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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new and improved beach pillow and, more
particularly, pertains to keeping a user cool and comfortable while
sunbathing, using a tanning bed or reclining in an uncomfortably warm
environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of pillows and cooling devices of known designs and configurations
is known in the prior art. More specifically, pillows and cooling devices
of known designs and configurations heretofore devised and utilized for
the purpose of keeping a person comfortable while in a reclining position
through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of
familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding
the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been
developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
The prior art discloses a large number of pillows and cooling devices of
known designs and configurations. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No.
3,312,987 to Emery, issued Apr. 11, 1967 discloses a U-shaped pillow. U.S.
Pat. No. 4,858,259 to Simmons et al., issued Aug. 22, 1989 discloses a
therapy pillow with removable therapeutic pack. U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,326 to
O'Brien et al., issued Dec. 19, 1989 discloses a suboccipital pillow. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,344,437 to Pistay, issued Sep. 6, 1994 discloses a massaging
therapeutic pillow with removable ice pack. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No.
5,545,199 to Hudson, issued Aug. 13, 1996 discloses a hot and cold
therapeutic pillow. International Application WO 96/13186 to Stanley et
al., issue/priority date May 9, 1996 discloses a cooling fluid container.
In this respect, the beach pillow according to the present invention
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the
prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for
the purpose of keeping a user cool and comfortable while sunbathing, using
a tanning bed or reclining in an uncomfortably warm environment.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a
new and improved beach pillow which can be used for keeping a user cool
and comfortable while sunbathing, using a tanning bed or reclining in an
uncomfortably warm environment. In this regard, the present invention
substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of
pillows and cooling devices of known designs and configurations now
present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and
improved beach pillow. As such, the general purpose of the present
invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to
provide a new and improved beach pillow and methods which have all the
advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new and
improved beach pillow system to keep a user cool and comfortable while
sunbathing, using a tanning bed or reclining in an uncomfortably warm
environment comprising, in combination, a housing in a generally
rectangular configuration having an upper surface and a lower surface with
a narrow front edge and a thick rear edge and with-curved-side faces; a
generally rectangular gel pocket formed in the upper surface adapted to
contain a layer of thermally conductive gel material; a slot formed in the
rear edge with a chamber for the removable receipt of a freezer pack of
thermal material capable of being frozen in a freezer and placed into the
chamber for providing a cooling effect to the gel pack and a user's head
thereon; a quantity of thermal insulation within the chamber between the
chamber and lower surface adapted to hold the pillow in its intended
rectangular configuration; a generally rectangular recess formed in the
lower surface adapted to conform to a user's head when placed thereon; a
multi-function timer located within one side wall proximate to the rear
edge thereof; a pair of button-like projections extending outwardly from
the opposed side walls adjacent to the rear end thereof; and a strap
having keyhole openings at its opposite ends adapted for releasably
coupling to the projections extending from the side walls.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that
follows may be better understood and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved beach pillow which has all the advantages of the prior art
pillows and cooling devices of known designs and configurations and none
of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
beach pillow which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and
marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved beach pillow which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved beach pillow which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture
with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making
such a beach pillow economically available to the buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to keep a user cool
and comfortable while sunbathing, using a tanning bed or reclining in an
uncomfortably warm environment.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
pillow/headrest designed to keep a user cool and comfortable when
sunbathing, using a tanning bed or reclining in any uncomfortably warm
environment. The pillow system comprises a housing in a generally
rectangular configuration having an upper surface and a lower surface with
a front edge and a rear edge and side faces. A generally rectangular gel
pocket is formed in the upper surface and is adapted to contain a layer of
thermally conductive gel material. A slot is formed in the rear edge with
a chamber for the removable receipt of a freezer pack of thermal material.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set
forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the
following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference
to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the new and improved beach pillow
shown in combination with the removable freezer pack constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken adjacent the rear edge thereof.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of one side edge of the device shown in
FIG. 1, illustrating the multi-function timer.
FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of the button and coupling strap as
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of the pillow as shown in FIG. 1
.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various
Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5
thereof, the new and improved beach pillow embodying the principles and
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the
reference numeral 10 will be described.
The present invention, the new and improved beach pillow, is a system 10
comprised of a plurality of components. Such components, in their broadest
context, include a housing, a gel pocket, a slot and freezer pack chamber,
a freezer pack, thermal insulation, a recess, a timer, projections and a
strap. Each of the individual components is specifically configured and
correlated one with respect to the other so as to attain the desired
objectives.
The present invention includes a housing 12 in a generally rectangular
configuration. The housing has an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 16
with a narrow front edge 18 and a thick rear edge 20 and side faces 22,
24.
Next provided is a generally rectangular gel pocket 26 partially designed
by the upper surface adapted to contain a layer of thermally conductive
gel material 28, as best seen in FIG. 2.
A slot 32 is formed in the rear edge with a chamber 34 for the removable
receipt of a freezer pack 36 of thermal material capable of being frozen
in a freezer and placed into the chamber for providing a cooling effect to
the gel pack and a user's head thereon.
Further provided is a quantity of thermal insulation 40 within the chamber
between the chamber and lower surface adapted to hold the pillow in its
intended rectangular configuration.
Also provided is a generally rectangular recess 44 formed in the lower
surface adapted to conform to a user's head when placed thereon.
Next provided is a multi-function timer 50 located within one side wall
proximate the rear edge thereof.
Further provided is a pair of button-like projections 54 which extend
outwardly from the opposed side walls adjacent to the rear edge thereof.
Lastly provided is a strap 58 having keyhole openings 60 at its opposite
ends adapted for releasably coupling to the projections extending from the
side walls.
The present invention is a pillow/headrest designed to keep the user cool
and comfortable while sunbathing, using a tanning bed or reclining in any
uncomfortably warm environment.
The present invention consists of a three-part device having an overall
shape of a neck-cradling headrest. However, the back of the pillow opens
up like a pocket to provide access to an interior compartment. This
compartment is shaped to closely fit the provided freezer pack. Once
inserted into the pillow, the freezer pack begins chilling the liquid
gel-pack contained in the top of the pillow. This cold-conducting gel-pack
provides a cool refreshing effect to the user's head and neck. The bottom
section of the headrest compartment, underneath the freezer pack, is made
of an insulating material, or is a plastic molded form that is filled with
insulating material.
The present invention also features a timer with alarm that can be set to
alert the user after a designated period of time has elapsed. This feature
is useful in preventing UV overexposure or to signal the user to turn over
to achieve an even tan. The timer unit could be inset within one side
wall.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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