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EP-4739170-A1 - A PILLOW

EP4739170A1EP 4739170 A1EP4739170 A1EP 4739170A1EP-4739170-A1

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a pillow, comprising one or more inner heat exchange layer (eg KulKote), one or more inner padding layer (eg of wool, for example felted wool, or polyester, for example felted polyester fibres), and outer padding layers (eg of memory foam).

Inventors

  • CONDON, JOHN

Assignees

  • Luxa Leg Pillow Co. Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240705

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A pillow, comprising: • one or more inner heat exchange layer (eg KulKote); • one or more inner padding layer (eg of wool, for example felted wool); and • outer padding layers (eg of memory foam).
  2. 2. A pillow according to claim 1 wherein: • the one or more inner heat exchange layer comprises KulKote; • the one or more inner padding layer comprises felted wool or polyester fibre; and/or • the outer padding layers comprise memory foam.
  3. 3. A pillow according to claim 1 or 2, having substantially planar top and bottom faces.
  4. 4. A pillow according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, which is substantially uniform in thickness, being 50 - 150 mm thick, or 60 - 120 mm thick, or 80 - 100 mm thick, or 70 - 90 mm thick, or about 80 mm thick.
  5. 5. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, being 300 - 900 mm long, or 350 - 850 mm long, 400-800 mm long, 450-750 mm long, 500-700 mm long, 550 - 650 mm long, 560 - 580 mm long, or about 570 mm long .
  6. 6. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, being 150 - 500 mm wide, or 200 - 400 mm wide, or about 250 mm wide.
  7. 7. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchange layer is 1 - 6 mm thick; 2-4 mm thick, or about 3 mm thick.
  8. 8. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein outer padding layers are 10 - 50 mm thick, 20 - 30 mm thick, or about 20 mm thick.
  9. 9. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more inner padding layer (eg wool, optionally felted wool) may in each case be 20 - 120 mm thick, or 30 - 70 mm thick, 40 - 60 mm thick, 30 - 50 mm thick, or about 50 mm thick.
  10. 10. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein if there are two inner padding layers (eg wool, optionally felted wool) then each such layer may be 20 - 50 mm thick, or 22 - 28 mm thick; 24 - 26 mm thick, or about 25 mm thick.
  11. 11 . A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more rigidity imparting inner layers (eg sisal fibre).
  12. 12. A pillow according to claim 11 , wherein in each case the rigidity imparting layer may be 4 - 16 mm thick, or 4 - 12 mm thick, 6 - 10 mm thick, or about 8 mm thick.
  13. 13. A pillow according to acclaim 11 or 12, wherein in each case the rigidity imparting layer stops short of each end and/or each side of the pillow, eg by 10 - 40 mm, or by 5 - 40 mm, or by 10 - 30 mm or by 15 - 25 mm, or by about 30 mm.
  14. 14. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein any or all of the inner padding layer(s), the outer padding layers, and the rigidity imparting layer(s) (if the claim dependency permits), have apertures to facilitate the movement of heat to the heat exchange layer(s).
  15. 15. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, having rounded corners.
  16. 16. A pillow according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a flexible cover enveloping the other parts of the pillow so that they are not visible from the outside of the pillow.
  17. 17. A pillow according to claim 1 , comprising, in the following order from top to bottom: • a layer of memory foam (being 10 - 40 mm thick); • a heat exchange layer (being 1 - 5 mm thick); • a felted wool layer (being 20 - 120 mm thick, or 30 - 70 mm thick); • a further heat exchange layer (being 1 - 5 mm thick); and • a further layer of memory foam (being 10 - 40 mm thick).
  18. 18. A pillow according to claim 17, wherein each memory foam layer is about 20 mm thick, each heat exchange layer is about 3 mm thick, and the felted wool layer is about 50 mm thick.
  19. 19. A pillow according to claim 1 , comprising, in the following order from top to bottom: • a layer of memory foam (being 10 - 45 mm thick); • a felted wool layer (being 10 - 45 mm thick); • a heat exchange layer (being 1 - 5 mm thick); • a further felted wool layer (being 10 - 45 mm thick); and • a further layer of memory foam (being 10 - 45 mm thick)
  20. 20. A pillow according to claim 19, wherein each memory foam layer is about 22 mm thick, the heat exchange layer is about 3 mm thick, and each felted wool layer is about 22 mm thick.

Description

TITLE A Pillow. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pillow, preferably a leg pillow designed to be positioned between a user's legs when resting or sleeping, to support the knees, ankles and feet. BACKGROUND Various types of long pillows have been marketed as "leg pillows", but in general these are simply an elongated version of a standard pillow and do not offer uniform and reliable support over the desired areas (i.e. knees, ankles and feet). In particular, these known pillows taper at the ends and along the sides, and so fail to provide uniform cushioning over the whole of the pillow. Tapering may also increase the likelihood of a user’s legs being undesirably displaced from the pillow. Pillows of some types do not allow for body heat to escape with consequent overheating, which can cause discomfort to the user. OBJECT It is an object of preferred embodiments of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing at least one or more of the above shortcomings. However, it should be appreciated that the object of the invention in its broadest form is not so limited and is simply to provide the public with a useful choice. DEFINITIONS The term “comprises” or “has”, when used in this document in relation to one or more components or features, should not be seen as excluding the option of additional unmentioned components or features. The same applies to derivative terms such as “comprising” and “having”. The terms “about”, “substantially” or approximately”, if and when used in relation to a numerical value, mean plus or minus 0%, 1 %, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9% or Reference in this document to a heat exchange layer means a layer that is able to receive and at least partially retain heat drawn away from another layer. The term KulKote as used in this document refers to a coating comprising water based polymers and phase change materials, for example as documented at https://kulkote- inside.com/technical/what-is-kulkote and marketed by KulKote LLC Park City, UT, USA. It is suitable for retaining heat drawn away from the area around it. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a main aspect of the invention there is provided a pillow, comprising: • one or more inner heat exchange layer (eg KulKote); • one or more inner padding layer (eg of wool, for example felted wool, or polyester, for example felted polyester fibres); and • outer padding layers (eg of memory foam). Options The following options apply to the pillow noted above either alone or in any combination thereof. The pillow may have substantially planar top and bottom faces. The pillow may be substantially uniform in thickness, being 50 - 150 mm thick, 60 - 120 mm thick, or 80 - 100 mm thick, or 70 - 90 mm thick, or about 80 mm thick. The pillow may be 300 - 900 mm long, or 350 - 850 mm long, 400-800 mm long, 450- 750 mm long, 500-700 mm long, 550 - 650 mm long, 560 - 580 mm long, or about 570 mm long . The pillow may be 150 - 500 mm wide, or 200 - 400 mm wide, or about 250 mm wide. The heat exchange layer may be 1 - 6 mm thick; 2-4 mm thick, or about 3 mm thick. The outer padding layers (eg comprising memory foam) may each be 10 - 50 mm thick, 20 - 30 mm thick, or about 20 mm thick. The one or more inner padding layer (eg wool, optionally felted wool) may in each case be 20 - 120 mm thick, or 30 - 70 mm thick, 40 - 60 mm thick, 30 - 50 mm thick, or about 50 mm thick. If there are two inner padding layers (eg wool, optionally felted wool) then each such layer may be 20 - 50 mm thick, or 22 - 28 mm thick; 24 - 26 mm thick, or about 25 mm thick. The pillow may have one of more rigidity imparting inner layers (eg sheet material that, if considered in isolation, does not substantially sag under gravity, optionally sisal fibre). In each case the rigidity imparting layer may be 4 - 16 mm thick or, 4 - 12 mm thick, 6 - 10 mm thick, or about 8 mm thick. In each case the rigidity imparting layer may stop short of each end and/or each side of the pillow, eg by 10 - 50 mm, or by 5 - 40 mm, or by 10 - 30 mm or by 15 - 25 mm, or by about 30 mm. Any or all of the inner padding layer(s), the outer padding layers, and the rigidity imparting layer(s), may have apertures to facilitate the movement of heat to the heat exchange layer(s). The pillow may have rounded corners. The pillow may have a flexible cover enveloping the other parts of the pillow so that they are not visible from the outside of the pillow. Preferences In a first preference the pillow comprises, in the following order from top to bottom: • a layer of memory foam (being 10 - 40 mm thick); • a heat exchange layer (being 1 - 5 mm thick); • a felted wool layer (being 20 - 120 mm thick, or 30 - 70 mm thick); • a further heat exchange layer (being 1 - 5 mm thick); • a further layer of memory foam (being 10 - 40 mm thick). More preferably each memory foam layer is about 20 mm thick, each heat exchange layer is about 3 mm thick, and the felted wool layer is about 50 mm thick.