Variable contour pillow and method of making the same

Abstract

Variable contour pillow and method of making the same, comprising: a pillow cover preferably with internal seams, a plurality of internal interconnecting members that define the thickness and/or taper of the pillow in desired locations along the length and/or width of the pillow, the method comprising steps of attaching the interconnecting members during the process of filling the pillow, alternately preferably hand filling behind an interconnecting member, interconnecting the interconnecting member, filling in front of the first interconnecting member and a next interconnecting member, interconnecting the next interconnecting member, and so on, until the pillow is completely filled and desired multiple levels of fill and/or surface tapers are achieved, with specific application to construction of a form-fitting body pillow with variable shape and thickness of fill material.

Claims

1. A pillow having varying levels of sustainable thickness or taper along at least one dimension of the pillow, comprising: a top pillow cover comprising an inside surface, an outside surface, and a perimeter; a bottom pillow cover comprising an inside surface, an outside surface, and a perimeter; at least one elongated interconnecting member, said top pillow cover and said bottom pillow cover being interconnected with said at least one elongated interconnecting member; a plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members, at least one of said plurality of thickness controlling members comprising a first portion attached to the inside surface of the top pillow cover; the at least one of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members also comprising a second portion separate from but interconnectible with the first portion and attached to the inside surface of the bottom pillow cover; a fill material retained within the pillow and held in place with said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members, said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members enabling varying levels of thickness or taper along at least one dimension of the pillow, wherein one portion of the pillow is filled to a given thickness or taper along a length or width of the pillow and another portion of the pillow is filled to another thickness or taper along another length or width of the pillow, the transition from the given thickness or taper to the another thickness or taper being controlled by an intermediate one of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members, a closeable opening in the pillow having allowed access to the interior of the pillow, wherein the pillow is adapted for use as a body pillow, wherein each of said top pillow cover and said bottom pillow cover are of a length corresponding roughly to the length of a human body, and wherein said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members comprises a plurality of interconnectible ribbons, at least one of said plurality of interconnectible ribbons having a first portion and a second portion, each of said plurality of interconnectible ribbons being attached at a different location lengthwise and widthwise of the pillow, and the at least one of said plurality of interconnectible ribbons being of adjustable length adapted to maintain at least one of variable thickness and fill density of the pillow along a dimension of the pillow, the first and second portions of the at least one of said plurality of interconnectible ribbons being interconnected with each other, the pillow being adaptable to cushioning varying portions of the human body such as chest, abdomen, hips, knees, thighs, and ankles.

2. A pillow having varying levels of sustainable thickness or taper along at least one dimension of the pillow, comprising: a top pillow cover comprising an inside surface, an outside surface, and a perimeter; a bottom pillow cover comprising an inside surface, an outside surface, and a perimeter; at least one elongated interconnecting member, said top pillow cover and said bottom pillow cover being interconnected with said at least one elongated interconnecting member; a plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members, at least one of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members comprising a first portion, attached to the inside surface of the top pillow cover; the at least one of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members also comprising a second portion separate from but interconnectible with the first portion and attached to the inside surface of the bottom pillow cover; a fill material retained within the pillow and held in place with said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members, said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members enabling varying levels of thickness or taper along at least one dimension of the pillow, wherein one portion of the pillow is filled to a given thickness or taper along a length or width of the pillow and another portion of the pillow is filled to another thickness or taper along another length or width of the pillow, the transition from the given thickness or taper to the another thickness or taper being controlled by an intermediate one of said, plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members, a closeable opening in the pillow having allowed access to the interior of the pillow, wherein the first portion of the at least one of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members has a hook sewn thereon, wherein the second portion of the at least one of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members has a loop sewn therein, and wherein the hook and loop are interconnected within the pillow to enable variable thickness or variable taper areas along one or more dimensions of the pillow.

3. The pillow of claim 2, wherein the hook is a g-hook.

4. The pillow of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members is comprised of a first somewhat flexible portion sewn to the inside surface of the top pillow cover and a corresponding second somewhat flexible portion sewn to the inside surface of the bottom pillow cover, each of the first somewhat flexible portion and the second somewhat flexible portion being comprised of one of a single hook and loop portions, snap and receptacle portions, hook and multiple loop portions, stick and loop portions, and g-hook and sewn-in loop portions, adapted for interconnecting with a corresponding portion of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members.

5. The pillow of claim 1, wherein said top pillow cover and said bottom pillow cover are interconnected with said at least one elongated an interconnecting member with internal hidden seams.

6. The pillow of claim 2, wherein said top pillow cover and said bottom pillow cover are interconnected with said at least one elongated interconnecting member with internal hidden seams.

7. The pillow in accordance with claim 1, comprising: a wide section of sufficient size and thickness controlled by a plurality of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members to be comfortable when hugged to the chest of a person, supporting the elbows and arms in natural positions; a narrow and thinner section for passing in front of the hips of the person where less cushioning is needed; a wider and thicker section controlled by another plurality of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members for passing between the thighs and knees of the person, providing substantial cushioning especially for the knees; and a thinner section controlled by yet another plurality of said plurality of interconnectible thickness controlling members for passing between the ankles of the person, allowing freedom of movement and a moderate amount of cushioning for the ankles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the general steps involved in constructing a pillow in accordance with the disclosure;

(2) FIG. 2 is a representative top view of two interconnectible thickness control members (when connected together forming an interconnected combination), namely in this embodiment comprising ribbons forming a ribbon pair, showing one ribbon attached to a g-hook, and the other ribbon folded over and sewn to create a plurality of loops for inserting the open portion of the g-hook, each with a ribbon attachment zone for sewing to the top and bottom pillow cover, respectively;

(3) FIG. 3 is a representative perspective view of two ribbons comprising a ribbon pair, with the hook portion of a hook-and-pile (aka hook-and-loop) fastener attached to one ribbon and the pile portion of a hook-and-pile fastener attached to the other ribbon, as an alternative method of connecting the two ribbons into a ribbon pair or an interconnected combination;

(4) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an inside-out pillow casing and therefore the inner surface of its top pillow cover, with a bottom pillow cover (not shown on the back side of the pillow in FIG. 4A, but shown in FIG. 4B), with the outer surfaces of the pillow covers adjacent to each other and aligned and having peripheral, normally hidden, seams sewn around the edge of the pillow, showing the ribbons with g-hooks attached on the inside of the top cover and a representative location for a zipper;

(5) FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the back side, and therefore the inside of the bottom pillow cover, of the pillow of FIG. 4A, with sewn loops attached in locations on the inside of the bottom pillow cover corresponding to the ribbons with g-hooks shown in FIG. 4A, and aligned with the top pillow cover of FIG. 4A;

(6) FIG. 4C is a perspective view of pieces of an elongated interconnecting edge cover of varying widths along its length and suitable for sewing with hidden seams between top and bottom pillow cover portions as known for a box-type construction pillow of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

(7) FIG. 4D is a perspective view of an additional pillow covering for a body pillow hereof.

(8) FIG. 5 is a representation of the inside of a pillow being stuffed with fill material, and the two ribbons of a ribbon pair (interconnectible thickness controlling member portions, or interconnected combination) in position to be connected to secure the top pillow cover to the bottom pillow cover with a desired thickness at that location;

(9) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a completed pillow showing the various locations of the ribbon pairs (interconnected combinations) that are used to control the thickness of the pillow, which may vary from point to point across the pillow, and showing an example of a shape achievable in constructing the pillow in accordance with the methods and teaching of the disclosure;

(10) FIG. 7 is a top view of a completed body pillow, showing an example of a shape achievable in constructing the pillow in accordance with the methods and teaching of the disclosure;

(11) FIG. 8 is a side view of a completed body pillow, showing an example of the variety of thicknesses achievable in constructing the pillow in accordance with the methods and teaching of the disclosure;

(12) FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a particular design of a body pillow, showing the position of a person using the pillow in a reclining position, and showing the variation in shape and thickness, as well as varying density portions, adapted to cushioning various parts of a human body;

(13) FIG. 10A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of another interconnectible thickness controlling member wherein loops are implemented by sewing them inline in the member; and

(14) FIG. 10B is a side view of another alternative embodiment of another interconnectible thickness controlling member wherein the loops are implemented by sewing them on opposite sides of the member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) Referring to the Figures, and in particular FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, there is provided a method for constructing a pillow (e.g., pillow 126 shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 6, and 9) of arbitrary shape, varying thickness, and varying densities along the length of the pillow, comprising the steps outlined generally in FIG. 1.

(16) There are provided side-by-side steps (indicating no particular order for these steps) of step 10 cutting material in a desired shape to produce a top pillow cover 100 and a bottom pillow cover 102; and step 12 (comprising two substeps) (1) implementing a first portion of an interconnecting member 104 (e.g., a g-hook 104) with a first portion of an interconnectible thickness controlling member 108 (e.g., ribbons 108), and (2) implementing a second portion of the interconnecting member 106 (e.g., a loop 106) with another portion of the interconnectible thickness controlling member 108 (e.g., ribbons 108), wherein a combined length of the first and second portions of the interconnectible thickness controlling member connected together is adapted for controlling of a desired thickness of the pillow 126 at a given location on the pillow. As indicated at step 12, “Implementing/Preparing ribbons with g-hooks and sewn loops”, this step 12 may be repeated multiple times for multiple interconnecting member portions 108 (such as with 24 multiple ribbons as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B).

(17) Step 14 comprises attaching (e.g., by sewing) the first portion of the interconnectible thickness controlling member 108 (ribbon 108) with the first portion of the interconnecting member (hook 104) to an inner surface of the top pillow cover 100 and attaching (e.g., by sewing) the another portion of the interconnectible thickness controlling member 108 (ribbon 108) with the second portion of the interconnecting member (loop, or loops, 106) to an inner surface of the bottom pillow cover 102 in a location adapted to be across from and corresponding with the portion of the interconnectible thickness controlling member 108 attached with the first portion of the interconnecting member 104 attached to the top pillow cover 100—as indicated in that step 14 refers to “sewing ribbons”, the step 14 may be repeated for as many interconnectible thickness controlling member portions 108 as are desired (e.g., in the case of pillow 126 of FIG. there are shown 12 pairs of interconnectible thickness controlling member portions (i.e., 12 interconnected combinations 110, 110′)).

(18) Step 16 is comprised of 4 substeps: (1) aligning the top pillow cover 100 and the bottom pillow cover 102 with the outside surface of each cover facing each other (i.e., inside out) so as to be adapted to enclosing of the pillow 126, (2) interconnecting peripheral seams 113 of the pillow 126, as with thread or an elongated interconnecting member(s) 120 as shown in FIG. 4C; (3) creating/adding an opening 118 for the pillow, and (4) adding a zipper 119 to the opening 118, making it a closeable opening 118, 119.

(19) The step 16 (2), interconnecting the top pillow cover 100 and the bottom pillow cover 102 along corresponding perimeters 113 of the covers may be accomplished with an interconnecting member such as thread 121 (FIG. 6) sewing in a hidden seam, or such as by using an elongated interconnecting member, or panel, which may be comprised of a plurality of panel members 120 as shown in FIG. 4C. Either way, preferably there are employed what are considered to be more comfortable hidden seams with the pillow 126 and such as may be used for either a knife-edge-type pillow construction or a box pillow-type construction. When using box pillow-type construction, step 16 (2), interconnecting the top pillow cover 100 and the bottom pillow cover 102, thus preferably further comprises sewing an elongated interconnecting edge cover 120, or in accordance with FIG. 4C a plurality of such elongated interconnecting edge covers 120, along the perimeters 113 of each the top pillow cover and the bottom pillow cover. It will be appreciated that the top pillow cover 100 and the bottom pillow cover 102 may be each of a material suitable as a pillow liner, and in such case the pillow may further comprise an additional pillow covering 400.

(20) The closeable opening 118, 119 of substeps 16 (3) and (4) may also be applied to either a knife-edge-type pillow (preferably at a seam of the pillow), or a box-construction-type pillow 126. Applied to a knife-edge-type pillow, these substeps 16 (3) and (4) may also be referred to as associating the closeable opening 118, 119 with the pillow, for example by creating an opening 118 and sewing a zipper 119 at an intersection of corresponding peripheral locations of the top pillow cover 100 and the bottom pillow cover 102. Or, for a box-construction-type pillow 126, these substeps 16 (3) and (4) may be referred to as associating the closeable opening 118, 119 with the pillow, for example, by creating an opening 118 in the elongated interconnecting edge cover 120, and installing a zipper 119 at the opening 118, both preferably before sewing the elongated interconnecting edge cover to the top pillow cover 100 and the bottom pillow cover 102. The steps 16 (3) and (4) make the closeable opening 118, 119 adapted to facilitate filling the pillow 126 with fill through the closeable opening.

(21) Step 18 comprises turning the pillow right side out through the opening 118 such that the interconnectible.

(22) Step 20 comprises two substeps (1) adding fill material 116 to the inside of the pillow 126 through the closeable opening 118, 119 and behind (relative to the closeable opening 118, 119) corresponding first and second portions 108 of interconnecting members (ribbon pairs) 110; and (2) interconnecting to form an interconnected combination 110 of ribbon pairs 108, the first interconnecting portion of the interconnecting member (e.g., hook 104) to the second portion of the interconnecting member (e.g., one of the loops 106) at the interior of the pillow 126, such that the interconnected combination 110 is located in front (relative to the closeable opening) of the fill material 116. As shown at step 20, and at repeating indicator 21, there is provided a plurality of repeated steps adding fiber fill material 116 to the inside of the pillow 126 through the closeable opening 118, 119 and in front (relative to the opening) of the interconnected combination (i.e., repeating step 20 as shown at 21), until the pillow if filled completely, each portion of the pillow behind an interconnected combination 110 optionally being filled to a higher density than another portion of the pillow behind an interconnection combination 110.

(23) Step 22 comprises closing the closeable opening 118, 119 as with zipping the opening so as to close the closeable opening.

(24) In accordance with an embodiment of the pillow 126, either or both the first portion 108 of the interconnectible thickness controlling member (interconnected combination 110) and/or the second portion 108 of the interconnectible thickness controlling member, comprises a ribbon portion 108, such as a first ribbon portion and/or a second ribbon portion. Further, in accordance with an embodiment, the first portion of the interconnecting member preferably comprises a hook 104, and the second portion of the interconnecting member preferably comprises one of a plurality of loops 106″, each of the plurality of loops 106″ being located at different height locations along a ribbon portion 108. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10A, there is provided a side view of an alternative embodiment of another interconnectible thickness controlling member 108, wherein loops 106″ are implemented by sewing them inline in the member. Further, as shown in FIG. 10B there is provided is a side view another alternative embodiment of another interconnectible thickness controlling member 108 wherein loops 106′″ are implemented by sewing them on opposite sides of the member.

(25) Thus, in accordance with an embodiment, the implementing a first portion step 12 (1) comprises attaching the first ribbon 108 portion to a hook 104, wherein the implementing a second portion step 12 (2) comprises forming at least one loop 106″, 106′″ in the another ribbon portion 108. Further, in accordance with an embodiment, the attaching the first ribbon portion 108 of step 14 comprises attaching (sewing) the first ribbon portion 108 with the hook 104 to the inner surface of the top pillow cover 100, and the attaching the another portion 108 of step 14 comprises attaching the another ribbon portion 108 with the loop(s) 106″, 106′″ to the inner surface of the bottom pillow 102. It will be appreciated that throughout the disclosure that any portion of the disclosure that refers to interconnectible thickness control/controlling members 108 or an interconnected combination 110, such may also be appropriately referred to as a ribbon pair 110.

(26) Preferably, in accordance with an embodiment, the implementing step 12 (applied in this embodiment to implementing/attaching hooks 104 and implementing/attaching loops 106 to ribbons 108), and the attaching the first portion step 14, and the attaching the another portion step 14, are repeated such that a plurality of ribbon portions 108, 108′ with hooks 104, 104′ and a corresponding plurality of ribbon portions 108 with loops 106, 106′, 106″, 106′″, are each attached (in successive repeated attachments) correspondingly to different locations on the inner surface of the top pillow cover 100 and the inner surface of the bottom pillow cover 102, respectively.

(27) Further, preferably each adding fiber fill material 116 to the inside of the pillow 126 in step 20, and each interconnecting portions 108 to form an interconnected combination 110 in step 20, are each repeated as necessary to complete filling different locations of the pillow 126 and adapted for facilitating at least one of a plurality of pillow thickness changes and optionally a plurality of fill density changes along one or more dimensions of the pillow as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

(28) Still further, in accordance with an embodiment, there is provided that each implementing a second portion step 12 comprises forming a plurality of loops 106′, 106″, 106′″ in each of the plurality of another portion/ribbon strips 108, such that the length of each interconnected combination 110 may be differently adapted with differently-positioned, different-height, plurality of loops 106″, 106′″, to facilitate producing a pillow 126 with variable thicknesses, tapers, and/or densities along the length or width of the pillow.

(29) Preferably, each hook 104 in accordance with one or more embodiments of a pillow 126 comprises a g-shaped hook 104, e.g., a g-hook, and each interconnecting to form an interconnected combinations 110 as part of substep 20 (2) comprises manually hooking such a g-hook 104 with a loop 106, 106′, 106″, 106′″, and each of a plurality of loops is sewn into each another ribbon 108 to allow for differing length interconnected combinations 110 using the same first ribbon portions 108 with a g-hook 106 and the same another ribbon portions 108 with the plurality of loops 106, depending on which of the plurality of loops a particular g-hook is hooked into.

(30) In this way, the maker is enabled in easily varying the length of the interconnected combination 110 to establish varying, new, different tapers, and/or levels, of fill along a length or width dimension of the pillow 126 as desired.

(31) Preferably, in accordance with an embodiment of the pillow 126, the closeable opening 118 in the pillow 126 is secured with a zipper 119 sewn between the top pillow cover 100 and the bottom pillow cover 102 such that the closing the enclosure step 22 further comprises closing the zipper 118.

(32) Further, preferably, the pillow 126 is hand-filled with fiber fill 116. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the step of adding the fill material may just as well comprise pouring of sand, pellets, or other fill material, whether by hand or with a machine, for pouring filling material to the inside of the pillow, without departing from the broader aspects of the invention and as claimed, except in such a case while filling the pillow may be automated and quicker to complete, variable densities may not be as easily accomplished in such case, since sand or pellets may tend to flow more easily around a particular interconnected combination 110, whereas fiber fill 116 would be more likely to be successfully held in place by a particular interconnected combination 110.

(33) The aforementioned methods aspect of the disclosure provide a variable-thickness and/or tapered pillow 126, whether a conventional pillow, a specialty pillow, or a body pillow, that is adaptable to be filled to varying densities along the length or width of the pillow and that is adaptable to include varying levels of thickness and/or taper (e.g., as at areas 101, 103, 105, 107, 111 of FIGS. 8 and 9) along the length and/or width of the pillow so as to be able to adequately cushion varying portions of a person's body, or otherwise. Though not shown, an interconnected combination 110 may be implemented at area 111, or alternatively thickness and density at this particular location may be controlled between areas 101 and 103 at either end of area 111 such that twisting of this area may be more readily implemented as in the case where the body pillow 126 is used by a user as shown in FIG. 9 with upper and lower portions of the pillow being shown at substantially right angles to each other during use.

(34) Accordingly, the method for constructing a pillow 126 of arbitrary shape and thickness, comprises the following steps: a. Step 10, cut material for the top and bottom pillow covers 100, 102 in the desired shape; b. Step 12, implementing/preparing one or more, preferably a plurality of pairs of ribbons 108 of fabric (in a repetitive subprocess for a plurality of pairs of ribbons) to be used as internal attachment points within the pillow 126. As part of this implementing/preparing step, for each of half of the ribbons 108, attach a g-hook 104 by looping an end of the ribbon through the closed portion of the g-hook and sewing the end of the ribbon to a body portion of the ribbon. For each of the other half of the ribbons 108, create at least one loop 106 by folding the ribbon and sewing an end of the ribbon to the body of the ribbon, it being the case that this step of sewing a loop into the ribbon may be repeated multiple times within a single ribbon in order to provide different levels of loops 106 as shown for example in FIG. 2, within one of which to hook an open portion of the g-hook 104. For each ribbon with a hook or loop, designate a portion of the ribbon on the end opposite the g-hook or the loop as the area to be sewn to the inside of the top or bottom pillow cover 100, 102, referred to as a ribbon attachment zone 112 (FIG. 2). Thus, ribbon pairs 108, also known as an interconnected combinations 110, will consist of one ribbon 108 attached to a g-hook 104 and one ribbon 108 with at least one sewn loop 106. c. Step 14, further, then, wherein a plurality of interconnected combinations 110, or ribbon pairs 110, are employed in an embodiment of pillow 126, at each desired location or locations on the pillow where the thickness will be controlled by the ribbon pairs, the user may sew the ribbon attachment zone 112 of one ribbon of the ribbon pair to the top pillow cover 100 on the side that will become the inside of the pillow and then sew the ribbon attachment zone 112 of the other ribbon of the ribbon pair to a corresponding location on the bottom pillow cover 102, on the side that will become the inside of the pillow. Thus, the ribbon pairs 108 are sewn to inner surfaces of the top and bottom pillow covers 100, 102, respectively, at corresponding locations preferably directly across from each other. d. Step 16, after all ribbons 108 have thus been attached to the top and bottom pillow covers 100, 102, the user is advised to position the top and bottom pillow covers one on top of the other with what will become the outer surfaces of the pillow covers adjacent to each other, and to sew peripheral seams 113 around the edges of the pillow covers (in the case of a knife-edge pillow design), or to sew peripheral sems 113 around the edges of the pillow covers and an elongated interconnecting edge member 120 (in the case of a box-type pillow design), including a section for a zippered or other closeable opening 118, 119. e. Step 18, turn the interconnected (sewn together) top and bottom pillow covers 100, 102 right side out by utilizing the zippered opening, such that the ribbons with g-hooks and sewn loops will now be on the inside of the pillow 126, but not yet connected. f. Step 20, stuff/fill the pillow 126 preferably by hand with the desired fill material 116 through the zippered opening 118, 119 and starting with the portions of the pillow farthest from the opening. As the fill material 116 reaches the locations of the ribbon pairs 110, connect the g-hooks 104 to the sewn loops 106, ensuring control of the thickness of the pillow 126 at that point. The fill density is determined by the amount of filling 116 inserted, and this is controlled at the time of manufacture. g. Step 21, continue stuffing the pillow 126 and connecting the ribbon pairs 110 as the filling moves closer to the zipper opening 118, 119 and until the process of stuffing the pillow 126 is complete; h. Step 22, closing the closeable opening 118, for example the zipper 119.

(35) The result of this method is a pillow 126 of arbitrary shape, with soft edges 113 and no external seams or hardware (except a low-profile zipper with a actuating attachment folded preferably under a fabric cover as known). Such a pillow 126 may be of varying thickness, and it can be easily constructed with a variety of fill densities.

(36) In accordance with an embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and in accordance with the method steps outlined in this disclosure, there is provided a pillow 126 comprising a top pillow cover 100 adapted by means of attachment of one or more ribbons 108 with attached g-hooks 104, and a bottom pillow cover 102 adapted by means of attachment of one or more ribbons 108 with sewn loops 106, with the top pillow cover and bottom pillow cover sewn together “inside out” with a peripheral seam 114, and including a closeable member, such as a zipper 119. The zipper 119, when open, provides a closeable opening 118 to allow the turning of the pillow 126 “right side out” and to stuff the fill material 116 into the pillow. The peripheral seam 114 may join the top pillow cover 100 directly with the bottom pillow cover 102, resulting in a pillow with a tapered edge, commonly referred to as a “knife edge pillow”. Or, optionally, preferably, a side panel 120 (or multiple side panels 120) may be inserted where the top pillow cover 100 is sewn to one edge of the side panel 120, and the bottom pillow cover 102 is sewn to the other edge, resulting in a more square edge, commonly referred to as a “box-construction-type pillow”. In either case, all seams 114 are preferably internal to the pillow after it is turned “right side out”.

(37) Referring to FIG. 2, interconnectible thickness controlling member portions 108, combined to form interconnected combinations 110, aka ribbon pairs 110, comprise one first ribbon 108 with an attached g-hook 104, the length of the ribbon being sufficient to provide a ribbon attachment zone 112 that will be sewn to the top pillow cover 100, and a second ribbon 108 that has been folded and sewn to provide a plurality of different-level sewn loops 106 that may be connected to the g-hook during construction of the pillow 126, the length of the second ribbon also being sufficient to provide a ribbon attachment zone 112 that will be sewn to the bottom pillow cover 102. It will be noted that the thickness of the pillow 126 at the point where the ribbons 108 are attached to the top and bottom covers 100, 102, will be determined by the length of the two ribbons in the ribbon pair 110 (preferably with some stretching of each ribbon portion 108 adapted for returning to an unstretched position), allowing the pillow to have varying thickness (as shown at 101, 103, 105, 107, 111) where different ribbon pairs 108 may be of different lengths, attached at different loops 106, or otherwise variably attached as with a hook-and-pile fastener as shown in FIG. 3.

(38) In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, the two ribbons 108′ of a ribbon pair 110 may be connected using a hook-and-pile fastener, where the hook portion 122 is sewn or attached to one ribbon 108′ and the pile portion 124 is sewn or attached to the other ribbon 108′. The ribbon pairs 110, 110′ are preferably attached to the top pillow cover 100 and bottom pillow cover 102 by means of sewing at the respective ribbon attachment zone 112, 112′.

(39) Referring specifically to FIG. 5, fill material 116 is placed, preferably by hand, but otherwise possibly by machine as well without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed, into the pillow 126 and has filled the pillow to the location of just behind a ribbon pair 110 (behind from the perspective of the opening), at which time the two ribbons 108 of the ribbon pair may be connected by means of the g-hook 104 and sewn loop 106. The process of placing fill material 116 into the pillow 126 and connecting the two ribbons 108 of each ribbon pair 110 continues until the pillow has been filled. Thus, it will be appreciated that next the fill material 116 will be placed in front of the two ribbons 108 of each ribbon pair 110 (in front from the perspective of the closeable opening 118, 119), until the next ribbons (a single set of ribbon pairs or a plurality of such) have been reached, at which time the next ribbons may be connected (preferably by hand) as previously described, and so on, until the pillow 126 is completely filled.

(40) Referring to FIGS. 6-7, a completed pillow 126 comprises a top pillow cover 100, an optional side panel 120, a closeable opening 118 and zipper 119, a bottom pillow cover 102, and one or more internal ribbon pairs 110 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) that have been connected during a fill process. Thus, the ribbons 108 of the ribbon pairs 110 are internal to the pillow 126, they are attached to the top pillow cover 100 and the bottom pillow cover 102 at ribbon attachment zones 112, and the effects of that attachment may be visible through stitches 113 or a depression 115 in the pillow.

(41) Referring to FIG. 8, in accordance with an embodiment, it is shown that the thickness of the pillow 126 may vary due to various length of the ribbon pairs 110 (shown in phantom) at various locations within the pillow. Further, it will be appreciated that the density of fill at one area of the pillow, say upper area 101, may be greater than the density of fill at another area of the pillow, say central area 103, whereas the density of another area of the pillow, say area 105, may be greater again than at other areas, say 103 and 107.

(42) Referring thus specifically to FIGS. 8 and 9, it is shown that a pillow 126 may be adapted in shape and thickness to a human body, providing appropriate cushioning at various points of the body, with areas 101 (chest), 103 (thighs), 105 (knees), 107 (calves and ankles), and 111 (waist) each having differing thicknesses and densities, and therefore these provide a more comfortable experience for the user. Thus, it will be appreciated, for example, that area 101 may be more dense to accommodate a chest area of a user not collapsing down during sleep, the areas 103 and 107 may be less dense to accommodate inner thigh areas and calf areas of users, respectively, whereas the area 105 may be more dense to accommodate knee areas of the user. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the various elements of the subject invention, such as interconnectible thickness controlling members 108, may be implemented as described to effectuate a change in taper at a location (for example at area 105 or 101 of the pillow 126) along the length, or width, of the pillow, or to maintain a certain level of thickness along a portion of the pillow, e.g., at 101). Further, accordingly, it will be appreciated that, for example, the contourse of a scooped-neck chiropractic pillow, may be created and maintained in a stuffed pillow 126 in accordance with the variable length interconnectible member combination as described.

(43) While a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the disclosure in its broader aspects. For example, it will be appreciated that one of ordinary skill in the art may mix and match the various components of the various embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the true spirit of the invention as claimed. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.