A structure that can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow, and a pillow that uses it.

Abstract

The present invention provides a structure that allows for easy adjustment of the amount of internal air and can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow, as well as a pillow that functions as an air cushion. [Solution] The structure 1 is made up of a hollow container 6. The hollow container has a body 61 made of synthetic resin in a bellows shape that can be restored, and the body is provided with a communication part 4 that connects the inside and outside of the hollow, and a cap 5 that can open and close the opening of the communication part. The pillow A is made up of multiple layers, and at least one of the layers is made up of the structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure that can be used as a footrest or a lumbar pillow, and a pillow using such a structure, and relates to making it possible to use while also serving as the structure.

Background Art

[0002] It is well known that a general pillow is formed by enclosing urethane, buckwheat husks, or other cushioning materials, or is an air cushion inflated by injecting air. These are specifically for a particular use and have not been used for anything other than a pillow. Therefore, pillows that can also be used as footrests or lumbar pillows have been developed (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The invention disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is composed of an airship-shaped pillow with a pillow body made of vinyl in a cylindrical shape and a hemispherical part (protrusion) of hard plastic protruding from the side surface of this airship-shaped pillow. It can be used as a pillow when the airship-shaped pillow is inflated by injecting air, and can also be used as a footrest while fixing the feet using the hemispherical part (protrusion). Since the airship-shaped pillow is configured to be inflated by injecting air, it is considered that the height and hardness can be adjusted according to the amount of air injected. )]

[0005] However, adjusting the size and firmness of the balloon-shaped pillow according to its intended use required adding or removing air from the inside, and in particular, expanding it from a deflated state required injecting air each time, which was cumbersome.

[0006] On the other hand, there were air pillows for home use that utilized plastic bottles (see Patent Document 2). This air pillow was constructed by using a plastic bottle as the air cushion to form the core as a secondary cushion, and then enclosing the secondary cushion with urethane resin as the primary cushion.

[0007] In the above configuration, since the core (secondary cushion) is made of a plastic bottle, it is assumed that the air inside the plastic bottle functions as an air cushion, and therefore there is no need to inject air into it during use.

[0008] However, the air pillow with the above configuration was designed to prevent the pillow from losing its shape because the air inside the plastic bottle provided resistance, resulting in excellent shape recovery. Consequently, it was not designed to adjust the height or firmness by adding or removing air from the plastic bottle. Therefore, it was not possible to adjust the height or firmness of the pillow, and naturally, it was difficult to use it as both a leg pillow and a lumbar pillow.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to provide a structure that can be used as a foot pillow or a lumbar pillow, which allows for easy adjustment of the amount of internal air, and to provide a pillow that functions as an air cushion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] Therefore, the first aspect of the present invention relating to a structure usable as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow is a structure usable as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow composed of a hollow container, wherein the hollow container has a body made of synthetic resin in a bellows shape that can be restored, and the body is provided with a communication part that connects the inside and outside of the hollow, and the opening of the communication part is provided with a cap that can be opened and closed, and the height can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of internal air sealed inside the hollow container.

[0011] According to the above configuration, since the hollow container is constructed in a resilient bellows-like shape, when external pressure (compressive force) is applied with the connecting section open, the internal air is expelled and the entire structure becomes smaller. When the pressure is removed, it returns to its initial state (most expanded state). In other words, by removing the cap to open the connecting section, applying appropriate pressure (compressive force) to adjust the height, and then closing the connecting section with the cap after adjustment, that state can be maintained. Therefore, height adjustment when using it as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow becomes extremely easy.

[0012] Furthermore, the second invention relating to a structure that can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow is the first invention described above, wherein the hollow container is configured in a substantially truncated square pyramidal shape, with the bottom surface facing downwards and the top surface facing upwards.

[0013] With the above configuration, since the hollow container is roughly shaped like a truncated square pyramid, it is possible to secure a sufficient area for resting the feet or waist when used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow. Furthermore, since the bellows-like section is the body, adjustments made by the bellows-like body are in the height direction, and as a result, it is possible to adjust the height of the pillow when used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow. In addition, because the shape of the hollow container is roughly shaped like a truncated square pyramid, it is possible to avoid the edges of the bellows protruding laterally when compressed.

[0014] Furthermore, the third invention relating to a structure usable as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow is the first invention wherein the hollow container is surrounded as a whole by a covering made of rubber or synthetic resin, and the communication portion penetrates the covering and exposes its tip to the outside.

[0015] With the above configuration, the covering portion can prevent the bent parts of the hollow container, particularly the bellows-shaped body, from coming into contact with the skin. Since the basic cushioning performance is provided by the hollow container, the covering portion does not particularly require cushioning properties, but it is preferable to select a flexible material such as rubber or a flexible resin material to improve the texture when in contact with the skin.

[0016] On the other hand, the first invention relating to a pillow is a pillow that uses the invention described in any of the first to third relating to the structure, characterized in that the pillow body is composed of a plurality of layers, and at least one of the layers is composed of the structure.

[0017] With the above configuration, the height of the pillow can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the structure. In this case, users who prefer an air cushion can use the hollow container as the top layer, while users who prefer a resin cushion such as urethane can use a configuration in which the hollow container is placed as the lower or middle layer. As long as the hollow container can receive compressive force at any layer, the height can be adjusted as appropriate.

[0018] Furthermore, the second invention relating to a pillow is that, in the first invention described above, the pillow body is composed of two layers, each layer being able to insert and remove its contents, with the contents of one of the two layers being the aforementioned structure, and the contents of the other layer being composed of a buffer made of synthetic resin or buckwheat hulls.

[0019] According to the above configuration, since the structure with the hollow container is arranged so that it can be taken in and out freely in one of the upper and lower two layers, if only the structure with the hollow container is taken out, it can be used as a footrest or a lumbar pillow by itself, and if the structure is inserted, it can be used as a normal pillow.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention related to a structure that can be used as a footrest or a lumbar pillow, since the hollow container is configured in a foldable bellows shape, if the most expanded state is taken as the initial state, it can be easily restored by opening the communication part, and it can also be easily contracted by applying a compressive force. By these operations, the internal air is adjusted, and it becomes extremely easy to adjust the height when using it as a footrest or a lumbar pillow.

[0021] Also, according to the present invention related to a pillow, by using the above structure in a part of the plurality of layers constituting the pillow, the structure can function as an air cushion and can be used like an air pillow. On the other hand, when using it like a normal pillow, the layer with the structure can be set as the lower layer, and since the height of the entire pillow can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the structure (hollow container) in any state, it can be appropriately changed according to the preference during use.

[0022] Particularly, in the case of pillows used by an unspecified number of users such as in accommodation facilities like hotels, since the height can be adjusted to the preference of the user, it becomes possible to eliminate the need to prepare a plurality of pillows with different heights in advance in hotels and the like.

[0023] Furthermore, in the case of a pillow configured to be able to take out the structure, it is possible to always use it as a normal pillow and use only the structure when using it as a footrest or a lumbar pillow.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the pillow. [Figure 2]It is an explanatory drawing showing the configuration of a hollow container used for a structure. [Figure 3] (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIA-IIIA in FIG. 1, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIB-IIIB. [Figure 4] It is an explanatory drawing showing an embodiment, (a) shows a usage mode as a pillow, (b) shows a usage mode as a footrest, and (c) is an explanatory drawing showing a usage mode as a lumbar support. [Figure 5] (a) is a plan view of an embodiment of a pillow, and (b) is a front view of an embodiment of a pillow. [Figure 6] (a) is a right side view of an embodiment of a pillow, and (b) is a left side view of an embodiment of a pillow. [Figure 7] (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory drawing showing a modified example of an embodiment of a pillow.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. For convenience of explanation, after explaining the outline of the embodiment of the pillow, the embodiment of the structure that can be used as a footrest or a lumbar support will be described, and then the details of the embodiment of the pillow will be described.

[0026] <Outline of Embodiment of Pillow> FIG. 1 shows an outline of an embodiment of a pillow according to the present invention. The pillow A of this embodiment has a two-layer structure of a first cushion material 1 and a second cushion material 2. The first cushion material 1 is a structure that can be used as a footrest or a lumbar support to be described later, and the second cushion material 2 is composed of a buffer used for general pillows such as synthetic resin or buckwheat husks. In order to integrate these two types of cushion materials 1 and 2, an outer member 3 for a pillow is used. This outer member 3 has a cylindrical structure and is configured such that the inside is divided into two upper and lower accommodating portions 31 and 32.

[0027] The first and second cushioning materials 1 and 2 described above are used as contents to be placed in the upper and lower storage sections 31 and 32 of the exterior member 3 configured in this way. The storage sections 31 and 32 are basically divided into upper and lower sections, with the upper storage section 31 housing a structure (first cushioning material) 1 that can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow, and the lower storage section 32 housing a general cushioning material (second cushioning material) 2 made of buckwheat hulls or the like, thereby forming an integrated pillow A with two different types of cushioning materials 1 and 2 in the upper and lower sections.

[0028] In this embodiment, a configuration with two layers is shown as an example, but it may also be configured with three or more layers, as long as the first cushioning material (a structure that can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow) is placed in any of the layers. Furthermore, since both housing sections 31 and 32 formed in the outer casing member 3 of the pillow are formed in a cylindrical shape, both ends are open, and the cushioning materials 1 and 2 can be easily inserted and removed using these openings. When the first cushioning material 1 is removed and used alone, it becomes a structure that can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow.

[0029] <Embodiment of the structure> Next, an embodiment of the structure 1 that can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow will be described. The structure 1 of this embodiment is basically composed of a hollow container. The hollow container is shown in Figure 2.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2(a), the hollow container 6 constituting this embodiment has a body that is constructed in a bellows-like shape. Basically, the overall shape is a truncated square pyramid, and when the base surface 62 is facing downwards, the top surface 63 is located above it. This top surface 63 is designed so that the feet can be placed on it in the case of a foot pillow, and the waist can be placed on it in the case of a lumbar pillow. When used as the upper layer of a pillow, it becomes the part where the head can be placed. For this reason, the surface of the top surface 63 is formed in a corrugated shape to distribute the weight of the part that is placed on it.

[0031] The hollow container 6 is constructed by integral molding of synthetic resin, and the bellows-like shape of the body 61 is designed to be deformable while maintaining its elasticity and recovery. While any general plastic material can be used as the synthetic resin, strength can be obtained by using so-called engineering plastics. In particular, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) material can be used. The bellows-like body 61 is initially in an expanded state (where the gap H1 between the lower surface 62 and the upper surface 63 is widened), and is designed to be able to return to this state. The lower surface 62 and upper surface 63 may be made thicker to prevent easy deformation, or other materials may be laminated onto them, or they may be constructed from other materials.

[0032] Incidentally, the communication section 4, which connects the inside and outside of the hollow container 6, is provided inserted into the bellows-shaped body 61, and is capable of exhausting the internal air of the hollow container 6 to the outside and supplying external air to the inside. Therefore, when the hollow container 6 needs to be able to supply and exhaust air to the hollow interior due to the deformation of the bellows-shaped body 61, opening the communication section 4 allows for the supply of outside air and the exhaust of outside air.

[0033] Therefore, as shown in Figure 2(b), with the communication section 4 open (with the cap 5 (Figure 1) removed), compressing the hollow container 6 so that the bottom surface 62 and the top surface 63 are brought closer together (primarily lowering the top surface 63) deforms the bellows-shaped body 61, and the gap H2 between the bottom surface 62 and the top surface 63 can be brought closer together. At this time, since the other dimensions do not change, the internal volume of the hollow container 6 decreases. Because the communication section 4 is open, any unnecessary air resulting from the decrease in internal volume is exhausted through the communication section 4. After exhausting is complete, closing the opening of the communication section 4 with the cap (Figure 1) 5 will release the compressed state, but outside air will not be supplied, and the gap H2 in the contracted state will be maintained.

[0034] In this way, the height of the hollow container 6 in its initial state can be reduced. To increase the height of the hollow container 6 (or return it to its initial state), the cap (Figure 1) 5 can be removed from the communication section 4, opening the communication section 4 and allowing outside air to be supplied. At this time, the volume of the hollow container 6 increases due to its restoration, and the resulting shortage of internal air is replenished by the air supply described above.

[0035] In this embodiment, the structure 1 is configured such that the hollow container 6 with the above configuration is covered (surrounded) by the covering portion 7. A cross-sectional view of the structure 1 is shown in Figure 3. Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIA-IIIA in Figure 1, and Figure 3(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIB-IIIB. As shown in these figures, the entire hollow container 6 is covered by the covering portion 7, while only the communication portion 4 penetrates the covering portion 7.

[0036] The covering portion 7 is made of rubber or synthetic resin and is designed to flexibly change shape in accordance with the deformation of the hollow container 6 (deformation of the bellows-shaped body portion 61). At the same time, since the body portion 61 is bellows-shaped while having a roughly truncated square pyramidal shape, there are multiple corners, so the edges including these corners are covered to create a texture that does not cause pain when in contact with the surface of the human body (skin). The rubber or synthetic resin material used is relatively flexible and selected to be easily deformable to follow the deformation of the hollow container 6.

[0037] <Usage of the structure> Next, we will describe the usage of structure 1, which can be used as a foot pillow or a lumbar pillow. Figure 4 shows the usage, and all figures show examples of use by user HM in a supine position on bed mattress BM. Figure 4(a) shows the state when pillow A is used for reference, Figure 4(b) shows the state when structure 1 is used as a foot pillow, and Figure 4(c) shows the state when it is used as a lumbar pillow.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4(a), when used as pillow A, it is inserted into the exterior member 3 as described above to form pillow A as a whole. The height can be adjusted as appropriate according to the user HM's preference and it is used by positioning it around the neck NC or back of the head. The height can be adjusted by the structure 1 as described above, so that the whole can be used as pillow A at the desired height.

[0039] Furthermore, the usage modes shown in Figures 4(b) and (c) use only structure 1. When interposed near the ankle AK, it can be used as a foot pillow (see Figure 4(b)), and when interposed near the waist WT, it can be used as a lumbar pillow (see Figure 4(c)). The reason for using only structure 1 when using it as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow is that the height when used as a pillow A is too high when used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow, which would unnecessarily raise the ankle or waist and could be uncomfortable. Also, since only structure 1 is used, adjusting the height of structure 1 will result in the height of the foot pillow or lumbar pillow, making it easy to provide a foot pillow or lumbar pillow at a comfortable height.

[0040] Thus, by using structure 1, it is possible to obtain a foot pillow or lumbar pillow that can be easily adjusted in height, and it can also be used as a pillow, making it an economical pillow structure that can be used for various purposes. In particular, in accommodation facilities such as hotels, guests can easily adjust the height according to their body type, and it can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow in addition to a regular pillow, so it can be offered to customers as a tool for relieving fatigue.

[0041] <Pillow design> Next, the embodiment of the pillow will be described in detail. Figures 5 to 7 show the shape of pillow A. Figure 5(a) is a plan view of pillow A, (b) is a front view, Figure 6(a) is a right side view, and (b) is a left side view. Also, Figure 7(a) is a cross-sectional view along line XX in Figure 5, and (b) is a cross-sectional view along line YY in Figure 5.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, since each part of pillow A is positioned inside the exterior member 3, it is formed in a manner similar to a typical pillow (roughly a columnar shape with an elliptical cross-section) in both plan view (see Figure 5(a)) and front view (see Figure 5(b)). Therefore, as shown in Figure 6, in side view, it is formed in a roughly elliptical shape.

[0043] As described above, in this embodiment, the structure 1 and the buffer 2 are configured to be easily inserted into and removed from the outer casing member 3. Therefore, the outer casing member 3 has openings at both ends and is cylindrical overall, so the end faces of the structure 1 and buffer 2 as contents are visible in a side view (see Figure 6). Consequently, in a side view, it is visible that the interior is divided into two layers, and in a plan view and a front view, the tip of the connecting part 4 protrudes outward, confirming that it is possible to supply and exhaust internal air.

[0044] Therefore, although pillow A of this embodiment has the appearance described above, its interior is divided into two layers, upper and lower, with structure 1 arranged as the contents of one layer (upper) and cushioning material 2 arranged as the contents of the other layer (lower). It may be used with the top and bottom reversed, but in this embodiment, the structure 1, which functions as an air cushion, is shown in the upper position as an example. The structure 1 used in this embodiment has the structure described above.

[0045] With the above configuration, the uppermost component, structure 1, is initially in its most expanded state, and therefore, the overall height of pillow A is at its highest. To adjust (lower) the height of pillow A, the tip of the connecting part 4 is opened, and pillow A is compressed overall, which expels the internal air present in the hollow container 6 of structure 1, thereby lowering the overall height. After adjusting to the desired height, the tip of the connecting part 4 is closed (the chap is attached), which blocks the intake and exhaust of air, thus maintaining the adjusted height.

[0046] When adjusting the height, pressure is applied to compress (crush) the hollow container 6 of structure 1. It is easy to imagine that if a compressive force is applied to the entire pillow A, the lower contents (cushioning material) 2 will also be compressed. However, the hollow container 6, which is the main component of structure 1, has a bellows-shaped body 61 (depending on the deformation rigidity of the resin), so it can be deformed with a relatively small compressive force. This allows for height adjustment without significantly deforming the lower contents (cushioning material) 2. In other words, by adjusting the deformation strength of the bellows-shaped body 61 so that the hollow container 6 can be deformed even with a pressure equivalent to the weight of the head during use, the height can be adjusted to a suitable level during use. Furthermore, since the connecting part 4 is closed (capped) during use, the height of the hollow container 6 does not change. Therefore, even if a compressive force greater than the pressure applied during adjustment is applied, it will not change, and once the adjustment is complete, it can be used at that height.

[0047] <Summary> The embodiment of the structure 1, which can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow, has the configuration described above. By configuring the hollow container 6 in a resilient bellows shape, the structure 1, with the most expanded state as the initial state, can be contracted by applying a compressive force when the communication part 4 is open, while it can be expanded by not applying a compressive force, thus making height adjustment easy. By adjusting the height in this way, it becomes possible to use it as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow at a comfortable height.

[0048] Furthermore, since the embodiment of pillow A is as described above, by using structure 1 in the upper layer of the two layers constituting pillow A, structure 1 can function as an air cushion. The overall height of pillow A can be adjusted by structure 1 as described above, and can be adjusted as appropriate according to user preference.

[0049] While embodiments of the present invention are as described above, these embodiments are merely illustrative examples of the present invention and do not imply that the present invention is limited to these embodiments. Therefore, the present invention may be configured by changing the elements constituting the present invention or by adding other elements.

[0050] For example, the hollow container 6 used in the above structure 1 can be constructed entirely from a single molded product made of synthetic resin or the like, but is not limited to such a configuration. As long as at least the bellows-shaped body portion 61 is made of synthetic resin or the like so that it is resilient and easily deformable, the bottom surface 62 and top surface 63 may be made of other materials. In this case, since the hollow container 6 needs to be constructed so as not to deform after height adjustment, it is sufficient that it is provided in such a way that the internal air is sealed.

[0051] Furthermore, for pillow A, the outer casing member 3 is cylindrical in shape to allow the contents (structure 1 and cushioning material 2) to be inserted and removed. This is so that structure 1, one of the contents, can be used as either a foot pillow or a lumbar pillow. Therefore, if structure 1 to be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow is to be prepared separately, and pillow A is to be used exclusively for that purpose, it may be constructed in a way that prevents insertion and removal. A modified example in this case is shown in Figure 8. Figure 8(a) shows the entire pillow B, and (b) shows a cross-sectional view along the ZZ line.

[0052] In other words, as shown in Figure 8, pillow B is configured such that the contents 1 and 2 are divided into two layers inside and the entire structure is covered with an outer covering member 3. Even with this configuration, the tip of the connecting part 4 protrudes outward, allowing for the supply and exhaust of internal air from the hollow container 6 of the structural body 1, which is the contents, thus enabling height adjustment in the same way as in the above embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. Structure (First cushioning material) 2. Cushioning material (second cushioning material) 3. Exterior components 4 Communication section 5 caps 6. Hollow container 7 Covering part 31 Storage section (upper storage section) 32 Storage compartment (lower storage compartment) 61 Torso 62 Bottom 63 Top surface A,B Pillow

Claims

1. A structure that can be used as a foot pillow or lumbar pillow, composed of a hollow container, The hollow container has a body made of synthetic resin that is resilient to a bellows shape, and the body is provided with a communication section that connects the inside and outside of the hollow space, and the opening of the communication section is provided with a cap that can be opened and closed. A structure characterized in that its height can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of internal air sealed inside the hollow container.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the hollow container is configured in a substantially truncated square pyramidal shape, with the bottom surface facing downwards and the top surface facing upwards.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the hollow container is surrounded as a whole by a covering made of rubber or synthetic resin, and the communication portion penetrates the covering and exposes its tip to the outside.

4. A pillow using the structure described in any one of claims 1 to 3, A pillow characterized in that the pillow body is composed of multiple layers, and at least one of each layer is composed of the aforementioned structure.

5. The pillow according to claim 4, wherein the pillow body is composed of two layers, each layer being able to insert and remove contents, the contents of one of the two layers being the aforementioned structure, and the contents of the other layer being a buffer made of synthetic resin or buckwheat hulls.

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