Patent Application
20240389754
The present disclosure relates generally to pillows, including improved travel and outdoor pillows.
Pillows designed to accommodate a combination of outdoor relaxation, sunbathing, and travel are virtually nonexistent. Most existing neck pillows designed for travel are made with absorbent fabrics, and filled with padding, that are not conducive to typical outdoor sunbathing environments where the pillows will be subjected to sand, water, suntan oils, and sweat. Moreover, when sunbathing on one's stomach, many people desire a hole in the pillow that will cradle one's face, similar to the pillow on a massage table. Existing u-shaped pillows with face holes lack proper ventilation when lying face-down on a hot day. Nor can existing u-shaped pillows be comfortably enjoyed while lying in the faceup position, as the hole meant for the face lacks support for the back of the head. Most existing u-shaped travel pillows are filled with padding and cannot be collapsed to a smaller size, making them cumbersome to bring to typical sunbathing locations, such as the beach or pool. And inflatable u-shaped pillows, which are easier to travel with, are too lightweight for beaches, or other outdoor environments, where a gust of wind can easily blow the inflatable pillow away.
Prior art has described pillows designed to be used when lying face-down. U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,418 describes an inflatable pillow with an annular bore for receiving the face of the user, with the body member having a plurality of ventilating bores to permit unimpeded breathing. There are several disadvantages associated with this invention. For example, there is no way to keep the lightweight inflatable structure from blowing away on a windy day, particularly at the beach where coastal winds are common. Additionally, the ventilating bores intended to facilitate breathing do not provide sufficient means of ventilation to produce a cooling effect for the user on a hot day. Furthermore, this pillow lacks support for the back of one's head should one want to lie on one's back and cannot be worn around the neck while sitting upright.
Another type of face-down pillow is U.S. Pat. No. 8,468,628, which describes a pillow containing an opening for a person's face as well as side openings that enable a person to breathe. The device also contains a fan which can blow air into the cavity of the pillow. However, several disadvantages are associated with this invention. For example, the structure is solid with a padded cushion and therefore cannot be consolidated to a compact size for easy transportation to various outdoor locations, such as the beach. Furthermore, because the ventilation bores designed to facilitate breathing are not large enough to produce a cooling effect for the user on a hot day, the pillow contains a motorized fan to produce cooling air which requires batteries to operate and could be difficult to repair should it stop working. This invention does not provide support for the back of one's head when lying face-up and cannot be worn around one's neck.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,085,575 describes another pillow with a u-shape hole designed to be used in multiple positions, lying face-down, lying face-up, and sitting upright. The pillow features a two-piece design comprised of an upper wedged contour pillow and a lower horseshoe pillow that can be used together in various configurations to accommodate multiple lying or sitting positions. The horseshoe section of the pillow may include channel-like openings to allow for easier breathing when lying in a prone position. This pillow contains several disadvantages. For example, the structure is solid and comprised of multiple pieces, which prevent it from collapsing down to a compact size that can easily fit inside a small travel bag for easy transportation. The preferred cushion material is described as foam, which is not optimal for use in wet environments, such as the pool or beach, where the foam material could become waterlogged. While the possible channel-like openings facilitate breathing, they would not be large enough to produce sufficient ventilation to provide a cooling effect on a hot day. Furthermore, these tubes would be prone to the accumulation of dirt, debris, and mold caused by moisture from expelled breath and outside humidity.
Due to the disadvantages of current pillows, a need exists for a new and improved pillow that can be used in multiple positions, including lying face-down, lying face-up, and sitting upright, that provides an abundance of airflow when lying face-down without using constricted air apertures that can accumulate moisture and debris, that provides a supportive surface for the back of the head when lying faceup, that will not be blown away by the wind, and that can collapse into a removably attachable carrying case for easy transportation.
Embodiments of present disclosure provide a pillow. One embodiment provides a pillow including a u-shaped main body comprising a left portion, a right portion, and an upper portion, and an aperture is provided between the left portion, the right portion, and the upper portion. Furthermore, the embodiment of the pillow includes an inflatable air bladder inside the u-shaped main body. In this embodiment, the pillow also includes a left pillar on the bottom of the left portion, a right pillar on the bottom of the right portion, and an upper pillar on the bottom of the upper portion, and an air channel is provided between the upper pillar and the left pillar and the right pillar. In this embodiment, a face of a user can be inserted into the aperture and a nose and a mouth of the user can rest in the air channel above a resting surface upon which the pillow is placed.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the examples, as claimed.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the example implementations described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific implementations have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the example implementations described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the present disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to pillows, such as travel pillows, outdoor pillows, and combinations thereof. Although certain embodiments of the disclosed technology are explained in detail, it is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the disclosed technology is limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosed technology is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing the preferred embodiments, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity.
It should also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. References to a composition containing “a” constituent is intended to include other constituents in addition to the one named.
Also, in describing the preferred embodiments, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” or “substantially” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” or “substantially” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, other exemplary embodiments include from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value.
Herein, the use of terms such as “having,” “has,” “including,” or “includes” are open-ended and are intended to have the same meaning as terms such as “comprising” or “comprises” and not preclude the presence of other structure, material, or acts. Similarly, though the use of terms such as “can” or “may” are intended to be open-ended and to reflect that structure, material, or acts are not necessary, the failure to use such terms is not intended to reflect that structure, material, or acts are essential. To the extent that structure, material, or acts are presently considered to be essential, they are identified as such.
It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more method steps does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified. Moreover, although the term “step” may be used herein to connote different aspects of methods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly required.
The components described hereinafter as making up various elements of the disclosed technology are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform the same or similar functions as the components described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the disclosed technology. Such other components not described herein can include, but are not limited to, for example, similar components that are developed after development of the presently disclosed subject matter.
To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of the disclosed technology, various illustrative embodiments are explained below. In particular, the presently disclosed subject matter is described in the context of pillow. The present disclosure, however, is not so limited, and can be applicable in other contexts. These embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments, including embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, an improved pillow is provided that can be comprised of multiple panels. Furthermore, in some embodiments the pillow is configured in a u-shape, which flexibly allows the pillow to operate in multiple configurations, including 1) when a user has the user's face inserted into an aperture in the pillow, 2) when a user's head is lying on the pillow, and 3) when the pillow is worn around the user's neck. In some embodiments, the pillow can include a removably attachable pouch. In these embodiments, the pouch can be removably attached at different locations on the pillow to accommodate different configurations for the pillow, including (1) when the pouch is collapsed to the pillow or removed completely when the user has the user's face inserted into an aperture in the pillow or when the pillow is worn around the user's neck, (2) when the pouch is extended to at least partially cover the aperture in the pillow when a user's head is lying on the pillow, and (3) when the pouch is removably attached to the pillow and configured with weighted objects that prevent the pillow from being moved by the wind or other forces. In some embodiments, the pillow can include a compartment where the pouch can be stored when not in use.
The shape can be maintained by an inner air bladder comprised of plastic, rubber, resin, or any water-resistant and airtight material. The inner air bladder can be molded into a unique shape that creates support pillars 114 in the rear and support pillars 112 in the front of the pillow, producing an unobstructed channel for airflow without the need for additional apertures or extra components. In addition to creating a channel for air to flow through, the support pillars 112, 114 raise the pillow 100 off the ground so that the user's face does not come in contact with the ground. The pillars 112, 114 also help to align the user's head and spine in a comfortable straight line. In some embodiments, pillars 112 and 114 can also provide added head support when sitting upright and wearing the pillow 100 round one's neck. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that pillars 112 and 114 can be of varying sizes such that a predetermined angle for a resting head is created when the pillow 100 is placed upon a surface.
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In some alternative embodiments, the pouch 250 of the pillow is not a removably attachable pouch but rather permanently attached at one more attachment points on the pillow 100. For example, in one embodiment, the pouch 250 can be permanently sown on one end to the upper portion of the u-shaped main body of the pillow. Although in this embodiment the pouch 250 is permanently attached to the upper portion 240, the pouch 250 can be configured to be removably attached to the left portion 230 and the right portion 235 of the u-shaped main body of pillow 100. In this embodiment, the pouch 250 is permanently attached to the upper portion 240 and can be connected to the left portion 230 and the right portion 235 to at least partially cover the aperture when face-up lying is desired by user and can be configured to be condensed and attached to the upper portion 240 when face-down lying is desired by the user with an open aperture.
In some embodiments, the pillow 100 can feature an inflatable bladder encased in a water/sand repellant fabric and incorporate a removably attachable pouch 250 that can attach to the pillow at multiple points. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the removably attachable pouch 250 can be filled with weighted materials. For example, in the embodiment shown in
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the pillow 100 can also provide fastening mechanisms to enable the removably attachable pouch 250 to be secured to the top side of the pillow 100. As shown in the embodiment depicted in
In another embodiment, the removably attachable pouch 250 can be configured to accommodate a cooling gel pack or heating gel pack. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that a variety of sizes and shapes of cooling gel packs and heating gel packs are available. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the removably attachable pouch 250 provides a pocket for receiving cooling gel packs and/or heating gel packs of a general size.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the pillow 100 can comprise a u-shaped main body that is approximately 13″×13″ in size. In some embodiments, the pillow 100 includes an internal air bladder configured inside the u-shaped main body made of flexible air-tight material, such as plastic or rubber, covered in a soft fabric, such as a polyester or microfiber fabric. In some embodiments, the fabric that covers the outside of the pillow 100 can be a fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand. Additionally, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fabric cover of the pillow 100 can be removed in order to be washed. Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the removably attachable pouch 250 can be made of polyester, nylon, or similar slick and durable material. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the removably attachable pouch 250 can be attached to the back of the pillow 100.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the user can place sand into the removably attachable pouch 250, or the removably attachable pouch 250 can be filled with other weighted objects that prevent the pillow from being moved by the wind or other forces. The opening 260 in the removably attachable pouch 250 is configured in some embodiments to allow the removably attachable pouch 250 to be at least partially filled with sand without the user having to contact the sand directly, or, in other words, without the user's hand touching the sand. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the opening 260 in the removably attachable pouch 250 can be lined with plastic bands or magnetized tape, which are sufficiently rigid to dig into sand so that the removably attachable pouch 250 can be used to scoop up sand without using one's hand, shovels, or additional devices. Additionally, in some embodiments, the opening 260 of the removably attachable pouch 250 can comprise a closing mechanism, such as magnetic bands, a zipper, interlocking grooves, or the like, that prevent sand, or other objects enclosed in the removably attachable pouch 250, from spilling out. In some embodiments, the removably attachable pouch 250 can be attached to the pillow 100 with elastic bands that are looped around hooked clasps affixed to the side edges of the pillow, resulting in a unified structure. Alternatively, in other embodiments the removably attachable pouch 250 can be attached to the pillow 100 with snap buttons, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, buckles, latches, and other suitable attachment mechanisms.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that there are variety of suitable techniques that can be used to inflate and deflate various embodiments of the pillow 100. For example, in one embodiment, the pillow 100 can be inflated using an air valve that can fully inflate the pillow 100. In some embodiments, the pillow can be inflated by the exhalations of the user, such as three exhalations by the user. In some embodiments, the air valve can have multiple settings to manage the flow of air. In the default setting of one embodiment, air is trapped inside the air bladder by the air valve and can be manually deflated by pushing a button in the center of the valve, allowing the user to incrementally adjust the amount of air inside the air bladder for optimal comfort. In this embodiment, when a button on the air value is turned, such as turned 90 degrees clockwise, the air valve can release all of the air within the internal air bladder of the pillow 100. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the air bladder of the pillow 100 can be fully deflated and conveniently stored inside the removably attachable pouch 250. Thereby, in some embodiments, the removably attachable pouch 250 can convert into a compact carrying case for the deflated pillow 100.
Other examples of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the examples disclosed herein. Though some of the described methods have been presented as a series of steps, it should be appreciated that one or more steps can occur simultaneously, in an overlapping fashion, or in a different order. The order of steps presented are only illustrative of the possibilities and those steps can be executed or performed in any suitable fashion. Moreover, the various features of the examples described here are not mutually exclusive. Rather, any feature of any example described here can be incorporated into any other suitable example. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.
While the invention has been disclosed in exemplary forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents, as set forth in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63469361 | May 2023 | US |
