PILLOW
A pillow is provided that is effective in reducing and/or eliminating a user's snoring proclivity. The disclosed pillow also contributes to better sleeping outcomes, e.g., by increasing air flow into the lungs relative to conventional pillows. The pillow features a contoured upper surface that defines a head-receiving region that is bounded by raised crests of differing elevations. The pillow may be fabricated from foam materials that provide desirable levels of deformation and resilience.
1 . A pillow comprising:
a pillow body including
a base;
a first crest that extends upward from the base to receive a neck of a user;
a second crest that extends upward from the base;
a valley region positioned between the first and second crests to receive a head of the user;
a front face; and
a transition surface positioned between a peak of the first crest and the front face,
wherein the transition surface comprises a point of inflection positioned on a side of the first crest proximate to the front face, and
wherein the first crest has a height greater than a height of the second crest.
2 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein the pillow retains a shape of the pillow body when no inflection force is exerted.
3 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein the pillow comprises a core foam layer and an outer foam layer.
4 . The pillow of claim 3 , wherein the core foam layer and the outer foam layer each comprise a viscoelastic foam material.
5 . The pillow of claim 3 , wherein the core foam layer comprises a polyurethane foam.
6 . The pillow of claim 3 , wherein the core foam layer has a central section fabricated from a first type of foam and side sections fabricated from a second type of foam.
7 . The pillow of claim 3 , wherein the core foam layer has an inflection force density between about 10 to about 50 at a 25% deflection.
8 . The pillow of claim 3 , wherein the core foam layer has an inflection force density between about 30 to about 40 at a 25% deflection.
9 . The pillow of claim 3 , wherein the outer foam layer has an inflection force density between about 5 to about 20 at a 25% deflection.
10 . The pillow of claim 3 , wherein the outer foam layer has an inflection force density between about 8.5 to about 12.5 at a 25% deflection.
11 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein the transition surface comprises an angle above the point of inflection from about 5° to about 20° relative to the base.
12 . The pillow of claim 11 , wherein the angle above the point of inflection is from about 15° to about 20° relative to the base.
13 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein the height of the first crest is about 30% to about 45% higher than the height of the second crest.
14 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein the height of the first crest is about 38% higher than the height of the second crest.
15 . The pillow of claim 1 , further comprising a downwardly inclined surface between a peak of the first crest and the valley region.
16 . The pillow of claim 16 , wherein the downwardly inclined surface has an angle from about 15° to about 20° relative to the base.
17 . A method of treating snoring, the method comprising:
providing a pillow that includes a pillow body comprising
a base;
a first crest that extends upwards from the base to receive a neck of a user;
a second crest that extends upwards from the base;
a valley region positioned between the first and second crests to receive a head of the user;
a front face; and
a transition surface positioned between a peak of the first crest and the front face,
wherein the transition surface comprises a point of inflection positioned on a side of the first crest proximate to the front face, and
wherein the first crest has a height greater than a height of the second crest; and
positioning a neck of a user in substantial contact with the first crest and a head of the user in substantial contact with the valley region.
18 . A method of treating a sleep disorder, the method comprising:
providing a pillow that includes a pillow body comprising
a base;
a first crest that extends upwards from the base to receive a neck of a user;
a second crest that extends upwards from the base;
a valley region positioned between the first and second crests to receive a head of the user;
a front face; and
a transition surface positioned between a peak of the first crest and the front face,
wherein the transition surface comprises a point of inflection positioned on a side of the first crest proximate to the front face, and
wherein the first crest has a height greater than a height of the second crest; and
positioning a neck of a user in substantial contact with the first crest and a head of the user in substantial contact with the valley region.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the sleep disorder is selected from sleep apnea, insomnia, low oxygenation of blood, reduced REM sleep, light sleep, intermittent sleep or a combination thereof.