Supply of pillows, and a device for use therein

Abstract

An improvement in the process of pillow selection is described, allowing customers to select a pillow that is appropriate for them in a less random manner. First, a method of selecting a pillow for a user is disclosed, comprising the steps of locating the user with a shoulder thereof adjacent a flat rigid surface, orienting the user substantially transverse to the surface, measuring a spacing between the surface and a proximate side of the user's head, and selecting at least one pillow from a group of pillows, based on the measured spacing. The rigid surface is ideally upright, such as a wall. The group of pillows can be divided into a plurality of sub-groups, each sub-group containing a plurality of pillows with substantially like thickness. Thus, based on the reading, the user can be invited to choose any pillow from a specific group or range of pillows. Second, an apparatus for assisting in the selection of a pillow is disclosed, comprising an extending centre section located between a pair of opposing end plates, the centre section having a visible indicia indicative of a distance between the end plates. The centre section is ideally telescopic, and can comprise an inner and an outer telescopic sleeve, the visible indicia then being provided on the inner telescopic sleeve. A series of coloured bands as the visible indicia allows the relevant group of pillows to be identified easily, quickly and unambiguously.

1 . An apparatus for measuring a deltoid temporal distance, comprising a telescopic centre section located between a pair of opposing end plates which can move away from and toward each other as the centre section extends and retracts, the centre section having a series of graduations marked on its outer face to indicate a distance between the end plates and wherein one end plate has a dimension transverse to the centre section that is greater than that of the other end plate, the dimension providing a flat rigid surface configured to abut against an outside of a shoulder muscle of a user for measuring the deltoid temporal distance. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the centre section is telescopic. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  in which the telescopic centre section comprises an inner and an outer telescopic sleeve, the visible indicia being provided on the inner telescopic sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  in which the visible indicia comprises a series of bands. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  in which the bands are coloured. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  in which the bands are numbered. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the end plates are flat. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the end plates are wider than the transverse dimension of the centre section. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  in combination with a plurality of pillows of different thicknesses, the pillows being grouped into a plurality of sub-groups, each sub-group containing a plurality of pillows with substantially like thickness, the pillows carrying a visible indicia indicating the sub-group to which they belong which matches a corresponding indicia provided on the centre section of the apparatus.