Pillow

Abstract

To provide a pillow that enables a sleeper to sleep with comfort.SOLUTION: In the state of being put to be used, a pillow 1 comprises a central part 33, and a pair of right and left side parts 34R and 34L that continuously spread in both rightward and leftward directions at both the right and left edges of the central part 33. Hardness based on a load applied to the central part 33 from above is higher than hardness of the right and left side parts 34R and 34L.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pillow.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional pillow. This pillow includes a central portion provided at the center in the left - right direction, and left and right side portions provided on both sides of the central portion and thinner than the central portion. Due to the difference in thickness between the central portion and the left and right side portions, this pillow rotates the head of the sleeper from the central portion to either the left or the right, and places the head of the sleeper laterally on the left and right side portions. Therefore, this pillow can easily keep the airway of the sleeper by placing the head laterally, and can prevent the snoring of the sleeper.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The pillow of Patent Document 1 does not consider the turning over, which is said to occur about 20 times a night for a healthy adult. Therefore, this pillow may make it difficult to turn over. A pillow that is difficult to turn over increases the burden on the body of the sleeper and prevents the sleeper from having a comfortable sleep. Also, in the state where this pillow is placed for use, since the lower surface is not flat, it is unstable when the sleeper places the head on it.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above - mentioned conventional situation, and an object to be solved is to provide a pillow that allows a sleeper to have a comfortable sleep.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The pillow of the present invention includes a central portion and side portions that extend in the left-right direction continuously with at least one of the left and right end edges of the central portion when placed for use, and the hardness based on the load applied from above in the central portion is harder than the hardness in the side portions.

[0007] By making the central portion of this pillow harder than the side portions, when a sleeper places their head on it, the head can be naturally inclined at a predetermined angle or more so as to roll towards the side portions that are softer and have a greater degree of sinking than the central portion. The predetermined angle is 40 ± 5° (the same hereinafter). This angle is the angle formed between the direction in which the face faces when the sleeper is lying on their back and the direction in which the face faces when the sleeper's head is inclined. When the sleeper's head is inclined by 40 ± 5° or more, the airway can be secured and snoring can be reduced. That is, this pillow can naturally encourage the sleeper's head to be in a comfortable lateral position due to the difference in hardness, and since the body's orientation also tends to change as the head turns sideways, it is easy to turn over, and snoring can be reduced.

[0008] Therefore, the pillow of the present invention enables the sleeper to have a comfortable sleep.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0011] In a state where the pillow of the present invention is placed for use, the upper surface of the central portion may be a convex shape protruding upward. In this case, when a sleeper places their head on this pillow, the back of the head is likely to be unstable at the convex central portion. Therefore, due to the inclined surface that slopes downward from the central portion toward the side portion and the difference in hardness between the central portion and the side portion, it becomes easier for the head to tilt so as to roll from the central portion toward the side portion, and the head of the sleeper can be naturally tilted at a predetermined angle or more, prompting the sleeper to assume a comfortable lateral position.

[0012] The pillow of the present invention may include a core material disposed at the central portion. In this case, it is easy to make the central portion have an optimal hardness and height that facilitate tilting the head of the sleeper at a predetermined angle or more, and it can prompt the head of the sleeper to naturally assume a comfortable lateral position.

[0013] The pillow of the present invention may form a concave portion on the upper surface of the side portion. In this case, when the head of the sleeper is tilted and in a lateral position, the ear of the sleeper is positioned in the concave portion formed on the side portion. Therefore, this pillow can prevent the ear of the sleeper from being pressed, enabling the sleeper to have a more comfortable sleep.

[0014] The pillow of the present invention includes an upper portion and a lower portion continuously provided below the upper portion when placed for use, and the left and right end portions of the upper portion can project in the left and right directions more than the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion. In this case, this pillow can place the arms and shoulders of a sleeping person lying on their side below the left and right end portions of the upper portion that project in the left and right directions more than the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion. Therefore, this pillow enables a sleeping person lying on their side to secure a stable posture and obtain comfortable sleep.

[0015] The pillow of the present invention includes an upper portion and a lower portion continuously provided below the upper portion when placed for use, and the left and right rear end portions of the upper portion can project rearward more than the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion. In this case, this pillow allows a sleeping person lying on their side to grasp the left and right rear end portions of the upper portion that project rearward more than the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion. Therefore, this pillow enables a sleeping person lying on their side to obtain a sense of security.

[0016] <Example 1> Next, Example 1 in which the pillow 1 of the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, when the pillow 1 is placed for use, the placement surface side is down, the opposite side is up, the body side of the sleeping person with their head on the pillow 1 is forward, the opposite side is rearward, and the left and right in the front view seen from the front side are defined as left and right. In the three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system shown in each figure, the positive direction of the X-axis is the "left direction", the negative direction of the X-axis is the "right direction", the positive direction of the Y-axis is the "front direction", the negative direction of the Y-axis is the "rear direction", the positive direction of the Z-axis is the "up direction", and the negative direction of the Z-axis is the "down direction".

[0017] The pillow 1 of Example 1 includes a pillow body 10 and a core material 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 11. The pillow 1 is covered with a flexible cloth cover (not shown). The pillow body 10 and the core material 20 are formed of urethane foam. The hardness of the urethane foam forming the pillow body 10 is 73.5 N (unit N: Newton (the same hereinafter)). The hardness of the urethane foam forming the core material 20 is 400 N. The hardness of the urethane foam was measured according to JIS K6400-2 Method A.

[0018] The pillow body 10 forms the outer shape of the pillow 1. As shown in FIG. 10, the pillow body 10 has a storage portion 11 formed with an opening 13 that opens downward at the left and right center portions of the lower surface 41 of the lower portion 40 described later. The shape of the opening 13 of the storage portion 11 is a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The length 13L of the long side of the opening 13 of the storage portion 11 is 175 ± 5 mm, and the length 13S of the short side of the opening 13 of the storage portion 11 is 75 ± 5 mm. The left and right center line of the opening 13 of the storage portion 11 and the left and right center line of the pillow body 10 extend on the same line. The storage portion 11 has a similar shape that is slightly smaller than the outer shape of the core material 20 described later. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the core material 20 is stored in the storage portion 11 without a gap with the inner surface of the storage portion 11. In a state where the core material 20 is stored in the storage portion 11, the lower surface 21 of the core material 20 extends on the same plane as the lower surface 41 of the lower portion 40 of the pillow body 10.

[0019] When placed for use with the pillow 1, as shown in Fig. 11, the core material 20 has an upper core material portion 20A and a lower core material portion 20B. The upper core material portion 20A extends in the front-rear direction and is substantially semi-cylindrical with a curved upper surface. The curved upper surface of the upper core material portion 20A follows the convex shape of the upper surface of the central portion 33 described later. The lower core material portion 20B is substantially quadrangular prism-shaped and is provided continuously below the upper core material portion 20A. The left-right width of the upper core material portion 20A is the same as the left-right width of the lower core material portion 20B. The upper core material portion 20A and the lower core material portion 20B are integrally formed. The front end face 22 of the core material 20 is a vertical plane extending vertically upward from the front edge 21F of the lower surface 21 of the core material 20. The rear end face 23 of the core material 20 is an inclined plane inclined obliquely forward upward from the rear edge 21R of the lower surface 21 of the core material 20. The length 20LT in the front-rear direction at the left-right center of the upper surface of the core material 20 is 150 mm. The length 20LB in the front-rear direction of the lower surface of the core material 20 is 180 mm. Note that the length 20LB in the front-rear direction of the lower surface of the core material 20 only needs to be 100 mm or more and not more than the length in the front-rear direction of the pillow body 10 to achieve the effect. The length 20W in the left-right direction of the lower surface of the core material 20 is 80 mm. The core material 20 has the same overall left-right width except for the curved upper surface of the upper core material portion 20A. Note that the left-right width of the core material 20 only needs to be 50 mm to 150 mm to achieve the effect, and by setting it to 60 mm to 100 mm, it is possible to suppress the back of the head of the sleeper from being stable at the central portion and encourage a comfortable lateral position. The height 20H of the core material 20 is 70 mm. Note that the height 20H of the core material 20 only needs to be 50 mm to 120 mm to achieve the effect, and by setting it to 60 mm to 90 mm, it is possible to prevent the central portion of the pillow 1 from sinking too much and realize a hardness such that the sleeper is not aware of the presence of the core material 20.

[0020] As shown in Figs. 1 to 10, the pillow 1 provided with the pillow body 10 and the core material 20 includes an upper portion 30 and a lower portion 40. The lower portion 40 of the pillow 1 is provided continuously below the upper portion 30. The upper portion 30 and the lower portion 40 are integrally formed.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part 30 has a bilaterally symmetric shape in a plan view (hereinafter referred to as "plan view") when placed for use with the pillow 1. In the plan view, the left and right widths of the front end portion of the upper part 30 are wider than the left and right widths of the rear end portion, and the four corners of the left and right front end portions 31L and 31R and the left and right rear end portions 32L and 32R are curved so as to bulge outward. The left and right width 30W of the front end portion of the upper part 30 is 650 ± 20 mm. The front-rear width 30N of the upper part 30 is 400 ± 10 mm. The front edge 30F and the rear edge 30T of the upper part 30 are curved in the plan view so that the left and right central portions bulge inward. In the plan view, the left and right central portions of the upper part 30 are constricted in the front-rear direction. The left and right edge portions 30L and 30R of the upper part 30 are curved so as to bulge inward in a portion about two-thirds of the front-rear length from the front end in the plan view. In the plan view, a portion about two-thirds of the front-rear length from the front end of the upper part 30 is constricted in the left-right direction.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the upper part 30 includes a central part 33 and a pair of left and right side parts 34L and 34R. The central part 33 and the pair of left and right side parts 34L and 34R of the upper part 30 correspond to the central part and the side parts of the pillow 1. The upper surface of the central part 33 has a convex shape protruding upward. The convex central part 33 extends in the front-rear direction from the vicinity of the front edge of the upper part 30 to the vicinity of the rear edge of the upper part 30 at the left and right central parts of the upper part 30. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the core material 20 is disposed below the central part 33. The convex central part 33 gradually becomes higher toward the center in the front-rear direction at the front end part and the rear end part, and forms a top part 33T that extends at the same height in the front-rear direction in a length range of about one-half in the front-rear direction. The height is the height from the placement surface when placed on the placement surface for using the pillow 1 (the same hereinafter). The top part 33T extends on the left and right center line of the upper part 30. The central part 33 is curved so as to bulge upward in the regions on both the left and right sides of the top part 33T, and has left and right inclined surfaces that descend from the top part 33T in both the left and right directions.

[0023] The inventors determined the convex shape of the central portion 33 as follows. First, the inventors conducted studies using a rigid polystyrene foam model. In the rigid polystyrene foam model, the inventors set the left - right width of the convex shape to 150 mm, the height at positions 75 mm away from the top in the left - right direction to 60 mm, and the height of the top 33T to 70 mm to 90 mm. The reason for setting the left - right width of the convex shape to 150 mm is that the distance from the temple to the temple of an average person's head is 150 mm. With this convex shape, it is difficult for the back of the head of the sleeper to be stable at the central portion 33, and the head can be tilted by a predetermined angle or more to secure the airway, and it is easy to turn over.

[0024] In order to achieve a comfortable sleeping experience, when forming the pillow 1 with urethane foam, the amount of sinking of the urethane foam was set as follows. Based on the weight of an average person's head, the amount of sinking of the urethane foam when the head is placed in a supine position was set to 25 mm, and the amount of sinking of the urethane foam when the head is placed in a lateral position was set to 20 mm.

[0025] Based on these, the convex shape of the central portion 33 is designed with reference to the position where the urethane foam sinks when the head is placed on it. The left - right width is 150 mm, the height of the top portion 33T is 105 mm, and the height at a position 75 mm away from the top portion 33T in the left - right direction is 80 mm. Note that for the left - right width, 60 mm to 300 mm is sufficient to naturally prompt the sleeper's head to lie sideways. By setting it to 100 mm to 230 mm, the effect can be enhanced more, and by setting it to 130 mm to 170 mm, the effect can be particularly realized. That is, by creating a difference in height between the top portion and the positions 30 mm to 150 mm away from the top portion in the left - right direction respectively, the sleeper's head can be naturally prompted to lie sideways. By setting it to 50 mm to 115 mm, the effect can be enhanced more, and by setting it to 65 mm to 85 mm, the effect can be particularly realized. The height of the top portion 33T should be 80 mm to 130 mm in order to make it difficult for the back of the sleeper's head to be stable on the top portion with respect to the assumed hardness range of the pillow body 10. By setting it to 95 mm to 115 mm, the effect can be enhanced more, and by setting it to 100 mm to 110 mm, the effect can be particularly realized. The height at a position 75 mm away from the top portion 33T in the left - right direction should be 55 mm to 105 mm in order to naturally prompt the sleeper's head to lie sideways with respect to the assumed hardness range of the pillow body 10. By setting it to 70 mm to 90 mm, the effect can be enhanced more, and by setting it to 75 mm to 85 mm, the effect can be particularly realized. The difference between the height of the top portion 33T and the height at a position 75 mm away from the top portion 33T in the left - right direction should be 10 mm to 40 mm in order to naturally prompt the sleeper's head to lie sideways. By setting it to 15 mm to 35 mm, the effect can be enhanced more, and by setting it to 20 mm to 30 mm, the effect can be particularly realized.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, a pair of left and right side portions 34L and 34R are continuous with the left and right edges of the central portion 33. The upper surfaces of the left and right side portions 34L and 34R are continuous with the left and right inclined surfaces of the convex central portion 33. Each of the left and right side portions 34L and 34R forms recesses 35L and 35R on the upper surface. Each of the recesses 35L and 35R extends in the left - right direction from near the left and right sides of the central portion 33. Each of the recesses 35L and 35R is formed at the front - rear center of the upper portion 30. The outer peripheral edge of each of the recesses 35L and 35R is substantially rectangular and long in the left - right direction in plan view. Each of the recesses 35L and 35R is a curved surface that bulges downward. Each of the recesses 35L and 35R is symmetric about the left - right center line of the upper portion 30.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 6, the upper surfaces of the left and right side portions 34L and 34R rise from the central portion side toward the left and right edges in any cross - sectional shape parallel to the left - right direction. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in any cross - sectional shape parallel to the front - rear direction, the portions of the left and right side portions 34L and 34R excluding the recesses 35L and 35R extend substantially horizontally. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the height 30H of the left and right ends of the upper portion 30 is 110 ± 20 mm, which is slightly higher than the height of the top 33T of the central portion 33. The outer edge portions of the left and right side portions 34L and 34R extend outward beyond the upper outer peripheral edge of the lower portion 40. The lower surfaces 34U of the outer edge portions of the left and right side portions 34L and 34R are curved surfaces that are inclined upward outward from the upper outer peripheral edge of the lower portion 40 and bulge slightly downward.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 3, the lower part 40 has a symmetrical shape when viewed from the bottom in the state where the pillow 1 is placed for use (hereinafter referred to as "bottom view"). The thickness of the lower part 40 is 45 ± 10 mm. The lower surface 41 of the lower part 40 is a flat surface. By making the lower surface 41 of the lower part 40 a flat surface, while having a sense of stability as the pillow 1, the head of the sleeper can be tilted. The outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower part 40 rises vertically from the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface 41. The left - right width 40W of the lower part 40 is 485 ± 5 mm. The front - rear width 40N of the lower part 40 is 275 ± 5 mm. In the bottom view, the front edge 40F of the lower part 40 is curved such that the central part on the left and right bulges backward. In the bottom view, the front edge 40F of the lower part 40 extends along the rear of the front edge 30F of the upper part 30. That is, the front end part of the upper part 30 protrudes forward from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower part 40. In the bottom view, the left and right end edges 40L, 40R and the rear edge 40T of the lower part 40, which are continuous on both sides of the front edge 40F of the lower part 40, are curved so as to bulge in the left - right and rear directions. In the bottom view, the left and right end edges 40L, 40R of the lower part 40 extend in the front - rear direction inside the left and right end edges 30L, 30R of the upper part 30. In the bottom view, the rear edge 40T of the lower part 40 extends in the left - right direction inside the rear edge 30T of the upper part 30. That is, the left and right end parts of the upper part 30 protrude in the left - right direction from the left and right end edges 40L, 40R of the lower part 40, and the left and right rear end parts of the upper part 30 protrude rearward from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower part 40.

[0029] The left and right end parts of the upper part 30 that protrude in the left - right direction from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower part 40 can place the arms and shoulders of a sleeping person lying on their side, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, below them. Considering the maximum circumference of the forearm of an average person, the sinking of the mattress on which the pillow 1 is placed, and the sinking of the lower surface 34U of the outer edge part of each of the left and right side parts 34L, 34R when the arm is inserted, a space with a diameter of about 60 mm is formed below the lower surface 34U. The left and right rear end parts of the upper part 30 that protrude rearward from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower part 40 can be grasped by a sleeping person lying on their side. Also, the constricted parts at the left and right end parts of the upper part 30 can be grasped by a sleeping person lying on their side.

[0030] The hardness at a predetermined location of the pillow 1 provided with the pillow body 10 and the core material 20 was measured as follows. The measurer measured in accordance with the JIS K6400-2 A method using a compression tester (AG-X plus manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). The measurement points are three points from point A to point C of the pillow 1 as shown in FIG. 2. Point A is the top 33T of the convex central portion 33 and is located on the center line in the front-rear direction of the pillow 1. Point B is the boundary between the convex central portion 33 and the left side portion 34L and is located 75 mm to the left from point A on the center line in the front-rear direction of the pillow 1. Point C is the left side portion 34L and is located 190 mm to the left from point A on the center line in the front-rear direction of the pillow 1.

[0031] The measurer set the pillow 1 in a state of being placed so as to be used in the compression tester, placed the center of the pressure plate at each of point A, point B, and point C, and measured the hardness of each measurement point. The compression tester compresses the pillow 1 placed between a pressure plate that moves vertically at a speed of 100 ± 20 mm / min and a fixed support plate. The pressure plate is a disk with a diameter of 100 mm. After the preliminary compression shown in the JIS K6400-2 A method, the measurement was performed by pressing the pressure plate from above the pillow 1 at a speed of 100 ± 20 mm / min to (40 ± 1)% of the thickness, holding the compression for 30 ± 1 seconds, then reading the force at that time and using that value as the hardness. The average value obtained by measuring each measurement point three times was: point A: 68 N, point B: 59 N, point C: 34 N.

[0032] In order to be able to naturally encourage the sleeper's head to be in a comfortable lateral position, make it easy to turn over, and reduce snoring, the hardness of point A is preferably in the range of 60 N to 70 N. The hardness of point B is preferably in the range of 50 N to 60 N. The difference in hardness between point A and point B is preferably in the range of 8 N to 12 N. Note that the difference in hardness between point A and point B should be at least 5 N or more, and the effect can also be achieved between 6.5 N and 15 N.

[0033] As described above, when the pillow 1 of Example 1 is placed for use, it includes a central portion 31 and left and right side portions 34L and 34R that extend in the left - right direction continuously from the left and right edges of the central portion 33 respectively. The hardness based on the load applied from above at the central portion 33 is harder than the hardness at the left and right side portions 34L and 34R.

[0034] By making the central portion 33 of this pillow 1 harder than the left and right side portions 34L and 34R, when the sleeper places their head on it, the head can naturally tilt at a predetermined angle or more towards the left and right side portions 34L and 34R, which are softer and have a greater degree of sinking than the central portion 33. That is, this pillow 1 can naturally encourage the sleeper's head to be in a comfortable lateral position due to the difference in hardness, and since the body's orientation is likely to change as the head turns sideways, it is easier to turn over, and snoring can be reduced.

[0035] Therefore, the pillow 1 of Example 1 enables the sleeper to have a comfortable sleep.

[0036] When the pillow 1 of Example 1 is placed for use, the upper surface of the central portion 33 is in a convex shape that protrudes upward. When the sleeper places their head on this pillow 1, the back of the head is not easily stabilized at the convex - shaped central portion 33. For this reason, this pillow 1 has an inclined surface that slopes downward from the central portion 33 towards the left and right side portions 34L and 34R, and due to the difference in hardness between the central portion 33 and the left and right side portions 34L and 34R, it becomes easier for the head to tilt towards the left and right side portions 34L and 34R from the central portion 33, enabling the sleeper's head to be tilted at a predetermined angle or more naturally and encouraging a comfortable lateral position.

[0037] The pillow 1 of Example 1 includes a core material 20 disposed at the central portion 33. This pillow 1 can easily make the central portion 33 have an optimal hardness and height that are easy to tilt the sleeper's head at a predetermined angle or more, and can naturally encourage the sleeper's head to be in a comfortable lateral position.

[0038] The pillow 1 of Example 1 has recesses 35L and 35R formed on the upper surfaces of the left and right side portions 34L and 34R. In a state where the head of the sleeper is tilted and lying on the side, the ears of the sleeper are positioned in the recesses 35L and 35R formed on the side portions. Therefore, in this pillow, the ears of the sleeper are not compressed, and the sleeper can have a more comfortable sleep.

[0039] The pillow 1 of Example 1, when placed for use, includes an upper portion 30 and a lower portion 40 continuously provided below the upper portion 30. The left and right end portions of the upper portion 30 protrude in the left - right direction more than the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower portion 40. This pillow 1 can place the arms and shoulders of a side - lying sleeper below the left and right end portions of the upper portion 30 that protrude in the left - right direction more than the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower portion 40. Therefore, this pillow 1 enables a side - lying sleeper to secure a stable posture and have a comfortable sleep.

[0040] The pillow 1 of Example 1, when placed for use, includes an upper portion 30 and a lower portion 40 continuously provided below the upper portion 30. The left and right rear end portions of the upper portion 30 protrude rearward more than the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower portion 40. This pillow 1 allows a side - lying sleeper to grasp the left and right rear end portions of the upper portion 30 that protrude rearward more than the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower portion 40. Therefore, this pillow 1 enables a side - lying sleeper to obtain a sense of security.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to Example 1 described by the above description and drawings. For example, the following examples are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. (1) When the pillow is placed for use, it includes a central portion and left and right side portions that extend in the left - right direction continuously from both left and right edges of the central portion. The hardness measured according to JIS K6400 - 2 A method is preferably 40N to 120N. The central portion has a convex shape with the upper surface protruding upward, extends in the front - rear direction at the left - right center of the upper part, the height of the top is 80mm to 130mm, and it has left and right inclined surfaces that descend from the top in both left and right directions. The difference between the height of the top and the height at a position 30mm to 150mm away from the top in the left - right direction is preferably 10mm to 40mm. The pillow further includes a core material. The core material has a hardness measured according to JIS K6400 - 2 A method harder than that of the pillow body, extends along the convex shape of the upper surface of the central portion, the upper part of the core material is in a substantially semi - cylindrical shape with a curved upper surface, the height of the core material is 50mm to 120mm, the left - right width of the core material is 50mm to 150mm, and the hardness based on the load applied from above at the central portion is preferably harder than that at the side portion. This pillow has a height design considering the sinking amount according to the hardness of the pillow body. While reducing the sense of compression on the head, the pillow body does not sink too much due to the core material, and it can promote the head of the sleeper to naturally and comfortably turn sideways. Although there is a height at the central portion of this pillow, it does not interfere when the sleeper tries to turn the head in the opposite direction, and can promote a natural turning over. By setting the difference between the height at a position 30mm to 150mm away from the top in the left - right direction and the height of the top at the central portion to 10mm to 40mm, the sleeper can turn the head sideways naturally without difficulty. Since the core material is in a substantially semi - cylindrical shape with a curved upper surface, it can promote the head to turn sideways naturally to the extent that the sleeper is not aware of the existence of the core material. Since the top height of the core material is formed to be 50mm to 120mm, the central portion does not sink too much, and a hardness level where the sleeper is not aware of the existence of the core material can be achieved. Since the left - right width of the core material is formed to be 50mm to 150mm, it can prevent the back of the head of the sleeper from being stable at the central portion and promote a comfortable sideways turn.

[0042] (2) The pillow 1 of Example 1 includes left and right side portions 34L and 34R continuous with the left and right end edges of the central portion 33. In contrast, the pillow may be provided with side portions only at one of the left and right end edges of the central portion. (3) In Example 1, the upper surface of the central portion 33 of the pillow 1 has a convex shape protruding upward. In contrast, the upper surface of the central portion of the pillow may extend on the same plane as the side portions. In this case, the hardness of the side portions may be softer than that of the central portion, and the depression of the side portions may be greater than that of the central portion so as to tilt the head of the sleeper. (4) In Example 1, the pillow 1 includes a core material 20 disposed in the central portion 33. In contrast, the pillow may not include a core material. (5) The pillow 1 of Example 1 forms recesses 35L and 35R on the upper surfaces of the left and right side portions 34L and 34R. In contrast, the pillow may not form recesses on the upper surfaces of the left and right side portions. (6) The left and right end portions and the left and right rear end portions of the upper portion 30 of the pillow 1 of Example 1 protrude outward from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the lower portion 40. In contrast, the upper portion and the lower portion of the pillow may have the same outer shape in plan view or bottom view. (7) The hardness of the pillow body 10 of Example 1 is 73.5 N. In contrast, the hardness of the pillow body may be 40 N to 120 N, and by setting it to 60 N to 85 N, it is possible to use it comfortably without pain even when the head is placed for a long time. (8) The hardness of the core material 20 of Example 1 is 400 N. In contrast, the hardness of the core material may be at least harder than that of the pillow body. (9) The upper portion 20A of the core material of Example 1 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape with a curved upper surface. In contrast, the curvature of the curved surface of the upper surface of the upper portion of the core material may be increased or decreased, or the shape may be appropriately changed such as a triangular prism shape without curvature. (10) In Example 1, the sinking amount of the urethane foam when the head is placed in the supine state is set to 25 mm, and the sinking amount of the urethane foam when the head is placed in the lateral state is set to 20 mm, and the convex shape of the central portion 33 is designed. However, it may be designed based on different sinking amounts depending on the hardness of the urethane foam. (11) The heights 30H of the left and right ends of the upper part 30 of the pillow 1 of Example 1 are slightly higher than the top 33T of the central part 33. In contrast, the heights of the left and right ends of the upper part of the pillow may be lower than the top of the plum rain recess. Also, although the heights 30H of the left and right ends of the upper part 30 of the pillow 1 of Example 1 are 110 ± 20 mm, they may be made even higher to form a convex shape to prevent the sleeper's head from falling off the pillow. (12) The width of the core material in the left - right direction as a whole may be different. For example, the width of the upper part of the core material in the left - right direction may be set to 50 mm to 150 mm, and the lower part of the core material may have a length similar to the left - right width of the pillow body.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0043] 1…Pillow 20…Core material 30…Upper part 33…Central part 34L, 34R…Left and right side parts (side parts) 35L, 35R…Recesses 40…Lower part 43…Outer peripheral surface

Claims

Claim 1 When placed for use, it comprises a central portion and side portions that extend horizontally on at least one of the left and right edges of the central portion, A pillow in which the hardness based on the load applied from above to the central portion is harder than the hardness of the side portions. Claim 2 The pillow according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the central portion is convex and protrudes upward when placed for use. Claim 3 The pillow according to any one of claims 1 and 2, comprising a core material disposed in the central portion. Claim 4 The pillow according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a concave portion is formed on the upper surface of the side portion. Claim 5 When placed for use, it comprises an upper portion and a lower portion continuously provided below the upper portion, The pillow according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the left and right ends of the upper portion protrude horizontally more than the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion. Claim 6 When placed for use, it comprises an upper portion and a lower portion continuously provided below the upper portion, The pillow according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the left, right, and rear ends of the upper portion protrude rearward more than the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion.

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