Therapeutic pillow

Abstract

A therapeutic pillow includes a soft central section which received the back of one's head and pair of bolster segments for restraining the head from turning to either side. Underlying the central section is a dense buttress. The lateral ends of the buttress project upwardly and comprise a stiffening outer portion of each bolster. Both the central section and the buttress have a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section such that central section nests within the buttress when the composite pillow is assembled. A convex gradient neck extends forwardly from the central section and transitions to a convex cervical lordosis support at the central section. The buttress includes a central spherical cap depression. A portion of the central section occupies the depression to provide increased comfort for the occipital protuberance at the back of one's head.

1 . A therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position, the therapeutic pillow having a generally rectangular foot print comprising parallel front and rear edges, and parallel right and left lateral edges, the therapeutic pillow further comprising a central section including a head support surface for accommodating the back of one's head and a pair of upwardly projecting laterally spaced bolster segments configured to maintain one's head in an upwardly facing position, a buttress underlying the central section, the buttress having a pair of laterally spaced bolster stiffeners, the central section and the buttress both having a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section, the central section being nested within the bolster with the bolster stiffeners abutting the bolster segments, the therapeutic pillow further including a neck gradient ramp positioned between the bolsters and projecting forwardly of the front edge. 
     
     
         2 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the neck gradient includes a convex upper surface. 
     
     
         3 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the central section and the buttress are both fabricated of molded foam material, the buttress foam material being stiffer than that of the central section. 
     
     
         4 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the foam material comprises polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         5 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the central section is fabricated of viscoelastic polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         6 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the buttress includes a spherical cap depression, a portion of the central section being positioned within the spherical cap depression. 
     
     
         7 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the neck gradient ramp is configured as a forward extension of the central section overlying a forward extension of the buttress. 
     
     
         8 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the thickness of the buttress is reduced at the spherical cap depression. 
     
     
         9 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the neck gradient ramp extends forwardly of the front edge approximately 20% of the distance between the front and rear edges. 
     
     
         10 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the width of the neck gradient ramp does not exceed the distance between the bolster segments, whereby alignment of the user's neck and head with the head support surface is assured. 
     
     
         11 . A therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position, the therapeutic pillow comprising having a generally rectangular foot print comprising parallel front and rear edges, and parallel right and left lateral edges, a central section including a surface for accommodating the back of one's head and a pair of laterally spaced bolster segments projecting upwardly, a buttress underlying the central section, the buttress having a pair of laterally spaced bolster stiffeners, the central section and the buttress both having a generally “U” shaped transverse cross section, the central section and the buttress being fabricated of molded foam, the buttress foam being stiffer than that of the central section, the central section being nested within the buttress with the bolster stiffeners abutting the bolster segments, the buttress further including a spherical cap depression, a portion of the central section being positioned within the spherical cap depression. 
     
     
         12 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the molded foam comprises polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         13 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 11  further including a neck gradient ramp positioned between the bolsters and projecting forwardly of the front edge. 
     
     
         14 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the neck gradient ramp extends forwardly of the front edge approximately 20% of the distance between the front and rear edges. 
     
     
         15 . The therapeutic pillow for promoting sleep in a supine position constructed in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the width of the neck gradient ramp does not exceed the distance between the bolster segments, whereby alignment of the user's neck and head with the head support surface is assured. 
     
     
         16 . A therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces thereby reducing the likelihood of the development of facial wrinkles, the therapeutic pillow comprising central section formed of a first molded foam material and configured for accommodating the back of one's head, the central section including head support surface and a pair of upwardly projecting laterally spaced bolster segments, a buttress formed of a second molded foam material, the buttress underlying the central section, the buttress having a pair of laterally spaced bolster stiffeners, the first molded foam material being softer and less dense than the second molded foam material, the central section being nested within the buttress with the bolster stiffeners abutting the bolster segments, the buttress further including a spherical cap depression wherein the thickness of the second molded foam material is reduced, a portion of the first molded foam material being positioned within the spherical cap depression, the spherical cap depression being configured for accommodating an occipital protuberance at the back of one's head. 
     
     
         17 . The therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces in accordance with  claim 16  further including forwardly projecting neck gradient ramp positioned between the bolsters. 
     
     
         18 . The therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the width of the neck gradient ramp does not exceed the distance between the bolster segments, whereby alignment of the user's neck and head with the head support surface is assured. 
     
     
         19 . The therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the first molded foam material comprises polyurethane foam and the second molded foam material comprises polyurethane foam 
     
     
         20 . The therapeutic pillow for maintaining a supine position and precluding facial contact with sleeping surfaces in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the first molded foam material comprises viscoelastic polyurethane foam.