Pillow
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- For the Japanese band, see the pillows. For the borough, see Pillow, Pennsylvania.
A small (and usually soft) support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows, which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort. There also exist "novelty pillows", (which can be throw or body pillows), which are designed often as licensed products. Such pillows include the popular "Fish Pillow" - a large body pillow that is made to look like a trout.
By analogy, in engineering and construction, supporting elements may also be called pillows.
Pillow construction and parts
Internally, a pillow comprises a filler made from foam, synthetic fills, feathers, or down. Traditionally straw was a filler, but this is uncomfortable and rarely used today. Feathers and down were the choice of the rich; today artificial fills are the most common.
The fill is then surrounded with a cover or shell made of cloth or silk, known as the pillow case. House pillows (also called cushions) often include a zipper in this cover so that the fill can be removed and the covering laundered. Bed pillows do not have this feature, and instead a pillow case goes over the pillow, that can be washed. Even with regular washing, pillows tend to accumulate large amounts of dust and vast numbers of microbes among the fill and it is recommended that they be replaced every few years, especially for those with allergies.
Each corner of a pillow is referred to as a nib. When a pillow is placed on a flat surface the poof point is the crest of the pillow roundness.
Types of pillows
A pillow is designed to provide support and comfort to the body.
- Body pillows are as long as a full adult body, providing support to the head and neck at the top and to the knees and legs lower down. This type of pillow can be especially useful in providing support for those who sleep on their sides and for pregnant women.
- Neck pillows support the neck by providing a deep area for the head to rest and a supportive area to keep the neck in alignment. These can also be known as cervical pillows.
- Travel pillows provide support for the neck and head in a sitting position. Their "U" shape fits around the neck and keeps the head from slipping into an uncomfortable and possibly harmful position during sleep.
- A husband pillow (also known as a bedrest) is a large, high-backed pillow with two "arms". It is used to prop the user upright while in bed, as for reading or watching television.
- Donut pillows are shaped like a donut, with a space in the middle to alleviate pressure on the tailbone area. These pillows are used primarily by individuals who have suffered an injury to the tailbone area or who suffer pain from hemorrhoids or another ailment of the colon.
- Lumbar pillows are designed to support the inward curve of the lower back, filling the space created when in a sitting position. These pillows are generally used while driving or sitting, such as in an office chair.
- Novelty Pillows are shaped like humorous objects (a banana, tweety bird, a human leg), and are meant to brighten up and add humor to a room or lounge area.
- Decorative Pillows are not designed to provide any comfort or support whatsoever. These pillows may have a fancy cover that serves as a decoration for a bedroom or living room.
- Using a pillow under the knees while sleeping on the back can relieve low back pain by helping to reduce the curve of the lower back.
- Using a pillow between the knees while sleeping on the side can prevent the upper leg from pulling downward and creating a twist in the spine.
- Pillows are also used to accomplish simulated pregnancy.
- Firestop pillows are technical firestop products, used in passive fire protection.
History
Pillows were originally used mainly by the wealthy, and have been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. The difficulty of sophisticated dyes and sewing techniques lead to the development of pillows as an art from, with highly decorated pillows becoming prized commodities first in China and later in Medieval Europe. The Industrial Revolution saw the mass production of decorated textiles and decorated pillows.
Modern pillow sizes
The 'Oxford Size' used in many English speaking countries is 50cm x 75cm (20 x 30 inches), while the 'Continental Size' used in many parts of Continental Europe (i.e. not UK) is 66cm x 66cm (26 x 26 inches).See also
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