Side sleeper pillows having upper anatomy stabilizing features

Abstract

Embodiments of a side sleeper pillow are provided for supporting the head of a sleeper in a side sleeping position. In one embodiment, the side sleeper pillow includes a main pillow body having a head support surface, a proximal sidewall, a distal sidewall opposed from the proximal sidewall along a length axis, and lateral sidewalls opposed along a lateral axis. A gap stabilizing shelf projects from an upper portion of the proximal sidewall in a distal direction and extends between the lateral sidewalls. A sub-shelf channel, which is located beneath the gap stabilizing shelf and bordered by the proximal sidewall, extends substantially parallel to the pillow's lateral axis. A shoulder-receiving recess is formed in the gap stabilizing shelf and connects to the sub-shelf channel. The shoulder-receiving recess is sized and positioned to receive a shoulder of the sleeper when using the pillow in a side sleeping position.

1 . A side sleeper pillow, comprising:
 a main pillow body having a topside surface, a bottomside surface opposite the topside surface along a vertical axis, a proximal peripheral wall facing a sleeper's body when using the side sleeper pillow, a distal peripheral wall opposite the proximal peripheral wall along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the vertical axis, and opposing lateral sidewalls spaced along a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the vertical axis;   a primary head support region on the topside surface;   a gap stabilizing shelf projecting from an upper portion of the proximal peripheral wall in a distal direction and extending between the lateral sidewalls along the lateral axis;   a sub-shelf channel located beneath the gap stabilizing shelf, bordered by the proximal peripheral wall of the main pillow body, and extending substantially parallel to the lateral axis of the side sleeper pillow; and   a shoulder-receiving opening formed in the gap stabilizing shelf and connecting to the sub-shelf channel, the shoulder-receiving opening configured to receive a shoulder of the sleeper when using the side sleeper pillow in a side sleeping position.   
     
     
         2 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder-receiving opening is formed in a central portion of the gap stabilizing shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the gap stabilizing shelf has a maximum thickness T SS_MAX  along the vertical axis;
 wherein the main pillow body has a maximum thickness T B_MAX  along the vertical axis; and   wherein T B_MAX >T SS_MAX >0.25(T B_MAX ).   
     
     
         4 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 3 , wherein the sub-shelf channel has an average height H C_AVG  measured along the vertical axis and wherein the 0.75(H C_AVG )>T SS_MAX >1.25(H C_AVG ). 
     
     
         5 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the primary head support region is bisected by a midline plane perpendicular to the lateral axis and wherein the midline plane intersects the shoulder-receiving opening. 
     
     
         6 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 5 , wherein a thickness of the gap stabilizing shelf gradually increases when moving away from the midline plane in either direction along the lateral axis. 
     
     
         7 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the gap stabilizing shelf projects from the proximal sidewall of the main pillow body by an extension distance, taken along the longitudinal axis; and
 wherein the extension distance gradually increases when moving away from the midline plane in either direction along the lateral axis.   
     
     
         8 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the gap stabilizing shelf comprises:
 a first shelf section located on a first side of the midline plane and configured to overlie a right arm of a sleeper when routed through the sub-shelf channel and the sleeper's face a first direction in the side sleeping position; and   a second shelf section located on a second, opposing side of the midline plane and configured to overlie a left arm of a sleeper when routed through the sub-shelf channel and the sleeper's faces a second, opposing direction in the side sleeping position.   
     
     
         9 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first laterally-open depression formed in the primary head support region, opening away from the midline plane in a first direction; and   a second laterally-open depression formed in the primary head support region, opening away from the midline plane in a second, opposing direction along the lateral axis.   
     
     
         10 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 9 , further comprising a central depression formed in the primary head support region between the first laterally-open depression and the second laterally-open depression, as taken along the lateral axis. 
     
     
         11 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the shoulder-receiving opening is located distally adjacent the central depression along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the gap stabilizing shelf comprises a first peak, a valley, and a second peak progressing from a first end of the gap stabilizing shelf to an opposing, second end of the gap stabilizing shelf in along the lateral axis. 
     
     
         13 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 12 , wherein the valley is located adjacent the shoulder-receiving opening, as taken along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . A side sleeper pillow, comprising:
 a main pillow body having primary head support region, a proximal peripheral wall facing the sleeper's body when using the side sleeper pillow, a distal peripheral wall opposed from the proximal peripheral wall as taken along a longitudinal axis, and first and second lateral sidewalls opposed along a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   a gap stabilizing shelf projecting from an upper portion of the proximal peripheral wall in a distal direction and extending between the lateral sidewalls along the lateral axis; and   a shoulder-receiving opening formed the gap stabilizing shelf, the shoulder-receiving opening intersected by a midline plane extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the lateral axis, the shoulder-receiving opening sized and positioned to receive a shoulder of the sleeper when using the side sleeper pillow in a side sleeping position.   
     
     
         15 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 14 , further comprising a sub-shelf channel beneath the gap stabilizing shelf and configured to receive an upper arm of a sleeper when utilizing the pillow such that the gap stabilizing shelf extends over the upper arm and beneath a neck region of the sleeper when utilizing the side sleeper pillow. 
     
     
         16 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 14 , wherein the gap stabilizing shelf has a double humped geometry, as seen when viewing the bottomside surface of the side sleeper pillow along the vertical axis. 
     
     
         17 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 16 , wherein a thickness and a distal extension of the gap stabilizing shelf increase when moving away a location adjacent shoulder-receiving opening along the lateral axis. 
     
     
         18 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 14 , further comprising first and second laterally-open depressions on opposing sides of the midline plane, the first and second laterally-open depressions breaching the first and second lateral sidewalls of the main pillow body, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . A side sleeper pillow, comprising:
 a main pillow body having a centerline and bisected by a midline plane containing the centerline;   a primary head support region provided on the main pillow body;   a gap stabilizing shelf projecting from an upper portion of the proximal peripheral wall in a distal direction and extending between the lateral sidewalls along a lateral axis perpendicular to the midline plane;   a sub-shelf channel extending beneath the gap stabilizing shelf and bordered by the proximal peripheral wall of the main pillow body; and   first and second laterally-open depressions positioned on opposing sides of the midline plane, the first and second laterally-open depressions breaching the first and second lateral sidewalls of the main pillow body, respectively.   
     
     
         20 . The side sleeper pillow of  claim 19 , further comprising a shoulder-receiving opening formed in the gap stabilizing shelf, the shoulder-receiving opening dividing the gap stabilizing shelf into a first shelf section and a second shelf section located on opposing sides of the midline plane.