pillow

Abstract

The pillow 1 having elastic resilience of the present invention is provided with a main support part 11 that is elastic and applies pressure to support the underside of the occipital region of the head of a person lying on their back, a secondary support part 12 that is elastic and formed with a support height lower than the main support part 11 above the main support part 11 in the height direction, and applies pressure to support the head on the parietal side of the head of a person lying on their back, and elevated parts 9 that are formed higher than the main support part on the left and right sides below the main support part 11 in the height direction and press the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM of a person lying on their back with the elastic resilience of the pillow 1, and the pressing ends of the left and right elevated parts 9 are formed on the outside of the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back and are configured to press the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to pillows, and more particularly to the pillow's ability to facilitate breathing for the user. [Background technology]

[0002] Being able to breathe easily even in a sleeping position is essential for the quality of sleep. Therefore, pillows are required to have the function of making breathing easier for the user. To make breathing easier, especially when lying on one's back, it is necessary to maintain the head at an appropriate angle. If the head is tilted too far forward (i.e., if the chin is lowered too much), the airway is compressed, which can make breathing difficult. Conversely, if the head is tilted too far back (i.e., if the chin is raised too much), the base of the tongue sinks into the throat, which can lead to apnea. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pillow that supports the neck to the back of the head and reduces the support force at the back of the head to prevent the chin from dropping. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-81248 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a person lying on their back inhales, air flows through the trachea toward the lungs. At this time, the muscles at the base of the tongue (glossus muscle) tense up to keep the trachea open. The jaw muscles also work, lifting the lower jaw upward. This widens the trachea and allows for smooth breathing. During exhalation, air leaves the lungs and is expelled through the trachea. At this time, the tongue muscles relax, but the trachea remains open without narrowing. The jaw muscles also relax, allowing the lower jaw to return to its natural position. Simply put, breathing causes the jaw muscles in a supine person to contract and expand, helping to keep the trachea properly open. However, it has been discovered that when the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, which is a jaw muscle, becomes too loose due to aging or other factors, the lower jaw of a person lying on their back drops, causing the hyoid bone to drop, which then compresses the anterior trachea, narrowing it and making it difficult to breathe. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pillow that alleviates the breathlessness and allows for comfortable sleep. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The pillow of the present invention comprises a main support part that has elasticity and applies pressure to support the underside of the back of the head of a person lying on their back; a secondary support part that is elastic and formed to have a lower support height than the main support part, and that applies pressure to the head of the person lying on their back on the parietal side to support the head; On the left and right sides of the lower side of the main support part in the height direction, there are provided high parts formed higher than the main support part and pressing the posterior belly of the digastric muscle of the person lying on their back with the elastic repulsive force of the pillow, This pillow has elastic resilience and is characterized in that the pressing ends of the left and right high parts are formed on the outside of the cervical vertebrae of the person lying on their back and are configured to press against the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. The width of the cervical vertebrae of a supine person varies from person to person. For Japanese men, the first cervical vertebra is generally about 7 cm, and the second and subsequent cervical vertebrae are generally about 6 cm. For Japanese women, the first cervical vertebra is generally about 6.5 cm, and the second and subsequent cervical vertebrae are generally about 5.5 cm. In the present invention, "pressing the posterior belly of the digastric muscle" means pressing the posterior belly of the digastric muscle without pressing the occipital bone and cervical vertebrae of the supine person (see FIG. 4). This is because pressing the occipital bone and cervical vertebrae of the supine person would result in little or no pressure on the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, and would not improve the sagging jaw of the supine person. For this reason, in the present invention, the elevated portions are formed higher than the main support portion on the left and right sides below the main support portion in the height direction, and the ends of the elevated portions that press the posterior belly of the digastric muscle are formed outside the cervical vertebrae of the supine person to press the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. However, pressing the posterior belly of the digastric muscle does not necessarily mean pressing the posterior belly of the digastric muscle directly, but may also mean pressing indirectly via a muscle located higher (closer) than the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. For example, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which attaches to the mastoid process of the temporal bone, is located higher (closer) than the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, and the posterior belly of the digastric muscle can also be pressed by pressing the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the side that attaches to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. It is preferable that the main support part applies pressure to and provides planar support to at least the area between the upper nuchal line and the lower nuchal line that presses against the posterior belly of the digastric muscle of a person lying on their back, from the left end of the part where the trapezius muscle attaches to the occipital bone to the part where the left sternocleidomastoid muscle attaches to the occipital bone, and from the right end of the part where the trapezius muscle attaches to the occipital bone to the part where the right sternocleidomastoid muscle attaches to the occipital bone. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] In the pillow of the present invention, the elevated portions provided on the left and right below the main support portion in the height direction are formed higher than the main support portion, and the pressing ends are formed outside the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back, so that these elevated portions press against the posterior belly of the digastric muscle of a person lying on their back, effectively preventing the posterior belly of the digastric muscle from becoming too loose, thereby preventing the lower jaw from dropping and the hyoid bone from dropping, which could cause the hyoid bone to narrow the trachea.As a result, the trachea can be kept open, improving breathlessness and providing a pillow that allows for comfortable sleep. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a human skull. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the back of a person's head. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a pillow according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a top view of a pillow according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a bottom view illustrating the correspondence between a pillow according to an embodiment of the present invention and a person's head and neck. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a human skull, and Fig. 1B is a perspective view of the back of a human head. In Figures 1A and 1B, HD represents the human head, SA represents the occipital bone, SA1 represents the external occipital protuberance, SA2 represents the area between the superior and inferior nuchal lines of the occipital bone, SA3 represents the parietal area of ​​the occipital bone, SA4 represents the superior nuchal line, SA5 represents the inferior nuchal line, SA6 represents the inferior line of the occipital bone, SA7 represents the area from the left end of the trapezius muscle that attaches to the occipital bone to the part of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle that attaches to the occipital bone (the left designated area), and SA8 represents the area from the right end of the trapezius muscle that attaches to the occipital bone to the part of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle that attaches to the occipital bone. The area up to the part of the right sternocleidomastoid muscle where it attaches to the bone (the designated area on the right), SB is the parietal bone, SB1 is the occipital area of ​​the parietal bone, SC is the temporal bone, SC1 is the mastoid process, MA is the temporalis muscle, MB is the sternocleidomastoid muscle, MB1 is the attachment of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, MBP are the left and right sternocleidomastoid muscles where they attach to the occipital bone, TR is the trapezius muscle, TR1 is the left end of the trapezius muscle, TR2 is the right end of the trapezius muscle, NC is the human neck, and C1 to C7 are the first to seventh cervical vertebrae.

[0009] 2 is a perspective view of a pillow 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pillow 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the correspondence between the pillow 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a person's head HD and neck NC, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3.

[0010] The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in Fig. 2 are perpendicular to one another. In this embodiment, the X-axis direction is the front-to-back direction of the pillow 1, which coincides with the height direction of a person lying on their back, the X1 direction is the front direction (lower in the height direction), and the X2 direction is the rear direction (upper in the height direction). The Y-axis direction is the left-to-right direction of the pillow 1, the Y1 direction is the left direction, and the Y2 direction is the right direction. The Z-axis direction is the up-down direction, which coincides with the thickness and height directions of the pillow 1, the Z1 direction is the upward direction, and the Z2 direction is the downward direction.

[0011] In Figures 4 and 5, DM is the digastric muscle. The digastric muscle DM is divided into anterior and posterior bellies, and the anterior digastric belly ADM originates from the mandible LJB and attaches to the hyoid bone HB via the digastric muscle intermediate tendon. The posterior digastric belly PDM originates from the mastoid process SC1 and attaches to the hyoid bone HB via the digastric muscle intermediate tendon. UJB is the maxilla.

[0012] First, the technical features of the pillow 1 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the pillow 1 includes: (1A) a main support part 11 having elasticity and applying pressure to support the underside of the back of the head of a person lying on their back; (1B) A sub-support part 12, which is elastic and has a lower support height than the main support part 11, and which applies pressure to the head of the person lying on their back and supports the head. (1C) On the left and right sides of the lower side in the height direction of the main support part 11, there are provided high parts 9 formed higher than the main support part 11 and pressing the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM of the person lying on their back with the elastic repulsive force of the pillow 1, (1D) The pressing ends of the left and right elevated portions 9 are formed on the outside of the cervical vertebrae of the supine person and are configured to press the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the pillow 1 has the following features: (2A) Between the left and right high portions 9, there is provided a middle portion 10 that supports the left and right sides of the cervical vertebrae of the person lying on their back with the elastic repulsive force of the pillow 1.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the pillow 1 has the following features: (3A) Between the left and right middle portions 10, a recessed lower portion 8 is provided so that the elastic repulsive force of the pillow 1 does not compress the cervical vertebrae of the person lying on his / her back.

[0015] Next, the pillow 1 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the pillow 1 is a rectangular plate, and is configured so that the head HD of a person lying on their back rests on the center of the upper surface of the pillow 1, and the neck NC of the person rests on the lower side (X1 direction in the figures) of the center of the upper surface of the pillow 1. In addition, the pillow 1 has a bilaterally symmetrical structure, as shown in FIG.

[0016] The pillow 1 is composed of a lower base 2, an upper front base 3, an upper rear base 4, a pair of left and right high-place portion forming bodies 5, a pair of left and right side regulating portion forming bodies 6, and a main regulating portion forming body 7.

[0017] The lower base 2 is made of a rectangular plate of elastic urethane foam having the same outer shape as the pillow 1 when viewed from above.

[0018] The upper front base 3 is made of a rectangular plate-like elastic urethane foam that covers the front upper part (forward of the center of the upper part) of the lower base 2 and is thicker (higher) than the lower base 2. The upper front base 3 is glued and fixed in a state where it is overlapped on the front upper part of the lower base 2, and the left and right center part of the upper front base 3 is located forward of the center part of the pillow 1, and the rear part of the left and right center part of the upper front base 3 is configured to face the area SA2 between the superior nuchal line SA4 and inferior nuchal line SA5 of the occipital bone SA of a person lying on their back, and also the front part of the left and right center part of the upper front base 3 is configured to face the underside of the neck NC from the first cervical vertebra C1 to the third cervical vertebra C3 of a person lying on their back.

[0019] [Main support part] The upper front base 3, together with the rear portion of the center of the left and right of the upper front base 3 and the portion of the lower base 2 located below it, has elasticity and constitutes a main support part 11 that applies pressure to support the underside of the occipital bone SA of a person lying on their back. It is preferable that this main support part 11 applies pressure to an area SA2 between the upper nuchal line SA4 and the lower nuchal line SA5 of the occipital bone SA, which is included on the underside of the occipital bone SA of a person lying on their back, to an area (left predetermined area) SA7 from the left end TR1 where the trapezius muscle TR attaches to the occipital bone SA to the area where the left sternocleidomastoid muscle MBP attaches to the occipital bone SA, and an area (right predetermined area) SA7 from the right end TR2 where the trapezius muscle TR attaches to the occipital bone SA to the area where the right sternocleidomastoid muscle MBP attaches to the occipital bone SA. However, even if it does not provide such planar support, the main support portion 11 may provide support for the area SA8 from the left end TR1 to the right end TR2 where the trapezius muscle TR is attached to the occipital bone SA (a specified central area between a specified left area and a specified right area).

[0020] The upper-rear base 4 is a rectangular plate made of elastic urethane foam with the same thickness (height) as the lower base 2, covering the rear upper portion of the lower base 2 that is not covered by the upper front base 3. The upper-rear base 4 is glued and fixed in place on the rear upper portion of the lower base 2 that is not covered by the upper front base 3, and is configured so that the front portion of the center of the left and right of the upper-rear base 4 is located in the center of the pillow 1, and the front portion of the center of the left and right of the upper-rear base 4 faces the occiput of the head on the parietal side of the upper nuchal line SA4 of a person lying on their back.

[0021] [Sub-support part] The upper-rear base 4 is provided with a sub-support part forming cutout 41 formed by cutting out a portion of the upper-rear base 4 facing the occipital region of the head on the parietal side of the upper nape line SA4 of a person lying on their back, i.e., a portion on the front side in the center of the left and right parts of the upper-rear base 4, so that the occipital region of the head on the parietal side of the upper nape line SA4 of a person lying on their back fits inside the sub-support part forming cutout 41, and by exposing the center of the lower base 2 to the upper surface of the pillow 1 by the sub-support part forming cutout 41, a sub-support part 12 is formed in the center of the lower base 2 on the upper side (rear and parietal side) of the main support part 11 in the height direction, which has elasticity and is formed to have a lower support height than the main support part 11, and which applies pressure to support the occipital region of the head on the parietal side of the upper nape line SA4 of the occipital bone SA of a person lying on their back.

[0022] [Neck support] The upper front base 3, together with the front portion at the center of the left and right of the upper front base 3 and the portion of the lower base 2 located below it, constitutes a neck support portion 15 on the lower (front) side in the height direction of the main support portion 11, which has elasticity and applies pressure to the underside of the neck NC from the first cervical vertebra C1 to the fifth cervical vertebra C5 of a person lying on their back, at least from the first cervical vertebra C1 to the second cervical vertebra C5, to support the underside of the neck NC from the first cervical vertebra C1 to the third cervical vertebra C2 of a person lying on their back.

[0023] The left and right central portions of the neck support portion 15 are configured to face the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back, and the left and right side portions are located outside the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back and face the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM, and further the areas between the left and right central portions and the left and right side portions face the left and right side of the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back.

[0024] [High places] The left and right elevated portion forming bodies 5 are rectangular plates that cover the upper left and right sides of the neck support part 15 and are made of elastic urethane foam that is thinner (lower) than the upper front base 3 and the lower base 2. The left and right elevated portion forming bodies 5 are glued and fixed in place on top of the left and right sides of the neck support part 15, with the left elevated portion forming body 5 facing the left posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM of a person lying on their back, and the right elevated portion forming body 5 facing the right posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM of a person lying on their back.

[0025] The left and right high-point forming bodies 5, together with the left and right sides of the neck support portion 15 located below them, are formed higher than the main support portion 11 on the left and right sides of the lower (front) side of the main support portion 11 in the height direction, and form high-point portions 9 that press against the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM of a person lying on their back with the elastic repulsive force of the pillow 1, and the pressing ends (upper surfaces) of the left and right high-point portions 9 are formed on the outside of the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back and press against the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM.

[0026] [Central area] The neck support part 15 is a part between the left and right parts (both left and right parts) of the neck support part 15, and between the left and right high parts 9, it forms a middle part 10 that presses both the left and right sides of the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back with the elastic repulsive force of the pillow 1. This middle part 10 is formed lower than the high parts 9, and may be at the same height as the main support part 11 as shown in the figure, or may be at a different height from the main support part 11 as not shown.

[0027] [Low area] The upper front base 3 has a low-portion-forming notch 31 formed by removing the left-right central portion of the front portion of the left-right central portion of the upper front base 3, which is the portion facing the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back, and this low-portion-forming notch 31 recesses the left-right central portion of the neck support part 15 facing the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back (the left-right central portion of the middle part 10), thereby forming a recessed low portion 8 between the left and right middle parts 10 so as not to compress the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back with the elastic repulsive force of the pillow 1. This low portion 8 is formed lower than the middle part 10, and may be at the same height as the lower base 2 as shown in the figure so that the upper surface of the lower base 2 is exposed to the upper surface of the pillow 1 by the low-portion-forming notch 31, or may be at a different height from the lower base 2 as not shown in the figure.

[0028] [Side restriction section] The left and right side regulating portion forming bodies 6 are rectangular plates covering both the left and right sides of the upper surface of the upper front base 3 located on the left and right outer sides of the main support portion 11 and the elevated portion 9, and are made of elastic urethane foam that is thicker (higher) than the elevated portion forming bodies 5.

[0029] The upper front base 3 has left and right lateral restriction part forming bodies 6 glued and fixed in an overlapping state to the left and right sides of the upper surface of the upper front base 3 located on the left and right outer sides of the main support part 11 and the elevated part 9, so that the lateral restriction parts 6 protrude higher than the main support part 11 on the left and right outer sides of the mastoid process SC1 of the temporal bone SC of a person lying on their back, thereby forming lateral restriction parts 13 that restrict the turning of the head HD of a person lying on their back (the rotation of only the part from the neck NC to the head HD in the left and right lateral directions).

[0030] [Main Regulatory Department] The main regulation part forming body 7 is a rectangular plate-like elastic urethane foam that covers the rear part of the upper surface of the upper rear base 4 and has the same thickness (height) as the upper rear base 4. The main regulation part forming body 7 is adhered and fixed in a state where it is superimposed on the rear part of the upper surface of the upper rear base 4, and the front part of the central part of the main regulation part forming body 7 is configured to face the sub-support part forming notch 41, i.e., the sub-support part 12.

[0031] The main regulation part forming body 7 has a main regulation part forming notch 71 formed by cutting out the part of the main regulation part forming body 7 facing the sub-support part 12, i.e., the rear part in the center of the left and right parts of the main regulation part forming body 7, thereby forming a main regulation part 14 that is located on the opposite side of the main support part 11 from the sub-support part 12 and protrudes higher than the sub-support part 12, thereby restricting the head from shifting upward in the height direction of a person lying on their back.

[0032] Next, the effects of the technical features of the pillow 1 will be described. [Technical Features (1A) to (1D)] The pillow 1 has elevated portions 9 provided on the left and right sides of the main support portion 11 below the height direction, which are formed higher than the main support portion 11, and the pressing ends are formed outside the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back. Therefore, these elevated portions 9 press the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM of a person lying on their back, effectively preventing excessive relaxation of the posterior belly of the digastric muscle PDM, thereby preventing the lower jaw from dropping and the hyoid bone HB from dropping, which could narrow the trachea. This keeps the trachea open, improving breathlessness. It also has the advantage of preventing the mouth from opening, further preventing snoring and apnea.

[0033] [Technical Features (2A)] Furthermore, the pillow 1 can avoid the risk of neck stiffness NC by providing a middle part 10 between the left and right high parts 9, which supports both the left and right sides of the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back with the elastic resilience of the pillow 1. In other words, if the area around the cervical vertebrae is not supported at all, the neck NC will become stiff, and stiffness in the neck NC will cause fatigue to accumulate and shallow breathing, which can lead to shortness of breath, but providing the middle part 10 can prevent this.

[0034] [Technical Features (3A)] In addition, the pillow 1 has a recessed low part 8 between the left and right middle parts 10 to prevent the elastic resilience of the pillow 1 from compressing the cervical vertebrae of a person lying on their back, thereby reducing the risk of cervical hernia or cervical spondylosis.

[0035] As explained above, the pillow 1 can improve breathlessness, relieve neck stiffness, and reduce the risk of developing cervical hernia or cervical spondylosis, allowing for comfortable sleep.

[0036] The pillow 1 described above is merely one example of the present invention, and the present invention can be implemented by appropriately modifying the structure within the scope of the claims. For example, the shape, size, and hardness of the low part 8, middle part 10, high part 9, main support part 11, sub-support part 12, side regulating part 13, main regulating part 14, etc. of the pillow 1 can be modified in various ways.

[0037] Furthermore, although the pillow 1 is constructed by assembling a plurality of parts, it goes without saying that these multiple parts may be integrally molded as much as possible.

[0038] Furthermore, the low part 8, the middle part 10, and the high part 9 of the pillow 1 are provided with lengths corresponding to the first cervical vertebra C1 to the third cervical vertebra C3 of a person lying on their back, but of course they may be provided with lengths longer or shorter than the first cervical vertebra C1 to the third cervical vertebra C3 of a person lying on their back. Furthermore, the lengths are not limited to being provided continuously, but may be provided intermittently (discontinuously). [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 pillow 8 Low areas 9 High places 10 Central 11 Main support part 12 Sub-support part

Claims

1. a main support part that has elasticity and applies pressure to support the underside of the back of the head of a person lying on their back; a secondary support part that is elastic and formed to have a lower support height than the main support part, and that applies pressure to the head of the person lying on their back on the parietal side to support the head; On the left and right sides of the lower side of the main support part in the height direction, there are provided high parts formed higher than the main support part and pressing the posterior belly of the digastric muscle of the person lying on their back with the elastic repulsive force of the pillow, A pillow with elastic resilience, characterized in that the pressing ends of the left and right high parts are formed on the outside of the cervical vertebrae of the person lying on their back and are configured to press against the posterior belly of the digastric muscle.

2. 2. A pillow with elastic resilience as described in claim 1, characterized in that a middle part is provided between the left and right high parts, which supports both the left and right sides of the cervical vertebrae of the person lying on their back with the elastic resilience of the pillow.

3. A pillow with elastic resilience as described in claim 2, characterized in that a recessed lower part is provided between the left and right middle parts so that the elastic resilience of the pillow does not compress the cervical vertebrae of the person lying on their back.

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