Body surface shape measurement device, bedding, bedding manufacturing method, computer program, pillow, and pillow manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a body surface shape measuring device capable of measuring a body surface shape including a bone shape matched with the sleeping posture of an actual human body whose force is relaxed, bedding, a bedding manufacturing method, a computer program, a pillow, and a pillow manufacturing method.SOLUTION: The bedding includes a bedding body, a plurality of recessed parts and projecting parts provided on the bedding body on the basis of the body surface shape of a suspended human body in a sleeping posture, and a plurality of abutting parts abutting on the parts to which the weight of the human body in the sleeping posture is applied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 30

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a body surface shape measuring device, bedding, a method for manufacturing bedding, a computer program, a pillow, and a method for manufacturing a pillow. [Background technology]

[0002] According to the results of the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey, 19.7% of people did not get enough rest through sleep in the past month, and this percentage is increasing year by year. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's "Sleep Guidelines for Health Promotion 2014," sleep problems have been confirmed to increase anxiety and stress hormones, leading to accidents and a greater susceptibility to depression. It has also been shown that short sleep duration and insomnia can lead to problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. To improve these various sleep-related problems, consumers are considering replacing their bedding. According to a survey, the number one thing people care about or the number one item they use to get a good night's sleep is their pillow.

[0003] Conventionally, various pillows have been developed to meet the demand for a good night's sleep. Some conventional pillows have some kind of material placed on the surface to make them softer, or have a member placed inside for adjusting the height (for example, Patent Document 1, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-92974 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the head is placed on a soft urethane or urethane gel pillow with gel on it, the rate of body pressure distribution varies between users, and some people sink too deeply or too high. The same applies when height adjustment components are installed. The same is true for pipe pillows; even if you control the height by adjusting the amount of pipe, they will easily deform over time and soon become out of alignment, requiring repeated visits to the store for adjustment. While there are services available to adjust them as many times as needed, for consumers, visiting the store is a hassle and can lead to them purchasing other products.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a body surface shape measuring device, bedding, a bedding manufacturing method, a computer program, a pillow, and a pillow manufacturing method that can measure body surface shapes including bone shapes that match the actual sleeping posture of a relaxed human body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A bedding according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a bedding body, a plurality of recesses and protrusions provided in the bedding body based on the shape of the body surface of a human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position, and a plurality of abutment portions that fit into the plurality of recesses and abut against the portions of the human body on which the weight of the body is applied in a sleeping position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a mold is used to create a recess based on the body surface shape, including the bone shape, that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body, and a contact portion that is formed based on the body surface shape and contacts the part of the body on which weight is applied is fitted into the recess. A protrusion is provided on the bedding body to correspond to the recessed part of the body surface shape. The bedding fits closely to the unevenness of the body, including the part on which weight is applied, distributing body pressure well, creating a comfortable feeling and reducing stiffness in the shoulders and neck and headaches. Turning over in bed is also possible smoothly and with fewer turns, resulting in a good night's sleep. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main body and contact portion of the pillow. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] 10A to 10C are explanatory views for explaining a method for manufacturing the contact portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the state in which the main body is housed in the inner cover. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the state in which the main body is housed in the inner cover. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pillow showing the inner cover housed in the outer cover. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the pillow showing the inner cover housed in the outer cover. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 6. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the main body and contact portion of the pillow according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a bedding manufacturing system according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a body surface shape measuring device. [Figure 16] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a body surface shape measuring device is used to acquire a body surface shape of a user in a lying position. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a body surface shape measuring device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a body surface shape measuring device is used to acquire a body surface shape of a user in a lying position. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a mat produced using the body surface shape measuring device of this embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. [Figure 21]10 is a cross-sectional view showing the buttocks portion of the mat of the first modified example. FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a bedding manufacturing system according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 23] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a mat manufacturing process performed by a control unit of a PC. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a mat of a second modified example. [Figure 25] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a measurement unit of a body surface shape measuring device according to a third modified example. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a body surface shape measuring device according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a body surface shape measuring device according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a learning model. [Figure 29] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a body surface shape measuring device according to an eighth embodiment. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the molding material after molding. [Figure 31] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a body surface shape measuring device according to a ninth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (Outline of the embodiment) First, embodiments of the present invention will be listed and described. At least some of the embodiments described below may be combined in any desired manner.

[0011] A body surface shape measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a support part that supports a part of the human body other than the part to be measured in a lying position, and one or more measurement parts into which the part to be measured fits, wherein the part to be measured fits into the measurement part, and the part other than the part to be measured is supported by the support part, and the body surface shape of the part to be measured is measured.

[0012] The above configuration makes it possible to measure the body surface shape, including bone shape, that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body (suspended in mid-air). The "suspended in mid-air" state refers to a state in which the entire body is relaxed, the limbs are stretched and in a natural position, breathing is not difficult, and the subject feels comfortable. The protruding parts of the body surface shape are the parts on which the user's weight (load) is applied, and information on the distribution of body pressure can also be obtained at the same time. It is possible to create bedding such as pillows and mattresses that fit closely to the parts on which the user's weight is applied, effectively distributing body pressure and preventing pain in the head, shoulders, neck, and lower back, allowing for comfortable sleep without discomfort.

[0013] The above-described body surface shape measuring device may have a plurality of the support parts, and the plurality of support parts may be arranged in parallel such that the measuring part is interposed between the support parts.

[0014] According to the above configuration, it is possible to rearrange the support parts and adjust the gap between the support parts to suit the part to be measured, thereby adjusting the width of the measurement part.

[0015] In the above-mentioned body surface shape measuring device, a net may be stretched across the measuring section and a net support section may be provided to support at least both sides of the net, and the part to be measured may be placed facing the plane of the net to measure the body surface shape of the part to be measured.

[0016] According to the above configuration, the part to be measured can be supported by the net. Furthermore, when measuring the head shape, the hair can be brought into close contact with the net, allowing the body surface shape to be measured properly.

[0017] The above-described body surface shape measuring device may further include a lifting unit that lifts and lowers the net support unit.

[0018] According to the above configuration, the height can be adjusted to properly suspend the part to be measured. Also, the height can be adjusted to suit the bedding used by the user.

[0019] In the above-described body surface shape measuring device, the width of the net may be expandable and contractible in the direction in which the support portions are arranged side by side.

[0020] According to the above configuration, the width of the measuring part can be adjusted to suit the physique and shape of the user.

[0021] A body surface shape measuring device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a support base and a molding material that is placed on the support base and that molds a portion to be measured of a human body in a lying position.

[0022] According to the above configuration, the mold can be used to obtain a body surface shape, including bone shapes, that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body, and bedding such as pillows and mattresses can be produced that allow the parts of the user's body that bear weight to be in close contact with the bedding, disperse body pressure well, prevent pain in the head, shoulders, neck, and lower back, and provide a comfortable, comfortable sleep.

[0023] The above-described body surface shape measuring device may have a plurality of support tables, each of which can be raised and lowered independently, and the impression material may be placed on the support tables which support the part to be measured.

[0024] According to the above configuration, the height of each support part can be adjusted so that the part to be measured is suspended in mid-air in a lying position, and the height can also be adjusted to suit the bedding used by the user.

[0025] A bedding according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a bedding body, a plurality of recesses and protrusions provided in the bedding body based on the shape of the body surface of a human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position, and a plurality of abutment portions that fit into the plurality of recesses and abut against the portions of the human body on which the weight of the body is applied in a sleeping position.

[0026] According to the above configuration, a recess is provided based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body, and a contact portion that is formed based on the body surface shape and that contacts the part of the body on which weight is applied is fitted into the recess. A protrusion is provided on the bedding body to correspond to the recessed part of the body surface shape. The bedding fits closely to the unevenness of the body, including the part on which weight is applied, distributing body pressure well, eliminating discomfort and reducing stiffness in the shoulders and neck and headaches. Turning over in bed is also possible smoothly and with fewer turns, resulting in good sleep.

[0027] A bedding item according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a bedding body, a plurality of cutting sections cut into the bedding body based on the shape of the body surface of a human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position, and abutment sections made of synthetic resin that are stacked on the parts of the cutting sections where the weight of the human body is applied and against which the cutting sections abut.

[0028] According to the above structure, a synthetic resin is laminated on a portion cut based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body, forming a contact portion where the weight of the body comes into contact. The bedding closely fits the contours of the body, including the weight-bearing portion, distributing body pressure well, eliminating discomfort and reducing stiffness in the shoulders and neck and headaches. Turning over in bed is also smooth and can be done with fewer turns, resulting in a good night's sleep.

[0029] The bedding according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of synthetic resin blocks arranged based on the shape of the body surface of a human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position.

[0030] According to the above configuration, the synthetic resin blocks are positioned based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping position of the relaxed human body. The bedding closely fits the areas that bear weight, effectively dispersing body pressure, creating a comfortable feeling and reducing shoulder and neck stiffness and headaches. The user can turn over smoothly and with fewer turns, resulting in a good night's sleep.

[0031] A method for manufacturing bedding in one aspect of the present invention involves obtaining data relating to the body surface shape of the measured part of a human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position, providing a plurality of recesses and protrusions in the bedding body based on the body surface shape, and fitting contact parts into the recesses that contact the parts of the human body on which the weight is applied.

[0032] According to the above configuration, a recess is provided based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body, and a contact portion that contacts the body surface shape and is fitted into the recess. A protrusion is provided on the bedding body corresponding to the recessed portion of the body surface shape. The bedding fits closely to the unevenness of the body, including the part that bears the weight, dispersing body pressure well, creating a comfortable feeling of discomfort, reducing stiffness in the shoulders and neck and headaches, and allowing for good sleep.

[0033] A method of manufacturing bedding in one aspect of the present invention involves obtaining data relating to the body surface shape of the measured part of a human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position, cutting the bedding body based on the body surface shape, and layering synthetic resin on the load-bearing part of the cut part where the body weight is applied, to provide a contact part against which the load-bearing part comes into contact.

[0034] Here, the term "laminated" is not limited to a case where there are multiple layers, but also includes a case where there is a single layer. According to the above structure, a synthetic resin is laminated on the area cut based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping position of the relaxed human body, forming a contact area where the weight of the body comes into contact. The area where the weight is applied is in close contact with the bedding, which distributes body pressure well, eliminating discomfort, preventing stiff shoulders and neck, and reducing headaches, allowing for a good night's sleep.

[0035] In the above-mentioned method for manufacturing bedding, the synthetic resin may be layered in a state in which the amount applied to the load-bearing portion is controlled so that the synthetic resin does not collapse under its own weight and conforms to the shape of the body surface. According to the above configuration, the contact portion is well formed.

[0036] A method for manufacturing bedding according to one aspect of the present invention involves obtaining data relating to the body surface shape of the measured part of a human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position, and arranging multiple synthetic resin blocks of different materials, hardness, or heights based on the body surface shape.

[0037] With this configuration, the synthetic resin blocks are positioned based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body. The bedding closely contacts the areas that bear weight, effectively dispersing body pressure, eliminating discomfort, reducing stiffness in the shoulders and neck, and preventing headaches, resulting in a good night's sleep.

[0038] In the above-mentioned method for manufacturing bedding, the part to be measured may be molded to obtain data relating to the body surface shape of the part to be measured.

[0039] According to the above configuration, in bedding such as pillows and mattresses, the shape of the recessed or cut-out portion that serves as a receptacle for the user's body can be directly obtained as a mold, and data on the height of the blocks can also be obtained, making it possible to easily and quickly produce bedding.

[0040] In the above-mentioned method for manufacturing bedding, first data relating to the body surface shape of a human body in an upright or sitting position is acquired, and the first data relating to the body surface shape of a human body in an upright or sitting position and second data relating to the body surface shape of the measured part of the human body suspended in mid-air in a lying position are used as training data, and the acquired first data may be input into a learning model that outputs second data when first data is input, thereby acquiring the second data of the human body. According to the above configuration, the second data can be easily acquired.

[0041] A computer program according to one aspect of the present invention acquires data relating to the body surface shape of the measured part of a human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position, and causes the computer to execute a process of cutting the bedding body based on the body surface shape, laminating synthetic resin on the load-bearing part of the cut part where the body weight is applied, and providing a contact part against which the load-bearing part abuts.

[0042] A pillow according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a pillow body and a contact part made of a material different from the pillow body, fitted into the pillow body, and contacting the head in a lying position.

[0043] Here, even if the resins are of the same type, such as urethane resin, if they have different densities, specific gravity, hardness, etc., they are considered to be different materials. According to the above configuration, by using a material for the contact portion that is different in hardness from the material of the pillow body, it is possible to prevent the head from sinking too far and control the sleeping posture. In other words, it is possible to obtain good distribution of body pressure along the shape of the head and maintain the shape of the sleeping posture. In addition, by selecting a material for the contact portion that can withstand changes over time, it is also possible to suppress functional deterioration of the pillow over time.

[0044] In the pillow described above, the pillow body may have a recess that is open on the upper side, and the abutment portion may be fitted into the recess. According to the above configuration, the contact portion is securely fixed to the pillow body.

[0045] In the pillow described above, the contact portion may have a first through hole. For users with a protruding back of the head, the protruding part places a load on the pillow body, creating a gap between the periphery of the protruding part and the pillow body, causing the head, neck, and shoulder line to become convex upward. By providing the first through-hole, the protruding part fits inside the first through-hole, absorbing the protrusion and resolving the above problem. This makes it easier for people with any shape of the back of the head to form the ideal head, neck, and shoulder line.

[0046] In the pillow described above, the recess may have a second through hole, and the first through hole may communicate with the second through hole. According to the above configuration, it becomes easier to form the ideal line of the head, neck and shoulders, and the breathability of the pillow is also improved.

[0047] The pillow described above may include a tubular portion that fits into the first through-hole and the second through-hole, and a first cover that covers the pillow body. According to the above configuration, the shapes of the first through hole and the second through hole can be maintained.

[0048] In the pillow described above, the curved shape of the peripheral edge of the first through hole of the contact portion may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the bones of the head and the sleeping position. With this configuration, the user's head fits snugly against the pillow, body pressure is well distributed, and the user feels no discomfort, and stiff shoulders and neck, as well as headaches, are suppressed. The user can turn over smoothly and with fewer turns, resulting in a good night's sleep.

[0049] The pillow described above may further include an adjustment member disposed on the back side of the pillow body for adjusting the height, and a second cover for covering the adjustment member and the pillow body. According to the above configuration, the height of the pillow can be easily adjusted while the movement of the adjustment member is restrained.

[0050] In the pillow described above, the contact portion may include a three-layer structure made of a hard synthetic resin, a urethane resin, and a gel. This design allows for greater freedom in designing the pillow to distribute body pressure along the head shape and maintain the shape of the sleeping position. By selecting a material that can withstand changes over time, the pillow's functionality can be prevented from deteriorating over time.

[0051] The pillow described above may have three contact portions according to sleeping positions. According to the above configuration, for example, by arranging a contact part in the center that corresponds to sleeping on one's back and contact parts on both sides that correspond to sleeping on one's side, even if you start sleeping on your back and then roll over to your side, the body pressure is well distributed in accordance with the shape of your head and the shape of your sleeping position is maintained, allowing you to get a good night's sleep.The same effect can be obtained by arranging three contact parts that correspond to sleeping on your side and change shape in accordance with rolling over.

[0052] In the pillow described above, the contact portion may be detachable. According to the above configuration, the contact portion can be used as a travel pillow, placed on a cushion and used for napping, etc.

[0053] A method for manufacturing a pillow according to one aspect of the present invention uses the above-described body surface shape measuring device to obtain data relating to the body surface shape, including the bone shape of the head of a human body in a lying position, and based on this data, forms a contact portion that contacts the head in a lying position, and then fits the contact portion into the pillow body to manufacture the pillow.

[0054] The above configuration provides a pillow that conforms to the user's actual sleeping position. The pillow is manufactured based on the user's body surface shape, including the bone shape of the user's occipital region, which bears the most weight when sleeping, or on changes in this shape based on the sleeping position. This allows the pillow to fit closely to the user's body, effectively dispersing body pressure, eliminating discomfort and reducing stiffness in the shoulders and neck, as well as headaches. The pillow also allows for smoother turning over in bed, requiring fewer turns, resulting in a good night's sleep.

[0055] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. (Embodiment 1) 1 is a plan view of the main body 2 and the contact portions 4 and 5 according to embodiment 1, FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the main body 2 and the contact portions 4 and 5, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method for manufacturing the contact portion 4, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the main body 2 housed in the inner cover 6, FIG. 5 is a back view showing the main body 2 housed in the inner cover 6, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the pillow 1 showing the inner cover 6 housed in the outer cover 9, FIG. 7 is a back view of the pillow 1 showing the inner cover 6 housed in the outer cover 9, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 6, FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the pipe housing portion 7, and FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the plate portion 8. The pillow 1 includes a main body 2, contact portions 3, 4, and 5, an inner cover 6, a pipe housing portion 7, a plate portion 8, and an outer cover 9.

[0056] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the main body 2 is made of a synthetic resin material such as low-resilience urethane, and is semicircular in plan view, with a concave shape from both ends of the string toward the center. The main body 2 has a shape in the center of the longitudinal direction of the pillow 1 that approximates a relaxed sleeping position, in which the spine forms a gentle S-shape when sleeping on one's back, for example. The shape of the main body 2 is preferably determined based on the bone shape from the head to the shoulders of an average person. However, the shape of the main body 2 is not limited to this. The main body 2 has a recess 21 extending in the short direction at the center in the longitudinal direction of the pillow 1, and has recesses 23, 23 extending in the short direction on both end sides in the longitudinal direction.

[0057] The contact part 3 is located in the center of the main body 2, and the contact parts 4 and 5 on both sides of it are fitted into the recesses 21 and 23, respectively. The contact part 3 has a shape based on the bone shape of the user's head and the user's supine sleeping position. This shape is based on the bone shape from the back of the head to the neck and shoulders, the body surface shape of the skull, and the body surface shape that changes depending on the sleeping position. The contact parts 4 and 5 have shapes based on the bone shape of the user's head and the left and right side sleeping positions, respectively. As will be described later, the contact portions 3, 4, and 5 are formed based on average head data (bone shapes) of Japanese men and women. The above-mentioned user refers to users of both sexes. A plurality of types of contact portions 3, 4, and 5 may be prepared for each gender.

[0058] The contact portion 3 has a through-hole 31 at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction. The recess 21 has a through-hole 22 that communicates with the through-hole 31. Alternatively, the through-hole 22 may not be provided, and the lower end of the through-hole 31 may be closed by the bottom surface of the recess 21. For users with a protruding occipital region, the protruding portion places a weight on the pillow, creating a gap between the periphery of the protruding portion and the pillow, resulting in a convex head-neck-shoulder line. The provision of the through-hole 31 allows the protruding portion to fit within the through-hole 31, eliminating the above problem. The ideal head-neck-shoulder line can be easily achieved even for people with different occipital head shapes. Furthermore, if the through-hole 31 is connected to the through-hole 90 in the outer cover 9 (described later), i.e., if the hole penetrates from the front side to the back side, good breathability is achieved (see Figure 8).

[0059] The contact portions 4, 5 have through holes 41, 51 that correspond to the shape, size, and position information of the ear when the user is lying on his / her side. The recesses 23, 23 have through holes 224, 24 that communicate with the through holes 41, 51. The through-holes 41, 51 are preferably shaped to be larger than the outer edges of the user's ears, for example, by 0.5 cm to 2 cm. This makes it easier to turn over in bed, and the peripheral edges of the through-holes 41, 51 of the contact portions 4, 5 can effectively support the weight of the head. It is more preferable that the through-holes 41, 51 are shaped to be larger than the outer edges by 1 cm to 1.5 cm.

[0060] The ears protrude from the sides of the head, and when sleeping on your side, the pressure of the head is concentrated on the ears. Therefore, blood flow stops at the ears, and the number of times you turn over in bed increases to prevent blood flow from stagnating. For example, you may wake up before or after turning over in your sleep. Taking an awkward position to avoid crushing your ears can also cause stiffness in the neck or shoulder muscles. In this embodiment, the ears are accommodated in the through-holes 41, 51 that correspond to the shape, size, and position information of the user's ears, and the weight of the sides of the head and cheeks is distributed around the periphery of the through-holes 41, 51, so this problem does not occur. While pillows that take ears into consideration have existed in the past, they did not solve the above problem because they did not take into account the size, shape, and position of the ears based on the head data. It is also possible to eliminate the through-hole 24 and have the lower end of the through-hole 41 closed by the bottom surface of the recess 23 .

[0061] The contact portion 3 includes a first layer 32 made of gel, a second layer 33 made of urethane, and a third layer 34 made of hard synthetic resin (see FIG. 8). Examples of the gel include elastic gels with a hardness of 0 to 12 measured according to SRIS0101, a standard of the Society of Rubber Industry of Japan. Examples of the synthetic resin include PP, PE, PC, and ABS. The contact portion 4 includes a first layer 42 made of, for example, gel, a second layer 43 made of urethane, and a third layer 44 made of hard synthetic resin (see FIG. 9). The contact portion 5 has the same configuration as the contact portion 4 . The contact portions 3, 4, and 5 are not limited to the three-layer structure described above. They may have a structure of four or more layers. Furthermore, to adjust the shape of the periphery of the through-holes 31, 41, and 51, an adjustment plate designed to a predetermined shape may be placed on the upper or lower side of the three-layer structure described above. Urethane, gel, other synthetic resins, etc., having different densities, specific gravities, and hardnesses can be used as this adjustment plate. A plurality of first, second and third layers of the contact portions 3, 4 and 5 are prepared, and the first, second and third layers can be selected according to each user, and an adjustment plate can be selected as necessary to customize the contact portions 3, 4 and 5.

[0062] A method for producing the contact portion 4 will be described below. For example, average head data for Japanese men and women from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology is obtained. As shown in FIG. 3, average head data (data A) 10 is rotated using reverse engineering software such as 3D CAD software to generate data for a left-facing sideways sleeping position, and three-dimensional shape data (data B) including the through-hole 41 of the contact portion 4 is generated. Based on data B, which is based on the bone shape and sleeping position, the first layer 42, second layer 43, third layer 44, etc. of the contact portion 4 are fabricated by NC cutting or robot arm cutting, or may be fabricated by 3D printing. The adjustment plate may also be fabricated to provide correction for each user. For example, when sleeping on the left side, the shape of the periphery of the through-hole 41 is determined so that the angle between a cross section of the head cut along a line passing through the longitudinal direction of the ears and the plane of the main body 2 is 45 degrees. Alternatively, an adjustment plate designed to increase the height of the periphery on the right side of the through-hole 41 is inserted above the first layer 42 or below the second layer 43.

[0063] Alternatively, a head model may be created based on the above-mentioned average head data, rolled on the main body 2, and sleeping posture data may be obtained by motion capture to generate data B. Alternatively, sleeping posture data of a person with an average physique may be obtained by motion capture and combined with the head data to generate data B. Similarly, data B for the contact portions 3 and 5 is generated, and the contact portions 3 and 5 are fabricated. The contact portions 3 , 4 , and 5 thus produced are fitted into the recesses 21 , 23 , and 23 of the main body 2 .

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the main body 2 with the contact portions 3, 4, and 5 fitted into the recesses 21, 23, and 23 is covered with an inner cover 6. The inner cover 6 is bag-shaped. Various fibers can be used as the material for the inner cover 6, including natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool, resin-based fibers such as polyester, and processed natural fibers such as cellulose fiber. However, the material is not limited to fibers; resin-based or processed natural materials can also be used, as long as they can be used as a coating material. The inner cover 6 has three through holes 60 corresponding to the through holes 31, 41, and 51. A tubular portion 61 is provided in the central through-hole 60, aligned with the through-holes 31 and 22 of the contact portion 3. The tubular portion 61 has a sewn portion 62 at its upper end, which is sewn to the upper edge of the through-hole 60. The tubular portion 61 has a plurality of fixing portions 63 arranged radially at its lower end, which are fixed to the rear surface of the inner cover 6 by, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener structure. Similarly, cylindrical portions 61 are provided in the through holes 60 on both ends.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, with the pipe accommodating portion 7 and the plate portion 8 disposed below the inner cover 6, the inner cover 6 is covered with the outer cover 9.

[0066] As shown in Fig. 10, the pipe housing 7 has a plurality of partitioned housing chambers 72 for housing materials such as urethane chips and soft polyester pipes. The height of the pillow 1 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of material housed in the housing chambers 72. The pipe housing 7 has three through holes 71 corresponding to the through holes 31, 41, and 51. The number of housing chambers 72 is not limited to that shown in Fig. 10. Height adjustment can be achieved by incorporating a measuring tape capable of measuring the distance between data points on the screen into the computer program and measuring the required distance. When using the body surface shape measuring device 14 described below, the head is suspended by the measuring unit 15, making it easy to determine the height to be adjusted.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 11, the plate portion 8 is a thin plate, for example made of urethane, having a thickness of 1 to 2 cm, and is stacked one or more times to adjust the height of the pillow 1. The plate portion 8 has a through-hole 81 that corresponds to the through-holes 31, 41, and 51 and extends in the longitudinal direction. Conventional urethane plates for adjusting height are prone to movement and are thick overall to maintain their shape, but the plate portion 8 of this embodiment has the through-hole 81, and the movement of the plate portion 8 is restricted by the tubular portions 61 and 91. Because the movement of the plate portion 8 can be restricted, the plate portion 8 can be positioned in a desired position.

[0068] The outer cover 9 is bag-shaped and has three through holes 90 corresponding to the through holes 31, 41, and 51. The material for the outer cover 9 can be a variety of fibers, including natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool, fibers made from resin materials such as polyester, and processed natural fibers such as cellulose fiber. However, the outer cover 9 is not limited to fibers, and can also be made from resin materials or processed natural materials, as long as it can be used as a coating material. A tubular portion 91 is provided in the central through-hole 90, aligned with the tubular portion 61 of the inner cover 6. The tubular portion 91 is sewn to the upper edge of the through-hole 90. The tubular portion 91 has a plurality of fixing portions 92 arranged radially at the bottom end, and the fixing portions 93 are fixed to the back surface of the outer cover 9 by, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener structure. Similarly, cylindrical portions 91 are provided in the through holes 90 on both ends. The cylindrical portion 91 may be prepared in a variety of cylindrical lengths and gusset widths depending on the user.

[0069] As shown in Fig. 8, the through holes 22, 60, 71, 81, and 90 of the main body 2, inner cover 6, pipe accommodating portion 7, plate portion 8, and outer cover 9 are connected to the through hole 31. Note that the cylindrical portion 61 and the cylindrical portion 91 are omitted from Fig. 8. 9, the through holes 24, 60, 71, 81, and 90 of the main body 2, inner cover 6, pipe accommodating portion 7, plate portion 8, and outer cover 9 are connected to the through hole 41. Note that the cylindrical portion 61 and the cylindrical portion 91 are omitted from FIG.

[0070] According to this embodiment, the contact parts 3, 4, and 5 allow for good distribution of body pressure along the head shape and maintain the shape of the sleeping position. In addition, by using materials that can withstand changes over time for the contact parts 3, 4, and 5, functional deterioration of the pillow over time can be suppressed. For example, the ideal sleeping position is considered to be approximately 15 degrees between the axis of the neck and chin and the bed surface when sleeping on one's back, and the head, neck, spine, and hips are connected in a straight line when sleeping on one's side. Many people find their usual sleeping position deviates from this ideal position for some reason, preventing them from achieving it. Some even find it uncomfortable to achieve this ideal position. With the appropriate guidance of a specialist, users can gradually adjust the angle and correct their current sleeping position to their ideal sleeping position. For example, by increasing the angle by 2 degrees or 4 degrees, users can improve their sleep by checking the S-curve of the neck and breathing, and moving closer to their ideal sleeping position. While conventional methods require users to purchase a new product each time they change the angle, this embodiment allows users to simply select from multiple contact points 3, 4, and 5, or insert an adjustment plate above or below the contact point.

[0071] (Embodiment 2) Fig. 12 is a plan view of the main body 2 and the contact portion 4 according to embodiment 2. In the figure, the same parts as those in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the main body 2 according to the second embodiment, three contact portions 4 are fitted. The contact portion 4 in the center has a shape corresponding to a sleeping position where the angle between a cross section of the head data 10 taken along a line passing through the longitudinal direction of the ears and the plane of the main body 2 is 90 degrees, similar to the head data 10 in Fig. 3. The contact portion 4 on the right side of Fig. 12 has a shape corresponding to a sleeping position where the angle between the cross section and the plane of the main body 2 is 45 degrees. The contact portion 4 on the left side of Fig. 12 has a shape corresponding to a sleeping position where the angle between the cross section and the plane of the main body 2 is 135 degrees. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the case where the three contact portions 4 have different shapes, and the shapes of the left and right contact portions 4 may be adjusted using the above-mentioned adjustment plate.

[0072] With the above configuration, a user who sleeps on their left side will initially lie on the center contact part 4 in the 90-degree sleeping position. When they assume the 45-degree sleeping position, their head will contact the right contact part 4. When they assume the 135-degree sleeping position, their head will contact the left contact part 4. A good sleeping position can be achieved depending on the angle of their side sleeping position. During the initial period of falling asleep, having a pillow shape that fits the user's sleeping position reduces unnecessary tossing and turning that occurs due to impaired blood circulation, improving the quality of sleep.

[0073] (Embodiment 3) In the pillow 1 according to the third embodiment, the contact part 3 is configured to be detachable. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the contact portion 3. As shown in FIG. The contact portion 3 can be removed and used as a travel pillow, with the head resting against the seat of a train or airplane. In addition, the contact portion 3 can be placed on a cushion to take a nap.

[0074] (Embodiment 4) In the fourth embodiment, the bone shape of each user is measured, sleeping posture data is generated based on data A relating to the bone shape, and the contact portions 3, 4, and 5 are fabricated based on data B which is based on the sleeping posture data. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a bedding manufacturing system 13 according to the fourth embodiment. The bedding manufacturing system 13 includes an acquisition device 11 that acquires imaging data, and a PC 12 as a generation device that extracts data A relating to the bone shape of the user's head and the shape, size, and position of the ears from the imaging data, and generates data B for forming the contact portions 3, 4, and 5. The acquisition device 11 may be, for example, a 3D scanner. A camera may also be used as the acquisition device 11. Furthermore, position information of the head movement when the subject turns over to sleep on their side may be acquired by motion capture, and the contact portions 4 and 5 may be created based on the A data and the position information.

[0075] The PC 12 includes a control unit 121, a storage unit 122, an input unit 124, and an interface unit 125. These units are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to communicate with each other. The input unit 124 accepts input of imaging data from the acquisition device 11. The interface unit 125 is configured with, for example, a LAN interface, a USB interface, etc., and performs wired or wireless communication with the acquisition device 11. Data is not limited to wired or wireless communication, and may be transferred using a USB memory or the like.

[0076] The storage unit 122 is configured with, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like, and stores various programs and data. The storage unit 122 stores, for example, a pillow manufacturing program 123. The pillow manufacturing program 123 is provided in a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium 16, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB memory, or the like, and is stored in the storage unit 122 by installing it in the PC 12. Also, the pillow manufacturing program 123 may be acquired from an external computer (not shown) connected to a communication network and stored in the storage unit 122. The storage unit 122 may also store a mat manufacturing program for manufacturing a mat.

[0077] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the body surface shape measuring device 14, and FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the body surface shape measuring device 14 is used to acquire the body surface shape of a user in a lying position. The body surface shape measuring device 14 includes box-shaped support sections 141, 141, 141 that support a user in a lying position, and a measuring section 15. The measuring unit 15 includes a platform 151, pillars 152 that can be moved up and down by actuators, a rectangular net 153, and a net support unit 154. The net support unit 154 is provided at the upper ends of the pillars 152, supports both sides of the net 153, and includes support plates 154a that move up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the pillars 152, and a top plate 154b that is U-shaped in a plan view and attached to the support plates 154a.

[0078] Net 153 is a rectangular, mesh-like structure attached to the inner periphery of the U-shape of net support 154. Net 153 can be made from a variety of fibers, including natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool, resin-based fibers such as polyester, and processed natural fibers such as cellulose fiber. However, it is not limited to fibers; resin-based or processed natural fibers can also be used, as long as they are usable as a coating material. Net 153 is attached to net support 154 so that it has sufficient tension to adhere to the head, preventing the head from sagging horizontally from the torso, when measuring the body surface shape, including the bone shape of the head, as shown in Figure 16 . Excessive tension is undesirable, as it may not conform to the shape and may cause pain to the subject. While it is preferable to loosen the net to allow it to gently conform to the human body, this is not essential as measurements are still possible. The mesh size is preferably such that hair or flesh does not get through, and the mesh size is more preferably 4 mm or less on a side, and even more preferably about 2 mm on a side. The net 153 is preferably one that allows the surface of the object to be seen through, and is more preferably thin, but is not limited to this. The reason why it is preferable for the device to be see-through is so that the person being measured can easily recognize that they have been measured when they look at the measurement screen, but it is not essential. The thickness affects the measured shape, and the thicker it is, the more it is deformed, but since the measurement itself is possible, it is not essential to make it thin.

[0079] The support portion 141 is not limited to being box-shaped. The number of support portions 141 is not limited to three. The support portions 141 are arranged to correspond to the part of the user's body that is to be measured. When the part to be measured is the head, the measuring unit 15 is placed on one end side of the support units 141, 141, 141 aligned in the longitudinal direction so that the head faces the net 153, as shown in FIG. When the part to be measured is the waist, the measuring unit 15 is placed so as to face the waist, and the support parts 141, 141, 141 are placed so that the measuring unit 15 is sandwiched between the support parts 141, 141.

[0080] The shape of the net 153 is not limited to a square shape. It is preferable that the thickness of the net 153 is thin so that the shape of the bone can be clearly recognized. For example, the support section 141 may be configured such that several types of bedding or similar samples that are prepared in advance are placed on it so that measurements can be taken in a sleeping position similar to that at home.

[0081] As shown in Figure 16, when the head is placed facing the net 153 of the measuring unit 15, the part from the shoulders to the top of the head is protruded from the support part 141 so as to float in the air, and the other parts of the user are supported by the support parts 141, 141, 141. Then, with the net 153 adjusted to fit the bone shape from the head to the base of the neck in a lying position, the body surface shape including the bone shape is measured by the acquisition device 11. It is preferable to adjust the net 153 by raising and lowering the net support part 154 to determine the position and posture while checking whether breathing is easy and whether there are any parts that cause discomfort or discomfort while lying down.

[0082] When taking measurements, the net support part 154 is raised and lowered to adjust the relative height of the support part 141 and the measuring part 15. Taking into consideration the mattress and mattress used by the user, the manufactured pillow 1 is designed to allow for a sleeping posture that is relaxed and has a natural curve of the spine when used. The body surface shape measuring device 14 can measure the nerves from the back of the head to the shoulders, the shape of the neck bones, and the surface shape of the skull. If the gaps between the skull, neck bones, and nerves are filled comfortably, a person can sleep soundly and turn over easily. This gap varies from person to person and is small, but it is a very important part when falling asleep.

[0083] When the pillow 1 is produced by the body surface shape measuring device 14 in the manner described above, data A relating to the body surface shape including the bone shape of the head of each user is obtained. The PC 12 rotates the A data using reverse engineering software such as 3D CAD software to generate data for sleeping positions such as supine and sideways, and generates data (B data) for the three-dimensional shape of the contact portions 3, 4, and 5. Based on the B data based on the bone shape and sleeping positions, the first, second, and third layers of the contact portions 3, 4, and 5 are fabricated by cutting such as NC cutting or robot arm cutting, or by 3D printing. The adjustment plate may be fabricated and adjusted for each user. In addition, the changes in the body surface shape according to the sleeping position may be obtained as data, and the data may be converted into output data (B data) such as STL data and surface data by applying reverse engineering to produce the contact portion 3. The manufactured contact portions 3, 4, 5 are fitted into the recesses 21, 23, 23 of the main body 2, and the pillow 1 is manufactured.

[0084] Instead of using the body surface shape measuring device 14, the data on the head bone shape may be obtained by capturing an image of the user in a standing or sitting position with a camera. When measuring the shape of the temporal region, the bone shape around the ears, which is particularly important for distributing body pressure, and similarly for the occipital region, the bone shape from the top of the occipital region to the neck, are obscured by hair, so measurements are taken using a swimming cap or other device that can hold or tie up the hair. When a person is standing, the spine is tense to support it, but when they are lying down, they are relaxed and the muscles are loose, so the shape of the bones and muscles of a person is different when they are standing or sitting than when they are lying down. The human spine curves to support the standing posture and is a physiological phenomenon that requires muscle strength to support the body. Therefore, if the depth of the curvature of the neck is measured in a standing or sitting position and reflected in the shape of the contact area, the person may feel uncomfortable when lying down. It is preferable to obtain data A using a body surface shape measuring device 14. When using the body surface shape measuring device 14, it is possible to obtain the shape from the head to the shoulders when sleeping on one's back or side, in other words, when the person is suspended in mid-air with relaxed tension.

[0085] It is known that humans turn over in their sleep to regulate body temperature, recover from physical and mental fatigue, improve immunity, organize memories, repair internal tissues, etc. When using the body surface shape measuring device 14, it is necessary to perform measurements in a position that allows for easy turning over. Experiments have confirmed that the positions that make it easy to turn over are when sleeping on your side, with the head, neck, spine, and hips parallel to the bottom of the bedding and connected in as straight a line as possible, and when sleeping on your back, with the body from the neck down connected in as straight a line as possible to the bottom of the bedding and the head angled slightly above a straight line, which are comfortable sleeping positions. A test was conducted to determine the angle at which it is easy to turn over in bed. When the angle between the axis of the head and the horizontal line was in the range of 10 to 20 degrees, a comfortable pillow was provided for all test subjects. After the user assumed a sleeping position, the height of the net support part 154 was adjusted and measured so that the angle was comfortable, based on the range of 10 to 20 degrees, and then it is preferable to adjust it using the pipe housing part 7 and the plate part 8 when manufacturing the pillow 1.

[0086] As mentioned above, the shape of bones and muscles differs between a standing or sitting position and a lying position. In this embodiment, the A data is acquired with the head of the user in a lying position suspended above the torso, so a pillow 1 that matches the shape of the actual lying position can be manufactured.

[0087] When making a pillow 1 for a user who sleeps on their stomach, the body surface shape measuring device 14 acquires data A relating to the bone shape of the user's face from both cheeks and the bone shape from the neck to the chest when lying on their stomach. Then, data relating to the sleeping position of each user is acquired, and data B for creating a contact part is generated based on the acquired data. The contact part for stomach sleeping has a shape that allows the chin to be placed on the center of the upper part of the main body 2. The pillow 1 may be made specifically for stomach sleeping, or a contact part for side sleeping may be made taking into account the side sleeping position. For users with sleep apnea syndrome, we work with doctors and others to obtain data on the ideal sleeping position for the user, which prevents the base of the tongue from sinking and narrowing the upper airway, and generate Data B.

[0088] When measuring a part to be measured other than the head, such as the lower back, using the body surface shape measuring device 14, the top plate 154b is removed, the measuring unit 15 is positioned so that the part to be measured faces the net 153, and the part other than the part to be measured is positioned so that it is supported by the support unit 141, and the body surface shape of the part to be measured is measured.

[0089] (Embodiment 5) Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a body surface profile measuring device 14 according to embodiment 5, and Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the body surface profile of a user in a lying position is acquired using the body surface profile measuring device 14. In Figs. 17 and 18, the same parts as those in Figs. 15 and 16 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. The body surface shape measuring device 14 comprises a head measuring unit 150, a base 158, pillars 157, 157 that can be moved up and down by an actuator and can slide left and right, a net 156, net support units 155, 155, a support unit 159, and a base 160. For example, six nets 156 and five support units 159 are provided. The net 156 is stretched across the measuring unit between the support units 159. The number and arrangement of the nets 156 and support units 159 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 17 . The net support parts 155, 155 are provided at the upper ends of the pillar parts 157, 157, support both sides of the net 156, and move up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the pillar parts 157, 157. The tension and deflection of the net 156 are adjusted in accordance with the left and right sliding of the pillar parts 157, 157.

[0090] The net 156 is a rectangular, mesh-like structure. Various fibers can be used as the material for the net 156, including natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool, resin-based fibers such as polyester, and processed natural fibers such as cellulose fiber. However, the net is not limited to fibers, and resin-based or processed natural materials can also be used, as long as they can be used as a coating material.

[0091] The head measuring unit 150 has the same configuration as the measuring unit 15 according to the fourth embodiment.

[0092] Support section 159 is box-shaped and placed on base 160. Support section 159 may be made of a material that can support body weight and maintain a natural sleeping position, such as a resin such as urethane or gel, or a recycled material made of fiber, feathers, cellulose fiber, or the like, that has cushioning properties and can maintain a sleeping position. The platform 160 may be equipped with casters and may be able to rise and fall. The support portion 159 supports the part of the user's body that is not being measured. 18, the head measuring unit 150 is placed at one end of the nets 156 arranged in the longitudinal direction so that the head faces the net 153. The area from the head to the neck of the user faces the net 153. Starting from the head, each net 156 is placed facing the neck to the shoulder blades, the shoulder blades to the lower back, the lower back to the lower buttocks, the lower buttocks to the lower knees, the lower knees to the ankles, and the ankles to the heels. The part of the user to be measured that the nets 156 are placed facing is not limited to the above case. The shape of the net 156 is not limited to a square shape. It is preferable that the thickness of the net 156 is thin so that the shape of the body surface can be clearly recognized.

[0093] In FIG. 17 , the base 151 is shown cut off at the foot-side end, but as shown in FIG. 18 , the base 151 extends to the foot-side. The base 151 has a guide portion 161 for the acquisition device 11 extending longitudinally at the center of its short side. As shown in FIG. 18 , when a user lies supine on the body surface profile measuring device 14, the acquisition device 11 moves from the head side to the heel side, acquiring the body surface profile of the measurement areas from the user's head to the neck, from the neck to the shoulder blades, from the shoulder blades to the lumbar cavity, from the lumbar cavity to the lower buttocks, from the lower buttocks to the lower knees, from the lower knees to the ankles, and from the ankles to the heels. For example, casters can be attached to the acquisition device 11, and the acquisition device 11 can be moved along the guide portion 161 to capture the entire body at once. It is preferable that the casters be able to travel back and forth in the same place, like railroad tracks, but this is not a limitation. The acquisition device 11 may also be moved by an actuator. Anything other than casters can be used to make the acquisition device 11 mobile, and for example, the acquisition device 11 can be mounted on a drone, pulley, radio-controlled cart, dolly, conveyor, etc., and used to take pictures in a lying position. The key is to be able to move underneath the user who is lying down and take a photo.

[0094] Each measurement part is supported by the net 156, and the body surface shape is acquired in a suspended state. A body surface shape that matches the actual relaxed human body lying on its back is obtained. The parts that protrude below the body surface shape are the parts on which the body weight (body pressure, load) is applied, and information on the body pressure distribution can also be obtained well. A sheet for measuring body pressure distribution may be placed on the net 156 to measure body pressure distribution in addition to the body surface shape.

[0095] The body surface shape when the user is sleeping on their side or on their stomach is also acquired in the same way. To acquire the body surface shape when sleeping on their side without distortion, the acquisition device 11 may be configured to move not only along the center but also along the right and left ends. Three acquisition devices 11 may be provided and moved in parallel simultaneously.

[0096] The plurality of nets 156 may be integrated.

[0097] As shown in Figure 18, when the head is placed facing the net 153 of the head measuring unit 150, the portion from the neck to the top of the head is protruded so as to float in the air, and the rest of the user's body is supported by the net 156 and the support unit 159. Then, with the net 153 adjusted to fit the bone shape from the head to the base of the neck in a lying position, the body surface shape including the bone shape is measured by the acquisition device 11. It is preferable to adjust the net 153 by raising and lowering the net support unit 154 to determine the position and posture while checking whether breathing is easy and whether there are any parts that cause discomfort or discomfort when sleeping. It is also preferable that the height be such that the user can turn over in bed without any motion or effort. For parts to be measured other than the head, the net 156 is adjusted so as to fit the shape of the body surface in the lying position. It is also preferable to adjust the height and left-right position of the pillars 157.

[0098] During measurement, the net support part 154 is raised and lowered to adjust the relative heights of the net 156 and support part 159 and the head measurement part 150. Taking into consideration the mattress or the like used by the user, the manufactured mat 17 is designed to allow for a sleeping posture that is relaxed and has a natural curve of the spine when used.

[0099] The body surface shape measuring device 14 of this embodiment can accurately measure the body surface shape from the head to the heels. A pillow 1 can be manufactured that comfortably fills the gaps between the skull, neck bones, and nerves. A mattress 17 (described below) can be manufactured that fits the contours of the user's body surface shape, allowing the spine to form a gentle S-shape when sleeping on one's back, and enabling a relaxed sleeping position. When there is no gap between the body surface shape and bedding, a person can sleep peacefully and turn over easily.

[0100] FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a mat 17 produced using the body surface shape measuring device 14 of this embodiment. Mattress 17 includes main body 170, recess 171 based on the body surface shape in a supine sleeping position, recess 172 based on the body surface shape in a side-lying sleeping position, contact portion 18 that fits into recess 171, and contact portion 19 that fits into recess 172. Main body 170 is made of a synthetic resin material such as low-resilience urethane. Main body 170 has a shape that approximates a relaxed sleeping position in which the spine forms a gentle S-shape when sleeping on one's back. The shape of main body 170 has recesses and protrusions based on the body surface shape of each user measured individually by body surface shape measuring device 14. Mattress 17 has a thickness of, for example, 5 to 8 cm, and may be used as a mat on its own or placed on top of other bedding.

[0101] The contact portions 18 contact the protruding parts of the base of the neck, the shoulder blades, the protruding parts of the lower corners of the shoulder blades, the spine, the backs of the elbows, the protruding parts of the upper hip bones, the center of the buttocks (centers of the hip bones), both ends of the buttocks, and the heels. The contact portion 18 has a through-hole 181. The peripheral edge of the through-hole 181 has a curved shape that follows the shape of the surface of the part of the human body that it comes into contact with. The contact portions 19 come into contact with the outer parts of the shoulder blades, elbows, both ends of the thighs, and knees. The contact portions 19 have through holes 191. The peripheral edges of the through holes 191 have a curved shape that fits the shape of the body surface against which they come into contact. In Figure 19, contact parts 18 and 19 are drawn as perfect circles, but in reality they have a circumferential shape that matches the shape of the body surface they contact. In Figure 19, contact part 19, which is shown to be located inside the hand, is contacted by both ends of the thighs when sleeping on your side. The protrusions are provided in correspondence with the concave portions of the measured body surface shape, from the neck to the shoulders, between the shoulder blades, from the back to the waist, the knees, and the ankles, and come into contact with these portions. It should be noted that if the recessed and protruding portions fit the shape of the body surface too closely, it will be difficult to turn over in sleep, so it is preferable to make them slightly smaller.

[0102] FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view of the mat 17. The contact portion 18 is fitted into the recess 171. The contact portion 18 has a through hole 181, and the recess 171 has a through hole 170a that communicates with the through hole 181. The contact portion 18 includes a first layer 182 made of gel, a second layer 183 made of urethane, and a third layer 184 made of hard synthetic resin. Examples of the gel include elastic gels with a hardness of 0 to 12 measured according to SRIS0101, a standard of the Society of Rubber Industry of Japan. Examples of the synthetic resin include PP, PE, PC, and ABS. The contact portion 18 is manufactured separately from the main body 170 and is fitted into a recess 171 provided in the main body 170 . The other contact portions 18 and 19 have the same configuration. The contact portions 18, 19 are not limited to the three-layer structure described above. They may have a structure of four or more layers. Furthermore, to adjust the shape of the periphery of the through-holes 181, 191, an adjustment plate designed to a predetermined shape may be placed on the upper or lower side of the three-layer structure described above. Urethane, gel, other synthetic resins, etc., having different densities, specific gravities, and hardnesses may be used as this adjustment plate. As described above, a convex portion is formed from the back to the waist.

[0103] The main body 170 is covered with an inner cover 6 and an outer cover 9 . The inner cover 6 is bag-shaped. Various fibers can be used as the material for the inner cover 6, including natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool, resin-based fibers such as polyester, and processed natural fibers such as cellulose fiber. However, the material is not limited to fibers; resin-based materials or processed natural materials can also be used, as long as they are usable as a coating material. The inner cover 6 has through-holes 60 corresponding to the through-holes 170a. The outer cover 9 is bag-shaped and has through holes 90 corresponding to the through holes 170a. The material for the outer cover 9 can be a variety of fibers, including natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool, resin-based fibers such as polyester, and processed natural fibers such as cellulose fiber. However, the outer cover 9 is not limited to fibers, and resin-based or processed natural materials can also be used, as long as they are usable as a coating material. A plate portion 8 is inserted between the lower inner cover 6 and outer cover 9. The plate portion 8 is a thin plate, for example made of urethane, having a thickness of 1 to 2 cm, and is stacked one or more times to adjust the height of the mat 17. The plate portion 8 has a through hole 81 that corresponds to the through hole 170a and extends in the longitudinal direction.

[0104] According to the above configuration, recesses 171, 172 are provided based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body, and contact portions 18, 19, which are formed based on the body surface shape and contact portions on which weight is applied, are fitted into recesses 171, 172. Convex portions are provided in correspondence with the concave portions of the body surface shape of main body 170. The bedding closely contacts the contours of the body, including the areas on which weight is applied, effectively distributing body pressure, creating a comfortable feeling and reducing stiffness in the shoulders and neck, as well as headaches. Turning over in bed is also smooth and can be done less frequently, resulting in a good night's sleep.

[0105] Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing the buttocks portion of the mat 17 of Modification 1. In the figure, the same parts as those in Fig. 20 are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the modified mat 17, the main body 170 is cut to form the recess 171, and the third layer 184, the second layer 183, and the first layer 182 are laminated in this order around the periphery of the recess 171 to form the abutment portion 18.

[0106] According to the above configuration, the recesses 171, 172 are cut based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping position of a relaxed human body, and synthetic resin is laminated to form the contact areas 18, 19 against which the weight of the body comes into contact. The contact area between the weight-bearing part and the bedding is in close contact, which effectively distributes body pressure, eliminating discomfort and reducing stiffness in the shoulders and neck, as well as headaches. The user can turn over smoothly and with fewer turns, ensuring a good night's sleep.

[0107] A method for producing the mat 17 of the first modification will be described below. FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a bedding manufacturing system 25 according to the fifth embodiment. The bedding manufacturing system 25 includes an acquisition device 11 that acquires imaging data, a PC 12 as a generation device that extracts data A related to the body surface shape from the imaging data and generates data B for forming the contact portions 18, 19, and a 3D printer 30 that manufactures the contact portions 18, 19 of the mat 17 based on the data B. The acquisition device 11 may be, for example, a 3D scanner. A camera may also be used as the acquisition device 11. Furthermore, by using motion capture, position information of the user's movement when the user turns over to sleep on their side may be acquired, and the contact portions 18 and 19 may be created based on the A data and the position information.

[0108] The PC 12 includes a control unit 121, a storage unit 122, an input unit 124, and an interface unit 125. These units are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to communicate with each other. The input unit 124 accepts input of imaging data from the acquisition device 11. The interface unit 125 is configured with, for example, a LAN interface, a USB interface, etc., and performs wired or wireless communication with the acquisition device 11. Data is not limited to wired or wireless communication, and may be transferred using a USB memory or the like.

[0109] The storage unit 122 is configured with, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like, and stores various programs and data. The storage unit 122 stores, for example, a mat manufacturing program 126. The mat manufacturing program 126 is provided in a state stored on a computer-readable recording medium 16, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB memory, or the like, and is stored in the storage unit 122 by installing it in the PC 12. Also, the pillow manufacturing program 123 may be acquired from an external computer (not shown) connected to a communication network and stored in the storage unit 122. The storage unit 122 may store the pillow manufacturing program.

[0110] Based on the A data, the PC 12 uses reverse engineering software such as 3D CAD software to generate data on the supine sleeping position, the side sleeping position, etc., and generates data (B data) on the three-dimensional shape of the contact portions 18, 19. Based on this B data, the first, second, and third layers of the contact portions 18, 19 are fabricated by 3D printing or the like. In addition, the changes in the body surface shape according to the sleeping position may be obtained as data, and the data may be converted into output data (B data) such as STL data and surface data by reverse engineering, and the contact portions 18 and 19 may be produced.

[0111] FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the mat manufacturing process by the control unit 121 of the PC 12. The control unit 121 acquires imaging data of the user from the acquisition device 11 of the body surface shape measuring device 14, and acquires data B for forming the contact portions 18, 19 based on this data A (S1). When acquiring the body surface shape of the user when sleeping on their side using the body surface shape measuring device 14, it is not necessary to generate data on the body surface shape when sleeping on their side from data on the body surface shape when sleeping on their back.

[0112] The control unit 121 cuts the main body 170 based on the data B, and creates a recess 171 for the contact portion 18 and a recess 172 for the contact portion 19 (S2). The control unit 121 causes the 3D printer 30 to eject synthetic resin onto the peripheries of the recesses 171 and 172, thereby stacking the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and so on (S3). At this time, it is preferable to carry out lamination while controlling the amount of synthetic resin discharged by algorithm analysis so that the material will not collapse under its own weight and will represent the shape of the body surface. A robot arm may be used to dispense the synthetic resin instead of the 3D printer 30.

[0113] Similarly to the above, the mat 17 of FIG. 20 also acquires data A and data B relating to the body surface shape, and forms recesses 171 and 172 in the main body 170. Based on the B data, the contact portions 18 and 19 are fabricated and fitted into the recesses 171 and 172. The contact portions 18 and 19 may be formed by discharging synthetic resin into the recesses 171 and 172 .

[0114] FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a mat 17 of the second modification. The mat 17 of the second modification is formed by arranging a plurality of synthetic resin blocks 20 that are different in material, hardness, or height based on the body surface shape acquired by the body surface shape measuring device 14. The number of blocks 20 is not limited to that shown in FIG. The block 20 may be made of gel, urethane, or may be filled with wool, feathers, cotton, or horsehair. Based on the body surface shape and body pressure distribution obtained by the body surface shape measuring device 14, the material, hardness, or height of each block 20 is adjusted to generate a surface shape of the mat 17 that fits the user's body surface shape as a whole.

[0115] According to the mattress 17 of the second modification, the synthetic resin blocks 20 are arranged based on the body surface shape that matches the actual sleeping posture of a relaxed human body. The mattress 17 closely contacts the area where weight is applied, dispersing body pressure well, eliminating discomfort, preventing stiff shoulders and neck, and preventing headaches, resulting in a good night's sleep.

[0116] FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a portion of the body surface shape measuring device 14 of the third modification facing the portion to be measured. The part of the body surface shape measuring device 14 of variant example 3 that faces the part to be measured includes a net 156, a base 164, pillar parts 162, 162 that can be moved up and down by an actuator and can slide in the direction in which the support part 159 is arranged, and net support parts 163, 163. The net support parts 163, 163 are provided at the upper ends of the pillars 162, 162, support both sides of the net 156, and move up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the pillars 162, 162. The tension, deflection, and width of the net 156 are adjusted in accordance with the sliding of the pillars 162, 162 in the front-to-back direction on the base 164. According to the above configuration, the width of the measuring section across which the net 156 is stretched can be adjusted to suit the physique and shape of the user. The configuration of the width of the net 156 is not limited to the above.

[0117] FIG. 26 is a plan view showing a body surface shape measuring device 14 of the fourth modification. The body surface shape measuring device 14 of the fourth modification includes a rectangular plate 167, a plurality of measuring parts 165 into which the user's portion to be measured fits, and four pillars 166 that support the plate 167. The plate 167 can be made of polyurethane, cotton, latex, polyester, or the like. As an example, the measurement unit 165 is provided corresponding to the head, the protruding part at the base of the neck of the human body, the protruding part at the lower corner of the scapula, the protruding part on the upper side of the hip bone, and the center of the hip bone (the part including the sacrum). The number of measuring units 165 is not limited to five. It may be one, or six or more. The position of measuring unit 165 is also not limited.

[0118] According to the above configuration, the body surface shape of the measurement part in a lying position suspended in mid-air can be obtained with a simple configuration. The plate part 167 may be divided into a part having the measuring part 165 and a plurality of support parts that support parts other than the part to be measured. When the measuring part 165 is a gap between the support parts and a net is attached across it, it corresponds to the body surface shape measuring device 14 in FIG. A plurality of body surface shape measuring devices 14 in FIG. 26 may be prepared, each with a different position and size of the measuring part 165, to suit the height of the user.

[0119] (Embodiment 6) Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing a body surface shape measuring device 14 according to embodiment 6. The same components as those in Fig. 18 are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The body surface shape measuring device 14 includes a head measuring unit 150, a base 158, pillars 157, 157 that can slide in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions by actuators, a net 156, net support units 155, 155, a support unit 159, and a base 160. For example, six nets 156 and five support units 159 are provided. The net support units 155 are provided at the front end of the pillars 157, support both sides of the net 156, and move in accordance with the movement of the pillars 157 in the front-to-back directions and in the left-to-right directions. The number and arrangement of the nets 156 and support units 159 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 17 . Head measurement unit 150 includes platform 151, pillars 152 that can be moved in the front-to-back direction by an actuator, a rectangular net 153, and net support unit 154. Net support unit 154 is provided at the front ends of pillars 152, 152, supports both sides of net 153, and includes support plates 154a that move in accordance with the front-to-back movement of pillars 152, 152, and a top plate 154b that is U-shaped in plan view and attached to support plate 154a.

[0120] The body surface shape measuring device 14 can be used at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. For example, if a user sleeps in a chair tilted 85 degrees from horizontal, the body surface shape measuring device 14 is tilted to 85 degrees, the body surface shape of the user's sleeping position is measured in a relaxed state, and the surface of the chair is formed based on the measured body surface shape, allowing the user to sleep well.

[0121] (Embodiment 7) The storage unit 122 of the PC 12 according to the seventh embodiment has the same configuration as the bedding manufacturing system 25 according to the fifth embodiment, except that it stores the following learning model and a database of training data for the learning model. The training data database stores first data relating to the body surface shapes of a large number of users in a standing or sitting position, and second data obtained by the body surface shape measuring device 14 of embodiment 4 for the same users in a lying position.

[0122] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a learning model. The learning model is intended to be used as a program module that is part of artificial intelligence software, and can use a multi-layer neural network (deep learning), such as a convolutional neural network (CNN). Other machine learning methods may also be used. The control unit 121 operates in accordance with instructions from the learning model to perform calculations on first data input to the input layer of the learning model, and output second data related to the body surface shape of a human body in a lying position and a probability. In the case of a CNN, the intermediate layer includes a convolution layer, a pooling layer, and a fully connected layer. The number of nodes (neurons) is not limited to that shown in FIG. 26.

[0123] The input layer, output layer, and intermediate layer each have one or more nodes, and the nodes in each layer are connected in one direction with desired weights to the nodes in the previous and next layers.

[0124] The input layer of a trained learning model receives the first data. The data provided to the nodes in the input layer is input to the first hidden layer, where the output of the hidden layer is calculated using weights and activation functions. The calculated value is then provided to the next hidden layer, and so on, propagating to subsequent layers (lower layers) in the same manner until the output of the output layer is determined. All of the weights connecting the nodes are calculated by the learning algorithm.

[0125] The output layer of the learning model outputs the second data and the probability.

[0126] The control unit 121 uses the training data to generate a learning model that outputs second data when first data is input. Specifically, the control unit 121 inputs the training data to the input layer, performs arithmetic processing in the intermediate layer, and acquires the second data from the output layer. The control unit 121 compares the second data output from the output layer with the second data labeled with the first data in the training data, i.e., the correct value, and optimizes parameters used in the calculation process in the intermediate layer so that the output value from the output layer approaches the correct value. The parameters are, for example, the above-mentioned weights (combining coefficients) and activation function coefficients. There are no particular limitations on the method for optimizing the parameters, and the control unit 121, for example, optimizes various parameters using an error backpropagation method. The control unit 121 stores the generated learning model in the storage unit 122, and ends the series of processes.

[0127] The control unit 121 acquires first data relating to the body surface shape of the user in a standing or sitting position, which is captured using a camera or the like. The control unit 121 inputs the first data into the learning model. The control unit 121 acquires, for example, second data with a probability of 80% or higher based on the second data and the probability output by the learning model. According to this embodiment, the body surface shape of a user in a standing or sitting position can be easily measured, and the body surface shape in a lying position that would be obtained if a body surface shape measuring device 14 were used can be obtained without using the body surface shape measuring device 14.

[0128] (Embodiment 8) FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing a body surface shape measuring device 52 according to the eighth embodiment. The body surface shape measuring device 52 includes a rectangular plate portion (support base) 53, four pillar portions 54 that support the plate portion 53, and a molding material 55. The impression material 55 is placed on the plate portion 53. The impression material 55 undergoes plastic deformation under its own weight when the user lies on their back, and has the shape retention to maintain the shape after deformation. Examples of materials for the impression material 55 include silicone rubber, clay, gel, jelly, and plaster. Alternatively, the impression form "Trissam" manufactured by BAUERFEIND may be used as the impression material 55. When using "Trissam," it is preferable to prepare several levels of hardness to suit the weight of the user's head.

[0129] FIG. 30 is a plan view showing the molding material 55 after molding. A recess 56 is formed to fit the shape of the user's body surface.

[0130] According to the above configuration, data relating to the body surface shape of the part to be measured when the human body is suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position can be obtained by using the recess 56. The recess 56 makes it possible to directly obtain the shape of the recess or cutout portion that serves as a receptacle for the user's body in a mattress or pillow as a mold, and also to obtain data on the height of the block, allowing bedding to be produced easily and quickly.

[0131] (Embodiment 9) FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view showing a body surface shape measuring device 52 according to the ninth embodiment. The body surface shape measuring device 52 includes a rectangular plate 57, a plurality of sets of two or four pillars 58, 58 supporting the plate 57, and a molding material 55. The plurality of plate parts 57 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the human body. The pillar portion 58 can be moved up and down by an actuator.

[0132] In this embodiment, a mold-making material 55 is placed on the part of the user's body surface where the shape of the body surface is to be measured. The height of the plate part 57 on which the mold-making material 55 is placed and the other plate parts 57 are adjusted so that the part is suspended in mid-air in the lying position. The height can also be adjusted to suit the bedding used by the user.

[0133] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The technical features described in the embodiments can be combined with each other, and the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the scope of the claims and the scope equivalent to the claims.

[0134] The configurations of the pillow 1 and the mattress 17 are not limited to those described in the above embodiment. The pillow 1 is not limited to having the contact portions 3, 4, and 5. For example, if the user mainly sleeps on their back, only one contact portion 3 may be provided in the center. Three contact portions 3 may be provided, and in this case, the shapes of the peripheral portions of the left and right through-holes 31 may be changed depending on the user's tendency to turn over in bed.

[0135] The body surface shape measuring device 14 is not limited to a case in which the measuring unit 15 and the support unit 141 are separate, but may be configured so that the measuring unit 15 is fitted into the inner part of the head side of the support unit 141. Furthermore, the shape of the contact portions 3, 4, and 5 may be determined by capturing a video of the user's sleeping posture in advance using motion capture or the like to capture the characteristics of the user's turning over in sleep. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 1 pillow 2 Main unit 21, 23 Recess 22, 24 Through holes 3, 4, 5 Contact part 31, 41, 51 through holes 6 Inner cover 7 Pipe housing 8 Board part 9 Outer cover 10 Head data 11 Acquisition device 12 PC 121 Control Unit 122 Storage section 123 Pillow Manufacturing Program 124 Input section 125 Interface section 126 Mat Manufacturing Program 13 Bedding manufacturing system 14, 52 Body surface shape measuring device 141 Support part 15 Measuring part 150 Head measurement section 151, 164 units 152, 162, 54, 58 Column section 153, 156 Net 154, 163 Net support part 161 Information Department 53, 57 plate part 55 Mold making material 17 Matt 171, 172 recess 18, 19 Contact part 181, 191 through holes

Claims

1. The bedding itself, A plurality of recesses and protrusions are provided on the bedding body based on the body surface shape of a human body suspended in the air in a sleeping position; a plurality of contact portions that are fitted into the plurality of recesses and that contact portions on which the weight of the human body in a lying position is applied; Bedding comprising:

2. The bedding itself, A plurality of cutting portions formed in the bedding body based on the body surface shape of the human body in a suspended state in a sleeping position; a contact portion made of synthetic resin that is layered on a portion of the cutting portion on which the weight of the human body is applied and that contacts the portion; Bedding comprising:

3. The bedding has a plurality of blocks made of synthetic resin arranged based on the shape of the surface of the human body suspended in mid-air in a sleeping position.

4. Acquire data relating to the body surface shape of the measurement part of the human body suspended in mid-air in a lying position; A plurality of recesses and protrusions are provided on the bedding body based on the body surface shape, A method for manufacturing bedding, comprising fitting an abutment portion, against which the part of the human body bearing the weight of the body abuts, into the recess.

5. Acquire data relating to the body surface shape of the measurement part of the human body suspended in mid-air in a lying position; Cutting the bedding body based on the body surface shape, A method for manufacturing bedding, comprising laminating synthetic resin on the load-bearing portion of the cut portion on which the weight is applied, to provide a contact portion against which the load-bearing portion comes into contact.

6. The method for manufacturing bedding according to claim 5, wherein the synthetic resin is layered in a state where the amount of the synthetic resin applied to the load-bearing portion is controlled so that the synthetic resin does not collapse under its own weight and conforms to the shape of the body surface.

7. Acquire data relating to the body surface shape of the measurement part of the human body suspended in mid-air in a lying position; A method for manufacturing bedding, in which a plurality of synthetic resin blocks of different materials, hardness, or heights are arranged based on the body surface shape.

8. The method for manufacturing bedding according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the part to be measured is molded to obtain data relating to the body surface shape of the part to be measured.

9. acquiring first data relating to a body surface shape of a human body in a standing or sitting position; A method for manufacturing bedding as described in any one of claims 4 to 8, in which first data relating to the body surface shape of a human body in an upright or sitting position and second data relating to the body surface shape of the measured part of the human body suspended in the air in a lying position are used as training data, and the acquired first data is input into a learning model that outputs second data when first data is input, thereby acquiring the second data of the human body.

10. Acquire data relating to the body surface shape of the measurement part of the human body suspended in mid-air in a lying position; Cutting the bedding body based on the body surface shape, A synthetic resin is laminated on the load-bearing part of the cut part where the body weight is applied, to provide a contact part where the load-bearing part comes into contact. A computer program that causes a computer to perform a process.

11. The pillow itself, a contact portion made of a material different from the pillow body, fitted into the pillow body, and contacting the head in a sleeping position; A pillow provided.

12. The pillow body has a recess with an open upper side, The pillow according to claim 11, wherein the abutment portion is fitted into the recess.

13. The pillow according to claim 12, wherein the abutment portion has a first through hole.

14. the recess has a second through hole; The pillow according to claim 13, wherein the first through-hole communicates with the second through-hole.

15. a cylindrical portion that fits into the first through hole and the second through hole; a first cover that covers the pillow body; 15. The pillow of claim 14, comprising:

16. The pillow according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the curved shape of the peripheral edge of the first through-hole of the contact portion has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the bones of the head and the sleeping position.

17. An adjustment member arranged on the back side of the pillow body to adjust the height; a second cover that covers the adjustment member and the pillow body; 17. A pillow according to any one of claims 11 to 16, comprising:

18. The contact portion has a three-layer structure made of a hard synthetic resin, a urethane resin, and a gel. A pillow according to any one of claims 11 to 17.

19. The abutment portion has three portions according to the sleeping position. A pillow according to any one of claims 11 to 18.

20. The contact portion is detachable.

20. A pillow according to any one of claims 11 to 19.

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