Neck pillow

Abstract

To achieve a good state of sleep. [Solution] The solution consists of a strip-shaped bag 2. The bag 2 comprises a plurality of support parts divided in the width direction and a connecting part that holds the bag in a wrapped state around the neck. When the bag is wrapped around the neck, the support parts have greater rigidity in the lower part than in the upper part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a neck pillow.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a neck pillow, for example, the following configurations are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a structure including an inflatable body that is substantially U-shaped and used by inflating air, and a structure for preventing air leakage from this inflatable body. Patent Document 2 discloses a structure in which a U-shaped and elastically deformable basic member is formed with a through-hole that communicates the neck side and the outside. Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which a cylindrical body having a hardness for stably supporting the neck is provided with a wire fastener, and the support state of the neck can be adjusted by adjusting the opening degree of the wire fastener.

[0003] However, the structures disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 merely support the neck, and it is unclear whether a good sleep state can be obtained. Also, the structure disclosed in Patent Document 3 is only aimed at preventing neck collapse, and it is unclear whether a good sleep state can be obtained.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a neck pillow that can achieve a good sleep state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a means to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a neck pillow comprising a band-shaped bag, the bag comprising a plurality of support parts divided in the width direction and a connecting part that holds the bag in a wrapped state around the neck, wherein the support parts have greater rigidity in the lower part than in the upper part when wrapped around the neck.

[0007] This configuration divides the bag into multiple sections in the width direction, varying their rigidity. By increasing the rigidity on the lower side, which is the cervical spine side, the support can be stabilized. On the other hand, by providing softer support on the face side, a comfortable state can be achieved. This makes it possible to achieve a good sleep state.

[0008] The support portion comprises a first support portion located on the upper side and a second support portion located on the lower side when the bag is wrapped around the neck, the first support portion having a first storage portion and the second support portion having a second storage portion, and preferably an elastic medium is stored in the first and second storage portions, respectively.

[0009] With this configuration, the elastic support state can be freely adjusted by changing the type and amount of elastic medium contained in each storage section.

[0010] The first support portion preferably includes a occipital support portion that supports at least a portion of the occipital region.

[0011] This configuration reduces the weight of the head on the neck muscles, for example, by easing tension in muscles such as the trapezius and clavicle-mastoid muscles, making it easier to fall asleep.

[0012] The first support portion preferably includes a temporal support portion that elastically supports the temporal portion.

[0013] This configuration reduces the weight of the head on the neck muscles, relieving muscle tension and creating a state conducive to sleep.

[0014] The first support portion preferably includes a jaw support portion that supports the mandible.

[0015] This configuration reduces the weight of the head on the neck muscles, relieving muscle tension and creating a state conducive to sleep.

[0016] Preferably, the first support portion is equipped with a compression prevention portion in the area corresponding to the carotid artery when the bag is wrapped around the neck.

[0017] With this configuration, even if the bag is wrapped around the neck, the carotid artery is not compressed, so the user does not feel breathless and can easily fall asleep.

[0018] The second support portion preferably includes a shoulder contact portion that deforms to conform to the shape of the clavicle and shoulder when the bag is wrapped around the neck.

[0019] This configuration allows for stable support of the bag-like structure over the shoulder, reducing discomfort caused by the lower support portion pressing against the clavicle.

[0020] The second support portion preferably includes a recess that divides the portion where the shoulder contact portion is located and the portion above it when the bag is wrapped around the neck.

[0021] With this configuration, even if the shoulder contact area is designed to be easily deformable, it is possible to suppress the impact on the part that supports the cervical vertebrae above, thereby stabilizing the support state of the cervical vertebrae.

[0022] The connecting portion is provided at both ends of the second support portion and consists of a planar fastener that can be joined together in an overlapping state. Preferably, the joining position of the planar fastener can be adjusted to control the strength with which the bag is wrapped around the neck.

[0023] According to this configuration, by adjusting the bonding position of the planar fastener, the degree of tightening around the neck can be freely adjusted, making it possible to achieve an appropriate state according to the size and preference of the user's neck.

Effect of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, the belt-shaped bag body is divided in the width direction, and in a state of being wound around the neck, the rigidity of the part located on the lower side is increased, so that the support state on the cervical vertebra side is stabilized and the support state on the face side can be adjusted according to the preference of the user. Therefore, it is possible for the user to obtain a good sleep.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a front view showing the usage state of the neck pillow according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a side view of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a front view of the neck pillow shown in FIG. 1 in an unfolded state. [Figure 4] It is a plan view of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a bottom view of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] It is a graph showing the sleep states when the neck pillow shown in FIG. 1 is used and when it is not used.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, terms indicating specific directions or positions (for example, terms including "top," "bottom," "side," and "edge") will be used as needed. The use of these terms is for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the invention with reference to the drawings, and the meaning of these terms does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the following description is essentially illustrative and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses. In addition, the drawings are schematic, and the proportions of the dimensions, etc., may differ from those of reality.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the neck pillow 1 according to this embodiment is composed of a band-shaped bag 2. When the bag 2 is worn around the neck, it is preferable that at least the part that touches the skin is made of a material that feels good against the skin. For example, fabrics such as polyester, cotton, and rayon can be used as the material for the bag 2. Furthermore, the bag 2 can also be made of fabrics with various weaves, such as felt, satin, knit, mesh, and brushed fabric. In addition, the bag 2 may be made of a material appropriate for the season, such as a cool fabric for summer or a warm fabric for winter. It can also be made to be replaceable. For example, the bag 2 can be made to be easily replaced using a surface fastener. Furthermore, the bag 2 may be made of a quilt made by sewing together thin layers of cotton on the surface facing the internal space.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the bag body 2 is sewn parallel to the X-axis, which divides the width (vertical) direction into approximately two equal parts, by a predetermined distance on the upper side. The sewn seam 3 forms an upper support portion 4 and a lower support portion 5 in the bag body 2. Although not shown, the seam 3 also divides the internal space into an upper space located at the upper support portion 4 and a lower space located at the lower support portion 5.

[0029] The upper space contains an elastic medium. The elastic medium consists of multiple elastic bodies. Examples of elastic bodies in the upper space include numerous marshmallow beads. Cylindrical foamed plastics such as polyethylene or polypropylene are used for the marshmallow beads. Furthermore, an elastic medium is housed in the lower space. The elastic medium consists of multiple elastic bodies. Examples of elastic bodies in the lower space include numerous soft pipes (not shown). Here, the soft pipes are cylindrical pipes made of plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene, similar to marshmallow beads. Soft pipes have greater rigidity than marshmallow beads. As a result, the lower support section 5 has higher rigidity than the upper support section 4, making it less prone to deformation. In other words, the lower support section 5 firmly supports the cervical spine and suppresses tilting, while the upper support section 4 gently holds the chin and back of the head.

[0030] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a occipital support portion 6 is provided at the center of the upper edge of the upper support portion 4. The occipital support portion 6 is formed on the inner surface of the bag body 2 (the part that is on the inside when the bag body 2 is wrapped around the neck; the same applies hereinafter) and has a recessed shape compared to the surrounding area. This recess can be formed by bonding the front and back surfaces of the bag body 2 together. In other words, no marshmallow beads (elastic medium) are placed in the occipital support portion 6. Furthermore, the occipital support portion 6 is formed to conform to a part of the back of the head when the bag body 2 is wrapped around the neck, and by supporting the back of the head, it plays a role in reducing the burden of the weight of the head on the neck muscles.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the upper support section 4 has temporal support sections 7 on both sides of the occipital support section 6. The temporal support sections 7 are inwardly bulging due to the marshmallow beads (elastic medium) they contain, and when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck, they can be pressed against and supported by the sides of the head. The temporal support sections 7, like the occipital support section 6, play a role in reducing the burden of the weight of the head on the neck muscles.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, first-line fasteners 8 are provided on the upper edge of the upper support portion 4 at positions corresponding to the occipital support portions 6 on both sides of the upper support portion 4. By opening the first-line fasteners 8, marshmallow beads (elastic medium) can be accommodated in the upper space. In other words, by opening the first-line fasteners 8, the amount of marshmallow beads (elastic medium) accommodated can be freely changed, and the pressure on the neck can be freely adjusted.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, anterior jaw support sections 9 are provided at both ends of the upper support section 4. The anterior jaw support sections 9 are positioned along the lower jaw when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck and are configured to elastically support the lower jaw. The support of the lower jaw by the anterior jaw support sections 9 can be adjusted by changing the bonding position of the planar fastener 11, which will be described later.

[0034] The upper support portion 4 is provided with a compression prevention portion 10 located along the suture portion 3 at the boundary between the temporal support portion 7 and the anterior jaw support portion 9. The compression prevention portion 10 is recessed from the inner surface of the bag 2 and plays a role in suppressing pressure on the area where the carotid artery is located when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck. Therefore, even if the bag 2 is tightly wrapped around the neck, it is possible to reliably prevent problems such as shortness of breath caused by compression of the carotid artery.

[0035] A flat fastener 11 is provided on one end of the inner surface of the lower support portion 5. A flat fastener 11 is also provided on the other end of the outer surface of the lower support portion 5 (the part that is on the outside when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck; the same applies hereinafter). These flat fasteners 11 are an example of a connecting part according to the present invention. The bag 2 can be attached to the neck by wrapping it around the neck and overlapping the flat fasteners. Furthermore, the tightness of the bag 2 can be adjusted by changing the position where the flat fasteners 11 are joined.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lower support portion 5 is provided with shoulder contact portions 12 on both sides along its lower edge. The shoulder contact portions 12 do not contain a soft pipe (elastic medium), but rather urethane foam. Therefore, when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck, the shoulder contact portions 12 deform to fit the shape of the clavicle and shoulder.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the lower support portion 5 has an elongated recess 13 extending longitudinally above the shoulder contact portion 12. The recess 13 is formed by sewing the inner and outer surfaces of the lower support portion 5 together. The recess 13 does not contain a soft pipe (elastic medium), and when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck, it forms a folded portion along a line, as shown in Figure 2, creating two upper and lower support regions 5a and 5b on the lower support portion 5. In the upper support region 5a, when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck, the contained soft pipe (elastic medium) provides elasticity while ensuring sufficient rigidity, allowing for stable support of the cervical spine. On the other hand, in the lower support region 5b, the shoulder contact portion 12 deforms smoothly to conform to the shape of the clavicle and shoulder, stabilizing the resting position on the shoulder. This stabilizes the support of the cervical spine compared to support by the entire lower support portion 5, while also avoiding compression of the clavicle and causing discomfort. Furthermore, the recessed portion 13, similar to the compression prevention portion 10, suppresses pressure on the area where the carotid artery is located when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck. The quilt 15, similar to the recessed portion 13 and the compression prevention portion 10, also suppresses pressure on the area where the carotid artery is located when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, a second-line fastener 14 is provided at the center of the lower edge of the lower support section 5. The second-line fastener 14 can be opened to accommodate a soft pipe (elastic medium) in the lower space. In other words, by opening the second-line fastener 14, the amount of soft pipe (elastic medium) accommodated can be freely changed, and the rigidity of the lower support section 5, which supports the cervical vertebrae, can be adjusted.

[0039] Furthermore, it is preferable to mark the center of the outer surface of the lower support portion 5 (not shown) so that it can be easily identified at a glance that this side should be facing outwards when wrapping it around the neck.

[0040] The neck pillow 1, having the above configuration, can be used, for example, as a neck cushion to support the head when taking a nap while sitting in a car, train, airplane, etc., or when working on a computer, etc. That is, when the neck pillow 1 is wrapped around the neck, the occipital support portion 6 guides a part of the occipital region, and the anterior jaw support portion 9 contacts the lower jaw. The user then fastens the planar fastener 11 together to secure the neck pillow 1 to their neck once they determine that the support is satisfactory. It is generally considered that taking a nap is more efficient when sitting than when lying down, and the neck pillow 1 according to this embodiment can fully demonstrate this effect.

[0041] The neck pillow 1, when wrapped around the neck in this manner, provides the following effects: (1) By adjusting the bonding position of the planar fastener 11, the tightness of the neck pillow 1 against the neck can be adjusted. Therefore, an appropriate mounting state can be obtained according to the user's neck size (differences in length and thickness) and preferred wrapping style. (2) The occipital region is supported by the occipital support part 6, the temporal region by the temporal support part 7, and the lower jaw by the anterior jaw support part 9. As a result, the weight of the head is less likely to be placed on the neck muscles, which can relieve muscle tension. (3) Because the compression prevention section 10 is provided, even if the neck pillow 1 is tightened to some extent, the carotid artery will not be compressed and you will not feel shortness of breath, and a good fit can be maintained. (4) Because the lower support part 5 has appropriate rigidity, it can firmly support the cervical vertebrae and position the head in a stable position. (5) The shoulder contact portion 12 can be deformed to conform to the shape of the clavicle and shoulder, so that the lower support portion 5 can be placed on the shoulder in a stable state. In particular, it is possible to reduce the discomfort caused by the lower support portion 5 pressing against the clavicle. (6) With the bag 2 wrapped around the neck by the recessed portion 13, the area where the shoulder contact portion 12 is located and the area above it can be divided into two parts. This stabilizes the support of the cervical vertebrae on the upper side, while reducing discomfort caused by pressure against the clavicle on the lower side.

[0042] Furthermore, the inventors conducted comparative experiments on sleep states when using the neck pillow 1 according to this embodiment and when not using it. Figure 6 is a graph showing the results of the comparative experiment. As is clear from this graph, sleep efficiency, that is, the percentage of time spent actually asleep out of total sleep time, was 51% when Neck Pillow 1 was not used, compared to 74% when Neck Pillow 1 was used. Also, the number of sleep transitions was 20 when Neck Pillow 1 was not used, compared to 9 when Neck Pillow 1 was used. A lower number of sleep transitions can be considered to indicate more stable sleep, and it can be said that a better sleep state was achieved when Neck Pillow 1 was used. Furthermore, the time to fall asleep was also shorter when Neck Pillow 1 was used.

[0043] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the bag body 2 is composed of an upper support portion 4 and a lower support portion 5, but it may also be composed of three or more parts. In this case, it is preferable to configure it so that the rigidity increases with the part located on the lower side.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the connecting portion is made of a surface fastener 11, but it is not limited to this, and can be made of other means, such as a wire fastener or a one-touch buckle. When using a one-touch buckle, for example, it is preferable to provide belts that can be adjusted in length on both ends of the bag body 2. However, the surface fastener 11 is superior in that the degree of tightness around the neck can be adjusted without providing a separate structure.

[0046] In the above embodiment, multiple marshmallow beads are housed in the upper space and multiple soft pipes are housed in the lower space. However, the contents are not limited to these; any elastic medium capable of elastically supporting the neck or the like can be used. The elastic mediums housed may have different structures or materials, or they may be the same. For example, air can be housed in both spaces, and the air pressure in the lower space can be made greater than the air pressure in the upper space.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the neck pillow 1 is configured to accommodate an elastic medium by providing multiple storage compartments in a bag 2, but it may also be made of a simple strip-shaped body without storage compartments instead of a bag 2. For example, the support portion may be made of multiple layers, and its rigidity may be changed by adjusting the materials used and their thickness. In short, when the bag 2 is wrapped around the neck, the support portion located on the lower side should be configured to have greater rigidity than the support portion located on the upper side. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1…Neck pillow 2...Bag body 3...Suture area 4...Upper support part 5...Lower support part 6…occipital support part 7…Temporal head support part 8…First line fastener 9...Anterior jaw support part 10... Compression prevention part 11… Planar fastener 12... Shoulder contact area 13… recessed area 14…Second line fastener 15…Quilt

Claims

1. It consists of a band-shaped sac, The bag body is Multiple support parts divided in the width direction, It includes a connecting part that holds the device in a wrapped position around the neck, The aforementioned support part is a neck pillow in which the lower part has greater rigidity than the upper part when wrapped around the neck.

2. The support portion consists of a first support portion located on the upper side and a second support portion located on the lower side when the bag is wrapped around the neck. The first support portion has a first housing portion, The second support portion has a second housing portion, The neck pillow according to claim 1, wherein an elastic medium is contained in the first and second storage sections, respectively.

3. The elastic medium is a plurality of elastic bodies, The neck pillow according to claim 2, wherein the elastic body housed in the first housing is a cylindrical foamed plastic, and the elastic body housed in the second housing is a cylindrical plastic.

4. The neck pillow according to claim 2, wherein the first support portion comprises a occipital support portion that supports at least a portion of the occipital region.

5. The neck pillow according to claim 2, wherein the first support portion comprises a temporal support portion that elastically supports the temporal portion of the head.

6. The neck pillow according to claim 2, wherein the first support portion comprises a jaw support portion that supports the lower jaw.

7. The neck pillow according to claim 2, wherein the first support portion is provided with a compression prevention portion in the part corresponding to the carotid artery when the bag is wrapped around the neck.

8. The neck pillow according to claim 2, wherein the second support portion includes a shoulder contact portion that deforms to conform to the shape of the collarbone and shoulder when the bag is wrapped around the neck.

9. The neck pillow according to claim 8, wherein the second support portion includes a recess that divides the portion where the shoulder contact portion is located and the portion above it when the bag is wrapped around the neck.

10. The neck pillow according to claim 2, wherein the connecting portion is provided at both ends of the second support portion and consists of a planar fastener that can be bonded together in an overlapping state, and the bonding position of the planar fastener can be adjusted to control the strength with which the bag is wrapped around the neck.

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