How we designed SALVADOR?

MICRO NAP

But let's turn our heads back a bit so I can explain how this ergonomic head and neck cushion was born and why it is so different from those found on the market to improve cervical comfort . First confession, I admit that at the beginning we had not at all imagined that SALVADOR would be so versatile for supporting the head and neck in various situations. Yes, at the very beginning, our intention was to create a cushion to allow micro-naps on an office chair ! But no matter, this intention was enough to allow us to design a new head and neck cushion . Why? Because there were all the necessary ingredients to define the framework of intervention: a seat with a backrest, the need to support the head so that it does not fall to the right or left, finally, the desire to find the soft comfort of a pillow , in miniature, for effective cervical support and well-being of the head .

BALL IN THE CENTER

Our first intuition was to remove the material behind the neck . To be comfortable and promote good cervical alignment , if we consider the anatomy, especially the spine, we can easily realize that we must avoid having material behind the neck because it will push your head forward and force you to tilt it (this is the problem with U-shaped cushions often used when traveling!). For us, the first solution was to form a cushion in a tube of fabric that would be divided in two by a central seam. Exit the bulge behind the neck , you can keep the cervical vertebrae well aligned . There is no material pushing your head forward, which is essential to prevent feelings of cervical discomfort .

GOING OUT OF WAY

But this central clearance is not enough to create an ergonomic cushion capable of correctly holding the head and providing good neck support for optimal comfort . This is where we had a second intuition (after several user tests anyway!) and we had the idea of ​​twisting the two ends of the cushion . A real magic wand! The twist creating a slight but sufficient slope to pleasantly support your skull and promote relaxation of the neck muscles , thus contributing to a feeling of well-being in the head and neck .

If we go into anatomical detail, it is the occipital bone (the one located at the back/bottom) and the left and right temporal bone (behind your temples) that come to rest on the cushion. These bones form a half crown at the back of your head and it is precisely because this entire part is supported that you have an immediate feeling of easing of tension in the neck . After a few minutes of use, your neck muscles, ceasing to force to support your skull, begin to relax. If you prolong the experience, the muscular relaxation will logically descend to the level below, to the trapezius muscles , then the shoulders (the deltoids). But you will say that we all have a different morphology! It's true, but I will explain to you why SALVADOR adapts to all morphologies.

PROFESSIONAL DEFORMATION

There's a somewhat counterintuitive idea in design that tricks your brain into thinking an object is ergonomic because it perfectly fits the shape of your anatomy. Let's be clear, this is a figment of the imagination.

In fact, let's take the simple example of a pen. For you to be comfortable writing with it, there are two important criteria: its length, which must be sufficient to exceed the intersection between your thumb and index finger when you hold it in your hand, and its diameter, which must be thick enough for a good grip but not too thick because the thickness would quickly make you lose dexterity. That's all. There's no point in the body of the pen precisely matching the shape of your fingers gathered around it to hold it. That would be very uncomfortable because we all have different hands and fingers and what works for one, might not work for another.

But let's get back to our cushion. To adapt to different profiles, it's very simple: it's the one that deforms and flexibly adapts to the shape of your neck. And this adaptation is due to one key element: the filling. Exit the polystyrene balls that offer as much support as a ball of slime, moving apart at the slightest pressure (totally depriving you of cervical support ) and which make you sweat after a few minutes by sending your body heat back to you (normal, polystyrene is an insulator! it has no place in a cushion).

At Petits Cadors, we use a bedding fiber manufactured to fill high-end pillows , ideal for an ergonomic cushion for the head and neck . A light and fluffy fiber that resembles snowflakes. It is thanks to this fiber that SALVADOR perfectly fits the contour of your neck and offers good support for the skull , promoting the relaxation of cervical tension and a feeling of comfort in the neck and head . You can relax, it is your cushion that adapts to you for optimal comfort and good cervical support .

The icing on the cake is that this fiber is made from recycled plastic collected from waterways. Each SALVADOR cushion contains the equivalent of 4 plastic bottles that would have ended up at the bottom of the ocean (we prefer them to be in our cushions).

HEAD ELSEWHERE

As I said at the beginning of this article on the design of SALVADOR , we initially imagined it to promote comfort during micro-naps in the workplace, on a simple office chair and to provide easy cervical support . But we quickly realized that this ergonomic cushion is in fact “all-terrain” and can go far beyond the professional setting to improve the comfort of the head and neck . Very quickly, it was used for watching television with good head support , reading in bed or in an armchair while ensuring cervical comfort , basking in the sun in a deckchair or hammock with pleasant neck support , going to the beach, taking a nap in the grass after the picnic or even settling down comfortably for long telephone discussions between friends while avoiding feelings of cervical tension . Today we can say that SALVADOR has become the everyday cushion for taking care of your neck and head , day after day, as soon as the activity (or break) allows it, offering a feeling of well-being and optimal posture support .

As you will have understood, if you regularly feel discomfort in the neck , if you are prone to stiffness or simply if you want to take care of your body and protect it from daily tensions in the neck thanks to good cervical support for optimal head comfort , SALVADOR is the perfect cushion . Its unique ergonomic design and quality filling make it a valuable ally for your daily comfort and well-being . The hardest part is choosing the model. 😉"