US20080134438A1

US20080134438A1 - Washable And Height-Adjustable Pillow

Info

Publication number: US20080134438A1
Application number: US11/722,088
Authority: US
Inventors: Jong-Hwa Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-31
Filing date: 2006-08-17
Publication date: 2008-06-12
Also published as: EP1919331A4; EP1919331A1; JP2009505773A; WO2007027022A1

Abstract

A washable and height-adjustable pillow is disclosed. The pillow includes a pillow case and an embossing mat which is enclosed in the pillow case. The embossing mat is quilt-sewn in at least one direction to have a plurality of embossed portions and folded in multi-layers. The pillow may further include embossing mats for supporting a cervical spine or a side of a head. Accordingly, the pillow can be washed for a sanitary use, and is comfortable. Further, regardless of whether the user has a habit of sleeping on the back or on the side, or although the user unconsciously changes the sleeping posture, the height of the pillow can be widely adjusted according to the user's body shape and sleeping posture. Therefore, the pillow enables the user to fall into deep sleep and prevents neck and shoulder aches and deformity.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a pillow, and more particularly to a pillow including embossing mats quilt-sewn to have a plurality of embossed portions, which is capable of being washed for a sanitary use, preventing a filling from forming clumps or bunching to one side even after washing, or long-term use, and being adjusted in height by folding the embossing mats in multi-layers or rolling the same according to a user's body shape and sleeping posture regardless of whether the user sleeps on the back or on the side or although the user unconsciously changes the sleeping posture, to thereby enable the user to fall into deep sleep and prevent neck and shoulder aches and deformity.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a pillow is enclosed in a pillow case. A conventional pillow contains various fillings therein, such as buckwheat husks, chaff, dried herbs, ceramic, synthetic resin, foaming resin, feathers, wool, polyester, latex or the like.
However, such fillings of the pillow cannot be washed, which creates a hygiene problem. In particular, fillings like cereal, cereal husks or dried herbs are perishable by humidity, and provide a good environment for inhabitation of various bacteria or rat mites, which are causes of dermatitis or allergies. Also, according to a product standard or amount of the fillings, a size and height of the pillow are determined. As such, the pillow cannot be adjusted in the height.
When washing the pillow filled with cotton, the cotton may form clumps or bunch up to one side. Also, the pillow cannot be restored to the original height after it becomes thin due to use for a certain period of time, and is therefore no longer capable of supporting a user's head and neck thereon in the proper position. Consequently, the pillow has to be discarded. In other words, the conventional pillow is not economical to use.
While the user is sleeping on one side with resting his/her head on the conventional pillow having a height adequate for side-lying, if he/she changes unconsciously the sleeping posture to lie on the back, the conventional pillow may cause neck aches or sleep disorders. On the other hand, while the user is sleeping on the back while using the conventional pillow having a height adequate for back-lying, if he/she changes the sleeping posture to lie on the side, the height of the pillow does not match with the height of one, shoulder, which causes shoulder aches or sleep disorders.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pillow which can be washed to be cleaned and used sanitarily.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pillow which can be easily adjusted in height for supporting a user's cervical spine or a side of a head according to the user's body shape or sleeping posture, whether the user sleeps on the back or on the side or although the user unconsciously changes the sleeping posture.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pillow which can prevent a filling from forming clumps or bunching to one side even after washing or long-term use so that a restoring force to its original height is increased and the user can feel comfortable.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a pillow comprising: a pillow case; and a first embossing mat which is enclosed in the pillow case, the first embossing mat being quilt-sewn in at least one direction to have a plurality of embossed portions and being folded in multi-layers.
Preferably, the pillow may further comprise a second embossing mat which is enclosed in one side of the pillow case for supporting a cervical spine, the second embossing mat being quilt-sewn in at least one direction to have a plurality of embossed portions.
Preferably, the pillow may further comprise third embossing mats which are enclosed in two opposite sides of the pillow case for supporting a side of a head, each of the third embossing mats being quilt-sewn in at least one direction to have a plurality of embossed portions.
The first embossing mat includes multiple pieces which are connected to each other by fastening means. Preferably, the fastening means may be one selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a button, a clip, a velcro tape and combination thereof.
The first embossing mat is formed with pockets into which the second and third embossing mats for supporting the cervical spine and the side of the head are inserted.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to a pillow in accordance with the present invention, the washing can be performed for a sanitary use while preventing a filling like cotton from being massed or leaning to one side, so the pillow of the present invention is comfortable and economical to use.
Regardless of whether the user has a habit of sleeping on the back or on the side, or although the user unconsciously changes the sleeping posture, the height of the pillow can be widely adjusted according to the user's body shape and sleeping posture. Therefore, the pillow of the present invention enables the user to fall into deep sleep and prevents neck and shoulder aches and deformity.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a pillow including a first embossing mat and a pillow case enclosing the first embossing mat in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a pillow including a first embossing mat, a second embossing mat for supporting a cervical spine and a pillow case enclosing the first and second embossing mats in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a pillow including a first embossing mat, third embossing mats for supporting a side of a head and a pillow case enclosing the first and third embossing mats in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embossing mat for supporting a cervical spine, a third embossing mat for supporting a side of a head and a pillow case in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat capable of being disassembled in one to six pieces;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat capable of being disassembled in one to four pieces;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat capable of being disassembled in one to three pieces;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat capable of being disassembled in one to two pieces;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a unitary first embossing mat;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a first embossing mat;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat formed with a pocket into which a second embossing mat for supporting a cervical spine is inserted;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat formed with pockets into which third embossing mats for supporting a side of a head are inserted;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat which is in a laterally-folded state;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat which is in a longitudinally-folded state;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embossing mat which is in a rolled state;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat which is securely folded by fastening means; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a first embossing mat and an auxiliary embossing mat which is put on the first embossing mat.

BEST MODE

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pillow according to the present invention comprises a first embossing mat 20, a mat cover 28 for packing the first embossing mat 20, and a pillow case 10 for enclosing the first embossing mat 20 packed with the mat cover 28. The first embossing mat 20 can be folded into two or more layers. The first embossing mat 20 as well as the pillow case 10 can washed, and a height of the first embossing mat 20 can be adjusted by a thickness or the number of the folded layers, which will be described in detail later.
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 and 13 to 15, the first embossing mat 20 is quilt-sewn in a lateral and/or longitudinal direction and is formed with a plurality of quilted portions 22 and embossed portions 24. The first embossing mat 20 can be folded into two or more layers in a lateral or longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 10, one or more folding portions 26 having a predetermined width are provided over the first embossing mat 20 in a lateral and/or longitudinal direction, so as to facilitate the folding of the first embossing mat 20 and easily put or take the first embossing mat 20 in or out of the pillow case 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the pillow of the present invention further comprises a second embossing mat 14 for supporting a cervical spine, which is quilt-sewn in a lateral and/or longitudinal direction and is formed with a plurality of quilted portions and embossed portions. The second embossing mat 14 for supporting the cervical spine may be put on or inserted within the first embossing mat 20, and is enclosed together with the first embossing part 20 in the pillow case 16. The second embossing mat 14 for supporting the cervical spine is located at a position (preferably, a front or rear portion) adequate for supporting the user's cervical spine. The second embossing mat 14 may have a rolled shape, and can be adjusted in a height according to the user's body shape when he/she sleeps on the back.
As shown in FIG. 3, the pillow of the present invention further comprises third embossing mats 16 and 16′ for supporting a side of a head, which are quilt-sewn in a lateral and/or longitudinal direction and are formed with a plurality of quilted portions and embossed portions. The third embossing mats' 16 and 16′ for supporting the side of the head may be put on or inserted within the first embossing mat 20, and are enclosed together with the first embossing mat 20 in the pillow case 10. The third embossing mats 16 and 16′ for supporting the side of the head are located at positions (preferably, left and/or right sides) adequate for supporting the side of the user's head. The embossing mats 16 and 16′ may have a rolled shape, and can be adjusted in a height according to the user's body shape (especially, a length of one shoulder) when he/she sleeps on the side.
As shown in FIG. 4, the second embossing mat 14 for supporting the cervical spine and the third embossing mats 16 and 16′ for supporting the side of the head may be enclosed together or separately in the pillow case 10 according to the user's tastes.
As shown in FIG. 11, the first embossing mat 20 is provided with a pocket 18 at the front or rear portion, into which the second embossing mat 14 for supporting the cervical spine can be inserted, so as to easily put or take the second embossing mat 14 in or out of the pillow case 10 and securely fix the position thereof. For the same reason, as shown in FIG. 12, the first embossing mat 20 is provided with pockets 19 and 19′ at the left and right side portions, into which the third embossing mats 16 and 16′ for supporting the side of the head can be inserted.
As shown in FIG. 17, one or two layered auxiliary embossing mat 30 may be put on the folded first embossing mat 20, and enclosed in the pillow case 10. A hook member 32 may be provided at a corner of the auxiliary embossing mat 30 and/or the first embossing mat 20, so that the washed embossing mats can be easily hung on a drying rack.
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the first embossing mat 20 is provided with fastening means 40 along every side surface. Preferably, the fastening means 40 may be one selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a button, a clip, a velcro tape and combination thereof. The fastening means 40 enables two or more unitary embossing mats to be freely connected to each other.
As shown in FIG. 16, the above fastening means 40 are provided at the surfaces of the first and auxiliary embossing mats 20 and 30 and the inner surface of the pillow case 10. The fastening means 40 enable the first embossing mat 20 to be folded securely. Further, the fastening means 40 enable the first and auxiliary embossing mats 20 and 30 to be fixedly attached to the inner surface of the pillow case 10 for preventing the first and auxiliary embossing mats 20 and 30 from slipping inside the pillow case 10.
As shown in FIG. 10, since the first embossing mat 20 is quilt-sewn in a lateral and/or longitudinal direction and is formed with a plurality of quilted portions 22 and embossed portions 24, even though the first embossing mat 20 is washed, the filling 23 like cotton filled in each embossed portion 24 does not form clumps or bunch up to one side, and is kept to be distributed evenly. Therefore, the restoring force to its original height of the first embossing mat 20 is increased, and the user can feel comfortable even after a long-term use.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, since the pillow in accordance with the present invention includes an embossing mat which is quilt-sewn to have a plurality of quilted portions and embossed portions, the pillow can be washed to be cleaned and used sanitarily. Also, the filling like cotton filled in each embossed portion is not massed or does not lean to one side even after the washing or long-term use, so the pillow of the present invention is comfortable and economical to use.
Regardless of whether the user has a habit of sleeping on the back or on the side, or although the user unconsciously changes the sleeping posture, the height of the pillow can be widely adjusted according to the user's body shape and sleeping posture. Therefore, the pillow of the present invention enables the user to fall into deep sleep and prevents neck and shoulder aches and deformity.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A pillow comprising:

a pillow case; and

a first embossing mat which is enclosed in the pillow case, the first embossing mat being quilt-sewn in at least one direction to have a plurality of embossed portions and being folded in multi-layers.

2. The pillow according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second embossing mat which is enclosed in one side of the pillow case for supporting a cervical spine, the second embossing mat being quilt-sewn in at least one direction to have a plurality of embossed portions.

3. The pillow according to claim 1, further comprising:

third embossing mats which are enclosed in two opposite sides of the pillow case for supporting a side of a head, each of the third embossing mats being quilt-sewn in at least one direction to have a plurality of embossed portions.

4. The pillow according to claim 1, wherein the first embossing mat includes multiple pieces which are connected to each other by fastening means, and

the fastening means is one selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a button, a clip, a velcro tape and combination thereof.

5. The pillow according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second embossing mat for supporting a cervical spine and a third embossing mat for supporting a side of a head,

wherein the first embossing mat is formed with pockets into which the second and third embossing mats are inserted.