US3003815A - Lounging support - Google Patents

Description

1961 w. o. ZINN 3,003,815

LOUNGING SUPPORT Filed Sept. 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eran far Wilbur O. Zinn 1961 w. o. ZI-NN 3,003,815

LOUNGING SUPPORT Filed Sept. 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eranfczr 14/1760! 0. Zinn located on the chair or couch seat.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,003,815 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 3,003,815 LOUNGING SUPPORT Wilbur O. Zinu, Addison, Ill.

(42 N. Lincoln St., Lombard, 111.) Filed Sept. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 842,901 3 Claims. (Cl. 297-118) The present invention relates broadly to support devices for the human body, and is more particularly concerned with a novel lounging pillow of particular contours utilizable in diverse positions to provide comfortable cushioned support for various portions of the human body in either a seated or reclined position.

Pillows of various shapes have heretofore been proposed or used to support a persons head and neck when lying in a prone position, or to support generally only the back of the person when in an upright or seated position. Insofar as applicant is aware, there has not been made available to the public a lounging pillow which comfortably supports the head and neck and shoulders and back of the human body when disposed in a reclined position, and which additionally can be employed to support the human posterior and back when in a seated position.

Specifically, it is known that persons, and particularly youngsters, frequently view television when laying upon the floor, and at times locate a pillow beneath the head and neck in order to elevate these portions of the body sufficiently for proper and comfortable viewing of the television screen. However, as is also known, present pillows when so employed provide no measure of support for the persons back and discomfort soon results.

Additionally, persons when seated in a chair for purposes of reading or viewing television, frequently assume a rather slouched position wherein the head is rested against the chair or couch back and the human posterior However, when in this position the human back is unsupported and it is only by location of pillows against the back that a position approaching comfort is obtained. Even in this case, only a relatively small area of the back is in cushioning contact with the pillow, so that the desired measure of complete back, shoulder and head support is not generally obtained.

It is accordingly an important aim of the present invention to provide a lounging pillow which comfortably supports the back, shoulder and head portions of the human body when in a reclined or prone position and i which sufliciently elevates the human head for comfortable viewing of an object in front thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pillow structure which can be used in firm cushioning support of the human body when in a position of recline, and which additionally can be employed in the character of a chair'to support the body posterior and back.

Another object of this invention lies in the provision of a lounging pillow having a contoured body portion integral with an upright neck portion, and by means of which the human posterior or back is supported by either the cushion body or neck portions, and the upper human torso supported by the pillow or cushion body portion while the human head and neck are supported by the cushion neck portion.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a lounging pillow, which comprises a generally flat first wall, a substantially fiat second wall connected to the first wall and an acute angle therewith, an arcuate third wall connected to the first wall, and a fourth wall having a generally flat portion connected to the third wall and a curved portion connected to said flat portion and to said second wall.

the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a lounging pillow constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line II'II of FIGURE 1, and illustrative of a foamed plastic body structure from which the instant pillow may be formed; and

FIGURES 3 to 8 are schematic side views illustrative of the diverse ways in which the pillow of this invention can be employed in proper cushioned support 'of the human body.

Referring now first to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawerally designated by thenumeral 10, and comprising a generally fiat first wall 12, a substantially flat second wall 14 connected to the first wall 12 at an acute angle therewith, an arcuate third wall 16 connected to the first wall 12, and a fourth wall identified generally as 18 and having a generally fiat portion 20 connected to thethird wall 16 and a curved crown portion 22 connected to said fiat portion 20 and to said second wall 14. As used in the specification and claims, the expression body portion refers to that portion of the pillow 10 defined by the first wall 12, an imaginary extension of the arcuate third wall 16 to the second wall 14, and by said second wall 14. The expression neck portion refers to that portion of the pillow 10 integral with the body portion and lying upwardly of the imaginary extension of the arcuate third wall 16, and lying between the generally flat wall portion 20 and the upper portion of the fiat second wall 14 and disposed in overhanging relation to and resiliently yieldable toward the rear portion of the third wall 16. The numerals 24 and 26 have been employed in FIGURE 1 to designate the combinations of these. If foamed plastics are used, the

object may be foamed in place, or may be cut into the desired shape from bulk or slab stock. Vacuum forming or molding techniques may be employed, and the pillow 10 may have a slip covering applied thereto, may be coated with sprayed plastics for protective or decorative reasons, or may have an indicia 28 applied thereon to designate a particular organization. In this connection, the pillow 10 may be provided with these colors of a particular college or university, and as is shown in FIGURE 1, a peripheral stripe 30 may be used if desired. l

A particularly suitable material forming the pillow or lounging support 10 is polyurethane foam, and by way of illustration, the pillow 10 is shown as formed of this type foam. A particular advantage of urethane foam in this application is that the pillow may be washed or dry cleaned, and may be either air dried at normal temperament, without harmful effects thereto.

It is of course appreciated that the pillow may be provided in many sizes, depending upon the intended application and the size of the person to be supported thereon. However,- and by way of illustration only, a size intended for many applications includes a width of approximately sixteen inches between the points a and b, and a length of about twenty-one inches between the points a and 0. An exemplary height for the pillow 10, and measured between thepoint c and a plane tangential to the curved wall portion 22 and parallel to the wall 12, may be 14% inches. By way of further illustration, the arcuate wall portion 22 may have a radius of about 2 inches, curved wall portion 32 connecting the generally fiat wall portion 20 with the arcuate third wall 16 may have a radius of about 2 /2 inches, and the juncture of the generally flat first wall 12 and arcuate third wall 16 may have a radius of about 2 /2 inches. As

' indicated, these dimensions are illustrative only, and are merely indicative of a pillow-construction suitable to fulfill the lounging needs of a person of generally average weight.

can be provided therein if desired. The first wall'or base 12 and the inclined or second or rear wall 14 are also essentially fiat, and if the pillow 10 is constructed of a foamed plastic, the named walls 12 and 14 may be cured to a relatively greater degree than the remaining portions of the pillow in order to provide relatively greater rigidity in these walls, as well as to provide a protective coat thereon when a covering material is not employed.

The pillow or lounging support 10 is used either upon the floor, on a bed, chair or couch for viewing of television, for reading, and is used when the person is in a sitting or lying position resting on or against the pillow.

As stated earlier, particularly youngsters are inclined to watch television when in a prone position upon the floor, and it has been the practice to endeavor to properly elevate the persons head for generally on-line television viewing by stacking pillows or by stacking pillows or by folding a single pillow to the desired thickness. However, such earlier devices have the common characteristic of not adequately or comfortably supporting the human back, shoulders, neck and head. This has been the case whether the person was resting upon his back or stomach, and equally clearly, pillows of the type heretofore proposed could not effectively be also used in the form of a chair. The numerous positions which a person can occupy in comfortable support using the pillow of this invention will now be described in connection with the succeeding views of the drawings, although it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the instant pillow or support device 10 has numerous other applications.

Referring now first to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the pillow 10 is shown as located upon a supporting surface S, which may be the floor of a room. As thus disposed, the pillow 10 is supported along the base or first wall 12 thereon by the surface S, and the second wall 14 is facing in the direction of the object being'viewed, which may be a television set (not'shown). In the particular position illustrated in FIGURE 3, a person H is in cushioned contact and comfortably supported by the pillow 10 from a location generally along the persons belt line 38 upwardly therefrom throughout the upper trunk and including the shoulders, neck and head.

The portions of the human body H receiving firm and cushioned support by the pillow 10 are shown generally in FIGURE 3 and identified therein by the phantom line 40, and it may be noted in this connection that the upper trunk rests upon and to a degree is received within the pillow body portion 24, while the upright or elevated neck or cushioning portion 26 of the pillow 10 is turned rearwardly and downwardly to provide cushioning support for at least the shoulders of the person H. In this position, and as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the persons neck and head are elevated to a comfortable position for viewing of television or the like, and the persons head rests upon the hands or arms thereof. Since the persons spine is supported by the pillow 10 in a generally straight line position, with the back arched to no particular degree, the position indicated in FIGURE 3 is one which can be assumed for relatively long periods, by reason of the comfortable cushioned support provided by the pillow.

A generally similar use of the pillow or lounging support 10 is shown in FIGURE 7, and it maybe noted upon reference thereto that the essential difference is the use of the upright neck or elevated cushion portion 26 of the pillow as means to comfortably support the persons head in a position for straight line viewing, and yet at the same time thatthe persons upper trunk is supported by the pillow body portion 24 in a generally straight position,

' 3, the persons upper trunk is cushioned upwardly from generally the belt line 38, so that the spine remains generally straight, and yet at the same time, the neck and I head. are sufliciently elevated for comfortable television viewing.

Comparing further FIGURES 3 and 7, and the comfortable cushioned support provided a persons body by l the pillow 10 when said person is in a reclined position upon his stomach, it will be noted that when the cushion neck portion 26 is turned downwardly and rearwardlv as in FIGURE 3, the persons shoulders and particularly the arm pits thereof rest upon generally the curved portion 22 of the fourth wall 18 and that the upper arms of the person are cushioned by the same curved portion 22 and to a degree by the inclined second wall 14. The persons shoulders are accordingly supported in a normal positionwithrespect to the back, neck and head of the person.

When the pillow 10 is employed as in FIGURE 7, on

"the other hand, the persons shoulders are supported again in a normal position with respect to the persons back, neck and head, by contact of the pillow curved wall portion 32 with the persons arm pit area. The persons arms and bands can then be extended in a natural position to surround the pillow 10, as shown in FIGURE 7.

Whether the cushion neck portion 26 be employed as shownin FIGURE 7 or as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the

persons back is maintained generally straight in a supported position by the cushion body portion 24, and the head and. neck of the person are comfortably cushioned .and elevated for. comfortable viewing of television or other activities.

The pillow or cushioning support 10 of this invention may also be effectively utilized in the manner shown in FIGURE 4 on a bed, couch or floor to support a person with legs extended and with the back in an elevated or upright position. As shown, the pillow or support cushion 10 may be positioned upon a surface 8-1, which may take the form of a bed, couch, floor or other like means. The

pillow 10 as thus positioned may be noted to lie with the substantially flat second wall 14 thereof flush against the surface S-1, and with the generally flat first wall 12 in cushioning contact with the persons general back area.

The pillow neck portion 26 then provides a firmsupport provides firm cushioning support for the persons spine, and is of sufficient resiliency to cushion the spine along generally the lines indicated at 46 in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, it is to be observed that the pillow =10 may be employed in generally the upright position of FIGURE 4 as a chair for firm support of a person in a seated position. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the pillow or support cushion It} is located with the substantially fiat and inclined second wall 14- resting upon a floor or the like S, and with the pillow neck portion 26 receiving a persons posterior and the pillow body portion 24 supporting the persons back in a generally erect posi tion. The lines of support provided by the pillow neck and body portions are identified in FIGURE 5 by the numerals 48 and 50, designating, respectively, support for the persons posterior and back.

The pillow or support cushion may further be employed in the form of a chair in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. As shown therein, the pillow is located upon a supporting surface S with the first wall 12 or base resting upon the floor or surface S, and with the cushion body portion 24 supporting the persons posterior along the line 52, while generally the lower back area of the person is held in generally erect cushioned support by the neck portion 26 of the pillow or support cushion 10. The latter line of support for the persons lower back area is identified in FIGURE 6 by the numeral 54, and it will be noted from FIGURES 5 and 6 that in either position of the pillow 10, a persons posterior and back are adequately and firmly cushioned and supported in a comfortable position, whereby arching of the back and the discomfort associated therewith are prevented.

It is also within the contemplation of this invention that the pillow or support cushion 10 may be located in the manner of FIGURE 6 to support a person in a reclined, rather than a seated position as shown therein. This is illustrated in FIGURE 8, which shows the pillow 10 with the first wall 12 thereof resting upon a surface S, which may be the floor, a bed or couch or other supporting object. As further shown therein, the cushion neck or elevated portion 26 is in firm cushioned support of a persons neck along the line indicated at 56, and further, a persons shoulder area along the back is cushioned by the pillow curved portion 32 at generally the point indicated at 58 in FIGURE 8, while the persons back down to and even beyond the belt line 38 is firmly and comfort ably cushioned by the pillow body portion 24 along the line designated at 60 in FIGURE 8. As this view brings out, the pillow body portion 24 may further provide support for a portion of a persons posterior, as indicated at 62.

It is apparent from FIGURE 8 that the pillow of this invention firmly and comfortably elevates a persons head to a position of on-line viewing of television, or to a position comfortable for reading or other related activities. The persons spine is maintained by the pillow in its proper generally straight condition, and by reason of continuous contact with a persons neck, shoulders and back, the pillow 10 as shown in FIGURE 8 permits a position to be occupied which is comfortable over long periods,

As was stated herein, the pillow or support cushion v10 of this invention may be utilized on various supporting surfaces to comfortably support a person in a wide variety of positions for reading, viewing television and other activties. The pillow 10 may be constructed of a wide variety of any one or a combination of different materials, and may be covered, decorated or in other ways further processed or treated for protective, decorative or other reasons. It is thus apparent that numerous modifications and variations may be effected in the structure herein disclosed without departing from the novel concept of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lounging pillow for supporting selected portions of the human body in various sitting and prone positions, comprising a resiliently compressible body portion having a generally flat first wall adapted to serve as a base, a substantially flat second, rear wall connected to the first wall at an acute angle thereto and extending over the rear portion thereof, an uninterrupted third wall connected to and overlying and sloping upwardly and rearwardly from the front edge of the first wall toward said second wall, and a fourth wall having a generally upwardly and forwardly sloping portion extending in substantially the same direction as said second wall and into overhanging relation to the third wall, said fourth wall further having a curved crown portion connecting it to said second wall and thereby defining an upstanding neck overhanging the rear portion of said third wall and being resiliently yieldable theretoward upon pressure being applied downwardly on said neck, the relative width of the walls being substantially the same and said body portion having a pair of upright walls at the opposite ends thereof connecting said first, second, third and fourth walls.

2. A lounging pillow as defined in claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises polyurethane foam.

3. A lounging pillow as defined in claim 2, wherein the first wall and the second wall are of relatively greater stiffness than the remaining walls and the second wall is adapted to serve as an alternate base for the pillow.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,710,052 Witmer June 7, 1955 2,857,957 Gay Oct. 28, 1958 2,953,793 Rossi Sept. 27, 1960

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