US20120117733A1

US20120117733A1 - Pillow construction

Info

Publication number: US20120117733A1
Application number: US12/944,903
Authority: US
Inventors: Fu-Chieng Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Formosa Sounding Corp
Priority date: 2010-11-12
Filing date: 2010-11-12
Publication date: 2012-05-17

Abstract

A pillow construction is designed to provide a user desirable support to the head and neck of a user, air permeability, ventilation, and air-cooling, to maintain a healthy thermal homeostatis by covering with a breathable cover sheet and a predetermined arrangement of apertures. The pillow construction comprises a head support having a hollow case, made by a solid-state or semi-solid-state material, wherein at least one aperture is formed on a plurality of horizontally opposed side walls on an exterior surface of the head support. A buffer material or a damper material may be selected to be attached onto the surface of the head support for the purpose of enhanced elastic support. A set of holes or slits may be selected to be formed on the surface of the head support to facilitate air convection.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pillow construction, and more particularly to a pillow construction, wherein a head support having a hollow case in which a surface area of said hollow case is covered by a plurality of apertures, and coated with breathable material to achieve a range of air permeability, circulation, and cooling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Sleeping is an essential physiological function for energy restoration in life. In fact, studies have shown that sleep duration of seven to eight hours per day is generally an optimal amount in humans. Regular sleep schedule and good environment for sleeping are instrumental in staying healthy and performing up to one's potential during daytime functioning, and as such, it is a necessity to maintain a healthy outlook on the environment and quality of the activity. On the other hand, a poorly arranged sleep environment can be a contributing factor causing sleep deprivation and other sleep intervention. In view of this, a proper sleep support, of which including a pillow, has a distinctive effect on improving sleep quality.
However, the pillow construction of the prior art has the following drawbacks:
1. Disclosures showing pillows made of foam materials have shown insufficient support to elevate the head during sleep due to extra softness, and higher susceptibility to shape change as caused by external depression.
2. Disclosures showing pillows made of wooden materials, though featuring great support to the head, have shown to be overly stiff and short of a desirable degree of air ventilation.
3. Disclosures showing pillows having filling materials such as beans or tea leaves have shown to possess weak air permeability and support to the head, while at the same time, not suitable to all users.
4. Disclosures disclosing pillows that use natural cotton, synthetic cotton, woolen, have shown to provide poor support and air ventilation, as well as higher susceptibility to shape change after a prolonged period of use.
On the other hand, particular attention is paid to dealing with breathability during hot seasons for the purpose of avoiding hyperthermia in the head, hypoxia during sleep, therefore affecting blood flow, and quality of sleep.
In view of the above, a pillow, which is designed with consideration of improved air circulation in conjunction with application of a breathable cover sheet, and which can provide a reliable physiological support, is a desired sleep accessory, which can establish a state in which the head and neck region is maintained cool and the feet region is maintained warm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Seen against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pillow construction defined in the introduction of a breathable cover sheet which enfolds upon the contact region between a user and the pillow construction, a set of apertures, slits, holes, and contoured surface upon the pillow construction, of which the assembly has an enhancing effect on air circulation to provide a sleep accessory exhibiting breathable, oxygen-filled, well-ventilated, and air cooling features, so as to sustain a preferred regulation of sleep thermal homeostatis, in which the head and neck region is maintained cool and the feet region is maintained warm.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pillow construction, in which the head support is preferably made of solid-state materials or semi-solid-state materials, therefore stabilizing the pillow construction, for the purpose of making it less subject to shape transformation, while at the same time, giving it more material strength to support the weight of head and neck of a user.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a pillow construction, in which the head support is applied with either damper materials or buffer materials, or a combination of both, to optimize the stretchiness of the pillow construction in such way to make for soft and comfortable, and shock absorbing effects, whereby improving the comfort level in sleep.
A pillow construction for the purpose of achieving the inventive concepts noted above has been designed in the present invention, incorporating an arranged combination of a head support, breathable cover sheet, buffer material and damper material; wherein, the head support has a hollow case that defines an interior structure of the head support, and at least one aperture is formed on a plurality of horizontally opposed side walls on an exterior surface of the head support, which further has a breathable cover sheet that directly covers the exterior surface of the head support thereon. The exterior surface of the head support is applied with either damper materials or buffer materials, or a combination of both, to optimize the stretchiness of the pillow construction in such way to make for a soft and comfortable feeling during sleep. Furthermore, the head support can have at least one slit or hole formed on the exterior surface of the head support for use in conjunction with at least one aperture formed on a plurality of horizontally opposed side walls on the exterior surface of the head support to enhance air circulation within the pillow construction, therefore providing more oxygen supply to the user. In summary highlighting the combination mentioned above, the present invention adopts a breathable wrapper covering the exterior of a head support, and a set of aperture, to enhance air flow within the head support, while at the same time, provides structural support to the head and neck of a user, air permeability, ventilation, and air-cooling to the structure of the head support, for at least the purposes to maintain a healthy thermal homeostatis of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a top isometric view of a first component and a top isometric view of a second component, respectively, showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top isometric view showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are three top isometric views showing a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are two top isometric views showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top isometric view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are two top isometric views showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top isometric view showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a top isometric view showing a user interacting with the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a user interacting with the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a detailed description concerning the various components of the head support 1 will now be provided, which includes: a head support 1, which is preferably made of solid-state materials or semi-solid-state materials for the purpose of giving it more material strength to support the weight of head and neck of a user; and which has a hollow case that defines an interior structure of the head support, for the purpose of adding more buffering effect to the head support; and which has at least one aperture formed on a plurality of horizontally opposed side walls on an exterior surface of the head support for the purpose of enhancing air circulation. The head support 1 further includes a breathable cover sheet 2 that directly covers the exterior surface of the head support 1, so as to wrap around the body of head support 1. The head support 1 may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic material, polymeric plastic material, metallic material, wooden material, and bamboo for the purpose of good support to the head.
The present invention takes advantage of improved air circulation made as a result of the use of apertures to provide us a breathable, well-ventilated, and air-cooling sleep accessory, so as to achieve a resting state with well regulated thermal homeostatis.
Additionally, the breathable cover sheet 2 may be made from a material selected from a group of mesh fabrics, cotton cloth, textile or foam laminated fabric.
With reference to FIG. 2, the inventive departure from the embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B is that, the head support 1 has a set of slits 12 formed on the exterior surface of the head support 1, while also takes advantage of apertures 11 on the exterior surface of the head support 1 to facilitate air flow within the head support. In addition to the above structural difference, other structural features of the embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 2 are reiterated and therefore referred back to the disclosure as in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.
With reference now to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the inventive departure from the embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B is that the head support 1 has a set of holes 13 formed on the exterior surface of the head support 1, while also takes advantage of apertures 11 on the exterior surface of the head support 1 to facilitate air flow within the head support. Furthermore, the head support 1 has a forming buffer material 3 combined with a top portion of the exterior surface of the head support, wherein the forming buffer material 3 can be made from a mold formed foam, or a foaming material. Some beneficial aspects of the installation of forming buffer material include the fact that the head support 1 can not only provide mechanical support and facilitated air circulation, but also buffering and shock absorbing effects. In addition to the above structural difference, other structural features of the embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 3 are reiterated and therefore referred back to the disclosure as in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.
As indicated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the inventive departure from FIGS. 1A and 1B is that, the head support 1 has on its surface a buffer material 4 combined with a top portion of an exterior surface of the head support 1. The buffer material 4 can be made from a foam material, high-density foam, memory foam, or natural latex foam. The buffer material 4 can be combined with the head support 1 by way of glue or Velcro or other equivalents. Some beneficial aspects of the installation of the buffer material 4 are that a buffering intervention is provided with between a user's head and the head support 1, which at the same time, absorbs the shock force imparted by a user upon the head support 1 as the user lies down upon the head support 1. This essentially minimizes the contact force upon a user's head, thereby preventing discomfort caused by excess shock force on the head as the user lies down to rest to sleep, and therefore maintaining a comfortable sleep environment for the user. In addition to the above structural difference, other structural features of the embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 4 are reiterated and therefore referred back to the disclosure as in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.
As indicated in FIG. 5, the inventive departure from FIGS. 1A and 1B is that the head support 1 has on its surface a damper material 14 applied to a top portion of an exterior surface of the head support 1. The damper material may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of a gel material, a latex material, a silicon gel material, a soft rubber material, a soft synthetic rubber material, and a soft polyurethane material. Some beneficial aspects of the implementation of the damper material include shock absorption or minimized contact force on a user's head as the user lies down to rest to sleep, thereby preventing discomfort in the user by evenly dissipating to the external pressure the user's head and neck Damper material 14 is also believed to provide an anti-slippery effect, minimizing involuntary movement of the head of a user while the user is sleeping. The composition material of the damper material 14 is less capable of absorbing heat, and possesses air cooling effect. Additionally, the deployment of the damper material 14 on the exterior surface of the head support 1 is executed entirely under the discretion of the user. In addition to the above structural difference, other structural features of the embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 5 are reiterated and therefore referred to the disclosure as in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, the inventive departure from FIGS. 1A and 1B is that the exterior surface of the head support 1 may include, in an orderly consecutive fashion, a contoured surface. The damper material 14 may also be directly applied on the surface of the buffer material 4 before attaching the buffer material 4 onto the head support 1. It is desired that an air flow passage is formed on the exterior surface of the head support 1. The combination of the buffer material 4 and the damper material 14 not only can absorb shock and minimize shock force from the contact between a user's head and the head support 1, but can also transfer out any residual thermal energy that may be stored in the head support 1, thereby delivering a air-cooling effect, and improving the functionality of the present invention. The inventive embodiment provides the user with a variety of choices to customize towards his or her demand for sleep condition. In addition to the above structural difference, other structural features of the embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 6 are reiterated and therefore referred to the disclosure as in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.
With reference now to FIG. 7, the inventive departure from FIGS. 1A and 1B is that the top portion of the exterior surface of the head support 1 may be equipped with at least one fastener 7 facilitating releasable retention of a detachable material, in particular, attaching a head support 1 with a water pack 6. The fastener 7 may be Velcro loops or Velcro hooks, and the corresponding locations on the bottom surface of the water pack 6 may also have Velcro loops or Velcro hooks, so that the water pack 6 may be securely attached to the top surface of the head support 1, permitting a user to lean against the water pack 6. Additionally, the fastener 7 is not limited to using Velcro loops or Velcro hooks, as other attachable fasteners such as buttons, zippers, or other equivalents may also be used. Furthermore, it is to be appreciated that the fastener 7 may be set up to meet the surface of the breathable wrapper 2 when the head support 1 is placed under the breathable wrapper 2.
In view of FIG. 8, the inventive departure from FIGS. 1A and 1B is that a bag 61 may be attached by, for example, a glue to the top exterior surface of the head support 1 in such a way that the combination of the bag 61 and the head support 1 is integrated therefrom, and the bag 61 can be injected with a predetermined fluid, thereby forming a water pack 6 on the top exterior surface of the head support 1, permitting a user to lean against the water pack 6. Additionally, the head support 1 having a water pack formed on its top exterior surface by way on-the-spot injection of fluid into the water pack may be placed under the breathable wrapper 2.
Turning now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, when a user 5 leans his or her head upon the head support 1, it is believed that the user will benefit from absorbing shock from contact with the present invention. As mentioned above, the present invention provides good support to the head as a result of the use of solid-state materials or semi-solid-state materials as construction materials to make the head support 1, and also provides buffering and shock-absorbing effects as a result of the use of a hollow case 16 as the interior setup of the head support 1. With respect to the air-cooling aspect of the present invention, heat created from the head of the user 5 can be channeled through the head support 1, and be drawn out by air convection through the multi-pointing arrangement of the apertures 11 and holes 13; while at the same time, air flow is transferred into the head support 1 to cool down the head support 1, avoiding thermal accumulation, thereby dissipating heat through natural air circulation. It is to be appreciated from the effects created above that a healthy environment characterized by ample oxygen supply is achieved and the user 5 may therefore benefit from the condition created therefrom.
With respect to FIG. 10, the inventive departure from FIGS. 9A and 9B is that buffer material 4 characterizes the place the head of the user 5 lies upon. It is to be appreciated that this embodiment of the present invention provides desirable softness and enhances comfort to the head of the user 5, highlighting the features of shock absorption and contact force reduction. Additionally, it is believed that the user 5 will benefit from the sleep accessory embodied in the present invention featuring good head support, air permeability, air circulation, and temperature regulation, as a result of the air channel created by the use of a contoured surface 15 and buffer material 4 on the exterior surface of the head support 1. As well, this embodiment provides a well-maintained thermal hemeostatis in the user. Other potential benefits of this embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 10 are reiterated and therefore referred to the disclosure as in FIG. 7.
In comparison to the prior art, the pillow construction of the present invention has the following advantages:
1. In the pillow construction of the present invention, the use of a breathable cover sheet 2 in conjunction with an installation of aperture 11, hole 13, slit 12, and breathable contoured surface 15 facilitates ventilation of air flow within the head support 1 to provide us a breathable, well-ventilated, and air-cooling sleep accessory, so as to keep in tune a state of sleep with well regulated thermal homeostatis in the user.
2. In the pillow construction of the present invention, the head support is made from a material selected from a group consisting of solid-state materials and semi-solid-state materials, which essentially stabilizes the construction of the integrity of the pillow construction, and provides sufficient support to the head.
3. In the pillow construction of the present invention, a buffer material or a damper material is adopted, optimizing the elasticity of the pillow construction and its shock absorption ability as the selection of the buffer material or damper material help, in part, in evenly distributing pressure from the neck on the pillow construction. This raises sleep comfort for the user.

Claims

1. A pillow construction, comprising:

a head support having a hollow case that defines an interior structure of the head support, wherein at least one aperture is formed on a plurality of horizontally opposed side walls on an exterior surface of the head support; and

a breathable cover sheet, which directly covers the exterior surface of the head support.

2. The pillow construction according to claim 1, wherein at least one slit or one hole is formed on the exterior surface of the head support.

3. The pillow construction according to claim 1, wherein a forming buffer material is combined with a top portion of the exterior surface of the head support.

4. The pillow construction according to claim 1, wherein the head support is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic material, metallic material, wooden material, and bamboo material.

5. A pillow construction, comprising:

a head support, wherein a hollow case defines an interior structure of the head support, and at least one aperture is formed on horizontally opposed side walls on an exterior surface of the head support;

a buffer material, which is combined with a top portion of an exterior surface of the head support; and

a breathable cover sheet, which directly covers the exterior surface of the head support and an exterior surface of the buffer material.

6. The pillow construction according to claim 5, wherein at least one slit or hole is formed on the exterior surface of the head support.

7. The pillow construction according to claim 5, wherein a contoured surface defines the exterior surface of the head support, and a combination of the contoured surface and the buffer material forms an air flow passage.

8. The pillow construction according to claim 5, wherein the head support is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic material, a metallic material, a wooden material, and a bamboo material.

9. The pillow construction according to claim 5, wherein the buffer material is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a mold-formed foam, a high-density foam, a memory foam, and a natural latex foam.

10. The pillow construction according to claim 5, wherein the buffer material is combined with a damper material.

11. A pillow construction, comprising:

a damper material, which is applied to a top portion of an exterior surface of the head support; and

a breathable cover sheet, which directly covers the exterior surface of the head support and an exterior surface of the elastormeric material.

12. The pillow construction according to claim 11, wherein at least one slit or hole is formed on the exterior surface of the head support.

13. The pillow construction according to claim 11, wherein a contoured surface defines the exterior surface of the head support, and a combination of the contoured surface and the buffer material forms an air flow passage.

14. The pillow construction according to claim 11, wherein the head support is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic material, a metallic material, a wooden material, and a bamboo material.

15. The pillow construction according to claim 11, wherein the damper material is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a gel material, a latex material, a silicon gel material, a soft rubber material, a soft synthetic rubber material, and a soft polyurethane material.

16. A pillow construction, comprising:

a head support, wherein a hollow case defines an interior structure of the head support, and at least one aperture is formed on horizontally opposed side walls on an exterior surface of the head support; and

a water pack, which is attached to a top portion of the exterior surface of the head support.

17. The pillow construction of claim 16, wherein the top portion of the exterior surface of the head support is equipped with at least one fastener facilitating releasable retention of the water pack.

18. The pillow construction of claim 16, wherein the water pack is attached to the head support with a glue.

19. The pillow construction of claim 16, wherein the head support and the water pack may be enclosed together under a breathable cover sheet.