(19) |
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(11) |
EP 0 756 841 A1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(43) |
Date of publication: |
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05.02.1997 Bulletin 1997/06 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 23.07.1996 |
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(51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC)6: A47G 9/00 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE DE DK LU NL |
(30) |
Priority: |
04.08.1995 NL 1000931
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(71) |
Applicant: JADE B.V. |
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NL-7418 EC Deventer (NL) |
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(72) |
Inventors: |
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- Achtereekte, Hendrikus Leonardus
7433 DD Schalkhaar (NL)
- Achtereekte, Leonardus Gerardus
8103 EL Raalte (NL)
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(74) |
Representative: Schumann, Bernard Herman Johan et al |
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Arnold & Siedsma,
Advocaten en Octrooigemachtigden,
Sweelinckplein 1 2517 GK Den Haag 2517 GK Den Haag (NL) |
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(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.
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[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.
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.
