Patent Publication Number: US-2013232691-A1

Title: Anatomically shaped pillow

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of the German “Gebrauchsmuster” Application DE 20 2012 100 854.8 filed on Mar. 9, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to an anatomically shaped pillow that, in particular, can be used as a whole-body pillow, comprising, when viewed in plan view, at least one curved portion and at least one comparatively elongated middle portion for the body region, which middle portion makes a transition to the curved portion, wherein at least one limb of the pillow is provided for the head region, and at least one limb of the pillow is provided for the body region. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,164 B1 a pillow with the characteristics mentioned in the introduction is described, which pillow is referred to as a whole-body pillow because its length corresponds approximately to that of a body, and because the pillow, in contrast to a conventional pillow, makes it possible for a person to lie on said whole-body pillow with parts of their entire body. Within certain limits the basic shape of the pillow can be changed by bending it. It supports various lying positions in which various body parts rest on the pillow, for example head and thigh, or torso and lower leg. The elongated middle portion can also be used to support the back of a person, wherein in this arrangement the curved portions can also be used on the one hand as a knee support and on the other hand as an arm support. Since this known pillow at its ends comprises two curved portions, and overall is approximately C-shaped, it is suitable as a whole-body pillow when the person assumes a curved lying position, but is less well suitable for a largely stretched-out lying position. 
     The known pillow has a shorter limb of the head region, which limb in a portion that is curved by approximately 90° makes a transition to the elongated limb of the body region. In the known pillow, this limb of the body region extends in a straight line. At the other end of the elongated limb of the body region a further curved portion for the leg support or lower leg support is provided, wherein in this location there is a U-portion that is curved by approximately 180°. Overall, the pillow approximately has an elongated C-shape. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to an anatomically shaped pillow that, in particular, can be used as a whole-body pillow comprising, when viewed in plan view, at least one curved portion and at least one comparatively elongated middle portion for the body region, which middle portion makes a transition to the curved portion, wherein at least one limb of the pillow is provided for the head region, and at least one limb of the pillow is provided for the body region. It is the object of the invention to create an anatomically shaped pillow that provides a resting person in a largely stretched-out state or with the legs only slightly bent in a natural sleeping position both with support along the body, and with support in the head region. According to the invention, for this purpose the limb of the head region and the limb of the body region form an acute angle relative to each other. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Based on the above-mentioned state of the art it is the object of the present invention to create an anatomically shaped pillow of the type mentioned in the introduction, which pillow provides a resting person in a largely stretched-out state or with the legs only slightly bent in a natural sleeping position both with support along the body, and with support in the head region. 
     This object is met by an anatomically shaped pillow of the type mentioned in the introduction with the characteristics of claim  1 . 
     According to the invention, it is provided that the limb of the head region and the limb of the body region form an acute angle relative to each other. This plan view shape of the whole-body pillow is, for example, advantageous if the person assumes a side sleeper position in which the stomach faces the limb of the body region, because in this case the torso is accommodated in the free space, provided by the acute angle, between the limb of the body region and the limb of the head region. 
     In this arrangement it is, furthermore, particularly advantageous if the comparatively elongated middle portion, which forms the limb of the body region, extends in a slight curvature that is curved in the opposite direction when compared to the direction of the curved portion. This shape conforms particularly well to a healthy ergonomic body posture during sleep; this will be explained later by means of the exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Furthermore, it is preferred if the limb of the body region makes a transition to a limb of the foot region, which limb extends in a straight line at the end. It is particularly preferred if the pillow according to the invention approximately assumes the plan view shape of the figure seven, wherein the limb of the head region forms the head of the figure seven, the limb of the body region forms the middle portion of the figure seven, and the limb of the foot region forms the lower end foot of the figure seven. The particular shape of the figure seven combines the advantages provided by several pillows. The pillow in the shape of the figure seven is an agreeably supportive pillow for the head, which pillow relieves the neck and shoulder region while at the same time providing perfect leg support. By means of the stable leg support the vertebral column remains in perfect balance, and the knees, too, are supported in a cushioned manner. The sum of the positive factors resulting from this particular shape of the pillow promotes healthy sleep in the side sleeper position; and it is easier to avoid the prone position, in other words the stomach sleeping position, which many health professional advise against. 
     In its free end region the limb of the head region can, for example, have a larger cross section than in the remaining regions, and in its free end region the limb of the head region can, for example, also have a larger cross section than the limb of the body region. The pillow according to the invention can, for example, have a rounded, almost cylindrical, oval or elliptical cross section. Both the size of the cross section and the cross-sectional shape can vary along the length of the pillow. 
     According to a preferred improvement of the invention, it is provided that the pillow comprises a pillow cover that is filled with fill material shapes so that the pillow yields in response to weight pressure. In this arrangement the pillow, at least in the limb of the body region, comprises an outer pillow cover within which an inner cover is arranged so as to be spaced apart from said outer pillow cover, wherein in the space between the outer pillow cover and the inner cover at least one nonwoven fabric is arranged. This results in a soft, but not excessively yielding, leg support. 
     The interior of the inner cover can, for example, comprise micro beads, as a result of which in the region of the limb of the body, support of and relief to the vertebral column, the hip region and the pelvic region are provided. This portion of the pillow is also used as padding for the knees, supports the rib cage and promotes improved breathing. 
     As a result of its plan view shape the pillow according to the invention encourages the person to assume a side sleeper position, and thus helps reduce snoring and sleeping in the prone position, because in the prone position or in the supine position the respiratory passages are additionally restricted. The shape of the figure seven prevents the person from moving from the orthopedically recommended side sleeper position. 
     When the interior of the inner cover comprises micro beads, an optimum support effect results in the region of the limb of the body region. The fill material of the pillow in the head region can differ from that in the body region. For example in the limb of the head region the pillow can comprise a fill material preferably with rhombic fill material shapes made of foamed material, which fill material shapes are larger than the fill material shapes in the limb of the body region, wherein the latter fill material shapes are preferably made from EPS (foamed polystyrene). The pillow is thus not too soft in those regions where a support effect is desirable. The pillow is filled to an adequate extent, wherein the fill material causes comparatively little noise when the person moves in their sleep. 
     Preferred improvements of the object solutions according to the invention are described in the subordinate claims. Further advantages of the invention are stated in the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Below, the present invention is described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings. The following are shown: 
         FIG. 1  a top view of the top of a pillow according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  a view of a person lying in the side sleeper position on a pillow according to the invention according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  a somewhat enlarged cross section of the limb of the body region of a pillow shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     First of all, reference is made to  FIG. 1 . It shows a top view of a pillow according to the invention, which overall has the reference character  10 . This pillow has a limb  11  of the head region, which limb  11 , by way of a curved portion  14 , makes a transition to the elongated limb  12  of the body region. The limb  12  of the body region finally at its end makes a transition to the limb  13  of the foot region. Thus, overall, the pillow approximately has a plan view shape of the figure seven, wherein the limb  11  of the head region forms the head of the figure seven, the limb  12  of the body region forms the middle portion of the figure seven, and the limb  13  of the foot region forms the lower foot of the figure seven at its end. The curved portion  14  forms the transition between the head of the figure seven and the middle portion of the figure seven. Since the limb  11  of the head region is arranged at an acute angle to the limb  12  of the body region, the curved portion  14  describes a curve of more than 90°. 
     In its free end region  15 , in other words at its end facing away from the curved portion  14 , the limb  11  of the head region comprises a somewhat larger cross section than in the remaining regions. The limb of the head region thus tapers off somewhat between the end region  15  and the curved portion  14 , where the cross section increases again. Furthermore, in its free end region  14  the limb  11  of the head region has a cross section that is greater than the cross section of the limb  12  of the body region. Thus, from the thicker curved portion, the cross section can remain approximately constant to the limb  13  of the foot region. Apart from the end region  15  and from the curved portion  14 , where the pillow becomes wider in each case, thus assuming a flatter cross-sectional shape because the height of the pillow remains approximately constant, the pillow can comprise a rounded, for example an oval, elliptical or an approximately cylindrical, cross section. Of course, the pillow deforms under weight pressure, but its filling material is designed so that the pillow is not too soft and therefore does not deform excessively, and consequently, in particular in the region of the limb  12  of the body region, an adequate support function is maintained. 
     The plan view shape of the pillow, which shape resembles the figure seven, has been selected so that the comparatively elongated middle portion, which forms the limb of the body region of the pillow, extends at a soft curvature that is curved opposite the direction of the curved section  14 . Towards the foot region  13  the pillow then ends in an approximately straight end region. The elongated middle portion of the figure seven is curved and aligned in such a manner that the end of the elongated middle portion, in other words the end of the foot region  13 , is aligned approximately at a right angle to the middle of the limb  11  of the head region. From the curved portion  14 , the limb  12  of the body region extends in such a way, because of the soft curvature, that as the distance from the limb  11  of the head region increases, starting from an acute-angle alignment to the limb  11  of the head region, it gradually assumes a rectangular alignment to the limb of the head region. In this arrangement, because of the shape of the figure seven, starting from the curved portion  14 , overall the gently curved limb  12  of the body region extends approximately diagonally to the alignment of the limb  11  of the head region. 
       FIG. 2  shows a person  16  in a side sleeper position resting on a pillow  10  according to the invention. Naturally, the illustration shows only one of many positions of the body in which the pillow  10  can be used. The illustration shows that the head  17  of the person  16  rests on that part of the limb  11  of the head region where said limb  11  of the head region makes a transition to the curved portion  14 , that is to say predominantly on the inside. The torso region and the pelvic region  18  both rest against the inside of the limb  12  of the body region. One thigh  19 , one knee  20  and one lower leg  21  rest against the lower region of the limb  12  of the body region. At least one foot  22  rests against the limb  13  of the foot region. Likewise, the person can rest an arm  23  against the limb  12  of the body region. 
     Below, the interior structure of a pillow  10  according to the invention is explained with reference to the cross-sectional drawing of  FIG. 3 . With reference to the cross section of the limb  12  of the body region, the illustration shows that the pillow comprises, for example, an approximately oval cross section. The pillow has an outer pillow cover  24 , which as a rule comprises a textile material. Furthermore, an inner cover  26  is arranged within the outer cover  24  so as to be spaced apart from said outer cover  24 , wherein the space between the inner cover  26  and the outer pillow cover  24  accommodates a layer of a nonwoven fabric  25 . This gives the pillow in the outer region a soft feel that is agreeable to the person resting on said pillow, without the latter becoming too yielding, because the core of the pillow, in other words the interior of the inner cover  26 , comprises micro beads  27 , for example from an expanded foamed material such as EPS. Thus, when viewed from the outside to the inside, a double-layer structure results, wherein the micro beads provide the desired support effect of the limb  12  of the body region. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10  Pillow 
           11  Limb of the head region 
           12  Limb of the body region 
           13  Limb of the foot region 
           14  Curved portion 
           15  Free end region 
           16  Person 
           17  Head 
           18  Stomach 
           19  Thigh 
           20  Knee 
           21  Lower leg 
           22  Foot 
           23  Arm 
           24  Outer pillow cover 
           25  Nonwoven fabric 
           26  Inner cover 
           27  Micro beads