Orthopedic support pillow

Abstract

A stress reducing device is defined by a dual use orthopedic pillow having a low density polyurethane foam outer region, a high density polyurethane foam middle region that are provided in removably attachable layers, so that the size of the device may be adjusted to accommodate different sizes and preferences of individual users. The pillow advantageously includes leg clasps for securely engaging the inner thighs of an individual in a side lying position defined by a stem and a pair of crescent shaped buttresses. The buttresses resist rotation to the prone and supine lying positions. The high density foam within the stem separates the knees to reduce spinal stress. Advantageously, a supine sleeping position is aided by positioning said pillow under the legs to flatten out the spine while supporting the legs at the thigh and calf regions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A stress reducing device for use by an individual while in a side lying position, said device comprising: 
 a pair of buttresses, each having a convex side and a concave side;    an elongated stem connected to said buttresses between said concave sides;    said device including a plurality of layers adapted to fasten to each other and to said buttresses and stems;    said buttresses and stem forming respective C-shaped leg clasps on opposite sides of said stem;    said leg clasps, each having a pair of resilient lips having an elastic characteristic to allow said lips to be spread apart in response to a predetermined force;    such that said lips of each of said clasps may be separated to receive legs of an individual within the respective clasps, and release of said force allowing said lips to securely engage said legs within respective clasps.    
     
     
         2 . A stress reducing device for use by an individual while in a side lying position, said device comprising: 
 a pair of buttresses, each having a convex side and a concave side;    an elongated stem connected to said buttresses between said concave sides;    said buttresses and stem forming respective C-shaped leg clasps on opposite sides of said stem;    said leg clasps, each having a pair of resilient lips having an elastic characteristic to allow said lips to be spread apart in response to a predetermined force;    such that said lips of each of said clasps may be separated to receive legs of an individual within the respective clasps, and release of said force allowing said lips to securely engage said legs within respective clasps.    
     
     
         3 . The stress reducing device of    claim 2   , wherein: 
 said stem includes a low density compressible out layer for contacting said thighs and a center region having a high density compression resistant inner layer such that when said stem is positioned between said legs, respective knees of said legs are positioned in spaced apart overlying relation.    
     
     
         4 . The stress reducing device of    claim 3   , wherein: 
 said buttresses have a volume and density characteristic such that when said legs are secured in said clasps, said buttresses positioned against the front side and back side of the individual resist rotation by the individual to the spine and prone positions.    
     
     
         5 . A stress reducing device for use by an individual while in a side lying or supine position, said device comprising: 
 a compression resistant mat having a pair generally rectangular shaped surfaces;    a first and second outer layer connected to respective surfaces of said mat;    said outer layers, each having an outer surface including a lengthwise concave channel along said outer surface;    a pair of leg clasps formed in respective outer layers defined by outwardly facing widthwise C-shaped channels located at the lengthwise median.    
     
     
         6 . A stress reducing pillow for use by an individual while in a sideling or supine position, the device comprising: 
 a first and second outer surface, each including a lengthwise concave channel along said outer surface;    a pair of leg clasps formed in respective outer layers defined by outwardly facing widthwise C-shaped channels located at the lengthwise median;    a first and second end; each having a convex shaped surface; and    a flat planar side walls, each extending between said ends and outer surfaces.    
     
     
         7 . A stress reducing pillow for use by an individual while in a side lying or supine position, the device comprising: 
 a first and second outer surface, each including a lengthwise concave channel along said outer surface;    a pair of leg clasps formed in respective outer layers defined by outwardly facing widthwise C-shaped channels located at the lengthwise median.    a first and second end, each end having a convex shaped surface;    flat planar side walls, each extending between said ends and outer surfaces; and    a detachable layer removably attached to said first outer surface, removably attached to said second outer surface and positioned between said first and said second outer surfaces.    
     
     
         8 . A stress reducing device for use by an individual between the legs and along the left thigh and along the right thigh of the individual while in a side lying position, said device comprising: 
 a pair of buttresses, each having a convex side and a concave side;    an elongated stem connected to said buttresses between said concave sides;    said buttresses and stem forming respective C-shaped leg clasps on opposite sides of said stem;    each of said leg clasps having a pair of resilient lips formed by intersecting the convex and concave sides of the buttresses and having an elastic characteristic to allow said lips to be spread apart in response to a predetermined force;    such that, upon said lips being spread apart by said force, said clasps are adapted to receive the legs of the individual, and, upon release of said force, allowing said lips to return together thereby securely engaging the legs within respective clasps and resisting rotation of the individual to supine and prone positions.    
     
     
         9 . A pillow made of a foam material, having a length, a height and a width dimension comprising: 
 a first side wall extending along the length dimension and along the height dimension;    a second side wall extending along the length dimension and along the height dimension;    a first C-shaped channel extending across the pillow in the width dimension from the first side wall to the second side wall, having an arc of curvature greater than 180° and open in a first direction;    a second C-shaped channel extending across the pillow in the width dimension from the first side wall to the second side wall, having an arc of curvature greater than 180° and open m in a direction opposite the open direction of the first channel;    a first buttress extending across the pillow in the width dimension from the first side wall to the second side wall and having an elliptical arc of curvature greater than 180°;    a second buttress extending across the pillow in the width dimension from the first side wall to the second side wall and having an elliptical arc of curvature greater than 180°;    said first buttress having an elliptical arc of curvature which intersects with the first C-shaped channel arc of curvature and with the second C-shaped channel arc of curvature to form a first resilient edge at the first C-shaped channel and a second resilient edge at the second C-shaped channel;    said second buttress having an elliptical arc of curvature which intersects with the first C-shaped channel arc of curvature and with the second C-shaped channel arc of curvature to form a third resilient edge at the first C-shaped channel and a fourth resilient edge at the second C-shaped channel;    the of intersection of the elliptical arc of curvature of the first buttress with the arcs of curvature of the first and second C-shaped channels and the intersection of the elliptical arc of curvature of the second buttress with the arcs of curvature of the first and second C-shaped channels lie between a first plane tangent to both the first C-shaped channel and the second C-shaped channel and a second plane tangent to both the first C-shaped channel and the second C-shaped channel;    the first buttress contains the first plane tangent to both the first and second C-shaped channels; and    the second buttress contains the second plane tangent to both the first and second C-shaped channels.    
     
     
         10 . The pillow of    claim 9    further including at least one groove interrupting the surface of the first C-shaped channel and extending along the width dimension.  
     
     
         11 . The pillow of    claim 9    further including at least one groove interrupting the surface of the second C-shaped channel and extending along the width dimension.  
     
     
         12 . The pillow of    claim 9    wherein the elliptical arcs of curvature of the first buttress and of the second buttress are defined by ellipses having major axis of equal or different lengths.  
     
     
         13 . The pillow of    claim 9    wherein the elliptical arcs of curvature of the first buttress and of the second buttress are defined by ellipses having equal or different eccentricity.  
     
     
         14 . The pillow of    claim 9    wherein the pillow is formed in a first section, a second section and in a third section; 
 the first section including the first C-shaped channel and a first surface opposite the open direction of the first C-shaped channel;  
 the second section including the second C-shaped channel and a second surface opposite the open direction of the second C-shaped channel;  
 the third section having a predetermined height and having the same length and width as the first section and the second section;  
 the third section adjacent and fixedly connected to said first surface of the first section;  
 the third section adjacent and fixedly connected to said second surface of the second section.  
 
     
     
         15 . The pillow of    claim 9    wherein the pillow is formed in a first section, a second section and in a third section; 
 the first section including the first C-shaped channel and a first surface opposite the open direction of the first C-shaped channel, said first surface including a third channel;  
 the second section including the second C-shaped channel and a second surface opposite the open direction of the second C-shaped channel, said second surface including a protrusion adapted to fit within and conform to the third channel whereby the first section may be detachably connected to the second section;  
 the third section having a predetermined height dimension, a surface including a protrusion adapted to fit within and conform to the third channel whereby the third section may be detachably connected to the first section, and a surface having a fourth channel of the same shape as the third channel, whereby the third section may be detachably connected to the second section.  
 
     
     
         16 . The pillow of    claim 14    or    claim 15    wherein the foam of the third section is more dense than the foam of the first section.  
     
     
         17 . The pillow of    claim 14    or    claim 15    wherein the foam of the third section is more dense than the foam of the second section.  
     
     
         18 . The pillow of    claim 9   ,    claim 14   , or    claim 15    including: 
 the first C-shaped channel having a predetermined surface;  
 a cavity provided in the surface of the first C-shaped channel;  
 said cavity being adapted to receive an inlay;  
 said inlay being adapted to be disposed in said cavity and to conform to the predetermined surface of the first C-shaped channel; and  
 said inlay being fixedly disposed in said cavity.  
 
     
     
         19 . The pillow of    claim 9   ,    claim 14   , or    claim 15    including: 
 the second C-shaped channel having a predetermined surface;  
 a cavity provided in the surface of the second C-shaped channel;  
 said cavity being adapted to receive an inlay;  
 said inlay being adapted to be disposed in said cavity and to conform to the predetermined surface of the second C-shaped channel; and  
 said inlay being fixedly disposed in said cavity.  
 
     
     
         20 . The pillow of    claim 18    or    claim 19    wherein the inlay is soft viscoelastic memory foam.  
     
     
         21 . The pillow of    claim 18    or    claim 19    wherein the exposed surface of the inlay is convoluted.  
     
     
         22 . The pillow of    claim 18    or    claim 19    including a medial plane extending along the length dimension and along the width dimension and further including a groove in the first side wall positioned in the medial plane.  
     
     
         23 . The pillow of    claim 18    or    claim 19    including a medial plane extending along the length dimension and along the width dimension and further including a groove in the second side wall positioned in the medial plane.  
     
     
         24 . The pillow of    claim 18    or    claim 19    including a medial plane extending along the length dimension and along the width dimension and further including a groove in the first buttress positioned in the medial plane.  
     
     
         25 . The pillow of    claim 18    or    claim 19    including a medial plane extending along the length dimension and along the width dimension and further including a groove in the second buttress positioned in the medial plane.