COMBINATION PILLOW AND CLOTHING ARTICLE

Abstract

A combination pillow and clothing article is configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The combination pillow and clothing article includes a first pillow portion, a second pillow portion, and a jumpsuit. The first pillow portion includes a cavity. The second pillow portion is detachably coupled to the first pillow portion. The jumpsuit is coupled to each of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion. In the first configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are coupled together. The jumpsuit is positioned at least partially within the cavity of the first pillow portion. In the second configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are detached from each other and spaced apart. At least a portion of the jumpsuit extends between the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion.

Description

FIELD

The present invention relates to a convertible pillow, and more particularly to a pillow that converts to a clothing article.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a combination pillow and clothing article is configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The combination pillow and clothing article includes a first pillow portion, a second pillow portion, and a jumpsuit. The first pillow portion includes a cavity. The second pillow portion is detachably coupled to the first pillow portion. The jumpsuit is coupled to each of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion. In the first configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are coupled together. The jumpsuit is positioned at least partially within the cavity of the first pillow portion. In the second configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are detached from each other and spaced apart. At least a portion of the jumpsuit extends between the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion.

In another aspect, a combination pillow and clothing article is configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The combination pillow and clothing article includes a first pillow portion, a second pillow portion, a shirt portion, and pants portion. The first pillow portion includes a cavity. The second pillow portion is detachably coupled to the first pillow portion. The shirt portion is coupled to the first pillow portion. The pants portion are coupled to the second pillow portion. In the first configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are coupled together. The shirt portion is positioned at least partially within the cavity of the first pillow portion. In the second configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are detached from each other and spaced apart. The shirt portion and pants portion are deployed and able to be worn by a user.

In another aspect, a combination pillow and clothing article is configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The combination pillow and clothing article includes a first pillow portion, a second pillow portion, and a jumpsuit. The first pillow portion includes a cavity. The second pillow portion is detachably coupled to the first pillow portion. The jumpsuit is coupled to each of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion. The jumpsuit includes a shirt portion and a pants portion. The pants portion is coupled to the shirt portion. In the first configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are coupled together, and the jumpsuit is positioned at least partially within the cavity of the first pillow portion. In the second configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are detached from each other and spaced apart such that at least a portion of the jumpsuit extends between the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion, the first pillow portion is configured to function as a hood, and the second pillow portion is coupled to a seat of the pants portion of the jumpsuit.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of an example combination pillow and clothing article in a first configuration.

FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of the example combination pillow and clothing article of FIG. 1 in the first configuration.

FIG. 3 depicts a front view of the example combination pillow and clothing article of FIG. 1 in a second configuration.

FIG. 4 depicts a rear view of the example combination pillow and clothing article of FIG. 1 in the second configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any independent embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

An example combination pillow and clothing article 10 that is transformable between a first configuration and a second configuration is described herein. FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the combination pillow and clothing article 10 in the first configuration 14, which is a pillow in this example embodiment. The pillow is formed by a first pillow portion 18 and a second pillow portion 22. In the first configuration, the first and second pillow portions 18, 22 cooperate to form a pillow having a generally continuous outer periphery. As illustrated, the continuous outer periphery of the pillow in the first configuration 14 forms a generally circularly-shaped pillow. Each of the first and second pillow portions 18, 22 are approximately the same size and shape in the first configuration 14. Alternatively, the first and second pillow portions 18, 22 may be different sizes. For example, the first pillow portion 18 may be significantly smaller or larger than (i.e., half the size of, twice the size of) the second pillow portion 22. In the illustrated example, each of the first and second pillow portions 18, 22 is generally semi-circular in shape. Alternatively, the first and second pillow portions 18, 22 may each be a different shape, such as a square, a rectangle, a triangle, etc.

With reference to FIG. 2, at least one of the first pillow portion 18 and the second pillow portion 22 includes a cavity. In the illustrated embodiment, the first pillow portion 18 includes a first cavity 26 and the second pillow portion includes a second cavity 30. Though not visible from the exterior of the pillow and clothing article 10 in the first configuration 14, the first and second cavities 26, 30 are illustrated in FIG. 2 with dashed lines, illustrating an inner lining of the respective pillow portion 18, 22 that define the respective cavity 26, 30. The clothing article of the combination pillow and clothing article 10 is positioned at least partially within one or both of the cavities 26, 30 when the combination pillow and clothing article 10 is in the first configuration 14. When the clothing article of the combination pillow and clothing article 10 is positioned in one or both of the cavities 26, 30, the clothing article acts as a filling material for one or both of the first pillow portion 18 and the second pillow portion 22.

When in the first configuration 14, the combination pillow and clothing article 10 depicts a character image formed by the coupled first and second pillow portions 18, 22. The character image may be a tiger, as depicted, or may be another character image. Other examples of character images include movie or television characters, animated characters, animals, humans, inanimate objects, fantasy creatures or objects, or other articles, whether real or imagined (hereinafter collectively referred to as a character image). Different character images may include but are not limited to: a ladybug, a polar bear, a dog, a wolf, a bear, a cow, a cat, a mouse, a monkey, a frog, a unicorn, a horse, a dragon, a lizard, a giraffe, an elephant, a hippopotamus, a hedgehog, a turtle, a panda, or a rabbit. The pillow may include a number of appendages 34 attached to the first pillow portion 18 and/or the second pillow portion 22 that correspond to and further add to the likeness of the character image. Appendages 34 may include paws, ears, noses, antennae, horns, tails, hair, fur, wings, etc., which correspond to the character image formed by the first and second pillow portions 18, 22. Additionally, other character image features (e.g., eyes, a nose, a mouth, etc.) may be provided on the fabric of the first and second pillow portions 18, 22 to further convey attributes of the character image.

The second pillow portion 22 is detachably coupled to the first pillow portion 18. Fasteners 38 may be used to couple the first pillow portion 18 to the second pillow portion 22. In some examples, one or more of the fasteners 38 is coupled to the pillow portion 18, 22 at or adjacent to an appendage 34 (e.g., a paw) of the character figure. In other embodiments, the fasteners 38 may be located elsewhere, such as on an inner or outer surface of each of the first and second pillow portions 18, 22. In the illustrated embodiment, for instance, the fasteners 38 are located on an exterior surface of the second pillow portion 22 (shown in FIG. 4—only two fasteners 38 shown on the exterior rear surface of the second pillow portion 22) and an interior surface of the first pillow portion 18 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). In FIG. 1, illustrated fasteners 38 represent the pair of fasteners 38 located in the first cavity 26 of the first pillow portion 18 and the corresponding pair of fasteners 38 located on the exterior front surface of the second pillow portion 22 fastened together. Some embodiments may further include at least some of the fasteners 38 located on an exterior rear surface of the first pillow portion 18 (shown in FIG. 4). The fasteners 38 may be aligned such that, when coupled together, an end 42 of the first pillow portion 18 abuts and/or overlaps an end 46 of the second pillow portion 22. The fasteners 38 may be snaps, as shown, or may be any other suitable fastener, including but not limited to buttons, hook and loop material, hooks, ties, etc. The illustrated snaps 38 may include magnetic snaps that have a magnetic attraction between the mating snap halves to facilitate interconnection of the snaps 38.

To convert the combination pillow and clothing article 10 from the first configuration 14 to the second configuration 50, the fasteners 38 are disconnected and a clothing article portion 54 is removed from one or both of the cavities 26, 30 by moving the first pillow portion 18 away from the second pillow portion 22 until the clothing article portion 54 is fully extended between the two pillow portions 18, 22. To transform the combination pillow and clothing article 10 from the second configuration 50 to the first configuration 14, the clothing article portion 54 is gathered and placed within one or both of the cavities 26, 30. The fasteners 38 are then connected to attach the second pillow portion 22 to the first pillow portion 18.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the combination pillow and clothing article 10 in the second configuration 50, which is illustrated in the exemplary embodiment as a jumpsuit (having a shirt portion 58 and a pants portion 62 integrally attached to each other) with an attached hood (e.g., first pillow portion 18 acts as a hood for the user's head when the user is wearing the clothing article portion 54). As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “jumpsuit” includes, among other articles of clothing, costumes, sleepwear, leisurewear, or the like. The shirt portion 58 is sized and configured to cover at least portions of a user's torso, and can also cover at least portions of the user's arms (e.g., sleeves—which could be long or short sleeves). The pants portion 62 is sized and configured to cover at least a portion of a user's legs (e.g., could be regular-length pants, capri pants, or shorts). In some embodiments, the pants portion 62 could include integrated feet/socks/foot coverings as well. In some embodiments, the clothing article portion 54 may instead include a shirt portion 58 and a pants portion 62 that are separate from each other or that may be removably coupled to each other. In some embodiments having a shirt portion 58 and a pants portion 62 that are separate, the shirt portion 58 may be pulled from the first cavity 26 and the pants portion 62 may be separately pulled from the second cavity 30 in order to convert the combination pillow and clothing article 10 from the first configuration 14 to the second configuration 50. When the combination pillow and clothing article 10 is in the second configuration 50, the first and second pillow portions 18, 22 are detached from one another and spaced apart such that at least a part of the clothing article portion 54 extends between the first and second pillow portions 18, 22.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second pillow portion 22 is coupled to a back-side or seat 66 of the jumpsuit (or to a back-side or seat of a pair of pants in other embodiments). In some embodiments, the second pillow portion 22 may function as an integrated seating pad coupled directly to the seat 66 of the pants portion 62. In such embodiments, the second pillow portion 22 may optionally further include at least a section of the second pillow portion 22 filled with one or more of a foam, a fiber stuffing, or beans, or any other suitable filling for a pillow. In some embodiments, the second pillow portion 22 may be shaped and/or sized such that it resembles a tail or other appendage 34 of the user as part of a costume. The second pillow portion 22 may be connected to the pants portion 62 such that an unattached section of the second pillow portion 22 forms an opening to the second cavity 30. As illustrated in FIG. 4, this unattached section of the second pillow portion 22 forming the opening to the second cavity is positioned between the attached section of the second pillow portion 22 and the pants portion 62 so that the opening is hidden from view when the combination pillow and clothing article 10 is in the second configuration 50. This configuration may allow for ease of placement and removal of the pants portion 62 when converting between configurations 14, 50. In some embodiments, however, the second pillow portion 22 may be connected to the pants portion 62 about an entire periphery of the end 46 of the second pillow portion 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first pillow portion 18 is connected to the shirt portion 58 of the clothing article portion 54 such that the first pillow portion 18 forms a hood that a user may (or may not) wear on his or her head. In some embodiments, an unattached section of the first pillow portion 18 forms an opening 70 to the first cavity 26 of the first pillow portion 18, thereby creating the hood. The first cavity 26, therefore, communicates with an interior of the shirt portion 58.

Also shown in FIG. 3, the clothing article portion 54 may further include one or more fasteners 74, such as the illustrated zipper, to allow a user to put on and take off the clothing article portion 54. The fasteners 74 may be located on one or both of the shirt portion 58 and the pants portion 62. In some embodiments, one type of fastener 74 is located on the shirt portion 58 while another type of fastener is located on the pants portion 62. Fasteners 74 may include zippers, snaps, buttons, hook-and-loop segments, ties, and the like. Other features may be included on one or both of the shirt portion 58 and pants portion 62, including pockets, appendages, pass-through holes (to reach pockets of pants worn under the clothing article portion 54, for instance), or the like.

The combination pillow and clothing article 10 provides a multi-functional item. In the first configuration 14, the pillow can be used to rest a user's head and also provides a soft pillow with a character image that resembles a plush toy or animal. In the second configuration 50, the clothing article portion 54 and first pillow portion 18 together define an article of clothing having a hood the user can wear as a costume, sleepwear, leisurewear, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, both of the pillow portions 18, 22 and the clothing article portion 54 are representative of the same character image, such that a common or consistent theme is evident between both of the first and second configurations 14, 50. More specifically, as illustrated, the clothing article portion 54 is colored and striped to represent a tiger, consistent with the features and markings on the first and second pillow portions 18, 22. The one or more cavities 26, 30 provide the storage for the clothing article portion 54 when the combination pillow and clothing article 10 is in the first configuration 14. This can eliminate the need for the user requiring a separate/additional carrying container for the combination pillow and clothing article 10 when the clothing article portion 54 is not being worn by the user.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.

Claims

1. A combination pillow and clothing article configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the combination pillow and clothing article comprising: a first pillow portion having a cavity;a second pillow portion detachably coupled to the first pillow portion;a jumpsuit coupled to each of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion;wherein, in the first configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are coupled together, and the jumpsuit is positioned at least partially within the cavity of the first pillow portion; andwherein, in the second configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are detached from each other and spaced apart such that at least a portion of the jumpsuit extends between the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion.

2. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, wherein the cavity is a first cavity,the second pillow portion includes a second cavity, andin the first configuration, the jumpsuit is positioned at least partially within the first cavity and at least partially within the second cavity.

3. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener, wherein the at least one fastener detachably couples the second pillow portion to the first pillow portion.

4. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, wherein the jumpsuit includes a zipper.

5. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, wherein, in the first configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion cooperate to form a pillow having a generally continuous outer periphery.

6. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, wherein a character image is formed by the coupled first pillow portion and second pillow portion when the combination pillow and clothing article is in the first configuration.

7. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 6, further comprising appendages attached to each of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion, the appendages corresponding to the character image.

8. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, wherein the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are approximately the same size and shape.

9. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 8, wherein each of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion is generally semi-circular in shape.

10. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, wherein the second pillow portion is coupled to a seat of the jumpsuit.

11. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, wherein, in the second configuration, the first pillow portion is configured to function as a hood.

12. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 1, wherein the jumpsuit includes a shirt portion and a pants portion.

13. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 12, wherein the shirt portion is coupled to the first pillow portion.

14. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 12, wherein the pants portion is coupled to the second pillow portion.

15. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 12, wherein the shirt portion includes sleeves.

16. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 12, wherein the pants portion includes pant legs.

17. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 12, wherein the shirt portion is integrated as one piece with the pants portion.

18. A combination pillow and clothing article configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the combination pillow and clothing article comprising: a first pillow portion having a cavity;a second pillow portion detachably coupled to the first pillow portion;a shirt portion coupled to the first pillow portion;pants portion coupled to the second pillow portion;wherein, in the first configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are coupled together, and the shirt portion is positioned at least partially within the cavity of the first pillow portion; andwherein, in the second configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are detached from each other and spaced apart such that the shirt portion and pants portion are deployed and able to be worn.

19. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 18, wherein, in the second configuration, the first pillow portion is configured to function as a hood

20. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 18, wherein, in the first configuration, the pants portion are positioned at least partially within the cavity of the first pillow portion.

21. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 18, wherein the shirt portion and the pants portion are coupled to each other.

22. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 18, wherein the cavity is a first cavity, andthe second pillow portion includes a second cavity.

23. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 22, wherein, in the first configuration, the shirt portion is positioned at least partially within the first cavity and at least partially within the second cavity.

24. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 23, wherein, in the first configuration, the pants portion is positioned at least partially within the first cavity and at least partially within the second cavity.

25. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 23, wherein, in the first configuration, the shirt portion is positioned at least partially within the first cavity and the pants portion is positioned at least partially within the second cavity.

26. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 18, further comprising at least one fastener, wherein the at least one fastener detachably couples the second pillow portion to the first pillow portion.

27. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 18, wherein a character image is formed by the coupled first pillow portion and second pillow portion when the combination pillow and clothing article is in the first configuration.

28. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 18, wherein the second pillow portion is coupled to a seat of the pants portion.

29. The combination pillow and clothing article of claim 18, wherein the shirt portion is integrated as one piece with the pants portion.

30. A combination pillow and clothing article configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the combination pillow and clothing article comprising: a first pillow portion having a cavity;a second pillow portion detachably coupled to the first pillow portion;a jumpsuit coupled to each of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion, the jumpsuit including a shirt portion and a pants portion coupled to the shirt portion;wherein, in the first configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are coupled together, and the jumpsuit is positioned at least partially within the cavity of the first pillow portion; andwherein, in the second configuration, the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion are detached from each other and spaced apart such that at least a portion of the jumpsuit extends between the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion, the first pillow portion is configured to function as a hood, and the second pillow portion is coupled to a seat of the pants portion of the jumpsuit.