Patent Application
20050150048
The present invention relates generally to bedding, and more specifically to a pillow cover functionally designed to easily receive and securely envelop any conventional pillow.
Generally, a pillow cover functions as a protective barrier between an underlying pillow and the user's head, preventing the pillow from becoming soiled with head and/or facial dirt, sweat and/or natural oils. As such, many individuals frequently change and/or launder their pillow covers to maintain a hygienic and/or sanitary sleeping atmosphere.
Additionally, some individuals who are easily susceptible to common household allergens, such as dust, dust mites and/or exteriorly-introduced pollen, typically replace their pillow covers daily so as to reduce the likelihood of an allergic reaction and/or inflammation of mucousal tissue.
Unfortunately, however, such frequent replacement of pillow covers can become time-consuming and tedious. Additionally, as most individuals who have changed a pillow cover before have discovered, it is somewhat tasking to slide a pillow into a pillow cover, often requiring more physical force than anticipated.
Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for a pillow cover that quickly and effortlessly receives and securely envelops a conventional pillow therein, thus facilitating frequent changes and/or replacement of the pillow cover as desired.
Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages, and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a pillow cover that can be quickly and effortlessly placed over and removed from a conventional pillow, thus facilitating as many changes and/or replacements of the pillow cover as desired.
According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention in its preferred form is a pillow cover having hook-and-loop fasteners.
More specifically, the present invention is a pillow cover having hook-and-loop, zipper, snap, hook, or button fasteners, or the like, strategically placed on the edges of two sides of the pillow cover, thus permitting the pillow cover to open for placement of a pillow therein, rather than the sliding of a pillow therein. Upon placing a pillow within the open pillow cover, the open sides of the pillow case are refastened via the hook-and-loop fasteners. In an alternate embodiment, the pillow cover further employs a drawstring to enable the secured enveloping of the pillow cover over the enclosed pillow.
Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to permit frequent quick and effortless pillow cover changes.
Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to be manufactured to receive any size pillow.
Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ease of use.
Still another feature and advantage of the present invention is its simplicity of design.
Still yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to be adapted/altered to allow utilization thereof over most any type of pillow.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Preferred and Alternate Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote similar structures and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:
In describing the preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in
Referring now to
Preferably, first side 12 possesses edges 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d, and second side 14 possesses edges 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d, wherein edges 12a, 14a, and edges 12b, 14b, are preferably joined so as to form closed ends. Preferably affixed along the entirety of edges 12c, 12d is hook fastener portion 16 of hook-and-loop fastener 20. Hook fastener portion 16 is preferably aligned with and fastenable to loop fastener portion 18 of hook-and-loop fastener 20, wherein loop fastener portion 18 is preferably affixed along the entirety of edges 14c, 14d. Upon placing a pillow PP between first side 12 and second side 14 of pillow cover 10, edges 12c, 12d of first side 12 are preferably brought into contact with edges 14c, 14d, respectively, of second side 14, thus permitting first side 12 and second side 14 to fully envelop pillow PP. Although hook-and-loop fastener 20 is preferably utilized to secure pillow cover 10 around a conventional pillow, it is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that zippers could be utilized instead and/or in combination therewith.
Referring now to
First side 12 possesses edges 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d, and second side 14 possesses edges 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d, wherein edges 12a, 14a, and edges 12b, 14b, are joined so as to form closed ends. Affixed along the entirety of edges 12c, 12d is hook fastener portion 16 of hook-and-loop fastener 20. Hook fastener portion 16 is aligned with and fastenable to loop fastener portion 18 of hook-and-loop fastener 20, wherein loop fastener portion 18 is affixed along the entirety of edges 14c, 14d.
Formed along the entirety of edges 14a, 14b and 14d of second side 14 is enclosed channel 32 of drawstring mechanism 30, wherein enclosed channel 32 possesses exits 32a, 32b formed proximal edge 14c of second side 14. Positioned within enclosed channel 32 is drawstring 34 of drawstring mechanism 30, wherein ends 34a, 34b of drawstring 34 extend outwardly is from exits 32a, 32b, respectively, of enclosed channel 32, and are knotted together via knot 35. It will be apparent to one ordinarily skilled in the art that the above-referenced drawstring arrangement might similarly extend from either or any of sides 14a, 14b, 14c, and/or 14d.
Upon placing a pillow PP between first side 12 and second side 14 of pillow cover 10, edges 12c, 12d of first side 12 are preferably brought into contact with edges 14c, 14d, respectively, of second side 14, thus permitting first side 12 and second side 14 to fully envelop pillow PP. Although hook-and-loop fastener 20 is preferably utilized to secure pillow cover 10 around a conventional pillow, it is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that zippers, buttons, snaps, hooks, and/or other well-known fabric fastening mechanisms could be utilized instead thereof and/or in combination therewith. Thereafter, drawstring 34 is utilized to tighten first side 12 and second side 14 around the underlying pillow PP via pulling on knot 35 of drawstring 34.
Referring now to
It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that hook-and-loop fasteners 20 of pillow covers 10 and 100, and hook-and-loop fastener 50 of pillow covers 200, could either be long strips or small sectional pieces.
Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.
