Removable Cylindrical Neck Pillow for Supine and Side Cervical Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cervical support pillows are often large, expensive, and difficult to travel with, and they typically provide inadequate neck support in both supine and side sleeping positions, with designs that restrict compatibility with traditional pillows and fail to offer universal size adaptability.

Innovation Solution

A neck pillow apparatus with a substantially cylindrical pillow portion that can pivot and be removably engaged with a main pillow, featuring an engagement portion that wraps around the main pillow to provide horizontal orientation and adjustable positioning between the main pillow's edges, ensuring neutral cervical alignment and support in both supine and side positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional cervical support pillow is designed to provide neck support, then neck support function is improved, but the pillow becomes large and difficult to travel with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneck support functionVSAvoidpillow size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow is divided into two separate functional components: a head support portion and a neck support portion. These can be used together or separately, allowing users to travel with only the neck support portion when needed, thus reducing the volume required for travel while maintaining full neck support functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The neck support portion is extracted as a separate removable component from the traditional integrated pillow design. This extracted neck support portion can be used independently during travel, providing the necessary neck support function without requiring the entire large pillow, thereby reducing travel volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If a cervical support pillow is designed with fixed structure, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different pillow sizes and sleeping positions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepillow construction simplicityVSAvoidcompatibility with different pillows and positions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The neck support portion is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing it to pivot and rotate to different orientations. This enables the same simple component to adapt to both supine and side sleeping positions, as well as accommodate different main pillow sizes and shapes, without requiring complex manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The neck support portion is designed as a universal component that can be used with any traditional pillow regardless of size or shape. Its simple construction maintains ease of manufacture, while its adjustable design provides versatility across different sleeping positions and pillow types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a neck support pillow is designed with retention pockets attached along two opposing longitudinal edges, then neck support in supine position is improved, but the design becomes incapable of supporting side sleeping positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneck support in supine positionVSAvoidsupport for different sleeping positions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The neck support portion is designed to pivot and rotate dynamically, allowing it to change orientation from a position suitable for supine sleeping to a position suitable for side sleeping. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same retention pocket design to effectively support multiple sleeping positions without requiring multiple fixed designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If a pillow cover is designed to removably receive a traditional pillow, then travel convenience is improved, but compatibility is limited to pillows of specific sizes and shapes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetravel convenienceVSAvoidcompatibility with traditional pillows

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pillow cover and neck support portion are designed with universal dimensions and attachment mechanisms that accommodate traditional pillows of various sizes and shapes. This universality maintains travel convenience through removable design while expanding compatibility beyond specific pillow types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10561259B1Neck pillow apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 GASPARI SEDA

AI summary

A neck pillow apparatus is disclosed and configured for being selectively positionable and removably engagable with a main pillow. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides a substantially cylindrical pillow portion sized and configured for supporting a neck of a user in either a supine position or side position. The pillow portion also provides a cushion. An engagement portion is connected to the pillow portion at an at least one point on or substantially proximal to a lateral centerline of the pillow portion, the engagement portion configured for being selectively wrapped longitudinally around the main pillow. During use of the apparatus, the pillow portion is capable of being selectively positionable relative to the main pillow so as to comfortably provide proper neutral cervical alignment and support to the neck of the user, regardless of whether the user is laying in a supine position or side position.