Articulating Pillow

Abstract

An articulating pillow is provided which is configured to allow a user to articulate and set the curvature and shape of the pillow which is held until reconfigured. An articulating member running axially through the body of the pillow may be adjusted for resistance to bending to increase or decrease the force needed to reconfigure the pillow shape.

Claims

1. An articulating body pillow apparatus, comprising: a pillow body having a circumference and having a length running between a first end and a second end; said pillow having an axial cavity substantially the entire said length between said first end and said second end of said pillow body; an articulating member positioned within said axial cavity; said articulating member configurable to a user-determined shape by a bending thereof by said user; said articulating member configured to maintain each said shape until said articulating member is reformed by a subsequent said bending; and whereby said pillow body is held in said user-determined shape by said bending of said articulating member.

2. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pillow body is formed in a unitary structure extending between said first end and said second end thereof.

3. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pillow body formed by a plurality of pillow partitions radially positioned to surround said axial cavity and held in place by a cushion sleeve.

4. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein said articulating member is formed of a malleable material.

5. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 2, wherein said articulating member is formed of a malleable material.

6. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 3, wherein said articulating member is formed of a malleable material.

7. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 1, wherein said articulating member is formed of a plurality of adjacent member segments in a length extending from a first said member segment to a last said member segment, each said member segment being in a pivoting engagement with an adjacent said member segment.

8. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 2, wherein said articulating member is formed of a plurality of adjacent member segments in a length extending from a first said member segment to a last said member segment, each said member segment being in a pivoting engagement with an adjacent said member segment.

9. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 3, wherein said articulating member is formed of a plurality of adjacent member segments in a length extending from a first said member segment to a last said member segment, each said member segment being in a pivoting engagement with an adjacent said member segment.

10. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising: an elastic member communicating axially through said articulating member and running through each of said member segments; and one each of opposing ends of said elastic member respectively engaged at said first member segment and said last member segment.

11. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 8 additionally comprising: an elastic member communicating axially through said articulating member and running through each of said member segments; and one each of opposing ends of said elastic member respectively engaged at said first member segment and said last member segment.

12. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 9 additionally comprising: an elastic member communicating axially through said articulating member and running through each of said member segments; and one each of opposing ends of said elastic member respectively engaged at said first member segment and said last member segment.

13. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 10 wherein said engagement of said end of said elastic member at said first member segment being an engagement to a cap, threadably engaged on said first member segment; rotation of said cap in a first direction increasing a compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member; and rotation of said cap in a second direction opposite said first direction decreasing said compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member.

14. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 11 wherein said engagement of said end of said elastic member at said first member segment being an engagement to a cap, threadably engaged on said first member segment; rotation of said cap in a first direction increasing a compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member; and rotation of said cap in a second direction opposite said first direction decreasing said compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member.

15. The articulating body pillow apparatus of claim 12 wherein said engagement of said end of said elastic member at said first member segment being an engagement to a cap, threadably engaged on said first member segment; rotation of said cap in a first direction increasing a compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member; and rotation of said cap in a second direction opposite said first direction decreasing said compressive force of said elastic member upon said member segments of said articulating member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only nor exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed device. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a front view of the pillow device showing it held in a user positioned configuration by an articulating member axially located within the body of the pillow.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a sectioned perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, showing the axially positioned articulating member surrounded by a body of the pillow.

[0028] FIG. 3 displays a sectioned perspective view of the pillow device herein, showing at least one opening communicating with the axial cavity to allow for removal and replacement of the articulating member, or adjustment of tensional force to adjust the force required for bending.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a mode of the device employing a plurality of member sections each having frictional pivoting engagements with adjacent member sections held in tensional connection by an elongated elastic member, where that tension may be adjusted at one end of the body of the pillow.

[0030] FIG. 4a is an enlarged view of the opening allowing tensional adjustment by the user through rotation of a cap engaged to a terminating end of the articulating member to increase or decrease tension and thus force required for bending.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Now referring to the drawings in FIGS. 1-4, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 the device 10 configured as an articulating body pillow which includes a pillow body 11 and articulating member 20 which is operatively positioned within an axial cavity 16 and running substantially the length of the axial cavity 16. The articulating member 20 is formed of components or a material such that it may be bent to a shape and will hold that shape until force is again applied to reshape it. This can be an articulating member 20 formed of polymeric or other malleable material, or formed of a plurality of pivotally engaged articulating segments 21 as shown in FIG. 4, or other structures as would occur to those skilled in the art. It is preferable that an adjustment be provided for the user to adjust the force required to bend the articulating member 20 to allow for an increase or decrease in resistive force.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 is preferably elongated and has a pillow body 11, which is shown as cylindrically shaped as a curved external circumference of the body 11 has shown to provide comfortable support to a user. However, as noted above, other shapes may be employed. The device 10 can be contorted in shape by the user at one or more positions along the articulating member 20. As the articulating member is located within the axial cavity 16, it is surrounded on all sides by the pillow body 11 which maintains cushion and support from all directions. As noted, experimentation with differing sizes has shown the device 10 preferably has a diameter between 2-24 inches, and a length 8 to 96 inches.

[0033] The device 10, shown in FIG. 2, has a cushion body 11 having an axial cavity 20 running substantially the entire length of the body 11. A covering cushion sleeve 12 may be provided to cover the body 11. The axial cavity 16 is sized to constrain the exterior surface of the articulating member 20.

[0034] The body 11 may be formed as a unitary structure for the entire length thereof and surround an axial cavity 16 for substantially that length. Alternatively, the body 11 may be formed of a plurality of pillow partitions 14 arranged in a radial orientation around the axial cavity 16. Where a plurality of partitions 14 is employed, a cushion sleeve 12 is engaged to surround the sleeves 12 along the length of the device 12 to constrain and hold in place, the plurality of elongated internal pillows 18. While shown as three internal pillows 18 with abutting sides, the plurality may be more or less. The abutting internal pillows 18 when held in place by the cushion sleeve 12, each have one surface which forms a portion of the axial cavity 16 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] As noted, the articulating member 20 can be composed of any columnar element which can be easily bent and molded by human hands and which will temporarily set maintain a semi-rigid curvature. Such a component may be composed of one or more articulating member components from a group including articulating segments, malleable rods, flexures, springs, friction hinges and bands. By the inclusion of the articulating member 20 axially positioned in the body 11, in all modes of the device 10, setting or modification the curvature of the pillow device 10 can be performed easily by grabbing and bending the body 11 of the pillow to thereby bend the articulating member 20 and thereby determine the shape and use of the body 11 of the device whether unitary in structure or formed of internal pillows 18 covered by a cushion sleeve 12.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3-4, an opening 24 may be positioned at one or both ends of the body 11 and if employed, the cushion sleeve 12. The opening 24 communicates and provides access to the axial cavity 16 which will allow for removal or replacement of the articulating member 20 such as when the device 10 is to be laundered, or when a new articulating member 20 is desired.

[0037] If a cushion sleeve 12 is employed to surround the body 11, with this opening 24 in one or both ends of the body 11, the cushion sleeve may have a closure. Compression of the body 11 against the exterior of the articulating member 20 by forming the axial cavity 16 of a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than a diameter of the articulating member 20, is a preferred means to hold the articulating member 20 within the axial cavity 16. However, the device 10 may also include means for articulating member 20 securement within the axial cavity 16 using a securement component from a group including one or a combination of snaps, buttons, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, zippers or hooks.

[0038] Closure configurations of the cushion sleeve 12, when employed, can optionally contain one or more closure fasteners from a group including snaps, buttons, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, zippers and hooks. In all modes of the device, the cushion sleeve 12 when employed, can be composed of one or a combination of durable fabrics from a group including woven and non woven fabrics, canvas, cloth, felt, vinyl and leather.

[0039] Where employed to form the body 11 of the device, pillow partitions 14 are formed to span the entire internal diameter of the cushion sleeve 12 from the axial cavity surface to the interior surface of the cushion sleeve 12. The individual internal pillow 18 formed within the internal cavity of each surrounding partitions 14, can be formed by loosely filling the internal cavities of each partition 14, or by forming elongated foam sections to fit within the internal cavity of each partition 14. The internal pillows 18 can be alternatively constructed as modular members, and may be composed of one or more soft conforming fill material positioned within the internal cavity of each partition including fill materials from a group including feathers, down, foam, rubber, cloth, air bags, rice, grain, or beads.

[0040] Depicted in FIG. 4, is an articulating member 20 formed of a plurality of frictionally engaged individual member segments 21 which provides for user adjustment of bending resistance of the articulating member 20. Each member segment 21 is pivotally engaged to adjacent segments 21 such that a plurality of joints is formed along the entire length of the articulating member 20. An elastic member 30 extends axially through each of the engaged member segments 21 from the last segment 21 in the string at both a first end 15 of the pillow 11 to a second end 17 of the pillow 11, and engages a terminating member segment 32 at each end of the articulating member 20.

[0041] The elastic member 30 may be formed of any elastic material such as a rubber or a polymeric band, such that when stretched and secured in an elongated configuration, it will impart compression to each of the member segments 32 and adjacent member segments 32, and frictionally inhibit pivoting thereof unless forced by the user in a manner to overcome the frictional engagement.

[0042] Shown in FIG. 4a is a mode of the device 10 herein providing for adjustability of the resistance to bending of the elongated articulating member 20. As shown, an adjustment screw 34 is threadably engaged 36 with the member segment 32 located at one terminating end of the articulating member 20. Rotation of the adjustment screw 34 in one direction will increase the tension on the engaged elastic member 30, and rotation in the opposite direction will decrease the tension. This will adjust the compressive frictional engagement of each of the member segments 32 in their pivoting engagement with adjacent member segments 32 and increase or decrease the force required to pivot any of those pivoting engagements based on the increase or decrease in compression from the elastic member 30. Such is particularly preferred in all modes of the device 10 to allow the user to adjust the force required to reposition the pillow to new configurations. Currently, a ball and socket 38 pivoting engagement between each of the member segments 32 is a favored mode of provision of the device 10 with an articulating member 20 formed of pivoting member segments.

[0043] As noted, any of the different configurations and components can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and steps in the method of production, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, or steps in formation of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

[0044] Further, the purpose of any abstract of this specification is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Any such abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.