Head support having sleep inhibiting characteristics

Abstract

A head support ( 10 ) includes a resilient body section ( 16 ) having a body interior ( 20 ) and an outer layer ( 22 ), and a plurality of raised projections ( 18 ) that are positioned on the outer layer ( 22 ). The projections ( 18 ) extend away from the body interior ( 20 ). In one embodiment, the projections ( 18 ) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the outer layer ( 22 ) so that the projections ( 18 ) inhibit relative movement between the outer layer ( 22 ) and a surface ( 14 ) when the projections ( 18 ) are in contact with the surface ( 14 ). In another embodiment, the outer layer ( 22 ) has a first side ( 24 ) that generally faces the surface ( 14 ) and a second side ( 26 ) that is substantially opposite the first side ( 24 ). The body section ( 16 ) has a length ( 30 ), a maximum height ( 36 ) and a width ( 34 ). The width ( 34 ) is less than at least one of the length ( 30 ) and the maximum height ( 36 ).

1 . A support for supporting a head of an individual relative to a surface, the support comprising: 
 a resilient body section having a body interior and an outer layer; and    a plurality of raised projections that are positioned on the outer layer and extend away from the body interior, the projections having a higher coefficient of static friction than the outer layer so that the projections inhibit relative movement between the outer layer and the surface when the projections are in contact with the surface.    
   
   
       2 . The support of  claim 1  wherein at least two of the projections are discontinuously secured to the outer layer.  
   
   
       3 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is removable from the body interior.  
   
   
       4 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer includes a microfiber material.  
   
   
       5 . The support of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the projections are formed from a substantially non-liquid-absorbing material.  
   
   
       6 . The support of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the projections are formed from a plastic material.  
   
   
       7 . The support of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the projections are formed at least partially from a latex material.  
   
   
       8 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer has a first side that generally faces the surface and a second side that is substantially opposite the first side, and wherein at least some of the projections are positioned on each of the first side and the second side.  
   
   
       9 . The support of  claim 8  wherein the projections cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the first side and the second side of the outer layer.  
   
   
       10 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer has a first side that generally faces the surface and a second side that is substantially opposite the first side, and wherein the projections project within the range of between at least approximately 0.2 millimeters and less than approximately 5.0 millimeters away from the first side of the outer layer.  
   
   
       11 . The support of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the projections are substantially dome-shaped.  
   
   
       12 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer has a first side that generally faces the surface and a second side that is substantially opposite the first side, the body section having a longitudinal axis that is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the head when the support is supporting the head of the individual, the body section having (i) a length that is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis of the body section, (ii) a height that is oriented substantially orthogonally to the length in a direction that extends between the first side and the second side, the height including a maximum height, and (iii) a width that is oriented substantially orthogonally to the length and the height, wherein a portion of the width is less than the maximum height.  
   
   
       13 . The support of  claim 12  wherein a majority of the width is less than approximately five inches.  
   
   
       14 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the body interior and the outer layer are integrally formed as a unitary structure.  
   
   
       15 . A support for supporting a head of an individual relative to a surface, the head having a longitudinal axis, the support comprising: 
 a resilient body section including a body interior and an outer layer, the outer layer having a first side that generally faces the surface and a second side that is substantially opposite the first side, the body section having (i) a length that is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis of the head when the support is supporting the head of the individual, (ii) a height that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the length in a direction between the first side and the second side, the height including a maximum height, and (iii) a width that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the length and the height, the width being less than at least one of the length and the maximum height.    
   
   
       16 . The support of  claim 15  wherein the width is less than each of the length and the height.  
   
   
       17 . The support of  claim 15  wherein a majority of the width is less than approximately five inches.  
   
   
       18 . The support of  claim 15  wherein the width is substantially the same along the length of the body section.  
   
   
       19 . The support of  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of raised projections that are positioned on the outer layer and extend away from the body interior, the projections having a higher coefficient of static friction than the outer layer so that the projections inhibit relative movement between the outer layer and the surface when the projections are in contact with the surface.  
   
   
       20 . The support of  claim 19  wherein at least some of the projections are formed from a substantially non-liquid-absorbing material.  
   
   
       21 . The support of  claim 19  wherein at least some of the projections are formed at least partially from a latex material.  
   
   
       22 . The support of  claim 19  wherein at least some of the projections are positioned on each of the first side and the second side.  
   
   
       23 . The support of  claim 19  wherein the projections cover less than approximately 75 percent of the outer layer.  
   
   
       24 . The support of  claim 19  wherein at least some of the projections are substantially hemispherical in shape.  
   
   
       25 . A head support for supporting a head of an individual relative to a surface, the head support comprising: 
 a resilient body section including a body interior and an outer layer, the outer layer having a first side that generally faces the surface and a second side that is substantially opposite the first side, the body section having (i) a length that is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis of the head when the head support is supporting the head of the individual, (ii) a height that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the length in a direction between the first side and the second side, the height including a maximum height, and (iii) a width that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the length and the height, the width being less than at least one of the length and the maximum height; and    a plurality of discontinuous, substantially dome-shaped, raised projections that are positioned on at least one of the first side and the second side of the outer layer, the projections extending away from the body interior, the projections covering less than approximately 50 percent of the outer layer, the projections being formed from a plastic material having a higher coefficient of static friction than the outer layer so that the projections inhibit relative movement between the outer layer and the surface when the projections are in contact with the surface.    
   
   
       26 . A method for manufacturing a support that supports a head of an individual relative to a surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a resilient body section having a body interior and an outer layer; and    securing a plurality of raised projections to the outer layer, the projections extending in a direction away from the body interior, the projections having a higher coefficient of static friction than the outer layer to inhibit relative movement between the outer layer and the surface when the projections are in contact with the surface.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of securing includes separately securing the plurality of projections so that the projections are discontinuous with one another.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of providing includes the step of shaping the body section to have (i) a length that is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis of the head when the head support is supporting the head of the individual, (ii) a height that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the length in a direction between a first side of the outer layer that is adapted to contact the surface, and a second side of the outer layer that is substantially opposite the first side, the height including a maximum height, and (iii) a width that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the length and the height, the width being less than the maximum height.  
   
   
       29 . A method for manufacturing a support that supports a head of an individual relative to a surface, the method comprising the step of: 
 providing a resilient body section having (i) a length that is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis of the head when the head support is supporting the head of the individual, (ii) a height that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the length in a direction between a first side of the outer layer that is adapted to contact the surface, and a second side of the outer layer that is substantially opposite the first side, the height including a maximum height, and (iii) a width that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the length and the height, the width being less than the maximum height.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising the step of securing a plurality of raised projections to the outer layer.