| 20090222994 | THERAPEUTIC BOLSTER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME | September, 2009 | Wood |
| 20070000052 | Garment for protection from inclement weather | January, 2007 | Vianello |
| 20090139034 | FUTON MATTRESS | June, 2009 | Maarbjerg |
| 20020092098 | Leg and knee support devices for squatting and kneeling | July, 2002 | Michalow |
| 20070220678 | Support pillows and pillow cases therefor | September, 2007 | Ciliento |
| 20080201850 | Positioning platform for prone breast imaging | August, 2008 | Brito et al. |
| 20090172886 | MATERNITY PILLOW | July, 2009 | Ross et al. |
| 20010008214 | Inflatable support pillow and methods for its use | July, 2001 | Matthews |
| 20060248649 | Combination Wheelchair/Gurney | November, 2006 | Kuenzel |
| 20040040086 | Healthcare system with coordinated operation of sub-systems | March, 2004 | Eisenberg et al. |
| 20090241262 | Mobile veterinary surgical table incorporating a dental operatory | October, 2009 | Jehn |
This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/955,173 filed Aug. 10, 2007.
The present invention relates, in general, to pillows and, more particularly, this invention relates to pillow devices which enable a user to simultaneously elevate or support more than one body part.
Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, pillows, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to elevate a person's head while sleeping and elevate a person's appendages which are healing from injuries, and for supporting a user's back, belly, or other body parts for comfort and health reasons. Often times, in order to be comfortable or achieve a desired result a plurality of pillows are used. However, this can be frustrating since such plurality of pillows can be difficult to transport to and from the desired location and may fail to stay in the intended locations in which they are placed. Furthermore, often individuals experience needs for support which differ from others' needs. Therefore there is a need for a pillow device which can be configured to simultaneously support more than one part of a user's body as desired by such user.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,412 discloses an L-shaped pillow and pillow case combined with an anchor structure for retaining the pillow and pillowcase in position on a bed with one leg of the L-shaped pillow and pillowcase being positioned under the head in a conventional manner and the other leg of the pillow and pillowcase extending longitudinally alongside of a person reclining on the bed to provide support substantially throughout the length of the back of a person using the pillow and pillowcase. The anchor includes a sheet or panel of fabric or similar material placed on the bed under the person using the pillow with the anchor panel being secured to the bed if desired.
Schaffner, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,674 discloses an ergonomically designed pillow having a shape that offers support for a user's head and/or limbs through a portion of their range of motion with respect to the user's torso without having to reposition or reconfigure the pillow. In the preferred embodiment the pillow has a substantially fixed radius curved shape designed to correspond to the rotation of the head with respect to the shoulders.
Leach, U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,817 discloses a contoured body pillow having a substantially candy cane shape comprising a first terminal end having a semi-bell shape connecting to a U-shaped portion, a downwardly extending leg connecting to the U-shaped portion, the leg expanding at its lowermost portion to form a bell shape, the bell shape terminating at a second terminal end in a beveled edge.
Leach, U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,164 discloses a body pillow having an upper end which is essentially in the shape of a horseshoe and a lower end which is essentially in the shape of a J, a straight portion connecting the horseshoe-shaped top with the J-shaped bottom, the cross-sectional diameter of the body pillow being between 7 and 12 inches.
Varaney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,048 discloses a pillow having a central head supporting portion with two extension portions, substantially perpendicular to the central portion.
The present invention provides a pillow device. Such pillow device includes a first pillow member. Such first pillow member is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. At least a second pillow member is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size. A pillow covering member has at least a first compartment and a second compartment located therein. Each of such first compartment and such second compartment have a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a front and a back and are attached to each other such that at least one of such second end of such first compartment is attached to such second side of such second compartment closely adjacent such second end thereof and such second end of such second compartment is attached to such second side of such first compartment closely adjacent such second end thereof. Such first compartment has a first opening disposed closely adjacent at least one of such first end and such second end thereof for enabling a user to insert such first pillow member into such first compartment. Such second compartment has a second opening disposed closely adjacent at least one of such first end and such second end thereof for enabling a user to insert such at least such second pillow member into such second compartment. Such cover member is manufactured from a third predetermined material and has a third predetermined shape and a third predetermined size.
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a pillow device which enables a user to support one or more portions of his or her body simultaneously.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pillow device which can be placed between a user and a child such that such user will not roll on such child while such user is sleeping.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pillow device which utilizes a plurality of pillows to provide a predetermined level of support for predetermined portions of a user's body.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to transport pillow device which provides more comfort and support than an individual standard type pillow.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a pillow device for use by individuals who have sustained injury, suffer from a medical condition such as arthritis, swollen legs, back pain, who are generally uncomfortable due to pregnancy, who have undergone surgery, and the like.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pillow device which may be configured in an L-shape.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pillow device which incorporates more than one pillow member to support a user
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the pillow members are shown outside of the pillow covering member.
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-2.
The present invention provides a pillow device, generally designated 10. Such pillow device 10 includes a first pillow member 12. Such first pillow member 12 is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size.
It is presently preferred that such first pillow member 12 is a memory foam type pillow member. It is presently preferred that such first pillow member 12 is at least one of a king size pillow member, a queen size pillow member, and a standard size pillow member. It is presently most preferred that such first pillow member 12 is a king size pillow member.
At least a second pillow member 14 is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size.
It is presently preferred that such second pillow member 14 is a memory foam type pillow member. It is presently preferred that such second pillow member 14 is at least one of a king size pillow member, a queen size pillow member, and a standard size pillow member. It is presently most preferred that such second pillow member 14 is a standard size pillow member.
A pillow covering member 16 has at least a first compartment 18 and a second compartment 22 located therein.
Each of such first compartment 18 and such second compartment 22 have a first end 24, a second end 26, a first side 28, a second side 32, a front 34 and a back (not shown) and are attached to each other such that at least one of such second end 26 of such first compartment 18 is attached to such second side 32 of such second compartment 22 closely adjacent such second end 26 thereof and such second end 26 of such second compartment 22 is attached to such second side 32 of such first compartment 18 closely adjacent such second end 26 thereof.
Such first compartment 18 has a first opening 38 disposed closely adjacent at least one of such first end 24 and such second end 26 thereof for enabling a user 53 to insert such first pillow member 12 into such first compartment 18. It is presently preferred that such first opening 38 is disposed closely adjacent such first end 24.
Such second compartment 22 has a second opening 42 disposed closely adjacent at least one of such first end 24 and such second end 26 thereof for enabling a user 53 to insert such at least such second pillow member 14 into such second compartment 22. It is presently preferred that such second opening 42 is disposed closely adjacent such first end 24.
Such covering member 16 is manufactured from a third predetermined material and has a third predetermined shape and a third predetermined size.
It is presently preferred that such third predetermined shape is L-shaped. It is further presently preferred that such third predetermined material is at least one of fabric, nylon, canvas, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such third predetermined material is fabric. It is further presently preferred that such fabric is cotton.
It is presently preferred that such covering member 16 includes at least one fastening means 44 operably connected to such covering member 16 at a predetermined location thereon adjacent such first opening 38 for removably securing such first opening in a closed position. It is presently preferred that such fastening means 44 is a zipper type fastening means 45.
It is presently preferred that such covering member 16 includes at least one fastening means 44 operably connected to such covering member 16 at a predetermined location thereon adjacent such second opening 42 for removably securing such second opening 42 in a closed position. It is presently preferred that such fastening means 44 is a zipper type fastening means 45.
It is presently preferred that such second compartment 22 has a length which is at least sufficient to receive at least two pillow members and wherein such device 10 further includes a third pillow member 52, such third pillow member 52 being manufactured from a fourth predetermined material and having a fourth predetermined shape and a fourth predetermined size and for being received and housed within such second compartment 22.
It is further presently preferred that such third pillow member 52 is a memory foam type pillow member. It is further presently preferred that such third pillow member 52 is at least one of a king size pillow member, a queen size pillow member, and a standard size pillow member. It is presently most preferred that such third pillow member 52 is a standard size pillow member.
It is presently preferred that such covering member 16 further includes a skirt type member 56 connected to such covering member 16 closely adjacent each of such second sides 32 such that movement of such pillow device 10 is limited while a user 53 is laying on such skirt type member 56.
It is further contemplated that such skirt type member 56 be releasably attachable to such pillow covering member 16 such that a user 53 may use such skirt type member 56 selectively.
Furthermore, it is intended that such pillow device 10 may be rotated, flipped, turned, and manipulated by each individual user for that particular user's comfort. Additionally such user may choose to limit the number of pillow members in use at any given time and can arrange such pillow members as desired for maximum comfort.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.