U-Shaped Pillow Recess for Head-Neck Alignment in Side Sleep
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pillows fail to maintain optimal alignment of the head and neck across various sleeping positions, particularly when transitioning from supine to side positions, leading to neck strain and inadequate support.
Innovation Solution
A U-shaped, elastic pillow design with a recess for the head, uniform side part support heights, and a side part-to-recess width ratio of at least 2:1, allowing the head to be supported within the recess and preventing neck overstretching, while providing sufficient contact surface and depth for lateral positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a classic neck pillow with closed rear part and side parts is used, then the neck is supported in seated position, but the head and neck are overstretched in supine position and side parts are annoying
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into functionally distinct zones: a recess area for head placement and side parts for lateral support. This segmentation allows the head to be positioned within the recess while the side parts provide support only when needed, eliminating the overstretching problem in supine position while maintaining neck support in seated position.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of supporting the neck from behind (as in classic neck pillows), the invention inverts the approach by creating a recess that receives the head and supports it from the sides and bottom, allowing the neck to remain neutral in supine position while still providing support in seated position.
2Ease of operation
If the head is supported on the back part connecting side parts, then neck support is provided, but the head cannot be properly positioned in supine position
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional neck pillow concept by not supporting the neck from behind. Instead, the head is received in a recess and supported from the sides and bottom, allowing the neck to remain in natural alignment during supine sleep while still providing support when seated.
3Volume of moving object
If side parts are made narrow to fit in recess, then head can be accommodated, but insufficient contact surface is provided for stable lateral position
Solution Approach 1:
The side parts are designed with differentiated local qualities: they have sufficient width (at least 2:1 ratio to recess gap) to provide stable lateral support when the head is in side position, while maintaining the overall compact recess structure for head accommodation. This local expansion provides the necessary contact surface for stability.
4Shape
If support height varies across side parts, then anatomical contour is provided, but neck overstretching occurs when moving to side position
Solution Approach 1:
The side parts have uniform support height throughout their length, providing consistent elevation for the head in side position. This uniformity prevents neck overstretching while the recess structure provides the necessary anatomical contour for comfortable head placement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a head pillow made of an essentially U-shaped, elastic molded part (1) which has a closed rear part (12), two side parts (10, 11) directed towards the front and between these side parts (10, 11) is designed with a slot-shaped recess (13) extending backwards from the front part (14), characterized in that a) the width (S) of the recess (13) is designed to accommodate a human head, b) the Both side parts from their outer edge area (101,111) up to and including the inner edge area (100,110) have a uniform support height and c) the width (B) of each of the two side parts (10,11) to the gap width (S) the recess (13) has a ratio of at least ns 2 to 1 on ufw e.