Pillow with enhanced comfort

Abstract

The device presents a cooling pillow designed to improve sleep comfort by delivering a controlled cooling effect. It features an ergonomically contoured top section for supporting the user's head, neck, and upper body. The pillow integrates a conduit system with two electric blowers, generating a forced air flow for cooling. Adjustable louvers and a front vent regulate and direct this air flow. The cooling mechanism operates on a rechargeable power system, encompassing a battery, charge controller, and a variable-speed power switch. A main controller and wireless transceiver facilitate remote operation adjustments. Constructed from memory foam and enclosed in a satin cover, the pillow also includes an internal compartment for easy maintenance. This cooling pillow offers enhanced sleep comfort, particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing increased body temperature at night.

Claims

1. A pillow comprising: a pillow body formed of memory foam and having a top portion, a bottom portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a front portion, and a rear portion; the top portion including a contoured section positioned to support a user's head; a vent located on the front portion and in environmental communication with an interior of the pillow body; a first louver located at the first side portion and a second louver located at the second side portion; a first blower positioned within the pillow body proximate the first side portion and arranged with an intake facing the first louver; a second blower positioned within the pillow body proximate the second side portion and arranged with an intake facing the second louver; a power supply/charge controller electrically coupled to a battery and to a power switch; a main controller operatively coupled to a transceiver and configured to receive wireless commands; a motor drive controller operatively coupled to the main controller and to a first blower motor mechanically coupled to the first blower and to a second blower motor mechanically coupled to the second blower; wherein the motor drive controller is configured to vary rotational speed of the first blower motor and the second blower motor in response to control signals from the main controller; wherein the power switch is configured to enable and disable electrical power delivery from the power supply/charge controller to the first blower and the second blower; and, wherein, when at least one of the first blower and the second blower is energized, ambient air is drawn through at least one of the first louver and the second louver and is directed through the interior of the pillow body and out of the vent on the front portion.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein: the transceiver comprises a Bluetooth transceiver operatively coupled to the main controller and configured to receive wireless commands to set on/off state, blower speed, and timer operation; the main controller comprises a single board computer; the top portion includes two creases at predetermined locations on opposite sides of the contoured section, the creases being configured to conform to a natural curvature of a user's head and neck; the second side portion includes an opening providing access to the interior of the pillow body, and a fastener configured to selectively close the opening, the fastener comprising a zipper; the pillow body is covered by a satin cover; the vent is covered by a mesh or other permeable material; and, the first side portion includes a charging port electrically coupled to the power supply/charge controller and the power switch located adjacent the charging port.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The advantages and features of the present device will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a pillow 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present device;

(3) FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the pillow 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present device;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the pillow 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present device;

(5) FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the pillow 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present device;

(6) FIG. 5 is a left side elevation view of the pillow 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present device;

(7) FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of the pillow 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present device;

(8) FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the pillow 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present device;

(9) FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the pillow 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present device;

(10) FIG. 9 is an environmental view of a user 40 resting a head on a contoured section 12 of the pillow 10 and in environmental communication with a forced air flow 50, according to a preferred embodiment of the present device; and,

(11) FIG. 10 is an electrical schematic of the pillow 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present device.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

(12) 10 pillow 11 top portion 11b bottom portion 12 contoured section 13a first side portion 13b second side portion 14a front portion 14b rear 15a first louver 15b second louver 16 crease 17 vent 18 opening 19 fastener 20 first blower 21 second blower 30 port 40 user 50 forced air flow 101 power supply/charge controller 105 battery 110 power switch 115 main controller 120 motor drive controller 125 first blower motor 126 second blower motor 130 transceiver

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVICE

(13) The best mode for carrying out the device is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 10. However, the device is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the device are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the device and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this device. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present device can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present device, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims.

(14) The terms a and an herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. Referring now to FIG. 9, the pillow 10 is configured to enable a user 40 to rest a portion of their body, typically the head, thereupon and further comprises features that provide a comforting thermal transfer of heat from the environment in order to provide the user 40 and the portion of the body resting thereupon with a cooling forced air flow 50 and to remain cool throughout a desired and selective period of time. The pillow 10 has a contoured section 12 that positions the head of the user 40 in a central location thereon.

(15) Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, the pillow 10 comprises generally a rectangular prism shape with a top portion 11a, a bottom portion 11b, a first side portion 13a, a second side portion 13b, a front portion 14a, and a rear portion 14b. The top portion 11a further comprises a tapered and formed contoured section 12 bracketed by a pair of creases 16 that may mimic the head, neck and upper part of the body of a user 40 in a cradle-type manner, although the contoured section 12 may be any desired shape and still provide a similar function. The contoured section 12 is located on the top portion 11 and adjacent to and perhaps transitioning directly into the front portion 14a.

(16) Located internal to the pillow 10, and positioned adjacent to the front portion 14a, is a conduit. Located at a first end of the conduit, ostensibly adjacent to the first side portion 14a, is a first louver portion 15a. Located at an opposite second end of the conduit, ostensibly adjacent to the second side portion 14b, is a second louver 15b. The first louver 15a and second louver 15b may be fixed to the respective side wall portions 14a, 14b to provide limited communication between the conduit and the exterior environment, or they may be selectively adjustable. Located within the first end of the conduit is a first blower 20 and located within the second end of the conduit is a second blower 20, each in electrical communication with a power supply/charge controller 101. The first blower 20 and second blower 21 may reside within the conduit or be in environmental communication therewith. In the exemplary embodiment, the first blower 20 is located adjacent the first louver 15a such that the intake of the first blower 20 is oriented against the first louver 15a and any forced air flow 50 that is generated is directed into the conduit. Similarly, the second blower 21 is located adjacent the second louver 15b such that the intake of the second blower 21 is oriented against the second louver 15b and any forced air flow 50 that is generated is directed into the conduit. A vent 17 is located on the front portion 14a and is in environmental communication with the interior of the conduit. The vent 17 may have a length coextensive with the conduit or a portion thereof and may have a height coextensive with the height of the front portion 14a, although other sizes and shapes are envisioned. The vent 17 is also capable of directing a forced air flow 50 away from the pillow 10 and to the environment.

(17) Located on the pillow 10 is a port 30 capable of enabling the power supply/charge controller 101 to be recharged as necessary. A power switch 110 is also located on the pillow 10 and is in electrical communication between the power supply/charge controller 101, the first blower 20, and second blower 21. In the exemplary embodiment, the port 30 and power switch 110 is located on the first side portion 14a, adjacent the first louver 15a, although other locations are envisioned to fall under the overall scope of the present device. In other embodiments, the power switch 110 may also provide a variable speed adjustment means.

(18) The pillow 10 is preferably constructed of memory foam and provided with a satin cover that is capable of protecting the entire outer profile of the pillow 10 to enable a more comfortable resting place. The first blower 20 and second blower 21 may be small electric fans and the conduit may be a flexible PVC or plastic tubular member that does not interfere or damage the pillow 10 or a user 40 thereof, and resilient enough to withstand normal usage of the pillow 10. The vent 17 may be covered with a mesh or other permeable material to assist in thermal transfer, with or without the cover being placed thereon. The second side portion 14a may have an opening 18 to provide access to an interior of the pillow 10, for adding or changing cushioning, accessing any internal features or the conduit, or for placing items therein, A fastener 19 may selectively close the opening 18. Such a fastener 19 may be a zipper.

(19) Referring now to FIG. 10, electrical power for the pillow 10 is delivered through the port 30 to a power supply/charge controller 101. Resultant power from the power supply/charge controller 101 is used to charge a battery 105. Similarly, resultant power of the correct voltage and current, is controlled via the power switch 110 and subsequently delivered to a main controller 115. The main controller 115 is envisioned to be a single board computer (SBC) capable of accepting various inputs and outputs as well as processing logic. The main controller 115 provides an output signal to a motor drive controller 120 which allows for variable speed control (if desired) and selective activation of a first blower motor 125 which is in mechanical contact with the first blower 20 and a second blower motor 126 which is in mechanical contact with the second blower 21. The main controller 115 is provided with input/output functionality via a transceiver 130, such as Bluetooth-enabled device. The transceiver 130 is envisioned to pair with personal electronic devices, tablet computers, home automation systems, notebook computers and the like running dedicated control applications. Parameters envisioned to be controlled via the transceiver 130 are on/off control, speed control, timer operation, and similar functionality.

(20) The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present device have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the device to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the device and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the device and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.