Pillow core material

Abstract

To provide a core material for pillows capable of improving sleeping comfort when lying on his / her side.SOLUTION: A core material for pillows includes an upper core material 10 to be directed vertically upward and a lower core material 20 to be directed vertically downward with it fixed to the upper core material 10. The upper core material 10 is made of a material softer than that of the lower core material 20. The lower core material 20 includes a pair of holes 24 recessed downward from an upper face 23 of the lower core material 20 at each of one end and the other end in a first direction D1. A space 27 where the upper core material 10 is separated from the lower core material 20 is formed between the upper core material 10 and each of the pair of holes 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a core material for a pillow accommodated in a pillow cover.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a core material accommodated in a pillow cover against which the back of the user's head is placed. This core material is a cloth core material extending in the longitudinal direction and in the width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. The core material includes a central portion against which the back of the head is placed and both side portions located on both longitudinal sides of the central portion. The fourth portion, which is the central portion in the width direction of both side portions, is recessed compared to the fifth portion and the sixth portion, which are both end portions in the width direction of both side portions.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above - described core material, when the user sleeps on the side, the cheeks enter the central portion in the width direction of both side portions. Thus, it is possible to reduce the pressure on the cheeks when sleeping on the side. However, if the portion where the user's cheeks hit in the core material for the pillow is recessed, a gap may be formed between the portion and the cheeks when sleeping on the side. In this case, since the cheeks may float from the recessed portion, it is assumed that the pressure around the cheeks is not appropriately dispersed when sleeping on the side. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of the comfort when sleeping on the side.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a core material for a pillow that can improve the comfort when sleeping on the side.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The pillow core material according to this disclosure is (1) a pillow core material that extends in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction in a plan view, and has thickness in a third direction intersecting both the first and second directions. The pillow core material comprises an upper core material directed vertically upward and a lower core material fixed to the upper core material and directed vertically downward. The upper core material is made of a softer material than the lower core material. The lower core material has a pair of holes recessed downward from the upper surface of the lower core material at one end and the other end in the first direction. A space is formed between the upper core material and each of the pair of holes, with the upper core material separated from the lower core material.

[0007] This pillow core consists of an upper core and a lower core, both oriented vertically upward, with the lower core fixed to the upper core and oriented vertically downward. The upper core is made of a softer material than the lower core. Therefore, when the user sleeps on their side, the user's cheek presses against the softer upper core, allowing the pillow core to gently cradle the user's cheek. The lower core has holes at one end and the other end in the first direction, forming a space between the upper core and each hole. That is, at one end and the other end of the pillow core in the first direction, a space is formed beneath the upper core. Therefore, when the user sleeps on their side, their cheek presses against the upper core, causing the space to shrink and the soft upper core to deform to conform to the cheek. As a result, the upper core conforms to the shape of the cheek, allowing the soft upper core to gently cradle the cheek. Therefore, the cheeks do not float, and the soft upper core material appropriately distributes pressure on the cheeks, improving the user's sleeping comfort when sleeping on their side. Furthermore, by gently supporting the cheeks with the soft upper core material, it is possible to maintain normal cheek cell turnover and suppress the occurrence of blemishes.

[0008] (2) In (1) above, the upper core material may be made of a material with higher breathability than the lower core material. In this case, the breathability of the upper core material is higher than that of the lower core material. Therefore, since the user's cheek presses against the upper core material, the breathability on the cheek can be improved and stuffiness can be suppressed.

[0009] (3) In (1) or (2) above, the lower core material may have through holes that penetrate the lower core material in a third direction between the pair of holes. In this case, the lower core material having through holes that penetrate in a third direction can improve the breathability of the lower core material. Therefore, breathability can be further improved and stuffiness can be suppressed more reliably.

[0010] (4) In any of (1) to (3) above, the lower core material may have a pair of protrusions located at one end and the other end in the second direction, and a recess located between the pair of protrusions. The upper core material and each of the pair of protrusions may be bonded to each other, but the upper core material and the recess may not be bonded to each other. In this case, the upper core material is not bonded to the lower core material at the center in the second direction. Therefore, when the back of the user's head is placed at the center in the second direction, the center of the upper core material in the second direction can be more effectively recessed. Thus, it contributes to further improvement of sleeping comfort.

[0011] (5) In any of (1) to (4) above, the lower core material may have a projection that protrudes in a second direction from the upper core material in a plan view. In this case, the upper part of the user's neck or back will rest on the projection of the lower core material, so the upper back can be supported by the projection. Furthermore, since the neck can be supported by the projection, the occurrence of wrinkles on the neck can be suppressed. And since the upper back can be supported together with the user's cheeks, it contributes to further improvement of sleeping comfort.

[0012] (6) In any of (1) to (5) above, the lower core material may have a recess that extends from the lower surface of the lower core material. The pillow core material may be removable into and out of the recess and may include a cushioning member that is harder than the upper core material. In this case, the hardness of the lower core material can be adjusted by removing and inserting the cushioning member into the recess, so the hardness of the pillow core material can be adjusted according to the user's needs. Furthermore, the cushioning member is made of a material that is harder than the upper core material. Therefore, when you want a pillow that is not soft but somewhat firm to firmly support your head, you can make it a hard pillow core material by inserting the cushioning member into the recess.

[0013] (7) In any of (1) to (6) above, the space may be visible when viewed along the first direction. In this case, the space formed between the upper core material and the lower core material can be seen from the side of the pillow core material.

[0014] (8) In any of (1) to (7) above, the lower core material may have an uneven structure formed on its upper surface. The upper core material and the uneven structure do not need to be bonded to each other. In this case, when the cheek rests on the soft upper core material, the uneven structure located beneath the upper core material can gently support the cheek. The uneven structure can more effectively distribute the pressure on the cheek, thus improving sleeping comfort when sleeping on your side.

[0015] (9) In (8) above, the uneven structure extends in the first direction, and the unevenness constituting the uneven structure may be aligned along the second direction. In this case, the uneven structure of the lower core material extends along the first direction, so that the user's head faces the uneven structure extending in the first direction. Therefore, when the user turns over in their sleep, the uneven structure extending in the first direction stimulates the user's head, thereby distributing head pressure and improving breathability, as well as improving blood flow to the head and preventing hair loss.

[0016] (10) In any one of (1) to (9) above, a pair of holes may penetrate the lower core material in the third direction. In this case, when the user's cheek presses the upper core material, it is possible to make the upper core material more easily concave. Therefore, when sleeping on the side, the cheek can be gently wrapped, contributing to further improvement in sleeping comfort.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to the present disclosure, the sleeping comfort when sleeping on the side can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a plan view showing a core material for a pillow according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a bottom view of the core material for a pillow of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a view showing a state in which a part of the upper core material of the core material for a pillow of FIG. 1 is cut and a part of the lower core material is exposed. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the lower core material of the core material for a pillow of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view of a core material for a pillow according to the second embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of the core material for a pillow of FIG. 5 as viewed from below. [Figure 7] It is a side view of the core material for a pillow of FIG. 5. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view showing a core material for a pillow according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a bottom view of the core material for a pillow of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a side view of the core material for a pillow of FIG. 8. [Figure 11] It is a view showing the experimental results for the core material for a pillow according to the example. [Figure 12] It is a graph showing the experimental results for the core material for a pillow according to the example.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] The embodiments of the pillow core material according to this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted as appropriate. The drawings may be simplified or exaggerated in part for ease of understanding, and the dimensional ratios, etc., are not limited to those shown in the drawings.

[0020] The pillow core material according to this disclosure is made of a flexible material. "Flexible material" refers to a cushioning material that deforms when a body is placed on it and subjected to a load. "Pillow core material" refers to the core material of a pillow, which is housed, for example, in a pillow cover. In this disclosure, the pillow core material has a two-layer structure. That is, the pillow core material has an upper core material and a lower core material located below the upper core material.

[0021] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a plan view showing the pillow core material 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a bottom view showing the pillow core material 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, for example, the pillow core material 1 has a butterfly shape in plan view. The pillow core material 1 extends in both a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 intersecting the first direction D1, and has thickness in a third direction D3 intersecting both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2.

[0022] In this embodiment, the first direction D1 is the longitudinal direction (lateral direction in a plan view) of the pillow core material 1, and the second direction D2 is the short direction (vertical direction in a plan view) of the pillow core material 1. For example, the pillow core material 1 is housed in a mesh fabric (not shown). Furthermore, the mesh fabric containing the pillow core material 1 is housed in a pillow cover. In this state, the pillow core material 1 is put into use. In a plan view, the pillow core material 1 has a pair of first sides 2b that extend along the first direction D1 and are aligned along the second direction D2, and a pair of second sides 2c that extend along the second direction D2 and are aligned along the first direction D1.

[0023] For example, the first side surface 2b has a first recess 2d that curves toward the center of the pillow core material 1 as it approaches the center in the first direction D1 of the pillow core material 1. The second side surface 2c has a second recess 2f that curves toward the center of the pillow core material 1 as it approaches the center in the second direction D2 of the pillow core material 1. As an example, the first recess 2d and the second recess 2f are each curved in shape.

[0024] The pillow core material 1 comprises an upper core material 10 that is directed vertically upward when in use, and a lower core material 20 that is fixed to the upper core material 10 and directed downward. The upper core material 10 is made of a softer material than the lower core material 20. For example, the upper core material 10 is made of soft urethane foam, and the lower core material 20 is made of molded urethane.

[0025] For example, the density (specific gravity) of the upper core material 10 is lower than that of the lower core material 20. Also, the coarseness (fineness of the texture) of the upper core material 10 is coarser than that of the lower core material 20. Therefore, the upper core material 10 has higher breathability than the lower core material 20. For example, the viscosity of the lower core material 20 is higher than that of the upper core material 10. In other words, when touched, the upper core material 10 has a soft feel, while the lower core material 20 has a somewhat sticky feel.

[0026] The lower core material 20 is located below the upper core material 10. In a plan view, the lower core material 20 is covered by the upper core material 10, so for example, the upper and side parts (parts other than the bottom surface 21) of the lower core material 20 are not visible. Figure 3 shows a state in which a part of the upper core material 10 has been cut and a part of the lower core material 20 is exposed.

[0027] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower core material 20 has a bottom surface 21 that faces vertically downward. For example, in the lower core material 20, only the bottom surface 21 is exposed, and the rest of the material is covered by the upper core material 10. In this case, the upper core material 10 has a bottom surface 11 that forms an annular shape, surrounding the bottom surface 21 of the lower core material 20 when viewed from below.

[0028] For example, the lower surface 21 has a butterfly shape. More specifically, the lower surface 21 has a pair of first curved portions 21b located in the center of the first direction D1 and at each of the ends of the second direction D2, and a pair of second curved portions 21c located in the center of the second direction D2 and at each of the ends of the first direction D1, with each of the first curved portion 21b and the second curved portion 21c recessed towards the center of the lower surface 21. The lower surface 11 of the upper core material 10 has a butterfly shape that follows the outer edge of the lower surface 21 of the lower core material 20. That is, the lower surface 11 has a pair of third curved portions 11b adjacent to each first curved portion 21b, and a pair of fourth curved portions 11c adjacent to the second curved portion 21c.

[0029] The lower core material 20 has a through hole 22 that penetrates the lower core material 20 in a third direction D3. For example, the through hole 22 is formed in the center of the lower core material 20 in a plan view. For example, the lower core material 20 has a plurality of through holes 22. For example, the plurality of through holes 22 include a first through hole 22b and a plurality of second through holes 22c arranged to surround the first through hole 22b. For example, one first through hole 22b is formed in the center of the lower core material 20 in a plan view, and eight second through holes 22c are formed to surround the one first through hole 22b.

[0030] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the lower core material 20. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower core material 20 has an upper surface 23 facing the upper core material 10, and a pair of holes 24 that are recessed downward from the upper surface 23 at one end and the other end in the first direction D1. The holes 24 correspond to the areas where the cheek of a user sleeping on their side would face.

[0031] For example, the lower core material 20 has a pair of protrusions 25 located at each end in the second direction D2, and a recess 26 located between the pair of protrusions 25. Each of the pair of holes 24 is located at one end and the other end of the recess 26 in the first direction D1, and is recessed further than the recess 26.

[0032] The hole 24 is positioned not in the center of the second direction D2 of the lower core material 20, but rather towards one side of the second direction D2 of the lower core material 20. For example, the multiple protrusions 25 include a first protrusion 25b located at one end of the second direction D2 of the lower core material 20 and positioned towards the top of the user's head, and a second protrusion 25c located at the other end of the second direction D2 of the lower core material 20 and positioned towards the user's neck (lower body). The hole 24 is positioned closer to the second protrusion 25c than to the center of the second direction D2 of the lower core material 20.

[0033] For example, the shape of the hole 24 in plan view is C-shaped. The length of the hole 24 in the second direction D2 in plan view increases towards the end of the lower core material 20 in the first direction D1. The depth of the hole 24 from the upper surface 23 increases towards the end of the lower core material 20 in the first direction D1 and towards the center of the hole 24 in the second direction D2.

[0034] As a result of the formation of the holes 24 described above, a space 27 is formed between the upper core material 10 and each of the pair of holes 24. The space 27 is not visible from the outside of the pillow core material 1, for example. For example, the upper core material 10 extends in a flat manner above the holes 24. Therefore, in the space 27, the upper core material 10 is separated from the lower core material 20.

[0035] The shape of the space 27 in plan view is, for example, the same as the shape of the hole 24. More specifically, the shape of the space 27 in plan view is C-shaped. Furthermore, the length of the space 27 in the second direction D2 in plan view increases towards the end of the lower core material 20 in the first direction D1.

[0036] Next, the effects and benefits obtained from the pillow core material 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail. The pillow core material 1 comprises an upper core material 10 and a lower core material 20 that are oriented vertically upward, with the lower core material 20 being fixed to the upper core material 10 and oriented vertically downward. The upper core material 10 is made of a softer material than the lower core material 20. Therefore, when the user sleeps on their side, the user's cheek presses against the softer upper core material 10, allowing the pillow core material 1 to gently cradle the user's cheek.

[0037] The lower core material 20 has holes 24 located at one end and the other end in the first direction D1, and a space 27 is formed between the upper core material 10 and each hole 24, which is the portion where the upper core material 10 is separated from the lower core material 20. In other words, at one end and the other end of the pillow core material 1 in the first direction D1, a space 27 is formed below the upper core material 10. Therefore, when the user sleeps on their side, the user's cheek presses against the upper core material 10, causing the space 27 to shrink and the soft upper core material 10 to deform to conform to the cheek. As a result, the upper core material 10 conforms to the shape of the cheek, allowing the soft upper core material 10 to gently cradle the cheek.

[0038] Therefore, the cheeks do not float, and the soft upper core material 10 appropriately distributes pressure on the cheeks, improving the user's sleeping comfort when sleeping on their side. Furthermore, by gently supporting the cheeks with the soft upper core material 10, the normal turnover of the cheeks can be maintained, suppressing the occurrence of blemishes.

[0039] In this embodiment, the upper core material 10 is made of a material with higher breathability than the lower core material 20. Therefore, the breathability of the upper core material 10 is higher than that of the lower core material 20. As a result, the user's cheek presses against the upper core material 10, which has higher breathability, improving breathability on the cheek and suppressing stuffiness.

[0040] In this embodiment, the lower core material 20 has a through hole 22 that penetrates the lower core material 20 in a third direction D3 between a pair of holes 24. Therefore, by having a through hole 22 that penetrates in the third direction D3 in the lower core material 20, the breathability of the lower core material 20 can be increased. Thus, breathability can be further increased and stuffiness can be suppressed more reliably.

[0041] In this embodiment, the lower core material 20 has a pair of protrusions 25 located at one end and the other end of the second direction D2, and a recess 26 located between the pair of protrusions 25. The upper core material 10 and each of the pair of protrusions 25 are bonded to each other, but the upper core material 10 and the recess 26 are not bonded to each other. That is, the upper core material 10 is not bonded to the lower core material 20 in the center of the second direction D2. Therefore, when the back of the user's head is placed in the center of the second direction D2, the center of the upper core material 10 in the second direction D2 can be more effectively recessed. Thus, this contributes to further improvement of sleeping comfort.

[0042] (Second Embodiment) Next, the pillow core material 31 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pillow core material 31 from above. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pillow core material 31 from below. Figure 7 is a side view showing the pillow core material 31. Some of the components of the pillow core material 31 are the same as some of the components of the pillow core material 1 described above. Therefore, in the following description, explanations that overlap with the explanation of the pillow core material 1 will be appropriately omitted and denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0043] For example, the pillow core material 31 has a T-shape in plan view. The pillow core material 31 has a first side surface 32b extending along a first direction D1, a pair of second side surfaces 32c extending along a second direction D2 and aligned along the first direction D1, and a third side surface 32d facing the opposite side from the first side surface 32b. The first side surface 32b has a first recess 2d, similar to the first side surface 2b described above. For example, the second side surface 32c extends linearly in the second direction D2 in plan view. For example, the third side surface 32d extends linearly in the second direction D2 in plan view.

[0044] The pillow core material 31 includes an upper core material 40 that is directed vertically upward when in use, and a lower core material 50 that is directed downward while fixed to the upper core material 40. For example, the material of the upper core material 40 is the same as the material of the upper core material 10, and the material of the lower core material 50 is the same as the material of the lower core material 20.

[0045] For example, the upper core material 40 is bonded to the lower core material 50 while superimposed on it. For example, the sides of the lower core material 50 facing the first direction D1 or the second direction D2, and the lower surface 51 of the lower core material 50 are exposed and visible. In this case, only the upper surface of the lower core material 50 is covered by the upper core material 40. For example, the lower surface 51 of the lower core material 50 has a T-shape. More specifically, the lower surface 51 has a first extending portion 51b that extends along the first direction D1, and a second extending portion 51c that extends from the center of the first extending portion 51b in the first direction D1 along the second direction D2.

[0046] The lower core material 50 has a recess 52 that is recessed from the lower surface 51. The pillow core material 31 includes a cushion member 60 that can be inserted into the recess 52. Figure 6 shows the cushion member 60 before it is inserted into the recess 52. When inserting the cushion member 60 into the recess 52, the cushion member 60 is inserted into the recess 52 with its orientation reversed from that shown in Figure 6. For example, the hardness of the cushion member 60 is harder than that of the upper core material 40 and harder than that of the lower core material 50. As an example, the recess 52 and the cushion member 60 extend along the first direction D1.

[0047] For example, the cushion member 60 is rod-shaped. As an example, when the cushion member 60 is cut by a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cushion member 60, the cross-sectional shape is semicircular. In other words, the cushion member 60 is columnar with a semicircular bottom surface. The cushion member 60 also has a flat surface 61 that is exposed to the outside of the pillow core material 31 when it is fitted into the recess 52.

[0048] For example, the shape of the recess 52 is similar to that of the cushion member 60. In this case, the cross-sectional shape when the recess 52 is cut by a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (first direction D1) of the recess 52 is semicircular. In this case, when the cushion member 60 is fitted into the recess 52, the plane 61 of the cushion member 60 can be made flush with the bottom surface 51.

[0049] For example, the recess 52 and cushion member 60 are provided on the first extending portion 51b of the lower surface 51. However, the position and arrangement of the recess 52 and cushion member 60 are not limited to the above example. For example, the recess 52 and cushion member 60 may extend in the second direction D2 on the lower surface 51. Also, the recess 52 and cushion member 60 may be arranged to straddle the first extending portion 51b and the second extending portion 51c. Furthermore, the pillow core material 31 may have a plurality of recesses 52 and a plurality of cushion members 60.

[0050] The lower core material 50, like the lower core material 20, has a through hole 22. The lower core material 50 also has a projection 53 that protrudes in a second direction D2 from the upper core material 40 in a plan view. The aforementioned second extension 51c is formed below the projection 53. The projection 53 has an upper surface 53b that is exposed to the outside of the pillow core material 31. For example, the projection 53 becomes thinner as it moves away from the upper core material 40. The upper surface 53b extends diagonally downward as it moves away from the upper core material 40.

[0051] As an example, the protrusion 53 has a sheet-like shape that extends in both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. In plan view, the shape of the protrusion 53 is, for example, rectangular. However, in plan view, the shape of the protrusion 53 may be trapezoidal, with the length in the first direction D1 decreasing as it moves away from the upper core material 40. Thus, the shape of the protrusion 53 is not particularly limited.

[0052] The lower core material 50 has an upper surface 54 facing the upper core material 10, and a pair of holes 55 that are recessed downward from the upper surface 54 at one end and the other end in the first direction D1. For example, the shape of the holes 55 is the same as the shape of the holes 24 described above. Because the holes 55 are formed, a space 56 is formed between the upper core material 40 and each of the pair of holes 55.

[0053] The space 56 is visible, for example, from a first direction D1. That is, the space 56 is exposed to the first direction D1. Also, the upper core material 40 extends in a flat manner above the hole 55. Therefore, in the space 56, the upper core material 40 is separated from the lower core material 50 (hole 55).

[0054] As described above, in the pillow core material 31 according to the second embodiment, the lower core material 50 has a projection 53 that protrudes in a second direction D2 from the upper core material 40 in a plan view. Therefore, the upper part of the user's neck or back rests on the projection 53 of the lower core material 50, and the upper part of the back can be supported by the projection 53. Consequently, the neck can be supported by the projection 53, which can suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the neck. Furthermore, since the upper part of the back can be supported together with the user's cheeks, it contributes to further improvement in sleeping comfort.

[0055] In the second embodiment, the lower core material 50 has a recess 52 that is recessed from the lower surface 51 of the lower core material 50. The pillow core material 31 is removable into and out of the recess 52 and includes a cushion member 60 that is harder than the upper core material 40. Therefore, the hardness of the lower core material 50 can be adjusted by inserting and removing the cushion member 60 into and out of the recess 52, so the hardness of the pillow core material 31 can be adjusted according to the user's needs. In addition, the cushion member 60 is made of a harder material than the upper core material 40. Therefore, when you want a pillow that is somewhat firm to firmly support your head, rather than a soft pillow, you can make the pillow core material 31 firm by inserting the cushion member 60 into the recess 52.

[0056] In the second embodiment, the space 56 is visible when viewed along the first direction D1. Therefore, the space 56 formed between the upper core material 40 and the lower core material 50 can be seen from the side of the pillow core material 31.

[0057] (Third embodiment) Next, the pillow core material 71 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8, 9, and 10. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the pillow core material 71. Figure 9 is a bottom view showing the pillow core material 71. Figure 10 is a side view of the pillow core material 71 viewed along the first direction D1.

[0058] For example, in a plan view, the pillow core material 71 has a rectangular shape. The pillow core material 71 has, for example, a first side surface 72b that extends along a first direction D1 and is aligned along a second direction D2, and a second side surface 72c that extends along the second direction D2 and is aligned along the first direction D1. The pillow core material 71 has an upper core material 80 that is directed vertically upward and a lower core material 90 that is fixed to the upper core material 80 and directed downward.

[0059] For example, the material of the upper core material 80 is the same as the material of the upper core material 10. Also, the material of the lower core material 90 is different from the material of the lower core material 20 (for example, molded urethane). The lower core material 90 is made of flexible urethane foam, for example. Furthermore, the lower core material 90 is made of a harder material than the upper core material 80.

[0060] For example, the upper core material 80 is bonded to the lower core material 90 while it is superimposed on it. The pillow core material 71 has adhesive portions 73 to which the upper core material 80 and the lower core material 90 are bonded to each other, and the adhesive portions 73 are provided at each end of the lower core material 90 in the second direction D2. At the adhesive portions 73, the upper core material 80 is bonded to both ends of the lower core material 90 in the second direction D2 via adhesive.

[0061] For example, when viewed from below, the outer shape of the lower core material 90 is rectangular. As an example, when viewed from below, the lower core material 90 has a pair of long sides 90b that extend in a first direction D1 and are aligned along a second direction D2. For example, the long sides 90b have a recess 91c that is recessed towards the center of the lower core material 90 at the center of the first direction D1.

[0062] The lower core material 90 has an upper surface 91 facing the upper core material 80, and a pair of holes 92 that are recessed downward from the upper surface 91 at one end and the other end in the first direction D1. The pair of holes 92 penetrate the lower core material 90 in the third direction D3. For example, in a plan view, the holes 92 have a triangular shape. In a plan view, the length of the holes 92 in the second direction D2 increases towards the end of the lower core material 90 in the first direction D1. As an example, in a plan view, the corners of the holes 92 located towards the center in the first direction D1 are rounded.

[0063] The lower core material 90 has an uneven surface structure 94 formed on its upper surface 91. The uneven surface structure 94 is formed by a plurality of protrusions 95 arranged along a second direction D2. The uneven surface 95 includes protrusions that project toward the upper core material 80 and recesses that are recessed relative to the protrusions. For example, the shape of the protrusions and recesses of the uneven surface 95 is U-shaped. The uneven surface structure 94 extends in a first direction D1. For example, the uneven surface structure 94 extends linearly along the first direction D1. In this case, the shape of the cross-section obtained by cutting the uneven surface structure 94 along a plane perpendicular to the first direction D1 is constant regardless of the position in the first direction D1.

[0064] For example, the upper core material 80 has a recess 81 located above the hole 92 of the lower core material 90, and a pair of raised portions 82 located above the uneven structure 94 of the lower core material 90 and on both ends of the recess 81 in the second direction D2. The hole 92 is located below the recess 81, and the recess 81 is recessed relative to the raised portions 82.

[0065] A ridged structure 94 is located below the raised portion 82, and the raised portion 82 comes into contact with the ridged structure 94 when subjected to a load from above. Therefore, when the user's side of the head presses down on the raised portion 82, the raised portion 82 comes into contact with the ridged structure 94, thereby promoting pressure distribution on the side of the head. For example, the recess 81 and the pair of raised portions 82 are not bonded to the lower core material 90.

[0066] The upper core material 80 has a pair of ends 83 located on each end of the lower core material 90 in the second direction D2. The pair of ends 83 sandwich the lower core material 90 from both ends in the second direction D2. Each end 83 has a lower surface 83b that faces vertically downward, and the lower core material 90 also has a lower surface 90d. When viewed from below, the lower surfaces 83b are formed on each end of the lower surface 90d in the second direction D2. As an example, each lower surface 83b and the lower surface 90d are flush.

[0067] Each of the pair of ends 83 is bonded to both ends of the lower core material 90 in the second direction D2 via adhesive portions 73. For example, the only bonding portions of the upper core material 80 to the lower core material 90 are the adhesive portions 73 located at both ends of the lower core material 90 in the second direction D2, and the upper core material 80 is not bonded to the lower core material 90 in areas other than the adhesive portions 73. In this case, for example, the upper core material 80 is deformable in the recessed portion 81 and the raised portion 82.

[0068] As described above, in the pillow core material 71 according to the third embodiment, the lower core material 90 has an uneven structure 94 formed on its upper surface 91. The upper core material 80 and the uneven structure 94 are not bonded to each other. Therefore, when the cheek rests on the soft upper core material 80, the uneven structure 94 located beneath the upper core material 80 can gently support the cheek. The uneven structure 94 can more effectively distribute the pressure on the cheek, thus improving sleeping comfort when sleeping on one's side.

[0069] In the third embodiment, the uneven structure 94 extends in the first direction D1, and the bumps 95 constituting the uneven structure 94 are aligned along the second direction D2. Therefore, as the uneven structure 94 of the lower core material 90 extends along the first direction D1, the user's head faces the uneven structure 94 extending in the first direction D1. Consequently, when the user turns over in their sleep, the uneven structure 94 extending in the first direction D1 stimulates the user's head, thereby distributing head pressure, improving breathability, and improving blood flow to the head to prevent hair loss.

[0070] In the third embodiment, a pair of holes 92 penetrate the lower core material 90 in the third direction D3. Therefore, when the user's cheek presses against the upper core material 80, the upper core material 80 can be indented more easily. Consequently, it can gently cradle the cheek when sleeping on one's side, contributing to further improvement in sleeping comfort.

[0071] (Examples) Next, an example of the pillow core material according to the embodiment will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. Using the pillow core material 1 according to the first embodiment described above as an example, an experiment was conducted to measure cheek pressure using a pillow core material having a lower core material without a hole 24 and an upper core material 10 as a comparative example. This experiment was conducted with 20 women as subjects, and the results of the pressure measurement of 3 of them are shown in Figure 11.

[0072] Figure 11 shows "A," "B," and "C" representing the three subjects mentioned earlier. Darker colors indicate higher pressure, while lighter colors indicate lower pressure. As shown in Figure 11, for all subjects "A," "B," and "C," the pillow core material 1 of the embodiment with the holes 24 reduced cheek pressure compared to the pillow core material of the comparative example without the holes 24, indicating superior pressure distribution. It is known that strong irritation to the skin can easily lead to melanin production, and continuous pressure on the skin can disrupt normal skin cell turnover, making it prone to blemishes. In contrast, the pillow core material 1 of the embodiment comprises a soft upper core material 10 and a lower core material 20 with holes 24, thus enhancing pressure distribution and gently supporting the cheeks while preventing the causes of blemishes. Furthermore, subjective evaluations were conducted by the 20 subjects mentioned earlier, and the results of the subjective evaluations also showed that the embodiment was superior.

[0073] Figure 12 shows the maximum pressure (mmHg) and average pressure (mmHg) for the example and comparative example obtained from the above experiment. As shown in Figure 12, it was found that the pillow core material 1 having the hole 24 according to the example showed a reduction in both the maximum pressure and the average pressure compared to the pillow core material of the comparative example that does not have the hole 24. Specifically, it was found that the pillow core material 1 according to the example showed a reduction in the maximum pressure of approximately 10 mmHg and the average pressure of approximately 3 mmHg compared to the pillow core material of the comparative example.

[0074] The various embodiments and examples of the pillow core material according to this disclosure have been described above. However, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or examples described above, and can be further modified without changing the gist of the claims. That is, the structure, shape, size, material, number, and arrangement of each part of the pillow core material according to this disclosure can be appropriately modified within the scope of the gist described above. The pillow core material according to the first to third embodiments has been described above, but the pillow core material according to this disclosure may be a pillow core material that combines these embodiments. That is, it may be a pillow core material that combines a part of the first to third embodiments with other parts that are different from that part of the first to third embodiments.

[0075] For example, in the second embodiment described above, a lower core material 50 was described in which the side portion facing the first direction D1 or the second direction D2 and the lower surface 51 are exposed and visible. However, in the lower core material 50 according to the second embodiment, only the lower surface 51 may be exposed, similar to the lower core material 20 of the first embodiment. That is, similar to the first embodiment, only the lower surface 51 may be exposed, and the portion other than the lower surface 51 may be covered by the upper core material 40. Also, the pillow core material 1 according to the first embodiment may have a protruding portion 53. That is, in the pillow core material 1, the lower core material 20 may have a protruding portion 53 extending in the second direction D2.

[0076] For example, in the embodiment described above, a pillow core material 1 comprising a lower core material 20 and an upper core material 10 having higher breathability than the lower core material 20 was described. However, the breathability of the upper core material does not have to be higher than that of the lower core material, and the breathability of the upper core material can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a lower core material 20 having through holes 22 was described, but the lower core material 20 does not have to have through holes 22.

[0077] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, a pillow core material 71 was described that includes a lower core material 90 having an uneven structure 94 extending in a first direction D1. However, the uneven structure of the lower core material 90 is not limited to extending in the first direction D1. For example, the lower core material may have an uneven structure in which the unevenness is arranged in a grid pattern. Also, in the embodiments described above, a pillow core material 1 that exhibits a butterfly shape in plan view was described. However, the shape of the pillow core material in plan view may be other than a butterfly shape and is not particularly limited. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 1…Core material for pillow, 2b…First side, 2c…Second side, 2d…First recess, 2f…Second recess, 10…Upper core material, 11…Bottom surface, 11b…Third curved section, 11c…Fourth curved section, 20…Lower core material, 21…Bottom surface, 21b…First curved section, 21c…Second curved section, 22…Through hole, 22b…First through hole, 22c…Second through hole, 23…Top surface, 24…Hole section, 25…Convex section, 25b…First convex section, 25c…Second convex section, 26…Concave, 27…Space, 31…Core material for pillow, 32b…First side, 32c…Second side, 32d…Third side, 40…Upper core material, 50…Lower Core material, 51...lower surface, 51b...first extension part, 51c...second extension part, 52...recess, 53...projection part, 53b...upper surface, 54...upper surface, 55...hole part, 56...space part, 60...cushion member, 61...plane, 71...core material for pillow, 72b...first side surface, 72c...second side surface, 73...contact Wearing part, 80...upper core material, 81...recessed part, 82...raised part, 83...end part, 83b...bottom surface, 90...lower core material, 90b...long side, 90d...bottom surface, 91...upper surface, 91c...recessed part, 92...hole part, 94...uneven structure, 95...unevenness, D1...first direction, D2...second direction, D3...third direction.

Claims

1. A pillow core material that extends in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction in a plan view, and has thickness in a third direction intersecting both the first and second directions, An upper core material directed vertically upward, A lower core material fixed to the upper core material and oriented vertically downward, Equipped with, The upper core material is made of a softer material than the lower core material. The lower core material has a pair of holes that are recessed downward from the upper surface of the lower core material at each of the first ends and the other end in the first direction. A space is formed between the upper core material and each of the pair of holes, with the upper core material separated from the lower core material. When the user of the pillow core material sleeps on their side, the user's cheek presses against the upper core material, causing the space to shrink and the soft upper core material to deform to conform to the cheek. Pillow core material.

2. The upper core material is made of a material that has higher breathability than the lower core material. The pillow core material according to claim 1.

3. The lower core material has a through hole that penetrates the lower core material in the third direction between the pair of holes. The pillow core material according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The lower core material has a pair of protrusions located at one end and the other end in the second direction, and a recess located between the pair of protrusions. The upper core material and each of the pair of protrusions are bonded to each other. The upper core material and the recess are not bonded to each other. The pillow core material according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The lower core material has a projection that protrudes from the upper core material in the second direction when viewed in plan. The pillow core material according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The lower core material has a recess that extends from the lower surface of the lower core material, It is removable from the aforementioned recess and includes a cushioning member that is harder than the aforementioned upper core material. The pillow core material according to claim 1 or 2.

7. When viewed along the first direction, the space is visible. The pillow core material according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The lower core material has an uneven structure formed on its upper surface. The upper core material and the uneven structure are not bonded to each other. The pillow core material according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The aforementioned uneven structure extends in the first direction, and the unevenness constituting the uneven structure is aligned along the second direction. The pillow core material according to claim 8.

10. The pair of holes penetrate the lower core material in the third direction. The pillow core material according to claim 1 or 2.

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