections. In this way it is possible for one section to be of a firmer density to support the neck and upper back and the other section to be of a softer density to support the head.  
       FIGS. 13 and 14  depict the exemplary uses of the pillow according to the present invention. In operation, a person will preferably use the pillow by sleeping in a generally supine position, i.e., lying on the back or having the face upward, as particularly depicted in  FIG. 13 . More specifically, the person&#39;s head will be cradled in the depression  106  and supported laterally by the outwardly sloping walls  202 , while the higher portion  108  of the sleeping pillow  100  will support the neck and a part of the upper back of the person. The provision of a firmer density under the neck and back in accordance with  FIG. 12  may be beneficial in this use of the pillow. Alternatively, a person may use he pillow by sleeping on one&#39;s side, with the person&#39;s ear fitting the depression  106 , as particularly depicted in  FIG. 14 . Alternative sleeping positions are possible and comprise further uses of the pillow  100  according to the present invention. In these alternate positions, the depression  106  will likewise cradle and support a part of the person&#39;s head, and the higher portion  108  will further support the person&#39;s neck and upper back.  
      While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.