Orthopedic pillow having improved incremental compressive resistance for improved cervical support

Abstract

An orthopedic pillow is a monolithic foam structure. Spaced apart depressed top and bottom surfaces are continuous with, and are extensive between the side surfaces. The top and bottom surfaces are each formed as a plurality of side-by-side longitudinal ribs parallel with the long side surfaces. Each one of the ribs protrudes outwardly from the apparatus and is a major portion of a semi-circle in shape. The physical conformation of the apparatus is such, that with the long side surfaces resting on a mattress, the tips of the ribs are initially spaced apart from the mattress, and with a head's weight resting on the top surface, the ribs of the top surface are compressed, and the ribs of the bottom surface are urged toward the mattress providing compressive resistance proportional to the compressive force.

1 . A pillow apparatus for supporting a person's neck and head and resting on an essentially planar surface of a mattress, the apparatus comprising:
 a one-piece foam structure having a pair of spaced apart, circularly shaped, longitudinal surfaces and a pair of spaced apart, planar, lateral surfaces;   top and bottom recessed surfaces, each:
 a) extensive between the side surfaces, and 
 b) providing a plurality of side-by-side identical longitudinal ribs, near semi-circular in shape and extensive between the lateral surfaces, the ribs mutually abutting abruptly; 
   the physical conformation, size, bulk and material resilience of the apparatus such, that with the apparatus resting on the planar surface with no extrinsic weight resting thereupon, the ribs of the bottom surface are spaced apart from the planar surface, and with an extrinsic weight resting on the top surface, the ribs of the bottom surface are urged into contact with the planar surface, the ribs of such conformation that incremental compressive resistance of the ribs increases faster than incremental compression of the bottom ribs, whereby a range of extrinsic weights are supportable over a diminished range of compression.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal surfaces conform to portions of a circle having such size as to support a cervical area of the neck when the head is supported by the top surface. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the one piece foam structure has left to right symmetry, top to bottom symmetry and front to back symmetry. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ribs are approximately 90% of a semi-circle. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the total vertical height of the ribs on the top and bottom surfaces is approximately 13% of the total height of the pillow across the ribs. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the ribs is approximately ⅞ inches wide. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lateral distance of all the ribs  30  on each of the top and the bottom surfaces is approximately 5 inches. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lateral distance of each of the longitudinal surfaces is approximately 4½ inches. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is of such resilience that the initial vertical drop due to an extrinsic weight placed on the top surface is about ⅝ inches before the bottom ribs contact the planar surface. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the structure of the apparatus is such as to provide a progressive resistance to compression.