(19)
(11) EP 0 756 841 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
05.02.1997 Bulletin 1997/06

(21) Application number: 96202082.2

(22) Date of filing: 23.07.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6A47G 9/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE DE DK LU NL

(30) Priority: 04.08.1995 NL 1000931

(71) Applicant: JADE B.V.
NL-7418 EC Deventer (NL)

(72) Inventors:
  • Achtereekte, Hendrikus Leonardus
    7433 DD Schalkhaar (NL)
  • Achtereekte, Leonardus Gerardus
    8103 EL Raalte (NL)

(74) Representative: Schumann, Bernard Herman Johan et al
Arnold & Siedsma, Advocaten en Octrooigemachtigden, Sweelinckplein 1
2517 GK Den Haag
2517 GK Den Haag (NL)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Pillow with firmness providing element


    (57) The invention relates to a pillow (1) comprising a cover (2) containing filling material (3), wherein a firmness-providing element (5,7) is also arranged in the cover (2). This firmness-providing element (5,7) is preferably elongate in form and can for instance be manufactured from foam material. In order to prevent the firmness-providing element (5,7) from beginning to drift inside the cover, a number of variants are proposed in the application for fixing the element to the cover.




    Description


    [0001] The invention relates to a pillow comprising a cover containing filling material.

    [0002] Such pillows are known very generally and are used particularly as head support point in a bed. The drawback of the existing pillows is the relatively limited supporting function which they provide in the neck, particularly when a person is lying on a side. In practice therefore, many people fold or press together a conventional pillow in order to still obtain the desired support of the neck. It will be apparent that this has varying results which disappear in the course of time so that the pillow has to be remodelled once again. This all results in a disrupted sleep function.

    [0003] Pre-formed pillows manufactured from foam material are commercially available wherein an elevation is arranged in the pillow at the position of the neck. While such pillows certainly provide support to the neck, they also have the supporting properties of the foam material at the position of the head. This latter is less agreeable for most people since a more flexible support is desired at the position of the head. Subject to the desired support of the head the consumer has a wide choice of different filling materials, wherein feathers in particular are very popular as filling material. Such a support of the head cannot be realized using a pre-formed pillow of foam material.

    [0004] In addition to the above stated pillows manufactured from foam material there are also pillow cases which can be arranged round a conventional pillow and in which a space is also included for arranging a neck-cushion. In this manner an existing pillow with the desired support function for the head can be combined with an element supporting the neck. The drawback to this solution is the necessity for specific pillow cases. Existing pillow cases, which often go together with patterns and/or colours of the other bed linen, cannot be used in this solution. Another drawback is that the transition from the neck-supporting element to the head-supporting pillow is more or less uneven. This is perceived by many as uncomfortable.

    [0005] The present invention has for its object to provide a pillow with which, in addition to the head, the neck can also be supported comfortably. The invention has the further object of providing such a functionality while making use of conventional bed linen, in particular conventional pillow cases. The invention further has the object of providing a neck- and head-supporting pillow which is very simple in use.

    [0006] The invention provides for this purpose a pillow comprising a cover containing filling material wherein a firmness-providing element is also arranged in the cover. Through inclusion of the firmness-providing element in the cover the appearance of the pillow does not differ from that of already existing pillows. It is consequently also possible to use conventional pillow cases to envelop such a pillow.

    [0007] The firmness-providing element preferably has an elongate form, and more particularly the form of a roll. This roll can be manufactured from foam material such as for instance latex or polyether. Depending on the desired additional support, it is possible in this manner to include a firmness-providing element in the pillow.

    [0008] The firmness-providing element is preferably connected to the cover. The connection between firmness-providing element and cover can prevent the firmness-providing element from beginning to "drift". It is of great importance that the position of the firmness-providing element is fixed in relation to the geometry of the pillow. What must particularly be envisaged here in the case of a neck-cushion is a position parallel to an edge of the pillow and, in the case of an element in elongate form, a position substantially parallel to the edge.

    [0009] In preference the firmness-providing element is at least partially enclosed by a woven material, a projecting portion of which is connected to the cover. This woven material can for instance be formed by material from which the cover is also made. The enveloping with woven material of a significant part of the firmness-providing element provides a good anchoring without disruptive changes of shape in the firmness-providing element and without thickened portions which can be irritating during use. Another advantage of enveloping a significant part of the element with woven material is that filling material and element can be prevented from coming into contact with each other over any large distance. For instance in the case of an element of foam material can thus be prevented that hard parts of filling material, such as in particular the quills of feathers, penetrate into the foam material.

    [0010] Yet another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the firmness-providing element is joined to the cover with interposing of cords. Such cords do not inhibit the freedom of movement of the filling material in the cover. Using such cords it is thereby possible to achieve a practically complete fixation of the firmness-providing element in the cover without limiting the freedom of movement of the filling material to any considerable extent. It will be apparent that such cords can also be employed in combination with other fastening methods.

    [0011] The present invention will be further elucidated with reference to the non-limitative embodiments in the following figures. Herein:

    Fig. 1 shows a partly cut away perspective view of a pillow according to the invention, and

    Fig. 2 shows a partly cut away perspective view of another pillow according to the invention.



    [0012] Fig. 1 shows a pillow 1 whereof a cover 2 is filled with filling material 3. Also arranged round pillow 1 is a pillow case 4. In order now to obtain the desired support, in particular of the neck, a neck-cushion 5 is also arranged in pillow 1. The neck-cushion 5 will generally be manufactured from a resilient foam material, while the filling material of the pillow is formed by a material with a differing support characteristic.

    [0013] Fig. 2 shows a pillow 6 in which a neck-cushion 7 is arranged. It can be seen clearly in this figure that neck-cushion 7 is enclosed by a woven material 8, a projecting portion 9 of which is connected to the cover 2. Neck-cushion 7 is also fixed to cover 2 by means of cords 10. The position of neck-cushion 7 in pillow 6 is defined by the stated steps. It will be apparent that only one of the said steps, i.e. only the woven material envelope 8 with projecting portion 9, or the cords 10, can also be applied. The neck-cushion 7 shown in fig. 2 differs in shape from the neck-cushion 5 shown in fig. 1. Very many variants are conceivable in respect of the shape of the neck-cushion 7, or a different firmness-providing element. The chamferings 11 of neck-cushion 7 shown here serve only to illustrate the potential for variation.


    Claims

    1. Pillow comprising a cover containing filling material, wherein a firmness-providing element is also arranged in the cover.
     
    2. Pillow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firmness-providing element is elongate.
     
    3. Pillow as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the firmness-providing element is a roll.
     
    4. Pillow as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the firmness-providing element is manufactured from foam material.
     
    5. Pillow as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the firmness-providing element is manufactured from latex.
     
    6. Pillow as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the firmness-providing element is manufactured from polyether.
     
    7. Pillow as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the firmness-providing element is connected to the cover.
     
    8. Pillow as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the firmness-providing element is at least partially enclosed by a woven material, a projecting portion of which is connected to the cover.
     
    9. Pillow as claimed in claim 8, wherein the woven material which encloses the firmness-providing element is the same as the woven material of the cover.
     
    10. Pillow as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the firmness-providing element is joined to the cover with interposing of cords.
     




    Drawing







    Search report