Automatically configured hydraulic support pillow

[0022] Since the second chamber of the pillow will collapse from the weight and area of the projecting top end displacing fluid, the first chamber will enlarge to fill the voids of the back of the head and neck, below the top of the head. As depicted in all the current favored embodiments, the second chamber is smaller than the first chamber, and this configuration worked well due to the dimensional characteristics of the back of the human head. However, the relative size of the two chambers could be reversed or equal and they still adjust. This operation is initiated by simply laying one's head on the pillow and automatically provides optimal comfort and conforming support for the neck, head or other extremities using only the pressure generated on the surface of the device by the mass of a user's head. To accomplish this task both chambers of the device are best filled with water or some other liquid or a gel. In the case of a gel, such a medium would minimize any potential noise from air gaps in the system as well as minimize movement of the head. Both chambers should also be elastic such that they will shrink as fluid leaves the chamber and enlarge with the entry of more fluid and avoid air pockets. However, the smaller chamber could be flexible plastic since the walls would only need to collapse in use as fluid is pumped into the larger chamber.

While the inflatable component allows control of the setting of the height of the neck and head support functions of the bolster component and is a key intent of the design, it creates a problem with utilization of the device other than as designed for top surface over bottom surface configuration.

The result is a device that cannot be used upside down and still provide the expected benefits.

In addition, there is no method for altering the firmness of the bolster component.

As can be imagined, both the fixed usage position attribute and the fixed firmness of the bolster can be a distraction at the least and an annoyance at best since one is restricted to such positions and resultant comfort levels as are allowed by the design.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,514 filed on Jun. 30, 1998, envisioned as an adjustable contour pillow addresses the second issue of the firmness of the head to pillow interface, but like all of the contour pillows identified it leaves the primary issue of asymmetrical or bottom over top use unresolved as it has a defined top surface and bottom surface.

Portability of this configuration of the device for the elderly or impaired, even if powered by batteries, is severely impacted as a result of this electrical requirement, and this would reduce opportunities for use in areas where electrical connections are inconvenient or unavailable.

An obvious drawback to an innovation of this type is, of course, the manufacturing complexity of a design in which multiple chambers containing different substances must interact, interface, remain integral, and which require optimal positioning with one another during use.

As a result, in addition to issues of comfort, the internal valving mechanisms used to alter firmness based on pressure differentials cannot function if the device were to be inverted.

This fixed position usage problem has been a significant shortfall present in all previous designs of this type seen and noted.

Though this device resolves the issue of two sided use, it still consists of a designated top edge and a designated bottom edge respectively such that as a result of design it cannot be easily inverted as the cylindrical internal bladders contained therein possess significantly different internal diameters.