Pillow arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neck pillows fail to adequately support the cervical spine, thoracic spine, shoulders, and arms, leading to excessive pressure on the upper cervical vertebrae, which can cause headaches, nerve disorders, and sleep issues, and do not account for different cervical spine shapes or arm positions.
Innovation Solution
A pillow arrangement featuring a neck pillow with a convex cervical vertebrae contact area and a concave head contact area, made from foam material with adjustable compression hardness, and side pillows with rising forearm support areas, designed to distribute pressure optimally across the cervical and thoracic regions, allowing for variable adjustment to accommodate different spinal curvatures and positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pillow supports the cervical spine in the upper to middle area, then the cervical spine is supported, but excessive pressure is exerted on the upper cervical vertebrae (atlas and axis)
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow features a convex contact surface with differentiated zones: a first contact zone for the upper cervical spine (C1-C3) with lower height, a second contact zone for the middle cervical spine (C4-C6) with intermediate height, and a third contact zone for the lower cervical spine (C7-T1) with highest height. This local differentiation ensures support is distributed appropriately, preventing excessive pressure on the upper vertebrae while maintaining cervical spine alignment.
2Reliability
If the pillow falls back towards the head, then the cervical spine is supported, but too much pressure is exerted on the uppermost cervical vertebra C1 (atlas)
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the pillow extend backward toward the head as in conventional designs, this invention inverts the approach by positioning the highest support point (third contact zone) at the lower cervical spine area (C7-T1) and progressively reducing height toward the head. The convex contact surface is shaped so that the lower cervical region receives maximum support while the upper cervical region (including C1) receives minimal direct pressure, thereby inverting the traditional pressure distribution pattern.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single foam material is used for the support body, then production is cheap and simple, but the support properties cannot be varied in different areas
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow utilizes a single foam material with uniform compression hardness throughout the support body, but achieves area-specific support properties through geometric variation of the convex contact surface. The different contact zones (first, second, and third zones) have different heights and curvatures, creating localized support characteristics without requiring different foam densities or materials. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing differentiated support for upper, middle, and lower cervical regions.
4Ease of manufacture
If the pillow is designed with fixed support characteristics, then manufacturing is simple, but it cannot be adapted to different cervical spines
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow employs a universally applicable convex contact surface design that can accommodate various cervical spine configurations. The multi-zoned height profile (lowest at C1-C3, intermediate at C4-C6, highest at C7-T1) creates a adaptable support structure that naturally conforms to different individual anatomies. This single design serves multiple functions: supporting various spine curvatures, accommodating different sleeping positions, and adapting to individual cervical spine variations without requiring customization.
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 arrangement effectively relieves pressure on the upper cervical vertebrae, supports the lower cervical and thoracic regions, and adapts to various spinal shapes and positions, improving sleep quality and reducing the risk of nerve and circulatory disorders.
Implementation Method 1
The support body is formed in particular from a foam material, in particular from a foam material with a compression hardness of more than 1.7 kPa at 40% compression
Implementation Method 2
a viscoelastic foam is also possible
Implementation Method 3
A person can rest against the corresponding areas with the cervical vertebrae area or the head
Implementation Method 4
The support body is formed in particular from a foam material
Data Source
AI summary
A neck pillow includes a supporting body comprising a foot, a shoulder contact surface and a negative inclination starting from the foot, a supporting surface comprising a convex-shaped cervical support area and a concave-shaped head support area, a rigid portion comprising a rigid portion hardness and a bottom curve which comprises a highest point, and a soft portion arranged on an upper side of the rigid portion, the soft portion comprising a soft portion hardness which is less than the rigid portion hardness. The supporting body is configured so that each of a head and a cervical spine of a person rests on the soft portion. The highest point is arranged in an area of the fifth and sixth cervical of the person. The shoulder contact surface migrates with an average radius of curvature of less than 2 cm in a support area of the sixth cervical of the person.