Convex Support Pillow for Jaw Positioning During Prone Sleep
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snoring and sleep apnea occur when facial and neck musculature relaxes, causing the jaw to move backward, leading to vibrations in the throat, disrupting sleep and potentially causing serious health issues, necessitating a support pillow that maintains the head and jaw at a predetermined angle to prevent these conditions.
Innovation Solution
A circular-shaped support pillow with a convex top surface that angles downward, allowing the jaw to be positioned in a downward angled position, optionally featuring a base for elevated support and integrated features like speakers or recessed areas for electronic devices, made from foam or similar materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional flat pillow is used, then the pillow structure is simple, but the jaw moves backward causing snoring and sleep apnea
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow top surface is designed with a convex curvature that angles downward from the center apex toward the outer perimeter. This curved geometry naturally positions the jaw in a downward angled position when the user lies face down, preventing the jaw from moving backward toward the throat, thereby reducing snoring and sleep apnea without requiring complex mechanical components
2Reliability
If a large base pillow is used for support, then head support is improved, but arm placement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into two distinct functional segments: a circular head support portion with convex top surface for jaw positioning, and a separate optional base portion for elevation. This segmentation allows the head support to maintain proper jaw angle while the base provides elevation without interfering with arm placement on the bed surface
3Ease of operation
If the jaw is allowed to move backward naturally, then muscle relaxation is complete, but throat tissue vibrations occur causing snoring
Solution Approach 1:
The convex angled top surface is designed to preemptively counteract the natural backward movement of the jaw by providing a sloped surface that guides the jaw into a downward angled position before the muscle relaxation can cause the jaw to move backward toward the throat, thereby preventing throat tissue vibrations and snoring
Data Source
AI summary
A circular-shaped support pillow (1) having a head support (2) with a top surface (3) and a bottom surface (4). The bottom surface of the head support is preferably planar. The top surface of the head support is preferably convex, thereby curving or angling downward from an apex (6) located in the center of the head support to an outer perimeter (5) of the head support. The angled top surface of the head support positions a user's jaw in a downward angled position when the individual is laying face down on the pillow of the present invention. An optional base (7) may extend downward from the bottom surface of the head support to elevate the head support and to provide additional space for the user to place his or her arms around and/or under the perimeter edge 5 the head support.