The present invention relates to a pillow and more particularly to an inflatable neck pillow for travel.
The present invention provides a pillow having a shape which comprises a head zone for providing a generally flat cushion means interposed between a user's head and a surface upon which said user is resting; and two wings, configured to extend away from a center-line of the head zone towards wing ends such that the deflated pillow is substantially U-shaped in the plane of the pillow; the head zone being substantially thinner than the wings; the pillow comprising an inflatable bladder removably received within a fabric cover, the bladder comprising two sheets of flexible material, joined together to define a space, suitable for inflating to provide a cushioned support and comprising wing portions for providing support in the wings of the pillow, and a channel, defined between the sheets of flexible material, configured to connect the wing portions, and positioned at a point in the head zone remote from the wing ends, wherein, in the head zone, opposing sheets of fabric of the fabric cover are permanently or releasably joined together in a way that allows the inflatable bladder to be inserted into the fabric cover.
The invention addresses the problem that it is desirable to provide an inflatable pillow with a removable cover so that the cover can be washed. However, in a pillow with a flat head zone, the natural tendency is for the fabric to stretch across the head zone, raised above it, rather than follow the contour of the inflatable bladder within. This means that the head zone is no longer flat and not comfortable. The joining means in the head zone join opposing sheets of fabric and pull or urge them together so that they follow the contour of the inflatable bladder.
European patent application published as EP2,223,674 discloses a pillow with a cover that has an opening in a neck zone into which the inflatable bladder can be inserted. However, in contrast to the present invention, opposing sheets of the fabric cover are not joined together in the head zone in a way that allows the inflatable bladder to be inserted into the fabric cover. In comparison, the present invention provides a pillow that is more comfortable for the user.
The joining together is in addition to the joining of the opposing sheets at their edges in the head zone. The opposing sheets are joined at their edges in the head zone at the periphery of the head zone. The joining together preferably takes place at least 0.5 cm, more preferably at least 1 cm, from the joining of the opposing sheets at their edges in the head zone.
In the present invention, “joined” means that the opposed sheets are drawn together, preferably close together. “Close” means that, preferably, the opposing sheets are 2 cm apart or less, more preferably 1 cm apart or less, at their closest. However, the opposing sheets do not necessarily touch each other.
In the present invention, the head zone is substantially thinner than the wings, that is significantly thinner than the wings. “Thinner” refers to dimensions in a direction normal to the surface upon which the user is resting.
The head zone is large enough for a user's head to rest on comfortably. For example, the head zone may be at least 5 cm, preferably at least 10 cm from one edge of the head zone to the edge on the other side of the head zone when looking down on the pillow.
In the following, unless the context indicates otherwise, “the opposing sheets of fabric” refers to the opposing sheets of fabric in the head zone.
Preferably, the opposing sheets of fabric are joined together by a joining means or connector.
The opposing sheets of fabric are permanently or releasably joined together in a way that allows the inflatable bladder to be inserted into the fabric cover, that is the joining is achieved so as not to block permanently insertion of the bladder. Hence the joining means or connector does not permanently block insertion of the bladder. For example, the joining means or connector may have two positions: one in which it does block insertion of the inflatable bladder, and the other in which it does not block insertion. Alternatively, the joining means or connector may have one position in which it does not block insertion.
Conveniently, one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position. This means that the function of the joining means is twofold: to join the opposing sheets of fabric as well as to close the hole into which the inflatable bladder can be inserted, for example after the fabric cover has been washed. The inflatable bladder is inserted when deflated.
The joining means may comprise a joining element which closes the hole. The joining element may be releasably attached to at least the one opposing sheet which has the hole.
The hole may be in both sheets.
Preferably, the hole is closed only by the joining means.
The hole may have any desired shape, for example it may be circular, oval, slit-shaped or cruciform.
Conveniently, the joining means closes the hole by fitting inside it. This provides a neat way of closing the hole.
The joining means may close the hole by covering it.
Preferably, the opposing sheets of fabric are joined together by the joining means which is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric and/or permanently attached to the other of the opposing sheets of fabric. More preferably, the opposing sheets of fabric are joined together by a joining means which is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric and permanently attached to the other of the opposing sheets of fabric.
Alternatively, the joining means may be permanently or releasably attached to both the opposing sheets of fabric.
In one convenient form, the joining means is permanently attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric by stitching.
Optionally, at least one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole dimensioned to receive the inflatable bladder when deflated, and, when the joining means joins together the opposing sheets of fabric, the joining means closes the hole.
Preferably, the joining means joins the opposing sheets of fabric by passing through the head zone. This may be a more comfortable for the user than a joining means which passes around the outside of the head zone, outside the outer surface of the opposing sheets of fabric in the head zone.
Preferably, the inflatable bladder has a hole through which the joining means passes when joining the opposed sheets of fabric. Hence the joining means need not pass around the outside of the inflatable bladder and can take a more direct route.
Preferably, a surface of the joining means forms part of the outer surface of the head zone when the joining means joins together the opposing sheets of fabric. Conveniently, the surface of the joining means comprises a non-slip material. Most conveniently, the surface of the joining means is configured to contact the surface upon which the user is resting, in use. The non-slip material helps prevent slipping of the pillow on the surface upon which the user is resting, which helps to keep the pillow in a desired position.
The surface of the joining means may have at least one ridge. This helps to prevent slipping of the joining means on a surface which it contacts.
Preferably, the surface of the joining means has a ridge at or around its periphery. The surface may have a ridge extending across it.
In one convenient form, the joining means is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric by the joining means catching or holding the sheet of fabric, preferably in the joining means, more preferably by the joining means catching or holding the sheet of fabric at the perimeter of the hole in the joining means. This provides a convenient way for the joining means to attach to the sheet of fabric. Alternatively, the attachment may be permanent.
Both opposing sheets of fabric may be caught or held by the joining means.
Preferably, one of the opposing sheets of fabric is caught or held in the joining means between a projection or flange of the joining means and the other of the opposing sheets of fabric. The projection or flange may be provided at the periphery of the joining means. Preferably, the projection or flange is provided at least at opposite sides at the periphery of the joining means.
The projection or flange may be divided into two or more parts.
Preferably, the hole has a smallest dimension that is smaller than the largest dimension between outer edges of the projection or flange. Preferably, the “smallest dimension” is when the hole is unstretched. Preferably, the largest dimension of the hole is smaller than the largest dimension between outer edges of the projection or flange. Preferably, the “largest dimension” is when the hole is unstretched.
Preferably, the flange or projection is around the entire of the periphery of the joining means.
Conveniently, the flange or projection is resilient to provide releasable attachment of the joining means to the one of the opposing sheets. Thus the flange or projection can be bent so that the sheet can be caught or held by the joining means.
Preferably, one of the opposing sheets of fabric is caught or held in the joining means between the projection or flange of the joining means and another projection or flange of the joining means. The joining means may thus have a double-flange or double-projection arrangement. The other projection or flange may be resilient.
Preferably, the other of the opposing sheets is attached to the other (second) projection or flange by stitching, preferably so that the other projection or flange is between a) the other of the opposing sheets and b) the one opposing sheet and/or the one (first) projection or flange.
The second projection or flange may extend further outwards at the periphery of the joining means than the first projection or flange. This means that, when the second projection or flange is attached to the other of the opposing sheets by stitching, the stitching is easier to form because the first projection or flange does not overlap the second.
Conveniently, the joining means is disc-shaped. One or both of the projections or flanges may provide the periphery of the disc-shaped joining means.
Preferably, one of the opposing sheets of fabric is caught or held in the joining means in a recess. Preferably, the recess is formed between the projection or flange and the other projection or flange.
The hole may have a reinforced perimeter. Preferably, the entire perimeter is reinforced. Preferably, the reinforced perimeter is flexible. The perimeter may be reinforced by a ring, preferably a plastics ring.
In one convenient form, the reinforced perimeter prevents substantial extension of the perimeter of the hole, but preferably allows small extension. In this way, the perimeter can be stretched by the user so as to be caught by the joining means, for example to be stretched over the flange or projection by the user, in order to attach the joining means to the one of the opposing sheets. However, the perimeter will not stretch during use of the pillow (for example due to the pressure of inflation and/or weight of a user's head) so as then not to be caught by the joining means, for example to stretch over the flange or projection. So, the joining means will not detach from the one of the opposing sheets accidentally during use.
Preferably, the hole has a resilient perimeter which can be stretched to receive the flange or projection.
In one form, the pillow comprises cushioning means on the outside of the joining means.
One of the opposing sheets of material may be attached to the joining means, preferably by stitching, at the periphery of the cushioning means, more preferably around the periphery or entire periphery of the cushioning means. Preferably, the cushioning means is between the one of the opposing sheets of material and the joining mean. Hence the attachment may hold the cushioning means in place relative to the joining means.
Preferably, the cushioning means is between the joining means and the user's head, in use. The cushioning means may have the same shape and/or size as the joining means when viewed in a direction normal to a surface in the head zone on which the user's head is placed, in use. Thus the cushioning means cushions the user's head effectively from the joining means.
The joining means may be between the cushioning means and the hole.
The cushioning means conveniently comprises foam.
Preferably, the joining means is or comprises plastics material.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which:
Although not shown in
In the present embodiment, in the head zone 12, opposing sheets of fabric 22, 24 of the fabric cover 18 are releasably joined together in a way that allows the inflatable bladder to be inserted into the fabric cover 18.
In the present embodiment, the ring of plastics material 30 around the inflation valve 28 is also made of TPU and is non-slip.
The outer surface of the disc 20 also has a ridge 34 extending across it. The peripheral ridge and ridge 34 on the disc 20 also help prevent slipping of the pillow 10.
The upper sheet of fabric 22 has a circular hole in which the disc 20 is received in
When engaged, the disc 20 and the hole hold the opposing sides of the fabric cover 18 close together.
In
In
In the present embodiment, the inflatable bladder 38 has a hole through which the disc 20 can attach to the opposing sheets of fabric 22, 24. The hole is shown clearly
Referring to
In the present embodiment, the flange 40 is permanently attached to the sheet of fabric 24 in the head zone by stitching. This is described in more detail below with respect to
Referring to
A cushioning means 52 is provided below the disc 20 in
In the present embodiment, a cushioning means is also provided in the wings 14 between layers of the sheet of fabric 24. In the present embodiment, this cushioning means is provided by a foam layer. Referring to
In the present embodiment, a circular disc 20 joins together opposing sheets 22, 24 of fabric of the fabric cover 18. However, the same effect could be achieved by buttons, press-studs, touch and hold fasteners such as VELCRO™ or even by a fabric sleeve that fits around the outside of the pillow. The pillow of the present embodiment does not require a zip to allow inflatable bladder to be inserted into and removed from the fabric cover.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described purely by way of example, and various modifications, additions and/or omissions will present themselves to one skilled in the art, all of which form part of the invention, together with their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1618856.7 | Nov 2016 | GB | national |