Ventilated pillow

Abstract

This present disclosure may relate to a pillow configured to receive a person in a face down position, the pillow including a receiving portion and one or more pathways. The receiving portion and pathways may be configured to deliver air to a user and to receive exhaled air from a user. The pillow may also include a chamber which may connect the receiving portion and pathways and one or more valves which may facilitate air exchange between the chamber and the pathways.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pillow sized and configured to support a user in a face down or prone position, the pillow comprising:
 a receiving portion sized and configured to receive a face of a user;   an air chamber in fluid communication with the receiving portion;   an inhalation pathway in fluid communication with the air chamber, the inhalation pathway allowing air to be inhaled by the user to enter the air chamber; and   an exhalation pathway in fluid communication with the air chamber, the exhalation pathway allowing air exhaled by the user to exit the air chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising an inhalation valve controlling air flow in the inhalation pathway, the inhalation valve allowing inhalation air to flow into the air chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising an exhalation valve controlling air flow in the exhalation pathway, the exhalation valve allowing air exhaled by the user to exit the air chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inhalation valve controlling air flow in the inhalation pathway, the inhalation valve allowing inhalation air to flow into the air chamber; and   an exhalation valve controlling air flow in the exhalation pathway, the exhalation valve allowing air exhaled by the user to exit the air chamber.   
     
     
         5 . The pillow of  claim 4 , wherein the inhalation valve and the exhalation valve provide a positive exhalation pressure to an exhalation flow. 
     
     
         6 . The pillow of  claim 4 , wherein, when the pillow is in use, the inhalation valve opens during inhalation of the user to allow air to flow into the air chamber and inhalation valve is closed during exhalation of the user;
 wherein, when the pillow is in use, the exhalation valve is closed during inhalation of the user and opens during exhalation of the user to allow air to exit the air chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The pillow of  claim 6 , wherein a pressure in the air chamber is lower during inhalation of the user; and
 wherein a pressure in the air chamber is higher during exhalation of the user.   
     
     
         8 . The pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a top pillow, the receiving portion disposed in an upper surface of the top pillow;   a base, the air chamber, the inhalation pathway, and the exhalation pathway at least partially disposed in the base;   wherein the top pillow and the base are selectively connected.   
     
     
         9 . The pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more dampeners disposed in the inhalation pathway and one or more dampeners disposed in the exhalation pathway. 
     
     
         10 . The pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising a supplemental gas pathway in fluid communication with the air chamber, the supplemental gas pathway allowing supplemental gas to enter the air chamber during use of the pillow. 
     
     
         11 . A pillow sized and configured to support a user in a face down or prone position, the pillow comprising:
 a top pillow including an upper surface, a lower surface, and an exterior, the top pillow comprising:
 a receiving portion disposed in an upper surface of the top pillow, the receiving portion sized and configured to receive a face of a user; and a base connected to the top pillow, the base comprising:
 a chamber in fluid communication with the receiving portion; 
 one or more first openings in a first exterior portion of the base; 
 a first pathway connecting the first openings and the chamber; 
 one or more second openings in a second exterior portion of the base; 
 a second pathway connecting the second openings and the chamber; 
 a first valve controlling airflow in the first pathway; and 
 a second valve controlling airflow in the second pathway. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The pillow of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a recessed portion disposed in the upper surface of the top pillow, the recessed portion sized and configured to receive a neck of the user; and   a support portion extending inwardly into the receiving portion, the support portion sized and configured to support a chin of the user.   
     
     
         13 . The pillow of  claim 11 , wherein an inner portion of the receiving portion is at least partially aligned with and disposed parallel to an inner surface of the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The pillow of  claim 11 , wherein the first pathway allows inhalation air to flow to the user;
 wherein the first valve is at least partially disposed in the first pathway and disposed proximate the chamber;   wherein the second pathway allows exhalation air to be vented from the chamber; and   wherein the second valve is at least partially disposed in the second pathway and disposed proximate the chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The pillow of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a sensor monitoring airflow through the first valve; and   a communication system connected to the sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The pillow of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more sensors connected to the pillow, the sensors configured to detect attributes about the user during use of the pillow. 
     
     
         17 . The pillow of  claim 11 , further comprising a third pathway sized and configured to provide supplemental gas to the user during use of the pillow, the third pathway at least partially disposed in the first pathway, the third pathway including a first end disposed at least proximate the first valve and a second end disposed at least proximate an exterior of the base. 
     
     
         18 . The pillow of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more dampeners disposed in the first pathway and one or more dampeners disposed in the second pathway. 
     
     
         19 . The pillow of  claim 11 , further comprising an alarm connected to the pillow, the alarm sized and configured to issue an alert. 
     
     
         20 . The pillow of  claim 11 , further comprising a third pathway sized and configured to provide gas to the user during use of the pillow.