Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an aesthetically appealing character or animal shaped pillow system and apparatus having appendages, including but not limited to arms and legs, which may be used alone, or in combination with a slumber bag and/or quilt.
Ordinary pillows consist of a filling placed in a casing that provides both comfort and support to the body, arms or head of a person or an animal. In addition, aesthetically pleasing pillows may also serve as decoration to a room or house. A slumber bag is essentially a covering for a person that functions as bedding means. Specifically, a slumber bag, also interchangeably referred to as a sleeping bag, is an insulated, usually zippered, bag for sleeping and may be used both indoors and outdoors. A traditional slumber bag comprises a lightweight quilt that may be padded and/or insulated and is large enough to surround the whole body keeping the user warm while sleeping and may be used as a substitute for bedclothes. Slumber bags traditionally provide portable bedding options to people. A typical slumber bag is a square or rectangular quilt with a zipper for opening and closing.
Pillows and pillows with combined sleeping bags are known. Sleeping bags and/or pillows resembling various fictional characters and/or animals are also available. However, there is a need for a character pillow system and apparatus and pillow-sleeping bag system having a character pillow having a plurality of appendages and an aesthetically matching slumber bag that when combined, can be displayed vertically.
The present invention relates to a character pillow system and apparatus. In one embodiment, there is provided a slumber bag set comprising a detachable elongated or rectangular character pillow resembling a fantasy, pet or animal character, with the elongated or rectangular character pillow having a plurality of appendages that represent the arms and/or legs of the fantasy, pet or animal character. The slumber bag set further comprises a detachable quilt or sleeping bag that aesthetically matches the elongated or rectangular character pillow in terms of the fantasy, pet or animal character and overall design. The elongated or rectangular character pillow is configured to be used as a standalone standard arm pillow or as a seat. The quilt or the sleeping bag in a foldable configuration enables the slumber bag set to be displayed vertically for commercial sale and ease of visibility. The elongated or rectangular character pillow may also be used as a cuddle pillow.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise an elongated character pillow that has the form of any fantasy, pet or animal character with the elongated character pillow having a plurality of appendages that represent the arms and/or legs of the fantasy, pet or animal character and is aesthetically pleasing. The elongated character pillow may be used in place of a standard arm pillow where the arms of the elongated character pillow represent the arms, legs, and/or appendages of the fantasy, pet or animal character. The elongated character pillow may also be used as a seat.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise an elongated or rectangular character pillow representative of a fantasy character, a pet character or an animal character, and a sleeping bag aesthetically matching the elongated or rectangular character pillow in terms of the fantasy character, the pet character or the animal character. The pillow includes a plurality of appendages that are at least one of arms and legs of the fantasy character, the pet character or the animal character. The sleeping bag is detachably connected to the elongated or rectangular character pillow. The elongated or rectangular character pillow is further configured to be used as a standard arm pillow or as a seat, and the sleeping bag in a foldable configuration enables the slumber bag set to be displayed vertically.
Embodiments of the present invention further comprise an elongated character pillow including a head portion having indicia representing a fantasy character, a pet character or an animal character, and a body portion having indicia representing the fantasy character, the pet character or the animal character. The body portion further includes a plurality of appendages that are at least one of arms and legs of the fantasy character, the pet character or the animal character; wherein the elongated character pillow is configured to be used as a standard arm pillow or as a seat.
Yet other embodiments of the present invention comprise a rectangular character pillow including a head portion having indicia representing a fantasy character, a pet character or an animal character, and a body portion having indicia representing a fantasy character, a pet character or an animal character. The head portion includes a plurality of appendages that are at least one of arms and legs of the fantasy character, the pet character or the animal character. The rectangular character pillow is configured to be used as a standard arm pillow or as a seat.
Other embodiments of the present invention comprise a rectangular character pillow that has the form of any fantasy, pet or animal character with the rectangular character pillow having a plurality of appendages that represent the arms and/or legs of the fantasy, pet or animal character and is aesthetically pleasing. The rectangular character pillow may be used in place of a standard arm pillow where the arms of the rectangular cuddle pillow represent the arms, legs, and/or of the fantasy, pet or animal character. The rectangular character pillow may also be used as a seat.
The related drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention wherein:
Embodiments of the present invention provide aesthetically pleasing character pillows in the form of characters familiar to children.
Embodiments of the present invention provide an elongated character pillow 200 as shown in
The character pillow and elongated character pillows, 100 and 200 respectively, may include an internal filler that may be made from foam, synthetic fibers, feathers, down, viscoelastic foam, wool, polyester staple fiber, cotton, plastic tubes, Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC) pellets, expanded polystyrene, dried beans, expanded polypropylene, or a combination thereof. The filler is placed in a cover made of wool, silk, cotton or cotton-linen blends and/or synthetic materials. The cover may include any indicia pertaining to the fantasy, the animal or the pet character the character and elongated character pillows 100 and 200 represent. The cover with filler may be placed in an outer cover having a slit, a zipper or a Velcro® opening through which the cover encasing the filler may be placed. The outer cover may include any indicia representative of any fantasy, animal or pet character. The dimensions and shapes of the cover encasing the filler and the outer cover are customized to the shapes of character and elongated character pillows 100 and 200. Embodiments of the character and elongated character pillows 100 and 200 may include embedded electronics functioning as an audio output that may play sounds, voices, and/or music pertaining to the character represented by the character and elongated character pillows 100 and 200. The character and elongated character pillows 100 and 200 may comprise of a trigger or a switch mechanism that enables the playing of audio. Playing of audio may also be triggered by voice activation, pressure-sensitive buttons placed on the character and elongated character pillows 100 and 200, detection of motion, etc. The trigger is by no means limited to the aforementioned examples and may comprise other mechanisms as well.
As shown in
The detachable pillow apparatus 301 shown in
Other embodiments of the present invention, as shown in
Embodiments of the slumber bag system 300 may include the detachable pillow apparatus 301 having embedded electronics. The embedded electronics may function as an audio output that may play sounds, voices music pertaining to the character represented by the slumber bag system 300. The detachable pillow apparatus 301 may comprise a trigger mechanism that enables the playing of audio. Playing of audio may be triggered by voice activation, pressure-sensitive buttons placed on the slumber bag system 300, detection of motion, etc. The trigger is by no means limited to the aforementioned examples.
Embodiments of the present invention may also include a baby monitor. The baby monitor includes a transmitter embedded in the slumber bag set 300 that sends signals from the slumber bag system 300 to a remote receiver so as to alert the parents or guardians of any activity by the child. Other embodiments of the present invention may also include a thermometer.
The quilt or sleeping bag 308 may be folded and stuffed into a pouch along with the detachable pillow apparatus 301. Other embodiments include the quilt or sleeping bag 308 extending from a slit or an opening in the detachable pillow apparatus 301. The quilt or sleeping bag 308 may be folded and stuffed into the detachable pillow apparatus 301 with the slit being closed by a zipper, snaps, Velcro®, buttons or other suitable closure methods. Further, the detachable pillow apparatus 301 may have additional straps that enable the carrying of the pillow as a backpack. Additional embodiments may include the slumber bag system 300 being placed in an external backpack showcasing the same character theme or in a gunny sack facilitating portability. Other embodiments may include the quilt or sleeping bag 308 being simply folded at the back of the detachable pillow apparatus 301. The quilt or sleeping bag 308 may then be kept in the folded position by attaching Velcro® or equivalent straps across the folds and to the detachable pillow apparatus 301. The slumber bag system 300 when unused and in a folded position may be placed vertically with the support of the appendages 306 or the base of the body 304, and may function as a decorative piece. Further, the slumber bag system 300 may be displayed in a vertical position for efficient storage, display and appeal to a potential customer. In some embodiments, the detachable pillow apparatus 301 may be an independent article sold separate from the slumber bag system 300.
For example, in
In some embodiments, the arms 404, the legs 406, the cape 408, the dress 410 and the ears 412 are detachable parts that may be attached to the pillow 301 by zippers, snaps, Velcro® straps, lace straps or by button straps. In other embodiments, the arms 404, the legs 406, the cape 408, the dress 410 and the ears 412 may be fixedly attached to the pillow 402. The arms 404, the legs 406, the cape 408, the dress 410 and the ears 412 include indicia representative of a fantasy character, a pet character or an animal character. In some embodiments, the detachable parts may include a cowl, hair, a tail, eyes, a nose, armor and the like. The detachable parts may include any article representative of the fantasy character, the pet character or the animal character.
The rectangular character pillow 402 consists of an internal filler similar to that of pillows 100, 200 and 301, discussed hereinabove. Additionally, the rectangular character pillow 402 may be attached to a quilt or sleeping bag that also consists of an internal filler to provide cushioning. The internal filler may be made from foam, synthetic fibers, feathers, down, viscoelastic foam, wool, polyester staple fiber, cotton, plastic tubes, Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC) pellets, expanded polystyrene, dried beans, expanded polypropylene, or a combination thereof.
The filler is placed in a cover made of wool, silk, cotton or cotton-linen blends. The cover may include any indicia pertaining to the fantasy, the animal or the pet character the rectangular character pillow 402 represents. The cover with filler may be placed in an outer cover having a slit, a zipper or a Velcro® opening through which the cover encasing the filler may be placed. The outer cover may include any indicia representative of any fantasy, animal or pet character. The dimensions and shapes of the cover encasing the filler and the outer cover are customized to the shape of the rectangular character pillow 402.
In some embodiments, some detachable parts such as arms 404, legs 406 and ears 412 may also be filled with an internal filler. The internal filler may be made from foam, synthetic fibers, feathers, down, viscoelastic foam, wool, polyester staple fiber, cotton, plastic tubes, Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC) pellets, expanded polystyrene, dried beans, expanded polypropylene, or a combination thereof.
In some embodiments, the rectangular character pillows 500, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512 and 514 may include embedded electronics that may play audio specific to the character represented on activation by a trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism may include voice activation, pressure-sensitive buttons placed on the rectangular character pillows 500, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512 and 514, detection of motion, etc. The trigger is by no means limited to the aforementioned examples. Additionally, the rectangular character pillows may include a battery compartment at the back to house batteries for the audio and trigger mechanism to function.
Young children may learn organization by matching the rectangular or elongated character pillow to a corresponding sleeping bag of the same slumber bag system. For example, two or more of the slumber bag system 602, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616 and 618 may be used to teach organization to young children. Each of the rectangular or elongated character pillows may have a plurality of appendages that represent the arms and/or legs of a fantasy, pet or animal character. Other embodiments may include rectangular or elongated character pillows supported by appendages, such as legs that are the legs of the corresponding character being represented. Some of the rectangular or elongated character pillows may also have arms that are the arms of the character being represented.
The rectangular or elongated character pillows may feature different aspects of the character by modifying the facial expressions of the represented character. Different aspects of the character may be represented by different pillow covers. The rectangular or elongated character pillow may display a new aspect of the character by changing the covers as per preference of a user. Additional features, such as hair, ribbons, ears, capes, detachable clothing, and decorative elements specific to the character may be added to the pillow based on the character being represented. Features, such as hair, may require additional material, such as feathers or synthetic fibers, to be added to the outer covering of the rectangular or elongated character pillows of slumber bag sets 600.
Further, the sleeping bags 602B, 604B, 604C, 606B, 608B, 610B, 612B, 614B, 616B and 618B include various features pertaining to the character represented, such as embossed tag lines, three dimensional figures and other ornamental features. Embedded electronics may also be added to the pillow, quilt or sleeping bag of the slumber bag systems 602, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616 and 618. The embedded electronics may play audio specific to the character represented by the use of a trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism may include voice activation, pressure-sensitive buttons placed on the rectangular or elongated character pillows, quilts or sleeping bags of the slumber bag sets 602, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616 and 618, detection of motion, etc. The trigger is by no means limited to the aforementioned examples. Additionally, the rectangular or elongated character pillow may include a battery compartment at the back to house batteries for the audio and trigger mechanism to function. In other embodiments, the rectangular or elongated character pillow or quilt or sleeping bag may have earphones connected to the embedded electronics and audio is transmitted through these earphones.
Each of the rectangular or elongated character pillows 602A, 604A, 606A, 608A, 610A, 612A, 614A, 616A and 618A further consist of an internal filler that may be made from foam, synthetic fibers, feathers, down, viscoelastic foam, wool, polyester staple fiber, cotton, plastic tubes, Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC) pellets, expanded polystyrene, dried beans, expanded polypropylene, or a combination thereof. The filler is placed in a cover made of wool, silk, cotton or cotton-linen blends. The cover may include any indicia pertaining to the fantasy, the animal or the pet character of the rectangular or elongated character pillows 602A, 604A, 606A, 608A, 610A, 612A, 614A, 616A and 618A represent. The cover with filler may be placed in an outer cover having a slit, a zipper or a Velcro® opening through which the cover encasing the filler may be placed. The outer cover may include any indicia representative of any fantasy, animal or pet character. The dimensions and shapes of the cover encasing the filler and the outer cover are customized to the shapes of 602A, 604A, 606A, 608A, 610A, 612A, 614A, 616A and 618A.
Each of the sleeping bags 602B, 604B, 604C, 606B, 608B, 610B, 612B, 614B, 616B and 618B may be folded and stuffed into a pouch along with the each of the corresponding rectangular or elongated character pillows 602A, 604A, 606A, 608A, 610A, 612A, 614A, 616A and 618A. In some embodiments, each of the sleeping bag 602B, 604B, 604C, 606B, 608B, 610B, 612B, 614B, 616B and 618B may extend from a slit or an opening in each of the corresponding rectangular or elongated character pillows 602A, 604A, 606A, 608A, 610A, 612A, 614A, 616A and 618A. The quilt or sleeping bag may be folded and stuffed into the corresponding rectangular or elongated character pillow with the slit being closed by a zipper, snaps, Velcro®, buttons or other suitable closure methods. Further, each of the pillows 602A, 604A, 606A, 608A, 610A, 612A, 614A, 616A and 618A may have additional straps that enable the carrying of the rectangular or elongated character pillow as a backpack.
Additional embodiments may include the slumber bag systems 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616 and 618 being placed in an external backpack showcasing the same character theme or in a gunny sack facilitating portability. Each of the sleeping bags 602B, 604B, 604C, 606B, 608B, 610B, 612B, 614B, 616B and 618B may then be kept in the folded position by attaching a Velcro® or equivalent strap across the folds and to each of the corresponding rectangular or elongated character pillows 602A, 604A, 606A, 608A, 610A, 612A, 614A, 616A and 618A. The slumber bag sets 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616 and 618 when unused and in a folded position may be placed vertically with the support of detachable appendages or the base of the corresponding rectangular or elongated character pillow in the absence of any appendage, and may function as a decorative piece. Further, the slumber bag systems 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616 and 618 may be displayed in a vertical position for efficient storage, display and appeal to a potential customer.
The article presented as part of the present invention is not exclusive to the description above. Other related embodiments may be derived in accordance with the principles of the present invention described above. Changes within the scope of current invention may be implemented by people skilled in the art.
The exemplary embodiments of this present invention have been described in relation to pillows, sleeping bags and a combination thereof. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention, the preceding description omits a number of known structures and devices. This omission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention. Specific details are set forth by use of the embodiments to provide an understanding of the present invention. It should however be appreciated the present invention may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific embodiments set forth herein.
A number of variations and modifications of the present invention can be used. It would be possible to provide for some features of the present invention without providing others.
The present invention, in various embodiments, configurations, and aspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present invention after understanding the present disclosure. The present invention, in various embodiments, configurations, and aspects, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments, configurations, or aspects hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and/or reducing cost of implementation.
The foregoing discussion of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the present invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the present invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspects may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention the present invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect.
Moreover, though the description of the present invention has included the description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the present invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights that include alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/332,614, filed May 6, 2016, entitled “CHARACTER PILLOW,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62332614 | May 2016 | US |