Neck supporter

Abstract

To provide a neck supporter easy to fit to the neck of a user.SOLUTION: Provided is a neck supporter 10 placed in a use place 12 where a user 11 lies and supporting a neck 21 of the user 11. The neck supporter 10 includes: a hollow cover 13; a base material 14 provided in an inside A1 of the cover 13; a cushioning material 15 arranged above the base material 14 in the inside A1 of the cover 13 and formed of a material having lower rigidity than rigidity of a material of the base material 14; and a take-in / take-out port 18 provided in the cover 13 and connecting the inside A1 and an outside A2 of the cover 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a neck support used to support the neck in a lying posture of a user.

Background Art

[0002] An example of a pillow, which is an example of a neck support used to support the neck in a lying posture of a user, is described in Patent Document 1. The pillow described in Patent Document 1 includes a pillow body formed by integrally molding or joining a foam resin material (foamed polyurethane) having elastic resilience into a predetermined pillow-shaped outer shape, and a whole-shaped pipe-like or semi-cut pipe-like deformation restraining member made of a rigid material provided at a portion corresponding to the neck of the pillow user in the pillow body and oriented perpendicular to the cervical vertebrae of the pillow user.

[0003] The deformation restraining member is characterized by limiting the change in the cross-sectional shape of the pillow at the neck position of the pillow user lying in a sleeping posture corresponding to a correct upright posture on a flat floor surface to the cross-sectional shape of the deformation restraining member, and limiting the sinking deformation of the pillow to the height of the deformation restraining member. The deformation restraining member has a simple configuration made of a vinyl chloride whole-shaped pipe material.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The inventor of the present application recognized that the pillow described in Patent Document 1 is difficult to fit to the user's neck because a deformation restraining member is provided at a location corresponding to the user's cervical vertebrae. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a neck support that is easily fitted to the user's neck.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This embodiment discloses a neck support that is placed at a usage location where the user lies down and supports the user's neck, and includes a hollow cover, a base material provided inside the cover, a cushioning material disposed above the base material inside the cover and made of a material with lower rigidity than that of the base material, and an access opening provided in the cover and connecting the inside and outside of the cover.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to this embodiment, since the cushioning material is made of a material with lower rigidity than that of the base material, it is easy to fit the user's neck. In addition, since the cover is provided with an access opening, the cushioning material can be taken in and out of the cover.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] (Overview) Embodiments of the neck support (neck pillow) are described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the neck support are merely examples, and the shapes, structures, dimensions, numbers, etc. of the elements and components disclosed in the embodiments can all be arbitrarily changed within the scope that can solve the problems of this embodiment. The neck support 10 shown in FIGS. 1(A) and (B) is placed on the upper surface 12A of a usage location 12 where the user (person) 11 lies down. The usage location 12 can be any of a futon, a mat, a carpet, a bed, a tatami mat, a rush mat, etc. The upper surface 12A of the usage location 12 is substantially flat when the user 11 is not present.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 2(A), the neck support 10 has a hollow cover 13, a base material 14, a cushioning material 15, a blood circulation promoting member 16, and a headrest sheet 17 provided inside the cover 13 at A1. The cover 13 has elasticity, and as the material of the cover 13, for example, stretchable synthetic rubber, stretch material (polyurethane), etc. can be used. The cover 13 has a cylindrical portion 13A and side portions 13B that close both ends of the cylindrical portion 13A. The side portions 13B are respectively provided at both ends in the direction along the virtual line B1 passing through the center of the cylindrical portion 13A.

[0011] The base material 14 has a plate shape with a predetermined thickness. The upper and lower surfaces of the base material 14 are substantially flat, and the neck support 10 is placed on the upper surface 12A of the use location 12 with the lower surface of the base material 14 facing downward. The base material 14 is a low-rebound material having both elasticity and viscosity, for example, soft urethane foam. The base material 14 is fixed to the inner surface of the cover 13 so as not to move inside the cover 13 at A1.

[0012] The cushioning material 15 is housed above the base material 14 inside the cover 13 in a state where the neck support 10 is placed at the use location 12. Specifically described, the cushioning material 15 is placed on the base material 14. The cushioning material 15 has a rod shape, and a plurality of them are housed in a movable state inside the cover 13 at A1. The cross-sectional shape of the cushioning material 15 in the plane in the width direction may be any of a circle, a square, a hexagon, an ellipse, etc. The plane in the width direction of the cushioning material 15 is perpendicular to the virtual line B1. The cushioning material 15 has a lower rigidity than the base material 14, and as the material of the cushioning material 15, for example, urethane material, sponge, etc. can be used.

[0013] An access opening 18 is provided that penetrates through the cylindrical portion 13A of the cover 13, and the access opening 18 can be opened and closed by a fastener 19 shown in FIG. 2(B). The access opening 18 and the fastener 19 are provided along the virtual line B1. When the access opening 18 is opened, the inside A1 and the outside A2 of the cover 13 are connected. The access opening 18 is an opening provided for inserting and removing the cushioning material 15 into and out of the inside A1 of the cover 13. The access opening 18 and the fastener 19 are provided along a substantially horizontal direction above the base material 14 in a state where the neck support 10 is placed at the usage location 12.

[0014] The blood circulation promoting member 16 is provided to promote the blood circulation of the neck 11A and shoulders 11B of the user 11. The blood circulation promoting member 16 is provided inside the cover 13 at A1 in a state where the neck support 10 is placed at the usage location 12. A plurality of blood circulation promoting members 16 are partially accommodated above the cushioning material 15 and partially accommodated on the side of the cushioning material 15. The blood circulation promoting member 16 is, for example, a sponge-coated around a rod-shaped permanent magnet 16A. For example, a plurality of blood circulation promoting members 16 are provided inside the cover 13. Also, the blood circulation promoting member 16 may be fixed to the inner surface of the cover 13 or may be provided movably inside the cover 13 at A1. When the blood circulation promoting member 16 is fixed to the inner surface of the cover 13, the cushioning material 15 can be accommodated movably between the base material 14 and the blood circulation promoting member 16. Further, the blood circulation promoting member 16 may be arranged between the cushioning materials 15 in a direction along the surface of the base material 14.

[0015] The headrest sheet 17 is attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 13A. The headrest sheet 17 is for the user 11's head 21 to rest on. The material of the headrest sheet 17 is, for example, a cloth fabric. The headrest sheet 17 is substantially quadrilateral in plan view, and the side edge 17A of the headrest sheet 17 is connected to the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 13A. That is, the headrest sheet 17 has the side edge 17A as a fixed end, and the other parts hang from the outer surface of the cover 13.

[0016] In addition, the headrest sheet 17 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the cylindrical portion 13A by, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener 20. The hook-and-loop fastener 20 is, for example, Velcro (registered trademark). The hook-and-loop fastener 20 is provided above the fastener 19 in a state where the neck support 10 is placed at the usage location 12. For this reason, in a state where the neck support 10 is placed at the usage location 12, the headrest sheet 17 covers the fastener 19 and the access opening 18. In a state where the neck support 10 is placed at the usage location 12, the headrest sheet 17 is laid from the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 13A across the upper surface 12A of the usage location 12.

[0017] (Usage example and effect) As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B), the neck support 10 is placed on the upper surface 12A of the usage location 12, and the user 11 lies down at the usage location 12. The lying down may be, for example, either supine or lateral. When the usage location 12 is viewed in plan view as shown in FIG. 1(B), the virtual line B1 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the virtual line B2 indicating the center along the length direction of the user 11. The neck support 10 is positioned under the neck 11A and supports the neck 11A. Specifically, the neck support 10 can support the range from the user's shoulder 11B to the medulla oblongata. For this reason, the gap between the neck 11A and the upper surface 12A of the usage location 12 can be eliminated. Therefore, the neck support 10 can prevent the user 11 from "twisting during sleep".

[0018] Furthermore, the base material 14 has higher rigidity than the cushion material 15, and it is possible to suppress the entire neck support 10 from being crushed by the weight of the neck 11A and the shoulders 11B. Furthermore, the cushion material 15 has lower rigidity than the base material 14. Therefore, the upper part of the neck support 10 is easily deformed (sinks) along the shape of the neck 11A, and the fitness for the neck 11A is improved. Since the blood circulation promoting member 16 has the permanent magnet 16A, the blood circulation in the vicinity of the neck 11A and the shoulders 11B is promoted by the magnetic field and magnetic lines of force formed by the permanent magnet 16A. Therefore, the neck support 10 can improve the stiffness of the neck 11A and the shoulders 11B.

[0019] Also, by operating the fastener 19, the access opening 18 can be opened, and the cushioning material 15 can be taken in and out of the interior A1. Specifically, it is possible to change the number of cushioning materials 15 accommodated in the interior A1, replace them with cushioning materials 15 having different shapes and thicknesses, replace the cushioning material 15 that has become soiled or smelly due to aging with a new one, and so on. By changing (adjusting) the number of cushioning materials 15, replacing them with cushioning materials 15 having different shapes and thicknesses, etc., according to the shape and weight of the neck 11A of the user 11, the neck support 10 can be made to fit the neck 11A of the user 11 more easily.

[0020] Furthermore, the base material 14 and the blood circulation promoting member 16 are fixed to the inner surface of the cover 13, and the cushioning material 15 is movably accommodated between the base material 14 and the blood circulation promoting member 16. Therefore, when performing the operation of taking the cushioning material 15 in and out of the interior A1 through the access opening 18, it is possible to prevent the base material 14 and the blood circulation promoting member 16 from interfering with the operation.

[0021] Also, the head 21 is placed on the headrest sheet 17. For this reason, a pillow for supporting the head 21 is unnecessary. Furthermore, if a sheet is laid on the usage location 12, soiling of the sheet can be prevented. Furthermore, the side edge 17A of the headrest sheet 17 may be connected below the fastener 19 on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 13A, or may be connected to a location corresponding to below the base material 14 on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 13A. Also, the cross-sectional shape of the base material 14 in the width direction may be any of a quadrangle, an ellipse, a circle, a trapezoid, etc. Furthermore, the access opening 18 and the fastener 19 may be provided on the side portion 13B of the cover 13.

[0022] An example of the technical meaning of the matters described in this embodiment is as follows. The neck support 10 is an example of a neck support. The cover 13 is an example of a cover. The base material 14 is an example of a base material. The cushioning material 15 is an example of a cushioning material. The access opening 18 is an example of an access opening. The headrest sheet 17 is an example of a headrest sheet. The permanent magnet 16A is an example of a permanent magnet. The side edge 17A is an example of a connecting portion.

[0023] This embodiment is not limited to what is disclosed using the drawings, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof. For example, in this embodiment, as the structure for opening and closing the access port 18, a hook may be used instead of the fastener 19. Further, the cushioning material 15 may have any shape as long as it can be inserted into and removed from the interior A1, and may be spherical.

Industrial Applicability

[0024] This embodiment can be used as a neck support tool for supporting the neck in a posture where the user lies on their side.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0025] 10… Neck support tool, 13… Cover, 14… Base material, 15… Cushioning material, 16A… Permanent magnet, 17… Headrest sheet, 17A… Side edge, 18… Access port

Claims

1. A neck support device that is placed at a usage location where the user lies down and supports the user's neck, a hollow cover, a base material provided inside the cover, a cushioning material that is disposed above the base material inside the cover and is made of a material with lower rigidity than the material of the base material, and an access opening provided in the cover and connecting the inside and outside of the cover, The neck support device having the above.

2. The neck support device according to Claim 1, wherein the access opening is disposed above the base material.

3. The neck support device according to Claim 2, further provided with a headrest sheet that is connected to the cover and laid across the usage location for the user's head to rest on, a connecting portion where the cover and the headrest sheet are connected is disposed above the access opening, and the headrest sheet is provided to cover the access opening.

4. The neck support device according to Claim 1, wherein a permanent magnet that forms a magnetic field is provided inside the cover.

5. The neck support device according to Claim 4, wherein the base material and the permanent magnet are fixed to the cover, and the cushioning material is movably accommodated between the base material and the permanent magnet inside the cover.

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