Pad for Supporting Head while Lying on Side

Abstract

A side sleeping pad has a laterally running channel for receiving an ear and eyeglass temple of a person. A person can use the pad to watch distant objects, like a television, without the pain caused by pressure on the head from eyeglass temple that is caused when sleeping with a traditional pad. The channel can include laterally receding walls to provide a wider channel laterally. The widening channel allows a sleeper to rotate his or head up and down while slide sleeping and not risk contacting the eyeglass lens with the channel wall. The pad can include a rear-sleeping section. Sleepers can roll between a side sleeping position and rear sleeping position while wearing eyeglasses, earphones, earrings, hearing aids without having to adjust or move the pad.

Claims

1. A pad for supporting a head of a person wearing an object, around, or in an ear of the person while side sleeping, comprising: a superior section having a superior-section anterior surface for supporting a temple of the head, said superior section having an inferior super-section wall; and an inferior section having an inferior-section anterior surface for supporting a jaw of the head, said inferior section having a superior inferior-section wall; a medial section interconnecting said superior section and said inferior section; and having a medial-section anterior surface, said medial-section anterior surface being recessed relative to said superior-section anterior surface and said inferior-section anterior surface; said inferior super-section wall being spaced from said superior inferior-section wall at least as far as a height of an ear of the head; and said receding wall section of said inferior super-section wall receding laterally relative to said receding wall section of said superior inferior-section wall.

2. The pad according to claim 1, wherein: said inferior super section wall having a receding wall section; and said superior inferior-section wall having a receding wall section.

3. The pad according to claim 1, wherein said inferior section, said superior section, and said medial section are each made of foam.

4. The pad according to claim 3, wherein said inferior section, said superior section, and said medial section are formed from only one piece of foam.

5. The pad according to claim 3, wherein one piece of foam forms at least a part of said inferior section, said superior section, and said medial section.

6. The pad according to claim 2, wherein: said inferior super-section wall has a further receding wall section; said superior infer-section wall has a further receding wall section; and said further receding wall section of said inferior superior-section wall recedes laterally relative to said further receding wall section of said superior inferior-section wall.

7. The pad according to claim 1, wherein said medial section anterior surface is at least lower than a width of the ear than said super-section anterior surface and said inferior-section anterior surface.

8. The pad according to claim 1, further comprising a back-of-head section being connected to said superior section, said medial section, and said inferior section, said back-of-head section having a back-of-head anterior surface for supporting a rear of the head, said back-of-head-section surface being even with said superior-section anterior surface and said inferior-section anterior surface.

9. The pad according to claim 1, wherein said inferior section, said medial section, and said superior section include an anterior layer made of a lower density foam and a posterior layer made of a higher density foam.

10. The pad according to claim 1, further comprising a block, said block being as wide as a distance between said superior wall of said inferior section and said inferior wall of said superior section, and said block being as tall as said superior wall.

11. The pad according to claim 10, wherein said block is made from flexible resilient foam.

12. A pad for supporting a head of a person wearing an object on an ear of the person while lying on a side, comprising: a left side section including: a left superior section having a left superior-section anterior surface for supporting a temple of the head, said left superior section having a left inferior super-section wall; and a left inferior section having a left inferior-section anterior surface for supporting a jaw of the head, said left inferior section having a left superior inferior-section wall; a left medial section interconnecting said left superior section and said left inferior section; and having a left medial-section anterior surface, said left medial-section anterior surface being recessed relative to said left superior-section anterior surface and said left inferior-section anterior surface; said inferior super-section wall being spaced from said superior inferior-section wall at least as far as a height of an ear of the head; said left inferior super section wall having a left receding wall section; said left superior inferior-section wall having a left receding wall section; and said left receding wall section of said inferior super-section wall receding laterally relative to said left receding wall section of left said superior inferior-section wall; a right side section including: a right superior section having a right superior-section anterior surface for supporting a temple of the head, said right superior section having a right inferior super-section wall; and a right inferior section having a right inferior-section anterior surface for supporting a jaw of the head, said right inferior section having a right superior inferior-section wall; a right medial section interconnecting said right superior section and said right inferior section; and having a right medial-section anterior surface, said right medial-section anterior surface being recessed relative to said right superior-section anterior surface and said right inferior-section anterior surface; said inferior super-section wall being space from said superior inferior-section wall at least as far as a height of an ear of the head; said right inferior super section wall having a right receding wall section; said right superior inferior-section wall having a right receding wall section; and said right receding wall section of said inferior super-section wall receding laterally relative to said right receding wall section of right said superior inferior-section wall; and a back section interconnecting said left side-sleeping section and said right side section, said back sleeping section having an back-section anterior surface for supporting a rear of the head, said back-section surface being even with said left superior-section anterior surface, said left inferior-section anterior surface, said right superior-section anterior surface, and said right inferior-section anterior surface.

13. A pad assembly for supporting a head of a person wearing an object on an ear of the person while lying on a side, comprising: a headrest; and a pad resting on said headrest, said pad including: a superior section having a superior-section anterior surface for supporting a temple of the head, said superior section having an inferior super-section wall; and an inferior section having an inferior-section anterior surface for supporting a jaw of the head, said inferior section having a superior inferior-section wall; a medial section interconnecting said superior section and said inferior section; and having a medial-section anterior surface, said medial-section anterior surface being recessed relative to said superior-section anterior surface and said inferior-section anterior surface; said inferior super-section wall being spaced from said superior inferior-section wall at least as far as a height of an ear of the head; said inferior super section wall having a receding wall section; said superior inferior-section wall having a receding wall section; and said receding wall section of said inferior super-section wall receding laterally relative to said receding wall section of said superior inferior-section wall.

14. The pad assembly according to claim 13, wherein said headrest is selected from the group consisting of a pillow, an armrest, a folded blanket, a sofa cushion, and a mattress.

15. A method for sleeping while wearing an object on an ear while side sleeping, which comprises: providing a headrest; resting a pad on said headrest, said pad including: a superior section having a superior-section anterior surface for supporting a temple of a head, said superior section having an inferior super-section wall; and an inferior section having an inferior-section anterior surface for supporting a jaw of the head, said inferior section having a superior inferior-section wall; a medial section interconnecting said superior section and said inferior section; and having a medial-section anterior surface, said medial-section anterior surface being recessed relative to said superior-section anterior surface and said inferior-section anterior surface; said inferior super-section wall being spaced from said superior inferior-section wall at least as far as a height of an ear of the head; said inferior super section wall having a receding wall section; said superior inferior-section wall having a receding wall section; and said receding wall section of said inferior super-section wall receding laterally relative to said receding wall section of said superior inferior-section wall; and resting the temple on said superior-section anterior surface, while resting the jaw on said inferior section; and placing the ear between said superior section and said inferior section and above said medial section.

16. The pad assembly according to claim 15, wherein said headrest is selected from the group consisting of a pillow, an armrest, a folded blanket, a sofa cushion, and a mattress.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0034] FIG. 1 is a top, right, inferior perspective view of a first embodiment of a pad according to the invention.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a top side view of the embodiment of the pad shown in FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a right side sectional view of the first embodiment taken along line III-III in FIG. 2.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the embodiment of the pad shown in FIG. 1, showing a sleeper positioned on the pad.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a right side section view of a dual foam bilateral embodiment of the pad shown in FIG. 2 taken along line III-III.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a unilateral embodiment of the pad according to the invention.

[0040] FIG. 7 is a top side view of the unilateral embodiment of the pad shown in FIG. 6.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a right side view of the unilateral embodiment of the pad shown in FIG. 6.

[0042] FIG. 9 is a top side view of a bilateral embodiment with central landing zone according to the invention.

[0043] FIG. 10 is a top side view of a bilateral embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 with a block in a lateral position.

[0044] FIG. 11 is a top side view of a bilateral embodiment as shown in FIG. 10 with a block in a medial position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] FIGS. 1-4 show a bilateral pad 1 for side sleeping. The pad 1 includes an inferior section 2, a superior section 3, and a medial section 4. The inferior section 2 has an anterior surface 21 for supporting a cheek 72 of a sleeper as shown in FIG. 4. The superior section 3 has an anterior surface 31 for supporting a lateral superior section 73 of the head. The medial section 4 is disposed between the inferior section 2 and the superior section 3 and has an anterior surface 41 that is recessed relative to the anterior surface 21 of the inferior section 2 and the anterior surface 31 of the superior section 3 to define a channel transversing the pad 1.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the channel receives an ear 71 of the head 70 and the temples 51 of eyeglasses 50 being worn on the head 70. The channel is formed by a superior wall 24 of the superior section 2, an inferior wall 34 of the inferior section 3, and the anterior surface 41 of the medial section 4.

[0047] The channel widens laterally; that is the channel is wider at the channel's left opening and right opening than at the channel's center. On the left side of the pad 1, a receding section 22 of the inferior wall 24 recedes laterally relative to a receding section 32 of the superior wall 34. On the right side of the pad 1, a receding section 23 of the inferior wall 24 recedes laterally relative to a receding section 33 of the superior wall 34.

[0048] A width of the channel at a narrowest point is greater than a height of the ear 71. That is, the superior wall 24 is spaced from the inferior wall 34 greater than a height of the ear 71. In a preferred embodiment, the superior wall 24 is spaced from the inferior wall 34 at least a distance equaling the average anatomical height of an ear plus two standard deviations. In an alternative embodiment, a layer of soft, low-density foam can be provided along the anterior surface that is forgiving enough that minor contact of the top of the ear or the bottom of the ear lobe will not prevent a user from sleeping.

[0049] The depth of the channel is greater than a width of the ear 71. That is, the superior wall 24 and the inferior wall 34 have a height greater than a width of the ear 71. In a preferred embodiment, the superior wall 24 and the inferior wall 34 have a height greater than the average anatomical width of an ear plus two standard deviations.

[0050] The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is made of a single piece of foam.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a person (i.e. a sleeper) left side sleeping on the pad. The left cheek 72 of head 70 rests on the anterior surface 21 of the inferior section 2. The lateral superior section 73 of the head 70 rests on the anterior surface 31 of the superior section 3. The left ear 71 and left eyeglass temple 51 are placed above the anterior surface 41 of the medial section 4. The left ear 71 is between the superior wall 24 and the inferior wall 34. The eyeglass lens 52 is disposed between the receding wall 23 and the receding wall 33. The sleeper can tilt his or her head 70 up and down without the eyeglass lens 52 contacting either receding wall 23 and receding wall 33.

[0052] Although it is not shown in the figures, the sleeper can right side sleep on the pad 1. The right cheek 75 of head 70 rests on the anterior surface 21 of the inferior section 2. The right lateral superior section 76 of the head 70 rests on the anterior surface 31 of the superior section 3. The right ear 77 and right eyeglass temple 53 are placed above the anterior surface 41 of the medial section 4. The right ear 77 is between the superior wall 24 and the inferior wall 34. The eyeglass lens 52 is disposed between the receding wall 22 and the receding wall 32. The sleeper can rotate his or her head 70 up and down without the right eyeglass lens 54 contacting either receding wall 23 and receding wall 33.

[0053] FIGS. 5 shows a dual foam bilateral pad. The pad is generally shaped like the pad shown in FIGS. 1-4. The pad 1 is formed from two layers of different density foam. A higher density layer 82 is made from a higher density viscoelastic foam. A lower density layer 81 is disposed on the anterior of the higher density layer 82. The lower density layer 81 is made from a lower density viscoelastic foam than the foam used in the higher density layer 82.

[0054] FIGS. 6-8 show a unilateral embodiment of the pad 1. One side of the pad 1 is similar to the pad shown in FIGS. 1-3 with an inferior section 2, superior section 3, and a medial section 4. The pad includes a back-sleeping section 6, which is shaped like a traditional pillow and can be used for back sleeping while wearing eyeglasses.

[0055] In the unilateral embodiment, the back-sleeping section 6 is connected to the inferior section 2, the superior section 3, and the medial section 4. The back sleeping section 6 has an anterior surface 61 that is level with the anterior surface 21 of the inferior section and the anterior surface 31 of the superior section 3. A medial section wall 63 connects the medial edge of the anterior surface 41 of the medial section 4 to the anterior surface 61.

[0056] A sleeper uses the unilateral embodiment by side sleeping with his or her bottom ear in the channel above the medial section 4. The sleeper can rotate to a back sleeping position with the back of his or her head resting on the anterior surface 61 without needing to move or adjust the pad 1.

[0057] If the sleeper chooses to sleep on his or her other side, the pad 1 is rotated one-hundred-and-eighty degrees (180).

[0058] FIGS. 9 shows a bilateral pad with back-sleeping section 6. In this embodiment, a back sleeping section 6 is located medially in the pad. On the left side of the back sleeping section 6 is an inferior section 2A, superior section 3A, and medial section 4A. In addition, on the right side of the back sleeping section 6 is an additional inferior section 2B, superior section 3B, and medial section 4B.

[0059] A sleeper can use the bilateral pad with back-sleeping section, to move between a left side-sleeping position, a back-sleeping position, and a right side-sleeping position without moving the pad. To sleep in the left side-sleeping position, the sleeper places his or her ear above the medial section 4A and between the inferior section 2A and the superior section 3A. To sleep in the right side-sleeping position, the sleeper places his or her ear above the medial section 4B and between the inferior section 2B and the superior section 3B. To sleep in the back sleeping position, the sleeper sleeps with the back of his or her head resting on the anterior surface 61 of the back-sleeping section 6.

[0060] In an embodiment that is shown in FIGS. 10-11, a block 6 can be inserted into the channel of a bilateral pad like the pad shown in FIGS. 1-5. The block 6 acts as a back sleeping section. As shown in FIG. 10, the block 6 can convert the bilateral embodiment into a unilateral embodiment similar to FIGS. 6-8. As shown in FIG. 11, the block 6 can covert the bilateral embodiment into a back-sleeping embodiment similar to FIG. 9.