Inflatable pillow

Abstract

A comfortable inflatable pillow, manufactured to be affordably priced, designed to withstand the weather challenges associated with beaches, and other outdoor settings, by utilizing soft fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand, that has an attached pouch that can be filled with sand, or other weighted objects, to prevent the pillow from being blown around in windy conditions, that contains an internal pocket that can accommodate a tailor-made cooling and heating gel pack for hot or cold external temperatures, and that provides an optional incline position for added comfort when reading or surveying the landscape.

Claims

1. An inflatable pillow, comprising: a main body structure; a primary air bladder located inside main body structure; a first air valve connected to the primary air bladder and accessible from the main body structure; a pouch attached to the main body structure; the pouch having a pouch opening for receiving materials, and the pouch opening including at least one of a closing mechanism and a plurality of support bands; a first band located on the pouch, wherein the first band is configured to attach to the main body structure and secure the pouch in contact with a surface of the main body; and a first clasp extending from the main body structure, wherein the first band is configured to attach to the first clasp.

2. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, the pouch opening located opposite a portion of the pouch attached to the main body structure.

3. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, further comprising a second band, the first and second bands located on opposing sides of the pouch opening, wherein the first and second bands are configured to attach to the main body structure.

4. The inflatable pillow of claim 3, wherein the first and second bands are attached to side edges of the main body and secure the pouch in contact with a surface of the main body structure.

5. The inflatable pillow of claim 3, further comprising a second clasp, the first and second clasps extending from the main body structure, wherein the second band is configured to attach to the second clasp.

6. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, wherein the pouch opening includes the plurality of support bands, and wherein the plurality of support bands include plastic bands.

7. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, wherein the pouch opening includes the plurality of rigid support bands, and wherein the plurality of rigid support bands include magnetized tape.

8. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, wherein the pouch opening includes the closing mechanism, and wherein the closing mechanism includes magnetic bands.

9. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, wherein the pouch opening includes the closing mechanism, and wherein the closing mechanism comprises a zipper.

10. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, wherein the pouch opening includes the closing mechanism, and wherein the closing mechanism comprises interlocking grooves.

11. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, wherein the pouch is attached to a bottom side of the main body structure.

12. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, further comprising an integrated pocket provided between a top layer of fabric and a bottom layer of fabric that define a side of the main body structure opposite a bottom side, wherein a pocket opening of the integrated pocket is located at a base edge of the main body structure and configured to receive a gel-pack.

13. The inflatable pillow of claim 12, further comprising: a secondary air bladder located inside or underneath the main body structure; and a second air valve connected to the secondary air bladder and accessible from the main body structure.

14. The inflatable pillow of claim 1, further comprising: a secondary air bladder located inside or underneath the main body structure; and a second air valve connected to the secondary air bladder and accessible from the main body structure.

15. An inflatable pillow, comprising: a main body structure; a primary air bladder located inside main body structure; a first air valve connected to the primary air bladder and accessible from a bottom side of the main body structure; a pouch attached to the main body structure, the pouch having a pouch opening for receiving materials, and the pouch opening including a plurality of support bands; bands located on opposing sides of the pouch opening and configured to attach to the main body structure; and clasps extending from the side edges of the main body structure, wherein each of the bands is configured to attach to a respective one of the clasps.

16. The inflatable pillow of claim 15, wherein the pouch is attached to a bottom side of the main body structure.

17. The inflatable pillow of claim 15, wherein the bands are configured to secure the pouch in contact with a surface of the main body structure.

18. The inflatable pillow of claim 15, further comprising an integrated pocket provided between a top layer of fabric and a bottom layer of fabric that define a side of the main body structure opposite the bottom side, wherein a pocket opening of the integrated pocket is located at a base edge of the main body structure and configured to receive a gel-pack.

19. The inflatable pillow of claim 15, further comprising: a secondary air bladder located underneath or inside of the main body structure; and a second air valve connected to the secondary air bladder and accessible from a top edge of the main body structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a top view of an embodiment of the pillow inflated and fully extended.

(2) FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the pillow inflated and fully extended.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the pillow, depicting how the attached pouch can be opened and used as a scoop to scoop up sand, or filled with other weighted objects.

(4) FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the pillow, wherein the attached pouch is closed and secured to the back of the pillow.

(5) FIG. 3B is another perspective view of the pillow, wherein the attached pouch is closed and secured to the back of the pillow.

(6) FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the pillow, showing the placement of a cooling/heating gel pack in a pocket created between a top layer of fabric and a bottom layer of fabric that covers the air cushion.

(7) FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the pillow containing an inflated secondary air bladder.

(8) FIG. 6 is a series of illustrations depicting how an embodiment of the pillow can be folded up and fully contained in the attached pouch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(9) 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.

(10) In an embodiment, the pillow can feature a primary inflatable cushion encased in a water/sand repellant fabric and incorporates an attached pouch. The attached pouch can be filled with weighted materials and also serve as the carrying case for the pillow. The opening of the attached pouch can feature a closing mechanism that prevents its contents from spilling out during movement. The pillow can be constructed with a simple and intuitive clasp system for securing the pouch tightly to the pillow, so as to create a single, integrated object.

(11) In another embodiment, the pillow can also feature an internal sleeve, located between a top surface layer of fabric and a layer of fabric covering the air cushion, capable of accommodating a custom cooling/heating gel pack. The pillow can also feature a secondary air bladder that can be inflated via a second air valve to angle the pillow into an incline position.

(12) FIGS. 1A & 1B illustrate two different views of a preferred embodiment of the pillow. The pillow can comprise a pillow-shaped main body structure 1, approximately 14″×11″ in size, that utilizes an internal air-cushion made of flexible air-tight material, such as plastic or rubber, covered in a soft, polyester or microfiber fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand. There can be an opening at the base edge of the pillow 3 that allows for a tailor-made cooling and heating gel pack to be inserted into an internal pocket that positions the gel pack along the back of the user's neck, up to the crown of his or her head. A pouch 2, made of polyester, nylon, or similar slick and durable material, is attached to the back of the pillow, so that it can be used to scoop up sand, or be filled with other weighted objects that prevent the pillow from being moved by the wind or other forces, without having sand come in contact with the pillow, or the user's hand. The pouch opening 4 can be lined with plastic bands or magnetized tape, that are rigid enough to dig into sand so that the pouch can be used to scoop up sand without using one's hand, shovels, or additional devices. The pouch opening 4 can also comprise a closing mechanism, such as magnetic bands, a zipper, interlocking grooves, or the like, that prevent sand, or other enclosed objects, from spilling out. The pouch 2 can be attached to the pillow 1 with elastic bands 5 that are looped around hooked clasps 6 affixed to the side edges of the pillow, so as to create a unified structure.

(13) The pillow of FIGS. 1A & 1B can be inflated using a sleek air valve 7 that can fully inflate the air cushion in, on average, three exhalations. The air valve 7 can have two settings to manage the flow of air. In the default setting, air is trapped inside the air cushion, 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 cushion for optimal comfort. When the button is turned 90 degrees clockwise, the air valve 7 releases all of the air within the internal air-cushion so that it can be fully deflated and conveniently stored inside the attached pouch 2, which converts into its own compact carrying case.

(14) FIG. 2 illustrates how in one embodiment of the pillow, the attached pouch 2 can have a top lining 4 that can be opened, filled with sand or other weighted objects, and then closed. The pouch 2 can be held upright and open so that sand, or other weighted objects, such as a wireless phone, a wallet, a book, etc., can be manually inserted into the pouch 2, without said objects coming into contact with the pillow. Strong and durable rigid bands 4A can be enclosed in the top liner of the pouch 4 that can allow for the pouch to be used like a shovel to scoop up sand. These rigid bands, and the orientation of the pouch, allow for sand to be scooped into the pouch without the need for additional devices, or having the sand come in contact with the pillow, or the user's hand.

(15) The top lining 4 of the attached pouch 2 can also contain a closing mechanism 4B including interlocking grooves. In other examples, the closing mechanism can be defined by other components, such as magnetic bands, a rugged zipper, etc., that keep sand, or other weighted objects, trapped inside the pouch 2, and prevent said objects from spilling out when the pillow is purposefully moved.

(16) In order to create a unified, integrated pillow, the attached pouch 2, whether filled with weighted materials or empty, can be securely attached to the bottom of the pillow using elastic bands 5 and hooked clasps 6, as seen in FIGS. 3A & 3B. In a preferred embodiment of the pillow, the closing mechanism of the pouch's top lining 4 will be folded over twice to further ensure that the contents within will not accidentally spill out.

(17) FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of the pillow. In this example, in order to cool a user down on a hot day, or warm a user up in colder temperatures, the pillow can contain an internal pocket 10 positioned underneath the top layer of fabric, and a bottom layer of fabric that covers the air cushion. A cooling and heating gel pack 9, that is tailor-made to fit inside the pocket, and contour to the pillow's shape, can be inserted through the opening to the pocket 3 positioned at the base edge of the pillow. This gel pack 9 can be stored on ice in a beach cooler until it is ready to be used to cool the user down, or heated in the direct sun, or safely in a bowl of hot water, to warm the user up.

(18) In yet a different embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the pillow 1 can feature two angle orientations depending on its preferred use. The pillow can possess a secondary air bladder 12 that can be located internally, as illustrated here, or externally along the bottom, which produces an optional incline angle (a minimum of approximately 25 degrees) when inflated via a second air-valve 11, thus propping up the user's head, making reading or surveying the landscape more comfortable. This optional incline position can be achieved through other measures, such as having adjustable flaps on either side of the pillow, or on the top, that can be pulled toward the back of the pillow, and secured, so as to create a wedge shape, or tri-pod effect. These incline mechanisms can be undone so that the pillow lies flat, should the user consider this a more comfortable position for sunbathing, or napping.

(19) When the user is done using the pillow, the pillow can be completely deflated and folded up into the attached pouch 2, which can be effectively converted into a compact carrying case 8 for convenient storage and transportation, as depicted in FIG. 6.

(20) 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.