The present invention generally relates to blankets, weighted blankets, and weighted body devices, apparatuses, and systems. More specifically, the present invention is a weighted blanket device that includes a weighted section and at least one support pillow. The weighted blanket device is for providing support and/or comfort to certain applicable body area(s), such as, but not limited to, the torso area, midsection area, core area, back area, upper leg area, and/or lower leg area, of a user.
Blankets, weighted blankets, and weighted body devices, apparatuses, and systems are known in the art.
The present invention overcomes one or more of the shortcomings of blankets, weighted blankets, and weighted body devices, apparatuses, and systems. The Applicant is unaware of inventions or patent documents, taken either singly or in combination, which are seen to describe the present invention as claimed.
An advantage of the weighted blanket device of the present invention is for providing support and/or comfort to certain applicable body area(s), such as, but not limited to, the torso area, midsection area, core area, back area, upper leg area, and/or lower leg area, of a user.
Another advantage of the weighted blanket device of the present invention is that its shorter length compared to conventional weighted blankets helps to minimize overheating of the user.
A further advantage of the weighted blanket device of the present invention is that it provides adjustable support to the user.
An additional advantage of the weighted blanket device of the present invention is that it provides much better targeted support than conventional weighted blankets.
Another advantage of the weighted blanket device of the present invention is that it helps to reduce or relieve stress and/or anxiety in users during use.
A further advantage of the weighted blanket device of the present invention is that it helps to promote calmness with users having Autism Spectrum disorder during use.
The present invention is a weighted blanket device that includes a weighted section and at least one support pillow. The weighted blanket device is for providing support and/or comfort to certain applicable body area(s), such as, but not limited to, the torso area, midsection area, core area, back area, upper leg area, and/or lower leg area, of a user during use.
As a non-limiting, first embodiment, the weighted blanket device preferably includes a first end, a second end, a right side, a left side, a top surface, a bottom surface, a length, a width, a weighted section with weighted element(s) and a chamber or cavity, a non-weighted section, and one support pillow. Preferably, the length of the weighted blanket device is shorter than the lengths of conventional weighted blankets, and is sufficiently long to be able to fit under an underarm(s) and extend down to about the waist, thighs and/or knees of some, many or most users during use. Preferably, the width of the weighted blanket device is sufficiently wide such that, during use, the weighted section with weighted element(s) is positioned over an applicable body area(s) of the user and is able to provide sufficient support and/or comfort to the applicable body area(s).
Preferably, the weighted section makes up a sufficient area of the weighted blanket device such that the weighted element(s) is/are able to provide sufficient support and/or comfort to the applicable body area(s) of the user during use.
The non-weighted section is preferably located at or about the periphery of one of the right and left sides of the weighted blanket device. Preferably, the non-weighted section provides sufficient support and/or comfort to the corresponding body area(s) of the user when the user lays or is positioned on the non-weighted section during use.
Preferably, the support pillow has a first end, a second end, a body, and a lip, tongue, or lateral extension. During use, the lip may be tucked under the corresponding left underarm or right underarm, left side or right side, left arm or right arm, left upper leg area or right upper leg area, and/or left lower leg area or right lower leg area of the user so as to keep the weighted blanket device from sliding off or moving around during use. The support pillow is preferably located at or about the periphery of the second side of the right and left sides of the weighted blanket device. The support pillow is dimensioned and configured for helping to position the weighted section and weighted element(s) of the weighted blanket device on the applicable body area(s) of the user during use. Preferably, the support pillow provides sufficient support and/or comfort to the applicable body area(s) of the user that the support pillow makes contact with and also to body area(s) adjacent to or in proximity of the applicable body area(s) during use.
As a non-limiting, second embodiment, the weighted blanket device of this embodiment differs from the weighted blanket device of the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of support pillows instead of one support pillow, but does not include a non-weighted section. As a non-limiting example of this embodiment, one support pillow is larger than the other support pillow.
As a non-limiting, third embodiment, the weighted blanket device of this embodiment differs from the weighted blanket device of the first embodiment in that it does not include a non-weighted section.
As a non-limiting, fourth embodiment, the weighted blanket device of this embodiment differs from the weighted blanket device of the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of support pillows instead of one support pillow. As a non-limiting example of this embodiment, one support pillow is larger than the other support pillow.
As a non-limiting, fifth embodiment, the weighted blanket device of this embodiment differs from weighted blanket device of the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of support pillows instead of one support pillow 130, but does not include a non-weighted section. As a non-limiting example of this embodiment, both of the support pillows are about the same size.
As a non-limiting, sixth embodiment (not shown but similar to the fourth embodiment), the weighted blanket device of this embodiment differs from weighted blanket device of the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of support pillows instead of one support pillow. As a non-limiting example of this embodiment, both of the support pillows are about the same size.
It should be understood that the above-attached figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
Referring to
As a non-limiting, first embodiment and as shown in
Preferably, the weighted section 114 makes up a sufficient area of the weighted blanket device 100 such that the weighted element(s) 116 is/are able to provide sufficient support and/or comfort to the applicable body area(s) of the user U during use. More preferably, the weighted section 114 makes up a majority area or significant area of the weighted blanket device 100. The weighted section 114 may be a single section or may be divided into several sections. Preferably, the chamber or cavity 118 is preferably defined by the first end 102, second end 104, right side 106, left side 108, top surface 110, and bottom surface 112. The chamber or cavity 118 is dimensioned and configured for receiving the weighted element(s) 116. As a non-limiting example, the chamber or cavity 118 may be enclosed by a zipper or other enclosure device (not shown) so that different amounts of weighted element(s) 116 can be added to or removed from the chamber or cavity 118 according to the user's preference. It is obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art (OOSA) that a weighted blanket device(s) similar to the weighted blanket devices 100,200,300, 400,500 of the present invention not include the chamber or cavity 118 but instead have the weighted element(s) 116 secured to the top surface 110 and/or bottom surface 112 of the weighted blanket device(s) by a securing device(s), such as, but not limited to, velcro, hook and loop fasteners, ties, clips, or fastening buttons. Further, it is obvious to OOSA that a weighted blanket device(s) similar to the weighted blanket devices 100,200,300,400,500 of the present invention includes the chamber or cavity 118 but also have the ability of the weighted element(s) 116 being secured to the top surface 110 and/or bottom surface 112 of the weighted blanket device(s) by the securing device(s) mentioned above. As a non-limiting example, the weighted section 114 of the weighted blanket device 100 may be made or manufactured of a material(s) that is stretchable to allow extra fit to the body and/or tighter support to the body of the user. Alternatively, the weighted section 114 may be made or manufactured of a material(s) that is not stretchable.
The weighted element(s) 116 has a sufficient weight in totality such that the weighted element(s) 116 is/are able to provide sufficient support and/or comfort to the applicable body area(s) of the user U during use. Preferably, the weighted element(s) 116 is a plurality of weighted beads, which may be made or manufactured of at least one material, such as, but not limited to, glass, plastic, metal, wood, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, the weighted element(s) 116 may be a plurality of marbles, any other weighted element(s) known to OOSA, and any combination thereof (possibly including the plurality of weighted beads).
The non-weighted section 120 is preferably located at or about the periphery of one of the right and left sides 106,108 of the weighted blanket device 100. The non-weighted section 120 may contain a soft material (such as, but not limited to, quilt batting, cotton, a down-feather material, any soft material known to OOSA, or any combination thereof), a cushioning material (such as, but not limited to, foam, memory foam, any cushioning material known to OOSA, or any combination thereof), air, nothing, or any combination thereof. As a non-limiting example, the non-weighted section 120 may be similar or substantially similar to a common comforter blanket or a down-feather comforter blanket and contain a material(s) from a common comforter blanket or a down-feather comforter blanket. Preferably, the non-weighted section 120 provides sufficient support and/or comfort to the corresponding body area(s) of the user U when the user U lays or is positioned on the non-weighted section 120 during use.
Preferably, the support pillow 130 has a first end 132, a second end 134, a body 136, and a lip, tongue, or lateral extension 138. The body 136 extends from the first end 132 to the second end 134. Preferably, the lip 138 is soft to the touch or made or manufactured of a soft material, such as, but not limited, to cotton, silk, polyester, any soft material known to OOSA, or any combination thereof. During use, the lip 138 may be tucked under the corresponding left underarm or right underarm, left side or right side, left arm or right arm, left upper leg area or right upper leg area, and/or left lower leg area or right lower leg area of the user U so as to keep the weighted blanket device 100 from sliding off or moving around during use. It is believed that the more a user U tucks the support pillow 130 under a corresponding body area(s) of the user U, the more support that corresponding body area(s) receives from the support pillow 130 and/or weighted blanket device 100. The support pillow 130 is preferably located at or about the periphery of the second side of the right and left sides 106,108 of the weighted blanket device 100. The support pillow 130 is dimensioned and configured for helping to position the weighted section 114 and weighted element(s) 116 of the weighted blanket device 100 on the applicable body area(s) of the user U during use. Preferably, the support pillow 130 provides sufficient support and/or comfort to the applicable body area(s) of the user U that the support pillow 130 makes contact with and also to body area(s) adjacent to or in proximity of the applicable body area(s) during use. The support pillows 130 can be made or manufactured in different shapes (such as, but not limited to, oval or oval with lip 138). The support pillows 130 can include a lip 138 or no lip 138. The support pillows 130 can be made or manufactured of various materials, such as, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, foam, memory foam, or any combination thereof. The support pillows 130 can be made or manufactured of only one material, all polyester, all foam or memory foam, or all cotton, or any combination thereof. The support pillows 130 is preferably made or manufactured with a softer material in the lip area because it's tucked under a user's body during use, and with a firmer material in the thicker area for providing support to the user's body.
As a non-limited example, at least one of the support pillow(s) for each device 100,200,300,400,500,600 may have two or more levels of firmness (such as, but not limited to, firm, extra firm, medium firm, and soft) within certain locations for that particular support pillow. Alternatively, for a device with two or more support pillows, that particular device may have a first support pillow having one level of firmness and a second support pillow having another level of firmness
Each of the weighted blanket devices 100,200,300,400,500,600 may be made or manufactured in various dimensions, configurations, shapes, and thicknesses to accommodate users U having bodies of different sizes and shapes and having different preferences.
As a non-limiting, second embodiment and as shown in
Preferably, each of the support pillows 230a,230b has a first end 232a, 232b, a second end 234a,234b, a body 236a,236b, and a lip, tongue, or lateral extension 238a,238b. As a non-limiting example of this embodiment, one support pillow 230a is larger than the other support pillow 230b.
Preferably, all of the similar components and limitations (such as first ends 102,202,302,402,502,602, second ends 104,204,304,404,504,604, etc.) of the disclosed embodiments are substantially or exactly the same as one another. To avoid redundancy, the similar components and limitations will not be described further unless there is/are any difference(s).
As a non-limiting, third embodiment and as shown in
Preferably, all of the similar components and limitations (such as first ends 102,202,302,402,502,602, second ends 104,204,304,404,504,604, etc.) of the disclosed embodiments are substantially or exactly the same as one another. To avoid redundancy, the similar components and limitations will not be described further unless there is/are any difference(s).
As a non-limiting, fourth embodiment and as shown in
Preferably, each of the support pillows 430a,430b has a first end 432a, 432b, a second end 434a,434b, a body 436a,436b, and a lip, tongue, or lateral extension 438a,438b. As a non-limiting example of this embodiment, one support pillow 430a is larger than the other support pillow 430b.
Preferably, all of the similar components and limitations (such as first ends 102,202,302,402,502,602, second ends 104,204,304,404,504,604, etc.) of the disclosed embodiments are substantially or exactly the same as one another. To avoid redundancy, the similar components and limitations will not be described further unless there is/are any difference(s).
As a non-limiting, fifth embodiment and as shown in
Preferably, each of the support pillows 530a,530b has a first end 532a, 532b, a second end 534a,534b, a body 536a,536b, and a lip, tongue, or lateral extension 538a,538b. As a non-limiting example of this embodiment, both of the support pillows 530a,530b are of the same size.
Preferably, all of the similar components and limitations (such as first ends 102,202,302,402,502,602, second ends 104,204,304,404,504,604, etc.) of the disclosed embodiments are substantially or exactly the same as one another. To avoid redundancy, the similar components and limitations will not be described further unless there is/are any difference(s).
As a non-limiting, sixth embodiment (not shown), the weighted blanket device 600 includes a first end 602, a second end 604, a right side 606, a left side 608, a top surface 610, a bottom surface 612, a length LTH6, a width WTH6, a weighted section 614 with weighted element(s) 616 and a chamber or cavity (not shown), a non-weighted section 620, and a pair of support pillows 630a,630b. Weighted blanket device 600 differs from weighted blanket device 100 in that it includes a pair of support pillows 630a,630b instead of one support pillow 130.
Preferably, each of the support pillows 630a,630b has a first end 632a, 632b, a second end 634a,634b, a body 636a,636b, and a lip, tongue, or lateral extension 638a,638b. As a non-limiting example of this embodiment, both of the support pillows 630a,630b are of the same size.
Preferably, all of the similar components and limitations (such as first ends 102,202,302,402,502,602, second ends 104,204,304,404,504,604, etc.) of the disclosed embodiments are substantially or exactly the same as one another. To avoid redundancy, the similar components and limitations will not be described further unless there is/are any difference(s).
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or as shown in the attached figures, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the spirit of the invention.
The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/207,946, filed on Apr. 2, 2021 and titled “The Better Sleeper,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63207946 | Apr 2021 | US |