Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02863982 2015-11-06
MULTI-POSITION MULTI-PURPOSE PILLOW
Technical field
This 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:
4,393,520 Koch
5,214,814 Eremita et al
5,644,809 Olson
6,336,236 Dalton
6,581,226 Brunstein
6,671,907 Zuberi
6,973,691 Cordova et al
8,069,515 Tingey
D487,207 Manuel
D523,275 Hawkins
D558,499 Maarbjerg
D575,566 Berke et al
D597,364 Lindgren
1
CA 02863982 2015-11-06
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;
2
CA 02863982 2015-11-06
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;
3
CA 02863982 2015-11-06
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.
4
CA 02863982 2015-11-06
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 FIG. 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.
5
CA 02863982 2015-11-06
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.
6
