Universal pillow for side, back, and stomach sleepers

Abstract

A pillow for side, back, and stomach sleepers, including: (a) a first compartment; (b) a second compartment; (c) wherein the first and second compartments are associated with each other via a primary hinge and a secondary hinge; (d) wherein the pillow is readily convertible between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration; and (e) wherein the unfolded configuration is adapted for back and stomach sleepers, and wherein the folded configuration is adapted for side-lying sleepers.

Claims

1. A pillow for side, back, and stomach sleepers, consisting of: a first compartment, wherein a memory core is positioned within the first compartment; a second compartment, wherein a memory core is positioned within the second compartment; wherein the first and second compartments are associated with each other via a primary hinge and a secondary hinge, and wherein the secondary hinge is elastomeric; wherein the pillow is readily convertible between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration; and wherein the unfolded configuration is adapted for back and stomach sleepers, and wherein the folded configuration is adapted for side-lying sleepers.

2. A pillow for side, back, and stomach sleepers, consisting of: a first compartment having a rectangular prism shape with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and opposing side surfaces, wherein the first compartment includes a first memory foam core, wherein the first memory foam core generally conforms to the shape of the first compartment, and wherein the first memory foam core is positioned within a first outer liner, the first outer liner comprising a fabric material selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, linen, silk, cashmere, hemp, jute, elastane, nylon, modacrylic, olefin, acrylic, polyester, rayon, and combinations thereof, and wherein the first outer liner includes an opening for inserting and removing the first memory foam core, the opening being closeable with a closure device selected from the group consisting of a zipper, one or more buttons, one or more snaps, and a hook and loop fastener; a second compartment having a rectangular prism shape with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and opposing side surfaces, wherein the second compartment includes a second memory foam core, wherein the second memory foam core generally conforms to the shape of the second compartment, and wherein the second memory foam core is positioned within a second outer liner, the second outer liner comprising a fabric material selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, linen, silk, cashmere, hemp, jute, elastane, nylon, modacrylic, olefin, acrylic, polyester, rayon, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second outer liner includes an opening for inserting and removing the second memory foam core, the opening being closeable with a closure device selected from the group consisting of a zipper, one or more buttons, one or more snaps, and a hook and loop fastener; a primary hinge comprising a fabric material secured specifically to a bottom surface of the first compartment and a bottom surface of the second compartment when the pillow is in an unfolded configuration, and wherein the primary hinge is sandwiched between the first and second compartments when the pillow is in a folded configuration, the primary hinge being secured to the first and second compartments by a method selected from the group consisting of sewing, stitching, snapping, gluing, and riveting; a secondary hinge comprising an elastomeric material, wherein the elastomeric material is a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrenic block copolymer, a thermoplastic olefin, an elastomeric alloy, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic copolyester, and a thermoplastic polyamide, and wherein the secondary hinge is secured to a rear surface of the first compartment and a front surface of the second compartment when the pillow is in the unfolded configuration, and is secured to rear surfaces of both the first and second compartments when the pillow is in the folded configuration, the secondary hinge being secured to the first and second compartments by a method selected from the group consisting of sewing, stitching, snapping, gluing, and riveting, and wherein the secondary hinge provides sufficient elasticity to keep the pillow taut in the unfolded configuration; wherein the pillow is manually convertible between the unfolded configuration and the folded configuration; wherein in the unfolded configuration, the first compartment and the second compartment are substantially coplanar, the primary hinge is extended flatly across a bottom surface of the pillow connecting the bottom surfaces of the first and second compartments, and the secondary hinge extends across a junction between the rear surface of the first compartment and the front surface of the second compartment; wherein in the folded configuration, the first compartment and the second compartment are substantially parallel to one another with their respective bottom surfaces facing each other, the primary hinge is compressed in a folded position sandwiched between the bottom surfaces of the first and second compartments, and the secondary hinge wraps around the rear surfaces of both the first and second compartments; wherein the unfolded configuration provides a substantially flat and elongated sleeping surface adapted for back and stomach sleepers by distributing support across a larger surface area; and wherein the folded configuration provides an elevated and thickened sleeping surface adapted specifically for side-lying sleepers by providing increased thickness to accommodate shoulder width and maintain proper spinal alignment of a side-lying sleeper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted.

(2) It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

(3) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

(4) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow, fabricated in accordance with the present invention, shown in an open/unfolded configuration;

(5) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pillow of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the pillow of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 4 is a right side elevation of the pillow of FIG. 1, and the left side elevation is a mirror image of the right side elevation;

(8) FIG. 5 is a front side elevation of the pillow of FIG. 1, and the rear side elevation is a mirror image of the front side elevation;

(9) FIG. 6 is a right side elevation of the pillow of FIG. 1 shown in a partially closed/folded configuration;

(10) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pillow of FIG. 1 shown in a closed/folded configuration;

(11) FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the pillow of FIG. 7;

(12) FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the pillow of FIG. 7;

(13) FIG. 10 is a right side elevation of the pillow of FIG. 7;

(14) FIG. 11 is a left side elevation of the pillow of FIG. 7;

(15) FIG. 12 is a front side elevation of the pillow of FIG. 7.

(16) FIG. 13 is a rear side elevation of the pillow of FIG. 7; and

(17) FIG. 14 is a left side elevation of the pillow of FIG. 7 shown with the left side outer liner in phantom (i.e., transparent) to emphasize the inner core/memory foam components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(18) While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

(19) It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of one or more embodiments of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.

(20) Referring now to the collective drawings, and to FIGS. 1-14 in particular, pillow 10 is shown as generally comprising first compartment 12, second compartment 14, primary hinge/connector 16, and secondary hinge/connector 18. In accordance with the present invention, pillow 10 is readily convertible between an unfolded/open configuration and a folded/closed configuration. The unfolded configuration is adapted to accommodate back and stomach sleepers, and the folded configuration is adapted to accommodate side-lying sleepers. Collectively, the unfolded and folded configurations enable maximum comfort for the sleeper in any position (e.g., prone, supine, side-lying) while, at the same time, minimizes/eliminates shoulder and/or neck pain compared to the use of conventional pillows. The term conventional pillow is intended to mean a standard single compartment pillow with a traditional rectangular pillowcase.

(21) As is best shown in FIG. 14, pillow 10 preferably includes first compartment 12 that includes first memory foam core 20 positioned within outer liner 22, and second compartment 14 that includes second memory foam core 24 positioned within outer liner 26. Although not shown, it will be understood that the memory foam cores are inserted into each compartment via a slot/opening made available via, for example, a zipper, one or more buttons, one or more snaps, a hook and loop fastenerjust to name a few.

(22) Moreover, the memory cores of the present invention, may be partially and/or fully substituted with, for example, down feather, a plurality of polyurethane foam pieces, polystyrene pellets, etcetera.

(23) As is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, primary hinge 16 of pillow 10 preferably includes a material (e.g., a fabric, an elastomeric strip, a rubber strip, a flexible, frameless material, a rubber strip, etcetera) secured (e.g., sewn, stitched, snapped, glued, riveted, etcetera) to a bottom surface of the pillow when in the unfolded configuration and sandwiched between the first and second compartments when in the folded configuration.

(24) As is further shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 11, secondary hinge 18 of pillow 10 preferably includes a material secured to a rear surface of the first component and a front surface of the second component when in the unfolded configuration and rear surfaces of the first and second components when in the folded configuration.

(25) In one embodiment of the present invention, the secondary hinge comprises a thermoplastic elastomer, such as a styrenic block copolymer, a thermoplastic olefin, an elastomeric alloy, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic copolyester, and/or a thermoplastic polyamide.

(26) In another aspect of the invention, the secondary hinge comprises a natural polyisoprene, a synthetic polyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a chloroprene rubber, a butyl rubber, a halogenated butyl rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a hydrogenated nitrile rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, an ethylene propylene diene rubber, an epichlorohydrin rubber, a polyacrylic rubber, a silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, a polyether block amide, a chlorosulfonated, ethylene-vinyl acetate, a resilin, an elastin, a polysulfide rubber, and/or an elastolefin.

(27) In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the secondary hinge comprises a composite of polyvinyl chloride and a plasticizer. In this embodiment, the plasticizer preferably comprises a bio-based plasticizer, a dicarboxylic/tricarboxylic ester-based plasticizer, a trimellitate, an adipate, a sebacate, a maleate, an azelate, a benzoate, a terephthalates, 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester, an alkyl sulphonic acid phenyl ester, a sulfonamide, an organophosphate, a tricresyl phosphate, a tributyl phosphate, a glycol, a polyether, a triethylene glycol dihexanoate, a tetraethylene glycol diheptanoate, a polymeric plasticizer, and/or a polybutene.

(28) In one preferred implementation of the present invention, the secondary hinge comprises a bio-based plasticizer, such as acetyl tributyl citrate, trioctyl citrate, acetyl trioctyl citrate, trihexyl citrate, acetyl trihexyl citrate, butyryl trihexyl citrate, and/or trimethyl citrate.

(29) In accordance with the present invention, the outer liner(s) of the present invention may comprise any one of a number of materials, such as natural and/or synthetic fibers/materialsincluding, but not limited to cotton, wool, linen, silk, cashmere, hemp, jute, elastane, nylon, modacrylic, olefin, acrylic, polyester, rayon, vinyon, saran, spandex, vinalon, aramids (e.g., nomex, kevlar, twaron, etcetera), modal, dyneema/spectra, polybenzimidazole fiber, sulfar, lyocell, orlon, zylon, vectran, and/or derclonjust to name a few.

(30) The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

(31) While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein in accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technology in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims.

(32) The embodiments, illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms comprising, including, containing, etcetera shall be read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed technology. Additionally, the phrase consisting essentially of will be understood to include those elements specifically recited and those additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The phrase consisting of excludes any element not specified.

(33) The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and compositions within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, which can of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

(34) In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

(35) As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etcetera. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etcetera. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as up to, at least, greater than, less than, and the like, include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

(36) All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents referred to in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions that are contained in text incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they contradict definitions in this disclosure.

(37) Other embodiments are set forth in the following claims.