Patent Application
20080184490
This invention relates generally to pillows, and more particularly concerns a pillow with interior chambers.
Pillow design/construction includes considerations which can vary significantly. For instance, it is often desirable to restrict the movement of the pillow filling, particularly feathers and down, within a pillow during use. Sometimes this is done with interior walls or baffles, which form interior chambers. Various interior chamber arrangements are known; some examples of relatively simple baffle arrangements defining several interior volumes are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,816, owned by the assignee of the present invention. Pillows with more complex interior baffle arrangements are known, which provide specialized filling control, but they are expensive to manufacture and therefore for most cases are impractical.
In general, good support for the user is also desirable; support involves not only the structure and configuration of the pillow, but also the particular filling used for the pillow. For instance, feathers traditionally provide good support; polyester foam, another filling, provides a particular kind of support which some consumers prefer.
Still further, the comfort, i.e. “feel” of the pillow, is often an important consideration. The type of filling is important to the feel of a pillow, with down typically providing the best comfort, although with less support than other types of filling.
The present pillow arrangement includes a pillow structure for restricting the movement of the filling during use, while at the same time providing good support and a high degree of comfort for the user.
Accordingly, the present embodiment of the new pillow comprises: first and second substantially identical inner shell layers, each having a length and width, secured together around the peripheries thereof; two baffle members extending between and secured to the first and second inner shell layers, the baffle members extending from the vicinity of one longitudinal edge across the width of the pillow to the vicinity of the opposing longitudinal edge, defining a plurality of interior chambers between the first and second inner shell layers, wherein the two baffle members angle or curve relative to each other along at least a portion of the lengths thereof; first and second substantially identical outer shell layers, secured in a non-openable manner around the peripheries thereof to the peripheries of the first and second inner shell layers; and pillow filling located in the spaces between the inner and outer shell layers and in said interior chambers.
Connected interiorly between the two inner fabric layers 12 and 14 are two identical baffles 18 and 20. In the embodiment shown, the baffles are also a cotton or similar fabric and are typically 6-8 inches high, although this can vary, depending on the particular design. Baffles 18 and 20 extend for the full width laterally of the pillow and are located so as to define three chambers, 21, 23, 25 of equal size along the length of the pillow 10.
While the embodiment shown includes two spaced baffles, it should be recognized that a single baffle or more positioned differently to produce different size chambers. Still further, while the baffle members are shown extending laterally, i.e. across the width, of the pillow, they could also extend along the length, i.e. longitudinally, of the pillow. Also, while it is preferred that baffle members 18 and 20 extend for the full width (or length) of the pillow, it is possible that the baffle members could extend to within a small distance of the opposing edge of the pillow, attached to the inner fabric layers, and therefore not extend for the full width or length of the pillow.
The baffle members 18 and 20 are attached to the inner fabric layers by stitching or other similar means. The baffle members are intended to provide a barrier for the filling, to prevent migration of the filling in the pillow during use, particularly from the center of the pillow outward toward the opposing lateral edges 28 and 30 of the pillow.
The pillow 10 also includes two outer fabric layers or shells 24 and 26. Outer fabric layers 24 and 26 in the embodiment shown are substantially identical in size and configuration and are the same material as inner fabric layers 12 and 14. The outer fabric layers 24 and 26 are secured around their respective peripheries to the inner fabric layers 12 and 14.
Filling is then blow into the pillow, such as by conventional blowing techniques. In the embodiment shown, chambers 21, 23, and 25 defined between the inner fabric layers 12 and 14 and the baffle members 18 and 20 are filled with feathers. The space between the inner fabric layers 12 and 14 and the outer fabric layers 24 and 26 are filled with down. This arrangement provides the combination of good internal support, with the feather filling and the baffle members preventing migration of the feathers during use, while the down filling between the inner and outer layers provides comfort and a good “feel” for the user, as well as a feather barrier.
However, it should be understood that other fillings can be used as well, including polyester filling, other fiber material and PLA (polyactic acid) or any combination of the above. The concept of the pillow described herein is not necessarily limited to a particular filling arrangement.
After the pillow has been filled, the open portion of the longitudinal edge 16 is closed, completing the pillow.
Accordingly, a pillow has been described and shown which includes an interior structure with two inner layers, two internal baffle members and two outer layers which provides good comfort with good support while a the same time being practical to manufacture.
One additional embodiment is shown in
A further embodiment is shown in
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purpose of illustration, it should be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the claims which follow.
