Nursing pillow

Abstract

A nursing pillow (1) comprising a pillow body (2) extending substantially along a circular arc and forming an inner lateral surface (2a) intended to face the user's body and an outer lateral surface (2b), characterized in that it comprises, between the inner lateral surface (2a) and the outer lateral surface (2b), at least one first resting surface (3a) that is substantially flat and has a first degree of yielding, the pillow body (2) having two end portions (20) and a central portion (21), at the central portion (21), the first resting surface (3a) having an insert (5) with a degree of yielding greater than the first degree of yielding of the remaining part of the first resting portion (3a).

Description

[0001] NURSING PILLOW

[0002] The present invention relates to a nursing pillow

[0003] Nursing pillows, such as for example the Boppy® pillow, marketed by The Boppy Company, are well known and widely available commercially.

[0004] Various forms of this pillow are described in US5261134, US5546620, US5661861, US6055657, etc.

[0005] Essentially, this type of nursing pillow is substantially U-shaped to wrap around the mother's waist and is made externally of soft fabric and internally with a single fiber padding that can maintain its shape over time.

[0006] Patent application US2021 / 0235885 is also known which describes a compact nursing pillow that includes a pillow body that has differently shaped ends (or terminal regions) and respective curvatures.

[0007] Although widely used, known solutions are not without drawbacks. In particular, when using nursing pillows, it is difficult and, in many cases, laborious to adjust their position with respect to the user's pelvis and breast in order to adapt to the size and / or position of the baby (even when the baby is placed in the so-called “rugby” position).

[0008] Moreover, in many cases it is difficult to obtain comfortable and secure support for the newborn at the ends of the pillow, as these are usually tapered.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is to provide a nursing pillow that is capable of improving the background art in one or more of the above aspects.

[0010] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a nursing pillow that is intuitive to use.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to devise a nursing pillow that can be suitable for supporting the newborn during the first step of its growth.

[0012] Not the least object of the invention is to provide a nursing pillow that is highly reliable, relatively easy to provide, and at competitive costs.

[0013] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a nursing pillow according to claim 1 ,optionally provided with one or more of the features of the dependent claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the nursing pillow according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the nursing pillow according to the invention, with the outer covering case;

[0015] Figure 2 is a perspective view from a first side of the body of the pillow;

[0016] Figure 3 is a view taken from the opposite side of the body of the pillow of Figure 2;

[0017] Figure 4 is a perspective view, from another angle, of the nursing pillow according to the invention.

[0018] With reference to the figures, the present invention relates to a nursing pillow, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , comprising a pillow body 2 extending substantially along a circular arc and forming an inner lateral surface 2a, intended to face the body of the user (typically an adult who must support the newborn), and an outer lateral surface 2b.

[0019] In particular, with respect to the pillow body 2, the inner lateral surface 2a is a concave surface, while the outer lateral surface 2b is a convex surface.

[0020] The pillow body 2 comprises, between the inner lateral surface 2a and the outer lateral surface 2b, at least one substantially flat first resting surface 3a.

[0021] The first resting surface 3a has a first degree of yielding.

[0022] The pillow body 2 has two end portions 20 and a central portion 21. At the central portion 21, the first resting surface 3a has an insert 5 with a degree of yielding greater than the first degree of yielding of the remaining part of the first resting portion 3a.

[0023] The pillow body 2 comprises, between the inner lateral surface 2a andthe outer lateral surface 2b, a second resting surface 3b that is substantially flat and opposite with respect to the first resting surface 3a.

[0024] The first and second resting surfaces 3a and 3b are configured to form resting surfaces for a newborn during breastfeeding.

[0025] The second resting surface 3b has a second degree of yielding, greater than the first degree of yielding.

[0026] Moreover, respective connecting surfaces (4a, 4b) are formed between the inner lateral surface 2a and the resting surfaces (3 a, 3b).

[0027] In particular, the different degree of yielding of the first and second resting surfaces (3a, 3b) makes it possible to adjust the distance between the newborn resting on the respective resting surface and the mother's torso, or breast in particular, moreover making it possible, by virtue of the presence of the connecting surfaces, to bring the newborn, or part of it, closer to the torso itself.

[0028] Preferably, as shown in the figures, the respective connecting surface (4a, 4b) comprises a bevel which lies substantially on a surface arranged inclined with respect to the inner lateral surface 2a and the respective resting surface (3a, 3b).

[0029] By way of example, the bevel lies on a plane inclined at an angle comprised between 30° and 60° and, preferably, between 40° and 50° with respect to the respective resting surface.

[0030] The first and second resting surfaces (3a, 3b) have a width of at least 16 cm, preferably at least 18 cm, for an angular extension of said circula arc of at least 160° and preferably at least 170°.

[0031] The nursing pillow 1 comprises a covering pillowcase 30 which has, at least in the region intended to face the inner lateral surface 2a, a mesh 16 to allow air to pass through and breathability.

[0032] The covering pillowcase 30 is connected to a locking strap 31 provided with means for adjusting its useful length and elastic preloading means 33.Preferably, the locking strap 31 has, at at least one end portion 31a thereof, a first magnetic coupling 35 that can be coupled and uncoupled with a second magnetic fastener 36 arranged at the outer lateral surface of the pillow or covering pillowcase 30.

[0033] The covering pillowcase 30 has, at the region intended to face the insert 5, a portion 15 for identifying, from the outside, the position of the insert 5.

[0034] In particular, the pillow body 2 has a first layer 13a which forms the first resting surface 3a and a second layer 13b which forms the second resting surface 3b.

[0035] By way of example, the first layer 13a is made of towelling (typically compact polyester wadding) having a density comprised between 16 kg / m3and 18 kg / m3, and preferably comprised between 16.5 kg / m3and 17.5 kg / m3.

[0036] The second layer 13b is instead made of a sponge (typically compact polyester wadding) having a density comprised between 11 kg / m3and 16 kg / m3, and preferably comprised between 12 kg / m3and 15 kg / m3.

[0037] The insert 5 is also made of a material having a density comprised between 11 kg / m3and 16 kg / m3, and preferably comprised between 12 kg / m3and 15 kg / m3.

[0038] It is possible to provide that the pillow body 2 comprises a third layer 13c interposed between the first layer 13a and said second layer 13b.

[0039] It is possible to provide, at the central portion 20, that the outer lateral surface 2b has a recess possibly associated with one or more carrying handles.

[0040] The use of the nursing pillow 1, according to the invention, is substantially similar to that of currently commercially available pillows.

[0041] During breastfeeding, the wider shape at the ends and the large angle of extension reduce muscle fatigue of the mother (and user in general), moreover allowing the newborn to maintain the so-called “rugby” position without the need to rotate the pillow.

[0042] The presence of the connecting surfaces 4a and 4b facilitates theadherence of the pillow to the mother's body, preventing the newborn from possibly slipping.

[0043] The contoured insert 5, which is softer than the remaining surrounding first layer 13a that forms the first resting surface 3a, facilitates the correct positioning and inclined alignment of the baby's torso and head, in order to facilitate the approach to the mother's breast.

[0044] Moreover, the nursing pillow 1 according to the invention makes is possible to use the first resting surface 3a (more rigid) if the baby weighs less (approximately from birth to 3 months), facilitating support during breastfeeding, and the second resting surface 3b (softer) when the child weighs more (approximately from 3 months onwards): in this way, the soft support allows the newborn to be lowered slightly with respect to the mother's breast.

[0045] Finally, the elastic preloading means 33 make it possible to adapt the locking strap 31 to the mother's movements, keeping the pillow against the body.

[0046] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0047] In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any depending on the requirements and the state of the art.

[0048] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102025000001611 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0049] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each elementidentified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

7CLAIMS1. A nursing pillow (1) comprising a pillow body (2) extending substantially along a circular arc and forming an inner lateral surface (2a) intended to face the user's body and an outer lateral surface (2b), characterized in that it comprises, between said inner lateral surface (2a) and said outer lateral surface (2b), at least one first resting surface (3a) that is substantially flat and has a first degree of yielding, said pillow body (2) having two end portions (20) and a central portion (21), at said central portion (21), said first resting surface (3 a) having an insert (5) with a degree of yielding greater than said first degree of yielding of the remaining part of said first resting portion (3a).

2. The nursing pillow according to claim 1, characterized in that said pillow body comprises, between said inner lateral surface (2a) and said outer lateral surface (2b), a second substantially flat resting surface (3b) which is opposite to said first resting surface (3a), said second resting surface (3b) having a second degree of yielding greater than said first degree of yielding.

3. The nursing pillow (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that respective connecting surfaces (4a, 4b) are formed between said first and second resting surfaces (3a, 3b).

4. The nursing pillow (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said respective connecting surface (4a, 4b) comprises a bevel lying substantially on a surface that is arranged inclined with respect to said inner lateral surface (2a) and the respective resting surface (3a, 3b).

5. The nursing pillow (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second resting surfaces (3a, 3b) have a width at least equal to 16 cm for an angular extension of said circular arc at least equal to 160°.

6. The nursing pillow (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a covering pillowcase (30) having, at least at the region intended to face said inner lateral surface (2a), a mesh (16)8to allow air to pass through.

7. The nursing pillow (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said covering pillowcase (30) is connected to a locking strap (31) having useful length adjustment means and elastic preloading means (33).

8. The nursing pillow (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said covering pillowcase (30) has, at the region intended to face said insert (5), a portion (15) for identifying, from the outside, the position of said insert (5).

9. The nursing pillow (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pillow body (2) comprises a first layer (13a) which forms said first resting surface (3a) and a second layer (13b) which forms said second resting surface (3b).

10. The nursing pillow (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pillow body (2) comprises a third layer (13 c) interposed between said first layer (13a) and said second layer (13b).

11. The nursing pillow (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking strap (31) has, at at least one end portion thereof (31a), a first magnetic coupling (35) that can be coupled to and uncoupled from a second magnetic coupling (36) arranged at the outer lateral surface of said pillow (1).

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