JPH0436021B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a pillow that can prevent snoring, and particularly to a pillow for preventing snoring that detects snoring sound with a microphone and drives a motor based on the detection signal to swing the upper part of the pillow.

[Conventional technology]

As this type of anti-snoring pillow, for example,
The one described in Japanese Patent No. 62-192121 is known. This pillow supports an upper body cover on a lower body so that it can tilt back and forth, and a rotating body with a pin protruding from the eccentric position of a disc is supported, and a motor is driven when snoring sound is detected. The system rotates the rotating body and tilts the body cover forward to lift the user's head, changing the vocal tract (widening the airway) and preventing snoring.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, according to this, if the body cover is tilted forward and upward to lift the user's head, and then snoring is detected, the body cover will then be tilted forward and downward, narrowing the user's airway. On the other hand, it has the disadvantage that it makes it easier to snore, and that it disturbs a good night's sleep because it stretches and contracts the neck by shaking the head of a person lying on their back up and down, either forward or backward. The present invention eliminates these drawbacks and also
The purpose is to improve the snoring prevention effect.

[Means to solve the problem]

As shown in the drawings of the embodiment, the anti-snoring pillow of the present invention has front and rear pillars 7, which are low on the front side and high on the rear side, at the front and rear of the central part of the upper surface of the base 2 made of synthetic resin.
8 is integrally provided, and the swinging part 3 is supported on these front and rear pillars 7 and 8 so as to be able to swing from side to side in a downwardly inclined state, and a motor is mounted on the base 2 below the swinging part 3. 11, and a camshaft 14 which is long on the left and right is supported parallel to the rotational shaft of the motor 11, and between these rotational shafts and the camshaft 14, a transmission shaft 12 and worms 20, 22 which are orthogonal thereto are installed.
A deceleration mechanism using worm wheels 21 and 23 is provided, and left and right cams 24 and 25 eccentrically opposite to each other are fixed to the left and right sides of the camshaft 14, and these left and right cams are fixed to the lower surface of the swinging section 3. cam 2
Left and right cam engaging portions 2 that engage with 4 and 25, respectively.
6 will be provided. The apparatus further includes a microphone 29 and a snoring detection device that detects snoring sounds from the output of the microphone 29 and drives the motor 11.

[Effect]

When the snoring sound is detected by the snoring detection device through the microphone 29, the motor 11 is driven and the left and right cams 24 and 25 using a worm and a worm wheel are simultaneously rotated. These cams 24 and 25 are eccentric in opposite directions, so when the left cam lifts up the left side of the swinging section 3, the right cam allows the right side of the swinging section 3 to tilt downward. , conversely, when the right cam lifts the right side of the swinging section 3, the left cam lifts the right side of the swinging section 3.
Allows the left side to tilt downward. As a result, the swinging unit 3 slowly swings alternately between an upward-left tilted state and an upward-rightward tilted state, and alternately shifts to a right sideways position or a left sideways position without lifting the user's head. Change to Even when the swinging section 3 swings from side to side in this way, it always maintains a downwardly forward state. By the way, it is generally said that sleeping face up makes it easier to snore, and sleeping sideways makes it harder to snore. Additionally, changing the height and angle of your head can open up your airways and temporarily stop snoring. Therefore, in the pillow according to the present invention, the swinging part 3 can be changed to either the left or right direction, and its inclination can be changed smoothly and slowly by the eccentric cams on the left and right sides. It can widen the airways and stop snoring without causing any discomfort. In addition, since the head is not turned only to the left or right, it is possible to effectively stop snoring while always being in a position that allows for deep sleep. Furthermore, in the present invention, in addition to using a cam that is eccentric in opposite left and right directions as described above, a worm and a worm wheel are used as a speed reduction mechanism between the rotation shaft of the motor and the cam shaft. The load of the head on the swinging part is received by the left and right cams and the speed reduction mechanism, so that no unreasonable force is applied to the rotating shaft of the motor.

【Example】

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. 4 to 9 show the structure of the anti-snoring pillow according to the present invention. This anti-snoring pillow 1 consists of a dish-shaped base 2 integrally molded with synthetic resin, and a swinging part 3 supported on the base 2 as follows and serving as a cover for the base 2. It is used wrapped in a pillowcase (not shown). Swinging part 3
, the upper surface of the rocking plate 4 is covered with a cushion member 5 made of foamed resin such as urethane, and two parts of the lower surface of the rocking plate 4, front and rear, are connected by bearings 6 to the center of the upper surface of the base 2. It is supported by front and rear struts 7 and 8 so as to be able to swing left and right. Since the front sides of the front and rear pillars 7 and 8 are low, the entire swinging section 3 is always tilted forward and downward relative to the base 2. A notched pocket 9 is formed in the center of the cushion member 5, and a bag of ice packs 10 or the like can be stored in the pocket 9, for example. Therefore, if the ice pack 10 is used here, there is an effect of so-called cold head and warm feet. A motor 11 is installed on the top surface of the base 2 with the axis of its rotating shaft facing left or right, and a transmission shaft 12 that is orthogonal to the axis is rotatably supported by front and rear bearings 13. and a cam shaft 14 extending left and right orthogonal to the transmission shaft 12.
is similarly rotatably supported by bearings 15 at both left and right ends and at the center. Pillar 7,
8. The bearings 6, 13, and 15 are integrally provided on the base 2. The motor 11 is driven by a battery 17 in a battery storage section 16 provided on the top surface of the base 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the battery storage section 16 is located at a battery exchange port 18 provided on the bottom surface of the base 2 and can be opened and closed by a cover plate 19. A worm 20 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor 11, and a worm wheel 21 that meshes with the worm 20 is fixed to the transmission shaft 12. Further, the worm 22 fixed to the transmission shaft 12 meshes with a worm wheel 23 fixed to the center of the camshaft 14, and the rotation of the motor 11 is transmitted to the camshaft 14 at a reduced speed. A pair of left and right circular cams 24 and 25 are fixed to both left and right ends of the camshaft 14.
The left and right cams 24 and 25 are eccentrically fixed to the cam shaft 14 in opposite directions. On the other hand, left and right cams 2 are provided on the lower surface of the swing plate 4.
Cam engaging portions 26 that respectively engage with 4 and 25 are integrally provided in a protruding manner. As shown in FIG. 9, the lower surface of the cam engaging portion 26 is a wavy uneven surface in which a plurality of shallow circular arc recesses 27 are continuous in the front and back. Note that the circumferential surfaces of the cams 24 and 25 may be formed into uneven surfaces. Therefore, when the motor 11 is driven and the camshaft 14 is slowly rotated in a certain direction, the left and right cams 24 and 25 rotate at the same time, but these cams are eccentric in opposite directions. Therefore, when the left cam 24 faces upward to lift the left side of the rocking plate 4, the right cam 25 faces downward to allow the right side of the rocking plate 4 to descend.
tilts slowly upward to the left using the bearing 6 as a fulcrum. On the contrary, when the right cam 25 faces upward and the left cam 24 faces downward, the rocking plate 3 tilts upward to the right. In the case of tilting in any direction, the left and right cams 24 and 25 successively engage with the plurality of circular arc recesses 27 on the lower surface of the left and right cam engaging portions 26 as if rolling.
As described above, the swinging portion 3 slowly tilts and swings up and down repeatedly. left and right cams 24,
When the cams 25 are reversed, the swinging portion 3 becomes horizontal, and when the cams 24 and 25 rotate 180 degrees by tilting upward to the left or upward from this state as described above, the swinging portion 3 returns to the horizontal state. FIG. 8 is a view of such a tilting state as seen from the rear side. The entire swinging section 3 always maintains a forward-downward state even if it swings from side to side. A raised portion 28 is provided on the front edge of the base 2,
Left and right microphones (built-in microphones) 29 for detecting snoring sounds are embedded in both left and right ends of the snoring device. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, an operation panel 30 provided on the rear surface of the base 2 includes a power switch 31, a manual operation switch 32, a sensitivity adjustment volume 33, and an external microphone 34 (a fourth
A connection terminal 35 and an operation indicator light 36 are provided for connection to the device shown in FIG. Further, on the base 2, a circuit board 37 (fifth
Figure) has been installed. The external microphone 34 is the built-in microphone 29
When the detection of snoring sound is insufficient by itself, attach it to your chest, etc. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a snoring detection device.
This device includes a filter 37 that passes only a specific frequency band of the analog signal detected by the built-in microphone 29 or the external microphone 34, an amplifier circuit 38 that amplifies the analog signal that has passed through the filter 37, and the amplified analog signal. a comparator 39 which extracts the signal at a predetermined level or above and converts it into a rectangular signal; a period determination circuit 40 which determines the period of the rectangular signal and outputs a snoring detection signal when it corresponds to a set period; and a motor drive circuit 41 that drives the motor 11 based on the motor. Since the frequency of the snoring sound is in the range of 500Hz to 3KHz as described above, the bandpass frequency of the filter 37 is set to 500Hz to 3KHz in accordance with this. 500Hz~ passed through this filter 37
The analog signal in the range of 3 KHz is amplified by an amplifier circuit 38 and then compared with a reference voltage set by the sensitivity adjustment volume 33 by a comparator 38. Here, the analog signal becomes a rectangular signal by extracting the analog signal having a predetermined level or higher. In the case of the standard snoring sound mentioned above, this rectangular signal is generated during inspiration as shown in Figure 3.1.
HIGH level, becomes LOW level when exhausting,
HIGH time width is about 2 seconds, LOW time width is also about 2 seconds.
It is a regular waveform that repeats HIGH for about 2 seconds with a period of about 4 seconds. As shown in FIG. 2, the period determination circuit 40 includes a monostable multivibrator 42, a counter 43, a timer 44, a motor drive timer 45, and the like. The above rectangular signal from the comparator 39 is input to one input terminal of the monostable multivibrator 42, and each time the rectangular signal rises from LOW to HIGH, the monostable multivibrator 42 operates for a predetermined time, and the third HIGH as shown in Figure 2
Outputs a pulse with a level of, for example, 3.5 seconds. The Q terminal output of this monostable multivibrator 42 is input to a counter 43, and the terminal output is input to a timer 44, and this timer 44 is inputted to a set time _T1 ,
For example, when the monostable multivibrator 42 operates for about 12 seconds, the counter 43 counts the number of pulses from the monostable multivibrator 42 only during that operating time, that is, while the output of the timer 44 is at HIGH level as shown in FIG. Count. When the count 43 counts, for example, three pulses from the monostable multivibrator 42, the outputs of its two output terminals both become HIGH. A NAND gate 46 is connected between both of these output terminals and one input terminal of the motor drive timer 45, and when the outputs of both output terminals of the monostable multivibrator 42 become HIGH, the timer 45 is activated for a predetermined time T ₂ ( (for example, 3 seconds), and the output is T ₂ as shown in Figure 3.4.
It becomes HIGH only for a certain amount of time. A NAND gate 47 is connected between the output terminal of the timer 44 and the reset terminal of the counter 43.
The output of the timer 45 is inverted and input to the NOT circuit 48, and the counter 43 is inputted when the output of either the timer 44 or the NOT circuit 48 changes from HIGH to LOW.
It will be reset when the In addition, the pulse width of the monostable multivibrator 42, the timers 44, 4
The set time of 5 and the set number of counts of the counter 43 can be adjusted arbitrarily. Therefore, when a snoring sound is detected by the built-in microphone 29 or the external microphone 34, and the output of the comparator 39 at that time is as shown in FIG. A pulse with a width of approximately 3.5 seconds as shown in Figure 2 is output. This pulse is counter 4
If 3 is counted within about 12 seconds by 3,
The motor drive timer 45 is driven for about 3 seconds, for example, and its output shown in FIG. 4 is inputted as a snoring detection signal to the motor drive circuit 41, and the motor 11 is driven by the motor drive circuit 41. That is, when the sound of snoring is detected three times in succession within approximately 12 seconds by the built-in microphone 29 or the external microphone 34, the motor 11 is driven. When the motor 11 is driven in this way, the swinging part 3 of the anti-snoring pillow 1 slowly tilts upward to the left or upward to the right as described above, and repeatedly swings up and down slightly, so that the user's head You can tilt it to the left or right while gently rocking it up and down, effectively preventing snoring without disturbing your sleep. If the monostable multivibrator 42 generates two or less pulses within about 12 seconds, both outputs of the counter 43 will not become HIGH, so the timer 45 will not operate and the motor 11 will not be driven. In the case of continuous sound, the output of the comparator 39 is as shown in FIG. 3, and the output of the monostable multivibrator 42 remains HIGH as shown in FIG. Three or more pulses are not input to the counter 43 within (approximately 12 seconds), so the motor 11 is not driven in this case as well. When the manual operation switch 32 is turned on, the motor drive circuit 41 is operated independently of the motor drive timer 45, and the motor 11 is continuously driven. At this time, the monostable multivibrator 42
is held in a reset state. Power switch 31
When turned on, the monostable multivibrator 42 and timer 44 are reset.

【Effect of the invention】

According to the present invention, there are the following effects. The swinging part alternately swings between a tilted state upward to the left and a tilted state upward to the right, and the user's head is alternately turned to the right sideways position or the left sideways position without lifting the user's head, so that a sound sleep is not disturbed. It can effectively stop snoring by widening the airways. Since it tilts the head alternately from side to side, even if you repeatedly turn over and snore, you can change the tilt to the left and right each time to stop the snoring. When using left and right cams that are eccentric in opposite directions, when the left cam lifts the left side of the swinging section, the right cam allows the right side of the swinging section to tilt downward, and vice versa. When the cam lifts the right side of the swinging section, the left cam is structured to allow the left side of the swinging section to tilt downward, allowing the swinging section to swing slowly and smoothly continuously. This allows you to change the direction of your head without disturbing your sleep. Since the swinging part always maintains a forward and downward slope even when it swings from side to side, snoring can be naturally stopped while the user's head is always kept in a sleep-friendly position. The front and rear columns that support the swinging part are integrated into a synthetic resin base, and the heights of these front and rear posts are made higher on the front side and lower on the rear side, so that the lower surface of the swinging part and the top surface of the base are Since a gap is formed in between, where the rear side is wider in vertical width than the front side, a drive mechanism including a motor can be installed using the wide rear gap, and the thickness can be reduced by effectively utilizing the gap. Since the swinging part is swung by eccentric cams in opposite directions, and a worm and worm wheel are used as a deceleration mechanism between the motor's rotating shaft and the camshaft, the head on the tilted swiveling part is This load can be received by the left and right cams and the speed reduction mechanism to prevent undue force from being applied to the motor's rotating shaft.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the snoring detection device, FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of the period discrimination circuit, and FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the snoring detection process. 4 to 9 show an example of an anti-snoring pillow according to the present invention equipped with the above snoring detection device, FIG. 4 is a perspective view, FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view, and FIG. 6 is a central longitudinal section. 7 is a sectional view of the base and the swinging mechanism mounted thereon, and FIG. 8 is a rear view showing the swinging state.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the cam portion. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the frequency and period of snoring sound. 2... Base, 3... Swinging part, 7, 8... Front and rear struts, 11... Motor, 12... Transmission shaft, 14
...Camshaft, 20,22...Worm, 21,2
3... Worm wheel, 24, 25... Left and right cams, 26... Cam engaging portion, 29... Microphone.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Front and rear pillars 7 and 8 are integrally provided at the front and rear of the central part of the upper surface of the base 2 made of synthetic resin, and the front side is low and the rear side is high. It is supported so as to be able to swing from side to side in an inclined state, and is mounted on the base 2 below the swinging part 3.
A motor 11 is installed, and a camshaft 14 long in the left and right directions is supported parallel to the rotational shaft of the motor 11, and a transmission shaft 12 and worms 20, 22 are installed between these rotational shafts and the camshaft 14, and are orthogonal thereto. A deceleration mechanism using worm wheels 21 and 23 is provided, and left and right cams 24 and 25 eccentrically opposite to each other are fixed to the left and right sides of the camshaft 14, and these left and right cams are fixed to the lower surface of the swinging section 3. Cam 24,2
Left and right cam engaging portions 26 are provided to engage with the microphone 5, respectively, and a microphone 29 is provided.
The snoring sound is detected from the output of motor 9 and the motor 11
A snoring prevention pillow comprising: a snoring detection device that drives a snoring detection device;