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Description  |
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates broadly to pillow coverings and pillows, and,
more particularly, to a two-sided pillow for providing support to a user's
neck which may include one or more pockets for holding pillow inserts or
hot/cold packs.
BACKGROUND ART
Orthopedic pillows and pillow cases have been developed to support the head
and neck. U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,513 to Rinz, for example, discloses a pillow
case with a single compartment, extending the length of one of the long
sides of a standard rectangular pillow, for holding an elastomeric insert.
The insert is designed to support a person's neck. However, the pillow
case does not provide support for the side of the person's head and does
not provide a way for the user to adjust the thickness of the center
region of the pillow, the sides of the pillow, the top of the pillow, or
the bottom of the pillow.
Orthopedic pillows having several sections have also been developed.
However, these pillows and pillow covers tend to be bulky and cumbersome.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,810 to Degen shows a pillow and pillow
case made up of three interconnecting sections of equal size. Each section
is separated by a vertical cut which extends part-way down the pillow and
pillow case. The central section is about half as thick as the other two
sections. By adding an additional panel capable of being rolled up, to the
central section of the pillow case, the pillow maybe modified to include a
neck roll. The disadvantage with the Degen pillow is that forming the neck
roll section is cumbersome. The user has to roll up the panel and place it
in a compartment in the pillow case. Another disadvantage of the Degen
pillow is that the rolled up panel may come unrolled while it is being
used.
Some of orthopedic pillows have two parallel neck roll compartments. German
Patent DE 3138463 A1 to Jackle for instance shows a pillow case having two
compartments for holding a support pillow which extends for the entire
length of the pillow case. While the dual parallel compartments provide a
place to hold head and neck support pillows a user does not have the
ability to adjust the thickness of other parts of the pillow (e.g., the
depth of the center of the pillow where the user places his head or the
thickness of the short sides of the pillow).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a two-sided pillow that is capable of
providing different degrees of support to a user's neck. In one
embodiment, the two-sided pillow includes a first panel, a third panel,
and pillow fill enclosed between the first and third panels. An exterior
depression is formed in the central region of the first panel, and the
central region of the third panel is supported in a substantially flat
position.
In another embodiment, the two-sided pillow includes a pillow having first
and second opposed panels with pillow fill enclosed therebetween. Each of
the first and second panels has a depression formed substantially at a
central region thereof. A third panel is attached to the second panel for
covering the depression formed in the second panel, and pillow fill is
enclosed between the third panel and the second panel.
In another embodiment, the two-sided pillow includes a pillow having first
and second opposed panels that are substantially identical and that each
have a central region and four sides. The first and second panels are
joined together along the four sides and enclose pillow fill therebetween.
The first and second panels are further joined together at the central
region of each panel to form an exterior depression substantially at the
center of each panel. A third panel is attached to the second panel for
covering the exterior depression formed in the second panel, and pillow
fill is enclosed between the third panel and the second panel.
A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present
invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed
description of the invention and accompanying drawings which set forth an
illustrative embodiment in which the principles of the invention are
utilized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the pillow cover of present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the pillow cover shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an alternative back perspective view of the pillow cover of the
present invention having boxed corners;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a top, front perspective view of a conventional therapeutic
pillow having a central depression region;
FIG. 6 is a back perspective view, similar to FIG. 2, of an alternate
pillow cover encasing pillow fill;
FIG. 7 is a back perspective view, similar to FIG. 6 of yet another
alternate pillow cover encasing pillow fill;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the pillow cover illustrating the
compartments fastened on the interior of the pillow cover and a removable
compartment;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views illustrating the first and second
sides of one embodiment of a two-sided pillow in accordance with the
present invention;
FIGS. 11 through 14 are top, bottom, and side views of the two-sided pillow
of FIGS. 9 and 10;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the two-sided pillow of FIGS. 9 and
10; and
FIGS. 16 and 17 are top and bottom views of another embodiment of a
two-sided pillow in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 a therapeutic pillow cover 100, also referred
to as a cover element, for covering either a prefabricated pillow or for
serving as a shell for encasing pillow fill to form a pillow, is
illustrated. While the pillow cover 100 may be used to cover a
conventional pillow, it is preferably used to cover a health pillow 200 as
shown in FIG. 5 and in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 282,427 and having a central,
padded depression region or center pocket 210. The pillow cover 100 has an
open end 11 to permit the pillow 200 to be inserted and removed from the
cover 100. As illustrated, the pillow cover 100 is rectangular, however,
it may be any shape: round, square, oval, triangular or trapezoidal.
In the preferred embodiment, the pillow cover 100 has five compartments: a
center compartment 14, two oppositely disposed hot/cold pack compartments
16, and two oppositely disposed side wing compartments 12. Compartments
12, 14, 16 permit a person to change the elevation and curvature of
separate regions of a pillow to derive maximum support and comfort.
The center compartment 14 is attached on a first back side of the pillow
cover 100 in about the center of the cover 100. The center compartment is
stitched to the cover 100. When a person lies on the pillow cover 100, his
head rests approximately in the central depression region 210 and on the
center compartment 14. The center insert 28 permits the user to have the
option to adjust the thickness of the central depression region 210 (or in
general, the depth of the central region of a pillow) to achieve a more
desirable comfortable level.
The center compartment 14 is about the same size and shape as, or larger
than the central depression region 210 of the pillow 200 that is to be
covered.
In the preferred embodiment, the center compartment 14 is
rectilinear-shaped. However, the size and shape of the center compartment
14 may be varied to accommodate central depression regions 210 of
different sizes and shapes. (e.g., rectangular regions, trapezoidal
regions, squares, ovals, circles, etc). As illustrated, two sides of the
insert 28 are parallel to the two long sides of the pillow cover 100.
The pillow cover 100 also has a pair of front side hot/cold pack
compartments 16, one being located in the top region and the other being
located in the bottom region. Each of the hot/cold pack compartments 16 is
centered along the long side of the pillow cover 100 opposite from one
another. The hot/cold pack compartments 16 are rectangular shaped. Their
long sides are attached to the pillow cover 100 parallel to the long side
of the cover. The hot/cold pack compartments 16 are preferably about one
half as long as the long side of the pillow cover 100. Short side of the
compartment 16 generally extends from about the exterior edge of the
pillow cover 100 to about the edge of the center compartment 14.
The compartments 16 have an opening 13 from which a hot/cold pack 26 or a
pillow insert may be inserted or removed. At least two of the edges of the
compartment 16 are stitched to the cover 100. In the preferred embodiment,
one of the short ends 13 of the compartment 16 is left open to permit the
insertion and removal of the hot/cold pack 26. The open end 13 may be
fastened closed via conventional fasteners such as Velcro, snaps, zipper,
buttons, etc.
In the illustrated embodiment the hot/cold pack compartments 16 are
attached on a second front side of the pillow cover 100 as shown in FIG. 1
and the perimeter of the hot/cold pack compartments 16 are shown in
phantom in FIG. 2. In alternate embodiments, the center compartment 14 and
hot/cold pack compartments 16 may be attached on the same side of the
pillow cover 100.
The pillow covering 100 also has a pair of side wing compartments 12; one
side wing compartment 12 is attached in the left region while the other
side wing compartment 12 is attached in the right region. The compartments
12 are rectangular shaped and are attached to the cover 100 with their
long sides parallel to the short sides of the pillow cover 100. The side
wing compartments 12 may be attached on the same side of the pillow cover
100 or on opposite sides. As illustrated, the pair of side wing
compartments 12 are attached on the same back side of the pillow cover 100
across form one another and also attached on the same side as the center
compartment 14. Hence, the center compartment is 14 in between the side
wing compartments 12.
The length of the short sides of the compartment 12 is about equal to one
third of the length of the pillow cover 100.
The side wing compartments 12 are stitched to pillow cover 100 on three
sides and open on one side 17 to permit therefrom a pillow insert to be
inserted and removed. The pillow insert 22 helps support a person's face
when he is laying on his side. The open ends of the compartments may be
fastened together using a strip of Velcro.
In the preferred embodiment, where the pillow cover 100 is used as a pillow
case to cover a prefabricated pillow, the compartments 12, 14, 16 are
permanently affixed to the cover 100 on the interior of the pillow cover
100. FIG. 8 illustrates the side wing compartments 12 fastened to interior
wall 50 of pillow cover 100. However, the compartments 12, 14, 16 may be
sewn on the cover's exterior.
Referring to FIG. 3, pillow cover 300 having boxed corners 20 is
illustrated. The pillow cover 300 may be used as a pillow case to cover
either a conventional pillow, or more preferably, the health pillow 200.
The boxed off corners 20 give the pillow cover more depth so that the
pillow that is covered is not compressed when it is housed inside the
cover 300. Hence the boxed off corners 20 protect the pillow from having
its shape substantially altered.
The pillow cover 300 also has an open end 11 where the pillow to be encased
is inserted/removed. The opening may also be closed by Velcro or other
fasteners such as a zipper, snaps, buttons, etc.
Alternate embodiments of the pillow cover 100 may have the compartments 12,
14, 16 removably attached to the pillow cover 100 via snaps, fasteners,
Velcro or the like, either on the interior or the exterior of the pillow
cover 100. FIG. 8 illustrates one method of removably attaching the
compartments 16 to the pillow cover 100 by way of Velcro strips 52. Velcro
strips 52 are mounted on one side of the compartment 16, as well as the
pillow cover 199 where compartment 16 is to be attached. Compartment 16 is
easily attached to the pillow cover 100 by pressing it against same.
When the pillow cover 100 is used as the shell, to contain pillow fill
making up a sleeping pillow, it is preferable for the compartments 12, 14,
16 to be located on the exterior of the pillow cover 100.
Referring to FIG. 4, a cross sectional view of the pillow cover 100, 300
showing the pillow 200 and the inserts 28, 26 is illustrated. The center
pillow insert 28 is housed in the center compartment 14 and is in
alignment with the central depression region 210 of the health pillow 200.
The hot/cold pack compartments 16 contain the hot packs 26.
FIGS. 6 and 7 shows two alternate pillow covers 400, 500 respectively used
as the shell for encasing pillow fill, thereby forming a health pillow
400, 500. As previously discussed, when the cover 100 is used to encase
pillow fill, the compartments 12, 14, 16, are preferably attached to the
exterior of the cover 100. The pillows 400, 500 have a center pocket or
central depression region 210' and 210" respectively.
The center compartment 14 may be attached to the pillow cover over the
central depression region 210. In the preferred embodiment, the
compartment 14 is stitched to the central depression region. If the center
compartment 14 is attached to the pillow cover, it may have an open side
15 to permit the central pillow insert 28 to be inserted/removed.
Alternatively, the center pocket 14 may be formed by stitching the front
and back panels together.
Referring to FIG. 6, the hot/cold pack compartments 16' are stitched to the
cover 400 on at least two sides and has one of its short sides 18' open.
Referring to FIG. 7, which is similar to FIG. 6, the hot/cold pack
compartments 16" are stitched to the cover 500 on three sides and has one
of its long sides 18" open.
The compartments 12, 14, 16 may include a pleat so that the compartment may
be enlarged. In the preferred embodiments, the pillow cover 100, 400, 500
and the compartment attachments 14, 16, 18 are made out of the same
material. However, the cover 100, 400, 500 and the compartments 12, 14, 16
may be fabricated out of different materials. For example, the
compartments may be made out of an elastic material.
The health pillow 200 or a conventional pillow may be enhanced by the
pillow user having the option of attaching any one, or a combination of,
the compartments 14, 16, 18 directly onto the pillow 200 using any type of
removable fastener, such as Velcro strips 52 illustrated in FIG. 8. To
make the enhanced pillow more comfortable to sleep on, the enhanced pillow
can be covered with a standard pillow case.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is illustrated an embodiment of a
two-sided pillow 120 in accordance with the present invention. The
two-sided pillow 120 is particularly suited for providing two different
degrees of support to a user's neck. The two-sided pillow 120 has a
central depression 122 on its first side 124, as shown in FIG. 9, and is
relatively flat on the second side 126, as shown in FIG. 10. The two-sided
pillow 120 provides a first degree of support for a user's neck when the
first side 124 is used, and a second degree of support when the second
side 126 is used.
Specifically, when a user rests his or her head on the first side 124, the
user's head sinks down into the central depression 122. The part of the
pillow's first side 124 just outside the depression 122 makes firm contact
with the user's neck and provides support thereto. When the pillow 120 is
used in this manner, maximum support is provided to the neck.
If a user desires a smaller amount of support to his or her neck, the
pillow's second side 126 may be used. When the user rests his or her head
in the central region of the second side 126, the user's head sinks into
the pillow less than when the first side 124 is used, but more than when a
conventional pillow is used. The user's head sinks more than in a
conventional pillow because the central depression 122 is directly below
the user's head on the opposite side of the pillow 120. The presence of
the central depression 122 reduces the amount of support given to the
user's head by the pillow 120.
Because the user's head sinks into the pillow's second side 126 a small
amount, the side portions of the pillow 120 come into contact with the
user's neck to give support thereto. However, this contact is not as firm
as when the pillow's first side 124 is used.
Many users find the reduced support of the pillow's second side 126 more
comfortable during certain times, but at other times, the same users may
prefer the firmer support given by the pillow's first side 124. Thus, the
pillow 120 allows the user to adjust the amount of support given to his or
her neck by simply turning the pillow 120 over to its other side.
Referring to FIGS. 11 through 15, an embodiment of the pillow 120 in
accordance with the present invention may be constructed by using an
additional panel 128 and pillow fill 130 to cover and fill one of the
central depressions of any one of the Health Pillows disclosed in U.S.
Pat. Nos. Des. 282,427 and Des. 298,198. The central region of the
additional panel 128 is supported in a substantially flat position by
means of the pillow fill 130. The additional panel 128 and the pillow fill
130 may cover the entire side of the Health Pillow or just the central
depression.
Although the Health Pillow mentioned above is a preferred pillow for use in
the two sided pillow 120, any pillow that includes a first panel 132
opposed to a second panel 134 may be used. Such a pillow's first and
second panels 132 and 134 are preferably identical and preferably each
have four sides 136, 138, 140 and 142. The first and second panels may be
joined together along the four sides 136, 138, 140 and 142 to enclose
pillow fill 144 therebetween. The corners where the four sides 136, 138,
140 and 142 intersect preferably define a rectangle. The four sides 136,
138, 140 and 142 may be substantially straight, convex shaped, or concave
shaped. The Health Pillows disclosed in the above-referenced '427 and '198
design patents have concave shaped sides. Although the pillow 120 is
preferably rectangular in shape, it should be well understood that it may
be nearly any shape, such as circular, triangular, square, octagonal, etc.
The exterior central depression 122, as well as an exterior central
depression 123 on the opposite side, are preferably formed by means of
joining the central regions of the first and second panels 132 and 134
together at points 146 and 148. The points 146 and 148 are preferably
joined or attached together by means of sewing, or the like, and
preferably form part of rectangular or circular shaped exterior
depressions 122 and 123. However, it should be well understood that the
exterior depressions 122 and 123 may be of many different shapes, such as
rectangular, circular, triangular, octagonal, etc. Some of these
alternative shapes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 298,198.
The space between the first and second panels 132 and 134 in the area
between the exterior depressions 122 and 123 may be filled with pillow
fill or remain empty. If this space remains empty, the first and second
panels 132 and 134 may rest against each other, as shown in FIG. 15.
As discussed above with respect to a Health Pillow, an additional panel 128
(or a third panel 128) is preferably attached by means of sewing, or the
like, to the second panel 134 for covering the exterior depression 123
formed in the second panel 134. The additional panel 128 and the pillow
fill 130 may substantially or completely cover the second panel 134, or
just the exterior depression 123. The pillow fill 130 is enclosed between
the additional panel 128 and | | |
