Patent Application
20230404301
The present invention relates generally to sleeping aid or other plush devices, and more particularly, to a self-hugging pillow or stuffed animal or other plush toy.
Most people spend about a third of their life sleeping, albeit in eight-hour chunks. A great number of people sleep on a bed, with their head or body resting on at least one pillow. Pillows are thus, quite prevalent in our lives, as they help create a comfortable sleeping environment. There are many different varieties of pillows, of different shapes, sizes, and materials. The basic form of a pillow consists of a casing whose interior is filled with stuffing material, typically a resilient and soft material to provide a surface upon which a user's head or body, or a part thereof, may lie.
But lying on a bed is also a very intimate activity, and it is also usually a time for reflection, introspection, and simply contemplation of life. It is because of this, that people often most miss loved ones, or the intimacy of another person, when they are lying on a bed. One often most needs the intimate touch of a hug, when lying on a bed. However, currently, sleeping environments and sleeping aids and devices provide no functionality for solving this need.
Various aspects of the present invention are directed to a self-hugging pillow, and/or methods of manufacturing and/or using a self-hugging pillow that includes functionality to simulate the action of a hug. In particular aspects, the self-hugging pillow of embodiments may include a casing with a stuffing or cushioning material filling the interior of the casing. The self-hugging pillow includes an activation cord running through the interior of the casing, where each end of the activation cord exits or departs the interior of the casing from an opening on the outer surface of the casing at a particular distance from respective ends of the self-hugging pillow to the exterior of the self-hugging pillow. A user may activate the self-hugging pillow by causing the activation cord to tighten, to cause the self-hugging pillow to compress around the user's body.
The self-hugging pillow of embodiments of the present invention thus includes functionality that can create the sensation of a hug upon a user. For example, a user may wrap the self-hugging pillow around the user's body, or a body part, or a portion of a body part, for example the user's torso, e.g., around the user's chest under the user's arms. The user may then activate the self-hugging pillow to cause the self-hugging pillow to simulate the action of a hug. For example, the user may cause the activation cord running through the interior of the self-hugging pillow to tighten, for example by grabbing each end of the activation cord, which may cause the self-hugging pillow to compress or tighten around the user. The user may pull on each end of the activation cord by crossing his or her arms and grabbing each end of the activation cord at each side of the self-hugging pillow with the right and left hands, and pulling on the activation cord, causing the self-hugging pillow to compress or tighten. The compression of the self-hugging pillow around the user is designed for simulating the compression action exerted upon a person during a hug. As such, the compression of the self-hugging pillow may squeeze the user and cause a hugging sensation, which the user may perceive as a hug.
In example embodiments of the present invention, the activation cord includes a section that is larger than the ends of the activation cord in order to ensure that, when the activation cord is pulled to compress the self-hugging pillow, the activation cord presses with a distributed pressure upon a large surface area of the interior cushioning in order to provide a soft squeezing sensation of a hug by pressure of the cushioning exerted against the user's body. In an example embodiment, the pillow further includes an interior compartment housing a large second of the cord so that the cord does not easily penetrate or slip through the stuffing material, which can generate an undesirable and uncomfortable line of a high pressure sensation of a stiff cord against the user. The compartment avoids this by ensuring placement of the cord in a position in which the cord pushes the stuffing material in the compression direction to push the stuffing material against the user. In this regard, a barrier may be disposed within the interior of the self-hugging pillow between the activation cord and the stuffing material. The barrier may be configured to prevent the activation cord from shifting within the interior of the self-hugging pillow through the stuffing material. In this manner, when the activation cord is tightened and the self-hugging pillow is compressed, the barrier ensures that, rather than the activation cord slipping and penetrating through the stuffing material and then pressing against the user, the activation cord and the barrier push the stuffing material against the user.
According to example embodiments of the present invention, a length of an interior sidewall of the pillow is in a range of 25-60 inches, and preferably in a range of 30-60 inches in order for the pillow to be wrapped around a user's chest with the ability of the pillow being subsequently compressed against the user by pulling on the cord.
Thus, according to an example embodiment, a pillow with an inner circumference of 25-60 inches is provided with a cord, in contrast to conventional pillows for which there has never been any contemplation of providing such a large pillow with a cord. Rather, it is only the present disclosure that first contemplates that there is a purpose for providing such a compression functionality to such a pillow and therefore that there is a purpose for providing such a cord to a pillow of such dimension.
Additionally, according to an example embodiment of the present invention, a pillow is provided with a cord have a center region that is wider than terminal regions of the cord, thereby optimizing a surface area of cushion being compressed against a user, in contrast to conventional pillows for which such a feature has not been previously contemplated.
Additionally, according to an example embodiment of the present invention, a setback distance of an opening through which a cord of the pillow exits a cushion casing of the pillow is at least four inches from a nearest end of the pillow in the circumferential direction of the pillow, in contrast to conventional pillows for which such a feature has not been previously contemplated.
Additionally, according to an example embodiment of the present invention, a setback distance of an opening through which a cord of the pillow exits a cushion casing of the pillow from a nearest end of the pillow in the circumferential direction of the pillow, is at least approximately a quarter of a total length of the pillow in the circumferential direction, in contrast to conventional pillows for which such a feature has not been previously contemplated.
Additionally, according to an example embodiment of the present invention, a setback distance, in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis extending through a center line of the pillow cushion casing, of an opening through which a cord of the pillow exits the cushion casing is at least two inches, and preferably at least 2.5 inches, from a nearest end of the pillow, in contrast to conventional pillows for which such a feature has not been previously contemplated.
Additionally, according to an example embodiment of the present invention, the pillow includes a barrier within the cushion casing that prevents the cord from moving interiorly to a position between the barrier and the interior wall of the pillow, in contrast to conventional pillows for which such a feature has not been previously contemplated.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses or which render other details difficult to perceive have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
Various features and advantageous details are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known starting materials, processing techniques, components, and equipment are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
As noted above, various aspects of the present invention are directed to a self-hugging pillow, and/or methods of manufacturing and/or using a self-hugging pillow, that includes functionality to simulate the action of a hug. In particular aspects, a user may place the self-hugging pillow of embodiments around the user's body, or a body part, or a portion of a body part, such as around the user's torso, around the neck, or around the user's chest under the user's arms, and may activate the self-hugging pillow to cause the self-hugging pillow to simulate the action of a hug. For example, the user may cause the activation cord running through the interior of the self-hugging pillow to tighten. In aspects, the user may cause the activation cord to tighten by grabbing and pulling on each end of the activation cord to cause the self-hugging pillow to compress or tighten around the user. The user may pull on each end of the activation cord by crossing his or her arms and grabbing the left end of the activation cord at the left side of the self-hugging pillow with the right hand and grabbing the right end of the activation cord at the right side of the self-hugging pillow with the left hand, and pulling on the activation cord, causing the self-hugging pillow to compress or tighten. The compression of the self-hugging pillow around the user is provided to simulate the compression action exerted upon a person when the person is hugged. As such, the compression of the self-hugging pillow may squeeze the user and cause a hugging sensation, which the user may perceive as a hug.
In an example embodiment of the present invention, self-hugging pillow 100 has a shape and/or size configured to operate and/or be disposed around a user's body, such as a user's body part or portion thereof. For example, self-hugging pillow 100 has a shape and/or size configured to operate and/or be disposed around a user's torso or chest, such as being disposed under the user's arms, over the shoulder, and/or around the neck. It is noted. however, that it is particularly advantageous for pillow 100 to be structured and dimensioned to provide a hugging sensation when wrapped around the user's torso under the user's arms, for example as shown in
Self-hugging pillow 100 may include an inside circumference, defining an inside diameter 142 of the self-hugging pillow 100. In a particular, non-limiting example, the inside circumference may range from 25 to 60 inches in grabbing the left end of the activation cord at the left side of the self-hugging pillow with the right hand. The inside circumference can vary depending on the size of the body part around which self-hugging pillow 100 is intended to be wrapped. For example, the inside grabbing the left end of the activation cord at the left side of the self-hugging pillow with the right hand can be based on a chest size of the intended user, and can vary from a small size for children to a larger size for adults. Self-hugging pillow 100 may also include a vertical thickness dimension 144, defining the thickness of casing 110. In a manner of speaking, a vertical thickness dimension 144 may be defined by the size of the interior of casing 110. In a particular, non-limiting example, vertical thickness dimension 144 can range from 2-18 inches, and may be based on the arm size of the intended user. For example, thickness dimension 144 may vary from a small size for children to a larger size for adults. It is noted that the thickness can vary between different sections of the pillow 100. For example, the thickness can be larger at the center of pillow 100, which can be representative of the trunk of a person hugging the pillow user, than at the ends, which can be representative of the arms of the person hugging the pillow user.
The shape of self-hugging pillow 100 may be configured to wrap around the user's body or body part. For example, the shape of self-hugging pillow 100 may be generally circular, such as toroidal or donut shaped, e.g., a U-shape, open ended, toroid. In this manner, a user may wrap self-hugging pillow 100 around his or her body or body part for operation.
With reference back to
In an example embodiment, (although not shown in the figures) setback distance 140a/140b for an opening is approximately one quarter of the length of casing 110.
In an example embodiment, setback distance 140a/14b is 4″ from the center of the opening 120a/120b to the furthest point of the respective nearest end 114/116 of pillow 100 measured on a straight line.
In example embodiments, openings 120a and 120b are offset, in the vertical direction from the vertical position of a central longitudinal axis running through the center of self-hugging pillow 100, and/or are offset, in the horizontal direction from the horizontal position of the central longitudinal axis running through the center of self-hugging pillow 100; but rather, openings 120a and 120b can be disposed with an edge distance from the bottom edge and from the horizontal center of self-hugging pillow 100. For example, openings 120a and 120b are not disposed at the vertical and horizontal positions of longitudinal axis 148, which runs through the center of self-hugging pillow 100. Instead, as shown by way of example in
The furthest point of the respective nearest end 114/116 of pillow 100 from the openings 120a and 120b need not be at the same vertical position as the respective openings 120a and 120b. For example, the ends 114 and 116 can be tapered to a point so that the point of the ends 114 and 116 that are at the same vertical position as central longitudinal axis 148 is further from center 150 than the upper region of the ends 114 and 116. In an example embodiment, in a direction that is parallel to the extension of central longitudinal axis 148 of pillow 100 extending between the two ends 114/116 of pillow 100 in the length direction of pillow 100, the respective centers of respective openings 120a and 120b are at least 2″, preferably at least 2.5″, from the respective points of respective ends 114 and 116 of pillow 100 reached when extending from respective openings 120a and 120b in the parallel extension direction.
Activation cord 130 is configured to run through the interior of casing 110, with each end of activation cord (e.g., end 132a and end 132b) exiting or departing from the interior of casing 110 through a respective one of openings 120a and 120b.
As shown in
As mentioned above, activation cord 130 is configured to run through the interior of casing 110. In example embodiments, activation cord 130 can be a rope, a strap, a band, a belt, and/or any other suitably appropriate type of strap or cord. The activation cord 130 can be elastic or may be rigid. In any case, activation cord 130 is configured to provide a compression or tightening force when each of ends 132a and 132b are pulled through openings 120a and 120b, respectively.
As shown, activation cord 130 runs through the entirety of the length of casing 110. In example embodiment, the cord 130 extends from the exterior of pillow 110 through opening 120a, through the interior of casing 110 to opening 120b, and then through opening 120b back out to the exterior of pillow 100. For example,
In example embodiments of the present invention, activation cord 130 is configured to facilitate the hugging simulation action when self-hugging pillow 100 is compressed by pulling ends 132a and 132b. In an example embodiment, for this purpose, activation cord 130 includes a section within activation cord 130 that is larger, in cross-section vertical size, than ends 132a and 132b. As used herein, cross-section size may refer to the size of the activation cord in the cross-section direction of the activation cord, rather than along the length of the activation cord. In an example embodiment, the larger section is a center section. The larger cross-section size of the center section is provided to facilitate the hugging simulation action by pushing a large vertical surface area of the cushion material towards the user when the user pulls on cord 130, and it also is intended to help prevent activation cord 130 from penetrating through stuffing material 210 when activation cord 130 is tightened. For example, when a user pulls each of ends 132a and 132b, activation cord 130 is tightened, causing activation cord 130 to move toward interior wall 220 of self-hugging pillow 100. Without the particular configuration of activation cord 130 according to aspects of the present disclosure, activation cord 130 would cut or penetrate through stuffing material 210 and, instead of pushing stuffing material 210 against the user, activation cord 130 would push against interior wall 220 and uncomfortably against the user. In this case, the user would feel activation cord and may not perceive a hugging sensation, but rather merely the sharpness of a rope against the user's body. By contrast, with the particular configuration of activation cord 130 according to the described example embodiments of the present disclosure (e.g., with a larger center section), activation cord 130 is prevented from cutting or penetrating through stuffing material 210 and, instead, when tightened, would push stuffing material 210 against the user. In this case, the user would perceive a more pleasant hugging sensation as stuffing material, rather than activation cord 130, is pressed against the user.
In addition, with reference to
In an example embodiment of the present invention, a barrier is provided to prevent cord 130 from moving against the interior wall of shell 110. For example, as shown in
In an example embodiment, barrier 250 does not extend beyond openings 120a and 120b, and may instead terminate against interior wall 220 before reaching openings 120a and 120b, off the center line of shell 110, to accommodate activation cord 130 extending to the exterior of shell 110 through openings 120a and 120b. For example, where barrier 250 is disposed along the center line of shell 110 in the horizontal direction, extending barrier beyond openings 120a and 120b toward ends 114 and 116 can prevent activation cord 130 from exiting shell 110 through openings 120a and 120b in embodiments in which openings 120a and 120b are disposed horizontally interior to the center line of shell 110. In this case, barrier 250 can be terminated before reaching openings 120a and 120b. In an example embodiment, barrier 250 is curved to anchor barrier against interior wall 220. In an alternative example embodiment, barrier 250 extends beyond openings 120a and 120b toward ends 114 and 116, but openings are provided in barrier 250 through which activation cord 1360 can pass through barrier 250 to then exit shell 110 through openings 120a and 120b.
In an example embodiment of the present invention, self-hugging pillow 100 includes customization features.
Operation of self-hugging pillow 100 will now be discussed with respect to
During operation of self-hugging pillow 100, with self-hugging pillow 100 wrapped around user 410's chest, user 410 can activate self-hugging pillow 100. In an example embodiment, activating self-hugging pillow 100 can include grabbing and pulling each of ends 120a and 120b of activation cord 130 to cause self-hugging pillow 100 to compress. In an example embodiment, self-hugging pillow 100 is configured to enable user 410 to grab ends 120a and 120b with crossed arms. For example, user 410 can cross user 410's arms, one arm over the other, reach across with user 410's left hand to grab end 120a, and reach across with user 410's right hand to grab end 120b. User 410 can pull end 120a with the left hand in direction 420b, and concurrently pull end 120b with the right hand in direction 420a. This pulling of ends 120a and 120b causes self-hugging pillow 100 to compress or tighten, causing half 430a and half 430b to move or tighten against and around user 410, as in a hugging action. In this manner, self-hugging pillow 100 simulates a hugging action. This compression, or hugging action, of self-hugging pillow 100 may be perceived as a hugging sensation by user 410, with half 430a and half 430b simulating the arms of the hugging person.
In an example embodiment, a tightening module 170 (as shown in
In an alternative example embodiment, module 170 is a clip formed of two sections, a first section being at end 132a or cord 130 and the second section being at end 132b, where the two sections can be clipped to each by user 410, where, when clipped together, the ends 132a and 132b extend downward through their respective sections of the clip at the front center of the user 410, so that the user 410 can easily pull down on two ends 132a and 132b so that they move through their respective clip sections thereby causing the cord 130 to compress pillow 100.
At block 502, a casing of a pillow is shaped as an open-ended toroidal shape. The open-ended toroidal shape (e.g., U-shaped donut) may be defined from a first end of the toroidal shape to a second end of the toroidal shape, such as the shape of self-hugging pillow 100 illustrated in
At block 504, cushioning material is placed into the interior of the casing. At block 506, a first opening is placed on the casing proximal to the first end of the toroidal shape and a second opening is placed on the casing proximal to the second end of the toroidal shape. In an example embodiment, the first opening and the second opening on the casing are placed with a predefined setback from the first end and the second ends of the toroidal shape, respectively. The setback can include a setback distance of two or more inches, preferably at least 2.5″, from the first end and the second end of the toroidal shape, respectively, in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis extending through a center line of the casing between the first end and the second end of the toroidal shape in the length direction of the casing, and/or a setback distance equal to a quarter, or approximately a quarter, of a length of the casing, and/or a setback of at least 4″ from the nearest point of the nearest end of the casing. In aspects, placing the first opening and the second opening on the casing with a setback from the first end and the second end of the toroidal shape, respectively, may include disposing the first opening and the second opening on a location of the casing configured to be positioned proximal to the user's bicep when the pillow is wrapped around the user's chest.
At block 508, an activation cord is disposed within the interior of the casing. In aspects, a first end of the activation cord can exit from the interior shell of the casing through the first opening on the casing proximal to the first end of the toroidal shape, and a second end of the activation cord can exit from the interior shell of the casing through the second opening on the casing proximal to the second end of the toroidal shape. In aspects, the activation cord is configured to compress the pillow to simulate a hugging action when the user causes the first end and the second end of the activation cord to be concurrently pulled.
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification.
