Vertigo Pillow for Side Sleeper

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the domestic benefit to the present application Ser. No. 17/342,620 filed Jun. 9, 2021, and the provisional application No. 63/043,538 filed Jun. 24, 2020, content of each is herein incorporated in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of pillows. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pillow having a wider than normal band creating height to elevate the head at an angle and a centrally located cut in the pillow body to accommodate the insertion of a shoulder while retaining the head at an elevated angle and supporting the neck and upper shoulders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sleeping positions are personal. Preferred sleeping positions can be separated into groups like back sleepers, side sleepers, or stomach sleepers. Sleeping in your preferred position is key to getting a good night's rest.

Getting a good night's rest is generally more difficult for sufferers of vertigo. Vertigo sufferers are hindered in their ability to rest peacefully due to the need to avoid an inappropriate positioning of the head, neck, and shoulders during sleep. Most pillows claim a neutral positioning of the head, but a vertigo sufferer must avoid a neutral position. This is inherently different from the typical pillow or recommendation from sleep experts, spine experts etc. which encourage a neutral position of the head and neck while sleeping.

Side sleepers make up 74% of the population and many of them suffer from vertigo.

Sleep is essential for vertigo sufferers. Poor sleep can make vertigo episodes more frequent and pronounced.

Vertigo is also significant problem in the elderly where it is estimated to be 30% in adults 60 years or older and only increases with age.

Vertigo accounts for 2-3% of emergency room visits.

Studies show 15-20% of adults experience vertigo and at 40 years of age it increases to 40%.

Studies show women are 2-3× more likely to have vertigo and 1 in 10 worldwide suffer from vertigo.

Vertigo experts recommend keeping the head elevated and at an angle up to 45 degrees to retain the crystals in the inner ear from falling into the outer ear canal resulting in dizziness, nausea, falls, accidents, and decreased quality of life. The neck also plays a significant role in BPPV. Head and neck alignment are inseparable and supporting the head, neck and shoulders while elevating the head at an angle is essential.

Vertigo experts highly recommend sleeping on your back using one of the following: a wedge pillow, two or more pillows on top of each other or a pillow with a travel pillow to elevate and angle the head.

All these recommendations don't take into consideration that not all Vertigo sufferers can sleep on their back and their solution of two pillows together is susceptible to slipping apart as one sleeps resulting in the head falling into a neutral position and many find the wedge pillows uncomfortable.

It is especially difficult for vertigo sufferers if the preferred sleep position is sleeping on their side which generally requires the body and shoulder to remain on the mattress. Using the two-pillow method results in fighting their pillows every night by punching and pushing the pillow away from the shoulder and the pillows can slip during sleep leaving the head and neck in a neutral position which is the worst outcome for the vertigo sufferer.

There is a need for a pillow design that allows for a side sleeper to sleep in their preferred sleeping position while elevating the head at an angle sufficient to retain the crystals of the inner ear from moving into the outer ear canal while supporting the neck and shoulders which is important when the head is not in a neutral position.

It is within this context that the present invention is provided.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides for a pillow designed to provide a solution for the side sleeper who suffers from vertigo.

Vertigo experts recommend sleeping on the back with the head elevated and angled up to 45 degrees. This can be done with a wedge pillow, or two pillows stacked for the back sleeper but not for the side sleeper, Elevating the head at an angle while laying on your side using two pillows risks the neck and shoulders due to a lack of support. Also, two pillows stacked can slip apart leaving the individual susceptible to an episode of vertigo.

The neck plays a significant role in BPPV. Head and neck alignment are inseparable and supporting the head, neck and shoulders while elevating the head at an angle is essential.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a pillow, the pillow comprising a sewn fabric enclosure filled with a filler material, the sewn fabric enclosure being of standard size with a length, a width, and a height.

The pillow enclosure may further comprise a top, a bottom, each with a cut centrically located lengthwise along one side, a band width or height and length to accommodate the circumference of the top and bottom length, width and cut plus a seam allowance to sew the two ends together before sewing to the top and bottom.

In some embodiments the fabric enclosure is cotton or polyester fabric.

In some embodiments the pillow is of standard size with a length of 26″, a width of 20″, and a band height of 3-7″.

In some embodiments the seam opening along the upper length between the top and the band is closed by sewing the seam shut.

In some embodiments the seam opening along the upper length between the top and the band is closed using a zipper.

In some embodiments the filler is shredded foam.

The present disclosure provides for a pillow that a side sleeper suffering from vertigo may place their shoulder into the cut of the pillow body keeping their shoulder on the mattress while their head lays on the upper pillow at an elevated and angled position to keep the inner ear crystals from falling into the ear canal while the neck and shoulders are supported by the pillow as the shoulder rests in the cut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side-on isometric view of the example configuration of the disclosed pillow.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top-down isometric view of the example configuration of the disclosed pillow with inner filling shown within the fabric enclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates the isometric view of the example configuration of the disclosed pillow with a side sleeper in a preferred sleeping position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top-down isometric view of the example configuration of the disclosed pillow with a side sleeper in preferred sleeping position.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side sleeper using the recommended two pillows stacked on top of each other.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side sleeper sleeping on a mattress using the disclosed pillow.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the disclosed pillow.

FIG. 8 illustrates a finished view of the disclosed pillow after sewn together and filled with filler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure provides a pillow configured to allow side sleepers who suffer from vertigo a solution to sleeping on the side while the head is elevated at an angle and the neck and shoulders are supported.

FIG. 1, illustrates a side-on view of the disclosed pillow (100) with a length (102) a width (104) and a height (106) byway of a band (107) approximately 3-7″ a cut (108) located centrally halfway along the length (102) and cut approximately 9″ into the width (104) of the top (110) and bottom (116) a seam (214) by sewing the two ends of the band (107) together prior to sewing the top (110) and the bottom (116) to the band (107) creating a fabric pillow enclosure to which filler such as shredded foam can be filled.

FIG. 2, illustrates a top-down view of the disclosed, pillow (100) sewn together with a top (110) a bottom (116) a band (107) providing for a fabric enclosure filled with filler (224) such as shredded foam.

FIG. 3, illustrates an example configuration of the disclosed pillow (100) with a side sleeper (200) in position with the head elevated and angled (208) with the shoulder (202) inserted Into the cut (108) keeping the shoulder on the mattress while the neck and upper shoulders are supported by the pillow (100) forming around the body.

FIG. 4, illustrate a top down view of the disclosed pillow (100) with a side sleeper (200) in the preferred sleeping position with the shoulder (202) Inserted into the cut (108) and resting on the a mattress with the head elevated and angled (208) on the top surface (110) of the pillow (100), and the neck and upper shoulders are supported by the pillow (100) as the cut (108) compresses and folds into the neck and upper shoulders supporting both which is imperative when sleeping in a non-neutral position.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side sleeper (200) using the recommended two pillows stacked on top of each other (210) and the lack of support for the neck and upper body needed when your sleep position requires the head to be elevated and angled in a non-neutral position (208).

FIG. 6 illustrates a side sleeper (200) lying on a mattress using the disclosed pillow (100) with the head elevated and angled (208) the shoulder (202) inserted into the cut (108) resting on the mattress while the neck and upper shoulders are supported by the lower part of the pillow (100),

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the disclosed pillow (100) with a top (110) with a 9″ cut (108) centrally located lengthwise, a band (107) approximately 110″ long plus 1″ to seam (214) a bottom (116) with a 9″ cut (108) centrally located lengthwise, showing the anticipated seam (220) that will create the pillow enclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a pillow enclosure (114) sewn together along the edges of the top (110) to the band (107) and the bottom (116) to the band (107) shown by the seams (220) the band having been sewn together at the ends creating a seam (214) before sewing to the top (110) and the bottom (116) and leaving an opening (226) at the top of the pillow (100) lengthwise between the top (110) and the band (107) closed with a zipper (222) after filling with filler (224).

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the pillow have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

It is too be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves cite those features regarded as essential to the invention.