Articulating Pillow

Abstract

An articulating pillow is provided which is configured to allow a user to articulate and set the curvature and shape of the pillow which is held until reconfigured. An articulating member running axially through the body of the pillow may be adjusted for resistance to bending to increase or decrease the force needed to reconfigure the pillow shape.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present device relates to pillows. More particularly, the disclosed device describes a pillow with a constrained articulating axial spine or center, which provides adjustability of curvature which may be set and held in position once adjusted by a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although some pillows are designed with a predetermined shape for their intended use, some support pillows and therapeutic pillows are pliable and can be formed depending on the user's needs and circumstance.

Shaped pillows are often employed by medical practitioners and caregivers to help prop and position patients in bed to prevent rollover and injury during rest. Additionally, body sized pillows are used at home while lounging on the couch for increased comfort. Such pillows have also been employed for therapeutic companionship to overcome loneliness or fear by providing an object supporting a user or to be held by a user.

However, conventional elongated pillows employed for such purposes have significant shortfalls. Many are small and, thus, lack the elongated size to fully support the length of an adult user. Further, conventional feather pillows lack the ability to hold a shape, and conventional foam type pillows only hold a shape when held by the user either by sitting or laying on the pillow or holding it. This reduced size, and lack of ability to configure and then hold such pillows to a user configuration, severely limits the potential uses for health, therapy and entertainment.

As such, there is a specific unmet need for a pillow having an elongated length adapted to support the full body length of an adult laying on or against it. Such a pillow should be configured for easy shaping and articulation by the user in a manner which allows the shaped or contorted pillow to hold the user configuration. However, while being configurable to various shapes, such a pillow should provide comfortable padding to the user lying upon it or holding it while inhibiting padding lopsidedness suffered by conventional feather and soft pillows.

The forgoing examples of related art and limitation related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the specification below and the accompanying drawings.

Objects of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pillow which can be articulated by a user and which will hold the articulated shape.

It is an additional object for the device to be elongated and sized to support the entire length of a human body lying upon it or holding it against their body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a pillow which includes a central articulating flexure configured and located in a manner maintaining concentricity within the device for reduced padding lopsidedness.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a device configured to a unitary structure of pillow and axial articulating member, yielding an articulating body pillow. The pillow body is preferably elongated in shape and has a diameter between 2-24 inches to form an elongated shape adapted for elongated body contact with an adult user.

The pillow body, is preferably cylindrically shaped to provide a comfortable and curved surface for support and contact against the body of the user. However, other shapes for the pillow body may also be employed for particular support or therapy purposes, such as an oval, triangular, rectangular or multifaceted circumferential shape. For example, an exterior circumferential surface of the pillow body may be a pentagon or hexagon shape to provide multiple planar surfaces for contact with a body of a user along the length of the pillow body.

The length of the pillow body may vary from 8-96 inches depending on the intended user and the length of support against the body desired or required. Currently, a length between 60-80 inches has been found, in experimentation, to work well with a short or tall user and children and adults alike. Thus, in a preferred mode of the device, which can be mass produced and therefor more easily put into the stream of commerce for users, formation of the pillow body between 60-80 inches is preferred and is easily shipped compressed in a tube or package.

In all preferred modes of the pillow device herein, the body of the pillow is formed in a sleeve configuration, which surrounds an axial cavity, which spans substantially the entire length of the pillow body. By substantially is meant a length equal to the length of the pillow body or up to 40% less in length than the pillow body length since the articulating member can be centrally located in an axial cavity in the body and provide for bending of a good portion of the pillow body, which while not preferred, would function to provide the shaping of a pillow body. The axial cavity is sized to fully constrain and encapsulate an articulating member or spine.

The pillow body may be formed as a unitary structure for the entire length of the body, or it may be formed of multiple body segments which are held aligned by a cover surrounding the exterior circumference of the pillow and the axially located articulating member. If formed of multiple segments, three or more pillow segments, which connect the axial cavity to the outer interior faces of the cushion sleeve, fully or intermittently span the length of the device to constrain three or more internal body segments, and ensure that the articulating member and the cushion sleeve are consistently axisymmetric under externally applied radial forces.

The articulating member or spine can be composed of any columnar element which can be easily bent and molded by human hands, and thereafter temporarily hold a semi-rigid curvature. Preferably the articulating member may be adjusted for resistance to movement, to allow the user to adjust a tensioned contact of engaged articulating member sections. Such an articulating member component may be composed of one or more of the following mechanisms including but not limited to: frictionally engaged sections, polymeric rods, flexures, springs, friction hinges or bands.

In use, with an articulating member positioned within the axial cavity of the pillow body, setting or modification of the pillow curvature can be performed by grabbing and bending the exterior of the pillow body and bending it to concurrently bend the axially positioned articulating member. This will determine the shape of the overlying pillow body or cushion sleeve holding multiple pillow body segments. This shape will be held by the articulating member until the user repositions it.

Additionally, an opening at one or both ends of the body of the pillow may be provided, to provide access to one or both ends of the axial cavity, and the articulating member therein. Where the resistance to bending of the articulating member is adjustable, a knob or cap or screw or the like, may be accessed from one of the openings to allow for an increase or decrease in tensional force to thereby adjust the resistance to bending of the articulating member. The openings can also provide access to remove the articulating member for cleaning or washing of the pillow body if required. Thus, the user can easily wash the cushion sleeve or internal segments of the pillow body if formed as such, and can optionally exchange the articulating member forming the spine for use in activities which require a more flexible or firm shape.

The cushion sleeve in this second preferred mode of the device may include means for articulating member securement including one or more means in a list including but not limited to: frictional engagement by compression of the axial cavity upon the articulating member, snaps, buttons, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, zippers or hooks. Various configurations of the cushion sleeve can optionally contain one or more means for pillow removal and replacement including but not limited to: snaps, buttons, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, zippers or hooks. In all modes of the device, the cushion sleeve, if employed to cover the body of the elongated pillow, can be composed of one or a combination of durable fabrics including but not limited to: canvas, cloth, felt, vinyl or leather.

Additionally, if the cushion partitions span the entire internal height of the cushion sleeve, the pillows can be formed by loosely filling the internal cavities formed therein.

The internal pillows can be alternatively constructed as modular members, and may be composed of one or more soft conforming materials including but not limited to: down, foam, rubber, cloth, air bags, rice or beads. For increased cleanliness, aesthetics or texture a fitted pillow case can be used to surround and protect the device.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The device herein described and disclosed in the various modes and combinations is also capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Any such alternative configuration as would occur to those skilled in the art is considered within the scope of this patent. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other powder and pill storage and dispensing products for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only nor exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed device. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of the pillow device showing it held in a user positioned configuration by an articulating member axially located within the body of the pillow.

FIG. 2 shows a sectioned perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, showing the axially positioned articulating member surrounded by a body of the pillow.

FIG. 3 displays a sectioned perspective view of the pillow device herein, showing at least one opening communicating with the axial cavity to allow for removal and replacement of the articulating member, or adjustment of tensional force to adjust the force required for bending.

FIG. 4 shows a mode of the device employing a plurality of member sections each having frictional pivoting engagements with adjacent member sections held in tensional connection by an elongated elastic member, where that tension may be adjusted at one end of the body of the pillow.

FIG. 4a is an enlarged view of the opening allowing tensional adjustment by the user through rotation of a cap engaged to a terminating end of the articulating member to increase or decrease tension and thus force required for bending.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to the drawings in FIGS. 1-4, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 the device 10 configured as an articulating body pillow which includes a pillow body 11 and articulating member 20 which is operatively positioned within an axial cavity 16 and running substantially the length of the axial cavity 16. The articulating member 20 is formed of components or a material such that it may be bent to a shape and will hold that shape until force is again applied to reshape it. This can be an articulating member 20 formed of polymeric or other malleable material, or formed of a plurality of pivotally engaged articulating segments 21 as shown in FIG. 4, or other structures as would occur to those skilled in the art. It is preferable that an adjustment be provided for the user to adjust the force required to bend the articulating member 20 to allow for an increase or decrease in resistive force.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 is preferably elongated and has a pillow body 11, which is shown as cylindrically shaped as a curved external circumference of the body 11 has shown to provide comfortable support to a user. However, as noted above, other shapes may be employed. The device 10 can be contorted in shape by the user at one or more positions along the articulating member 20. As the articulating member is located within the axial cavity 16, it is surrounded on all sides by the pillow body 11 which maintains cushion and support from all directions. As noted, experimentation with differing sizes has shown the device 10 preferably has a diameter between 2-24 inches, and a length 8 to 96 inches.

The device 10, shown in FIG. 2, has a cushion body 11 having an axial cavity 20 running substantially the entire length of the body 11. A covering cushion sleeve 12 may be provided to cover the body 11. The axial cavity 16 is sized to constrain the exterior surface of the articulating member 20.

The body 11 may be formed as a unitary structure for the entire length thereof and surround an axial cavity 16 for substantially that length. Alternatively, the body 11 may be formed of a plurality of pillow partitions 14 arranged in a radial orientation around the axial cavity 16. Where a plurality of partitions 14 is employed, a cushion sleeve 12 is engaged to surround the sleeves 12 along the length of the device 12 to constrain and hold in place, the plurality of elongated internal pillows 18. While shown as three internal pillows 18 with abutting sides, the plurality may be more or less. The abutting internal pillows 18 when held in place by the cushion sleeve 12, each have one surface which forms a portion of the axial cavity 16 as shown in FIG. 2.

As noted, the articulating member 20 can be composed of any columnar element which can be easily bent and molded by human hands and which will temporarily set maintain a semi-rigid curvature. Such a component may be composed of one or more articulating member components from a group including articulating segments, malleable rods, flexures, springs, friction hinges and bands. By the inclusion of the articulating member 20 axially positioned in the body 11, in all modes of the device 10, setting or modification the curvature of the pillow device 10 can be performed easily by grabbing and bending the body 11 of the pillow to thereby bend the articulating member 20 and thereby determine the shape and use of the body 11 of the device whether unitary in structure or formed of internal pillows 18 covered by a cushion sleeve 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3-4, an opening 24 may be positioned at one or both ends of the body 11 and if employed, the cushion sleeve 12. The opening 24 communicates and provides access to the axial cavity 16 which will allow for removal or replacement of the articulating member 20 such as when the device 10 is to be laundered, or when a new articulating member 20 is desired.

If a cushion sleeve 12 is employed to surround the body 11, with this opening 24 in one or both ends of the body 11, the cushion sleeve may have a closure. Compression of the body 11 against the exterior of the articulating member 20 by forming the axial cavity 16 of a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than a diameter of the articulating member 20, is a preferred means to hold the articulating member 20 within the axial cavity 16. However, the device 10 may also include means for articulating member 20 securement within the axial cavity 16 using a securement component from a group including one or a combination of snaps, buttons, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, zippers or hooks.

Closure configurations of the cushion sleeve 12, when employed, can optionally contain one or more closure fasteners from a group including snaps, buttons, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, zippers and hooks. In all modes of the device, the cushion sleeve 12 when employed, can be composed of one or a combination of durable fabrics from a group including woven and non woven fabrics, canvas, cloth, felt, vinyl and leather.

Where employed to form the body 11 of the device, pillow partitions 14 are formed to span the entire internal diameter of the cushion sleeve 12 from the axial cavity surface to the interior surface of the cushion sleeve 12. The individual internal pillow 18 formed within the internal cavity of each surrounding partitions 14, can be formed by loosely filling the internal cavities of each partition 14, or by forming elongated foam sections to fit within the internal cavity of each partition 14. The internal pillows 18 can be alternatively constructed as modular members, and may be composed of one or more soft conforming fill material positioned within the internal cavity of each partition including fill materials from a group including feathers, down, foam, rubber, cloth, air bags, rice, grain, or beads.

Depicted in FIG. 4, is an articulating member 20 formed of a plurality of frictionally engaged individual member segments 21 which provides for user adjustment of bending resistance of the articulating member 20. Each member segment 21 is pivotally engaged to adjacent segments 21 such that a plurality of joints is formed along the entire length of the articulating member 20. An elastic member 30 extends axially through each of the engaged member segments 21 from the last segment 21 in the string at both a first end 15 of the pillow 11 to a second end 17 of the pillow 11, and engages a terminating member segment 32 at each end of the articulating member 20.

The elastic member 30 may be formed of any elastic material such as a rubber or a polymeric band, such that when stretched and secured in an elongated configuration, it will impart compression to each of the member segments 32 and adjacent member segments 32, and frictionally inhibit pivoting thereof unless forced by the user in a manner to overcome the frictional engagement.

Shown in FIG. 4a is a mode of the device 10 herein providing for adjustability of the resistance to bending of the elongated articulating member 20. As shown, an adjustment screw 34 is threadably engaged 36 with the member segment 32 located at one terminating end of the articulating member 20. Rotation of the adjustment screw 34 in one direction will increase the tension on the engaged elastic member 30, and rotation in the opposite direction will decrease the tension. This will adjust the compressive frictional engagement of each of the member segments 32 in their pivoting engagement with adjacent member segments 32 and increase or decrease the force required to pivot any of those pivoting engagements based on the increase or decrease in compression from the elastic member 30. Such is particularly preferred in all modes of the device 10 to allow the user to adjust the force required to reposition the pillow to new configurations. Currently, a ball and socket 38 pivoting engagement between each of the member segments 32 is a favored mode of provision of the device 10 with an articulating member 20 formed of pivoting member segments.

As noted, any of the different configurations and components can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and steps in the method of production, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, or steps in formation of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

Further, the purpose of any abstract of this specification is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Any such abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. An articulating body pillow apparatus, comprising: a pillow body having a circumference and having a length running between a first end and a second end;said pillow having an axial cavity substantially the entire said length between said first end and said second end of said pillow body;an articulating member positioned within said axial cavity;said articulating member configurable to a user-determined shape by a bending thereof by said user;said articulating member configured to maintain each said shape until said articulating member is reformed by a subsequent said bending; andwhereby said pillow body is held in said user-determined shape by said bending of said articulating member.

2. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pillow body is formed in a unitary structure extending between said first end and said second end thereof.

3. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pillow body formed by a plurality of pillow partitions radially positioned to surround said axial cavity and held in place by a cushion sleeve.

4. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein said articulating member is formed of a malleable material.

5. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 2, wherein said articulating member is formed of a malleable material.

6. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 3, wherein said articulating member is formed of a malleable material.

7. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein said articulating member is formed of a plurality of adjacent member segments in a length extending from a first said member segment to a last said member segment, each said member segment being in a pivoting engagement with an adjacent said member segment.

8. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 2, wherein said articulating member is formed of a plurality of adjacent member segments in a length extending from a first said member segment to a last said member segment, each said member segment being in a pivoting engagement with an adjacent said member segment.

9. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 3, wherein said articulating member is formed of a plurality of adjacent member segments in a length extending from a first said member segment to a last said member segment, each said member segment being in a pivoting engagement with an adjacent said member segment.

10. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising: an elastic member communicating axially through said articulating member and running through each of said member segments; andone each of opposing ends of said elastic member respectively engaged at said first member segment and said last member segment.

11. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 8 additionally comprising: an elastic member communicating axially through said articulating member and running through each of said member segments; andone each of opposing ends of said elastic member respectively engaged at said first member segment and said last member segment.

12. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 9 additionally comprising: an elastic member communicating axially through said articulating member and running through each of said member segments; andone each of opposing ends of said elastic member respectively engaged at said first member segment and said last member segment.

13. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 10 wherein said engagement of said end of said elastic member at said first member segment being an engagement to a cap, threadably engaged on said first member segment; rotation of said cap in a first direction increasing a compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member; androtation of said cap in a second direction opposite said first direction decreasing said compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member.

14. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 11 wherein said engagement of said end of said elastic member at said first member segment being an engagement to a cap, threadably engaged on said first member segment; rotation of said cap in a first direction increasing a compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member; androtation of said cap in a second direction opposite said first direction decreasing said compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member.

15. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 12 wherein said engagement of said end of said elastic member at said first member segment being an engagement to a cap, threadably engaged on said first member segment; rotation of said cap in a first direction increasing a compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member; androtation of said cap in a second direction opposite said first direction decreasing said compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member.