Adjustable-thickness pillow

Abstract

The invention describes an adjustable-thickness pillow (1) comprising: two foam layers (21, 22) joined by the perimeter edge (23) thereof to form an internal cavity; an inflatable cushion (3) with essentially parallel upper and lower faces, contained in the internal cavity, which is formed by a plurality of prismatic air chambers (31) disposed next to each other in a grid pattern and interconnected; and an inflating valve (4) joined to the inflatable cushion (3) and accessible from the outside of the foam layers (21, 22) for inflating the inflatable cushion (3). This design enables the thickness of the pillow (1) to be adjusted by controlling the inflation pressure of the inflatable cushion (3).

Description

[0001] Adjustable thickness pillow

[0002] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The object of the present invention is a foam pillow with inflatable air chambers configured in such a way that allows its thickness to be adjusted to the needs of each user.

[0004] TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0005] The present invention falls within the sector of household items or appliances, coffee grinders, spice grinders, vacuum cleaners in general, especially in quilts, duvets, travel blankets, mats or similar, sleeping bags and pillows, as well as in bed linen, blankets, bedspreads and bedspreads.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007] The present invention arises because many people do not rest well or experience neck pain due to the difficulty of finding a pillow that properly adapts to their height or sleeping posture.

[0008] This occurs when the head and neck are not properly aligned and at an appropriate height that fits each person's specific measurements during sleep, causing discomfort and neck pain. Fig. 1 shows a person sleeping with a pillow using the above technique.

[0009] Consequently, this invention presents a pillow with adjustable thickness that aims to provide personalized support by adjusting the height appropriately for the head and neck, allowing for a more comfortable rest and avoiding neck pain.

[0010] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The aforementioned drawbacks are resolved with a pillow equipped with internal air chambers that allow its thickness to be adjusted. This allows the user to adapt the pillow's thickness to their needs, making it easier to maintain a correct posture and, therefore, reducing the likelihood of neck pain.

[0012] Precise adjustment of the pillow's inflation pressure allows for a personalized fit that maximizes the user's comfort and cervical alignment. A pillow configuration is also described that allows for different thicknesses to be configured for head and neck support, improving ergonomics and adapting to specific postures. Furthermore, the structural design of the chambers minimizes sudden changes in shape, even with user movements, providing a stable and comfortable experience.

[0013] The adjustable-thickness pillow of the present invention consists primarily of the following components: two layers of foam, an inflatable cushion, and an inflation valve. Each of these components is described in greater detail below:

[0014] - Foam layers

[0015] It consists of two layers of foam joined together by their perimeter contour to form an interior cavity.

[0016] The foam layers can be made of any suitable material, although memory foam is preferred. Memory foam is particularly suitable because it adapts to the body's shape and is highly resilient. This material distributes pressure evenly, increasing comfort and improving support. These layers should be thick enough to provide comfort to the user, for example, between 1 cm and 5 cm.

[0017] The connection between the two can be implemented in any way, for example, by means of seams or adhesives. However, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the foam layers comprise a zipper arranged along their perimeter contour. This makes it possible to remove the inflatable cushion from the cavity, for example, in the event of a puncture or to facilitate cleaning.

[0018] - Inflatable cushion. The inflatable cushion has substantially parallel upper and lower faces and is housed in said inner cavity. Furthermore, the inflatable cushion is formed by a plurality of prismatic air chambers arranged side by side in a matrix pattern and interconnected with each other. The cushion may be made of a high-strength, flexible polymer to prevent leaks and ensure durability.

[0019] In other words, the air chambers are shaped like parallel-axis columns or prisms arranged side by side. The cross-section of these columns or prisms can be any shape, although hexagonal, cylindrical, or circular shapes are preferred.

[0020] Air chambers can be interconnected in various ways, although designs with a small airflow between them will be chosen to prevent the shape of the cushion as a whole from changing too rapidly in response to changes in pressure exerted by the user's head. For example, the interconnections between adjacent air chambers can have a cross section smaller than 2 cm. 2 , more preferably even less than 1 cm 2 , which helps to minimize the air flow between them caused by the user's movements.

[0021] As for the interconnection pattern, it can also be chosen in any way. Just as an example, the air chambers can be interconnected in rows. That is, in each row, air enters through the chamber at its end and moves along the row until it is completely filled. This configuration would require a perimeter duct running along at least one side of the cushion perimeter, thus allowing air to enter each row of air chambers.

[0022] Regarding the height of the prismatic air chambers, it will be appropriate for ergonomic support of the patient's head and neck. For example, when fully inflated, the prismatic air chambers can be between 1 cm and 10 cm high.

[0023] - Inflation valve. The inflation valve is attached to the inflatable cushion and is accessible from the outside of the foam layers for inflating the cushion. That is, the foam layers will have a hole so that the mouth of the inflation valve is accessible from the outside. One or more conduits will connect the inflation valve, usually a non-return valve, to one or more chambers of the inflatable cushion, depending on its configuration.

[0024] Thanks to this structure, the thickness of the pillow of the present invention can be regulated by controlling the inflation pressure of the inflatable cushion. When the inflatable cushion is fully inflated, the prismatic columnar chambers reach their maximum height, and therefore the thickness of the pillow is maximum. When the inflatable cushion is inflated at a lower pressure, the prismatic columnar chambers do not reach their maximum height, and therefore the thickness of the pillow is reduced. The shape of the pillow can be rectangular, as is customary in this field.

[0025] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pillow comprises two inflatable cushions arranged side by side and capable of being inflated independently. Thus, by controlling the inflation pressure of both cushions, a pillow with two zones of different thicknesses is obtained. This is particularly advantageous, for example, when it is desired to provide the pillow with a first thickness intended to support the neck and a second thickness intended to support the head.

[0026] To inflate the two independent inflatable cushions, two separate inflation valves could be used. However, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pillow comprises a single inflation valve provided with a user-actuated selector configured to select which of the two inflatable cushions is inflated at any given time. This selector can take the form of a button or small lever that would connect the inlet to a first conduit connected to the first cushion or, alternatively, to a second conduit connected to the second cushion. The user could thus inflate the first cushion, for example, the one intended for neck support, and then, after actuating the selector, inflate the second cushion, in this case the one intended for the head. Each cushion could be inflated to a different pressure, and therefore the pillow would have two thicknesses adapted respectively to the user's neck and head.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pillow further comprises an adhesion means disposed between the upper and lower faces of the inflatable cushion and the two foam layers to prevent relative displacement between them, maintaining ergonomics. This adhesion means may be, for example, some type of adhesive, Velcro-type hook-and-loop structures, or the like. This ensures that the cushion's position within the cavity is maintained correctly, i.e., with the upper and lower faces of the cushion parallel to the respective two foam layers.

[0027] The pillow of the present invention can be inflated in any suitable manner, either manually or automatically. For example, to facilitate inflation, the pillow preferably comprises an integrated electric compressor located adjacent to the inflation valve. In a particularly preferred embodiment, inflation control means can be included with automatic adjustments based on pressure or weight sensors, optimizing the user experience without manual intervention.

[0028] Finally, the pillow of the invention may also have a cover to prevent excessive wear of the foam layers and reduce the likelihood of allergies. The cover may be made of any suitable fabric, preferably hypoallergenic and easy to clean.

[0029] Note that, if automatic inflation means are used, the pillow could include some type of processing means, for example, a microcontroller, microprocessor, or similar, connected both to said automatic inflation means and to one or more pressure sensors arranged inside the cushion. In this way, the pillow could be configured to automatically inflate the cushion to a predetermined desired pressure. This processing means could have communication means, for example, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, to communicate with a dedicated app installed on the user's mobile phone. This would allow the user to choose the desired inflation pressure.

[0030] In preferred embodiments, the pillow could have a set of different types of sensors to detect parameters related to its use. For example, the pillow could have temperature sensors, additional pressure sensors distributed across the upper surface of the pillow to detect the specific areas of the pillow on which the user's head rests, etc. The data obtained by these sensors could be received by the processing means and, through the communication means, sent to the app to provide a sleep quality analysis or to optimize the most appropriate inflation settings for the user.

[0031] The pillow could also have a layer of thermally regulating material, such as cooling gels or heat-conducting fibers. This layer could be placed under one of the foam layers, for example. If necessary, heating elements could be included. To power these types of elements, such as small resistors, or others that may require power, the pillow could have a small built-in battery.

[0032] EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a user using a conventional pillow.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows a user using an example of a pillow according to the invention.

[0035] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a pillow according to the present invention.

[0036] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a pillow according to the invention with the foam layers transparent to show its internal structure.

[0037] Fig. 5 shows a side view of a pillow according to the invention with a low inflation pressure that allows obtaining a reduced thickness.

[0038] Fig. 5 shows a side view of a pillow according to the invention with a high inflation pressure to obtain maximum thickness.

[0039] Figs. 7A and 7B show two alternative examples of filling system: electric compressor and manual filling.

[0040] Figs. 8 and 9 show top and side section views of another example of a pillow with two cushions, so that it can have two different thicknesses for the head and neck.

[0041] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION. Some examples of pillows (1) according to the present invention are described below with reference to the attached figures.

[0042] Figs. 2-7 show different views and inflation states of a first example of pillow (1) according to the present invention.

[0043] This pillow (1) of this first example comprises two layers (21 , 22) of viscoelastic foam of essentially rectangular shape that are joined together through their perimeter contour (23). In this example, the union between both is carried out through adhesives, although other forms of union such as seams or even a zipper are possible. The perimeter contour (23) runs along the entire "edge" of the pillow (1), such that in the space between the two layers (21 , 22) of foam, an essentially rectangular cavity is formed. The thickness of the foam layers (21 , 22) in this example is 2 cm, although other different thicknesses are possible depending on each application.

[0044] An inflatable cushion (3) is housed within said cavity between the two layers (21, 22) of viscoelastic foam. The inflatable cushion (3) also has a rectangular shape and a thickness that varies depending on the filling pressure. More specifically, the inflatable cushion (3) is formed by a plurality of air chambers (31) in the form of a prismatic column with a hexagonal cross-section and parallel axes, which are arranged next to each other in a matrix pattern. The air chambers (31) are interconnected with each other such that they all inflate simultaneously when air is introduced through a valve (4). In the fully filled state, the height of the air chambers (31) in this example is 6 cm. The valve (4) is arranged in a corner of the inflatable cushion (3) and protrudes through a dedicated hole made in the foam layers (21, 22) in an area of ​​the perimeter contour (23) of both, in this case next to a corner.The valve (4) is therefore located on one edge of the pillow (1). The valve (4) is normally a non-return valve.

[0045] Although it is not visible in the figures, the interconnections between some air chambers (31) and others have a cross section of less than 1 cm. 2 . Thanks to this configuration, the air takes time to pass from one to the other, which prevents small movements of the user from being immediately reflected in the shape of the pillow (1) and thus generating an uncomfortable sensation. To fill the pillow (1) of the invention, automatic means can be used, as shown in Fig. 7A. The automatic means can consist of an electric compressor connected to the valve (4). This compressor can be external (as shown in Fig. 7A), or it can be integrated into the pillow (1) together with the valve (4) itself.

[0046] Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 7B, manual means can be used. These would be valves suitable for manual blowing, either directly by mouth or using hand or foot pumps.

[0047] Ultimately, thanks to this configuration, each user can decide the thickness of the pillow (1) they need. For example, a particular user could inflate the inflatable cushion (3) halfway, so that the air chambers (31) take on a height of approximately 3 cm. Adding the thickness of the two layers (21, 22) of memory foam, the total thickness of the pillow (1) will be 7 cm. Another user, on the other hand, might feel more comfortable with a taller pillow, in which case they would only have to inflate the inflatable cushion (3) to its maximum capacity, in which case the total thickness of the pillow (1) would reach 10 cm.

[0048] Figs. 8 and 9 show a second example of a pillow (1) according to the invention comprising two cushions (3a, 3b). More specifically, this pillow (1) has a first cushion (3a) and a second cushion (3b), both with the same structure described above in this document. These two cushions (3a, 3b) are adjacent, being arranged next to each other, and can be filled independently. To this end, in this example a single valve (4) is used having one inlet and two outlets, one outlet being connected to the first cushion (3a) through a first conduit (5a) and the other connected to the second cushion (3b) through a second conduit (5b). A selector (not shown in the figures), for example, a button or small lever, makes it possible to select through which of the outlets of the valve (4) the air introduced through the inlet is transmitted. In this way, both cushions (31, 32) can be filled through the same valve (4).

[0049] In this second pillow example (1), therefore, each cushion (3) can be filled to a different pressure. For example, one of them can be completely filled, while the other can be filled only to an intermediate point. As a result, this pillow (1) can have two different thicknesses, one specifically adapted to the neck area and the other to the head area of ​​the user.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Pillow (1) with adjustable thickness, characterized in that it comprises: - two layers (21, 22) of foam joined by their perimeter contour (23) to form an interior cavity; - an inflatable cushion (3) with essentially parallel upper and lower faces housed in said inner cavity, which is formed by a plurality of prismatic air chambers (31) arranged next to each other according to a matrix pattern and interconnected with each other; and - an inflation valve (4) connected to said inflatable cushion (3) and accessible from the outside of the foam layers (21, 22) for inflating said inflatable cushion (3), such that the thickness of the pillow (1) can be regulated by controlling the inflation pressure of the inflatable cushion (3).

2. Pillow (1) according to claim 1, comprising two inflatable cushions (3a, 3b) arranged side by side which can be inflated independently, such that, by controlling the inflation pressure of both cushions (3a, 3b), a pillow (1) with two zones of different thicknesses is obtained.

3. Pillow (1) according to claim 2, comprising a single inflation valve (4) provided with a user-actuated selector configured to choose which of the two inflatable cushions (3a, 3b) is inflated at any given time.

4. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the prismatic air chambers (31), when fully inflated, have a height of between 1 cm and 10 cm.

5. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the foam layers (21, 22) comprise a zipper arranged along its perimeter contour (23) to allow the inflatable cushion (2) to be removed from the cavity.

6. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an adhesion means arranged between the upper and lower faces of the inflatable cushion (3) and the two layers (21, 22) of foam to prevent relative displacements between them.

7. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air chambers (31) are prismatic columns with hexagonal, cylindrical or circular cross-section.

8. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the interconnections between adjacent air chambers (31) have a section smaller than 2 cm. 2 to reduce airflow caused by the user's movements.

9. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air chambers (31) are interconnected by rows.

10. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, having an essentially rectangular shape.

11. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the two layers (21, 22) of foam are made of viscoelastic foam.

12. Pillow (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an integrated electric compressor located next to the inflation valve (4).

Images