Arcuate support pillow with detachable hood

Abstract

A novel pillow with a detachable hood comprising a drawstring for providing comfort, privacy, sound dampening, and protection to a user. The pillow comprises an arcuate bladder and upper half hood which may be hemispherical or semi-hemispherical. The pillow may be inflatable or stuffed.

Claims

1. An inflatable support pillow comprising: a crescent-shaped first inflatable bladder coated with waterproof material adapted to support the head and neck of user; a plurality of detachable hoods, each detachable hood comprising: an arcuate second inflatable bladder detachably affixable to the first inflatable bladder defining an interior channel through which a drawstring travels; wherein the interior channel is formed by folding a polymeric sheet back over itself; a drawstring received by the interior channel adapted to pull the hood taught around a user's head; wherein the hood further comprises padding lining an interior surface; one or more speakers for playback of media during pillow use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a forward side perspective view of an arcuate support pillow with detachable hood in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an arcuate support pillow with detachable hood in accordance with the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of an arcuate support pillow with detached hood and attached hood in accordance with the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an arcuate support pillow with detached animal hood in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases in one embodiment, in an embodiment, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

(7) Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

(8) It an object of the present invention to provide a novel inflatable pillow with a detachable inflatable hood comprising a drawstring for providing comfort, privacy, sound dampening, and protection to a user. The inflatable pillow may comprise an arcuate inflatable bladder and upper half hood which may be hemispherical or semi-hemispherical.

(9) FIG. 1 is a forward side perspective view of an arcuate support pillow with detachable hood 100 in accordance with the present invention.

(10) The pillow 100 comprises an arcuate, or crescent, or U-shaped, inflatable bladder or main pillow portion 102 adapted to rest pressurized with ambient air and the support the weight of the neck, head and upper torso of a user.

(11) The bladder 102 may be stuffed with memory foam, beams, feathers, or any other material known to those of skill in the art. Alternatively, the bladder 102 may be inflatable.

(12) The bladder 102 may be formed from any polymeric or organic material known to those of skill in the art, such nylon or leather. The bladder 102 may be coated or fabricated from waterproof or water-resistant materials such as those sold by Sonobond.

(13) The pillow 100 comprises a detachable hood 104 which comprises a hemispherical, semi-hemispherical or arcuate second bladder 108, which may be inflatable or stuffed using means known to those of skill in the art. The bladder 108 may envelope or partially envelope the head of a user rests his head on the bladder 102, providing privacy or even sound/snoring dampening functionality.

(14) The detachable hood 104 is detachably affixable to the arcuate bladder 102 using means known to those of skill in the art, including snaps, zippers, and/or Velcro. In the shown embodiment, the hood 104 detachably affixes to the bladder 102 using Velcro.

(15) The hood 104 comprises an interior channel through which a drawstring 110 traverses. The drawstring 110 is adapted to be pulled to draw in the outer edge 112 of the hood 104. In this manner, the drawstring 110 may be pulled covering the head of a user for warm, privacy or protection.

(16) The hood 104 may comprises padding 106, including memory foam, lining the interior surface of the hood 104 as shown. The padding 106 may help with comfort, insulation, sound proofing, and the like.

(17) The various embodiments, the second bladder 108 detachably affixed to an inseam at the top of the first bladder 102.

(18) FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an arcuate support pillow with detachable hood 200 in accordance with the present invention.

(19) In various embodiments, the outer edge 112 of the hood 104 comprises a polymeric sheet folded back over itself and sealed or heat pressed to form the interior channel through which the drawstring 110 travels.

(20) The hood 104 may define one or more holes 202 traverse the inner and outer surfaces through which a pony tail of wearer insert or transition.

(21) FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of an arcuate support pillow with detached hood and attached hood 300 in accordance with the present invention.

(22) The pillow 300 may comprise two detachable hoods 104 or a single detachable hood. The detachable hood 104 itself may be adapted for use a second pillow by a second traveler accompanying the first traveler in detached form. The detachable hood 104 alternatively may affix as described above the inflatable bladder 102.

(23) The hoods 104 may comprise a speaker 302. In various embodiments of the present invention, the hood 104 is adapted to interconnect with a media playing device and play audio to a user of the pillow 300. The pillow 300 may also comprise a power supply, wireless connectivity components, cables and other components necessary to impart media playback functionality to the pillow 300.

(24) In various other embodiments, the pillow 300 comprises other electronic devices known to those of skill in the art, including a sleep mask having CPAP function or oxygen dispensing means.

(25) The pillow 300 may also comprise one of a plurality of protective masks, such as a hockey or football mask.

(26) Velcro pad 304 may affix to the hood 104.

(27) FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an arcuate support pillow with detached animal hood 400 in accordance with the present invention.

(28) To appeal to children and toddler, the hood 104 of the pillow may be shaped (which exterior surface contouring) or printed to resemble or depict an animal's head, in the shown example the head of bear 402. In other embodiments, the pillow may depict a wolf, superhero, dinosaur, dog, cat, mouse, or other animal character of appeal to children.

(29) The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.