US20160073802A1

US20160073802A1 - Multi-position multi-purpose pillow

Info

Publication number: US20160073802A1
Application number: US14/613,164
Authority: US
Inventors: Everol Washington Davis, Jr.; Juliana Shirley Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-16
Filing date: 2015-02-03
Publication date: 2016-03-17
Also published as: CA2863982A1; CA2863982C

Abstract

A multi-position multi-purpose pillow designed to be used by individuals who rest in multiple sleep positions. The multi-position multi-purpose pillow comprises a top and bottom sections to accommodate comfort of individuals upper body extremities during sleep. The multi-position multi-purpose pillow has V-shaped cut outs on the medial ends of the pillow to accommodate a sleepers shoulder. The multi-position multi-purpose pillow has arm openings to accommodate the sleepers arm as the arm is extended underneath the sleepers head. The multi-position multi-purpose pillow has cushioned hinges on each corner to allow the top and bottom portions to rotate laterally when the sleeper changes sleep positions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This present invention relates to orthopaedic pillows, and more particularly, to orthopaedic pillows that provide cushion to upper body extremities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During sleep, individuals extend their arms underneath their pillow to maintain comfort and proper alignment of the cervical spine. Sleeping on the arm compresses muscles and nerves causing pain and numbness. There have been various orthopaedic pillows designed for such physical ailments. Pillows of this type are shown for example, in the following United States of America patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,520 to Koch; U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,814 to Eremita et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,809 to Olson; U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,236 to Dalton; U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,226 to Brunstein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,907 to Zuberi; U.S. Pat. No. U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,691 to Cordova et al; U.S. Pat. No. 8,069,515 to Tingey; U.S. Design Pat. No. D487,207 to Manuel; U.S. Design Pat. No. D523,275 to Hawkins; U.S. Design Pat. No. D558,499 to Maarbjerg; U.S. Design Pat. No. D575,566 to Berke et al; and U.S. Design Pat. No. D597,364 to Lindgren.
Though such orthopaedic pillows relieve various conditions, the upper body extremities are withheld to a predefined sleep position. These pillows do not accommodate for side, stomach and back sleepers simultaneously.
The present invention is a pillow designed to address these deficiencies in the prior art while providing both alignment of the cervical spine and greater range of movement throughout the arms, shoulders, head and neck of sleeper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a multi-position multi-purpose pillow designed to provide comfort and versatility to the upper body extremities during sleep. The present invention is to be used by people who sleep in multiple sleep positions.
A feature of the present invention includes a top and bottom section providing greater depth to accommodate the space between a side sleepers outer shoulder and neck, maintaining proper alignment of the cervical spine.
Another feature of the present invention includes cushioned hinges providing lateral rotation to accommodate the space between the head and neck of both back and stomach sleepers.
Another feature of the present invention includes V-shaped cut outs to comfortably cradle the shoulder when a sleeper is lying in lateral decubitus position.
Another feature of the present invention includes arm openings to accommodate a sleeper who extends their arms underneath their head during sleep.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a isometric exploded view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow comprising top and bottom pillow cushions;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2 showing lateral rotation of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2 showing a sleeper lying in lateral decubitus position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a side sleeper with the sleepers arm extending through the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2, with the elbow of the sleeper bent at an acute angle within the multi-position multi-purpose pillow;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a side sleeper with the sleepers arm extending through the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2, with the elbow of the sleeper bent at a right angle within the multi-position multi-purpose pillow;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a side sleeper with the sleepers arm extending through the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2, with the elbow of the sleeper bent at an obtuse angle within the multi-position multi-purpose pillow;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a side sleeper with the sleepers arm extending straight through the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a stomach sleeper with the sleepers arms within the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2, with the arms of the sleeper positioned underneath the sleepers head;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a stomach sleeper with the sleepers left arm extending through the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2, with the right arm of the sleeper within the multi-position multi-purpose pillow and positioned underneath the sleepers head;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a stomach sleeper with the sleepers arms extending through the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a back sleeper with the arms extending through the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 2, with the arms of the sleeper positioned underneath the sleepers head;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 5 showing a sleeper lying in supine position;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow of FIG. 5 showing a sleeper lying in prone position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments are of functional and structural design taught herein. Turning now to FIG. 1 there is an isometric exploded view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow 10. The instant invention has a top pillow cushion 11 and bottom pillow cushion 12 uniform in shape and size.
Turning now to FIG. 2 there is a perspective view of the multi-position multi-purpose pillow 10. The top pillow cushion 11 and a bottom pillow cushion 12 are stitched together by the four corner cushion pads (13, 14, 15, 16) of the top pillow cushion 11 and the four corner cushion pads (17, 18, 19, 20) of the bottom pillow cushion 12.
Stitching of the corner cushion pads (13, 17), (14, 18), (15, 19), (16, 20) creates a cleft throughout the length and width of pillow 10. The cleft extends from arm opening 21 to arm opening 22 of pillow 10. Sleepers can extend their arms through the arm openings 21 and 22 of pillow 10, cushioning the arms and relieving compression on the muscles and nerves.
The average length of the human arm is approximately 25.41 inches. The length from arm opening 21 to arm opening 22 of pillow 10 is 26 inches, accommodating the length of sleepers arm.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention includes V-shaped cut outs (23, 24, 26, 27). V-shaped cut outs 23 and 26 of the top pillow cushion 11 are respectively uncoupled from V-shaped cut outs 24 and 27 of the bottom pillow cushion 12 which form arm openings 25 and 28 thereof. Sleepers may cradle shoulder within cut outs 23, 24 and 26, 27 or extend arms through arm openings 25 and 28, according to the sleep position the user decides to sleep in.
FIG. 5 illustrates lateral rotation of the top pillow cushion 11 and bottom pillow cushion 12. The stitching of corner cushion pads (13,17), (14,18), (15,19), and (16,20) function as hinges allowing such rotation. Rotation of corner cushion pads (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) accommodates rotation of the cervical spine when a sleeper transitions from back sleep position to stomach sleep position interchangeably.
FIG. 6 shows a user lying in lateral decubitus position with their head placed on pillow 10 and shoulder within V-shaped cut outs 23 and 24. The height of the pillow 10 is 7 inches, which cushions the area between the head and shoulder, keeping the cervical spine in alignment. The V-shaped cut outs 23 and 24 comfortably cradle the shoulder. The width of pillow 10 is 19 inches, to accommodate the length of users head.
The multi-position multi-purpose pillow of the present invention provides the user with a variety of positions to comfortably place their arm when sleeping or in a supine, lateral or prone position as illustrated;
FIG. 7 illustrates a side sleepers arm comfortably extending through arm openings 25 and 22, with the elbow bent at an acute angle.
FIG. 8 illustrates a side sleepers arm comfortably extending through arm openings 25 and 22, with the elbow bent at a right angle.
FIG. 9 illustrates a side sleepers arm comfortably extending through arm openings 25 and 22, with the elbow bent at an obtuse angle.
FIG. 10 illustrates a side sleepers arm comfortably extending straight through arm openings 25 and 28.
FIG. 11 illustrates a stomach sleeper extending the left arm into arm opening 22 and right arm into arm opening 21 with arms comfortably positioned underneath the users head.
FIG. 12 illustrates a stomach sleeper comfortably extending the left arm through arm openings 22 and 28, and sleepers right arm into arm opening 21 and positioned underneath the head.
FIG. 13 illustrates a stomach sleeper comfortably extending the left arm through arm openings 22 and 28, and users right arm through arm openings 21 and 28.
FIG. 14 illustrates a back sleeper extending the left arm into arm opening 21 and right arm into arm opening 22, with both arms comfortably positioned underneath the users head.
Typical range of motion in the elbow joint is 0-165 degrees flexion and 140-0 degrees extension. FIG. 7-FIG. 14 illustrates full range of movement in the elbow joint of the sleeper in supine, lateral and prone position.
Referring to FIG. 15 the top pillow cushion 11 is laterally rotated towards the user. The adjustment in elevation of pillow 10 accommodates a users cervical spine sleeping in supine position.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 the top pillow cushion 11 is laterally rotated away from the sleeper. The users head rests on the bottom pillow cushion 12 by stretching V-shaped cut outs 23. The height of bottom pillow cushion 12 accommodates a user sleeping in prone position. The outer shell of pillow 10 is comprised of nylon/spandex allowing flexibility of V-shaped cut outs 23 herein.
The construction details of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 16 are that the pillow 10 may be filled with polyester fibres or any other resilient fibre fill alike. Further, the outer shell of pillow 10 is to be made of nylon/spandex fabric.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all the embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A multi-position multi-purpose pillow designed to accommodate multiple body positions during sleep or rest providing cushion and support to the head, neck, shoulders and arms said pillow compromising:

A main pillow structure comprising a top pillow cushion, and bottom pillow cushion uniform in shape and size. Having a length to accommodate users arms, a width to accommodate users head, and a height to accommodate cervical alignment of user.

Said pillow structure having hinges means on corners of said pillow to accommodate cervical spine when a sleeper transitions from supine sleep position to prone sleep position interchangeably.

Said pillow structure having arm opening means within said pillow structure which is adapted to accommodate cushioning of the users arms, relieving compression on muscles and nerves.

Said pillow structure having V-shaped cut out means within said pillow structure to accommodate the users shoulder when lying in lateral decubitus position, comfortably cradling shoulder.

Said pillow structure comprising an outer shell comprised of nylon/spandex to accommodate flexibility of said pillow.

Whereby said pillow structure allows the user to sleep in multiple positions with their arms within said pillow and users head and neck supported by said pillow.

2. A pillow defined in claim 1 having dimensions 26 inches in length, 19 inches in width and 7 inches in height.

3. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein said top pillow cushion means also includes 4 corner cushion pads.

4. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein said bottom pillow cushion means also includes 4 corner cushion pads.

5. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein arm openings means also includes two openings on medial ends of said pillow for insertion of the users arms.

6. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein arm opening means also include two openings on distal ends of said pillow for insertion of the users arms.

7. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein V-shaped cut out means also include two V-shaped cut outs of said top pillow cushion.

8. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein V-shaped cut out means also include two V-shaped cut outs of said bottom pillow cushion.

9. A pillow as in claim 4 wherein said arm opening also extends throughout the width of said pillow.

10. A pillow as in claim 5 wherein said arm opening also extends throughout the length of said pillow.