Device and methods for positioning the head of a reclining person

Abstract

Devices and methods for supporting the head of a sleeping person during sleep so that the top of the head of the sleeping person is tilted upward are disclosed. These devices allow the users to sleep comfortably through the night even if the physical builds of the users differ substantially, and also allow the users to sleep on the side or on the back while keeping the head tilted upward from the horizontal position. The device is especially suited for users with benign paroxysmal position vertigo, and other conditions that can benefit from head-up sleep.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for use as a head-rest when a user is reclining on a horizontal surface Comprising:
 a first three-dimensional pliant component made of one or more materials known in the art for making sleep pillows;   a second three-dimensional pliant component with at least one slanted surface made of materials known in the art for making firm or extra firm sleep pillows; and   a non-permanent fastening means on at least one surface of the first and one surface of the second components so that the first and the second components can be placed in a user-selected configuration one on top of the other and the relative positions of the first component to the second component is fixed by the non-permanent fastening means.   
     
     
         2 . The device in  claim 1 , where the angle of the slanted surface of the second component is from about 5° to about 10°. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , where the high point of the inclined surface of the second component is about 5 inches from the base surface of the second component and the low point of the inclined surface of the first component is about 4 inches from the base surface of the first component; 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , where the width as measured from the high point of the inclined surface to the low point of the inclined surface of the second component is in the range of 6 to 20 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The device in  claim 1 , where the second component is made of a polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         6 . The device in  claim 1 , where the first component is in the shape of a conventional sleep pillow stuffed to 20-30 pounds firmness with one or more of the pillow-stuffing materials of a discrete nature such as polyester fiber, polyester fiber clusters, cut foam, cotton, wool, beads, grain hulls and the like. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , where the non-permanent fastening means is a hook and loop device exemplified by devices under the trade name of Velcro™. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , where the non-permanent fastening means are interlocking structures built into the two interfacing surfaces of the first and second components. 
     
     
         9 . A device for use as a head-rest when a user is reclining on a horizontal surface Comprising:
 a first three-dimensional pliant component made of one or more materials known in the art for making sleep pillows;   a second three-dimensional pliant component with at least one slanted surface made of materials known in the art for making firm or extra firm sleep pillows;   a non-permanent fastening means on at least one surface of the first and one surface of the second components so that the first and the second components can be placed in a user-selected configuration one on top of the other and the relative positions of the first component to the second component is fixed by the non-permanent fastening means; and   a third three-dimensional pliant component of an elongated shape and made of materials known in the art for making sleep pillows.   
     
     
         10 . The device in  claim 8 , where the angle of the slanted surface of the second component is from about 5° to about 10°. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , where the high point of the inclined surface of the second component is about 5 inches from the base surface of the second component and the low point of the inclined surface of the first component is about 4 inches from the base surface of the first component; 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , where the width as measured from the high point of the inclined surface to the low point of the inclined surface of the second component is in the range of 6 to 20 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The device in  claim 8 , where the second component is made of a polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         14 . The device in  claim 8 , where the first component is in the shape of a conventional sleep pillow stuffed to 20-30 pounds firmness with one or more of the pillow-stuffing materials of a discrete nature such as polyester fiber, polyester fiber clusters, cut foam, cotton, wool, beads, grain hulls and the like. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , where the non-permanent fastening means is a hook and loop device exemplified by devices under the trade name of Velcro™. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 8 , where the third three-dimensional pliant component has a more or less rectangular profile of about 3 inches in height and about 8 inches in width. 
     
     
         17 . The device in  claim 8 , where the third pliant component has non-permanent fastening means that allow the component to be rolled into a quasi-circular profile. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 8 , where the third pliant component has a more or less circular profile of about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , where the first and second pliant components are tethered by some flexible means. 
     
     
         20 . A process for alleviating the dizziness symptoms of a person suffering from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo comprising the steps of
 positioning the head of the person on a head-rest device comprising;
 a first three-dimensional pliant component made of one or more materials known in the art for making sleep pillows; 
 a second three-dimensional pliant component with at least one slanted surface made of materials known in the art for making firm or extra firm sleep pillows; and 
 a non-permanent fastening means on at least one surface of the first and one surface of the second components so that the first and the second components can be placed in a user-selected configuration one on top of the other and the relative positions of the first component to the second component is fixed by the non-permanent fastening means 
    adjusting the relative position of the first component and the second component until the head is rested in a comfortable position by releasing the non-permanent fastener between the first component and the second component and re-fasten after moving the second component relative to the first component to the desired position;    visually checking that the top of the head of the person laying on the head-rest device is tilted upwards with respect to the horizontal surface that the person is reclining upon;    rotating the head of the person laying on the device to various angles and at various intervals typical of tossing and turning during sleep;    positioning a third optional strip structure under the first component of the device or under the back of the person for lumbar support; and    repeat the previous steps approximately every 24 hours.