System and methods for an orthopedic pillow that repels microbes and fungi

Abstract

The subject matter described herein relates to a series of orthopedic and hotel pillows that will reduce neck pain, headaches, help with TMJ symptoms, inhibit snoring, improve cervical spine neutrality, and assist in shoulder support while sleeping. The pillows are customized for the consumer using quantifiable scientific data resulting in proper cervical alignment when sleeping. The claimed system removes any guess-work associated with purchasing pillows and reduces customer dissatisfaction, improves comfort and reduces pain and injury. The claimed material of the pillows also combats microbes and fungi.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE SYSTEM

[0001] The subject matter described herein relates to customized orthopedic and hotel pillows designs made for back sleepers, side sleepers and back / side sleepers. Most consumer pillows on the market are not customized to consumer personal needs. Additionally, consumers end up engaging in guess work to find an orthopaedic pillow which suits their needs, as there is typically a lack of scientific testing data relating to how certain orthopaedic pillows affect conditions such as cervical pain, headaches, TMJ, snoring and poor posture. This approach results in significant dissatisfaction, discomfort, pain and injury for many consumers, as everyone has different sizes, shapes and cervical needs. A product which is tailored for an individual's posture, body type, size and shape, as well as any changes in a person's size and shape, would be an improvement to an end user's experience. A customized pillow would also help provide support to the cervical spine and shoulders and help improve posture.

[0002] Furthermore, pillows may become breeding grounds for microbes and fungi as a result of use. Changes to the composition of pillow materials can help reduce and eliminate microbes and fungi, however, current manufacturing methods make it prohibitively expensive to manufacture a pillow that can reduce and eliminate microbes and fungi.

[0003] The invention described within creates an approach that is individually tailored to the consumer by removing the “guess work” involved in pillow purchasing by using scientific data to create it, thereby preventing dissatisfaction, improving comfort, and reducing pain and injury. As such, it is able to help with the repair and maintenance of cervical spine, provide shoulder support, improve posture and combat microbes and fungi.SUMMARY

[0004] The subject matter described herein relates to a pillow which is designed for the consumer based on scientific research. The pillows have various sizes that can be based on the consumer's body for accurate height and width of the cervical portion of the pillow for proper cervical alignment when sleeping. The claimed system removes any guess-work associated with purchasing pillows and reduces customer dissatisfaction, improves comfort and reduces pain and injury. The claimed pillows also use a novel combination of copper and silver to provide protection against microbes, viruses and fungi.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a supine sleeping embodiment of the invention;

[0006] FIG. 2 is a front plan view for a supine sleeping embodiment of the invention;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a rear plan view for a supine sleeping embodiment of the invention;

[0008] FIG. 4 is a left-side plan view for a supine sleeping embodiment of the invention;

[0009] FIG. 5 is a right-side plan view for a supine sleeping embodiment of the invention;

[0010] FIG. 6 is a top plan view for a supine sleeping embodiment of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view for a supine sleeping embodiment of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM

[0012] The system provides an apparatus consisting of a customized pillow along with the customization process. The system is described herein.

[0013] As seen in FIGS. 1-7, in one embodiment of the custom pillow, the custom supine sleeping pillow 11 is comprised of a single piece, which contains features including a sloped section 13 which contains neck indent 15 in the center, and divot 17. The dimensions of these features are selected based on empirical scientific measurements of users in supine sleeping positions. These dimensions include the overall length 12 and width 14 of the pillow 11, the height 16 of sloped section 13, and the diameter 18 and depth 19 of divot 17. The interior of the pillow will be made up of a proprietary blend of specialized foam in various densities and durometer calculations that creates the interior of the pillow.

[0014] In another embodiment of the custom pillow, the custom combination sleeping pillow is comprised of a single piece, which contains features including a curved section and divot. The dimensions of these features are selected based on empirical scientific measurements of users in lateral sleeping positions and supine sleeping positions in order to create a pillow that is suitable for a mix of lateral and supine sleeping positions. These dimensions include the length, width and height of the pillow, and the height and thickness of the curved section and the diameter of the divot.

[0015] In yet another embodiment of the custom pillow, the custom lateral sleeping pillow is comprised of two pieces, a first part and a second part. The first part contains features including a curved section. These two pieces are selected based on empirical scientific measurements of users in lateral sleeping positions. The relevant dimensions include the overall length, width and height of the pillow, the height of the curved section, and the thickness of the second part.

[0016] In another embodiment of the custom pillow, the custom combination sleeping pillow is composed of a single rectangular piece.

[0017] In order to combat microbes and fungi, the parts of the custom pillows are manufactured using a novel combination of copper and silver in the manufacturing of the foam. A novel blend of polyurethane foam consisting of a concentration range of 0.10% (w / w %) to 0.20% (w / w %) of copper nanoparticles is poured into scientifically designed molds at a specific density depending on the measurements and data collected in the app. After the copper foam is formed, heated and cooled, the exterior of the copper foam pieces is covered in a phase-change material (PCM) silver nanoparticle infused gel layer containing a concentration range of 0.10% (w / w %) to 1.0% (w / w %) of silver nanoparticles. This combination of copper and silver nanoparticles provides protection against microbes, viruses and fungi. In the preferred embodiment, the PCM is a water-based paraffin wax PCM solution, but any PCM known in the art can be used.

[0018] The above preferred embodiments of the system are examples, and the system is not limited to the disclosed preferred embodiments.

[0019] Thus, a system for customizing a pillow and the associated custom pillow has been described.

Claims

1. A method for producing a custom orthopedic pillow, the method comprising:obtaining data from a user;using said data to select at least one foam piece, wherein the size, shape and density of each foam piece is determined by scientific data;wherein at least one foam piece is composed of a polyurethane foam containing copper and further covered with a layer of gel containing silver;assembling a single pillow using at least one foam piece.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes whether the user prefers to sleep in a lateral sleeping position, a supine sleeping position, or a mixture of both.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is generated from user input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a foam piece consists of a sloped section containing an indentation in the center to place a sleeper's neck and a divot to rest the head.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a foam piece consists of a curved section to place a sleeper's neck indent and a divot to rest the head.

6. A customized orthopedic pillow comprising:At least one foam piece;wherein the size, shape and density of at least one foam piece is determined by information about the consumer;wherein at least one foam piece is composed of a polyurethane foam containing copper and further covered with a layer of gel containing silver.

7. The pillow of claim 6, wherein the information includes whether the consumer prefers to sleep in a lateral sleeping position, a supine sleeping position, or a mixture of both.

8. The pillow of claim 6, wherein the information is generated from input by the consumer.

9. The pillow of claim 6, wherein a foam piece consists of a sloped section containing an indentation in the center to place a sleeper's neck and a divot to rest the head.

10. The pillow of claim 6, wherein a foam piece consists of a curved section to place a sleeper's neck indent and a divot to rest the head.

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