Contoured-head and neck foam pillow
AssigneeSpan-America Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsDaniel J. Schaefer, John K. Luke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foam pillow has two main support surfaces on opposing sides thereof. One surface includes convolutions defining a relatively flat profile and the other surface includes longitudinal ribs of arcuate cross-section, which define a curved profile having at least two prominent lobes of differing heights and a central trough. The pillow is particularly adapted for support of a person's head in the trough, with the user's neck received on one of the lobes. Reversal of the lobes permits variation in the amount of neck support. The ribs comprise spherical ridges and have circular channels separating their bases to provide a heat and moisture dissipation function. The curved support surface may include cross-hatching at various intervals to provide extra dispersion of pressure.
Claims12
A construction of resilient material for use as a head pillow for a person, comprising:
- an integral member composed of said resilient material and having upper and lower support surfaces on opposite sides thereof, said lower support surface having a generally flat profile, and said upper support surface defining a predetermined profile the thickness of which varies relative said lower support surface, and includes at least two lobes and a trough therebetween;
- a plurality of parallel, spherical ridge formed on generally most of said upper support surface and conforming to said profile thereof;
- and
- a plurality of parallel channels, defined by said upper support surface, and respectively interposed between adjacent of said ridges;
- wherein
- the radii of curvature of said ridges vary generally in accordance with the thickness of said predetermined profile of said upper support surface relative to said generally flat profile of said lower support surface, with relatively large radii of said ridges being associated with said lobes and relatively smaller radii of said ridges being associated with said trough.
A pillow for supporting the head and neck of a person situated in a generally horizontal position, said pillow comprising:
- a generally planar, rectangular body of resilient material, having two main support surfaces on opposing sides thereof and being invertible between two positions for providing direct support of the head and neck of a user on a selected one of said support surfaces of said body;
- scalloping in rows, with spherical air channels defined therebetween, disposed on a given one of said support surfaces;
- convolutions defined on another one of said support surfaces;
- wherein
- said convolutions of said another support surface define a substantially flat profile;
- and
- said scalloping of said given support surface defines a curved profile, the cross-section of which includes two maximums of differing heights and at least one minimum, situated between said maximums;
- whereby, in either of said two invertible positions, said pillow is adapted for either said flat profile or said curved profile to support the head of a user substantially adjacent said minimum, and with the neck of such user substantially adjacent a selected one of said maximums, the selection of which determines the relative elevation and position of the user's head and neck;
- and further wherein
- said scalloping comprises a plurality of spherical ridges having diameters which vary across said curved profile, which diameters are generally larger adjacent said maximums than adjacent said minimum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.