Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The present invention relate~ to an improved
filling for pillows, cuqhions and the like, especially
adapted to promote beneficial sleep.
The characteristics of pillow filling material~
5are very important to good sleep. ~uckwheat chaff i9 a
natural pillow filling which i9 currently used ac a
superior filling material and which i~ inexpensive and has
a favorable feeling of hardness. However, after the use
of buckwheat chaff for an extended period of time, the
lOpossibility exicts of infestation of the buckwheat chaff
with various germs and/or mold, due to poor moisture
transpiration.
Other known filliny materials include "adzuki"
beans and soybeans. Adzuki beans and soybean~ also are
15advantageous in that they are inexpensive and have a
favorable hardness. However, these beams are suscept~ble
to being eaten by worms after an extended period of time.
There have recently been proposed pillow
fillings made of synthetic resin materials which are
20beneflcial to health. However, the synthetic resin
fillings lack a natural feel.
It :Is therefore an ob~ect of the present
invention to provide a new and improved pillow filling
which has a more favorable hardness and is superior in
25moisture uptake, transpiration and sanitation.
Accordingly, one aspect of the invention
provides a pillow filling comprising substantially
spherical wood particles adapted to release a contained
fragrance.
30The present invention also provides a method of
making a new and improved pillow filling, the method
compri~ing the steps of cutting a wood blank into chips
having a predetermined size and mechanically forming said
chips into substantially spherical particles having
35roughened surfaces.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a
cross-sectional view of a wood particle for use in a
'7~
plllow filling according to an embodiment of the
invention.
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a wood
particle which i5 of substantially spherical
configuration. The particles are produced by cutting a
wood blank such as Japanese cypress (hinoki) or other wood
material into square chips having a predetermlned size,
for example, about 4 millimeters square, and then
mechanically forming the square chips into substantially
spherical particles having a desired diameter (preferably
about 3-4 millimeters). Each of the particles so formed
has a roughened surface 2, which has been roughened to a
suitable degree for a purpose which will be described.
The formation of the spherical particle~ having
their roughened surfaces may be attained using any
suitable forming machine, such as a sandpaper grinding
machine which comprises a rotary cage formed of a screen,
for example, having a mesh of about 2 millimeters, a
rotary drum disposed wlthin the rotary cage, and rotatable
~0 at high speed in a direction opposite to that of the cage,
and a sheet of sandpaper applied to the outer surface of
the rotary drum. Wood chips cut in the aforementioned
manner are placed into a working space between the rotary
cage and the drum. During high-speed rotation of the
drum, the wood chips are rounded and roughened at their
surfaces into spherical filling particles having roughened
surfaces. In place of the sandpaper, other tools may be
used to round and roughen square wood chips into spherical
wood particles.
In accordance with the present invention, the
filling particles are preferably formed of Japanese
cypres~ or "hinoki" for a purpose which will be described,
but may be made of any other wood material. Since
Japanese cypress is expensive as a building material, it
is appropriate to utilize scraps or off-cuts of Japanese
cypress.
Japanese cypress emits a fragrance providing a
mental relaxing, stabilizing and calming action. When the
.l,~t~
filling particles are formed from Japanese cypress chips,
a pillow charged wlth such particles permit~ a u~er to
have a good sleep. In order to promote the emission of a
fragrance, the wood particles are roughened at their
surfaces as described hereinbefore. Furthermore, the
emission of the fragrance is promoted when the pillow i~
actually used to receive the weight of the user's head
with the particles being rubbed together.
JapaneYe cypress includes a natural agent which
is effective for sterilization and detoxification. As a
result, a pillow containing Japanese cypre~s particleR
will be more resistant to attack by germs and molds.
In general, wood materials are superior in
moisture uptake and transpiration. Therefore, the plllow
filling ~ormed in accordance with the present inventlon is
effsctive in keeping a pillow dry. Moreover, wood
materlal provides a favorable hardness for pillow8.
Although the present invention has been
described primarily in relation to Japanese cypress
filling, it may use any other wood material. In this
case, after being formed into particles, the wood material
may be impregnated with an oily fragrant ingredient or
essence extracted from Japanese cypress.
i'78
` Japanese cypress emits a f'ragrance providing a mer1tal
stabilizing action. When the padding particles are f`ormed rrom
Japar1ese cypress chips, a pillow charged with suc11 particles may
cause a user to have a good sleep. In order -to promote the
emissi.or1 Or suc~i a fragrance, the wood particles are roughed at
their surfaces as described hereir1berore. I~urt11erll1ore, the
emissior1 Or the f'ragrance may be promoted whe11 the pillow is
actually used to receive the weigh-t of` the user's head with the
particles being rubbed together.
Japanese cypress includes a matter which is efrective to
steriliza-tion and detoxificatior1. l'he pillow con-taining Japanese
cypress particles may be prevented from being covered with
various germs and molds.
In general, wood materials are superior in moisture uptake
and transpiration. T11eref`oLe, the pillow padding f`ormed in
accordance with the present inventio1l is et'f'ective to Iceep the
pillow dry. Moreover, wood material provi~e a f'avorable hardr1ess
f'or pillows.
Although the present invention has been described prlmarily
as to Japanese cypress padding, it may use any other wood
material within the spirit and scope Or the invention. In this
case, after belng formed into particles, the wood material may be
impregnated with an oily t'ragrant ingre~ier1t or esser1ce extrac~ed
f'rom Japanese,cyl~reYs.
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