This invention relates generally to the field of pillows, and in particular to pillows that may be used to support various items. More specifically, the invention relates to pillows that may rest on a user's lap to help support the items.
Pillows have a wide variety of uses. For example, pillows are used almost universally when sleeping to support the head. Pillows may also be used to support other things as well. One example of such a pillow is the Boppy® support pillow, commercially available from The Boppy Company. Examples of such pillows are also described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,261,134 and 5,661,861, the complete disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. One use for these pillows is to use the open well to support a baby or to be placed around a user.
This invention relates to other pillows having a wide variety of uses. These pillows are described more fully hereinafter.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a pillow that comprises a pillow body having a midsection and a pair of ends. The pillow body is curved and has an average radius of curvature that is in the range from about 6 inches to about 16 inches. The pillow also has a length in the range from about 21 inches to about 42 inches. The pillow body is firm enough to support items while being sufficiently flexible to allow the pillow to be shaped around an object, such as the waist or stomach of a user.
The pillow may be used by placing the pillow on a user's lap. In so doing, the midsection may rest on the user's legs while being adjacent to the user's stomach. The curved pillow body permits the pillow to wrap about the user so that the ends are adjacent the user's sides. The radius of curvature is selected so that the pillow may conform to a wide variety of users of different sizes. By selecting an appropriate radius of curvature, the ends are spaced sufficiently far apart so that the pillow can fit around the user while also closely conforming to the user.
The pillow body may be constructed in a variety of says. For example, the pillow body may comprise a fill material that is encased in a fabric cover. As another example, the pillow body may comprise an inflatable bladder. In one aspect, the pillow may also have a removable slip cover. The slip cover may have an opening to permit it to be placed over the pillow. A fastener, such as a zipper, may be used to close the opening.
In one aspect, the midsection of the pillow body may have an average width that is in the range from about 5 inches to about 10 inches, and an average height in the range from about 4 inches to about 9 inches. The ends may be rounded and may have an average width in the range from about 3 inches to about 10 inches and an average height in the range from about 1 inch to about 9 inches. The ends may also be spaced apart by a distance in the range from about 14 inches to about 28 inches.
One advantage of the pillow is that the ends may be manipulated so that they fit between the arms of a chair and the user's sides. In this way, the pillow may conveniently be used when sitting in a chair.
The pillow may also be used to support a variety of items. For example, the pillow may be used to hold a baby, such as when nursing or bottle feeding the baby, or simply to help hold the baby. Other examples include the holding of books, food, crafts and the like.
In some embodiments, a padded attachment member may be removably attached to the pillow to adjust the vertical height of the pillow. For example, the attachment member may be attached to the bottom side of the pillow and rest on a user's lap to elevate the top side of the pillow. Alternatively, the attachment member may be attached to the top side of the pillow. In this way, the same pillow may be adapted to people of different sizes or for different applications, such as when nursing a baby that rests on the pillow and/or the attachment member.
The attachment member may be attached to only a portion of the pillow body or to the entire pillow. For example, the attachment member may be attached to only one end or arm to slant or angle the pillow on a user's lap. In some cases, the attachment member may have a shape that is similar to some or all of the pillow, or in some cases, the entire pillow, such as one of the arms. Also, the attachment member could be folded over on itself to enable it to rest against all or only half of the pillow. In some cases, the attachment member may have a height in the range from about 1 inch to about 5 inches to adjust the height of the pillow. This height may be uniform over the length of the attachment member or may vary across the length.
A variety of coupling arrangements may be used to couple the attachment member to the pillow. For example, the coupling arrangement could be part of the attachment member and be configured to wrap around the pillow and attach to itself. As another option, the coupling arrangement could be part of the attachment member and the pillow. For instance, the attachment member may have one connector while the pillow has a mating connector. Such connectors could include snaps, buttons, loops, ties, clips and the like.
a is a cross sectional side view of the pillow of
b is a more detailed view of the pillow of
In one aspect, the pillows of the invention comprise a pillow body that is gently curved. The amount of curvature is selected so that the ends of the pillow are spaced enough apart to permit the pillow to be placed around individuals having a variety of sizes. The amount of curvature may be defined in terms of an “average” radius of curvature. This dimension represents the radius that is generated if an arc is drawn between a center point of the pillow body and the two ends. Because the pillow may not be fashioned according to a true geometric arc, the term “average” is used to indicate it is merely an approximation. Hence, the pillow bodies may be curved according to a true arc or other type of geometric curvature. Further, the pillow bodies may have a wide variety of shapes and other design features including rounded or curved edges or ends, tapered sides or ends, patterned edges, sloping or curved sections and the like.
Referring now to
It will be appreciated that various other techniques may be used to construct pillow Merely by way of example, pillow 10 may be constructed using techniques similar to those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,261,134; 5,661,861; 6,038,720; 6,055,687; 6,434,770; 6,352,612; 6,279,185; 6,412,128; 6,453,493; and 6,523,200; and in copending U.S. application Ser. Nos. 10/046,377, filed Oct. 26, 2001; 09,884,742, filed Jun. 18, 2001; 09/679,139, filed Oct. 3, 2000; 09/802,097, filed Mar. 8, 2001; 10/426,067, filed Apr. 28, 2003; and 10/612,267, filed Jul. 1, 2003. The complete disclosures of all these references are herein incorporated by reference.
Pillow 10 may have an average radius of curvature that permits it to conform to the shape of a person's torso while still having its ends separated enough so that it may fit around individuals of various sizes. The radius of curvature may be in the range from about 6 inches to about 16 inches, and more preferably from about 9 inches to about 11 inches. This may permit ends 20 and 22 to be separated by a distance in the range from about 14 inches to about 28 inches without stretching ends 20 and 22 apart. If pulled apart, the ends may separate several inches further. The distance from end 20 to end 22 through midsection 14 may be in the range from about 21 inches to about 42 inches, and more preferably from about 28 inches to about 36 inches. The distance from ends 20 and 22 to the inside of midsection 14 may be in the range from about 5 inches to about 11 inches, and more preferably from about 6 inches to about 7 inches. End sections 16 and 18 may have a length in the range from about 7 inches to about 15 inches, and more preferably from about 11 inches to about 13 inches. End sections 16 and 18 may also taper toward ends 20 and 22. The amount of taper may be in the range from about 10 inches to about 6 inches, and more preferably from about 8 inches to about 7 inches, near midsection 14 and taper to about 8 inches to about 3 inches, and more preferably from about 5 inches to about 4 inches, at ends 20 and 22. The height of midsection 14 may be in the range of about 9 inches to about 4 inches, and more preferably from about 7 inches to about 5 inches. This height may lessen along end sections 16 and 18 so that the height at ends 20 and 22 may be in the range from about 5 inches to about 1 inch, and more preferably about 3 inches. Midsection 14 may have a width in the range from about 10 inches to about 5 inches and more preferably from about 7 inches to about 8 inches, and a length in the range from about 12 inches to about 24 inches and more preferably from about 16 inches to about 20 inches.
Such dimensions permit pillow 10 to be used with children, teenagers and adults of various sizes. For example, when sitting down, inner side 30 would generally conform to the user's stomach and wrap around her sides. End sections 16 and 18 taper to permit them to fit between the arms of a chair and the user's side. Pillow 10 also has a height that permits a baby to sit on the pillow while breast feeding and to be positioned at an optimal height. A user's arms or elbows may also rest on pillow 10 to hold an item at about eye level. By having ends 20 and 22 wrap around the user's side, it facilitates supporting of the user's arms or elbows.
As shown in
Although not shown, it will be appreciated that other features may be added to pillow 10. For example, various toys or other items may be attached to or surrounded above pillow 10 as described in any of the references incorporated herein. Also a strap may extend between ends 20 and 22 to help hold pillow 10 about a user. As other examples, one or more pockets or other attachment members (such as straps) may be attached to pillow 10 to hold a variety of items, such as described in the references incorporated herein. As some specific examples, the pockets may be used to hold bottles, toys, burping cloths, and the like. Pillow 10 may also have one or more handles to help transport the pillow. Such handles may be similar to those described in references incorporated herein. Still further, pillow 10 may have a head member (such as an animal head) attached anywhere along the pillow, such as at one end. Examples of such head members are described in the references incorporated herein.
Pillow 10 may be packaged and stored using a variety of packing devices, purses or the like. Examples of such packages and bags are described in references incorporated herein and in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/884,742, filed Jun. 18, 2001, and 10/612,265, filed Jul. 1, 2003, incorporated herein by reference. Pillow 10 may also be displayed using any of the techniques or devices described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,873 incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to
Further, it will be appreciated that a variety of other uses for pillow 10 exist. These may include, for example, as a back support, as a traditional pillow for the head, to prop up a baby or child, as a seat cushion or the like. As another example, the pillow may be used to support the legs or hips. For example, when a person is lying on his or her back, the pillow may be placed between the user's legs or knees and the ground. This permit's the person's legs to be propped up. As a further example, the pillow may be placed between the person's legs or knees while the person is lying on his or her side. As still another example, the pillow may be used as a back or front support when the person is lying on his or her side. For instance, for a pregnant woman, the pillow could be placed between the mother's stomach and the ground to help support the stomach. Other examples of how such a pillow may be used are described in any of the references incorporated herein.
A variety of attachment members may be coupled to any of the pillows described herein to modify or vary the height of the pillow. This may be done, for example, when there is a need to adjust the height of the top surface of the pillow relative to the user. For example, when the pillow is resting on a user's lap, such as when the pillow is being used to nurse an infant, the location of the top surface may be varied by attaching an attachment member to the pillow such that it rests between the pillow and the user's lap. In this way, if the baby's head needed to be lifted higher, this may be accomplished by providing the attachment member between the pillow and the mother's lap. The attachment member may be coupled to all of the pillow so as to adjust the height of the entire top surface of the pillow, or only be attached to a portion of the pillow so that only a portion of the top surface has its height adjusted. This arrangement may also configure the top surface of the pillow so that it is angled. In this way, the baby's head may be positioned higher than the rest of the baby's body. Also, a variety of coupling arrangements may be used to couple the attachment member to the pillow. For instance, the attachment member may have a coupling arrangement that is configured to wrap around the pillow and couple to itself. Alternatively, the coupling arrangement could be configured to engage a connector on the pillow to secure the attachment member to the pillow.
At attachment end 102 is a coupling arrangement 106 that comprises a belt 108 having a loop 110 at one end and a button 112 at the other end. In this way, attachment member 100 may be placed adjacent one of the arms of the pillow, with coupling arrangement 106 wrapped around the medial portion of the pillow. In this way, button 112 may be inserted through loop 110 to securely couple attachment member 100 to the pillow.
As an alternative, attachment member 186 may be folded over itself at medial region 192 as illustrated in
As a further option, it will be appreciated that a support member similar to support member 200 may be utilized with any of the support pillows described herein. The support member 200 may extend from each of the ends so that it extends across the well region formed along the inner periphery of the pillow.
Although described in connection with pillow 172, it will be appreciated that belt 202 may be used with any of the pillows described herein, and in connection with any of the attachment members described herein.
Although described in connection with pillow 234, it will be appreciated that belt 232 may be used with any of the pillows described herein, and in connection with any of the attachment members described herein.
In use, any of the attachment members that are attached to one of the pillows may be placed directly against the user's lap. Alternatively, the attachment members may be placed on the top surface of the pillow which rests on the user's lap so that the object, such as a baby, that is lying on the pillow will directly engage the attachment member.
The invention has now been described in detail for purposes of clarity and understanding. However it will be appreciated that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation in part and claims priority from co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/612,266; filed Jul. 1, 2003, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Child | 11120694 | US |