PILLOW SYSTEM

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a pillow system to maintain a hair style during sleep, especially shorter hair styles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common to conventional pillow products is their effect on hair styles of men and women during sleep. The effect on the styled hair can vary as can the causing event. There is a need to prolong the life of styled hair. A number of solutions have been proposed in the patent literature. Typical solutions include pillow covers made of materials, e.g. satin, that minimize harmful friction and thereby hair damage, e.g. GB 2,319,535, and pillow shape directed to providing support so that hair contact with the pillow is avoided or minimized, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,631. A published U.S. Application No. 200501027759 discloses the use of an ear pillow. The miniature ear pillow is placed upon a conventional pillow so that neither pillow disturbs one's hairstyle.

These approaches have downsides. The first does not avoid hair contact, the second requires the manufacture of multiple sized shapes to accommodate the individualized needs and the third disrupts sleep. One size pillow rarely works for all. Consider U.S. Pat. No. 8,418,294.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves the use of a pillow system to provide support for both a person's neck and shoulder(s) when asleep so that the person's head remains elevated above a sleeping surface.

Minimizing or avoiding contact of the surface with the hair maintains the hairstyle. The elevation is sufficient to avoid contact between the person's hair and the sleeping and pillow surfaces.

The pillow system consists of a small roughly cylindrical pillow that supports the neck and a conventional pillow that can support the shoulder area. The neck pillow contains deformable filler sufficient to maintain the cylindrical shape and deformable to conform with the neck and provide support. The conventional pillow supports the sleeping person's shoulder and provides an upper surface where the small cylindrical neck pillow is positioned for a good night's sleep. Both pillows in the system combine to provide the elevation of the head above the sleep surface during sleep.

The neck support pillow is positioned on the upper surface of the conventional pillow that supports the sleeping person's shoulder. The cylindrical neck pillow has a diameter (d) that is sufficient to completely support the neck and elevate the head above the shoulder support pillow and sleeping surface. The length (l) of the cylinder pillow is sufficient to maintain contact with the neck during sleep. The length and diameter of the neck pillow also maintain the position of the neck pillow on the conventional pillow surface. The filler choice is selected to provide a surface with sufficient flexibility to conform with the neck region and provide support. The cylindrical neck pillow has sufficient length to provide the support function throughout the night so that the person can move around. The dimensions of the neck pillow also maintain the position of the neck pillow on the surface of the conventional pillow and elevation distancing to avoid the styled hair contact with the sleeping surface. Fillers are suited for use in the neck pillow so long as a deformable flexible surface that supports the neck results. Source is not critical.

Other features of the present pillow system surface will become apparent in light of the following description of a preferred embodiment and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled pillow system with the neck support pillow present on the upper surface of the shoulder support pillow.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the cylindrical neck support pillow.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a person with a short hairstyle on an assembled pillow system having a neck support pillow on the upper side of the shoulder support pillow positioned on a sleeping surface.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a person with a short hairstyle on an assembled pillow system having a neck support pillow on the upper side of the shoulder support pillow positioned on a sleeping surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referencing FIG. 1, the pillow system (1) is shown resting on a sleeping surface (2). The pillow system (1) consists of a movable neck support pillow (3) and a shoulder support pillow (4). The pillow system is placed on the sleeping surface (2) to align with the head of the person when sleeping.

Referencing FIG. 2, the roughly cylindrical neck support pillow (3) is shown with a diameter dimensioned to support the neck of a person when asleep and a length sufficient to position the pillow on the shoulder support pillow.

Referencing FIG. 3, a top view of a person, when asleep, properly positioned on the pillow system with the neck pillow (3) place under and supporting the person's neck and the shoulder supporting pillow in contact and the shoulder supporting pillow is in contact with the person's shoulder. The subject's hair is not in contact with the sleeping surface (2) or the shoulder pillow (4) due to the diameter (height) of the neck support pillow (3).

Referencing FIG. 4, a side view of a person, when asleep, properly positioned on the pillow system with the neck pillow (3) place under and supporting the person's neck and the shoulder supporting pillow in contact and the shoulder supporting pillow in contact with the person's shoulder. The subject's hair is not in contact with the sleeping surface (2) or the shoulder pillow (4) due to the diameter (height) of the neck support pillow (3).

Operation

The pillow can be prepared from commercially available materials. The shoulder supporting pillow is a conventional pillow. The smaller neck supporting pillow is roughly cylindrical. Typically, a length of about 21 inches and a width of about 7½ inches. The perimeter is about 16 inches. This length can be sufficient to conform with that of the supporting conventional pillow. The diameter provides sufficient height to avoid contact with the sleeping surface when combined with the height of the conventional pillow. The diameter of the pillow is also sufficient to provide continuous support of the neck of a person when sleeping. (The difference in length between the neck support pillow and the conventional pillow can be 7 inches.)

It is expected that dimensions will vary depending on the size of the individual and hair length. With that in mind, the dimensions used should achieve a head elevation sufficient to avoid contact of the styled hair with the sleeping surface and the conventional pillow surface. The maintenance of the hair style is achieved by avoiding surface contact and any resultant friction resulting from the movement of the subject during sleep. Shorter hair styles simplify the system requirements and design.

The cylindrical pillow shown in the figures was prepared from the following materials:

• Cover Material
• Jersey Knit
• Color
• Navy
• Fabric Type
• 96% Polyester 4% Spandex
• Filler Material-Poly-Fil Extra-Loft quilt
• Brand
• Fairfield
• 100% Polyester batting.

The use of the present invention allows one to maintain his/her hair style while sleeping. There is a high degree of flexibility in its operation. The methodology is straight forward and employs a minimum number element. A conventional pillow can be used as the shoulder support pillow. The underlying principle is the use of a roughly cylindrical neck support pillow of sufficient size to comfortably support the neck of the sleeping person so that combined height of the neck support pillow and the shoulder support pillow elevates the head of the person so that hair does not come in contact with the sleeping surface (bed) and the height of the neck support pillow is sufficient to avoid hair contact with the shoulder support pillow. Less contact obviously prolongs hairstyle “life”.

The relative dimensions of the roughly cylindrical diameter and length can stabilize the position of the neck pillow when placed—friction. There is a balance to maintained. The use of surface materials having less friction, e.g. statin, minimize hair entanglements and damage to the hairstyle. Stability is also improved through the use of denser fill material. There is a balance here to since deformability and comfort are desired.

The method of supporting the head of a person includes the steps of providing a sleeping surface for the support of a person and providing a pillow system having a separable neck pillow and a separable shoulder support pillow. The shoulder support pillow can be a conventional pillow. The shoulder support pillow is positioned underneath a person to be located generally between the shoulder and the head of the person. The neck support pillow is positioned on the shoulder support pillow so that neck is fully supported. The height of the neck support pillow is sufficient to elevate the head so that the hairstyle is above both the sleeping surface and the shoulder support surface. ct.

The support pillows can be packaged as a system in a kit form. Size relative sizes and heights can be matched based on size to facilitate use. Taller subject populations can be distinguished from others.

Instructions can be included to facilitate product acceptance and usage.

While the invention has been described with an emphasis on preferred embodiments, it will be obvious that variations of the preferred embodiments may be used, and that it is intended that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically designed herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.