Neck Support Pillow With Head Relief and Adjustable Shoulder Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pillows fail to provide adequate neck support, leading to unnatural neck alignment, discomfort, and potential long-term injury, while also retaining heat and causing ear pressure and muffling, with many support pillows having unconventional shapes that do not fit standard pillowcases, deterring their use.

Innovation Solution

A pillow design featuring a gusseted exterior cover with a central passage and adjustable shoulder support, filled with materials like viscoelastic gel-infused foam and air, which maintains neck alignment, reduces heat retention, and accommodates various head shapes, while appearing conventional to fit standard pillowcases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional pillows are used, then they provide basic head support, but they cause unnatural neck alignment and potential long-term injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneck support qualityVSAvoidneck misalignment and injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into distinct functional zones: a first region for head support and a second region for neck support. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized independently - the head region provides basic support while the neck region specifically maintains proper spinal alignment, resolving the contradiction between basic support and harmful misalignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the pillow are given different characteristics. The neck support region has specific density, firmness, and contouring properties tailored to maintain cervical spine alignment, while the head region has different properties for comfort. This local differentiation eliminates the harmful effect of uniform pillows causing neck misalignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If support pillows with unconventional shapes are used, then neck support is improved, but they do not fit standard pillowcases and deter user adoption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneck support qualityVSAvoidcompatibility with standard bedding

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is designed with a conventional rectangular outer shape that fits standard pillowcases, while internally containing specialized multi-functional regions. The first region provides head support and the second region provides targeted neck support, allowing the pillow to serve both aesthetic/compatibility functions and therapeutic support functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The unconventional support structure is nested within a conventional pillow outer shell. The specialized neck support region is contained within the standard pillow dimensions, allowing the pillow to fit in standard pillowcases while maintaining the beneficial internal structure for neck alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If conventional pillow filling materials are used, then they provide cushioning, but they retain heat and cause ear pressure and muffling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecushioning comfortVSAvoidheat retention and ear pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow filling uses porous materials that allow air circulation and heat dissipation. The porous structure provides cushioning comfort while simultaneously reducing heat retention and preventing ear pressure buildup, eliminating the harmful effects of conventional dense fillings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different filling materials or densities are used in different regions of the pillow. The ear regions have specialized filling that reduces pressure and improves airflow, while maintaining adequate cushioning. This local differentiation addresses heat retention and ear pressure issues without sacrificing overall comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The pillow provides enhanced neck support, maintains proper spinal alignment, reduces heat retention, and alleviates ear pressure, ensuring comfort and compatibility with standard bedding.

Implementation Method 1

filled with materials like viscoelastic gel-infused foam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

reduces heat retention

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

filled with materials like viscoelastic gel-infused foam and air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

filled with materials like viscoelastic gel-infused foam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20180310732A1Neck Support Pillow

Publication Date: 2018.11.01 PROPER PILLOW

AI summary

A support pillow providing head and neck support to a user laying upon it. The device employs a support pillow insert surrounded by a pillow casing having planar top and bottom surfaces and a sidewall extending between them. An insert engage able in the casing provides substantially planar support surfaces with a centrally located passage providing a relief for positioning one's head on the pillow. Proper support and spine alignment is provided by a shoulder portion of the pillow for the neck which may be formed of different material than the pillow, or varied in with or compressive force using inserts.