PREGNANCY BODY PILLOW

Abstract

A pillow device for pregnant users features a symmetrical pillow body with a generally planar top surface to provide uniform support along the inner legfoot, knee, and upper legkeeping them in a horizontal plane. The pillow includes a lengthwise elongate opening that divides the pillow body into two arms, allowing the user to rest their torso between the arms while positioning the base between the legs. The symmetrical design allows easy switching between left and right recumbent positions without repositioning the pillow. The elongate opening may vary in length and width and is may be reinforced to prevent wear. The pillow body may include an access opening for replacing fill material and a removable cover for cleaning. In some embodiments, the pillow is foldable into an L-shape to provide upright back support for seated activities such as nursing. Materials include foam, memory foam, polyester, or other suitable fill types.

Claims

1. A pillow device optimized for a pregnant user, comprising: a pillow body having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the pillow body is symmetrical along a central longitudinal axis and defines a generally planar top surface for supporting a user's legs in a horizontal plane; an elongate opening extending lengthwise through a central portion of the pillow body and forming two opposing pillow body arms separated by said elongate opening; wherein the planar top surface provides uniform support along the inner surfaces of a user's foot, knee, and upper leg when the user is in a recumbent position, such that the foot, knee, and upper leg rest in a substantially horizontal plane parallel to the surface the pillow lies upon; wherein the symmetrical shape of the pillow body allows a user to switch between left and right recumbent positions without repositioning the pillow.

2. The pillow device of claim 1, wherein the elongate opening is located equidistant between two lengthwise edges of the pillow body.

3. The pillow device of claim 1, wherein the elongate opening is rectangular in shape.

4. The pillow device of claim 1, wherein the elongate opening is less than seven inches wide.

5. The pillow device of claim 4, wherein the elongate opening is less than three inches wide.

6. The pillow device of claim 1, wherein the length of the elongate opening is between one-half and three-quarters of the length of the pillow body.

7. The pillow device of claim 1, wherein a vertex at a base of the elongate opening is reinforced with a patch to prevent cracking or splitting due to wear.

8. The pillow device of claim 7, wherein the reinforcement patch is stitched to the pillow body or integrally formed from a material different from the rest of the pillow body.

9. The pillow device of claim 1, further comprising an access opening in the pillow body configured to allow removal or replacement of interior fill material.

10. The pillow device of claim 9, wherein the access opening is secured using a zipper, hook and loop fastener, buttons, clasps, or ties.

11. The pillow device of claim 1, further comprising a removable pillow cover conforming to the shape of the pillow body.

12. The pillow device of claim 11, wherein the pillow cover comprises an opening along a lower edge for inserting or removing the pillow body, the opening being securable by a zipper, hook and loop fastener, buttons, clasps, or ties.

13. The pillow device of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the pillow body slopes downwardly from outer lengthwise edges toward the elongate opening, forming a bowl-shaped support structure.

14. The pillow device of claim 1, wherein the pillow body is selectively bendable into an L-shape along its lengthwise direction for supporting a user in a seated position against a vertical surface.

15. The pillow device of claim 1, wherein the pillow body and arms are constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of: foam, memory foam, latex, cotton, down fibers, polyester, wool, or microbeads.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are given like reference numerals and, wherein:

[0005] FIG. 1 depicts a flat pillow with a cover in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 depicts a flat pillow without a cover in accordance with embodiments of the invention

[0007] FIG. 3 depicts a user using the pillow in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0008] The images in the drawings are simplified for illustrative purposes and are not depicted to scale. Within the descriptions of the figures, similar elements are provided similar names and reference numerals as those of the previous figure(s). The specific numerals assigned to the elements are provided solely to aid in the description and are not meant to imply any limitations (structural or functional) on the invention.

[0009] The appended drawings illustrate exemplary configurations of the invention and, as such, should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention that may admit to other equally effective configurations. It is contemplated that features of one configuration may be beneficially incorporated in other configurations without further recitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The embodiments of the disclosure will be best understood by reference to the Figures, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations or be entirely separate. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the device of the disclosure, as represented in the Figures is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as claimed, but is merely representative of possible embodiments of the disclosure.

[0011] The following description sets forth numerous embodiments and parameters. It should be recognized, however, that such description is not intended as a limitation on the scope of the present invention but is instead provided as a description of exemplary embodiments. Various modifications to the examples described will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the examples described herein but is to be accorded a scope consistent with the claims.

[0012] The present invention is for a pillow with a shape that is optimized for a pregnant user by providing a planar contact surface along the entire pillow body. The symmetrical shape of the pillow further allows a user to easily switch between the left and right recumbent positions without having to reposition the pillow.

[0013] As shown in the embodiments depicted FIG. 1-3, the pillow device 100 comprises a generally rectangular pillow body 102 with a lengthwise elongate opening 104 along a portion of pillow body 102. Pillow body 102 comprises a top surface 114 and a bottom surface 116. Elongate opening 104 penetrates through pillow body 102 such that two separate pillow body arms 106a and 106b are formed. Elongate opening 104 is located between two lengthwise edges 108a and 108b of pillow body 102. The pillow device 100 further comprises an opening at the head of the pillow that allows for the placement of a user's own head pillow. Each separate pillow body arm 106a and 106b are wide enough to fit the entire foot and leg of a user on the pillow.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1-3 in some embodiments the top surface 114 of pillow body 102 is generally planar or flat. Bottom surface 116 of pillow body 102 may be generally flat. The flat shape of top surface 114 provides more gradual support profile than tube-shaped or rounded profiles. Importantly, the wide planar contact surface of top surface 114 allows a user to rest their foot, knee, and upper leg in the same substantially horizontal plane while fully contacting the inner leg of the user. The horizontal plane defined by the body pillow is substantially parallel to the surface it lies on. Comparatively, the common tubular pillow forces the foot, knee or upper leg (or a portion of the foot, knee or upper leg) to be higher or lower relative to one another or that the foot, knee or upper leg is wrapped around the pillow. The positioning naturally forced by tubular-shaped pillows takes the foot, knee, upper leg, or all three out of the horizontal plane and instead places them in a plane that is oblique to a plane defined by the surface the pillow lies upon.

[0015] The wide planar contact surface of top surface 114 allows for support of every portion of the inner leg and does not force the foot, knee or upper leg (or a portion of the foot, knee or upper leg) of a user to rest off of the pillow contact surface. Having only portions of the inner leg supported by the pillow and other portions removed from the pillow contacts surface, as what occurs in a tubular shaped pillow, creates pressure points at the portions of the inner leg that are in contact with the pillow. This situation, which may create discomfort for users over long periods of time, is cured by the wide planar contact surface of top surface 114 of pillow system 100.

[0016] In some embodiments, the pillow may be oval shaped.

[0017] In some embodiments, the length of elongate opening 104 is half of the length of the pillow body 102. In some embodiments, the length of elongate opening 104 is three quarters of the length of the pillow body 102. In some embodiments, the length of elongate opening 104 is between half and three quarters of the length of the pillow body 102. In some embodiments, elongate opening 104 is located in between the two lengthwise edges 108a and 108b of pillow body 102. In some embodiments, elongate opening 104 is located in the middle of two lengthwise edges 108a and 108b of pillow body 102. In some embodiments, the elongate opening 104 is rectangular in shape. In some embodiments, the elongate opening 104 is a slit.

[0018] In some embodiments, elongate opening 104 is less than seven inches wide. In some embodiments, elongate opening 104 is less than five inches wide. In some embodiments, elongate opening 104 is less than three inches wide. In some embodiments, elongate opening 104 is less than two inches wide.

[0019] Pillow body 102 and pillow arms 106a and 106b are configured to allow for the adjustment and reposition of pillow arms 106a and 106b by a user.

[0020] The portion of pillow body 102 that elongate opening 104 does not penetrate defines a base 110 that is connected to pillow body arms 106a and 106b. In some embodiments, base 110 comprises a taper or rounded taper along the lower widthwise edge 112. The lower width edge 112 of base 110 is that edge that is opposite the elongate opening side 116 of pillow body 102. In some embodiments, the upper sides 126a and 126b of pillow body arms 106a and 106b comprise a taper or rounded taper.

[0021] The vertex 120 at the base 110 end of the elongate opening 104 forms a potential weak point in pillow body 102 that may crack or split after repeated use and normal wear. Therefore, in some embodiments, a reinforcement patch 122 is attached to vertex 120 in order to mitigate wear in this area. The reinforcement patch 122 may be attached to pillow body 102 by being sewn or stitched into the pillow body 102 or attached via any means common in the art. In some embodiments, the reinforcement patch 122 may be a portion of the pillow body 120 itself and may comprise a material that is different than the rest of the pillow body material.

[0022] In some embodiments, pillow body 102 may comprise an opening that allows access to the interior of the pillow body 102. This opening allows a user to replace and replenish one or more types of material on the inside of the pillow body 102. In some embodiments, opening 132 is secured with a zipper, hook and loop material, clasps, buttons, ties or any other suitable means.

[0023] The pillow 100 may further comprise a removable pillow cover 124. The pillow cover 124 is the same shape as pillow body 102. The lower edge 112 of pillow cover 124 may comprise an opening 132 with means for closing the opening 132 such as a zipper, hook and loop material, buttons, clasps, ties or any other suitable means. The pillow cover 124 may be made of bamboo, cotton, polyester or any other suitable material.

[0024] In some embodiments, the top surface 114 of pillow body 102 is angled such that edges 108a and 108b and 112 are the thickest portions of body pillow 102. From the outer lengthwise edges 108a and 108b the top surface 114 slopes downwardly toward elongate opening 104. The top surface 114 of header 110 is downwardly sloped toward vertex 120 such that base 110 forms a bowl-like shape. Upper edge 126a and 126b may follow the downward slope of lengthwise edges 108a and 108b. In some embodiments, the top surface 114 fully downwardly slopes to the bottom surface 116. The bottom surface 116 may be generally flat. The gentle downward slope of top surface 114 provides more gradual support profile than tube-shaped or rounded profiles.

[0025] In some embodiments, the material for the pillow body may be selected from one or more of the following: foam, memory foam, latex, cotton, down fibers, polyester, wool, microbead or any other suitable material.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, some embodiments of pillow device 100 allow a user to place the base 110 between their feet and legs in the recumbent position and rest their torso between arms 106a and 106b. This allows a user to use their own pillow for their head.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1-3, in some embodiments of pillow device 100 provide wider elongate openings 104 to accommodate different user sizes or preferences. In some embodiments of pillow device 100 provides an elongated opening 104 that is seven or more inches wide but less than thirty-six inches wide.

[0028] In some embodiments, the pillow device 100 can be hinged upward along the length of the main pillow body 102 to form an L-shape. The upper portion of the L-shape may be placed against a surface, such as a wall, chair back or headboard. This configuration provides a comfortable support for a user to sit up against in actions like nursing, burping or rocking a child to sleep.

[0029] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, this specific language intends no limitation of the scope of the invention, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional aspects of the system (and components of the individual operating components of the system) may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as essential or critical. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.