Cervical support pillow for alleviating herniated cervical disc and snoring

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cervical support pillow for alleviating a herniated cervical disc and snoring, and, more specifically, to a cervical support pillow for alleviating a herniated cervical disc and snoring, the pillow providing comfort to the neck, inducing correction through a contoured structure so as to alleviate a herniated cervical disc and snoring, and having a low permanent compression set and high elasticity, thereby providing excellent usability. The cervical support pillow for alleviating a herniated cervical disc and snoring, according to one embodiment of the present invention, is formed by including a body formed in the shape of extruded fibers with high elasticity, the pillow comprising: an occipital support part recessed at the center of the upper surface of the body so as to support the occipital of a user; ear support parts extending from both sides of the occipital support part and recessed to support the ears of the user; a neck support part which is provided in front of the occipital support part, and which has a convex surface protruding in a round shape so as to support the neck; and a body filling part forming the body while elastically supporting the lower surface of the occipital support part.

Description

Cervical support pillow to relieve cervical disc herniation and snoring

[0001] The present invention relates to a cervical support pillow that alleviates cervical disc herniation and snoring, and more particularly, to a cervical support pillow that provides comfort to the neck, induces correction with a concave structure to alleviate cervical disc herniation and snoring, and has a low permanent compression reduction rate and high elasticity to provide excellent usability.

[0002] Pillows of various shapes and sizes are commonly used to provide comfort to the human body during sleep. These pillows offer a variety of additional features beyond their basic purpose, helping to promote a restful night's sleep. For example, pillows with ergonomically modified structures, such as pillows for disc herniation and height-adjustable pillows, are being released. Most pillows are customized to provide greater comfort to the body's various acquired deformities.

[0003] Since the head is generally heavy, the position of the pillow where the head touches the user when lying down comfortably occurs. Conventional pillows attempted to solve this phenomenon of pressing by simply making the cervical part of the pillow different in height from other parts, but the simple height difference had limitations in maintaining or inducing the C-curve shape of the neck. In addition, there were frequent cases where the height difference between the weight of the user's head and the C-shaped cervical part of the neck was not maintained during long periods of sleep, which caused problems such as acting as a factor that interfered with deep sleep.

[0004] Furthermore, the reason why pillows that promote proper sleeping posture have not been released is due to a lack of accurate understanding of the human body. Even in the case of a primitive person with an intact musculoskeletal system, when lying down in a proper sleeping posture, the occipital bone feels pressure resistance due to the contact between the skull and the ground, and the resulting discomfort causes the person to toss and turn or lie on the side in an attempt to reduce the pressure resistance. Therefore, although the pressure resistance is reduced, because it is not a proper sleeping posture, this sleeping posture does not help maintain the proper posture for a long time, which causes the problem of disturbing deep sleep.

[0005] Furthermore, conventional pillows didn't take into account the fact that when transitioning from a normal to a side-lying position, the head and body typically curl up. This led to severe problems, such as the head slipping off the pillow when lying on the side. Furthermore, the shoulder area would touch the pillow when lying on the side, causing discomfort.

[0006] Due to these problems with conventional pillows, many of them often actually cause neck damage. While a pillow's primary function is to support the neck while you sleep, most pillows initially offer support but then gradually lose it. A hunched neck can lead to headaches, stiffness, and even cervical disc herniation. This can even lead to frozen shoulders or gallstones, requiring hospital visits.

[0007] The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and specifically, it aims to provide a cervical support pillow that provides comfort to the neck, induces correction with a concave-convex structure to reduce cervical disc herniation and snoring, and has a low permanent compression reduction rate and high elasticity to provide excellent usability and reduce cervical disc herniation and snoring.

[0008] The present invention relates to a cervical support pillow that alleviates cervical disc herniation and snoring.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is a cervical support pillow formed by including a body formed in the form of highly elastic extruded fiber, the pillow including: a laryngeal support portion concavely formed in the center of the upper surface of the body to support the larynx of a user; ear support portions concavely formed by extending to both sides of the laryngeal support portion to support the ears of the user; a neck support portion provided in front of the laryngeal support portion and having a rounded, protruding convex surface to support the neck; and a body filling portion that forms the body while elastically supporting a lower surface of the laryngeal support portion.

[0010] In addition, the body is formed by including a polyolefin elastomer, and more specifically, it is characterized in that it includes 10 to 50 parts by weight of a polyester elastomer having a melting point of 180 to 240°C and 10 to 50 parts by weight of an epoxy-modified polymer based on 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin elastomer, or further includes 1 to 10 parts by weight of one or more antibacterial powders selected from copper, silver, platinum, gold, zinc, palladium, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, and charcoal.

[0011] The cervical support pillow according to the present invention provides comfort to the neck by having a occipital support part, an ear support part, a neck support part, and a body filling part, and reduces cervical disc herniation and snoring by inducing correction with a rough structure, and has a low permanent compression reduction rate and high elasticity, so that it is excellent in use and always maintains cleanliness, while having the characteristics of reducing the user's cervical disc herniation and snoring.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cervical support pillow according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a cervical support pillow according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 3 is an exemplary drawing of a cervical support pillow manufactured according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cervical support pillow according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a portion of a cervical support pillow according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Fig. 6 is an exemplary drawing showing the material of the cervical support pillow proposed by the present invention.

[0018] Below, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted for clarity of description, and similar parts are designated with similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0019] Throughout the specification, whenever a part is said to "include" a component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it may include other components, unless otherwise stated.

[0020] The terms used in the embodiments of the present invention have been selected from widely used and common terms, taking into account the functions of the present invention. However, these terms may vary depending on the intentions of engineers working in the field, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Furthermore, in certain cases, terms may be arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in such cases, the meanings thereof will be described in detail in the description of the relevant embodiments. Therefore, the terms used in the embodiments should not be defined simply as names of the terms, but rather based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the embodiments.

[0021] In embodiments of the present invention, terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any item among a plurality of related described items.

[0022] Additionally, in the embodiments of the present invention, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0023] Additionally, in the embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0024] In embodiments of the present invention, a "module" or "part" performs at least one function or operation and may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software. Furthermore, multiple "modules" or multiple "parts" may be integrated into at least one module and implemented as at least one processor, excluding any "modules" or "parts" that require specific hardware implementation.

[0025] The cervical support pillow of the present invention may be made of a fiber-molded material with excellent breathability, elasticity, and resilience. The fiber-molded material is a type of memory foam that returns to its original shape when physical force is removed. Since it is not a foam material, it has superior rigidity compared to conventional pillows.

[0026] Unlike typical sponge or memory foam, these fiber-molded materials respond to body temperature and pressure when applied to pillows. They conform to the shape of the surface they touch, gently supporting the neck and lower back and dispersing pressure points. This allows them to distribute body weight, which is typically concentrated on the neck and head, thereby reducing stress during sleep.

[0027] Here, the cervical support pillow according to the present invention maintains an ergonomic shape compared to conventional memory foam bedding, thereby preventing deformation of the cervical disc or cervical vertebrae, and at the same time, due to its material properties, it prevents the growth of bacteria and has excellent mechanical properties.

[0028] The above cervical support pillow has a structure in which functional parts having various shapes are provided on a single large body (1), and the functional parts can be formed on an exposed surface of the body. Meanwhile, the exposed surface of the body can include a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a left surface, and a right surface. These surfaces form a curved surface, and the parts where they are connected to each other can be connected as a gently rounded surface.

[0029] When explaining the present invention through drawings, FIG. 1 is a drawing of a cervical support pillow, and the cervical support pillow may include a laryngeal support part (100) formed concavely in the center of the upper surface of a body (1) formed in the form of a highly elastic extruded fiber to support the larynx of a user; ear support parts (200) formed concavely by extending to both sides of the laryngeal support part to support the ears of the user; a neck support part (300) provided in front of the laryngeal support part and having a rounded, protruding convex surface to support the neck; and an air cushion part (400) formed on a lower surface of the laryngeal support part and expanding or contracting depending on whether air is injected or removed to raise or lower the laryngeal support part.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a drawing of a cervical support pillow according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cervical support pillow includes a laryngeal support portion (100) formed concavely in the center of the upper surface of a body (1) formed in the form of a highly elastic extruded fiber to support the larynx of a user; ear support portions (200) formed concavely by extending to both sides of the laryngeal support portion to support the ears of the user; a neck support portion (300) provided in front of the laryngeal support portion and having a rounded, protruding convex surface to support the neck; and a body filling portion (300a) forming the body while elastically supporting the lower surface of the laryngeal support portion, and may further include an auxiliary filling portion (400a) laminated on the lower side of the body filling portion.

[0031]

[0032] In the present invention, the occipital support member (100) may be formed concavely in the center of the upper surface to support the user's larynx. The occipital support member (100) comfortably supports the user's larynx (back of the head) over a wide area, thereby allowing natural tossing and turning during sleep by distributing pressure points on the larynx.

[0033] In addition, the laryngeal support member (100) has at least one second air passage formed sunken in, which is connected to the air passage of the neck support member to be described later, thereby securing a certain amount of space between the user's larynx and the laryngeal support member, thereby helping air circulation, drying sweat on the scalp, and reducing scalp heat.

[0034] In addition, the occipital support member (100) may be connected to descend from the upper surface of the pillow in a concave curved shape. The upper surface may be formed to be inclined in a shape in which the height decreases as it approaches the occipital support member (100), thereby supporting the load of the occipital region and cervical region like a hammock, providing a light feeling as if floating on water, and relieving muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, allowing natural tossing and turning during sleep with comfortable support.

[0035] In the present invention, the ear support member (200) may be provided as a pair, one on each side of the laryngeal support member (100), and each may be formed as a concave groove. At this time, the ear support member (200) may be provided such that the concave recessed portion is connected to the recessed portion of the laryngeal support member (100), but may be formed as a circular groove with a smaller depth and diameter than the laryngeal support member (100).

[0036] Through this, when the user turns to the side, the user's ears can be positioned in the groove of the ear support (200), preventing ear compression, thereby preventing deformation of the ears and providing a more comfortable experience. In addition, even when the user does not turn to the side but lies down in an upright position, both ears can be positioned in the ear support (100), preventing folding or compression of the ears and enabling the user to sleep soundly.

[0037] In the present invention, the neck support (300) may be formed in a concave curved shape that protrudes from the lower surface to the upper surface, and is formed on the front of the occipital support (100). Accordingly, when the user's occiput is placed on the occipital support (100), the user's neck is not pressed by the front, and the neck and shoulders are naturally positioned toward the front of the neck support (300) and the pillow, thereby allowing the user to maintain a comfortable posture and have a good night's sleep. In addition, by stably supporting the neck and shoulders so that they do not get stiff, the C-curve of the neck can be maintained or correction to the C-curve can be induced.

[0038] Additionally, the above neck support member (300) may further be provided with one or more air passages (310) formed recessed along the neck support member in the center.

[0039] The above air passage (310) is formed in the center of the neck support (300) in a direction connecting the user's back of the head to the neck, and may be formed to be more sunken so as to have a certain depth and width than the neck support (300). In addition, one or more air passages (310) may be formed, and through this, the pressure on the neck may be distributed, and a space may be formed between the neck and the neck support, thereby helping ventilation and relieving tension in the neck.

[0040] In particular, the air passage (310) is provided to be located below the user's cervical spine, and by allowing air to flow between the lower cervical spine and the neck support, moisture or sweat can be prevented from accumulating not only in the cervical spine but also in the larynx or temporal region.

[0041] In the present invention, the body filling part (300a) can form a body (1) by being surrounded by the ear support part (200) and the neck support part (300) while elastically supporting the lower surface of the laryngeal support part (100) due to the characteristics of the material. At this time, the body (1) is in the form of an extruded fiber with high elasticity, which will be described in detail later.

[0042] In addition, the body filling part (300a) is inclined forward of the ear support part (200), and as shown in Fig. 4, it has a trapezoidal shape with an upper and lower arch that is inclined at a predetermined angle (θ), which can induce structural elasticity and resilience.

[0043] The present invention may optionally include an air cushion part (400) or an auxiliary filling part (400a) at the lower part of the body filling part (300a).

[0044] In one embodiment, the air cushion part (400) is formed on the lower surface of the laryngeal support part and expands or contracts depending on whether air is injected or removed, thereby raising or lowering the laryngeal support part (100), thereby having the effect of relaxing the muscles located in the user's cervical region, shoulders, and neck.

[0045] Specifically, the air cushion part (400) may be provided with one or more air tubes having a plurality of wrinkles formed therein that expand or contract according to the injection or removal of air.

[0046] The above air tube can effectively suppress the phenomenon of reduced blood circulation compared to a general sponge cushion by repeatedly pulling and releasing the central cervical region (e.g., the 3rd to 5th cervical vertebrae) by expanding or contracting through the formation of multiple wrinkles, preventing cervical diseases caused by reduced blood circulation, and helping to relax the user's cervical region muscles.

[0047] When a plurality of air cushion units (400) are provided as described above, each air tube can be surface-coupled and a hole can be formed on one surface. Through this, each air tube can be connected to each other so that air can be injected or sucked in simultaneously.

[0048] In addition, the air cushion part (400) may be positioned on a base sheet (not shown) that does not directly contact the floor and has a certain degree of hardness to support the air cushion part for more uniform rise and fall.

[0049] In addition, the air cushion unit (400) may further include an air control unit that injects or removes air therein. At this time, the air control unit may include an air injection unit, an air hose, and a compressor.

[0050] The above air injection unit is formed on one side of the air tube and can serve as a passage for injecting air into the air tube or for escaping air inside the air tube, and the air hose is connected to the air injection unit and the compressor and can inject or suck air depending on the operation of the compressor.

[0051] In addition, the air cushion unit (400) may further include a control unit for controlling the amount of air injected. In this case, the control unit may include an operation unit such as a button or a display unit, thereby allowing the user to control the amount of air injected into the air cushion unit, the injection or suction pattern, the time, etc.

[0052] In particular, the control unit is provided with a DB storage unit, so that the air pressure when the user's cervical vertebra is tractioned is checked, the contents are stored in the DB storage unit, and the user's cervical vertebra can be repeatedly tractioned or released by adjusting the amount of air injected or sucked based on the result of comparing the stored air pressure with the current air pressure.

[0053] In another embodiment, in the present invention, the auxiliary filling part (400a) is a member that replaces the air cushion part (400), and can resiliently support the lower surface of the body filling part (300a) or hold it by frictional force by supplementing the body filling part (300a) by the characteristics of the material without the need for air injection by the air cushion part (400).

[0054] That is, a pillow according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include an auxiliary filling part (400a) that is laminated on the lower side of the body filling part (300a), and the auxiliary filling part (400a) is filled in a mesh to provide a buffering effect on the lower side of the body filling part (300a) and hold the body filling part (400a) by mutual frictional force.

[0055] In addition, the auxiliary filling part (400a) may include a first auxiliary filling part (400a-1) that contacts the lower surface of the body filling part (300a), and a second auxiliary filling part (400a-2) that contacts the lower surface of the first auxiliary filling part (400a-1).

[0056] Here, the first auxiliary filling part (400a-1) forms a shape corresponding to the lower surface of the body filling part (300a), and the second auxiliary filling part (400a-2) forms an empty space in a position corresponding to the occipital support part (100) in a 'U' wing shape, so that the user's head can be further inserted and guided to be settled on the occipital support part (100).

[0057] In particular, the auxiliary filling part (400a) is formed to be laminated in layers, such as the first auxiliary filling part (400a-1) and the second auxiliary filling part (400a-2), so as to perform a buffering function while allowing a certain movement through mutual frictional force and holding it so that it does not come off.

[0058] Additionally, the auxiliary filling portion (400a) may include a polyolefin elastomer in the form of highly elastic extruded fibers within a flat mesh that can be filled internally.

[0059] At this time, the present invention may further include a body cover (2) that wraps the body (1), as shown in FIG. 3, and the body cover (2) may be a well-ventilated mesh fabric.

[0060] In addition, the present invention may further include a finishing cover (not shown) that forms the outer skin of the body cover (2) and comes into contact with the face and head, and the finishing cover may be made of a soft and pleasant-to-the-touch rayon material fiber in spring, fall, and winter, and may be made of a cool polyethylene material fiber in the hot summer, and the bottom surface of the finishing cover may be made of a fabric that has been treated to prevent the pillow from coming off when tossing and turning or moving during sleep.

[0061] In the present invention, the manufacturing method of the body (1) is not limited.

[0062] For example, the body can be manufactured by including the steps of: a) extruding chips containing polyolefin elastomer into a fiber form; b) laminating the extruded fibers and then cutting them into a predetermined size; c) inserting the cut laminated fibers into a mold and applying a heat press; d) heating the mold for a predetermined period of time and then cooling it to form a body having a laryngeal support portion, etc. formed therein; and e) inserting the body into a cover to complete a pillow having a body filling portion formed therein.

[0063] In the present invention, the body (1) can be formed by molding a polyolefin elastomer in the form of a fiber, and the polyolefin elastomer can be molded into the form of a fiber by mixing it in the form of a chip with other components and then extruding it.

[0064] Specifically, the polyolefin elastomer may include 10 to 50 parts by weight of a polyester elastomer having a melting point of 180 to 240°C and 10 to 50 parts by weight of an epoxy-modified polymer per 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin elastomer so as to satisfy a certain level of elasticity and resilience.

[0065] In the present invention, the polyolefin elastomer (POE) is added to increase the elastic recovery capacity of the pillow. In the case of the polymer of a general memory foam material, the weight of the user's head is continuously applied to the pillow as the user uses the pillow while sleeping. This head weight acts as stress on the pillow, and as described above, if exposed to stress for a long period of time within the yield strength, the elastic recovery capacity gradually weakens over time, and there is a problem that a creep phenomenon occurs in which the shape of the pillow is eventually deformed. Therefore, the polyolefin elastomer is added to solve this problem.

[0066] The polyolefin elastomer may have a long chain branch (LCB), and specific examples thereof include at least one selected from the group consisting of linear low-density polyethylene, ethylene-octene rubber, ethylene-butene rubber, propylene-octene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. Preferably, the polyolefin elastomer may be linear low-density polyethylene, ethylene-octene rubber, or a mixture thereof, and most preferably, ethylene-octene rubber.

[0067] In addition, the polyolefin elastomer may have a density of 0.81 to 0.95 g / cm3, preferably 0.85 to 0.91 g / cm3, and most preferably 0.86 to 0.88 g / cm3. In addition, the polyolefin elastomer may have a melt flow index (Melt Flow Index, 230°C, 2.16 kg) of 2 to 9 g / 10min, preferably 3 to 7 g / 10min, and most preferably 4 to 6 g / 10min. In particular, if the density and melt flow index of the polyolefin elastomer do not satisfy both of the above ranges, the elastic recovery force of the manufactured pillow may be reduced, and an improved creep resistance effect cannot be expected.

[0068] In the present invention, the polyester-based elastomer is added to impart higher elastic recovery to the pillow and at the same time increase the bonding and miscibility between the polyolefin elastomer and other polymers, and is an elastomer including a polyester-based polymer, and is characterized by having a melting point of 180 to 240°C.

[0069] The polyester polymer included in the polyester elastomer of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a polymer having a bonding site formed by polymerization of a dicarboxylic acid and a diol. Examples of the polyester polymer include a polyester resin having an ester bonding site formed by the reaction (polycondensation) of a polyol component and a polycarboxylic acid component, and a polyester elastomer which is a block copolymer of a hard segment and a soft segment. In the present invention, a "polyester resin having an ester bonding site formed by the reaction (polycondensation) of a polyol component and a polycarboxylic acid component" is sometimes referred to as a "polyester resin." In addition, a "polyester elastomer which is a block copolymer of a hard segment and a soft segment" is sometimes referred to as an "HS block copolymer polyester elastomer." In addition, polyester polymers are used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0070] Examples of the above dicarboxylic acids include aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, naphthalenecarboxylic acid (e.g., 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, etc.), diphenyl ether dicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-biphenyl dicarboxylic acid, and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, and adipic acid. Meanwhile, the above dicarboxylic acids are used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0071] In addition, as the above diol component, for example, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol (tetramethylene glycol), 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol (neopentyl glycol), 1,6-hexanediol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, Aliphatic diols such as 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 2,4-diethyl-1,5-pentanediol, 2-methyl-1,8-octanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 2-methyl-1,9-nonanediol, 1,18-octadecanediol, and dimerdiol; alicyclic diols such as 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,3-cyclohexanediol, 1,2-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,3-cyclohexanedimethanol, and 1,2-cyclohexanedimethanol; Examples thereof include aromatic diols such as bisphenol A, ethylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A, bisphenol S, ethylene oxide adducts of bisphenol S, xylylenediol, and naphthalenediol; and diol components such as ether glycols such as diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and dipropylene glycol. Furthermore, the diol component may be a polymer-type diol component such as polyetherdiol or polyesterdiol. Examples of the polyetherdiol include polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, and copolyethers copolymerized with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and tetrahydrofuran. Meanwhile, the diol components may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0072] The polyester elastomer is preferably included in an amount of 10 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin elastomer. If the amount of polyester elastomer added exceeds the above range, the pillow may not be properly molded due to insufficient miscibility, or bacterial growth may become active due to increased hygroscopicity.

[0073] In the present invention, the epoxy-modified polymer is a polymer having an epoxy group at the main chain terminal or side chain, which serves to improve the mechanical properties of the pillow, and in particular, contains epoxy as a functional group, so it has the characteristic of high miscibility with the polyolefin elastomer or polyester elastomer described above.

[0074] The above epoxy-modified polymer is not particularly limited, but is preferably at least one polymer selected from an epoxy-modified acrylic polymer, which is a polymer having an epoxy group at the main chain terminal or side chain of an acrylic polymer, or an epoxy-modified polyethylene, which is a polymer having an epoxy group at the main chain terminal or side chain of polyethylene, because it is difficult to form a three-dimensional network structure compared to a compound having an epoxy group of low molecular weight.

[0075] The weight average molecular weight of the above epoxy modified polymer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5,000 to 100,000, more preferably 8,000 to 80,000, still more preferably 10,000 to 70,000, and particularly preferably 20,000 to 60,000. On the other hand, if the molecular weight is less than 5,000, the reactivity of the epoxy modified polymer may increase, resulting in a decrease in formability due to an increase in viscosity.

[0076] The epoxy equivalent of the above epoxy-modified polymer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 100 to 3,000 g / eq, more preferably 200 to 2,500 g / eq, still more preferably 300 to 2,000 g / eq, and particularly preferably 800 to 1,600 g / eq. If the epoxy equivalent exceeds 3,000 g / eq, the melt tension and strain hardening of the polyester-based elastomer composition may not be sufficiently improved. On the other hand, if the epoxy equivalent is less than 100 g / eq, the reactivity of the epoxy-modified polymer increases, the viscosity of the composition becomes excessively high, and proper molding may not be possible.

[0077] The viscosity (Type B viscosity, 25°C) of the above epoxy-modified polymer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 2,000 to 4,000 mPa·s, more preferably 2,500 to 3,200 mPa·s. If the viscosity is less than 2,000 mPa·s, the moldability of the composition may deteriorate, and if the viscosity exceeds 4,000 mPa·s, the fluidity of the composition may deteriorate.

[0078] It is preferable that the above epoxy-modified polymer be included in an amount of 10 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of polyolefin elastomer. If the amount of the epoxy-modified polymer added exceeds the above range, the viscosity of the composition may increase, resulting in reduced moldability or an excessive increase in reactivity may result in a decrease in the elastic recovery force of the pillow.

[0079] Here, the polyolefin elastomer may further have one or more antibacterial powders added to further enhance antibacterial properties.

[0080] The above antibacterial powder is not limited to any type as long as it is commonly added in the industry to exhibit antibacterial properties. Examples of such antibacterial powders include ceramic powders such as copper, silver, platinum, gold, zinc, palladium, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and calcium oxide, or organic substances such as charcoal. The above antibacterial powders may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0081] The above antibacterial powder is not limited in size or amount. For example, it is preferable that the powder have an average particle size of 0.01 to 10 μm, and in terms of amount, it is preferable to include 1 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of polyolefin elastomer, as this can exhibit antibacterial properties without harming the radioactivity of the polymer.

[0082] Additionally, step a) may further include one or more functional fibers in the extruded product in the form of a molded fiber. The functional fibers are intended to impart durability, antibacterial properties, and deodorizing properties to the pillow, and may be fibers obtained from one or more types of seaweed.

[0083] At this time, it is preferable that the seaweed is composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of red algae, green algae, and brown algae, and it is more preferable that it is composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of agar, koshiraegi, kotoni, spinosum, dolgasari, laver, seaweed, pulgasari, gaeumu, saebal, koshiraegi, gasiumu, bidanpul, danbak, seokmuk, jinuari, parae, chlorella, janggumal, half-moonmal, cheonggak, cheongtae, wakame, kelp, mojaban, hijiki, gamtae, gompi, and daehang. The seaweeds listed above are composed mainly of fructose and cellulose, do not melt by heat, and have a thickness of 1 to 10㎛ and a length of tens to thousands of㎛, so that fibers of a desired size can be obtained relatively easily.

[0084] The above functional fibers are not limited by their method of production. For example, the functional fibers can be produced by steaming seaweed, removing impurities, into pulp, which is then separated and refined. The resulting pulp can then be spun into fibers.

[0085] It is recommended that the above functional fiber be added in an amount of 1 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of polyolefin elastomer. If the amount of functional fiber added is less than the above range, the antibacterial effects described above will be insufficient, and if it exceeds the above range, the mechanical properties of the pillow may deteriorate.

[0086] In the present invention, step a) may be performed by placing chips containing polyolefin elastomer or the like into a single-screw or twin-screw extruder set at 150 to 300°C to extrude them into fiber form, and mixing and extrusion may be performed. At this time, it is preferable to perform stretching on the fibers produced through the extruder as needed for mechanical properties.

[0087] Next, the extruded fibers are laminated as in step b) above, and then cut to a certain size. At this time, the lamination can be carried out naturally by collecting the extruded fibers with a rotating collector, similar to the manufacturing of meltblown nonwoven fabrics. Furthermore, in the case of cutting, the laminated fibers can be cut using a cutting machine, etc., and the shape and size of the cut laminated fibers can be freely adjusted according to the size and shape of the pillow, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0088] The above step c) is a step of putting the cut laminated fibers into a mold and applying heat pressing. It is preferable that the mold is formed with a laryngeal support part, etc. to fit the shape of the pillow. The temperature and pressure during the heat pressing are not limited, but can be performed by applying a temperature of 100 to 200°C and a pressure of 100 to 250 kg / cm2 for 1 to 60 minutes.

[0089] After the heat pressing process, the pillow can be cooled in a mold to form a body with a laryngeal support member and other components. While cooling conditions are not limited, it is recommended to apply a temperature of 10 to 50°C for 1 to 10 minutes. The pillow body manufactured as described above can then be placed inside a cover, forming a body filling portion to complete the pillow.

[0090] The cover (2) above can be taken or replaced differently depending on the season in which the finished pillow is used. For example, for seasons other than summer, it is recommended to use a cover made of soft, pleasant-to-the-touch rayon fiber. For hot summers, it is recommended to use a cover made of polyethylene filament yarn with excellent cooling properties. Furthermore, it is recommended to apply an anti-slip treatment to the inner surface of the cover to prevent the body inside from shifting as the user tosses and turns.

[0091]

[0092] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples and comparative examples. However, the following examples are merely illustrative examples for explaining preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited by the following examples.

[0093] (Permanent compression deformation)

[0094] The specimens manufactured through examples, etc. were cut into a size of 30 mm × 30 mm × 5 mm (a), and then the specimens were placed between two compression plates, compressed to 50% of the initial thickness, and stored for 24 hours under conditions of 50% humidity and 50°C. After 24 hours, the specimens were decompressed, the thickness (b) was measured, and then left for another 24 hours. After leaving, the thickness (c) of the specimens was measured and calculated by substituting a, b, and c into Equation 1 below.

[0095] [Formula 1]

[0096] Permanent compression set (%) = {(ac) / (ab)} × 100

[0097] (tensile strength)

[0098] Tensile strength was measured according to ASTM D792, and the tensile strength in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the specimens were measured respectively.

[0099] (antibacterial, deodorizing)

[0100] Antibacterial activity was measured according to JIS Z 2801, and the strain used was Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739).

[0101] (Example 1)

[0102] Chips manufactured by mixing 5 parts by weight of silver nanopowder (average particle size 0.1㎛) with 100 parts by weight of polyolefin elastomer (ethylene-octene rubber, density 0.87g / cm3, melt flow index 5g / 10min) were placed into a twin-screw extruder heated to 250℃ and extruded into the form of fibers. Simultaneously with extrusion, the extruded fibers were collected by a collector and laminated to manufacture a non-woven fabric. These were then cut appropriately and placed into a mold, and a pressure of 150℃ and 200 kg / cm2 was applied for 10 minutes. After heating, the mold was cooled to room temperature (20℃) and maintained therefor for 5 minutes to complete the body specimen.

[0103] (Example 2)

[0104] A specimen was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 above, except that the chip was manufactured by including 30 parts by weight of polyester elastomer (polymer of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, melting point 210°C) for 100 parts by weight of polyolefin elastomer (ethylene-octene rubber, density 0.87 g / cm3, melt flow index 5 g / 10 min) during specimen manufacturing.

[0105] (Example 3)

[0106] A specimen was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 above, except that chips were formed by mixing 30 parts by weight of a polyester elastomer (a polymer of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, melting point 210°C) and 30 parts by weight of an epoxy-modified polymer (weight average molecular weight 35,000) with 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin elastomer (ethylene-octene rubber, density 0.87 g / cm3, melt flow index 5 g / 10 min).

[0107] (Example 4)

[0108] A specimen was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 3 above, except that the amount of polyester elastomer added was 80 parts by weight.

[0109] (Example 5)

[0110] A specimen was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 3 above, except that the amount of epoxy modified polymer added was 80 parts by weight.

[0111] (Example 6)

[0112] A specimen was manufactured using the same method as in Example 3 above, except that 5 parts by weight of functional fibers manufactured from seaweed were added to the extruded fibers in an amount of 100 parts by weight of polyolefin elastomer when manufacturing a nonwoven fabric.

[0113] Tensile strength (kg / ㎠) Permanent compression strain (%) Antibacterial Transverse direction Longitudinal direction Example 135.538.3450.45 Example 236.740.4430.73 Example 345.247.1470.21 Example 427.135.2690.24 Example 537.440.6350.153 Example 643.245.8275.1

[0114]

[0115] As shown in Table 1 above, the pillow manufactured according to the present invention satisfies mechanical properties such as tensile strength and permanent compression set, and thus exhibits excellent antibacterial activity against the presented bacteria, as it has antibacterial properties. In particular, Example 3, in which a polyester elastomer and an epoxy-modified polymer were added during the body manufacturing process, showed improved tensile strength compared to Examples 1 and 2, in which these were not added. In addition, Example 6, in which a functional fiber was further added together with the above polymers, showed a significant increase in permanent compression set, and at the same time, it was found that the antibacterial properties also satisfied the standard (activity level of 2.0 or higher).

[0116] Although the present invention has been described in detail above only with respect to the described specific examples, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present invention, and it is natural that such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cervical support pillow formed including a body formed in the form of highly elastic extruded fibers, said pillow comprising: A laryngeal support portion formed concavely in the center of the upper surface of the body to support the user's larynx; An ear support formed concavely by extending to both sides of the above laryngeal support to support the user's ears; A neck support member having a rounded, protruding convex surface formed in front of the laryngeal support member to support the neck; and A body filling part that forms the body while elastically supporting the lower surface of the laryngeal support part; A cervical support pillow for reducing cervical disc herniation and snoring, characterized in that the body filling part is inclined in a trapezoidal shape with the upper and lower jaws tilted forward so that the ear support part is inclined forward.

2. In paragraph 1, It further includes an auxiliary filling part that is laminated on the lower side of the body filling part; A cervical support pillow that reduces cervical disc herniation and snoring, characterized in that the auxiliary filling part is filled in a mesh and holds the body filling part by mutual friction while acting as a buffer at the lower side of the body filling part.

3. In paragraph 1, A cervical support pillow for alleviating cervical disc herniation and snoring, characterized in that the body is formed by including a polyolefin elastomer.

4. In paragraph 3, A cervical support pillow for alleviating cervical disc herniation and snoring, characterized in that the polyolefin elastomer comprises 10 to 50 parts by weight of a polyester elastomer having a melting point of 180 to 240°C and 10 to 50 parts by weight of an epoxy-modified polymer, per 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin elastomer.

5. In paragraph 3, A cervical support pillow for alleviating cervical disc herniation and snoring, characterized in that the polyolefin elastomer further contains 1 to 10 parts by weight of one or more antibacterial powders selected from copper, silver, platinum, gold, zinc, palladium, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, and charcoal, based on 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin elastomer.

6. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a body cover that wraps around the above body, A cervical support pillow that reduces cervical disc herniation and snoring, characterized by the body cover being made of a well-ventilated mesh fabric.

7. In paragraph 6, Further comprising a finishing cover covering the above body cover, A cervical support pillow that alleviates cervical disc herniation and snoring, characterized in that the above finishing cover is made of rayon fiber or polyethylene fiber.

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