PILLOW

Abstract

A pillow with a head zone for providing a generally flat cushion means interposed between a user's head and a surface upon which said user is resting; and two wings, configured to extend away from a center-line of the head zone towards wing ends, such that the deflated pillow is substantially U-shaped in the plane of the pillow. The head zone is substantially thinner than the wings. The pillow comprises an inflatable bladder removably received within a fabric cover, the bladder comprising two sheets of flexible material, joined together to define a space, suitable for inflating to provide a cushioned support and comprising wing portions for providing support in the wings of the pillow, and a channel, defined between the sheets of flexible material, configured to connect the wing portions, and positioned at a point in the head zone remote from the wing ends.

Claims

1. A pillow having a shape which comprises: a head zone for providing a generally flat cushion means interposed between a user's head and a surface upon which said user is resting; and two wings, configured to extend away from a center-line of the head zone towards wing ends such that the deflated pillow is substantially U-shaped in the plane of the pillow; the head zone being substantially thinner than the wings; the pillow comprising an inflatable bladder removably received within a fabric cover, the bladder comprising two sheets of flexible material, joined together to define a space, suitable for inflating to provide a cushioned support and comprising wing portions for providing support in the wings of the pillow, and a channel, defined between the sheets of flexible material, configured to connect the wing portions, and positioned at a point in the head zone remote from the wing ends, wherein, in the head zone, opposing sheets of fabric of the fabric cover are permanently or releasably joined together in a way that allows the inflatable bladder to be inserted into the fabric cover.

2. A pillow according to claim 1, wherein the opposing sheets of fabric are joined together by a joining means.

3. A pillow according to claim 2, wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position.

4. A pillow according to claim 3, wherein the joining means closes the hole by fitting inside the hole.

5. A pillow according to claim 2, wherein the opposing sheets of fabric are joined together by the joining means which is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric and/or permanently attached to the other of the opposing sheets of fabric.

6. A pillow according to claim 2, wherein the joining means joins the opposing sheets of fabric by passing through the head zone.

7. A pillow according to claim 6, wherein the inflatable bladder has a hole through which the joining means passes when joining the opposed sheets of fabric.

8. A pillow according to claim 2, wherein a surface of the joining means forms part of the outer surface of the head zone when the joining means joins together the opposing sheets of fabric.

9. A pillow according to claim 8, wherein the surface of the joining means comprises a non-slip material.

10. A pillow according to claim 8, wherein the surface of the joining means has at least one ridge.

11. A pillow according to claim 2, wherein the joining means is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric by the joining means catching or holding the sheet of fabric in the joining means.

12. A pillow according to claim 11, wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position, and wherein the joining means is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric by the joining means catching or holding the sheet of fabric at the perimeter of the hole in the joining means.

13. A pillow according to claim 11, wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric is caught or held in the joining means between a projection or flange of the joining means and the other of the opposing sheets of fabric.

14. A pillow according to claim 13, wherein the projection or flange is provided at the periphery of the joining means.

15. A pillow according to claim 13, wherein the projection or flange is provided at least at opposite sides at the periphery of the joining means.

16. A pillow according to claim 15, wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position, and wherein the hole has a smallest dimension that is smaller than the largest dimension between outer edges of the projection or flange.

17. A pillow according to claim 13, wherein the flange or projection is resilient to provide releasable attachment of the joining means to the one of the opposing sheets.

18. A pillow according to claim 13, wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric is caught or held in the joining means between the projection or flange of the joining means and another projection or flange of the joining means.

19. A pillow according to claim 2, wherein the joining means is disc-shaped.

20. A pillow according to claim 3, wherein the hole has a reinforced perimeter.

21. A pillow according to claim 20, wherein the reinforced perimeter is flexible.

22. A pillow according to claim 13, wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position, and wherein the hole has a resilient perimeter which can be stretched to receive the flange or projection.

23. A pillow according to claim 2, comprising cushioning means on the outside of the joining means.

24. A pillow according to claim 23, wherein the cushioning means is between the joining means and the user's head, in use.

25. A pillow according to claim 23, wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position, and wherein the joining means is between the cushioning means and the hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 is a rear plan view of a pillow according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0051] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the pillow of FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 3 is a top elevation view of the pillow of FIG. 1;

[0053] FIG. 4 is another top elevation view of the pillow of FIG. 1;

[0054] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the head zone of the pillow of FIG. 1;

[0055] FIG. 6 is another fragmentary rear perspective view of the head zone of the pillow of FIG. 1, but with the reinforced periphery of the hole overlapping the periphery of the disc;

[0056] FIG. 7 is yet another fragmentary rear perspective view of the head zone of the pillow of FIG. 1, but with the inflatable bladder partially removed from the fabric cover;

[0057] FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of the pillow of FIG. 1 but with the inflatable bladder completely removed from the fabric cover;

[0058] FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the disc of the pillow of FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the disc of FIG. 9;

[0060] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the disc of FIG. 9;

[0061] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a section of the head zone of the pillow of FIG. 1 showing the disc in the open position, and a schematic sectional view of the reinforced perimeter of the hole of the schematic perspective view of FIG. 12;

[0062] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing the disc of FIG. 12 in the closed position;

[0063] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the disc of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pillow 10 having a shape which comprises a head zone 12 for providing a generally flat cushion means interposed between a user's head and a surface upon which said user is resting; and two wings 14, configured to extend away from a center-line of the head zone 12 towards wing ends 16 such that the deflated pillow 10 is substantially U-shaped in the plane of the pillow 10. The head zone 12 is substantially thinner than the wings 14.

[0065] Although not shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the pillow 10 comprises an inflatable bladder removably received within a fabric cover 18, the bladder comprising two sheets of flexible material, joined together to define a space, suitable for inflating to provide a cushioned support and comprising wing portions for providing support in the wings of the pillow 10, and a channel, defined between the sheets of flexible material, configured to connect the wing portions, and positioned at a point in the head zone 12 remote from the wing ends 16. In the present embodiment, the fabric cover 18 is made of cotton.

[0066] In the present embodiment, in the head zone 12, opposing sheets of fabric 22, 24 of the fabric cover 18 are releasably joined together in a way that allows the inflatable bladder to be inserted into the fabric cover 18.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a joining means or element in the form of a circular disc 20 which is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric 22 of the fabric cover 18 in the head zone 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the circular disc 20 forms part of the outer surface of the head zone 12. This will be described in more detail below.

[0068] FIG. 1 also shows an inflation valve 28 with a ring 30 of plastics material around it. The user can inflate the inflatable bladder by blowing into the inflation valve. The inflation valve passes through the uppermost sheet of fabric 22.

[0069] FIG. 2 shows the pillow 10 with a line of stitching 26 in one of the opposing sheets of fabric 24 in the head zone 12, on the other side of the pillow 10 from the circular disc 20. The stitching 26 extends around the perimeter of a foam cushioning means, which is between the sheet of fabric 24 and the circular disc 20. The pillow 10 in FIG. 2 is positioned for use with the disc 20 face down to contact a surface on which the user is resting.

[0070] FIG. 3 like FIG. 2 shows the pillow 10 with the opposing sheet of fabric 24 uppermost. FIG. 3 shows clearly that the head zone 12 is substantially thinner than the wings 14. This is because the circular disc 20 acts as a joining means to join the opposing sheets of fabric 22, 24 in the head zone and to pull them together so that they follow the contour of the inflatable bladder inside. When the circular disc 20 joins the opposing sheets of fabric 22, 24, the disc 20 pass through the head zone 12.

[0071] FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 3 but from a slightly different angle.

[0072] FIG. 5 shows the circular disc 20 at enlarged scale. The disc 20 has a flange 32 around its periphery. The flange 32 projects outwards in a radial direction of the disc 20. The flange also projects outwards in an axial direction of the disc 20, thereby forming a ridge around the periphery of the disc 20 on the outer surface of the disc 20. In this embodiment, the disc 20 is made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). The disc 20 is non-slip to help prevent slipping of the pillow 10 on the surface upon which the user is resting, which helps to keep the pillow 10 in a desired position.

[0073] In the present embodiment, the ring of plastics material 30 around the inflation valve 28 is also made of TPU and is non-slip.

[0074] The outer surface of the disc 20 also has a ridge 34 extending across it. The peripheral ridge and ridge 34 on the disc 20 also help prevent slipping of the pillow 10.

[0075] The upper sheet of fabric 22 has a circular hole in which the disc 20 is received in FIG. 5 to close the hole. The hole has a reinforced perimeter 36. The perimeter 36 comprises a plastics ring between layers of the upper sheet of fabric 22. In this embodiment, the ring is made of PVC.

[0076] When engaged, the disc 20 and the hole hold the opposing sides of the fabric cover 18 close together.

[0077] In FIG. 5, the reinforced perimeter 36 of the hole is caught in the disc 20 below the flange 32 of the disc 20. The disc 20 is thereby attached to the sheet of fabric 22. Below the flange 32 is formed a recess into which the reinforced perimeter 36 of the hole is received to catch the reinforced perimeter 36.

[0078] FIG. 6 is a similar view to FIG. 5 but with some of the perimeter 36 of the hole no longer caught below the flange of the disc 20. The ring forming the perimeter 36 of the hole is resilient so that the perimeter 36 can be stretched to receive the flange 32 as a portion of the perimeter 36 is passed over the flange 32. In this embodiment, the flange 32 is resilient to make it easier for the ring of the perimeter 36 to be passed over the flange 32. The user would then pass the rest of the perimeter 36 over the flange 32 to release the attachment of the sheet of fabric 22 to the disc 20.

[0079] In FIG. 7 the entire perimeter 36 of the hole has been passed over the flange 32 and the disc 20 is now inside the head zone and between the opposing sheets of fabric 22, 24. The disc 20 thus does not close the hole. The inflatable bladder 38 is shown sticking out of the hole in the sheet 22 and partially removed from the fabric cover 18.

[0080] FIG. 8 shows the inflatable bladder 38 completely removed from the fabric cover 18. The disc 20 has been replaced in its position shown in FIG. 5. The bladder 38 has wing portions 56 and channels 58, 60 configured to connect the wing portions 56.

[0081] In the present embodiment, the inflatable bladder 38 has a hole through which the disc 20 can attach to the opposing sheets of fabric 22, 24. The hole is shown clearly FIG. 8.

[0082] FIGS. 9 to 11 show the circular disc 20.

[0083] FIG. 9 shows that the disc 20 has the flange 32 around its periphery and that the flange 32 projects outwards in a radial direction. The disc 20 has a second flange 40 around the periphery of the disc 20 which also projects outwards in a radial direction. In this embodiment, the flange 40 projects further outwards than the flange 32, as FIG. 9 shows. The reinforced perimeter 36 of the hole is caught in the disc 20 between the flange 32 and the second flange 40. The flange 32 and flange 40 together form a double-flange arrangement.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 9, the flange 32 has a largest dimension D1 between its outer edges. In the present embodiment, the outer edge of the flange 32 forms a circle in plan (see FIG. 10) and D1 is the diameter of the circle.

[0085] In the present embodiment, the flange 40 is permanently attached to the sheet of fabric 24 in the head zone by stitching. This is described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 14. The fact that the flange 40 projects further outwards than the flange 32 means that the stitching can be more easily applied to the flange 40.

[0086] FIG. 12 shows the circular disc 20 in the open position, that is when the perimeter 36 of the hole is not attached to the disc 20 and the hole is open. Stitching 42 is shown which attaches the flange 40 to the fabric cover 24. The stitching 42 is provided all around the perimeter of the flange 40.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 12, the hole has a diameter D2. When the perimeter 36 of the hole is unstressed and unstretched, the diameter D2 is smaller than the dimension D1 between the outer edges of flange 32 so that the perimeter 36 of the hole is caught below the flange 32.

[0088] FIG. 12 also shows a schematic sectional view of the reinforced perimeter 36 of the hole. A plastics ring 44 provides the reinforcement. A ring-shaped piece of fabric 48 is attached to the main sheet of fabric 22 by stitching 46 to define an annular space for the ring 44. The ring 44 is flexible and can be stretched so that the perimeter 36 can receive the flange 32.

[0089] FIG. 13 shows the circular disc 20 in the closed position, that is when the perimeter 36 of the hole is attached to the disc 20 and the hole is closed.

[0090] FIG. 14 shows part of a cross-section of the view of FIG. 12. In FIG. 14 a recess 50 is defined at the perimeter of the disc 20. The recess 50 receives the reinforced perimeter 36 of the hole when the circular disc 20 is in the closed position. In this embodiment, the recess 50 is between and defined by the flange 32 and the flange 40.

[0091] A cushioning means 52 is provided below the disc 20 in FIG. 14. The cushioning means is on the outside of the head zone in use, and in the present embodiment is a foam disc. The cushioning means 52 is held in place by the sheet of fabric 24 on one side, the disc 20 on the other, and stitching 42 at its perimeter. The stitching passes through the flange 40 and sheet of fabric 42. In the present embodiment, the stitching 40 does not pass through the cushioning means 52.

[0092] In the present embodiment, a cushioning means is also provided in the wings 14 between layers of the sheet of fabric 24. In the present embodiment, this cushioning means is provided by a foam layer. Referring to FIG. 2, the cushioning means covers the area between line of stitching 54 and the middle of the U shape formed by wings 14 and the head zone 12.

[0093] In the present embodiment, a circular disc 20 joins together opposing sheets 22, 24 of fabric of the fabric cover 18. However, the same effect could be achieved by buttons, press-studs, touch and hold fasteners such as VELCRO or even by a fabric sleeve that fits around the outside of the pillow. The pillow of the present embodiment does not require a zip to allow inflatable bladder to be inserted into and removed from the fabric cover.

[0094] The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described purely by way of example, and various modifications, additions and/or omissions will present themselves to one skilled in the art, all of which form part of the invention, together with their equivalents.