WO1998002118A1

WO1998002118A1 - A pillow

Info

Publication number: WO1998002118A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/001836
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Wells
Original assignee: Michael Wells
Priority date: 1996-07-16
Filing date: 1997-07-08
Publication date: 1998-01-22
Also published as: GB2330527A; GB2330527B; GB9614932D0; AU3452897A

Abstract

The pillow has the shape of a complete or partial ring and incorporates a neck support region (20) for supporting the user's neck when lying down and the head support region (21) for supporting the upper half of the head when lying down. The neck support region is adapted to support the user's neck at a height greater than the height at which the head support region supports the upper half of the user's head when the user is resting on the pillow.

Description

A PILLOW

This invention relates to a pillow and, particularly but not exclusively, to a pillow which can be used as an operative or post-operative assistive cervico-cranio- cephalic support.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pillow having the shape of a complete or partial ring and incorporating a neck support region for supporting the user's neck when lying down and a head support region for supporting the upper half of the head when lying down, the neck support region being adapted to support the user's neck at a height greater than the height at which the head support region supports the upper half of the user's head when the user is resting on the pillow.

Preferred and/or optional features of the invention are set out in claims 2 -

10 appended hereto.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first pillow, with three possible cross-sections along the line X-X being shown at (a), (b) and (c);

Figure 2 is a plan view of a second pillow, with two possible cross-sections along the line X-X being shown at (a) and (b);

Figure 3 is a plan view of a third pillow, with four possible cross-sections along the line X-X being shown at (a), (b), and (c);

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are plan views of fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh pillows, with possible cross-sections along their respective line X-X being shown at the right side of the figure in each case.

Figures 8 and 9 are plan views, respectively, of an eight pillow, with a cross-section along the line X-X being shown to the left of Figure 9.

Figure 1 shows a first pillow 1 in accordance with the invention which is in the form of a shaped ring or curving loop of a resilient material which is of sufficient firmness not to lose its overall shape when supporting the user's head and neck. The pillow 1 has a through hole extending therethrough and has inner and outer contours 3, 4 which are annular, the inner contour 3 forming the periphery of the through hole 2 as best seen in the cross-sectional view along the line X-X at (a) in the figure.

Considered in plan view, the outer contour 4 has two re-entrant portions 5 intermediate two widened end portions 6, and the inner contour 3 similarly has two re-entrant portions 7 intermediate two widened end portions 8, so that both contours 3 and 4 are generally kidney-shaped. Furthermore, as best seen in the cross-section of (a) in the figure, the pillow

1 incorporates a neck support region 20 for supporting the user's neck when lying down, and a head support region 21 for supporting the upper half of the user's head when lying down, the neck support region 20 having greater height than the head support region 21 in order to support the user's head and neck in correct muscular- skeletal alignment.

The difference in heights between the two support regions 20 and 21 is selected so as to provide adequate support for the user's head and neck either when the user is lying supine or when the user is lying laterally or when the user is lying prone.

More particularly the pillow 1 is shaped so as to provide specific locations for the user's head, neck and shoulders in the different lying positions, the pillow being precisely shaped with specific contact points relative to the associated body contact points. The contact points for the head may be sub-divided into contact points corresponding to the eyes, nose, jaw-line, mouth, cranium and occipital area, whereas the contact points for the neck may consist of contact points for the cervical vertebrae Cl - C7, the throat area and platysmus, the shoulder contact points may consist of contact points corresponding to the anterior and posterior trapezium, the anterior, posterior and medular deltoid. The reference numerals 10 to 18 denote the following contact points:

10 - deltoid and trapezium location 1 1 - trapezium location

12 - sub-occipital and mastoid region location

13 - cranium location

14 - facial parameter location 15 - zygomatic area location

15, 16 - zygomatic and radial to the auricular meatus location 17 - shaped connection between neck support region 20 (at the front of pillow) and head support region 21 (at rear of pillow) for supporting the upper head 18 - cervical vertebrae platform for Cl - C7.

It will be appreciated that both the neck support region 20 and the head support region 21 have portions 22, 23 which are inwardly inclined so as to support the appropriate parts of the user's head and in addition the neck support region 20 has cut-away portions 24 and 25 adapted for contact with the user's shoulders.

However, pillow 1 " having neck and head support regions 20', 21 ' of simpler shape, as shown at (b) in Figure 1, may alternatively be provided. The head support 21 " of the pillow shown at (c) of Figure 1 is positioned centrally to the main neck support 20", allowing either side of the pillow to be used.

Figure 2 denotes a second pillow 30 in accordance with the invention having a neck support region 31 of generally similar form to the neck support region 20 of Figure 1 , and having a head support region 32 which may have a range of potential shapes within an outer envelope as shown by broken lines in the figure.

Appropriate depressions or infills may provide the appropriate areas of contact and non-contact, and further adaptions may be provided by material selection and production methodology. A cross-section along the line X-X is shown at (a) in the figure. A cross-section along the line X-X of an alternative pillow 30' having neck and head regions 31 ' , 32' of simpler shape is shown at (b) in the figure.

Figure 3 shows a pillow 40 in which the head support region is provided by a rectilinear portion 41 of the ring or loop, together with a range of possible cross- sections of the pillow along the line X-X shown to the right of the figure.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show pillows 50, 60, 70 and 80 respectively, having two helically curved portions 51 , 52; 61 , 62; 71 , 72; and 81, 82, respectively, interconnected by an integral portion 53, 63, 73, 83, respectively. The two curved portions 51, 52 are turned downwardly and inwardly relative to one another to form an intersecting junction 54, which has the ability to cradle the rear of the neck about the sub-occipital region whilst it is passively supported between the outer edges of the overall pillow shape. As may be appreciated from the cross-sectional views along the line X-X shown to the right of the figures, there is provided a multiplicity of surfaces, volumes and voids which have the ability to cradle the rear of the head and neck in a natural and stabilizing position. Furthermore the pillows 50, 60, 70 and 80 provide the required support whether the user is lateral or supine with reduced contact or non- contact areas being provided about the auricular meatus on either side of the head. Such a structure has the ability to amplify passive noise and increase the user's hearing capability.

Figures 8 and 9 are side and plan views of an eighth pillow, with a cross- section along the line X-X being shown to the left of Figure 9. Figure 8 shows the upward curving of the two ends of the pillow, which wraps around the sides of the user's head.

The pillows described above are particularly suitable as operative or post- operative assistive cervico-cranio- cephalic supports. The shape of the pillow allows tubing and cables to be organised and arranged in such a manner as not to interfere with a surgical procedure. The voids and cavities inherent in the pillow allow tubing and cables to be passed discretely around and away from the site of a surgical operation.

The pillows position the head in a pose as to allow unobstructive, free-flow of breathing apparatus.

The pillows provide post-operative support and stability of the head and neck in such a way as to reduce contact areas and/or eliminate fully contact with operating areas of the head.

The pillows also provide accessibility to areas about the head and neck for post-operative assessment. They also allow fluid to drain away quickly from any of the orifices or operational sites about the patient's head and neck and allow a natural free-flow of air to circulate about the patients head and neck aiding heat dissipation and overall patient comfort.

When used in the operating theatre, the pillows may be fixed to the operating table or may be loose.

Claims

1. A pillow having the shape of a complete or partial ring and incorporating a neck support region for supporting the user's neck when lying down and a head support region for supporting the upper half of the head when lying down, the neck support region being adapted to support the user's neck at a height greater than the height at which the head support region supports the upper half of the user's head when the user is resting on the pillow.

2. A pillow according to claim 1, wherein the neck support region and the head support region have upper surfaces which are at inherently differing heights when the pillow is uncompressed and resting on a substantially horizontal surface.

3. A pillow according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the neck support region and the head support region are adapted to be compressible to different extents when the user is resting on the pillow.

4. A pillow according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein, when considered in plan view, the ring has a curved outer contour and a curved inner contour disposed inwardly of the outer contour.

5. A pillow according to claim 4, wherein the ring is complete and the inner and outer contours are annular, the inner contour forming the periphery of a through hole extending through the pillow.

6. A pillow according to claim 5, wherein, when considered in plan view, the outer contour has at least one re-entrant portion intermediate two widened end portions.

7. A pillow according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, when considered in plan view, the inner contour has at least one re-entrant portion intermediate two widened end portions.

8. A pillow according to any preceding claim, wherein the head support region has a portion which is inwardly inclined towards the neck support region for supporting the user's head.

9. An operative and or post-operative pillow having the shape of a ring with (i) a curved outer contour and (ii) a through hole defining an inner contour disposed inwardly of the outer contour, wherein the outer contour has at least one re-entrant portion intermediate two widened end portions.

10. An operative and or post-operative pillow incorporating a neck support region for supporting the user's neck when lying down and a head support region for supporting the upper half of the user' s head when lying down, the neck support region and the head support region being formed from two rolled parts of a common support member in such a manner as to allow the relative heights of the two rolled parts to be varied in proportion to one another.