Back sleeper pillow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pillows fail to provide adequate support and alignment for back sleepers, leading to strain on the lumbar region and neck, which can cause discomfort and disrupted sleep patterns.
Innovation Solution
A back sleeper pillow with ergonomic design features, including a primary head support surface, bumpers, and shoulder horns that maintain spinal alignment and support the neck in a neutral position, incorporating a dovetail-shaped gap and angled shoulder horns to prevent head turning and enhance comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pillows are used for back sleeping, then the pillow structure is simple, but the spinal alignment and neck support are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into multiple functional zones: a head support surface with bumpers at the edges, shoulder horns extending laterally, and a gap between the shoulder horns. This segmentation allows each zone to address specific support needs - the head support surface maintains cervical alignment, the bumpers prevent head rotation, the shoulder horns support the shoulders, and the gap accommodates the neck contour, collectively achieving reliable spinal alignment
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pillow are designed with distinct geometries and support characteristics. The head support surface has a specific curvature matched to human head anatomy, the bumpers rise vertically to prevent lateral head movement, the shoulder horns curve toward the center plane to cradle the shoulders, and the gap between them is shaped to fit the neck. This local differentiation of structural properties ensures optimal support at each contact point while maintaining overall spinal alignment
2Ease of operation
If traditional pillows are used for back sleeping, then the manufacturing is simple, but the comfort and pressure point relief are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow incorporates multiple curved surfaces designed to match human anatomy. The head support surface features a curved top surface that conforms to the natural contour of the head. The shoulder horns are curved toward the center plane to cradle the rounded contours of the shoulders. These curved geometries distribute pressure evenly across contact areas, preventing pressure points while enhancing comfort through anatomical matching
3Reliability
If traditional pillows are used for back sleeping, then the pillow structure is simple, but the neck support and head positioning are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The bumpers are designed to proactively prevent harmful head movements before they occur. By positioning vertical bumpers at the edges of the head support surface, the pillow creates physical barriers that stop lateral head rotation before it can happen during sleep. This preliminary preventive action ensures the head remains properly positioned throughout the night without requiring active adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The pillow features an asymmetric configuration with a gap between the shoulder horns that is shaped to match the natural asymmetry of the human neck and shoulder region. The dovetail-shaped gap accommodates the contour of the neck, providing customized support that adapts to individual anatomical variations. This asymmetric design allows the pillow to precisely fit diverse head and neck shapes, improving positioning reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
A back sleeper pillow (110) for supporting a head of a sleeper in a back sleeping position includes a pillow body (102) having a frontside (104) and a backside (106) opposite the frontside. Each of the frontside and the backside is divided by a center plane (108). A primary head support surface (112) is included on the frontside of the pillow body. At least one bumper (122) adjacent to an edge (114,116) of the primary head support surface and rising forward from the primary head support surface is included and configured to support the head of the sleeper in a neutral position during sleep. At least one shoulder horn (124) extending down from the at least one bumper is included and configured to extend over a shoulder of the sleeper when the head of the sleeper is positioned on the primary head support surface.