Pillows

Pillows are 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 (also called toss pillows), which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort. more...

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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 because they tend to be firmer and also softer than feathers.

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.;

Read more at Wikipedia.org