FUNCTIONAL PILLOW

Abstract

The present invention provides a functional pillow filled with filling, the functional pillow comprising the filling having a tetrahedron shape having three triangle flat faces; wherein the bottom of the tetrahedron shape is open, and the inside of the tetrahedron shape is an empty space; wherein the tetrahedron shape comprises: a protruding edge portion that connects adjacent two faces of the flat faces, that protrudes from each of the flat faces, and that has a semicircle pipe shape; an apex portion that connects three protruding edge portions and that has an opening; a groove that is formed in a center portion of an outer surface of each of the flat face, and a bump portion that is formed in an inner surface of each of the flat faces and that protrudes toward a center of the opening of the bottom.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a functional pillow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Humans spend one-third of their lives asleep. Sleep makes people break the fatigue of a day and build energy for the next day.

[0003] Accordingly, sleep has an important meaning in human life. With recognition of the significance of sleep and recent increase of the income, research on sleeping equipment is being widely carried out.

[0004] In general, a wooden pillow was used in the past; however, western culture has replaced these conventional types of beddings. Most of pillows used in these days has a cushion filled with elastic materials such as cotton or sponge and has a flat structure to support the head of a person.

[0005] Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0321743 is related to a functional pillow. It discloses a functional pillow comprising: an inner member and a cover member surrounding the inner member in order to protect the cervical vertebral. The inner member is divided into a soft cushion stuffed with cotton and harden cushions formed in both sides of the soft cotton in longitudinal direction. The cover member comprises multiple handles attached on both sides of the outer side, other multiple inner handles attached on the inside thereof, and a height adjusting string that adjusts the height of the pillow by pulling the string and allowing the harden cushions to compress the soft cotton in order for it to be swollen upward.

[0006] In addition, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0335324 is related to a fragrant pillow. It discloses a fragrant pillow comprising a pillow filling of polyester cotton and a fragrant sac disposed inside the pillow filling. The fragrant sac emits fragrance to outside through the polyester cotton to helps users sleep well. The fragrant pillow includes polyester cotton and the fragrance sac containing a mother chrysanthemum, a mugwort, a star anise flavor, a peppermint, and a magnolia flavor, in the center.

[0007] Furthermore, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0334868 is related to a health pillow. It discloses pillow comprising: a filling having a certain degree of firmness to protect cervical vertebral and medical herbs to emit fragrance for remedy and deep sleep; and a pillow cover having a certain shape to receive the back of the head.

[0008] However, these pillow structures above are designed to be a placed under a person lying in a supine position. Thus, when a person is in a side-lying position, the pillow above cannot provide comfortable support to the head due to a higher step between the shoulder and the head than that in a supine position. Accordingly, these types of pillows cannot be applicable to different position from a supine position. Specifically, these pillows put pressure on the ear when a person is in a side-lying position, which disturbs deep sleep.

[0009] The present invention provides a functional pillow that can properly support the head and neck in any lying positions without adjusting the height of the pillow, which can reduce pain from uncomfortable support by pillow. This is beneficial especially for cervical herniated disc patients.

[0010] The present invention also provides a functional pillow that can enable a user to sleep comfortably by reducing pain in ear in a side-lying position.

[0011] The present invention also provides a functional pillow that can give acupressure effects by filling in the pillow.

[0012] The purposes of the present invention are not limited to the mentioned above. Additional purposes of the inventive concept will be set forth in the description below which will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art.

[0013] According to a functional pillow of the present invention, the functional pillow can properly support the head and neck of a person in any lying positions without adjusting the height of the pillow and can reduce pain of cervical herniated disc patients.

[0014] In addition, the functional pillow can enable a user to sleep comfortably by reducing pain in ear in a side-lying position.

[0015] Furthermore, a user can obtain acupressure effects by filling in the pillow.

[0016] The technical effects of the present invention are not limited to the mentioned above. Additional technical effects of the inventive concept will be set forth in the description below which will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention provides a functional pillow filled with filling, the functional pillow comprising: the filling having a tetrahedron shape having three triangle flat faces; wherein the bottom of the tetrahedron shape is open, and the inside of the tetrahedron shape is an empty space; wherein the tetrahedron shape comprises: a protruding edge portion that connects adjacent two faces of the flat faces, that protrudes from each of the flat faces, and that has a semicircle pipe shape; an apex portion that connects three protruding edge portions and that has an opening; a groove that is formed in a center portion of an outer surface of each of the flat face, and a bump portion that is formed in an inner surface of each of the flat faces and that protrudes toward a center of the opening of the bottom.

[0018] The filling is made of elastic materials.

[0019] The size of an opening in the bottom of the tetrahedron shape is reduced by the space occupancy of the bottom of the bump portion to the extent that one filling is only partially inserted into an empty space of another filing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing filling stuffed in the pillow according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIGS. 3 to 6 are drawings showing filling of the pillow according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pillow according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a fragrance emitting capsule attached to the filling according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONS

[0025] While the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, many more modifications, variations, and embodiments than mentioned above are possible.

[0026] The embodiments below are not restricting or limiting the scopes of the inventive concepts. The scope of the present invention includes scopes of appended claims, modifications, variations, and equivalent alternatives.

[0027] The terminology used herein are defined for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present invention and are not restricting or limiting the scopes of the inventive concepts.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all terms, including technical and scientific terms, used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventive concept belongs.

[0029] Hereafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The First Embodiment

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drawing showing filling stuffed in the pillow according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 to 6 are drawings showing filling of the pillow according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] A center portion of the pillow of the present invention is filled with filling that maintain a height of the center portion corresponding to a level of the head in a supine position. The center portion can be lowered by pressure of the head when the head is placed on the center portion of the pillow. Meanwhile, side portions of the pillow are formed in both sides of the center portion, respectively. The protruding side portion has a height corresponding to a level of the head in a side-lying position. As the protruding side portions can support the head even in a side-lying position, it can reduce pain of cervical herniated disc patients.

[0032] In addition, the pillow of the present invention can improve the body condition and be beneficial for fatigue recovery because every nerve tissue of the whole body passes the cervical vertebral. It could be preventive treatment to prevent a physical and mental disease and treat different problems. Furthermore, the whole ear is severely compressed by filling of the pillow, which prevents pain or uncomfortableness of the ear.

[0033] Moreover, the shape of the pillow can be adjusted according to sleep postures without manual control; thus, even though a user changes his posture during sleep, he can be kept in a comfortable posture during the whole sleep. It can prevent cervical herniated disc problems and snoring caused by bad sleep posture. It can be also treatment for snoring.

[0034] Additionally, even though the head of a user is moved side to side, the back, the left, and the right of the head are respectively supported by the pillow. It enables a user to have a deep sleep, prevents the whole ear from being severely compressed, and allows a user to clearly hear outside sound by having the ear keep a certain distance from the pillow cover.

[0035] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pillow 100 of the present invention comprises a cover (not numbered) and filling 200 inside the cover.

[0036] The size of the cover can be designed in any size. The shape of the cover can also be designed in any various shape.

[0037] FIGS. 3 to 6 show the filling 200 inside the pillow. The filling 200 can fill the inside of the pillow to the extent that when a user places the head on the center portion of the pillow, the filling 200 could be distributed to the periphery portion of the center portion so that the center portion is slightly sunk and receives the head. Thus, when a certain weight, such as the head, is loaded on the center portion of the pillow, the filling 200 which have been distributed irregularly, moves within flow ranges and distributed to the periphery portion, especially to side portions of the center portion.

[0038] A degree of depression in the center portion can be designed according to a user's request level. For shallow depression, relatively high amounts of fillings 200 can fill inside the pillow cover. For deep depression, relatively few amounts of fillings 200 can fill inside the pillow cover.

[0039] For example, the filling 200 may be made of elastic materials such as silicone. The elastic materials have a certain degree of elasticity that can provide cushioning in an area that the body of a user, such as the head and the neck, meets with. However, the material of the filling 200 is not limited to the above. In addition, the filling 200 are preferably made of light materials for portability.

[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the filling 200 a tetrahedron shape having three flat faces 210. The bottom of the tetrahedron shape is open, and the inside of the tetrahedron shape is an empty space.

[0041] Referring to the detailed shape of the filling 200, a protruding edge portion 230 connecting adjacent two flat faces 210 slightly protrudes from each of the flat faces 210. Thus, the protruding edge portion 230 has a semicircle pipe shape. A apex portion connecting three protruding edge portions 230 has an opening 240. Accordingly, when a weight, such as the head, is loaded on the pillow, filling 200 can be partially combined or inserted into each other, and air inside the empty space of the filling 200 can be escaped through the opening 240.

[0042] In addition, a center portion of an outer surface of each face 210 has a groove 220 with a certain depth.

[0043] Furthermore, an inner surface 250 of each face 210 has a bump portion 260 protruding with a certain height toward a center of the opening of the bottom. A shape of the opening of the bottom is defined by the bump portion 260. The size of the opening of the bottom is reduced by the space occupancy of the bottom of the bump portion 260 to the extent that one filling 200 is only partially inserted into an empty space of another filing 200. Thus, each filling 200 cannot be totally inserted into the empty space of the other filling 200. This structure can prevent from reduction of volumes or numbers of the filling 200, which may be caused when fillings 200 are combined or inserted into each other.

[0044] A shape of the filling 200 can be changed freely due to its elasticity and its empty space inside the tetrahedron shape. The filling 200 disposed in the center portion of the pillow where the head is loaded, can be more deformed than those disposed in other portion of the pillow where a weight is not loaded.

[0045] The head, mostly the back of the head, pressurizes the pillow, and an elastic force from the filling 200 can support the head stably. The filling 200 disposed in the other portion where the pressure by the head is light, can maintain its original tetrahedron shape and can acupressure other parts of the head, not the back, such as the side and the ear of the head.

[0046] The filling 200 inside the pillow are distributed irregularly when there is no weight on the pillow because the filling 200 has a tetrahedron. However, once a weight is loaded on the pillow, each face 210 of the tetrahedron shape can meet each other, and thereby the filling 200 can support the head with a stable area.

[0047] In addition, the opening 240 formed in the apex portion where each face 210 meets each other can vent air when the head pressurizes the pillow. Specifically, when the head pressurizes in the center portion, and when a filling 200 is partially inserted to the inner space of the other filling 200, air in the center portion can be vented into filling 200 in the periphery portion of the pillow. This way, the pillow can be deformed to have a shallow depression in the center portion. Accordingly, a user can maintain a comfortable and stable lying position.

[0048] Furthermore, as the bump portion 260 formed in the inner surface 250 can prevent each filling 200 from being stuck into the empty space of other filling 200, each filling 200 can be existed separately, not combined. Therefore, the pillow maintains its volume, and the numbers of the filling 200 can be maintained constant. Thus, pillow deformation caused by placing the head on can be occurred to the same shape.

[0049] As the filling 200 is made of elastic materials, the filling 200 can provide comfortable acupressure effects without pain, which may caused by sharp edges or apexes of the tetrahedron shape of the filling 200.

[0050] In case the pillow is placed under both the head and the neck, the filling 200 can provide acupressure effects even on the neck.

The Second Embodiment

[0051] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pillow according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 7, other pillows 310 and 410, each having a certain area, are disposed on both side of a pillow 100, respectively. These pillows 310, 410 enable the height of the pillow 100 to be adjusted.

[0053] Each inner surface of both side ends of the pillow 100 has a fastening mean such as a snap button. Likewise, an outer surface of one side end 300 of the pillow 310 has a fastening mean corresponding to the fastening mean of the pillow 100; an outer surface of one side end 400 of the pillow 410 has a fastening mean corresponding to the fastening mean of the pillow 100. The pillows 100 and 310 can be combined or detached each other by these fastening means. Likewise, the pillows 100 and 410 can be combined or detached each other by these fastening means.

[0054] A set of the fastening means are plural, and a distance between the adjacent sets of fastening means is shorter than a width of each filling 200. This way, the filling 200 is not escaped from the pillow when the pillow is compressed.

[0055] In the second embodiment, the filling 200 filling the pillow 100 can be spread into the other pillows 310, 410, which enables the height of the pillow 100 to be adjusted.

The Third Embodiment

[0056] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a fragrance emitting capsule attached to the filling according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] According to the third embodiment, a capsule containing fragrant materials are stored in an empty space, where the bump portion 260 is formed, inside the filling 200. The capsule may be formed in all or some of the fillings 200.

[0058] When the fragrance emitting capsules are stored in some of the fillings 200, not all of them, these fillings 200 containing the fragrance emitting capsules can be evenly distributed throughout the pillow.

[0059] Thus, when the head pressurizes the pillow, the filling 200 are deformed by the pressure, and the capsule 500 inside the filling 200 is burst and emits fragrance. The deformation of the filling 200 can be possible because the filling 200 is made of elastic materials that provide cushioning.

[0060] Meanwhile, the capsule 500 can be stored not in the empty space inside the filling 200 but can be attached to the inner surface 250 of any face of the tetrahedron shape using a detachable mean.

[0061] In addition, the capsule 500 can be built in a sac, and the sac may be attached to the inner surface 250 of any face of the tetrahedron shape using a detachable mean. In other embodiments, the capsule 500 or the sac containing the capsule 500 may be attached to the outer surface 210 of any face of the tetrahedron shape using a detachable mean.

[0062] While some embodiments of the functional pillow of the present invention have been described, the present invention and embodiments of the present invention are not limited to what has been particularly shown above. It would be apparent that many more modifications and variations than mentioned above are possible by an ordinary person skilled in the art within scopes of appended claims.

Claims

1. A functional pillow filled with fillings, the functional pillow comprising: the filling having a tetrahedron shape having three triangle flat faces; wherein the bottom of the tetrahedron shape is open, and the inside of the tetrahedron shape is an empty space; wherein the tetrahedron shape comprises: a protruding edge portion that connects adjacent two faces of the flat faces, that protrudes from each of the flat faces, and that has a semicircle pipe shape; an apex portion that connects three protruding edge portions and that has an opening; a groove that is formed in a center portion of an outer surface of each of the flat face, and a bump portion that is formed in an inner surface of each of the flat faces and that protrudes toward a center of the opening of the bottom.

2. The functional pillow according to claim 1, wherein the filling is made of elastic materials.

3. The functional pillow according to claim 1, wherein a size of an opening in the bottom of the tetrahedron shape is reduced by the space occupancy of the bottom of the bump portion to the extent that one filling is only partially inserted into an empty space of another filing.