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.
Ralli quilt pillows are famous pillows which are used in Pakistan and India.
They are colorful embroidered and qulited by the women artisans.
By analogy, in engineering and construction, supporting elements may
also be called pillows.
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 because they tend
to be firmer and also softer than feathers. Buckwheat is somewhat
common in Asia, as are plastic imitations. Such pillows tend to be smaller
than a standard Western pillow.
The fill is then surrounded with a cover or shell made of cloth or silk,
known as the pillow case or pillow slip. 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.
The classic bed pillow shape is a square or golden rectangle with four
corners reminiscent of the shape of the ears of a cat. 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. Most
people will think of bed pillows first, but there are many other kinds of
pillows:
• 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 with the
spine while sleeping. 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 back of the neck and keeps the
head from slipping into an uncomfortable and possibly harmful position
during sleep. Unfortunately U-shaped pillows often force the head
forwards creating neck stiffness - look for a travel pillow that supports
your neck from all sides, including the front. Especially whilst on long haul
flights.
• A husband pillow (also known as a bedrest or a boyfriend pillow) 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 firm pillows shaped like a donut, with a space in
the middle to alleviate pressure on the tailbone area while sitting. 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 between the lower back and the back
of the chair when in a sitting position. These pillows are generally used to
support the lower back 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.
• Using a relatively flat pillow under the stomach while sleeping on
the stomach can help keep the spine in alignment and alleviate stress on
the low back. In this position, it is best to place the head directly on the
mattress to avoid arching the spine.
• Pillows are also used to accomplish simulated pregnancy.
• Firestop pillows are technical firestop products, used in passive fire
protection.
Pillows may also provide additional aids to relaxation, such as a heating
pad or aromatherapy.
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 form, 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.
Traditional Chinese pillows are often hard boxes made from stone, wood,
metal, or porcelain instead of stuffed fabric.
A microbead pillow is a type of pillow or cushion. The contents of the
pillow and outer layer fabric give it an extremely soft feel.
The outer fabric is usually made of nylon lycra/spandex, a very soft and
elastic material sometimes used for swim and gymwear. Its unique elastic
characteristic allows the cushion to be stretched freely in all directions.
The filling inside the cushion is composed of high quality round
polystyrene beads called "microbeads", a mini version of what is
commonly found in bean bags. These small, lightweight microbeads range
from 0.25mm to 0.7mm in diameter.
Popular microbead pillows include the Föm, Moshi, Cushi or Squish 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).
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