Contourable inflatable orthopedic pillow

an orthopedic pillow and inflatable technology, applied in the field of pillows, can solve the problems of increasing the cost, increasing the cost, and the use of orthopaedic pillows still limited, and achieve the effects of increasing the bulbousness, simple construction, and being easy to produce and install

Inactive Publication Date: 2002-06-27
EDIZONE LC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0011] The pillows of the invention in their various embodiments address these needs. In its non-inflated form, one embodiment of the invention is completely flat like a standard foam pillow. It uses an exceptionally simple, single chamber flat-welded bladder that is very inexpensive to produce and install. It can be adjusted by inflation to any degree of bulbousness from completely flat to fully orthopedic, thus allowing the user to either set it perma...

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, orthopedic pillows are still in only limited use.
Their cost is generally higher than for non-orthopedic pillows, especially those orthopedic pillows containing inflatable bladders.
The bladder configurations of prio...

Method used

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  • Contourable inflatable orthopedic pillow
  • Contourable inflatable orthopedic pillow
  • Contourable inflatable orthopedic pillow

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, one embodiment of the invention is depicted.

[0021] FIG. 1A shows the pillow 100 in its flat configuration prior to inflation. Users that wish to gradually become accustomed to an orthopedic pillow would start in this flat configuration until they are used to the particular foams used in the pillow. To construct this pillow, a piece of resilient material 1 has a flat-welded plastic air bladder 3 placed on the resilient material's top surface. For purposes of discussion, we will refer to the resilient material as foam, since the preferred embodiment is open-cell polyurethane foam. The foam is then folded over and bonded to itself at bond line 2. During this process, the top of the air bladder 2 may be adhesively bonded to the foam or left unbonded. It has been found that there is sufficient friction between the bladder and the foam that bonding is not generally necessary to retain the bladder in the foam, and removability is desirable in the event the ...

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PUM

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Abstract

A pillow that includes an inflatable bladder surrounded by a resilient layer. The bladder may be inflated to various levels to achieve a desired level of orthopedic support. In some embodiments of the invention, the pillow may include an outer comfort layer of softer material than the firm inner core. Optionally, an integral hand pump may be included on the pillow for inflation purposes.

Description

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY[0001] Applicant claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 199,587 filed on Apr. 25, 2000 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 216,021 filed on Jul. 3, 2000.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] This invention relates to the field of cushions of all types, particularly but not limited to cushions for beds, such as head pillows and mattresses, and furniture, including the main cushions for sitting and lying as well as the loose cushions and pillows associated with some types of furniture. Those skilled in the art will recognize the myriad of applications for the cushions of the invention.[0004] 2. Background Art[0005] There is considerable prior art in the field of ergonomic, orthopedic or contoured pillows and cushions. The objective of the prior art devices is to support the head and neck during sleep in a position that is similar to the position of the head and neck in a standing or sitting person during waking hours. To that end...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A47C3/16A47C20/00A47C20/02A47C27/00A47C27/08A47G9/00A47G9/10
CPCA47C3/16A47C27/00A47C27/081B68G2001/005A47G2009/003B68G1/00A47G9/10A47C27/084
Inventor PEARCE, TONY M.
Owner EDIZONE LC
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