U.S. patent application number 10/748876 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for inflatable support pillow and methods for its use.
This patent application is currently assigned to Brown, Susan Matthews. Invention is credited to Brown, Susan Matthews, Ganter, Susan.
Application Number | 20040154104 10/748876 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43221995 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040154104 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, Susan Matthews ; et
al. |
August 12, 2004 |
Inflatable support pillow and methods for its use
Abstract
A support pillow comprises an inflatable pillow body having an
interior that is adapted to be filled with a fluid to inflate the
pillow body, a top side, a bottom side, and at least one wall
disposed in the interior and that connects the top side to the
bottom side to facilitate flattening of the top and the bottom
sides when the pillow body is inflated. The pillow body further
comprises a medial region and first and second opposing arms
extending from the medial region, with the arms having respective
first and second end portions remote from the medial region.
Further, the cantilever arms are curved about a vertical axis, and
the cantilever arms and medial region cooperate to define an open
well.
Inventors: |
Brown, Susan Matthews;
(Evergreen, CO) ; Ganter, Susan; (Golden,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
Brown, Susan Matthews
The Boppy Company
Evergreen
CO
Golden
CO
|
Family ID: |
43221995 |
Appl. No.: |
10/748876 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10748876 |
Dec 30, 2003 |
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10046377 |
Oct 26, 2001 |
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6671908 |
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10046377 |
Oct 26, 2001 |
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09799759 |
Mar 6, 2001 |
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09799759 |
Mar 6, 2001 |
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09537949 |
Mar 28, 2000 |
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6685024 |
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09537949 |
Mar 28, 2000 |
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09265163 |
Mar 9, 1999 |
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6055687 |
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09265163 |
Mar 9, 1999 |
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08831803 |
Apr 9, 1997 |
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08831803 |
Apr 9, 1997 |
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08590653 |
Jan 24, 1996 |
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5661861 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/644 ;
5/655 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/383 20130101;
A47C 16/00 20130101; A47D 13/083 20130101; A47D 13/08 20130101;
A47D 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/644 ;
005/655 |
International
Class: |
A47G 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing support to a person's lower torso,
comprising: providing a support pillow comprising an inflatable
pillow body having an interior that is adapted to be filled with a
fluid to inflate the pillow body, a top side, a bottom side, and at
least one wall disposed in the interior and that connects the tope
side to the bottom side to facilitate flattening of the top and the
bottom sides when the pillow body is inflated, and wherein the
pillow body further comprises a medial region and first and second
opposing arms extending from the medial region, wherein the arms
have respective first and second end portions remote from the
medial region, wherein the cantilever arms are curved about a
vertical axis, and wherein the cantilever arms and medial region
cooperate to define an open well; inflating the support pillow; and
separating the first and second ends relating to each other and
placing the support pillow around the person's lower torso, with
the first and second end portions of the arms being at the front of
the person's torso, and with the medial region of the support
pillow being adjacent the person's lower back, wherein the arms are
biased around the person's torso sufficient to secure the support
pillow to the person's torso and to hold the support pillow
vertically positioned relative to the person's torso while the
medial region is positioned against the person's lower back.
2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising sitting in an upright
position with the support pillow around the torso.
3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the sitting step further
comprises sitting in a chair.
4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the pillow body is constructed
of a rubber or a vinyl material, and further comprising placing a
fabric cover over the pillow body prior to placement about the
torso.
5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising lying while the
support pillow is around the torso.
6. A method for supporting an object in front of a person's torso,
said method comprising: providing a support pillow comprising an
inflatable pillow body having an interior that is adapted to be
filled with a fluid to inflate the pillow body, a top side, a
bottom side, and at least one wall disposed in the interior and
that connects the tope side to the bottom side to facilitate
flattening of the top and the bottom sides when the pillow body is
inflated, and wherein the pillow body further comprises a medial
region and first and second opposing arms extending from the medial
region, wherein the arms have respective first and second end
portions remote from the medial region, wherein the cantilever arms
are curved about a vertical axis, and wherein the cantilever arms
and medial region cooperate to define an open well; inflating the
support pillow; distancing the first and second ends from each
other and placing the support pillow around the person's torso,
with the first and second end portions of the arms being at the
back of the person's torso, and with the medial region of the
support pillow being adjacent the front of the person's torso,
wherein the arms are biased around the person's torso sufficient to
secure the support pillow to the person's torso and to hold the
support pillow vertically positioned relative to the person's
torso; and resting the object on the cantilever arms or the medial
region while the arms are biased around the person's torso.
7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the person is sitting while
resting the object on the arms.
8. A method as in claim 6, wherein the pillow body is constructed
of a rubber or vinyl material, and further comprising placing a
fabric cover over the pillow body prior to placement about the
torso.
9. A method as in claim 6, wherein the object is the person's
elbows that is rested on the medial region.
10. A method as in claim 6, wherein the object is the person's
forearms that is rested on the medial region.
11. A method as in claim 6, further comprising breast feeding a
baby while resting the person's elbows or forearms and the baby on
the support pillow.
12. A method as in claim 6, wherein the placing step further
comprises resting at least a portion of the support pillow on the
person's thighs.
13. A support pillow, comprising: an inflatable pillow body having
an interior that is adapted to be filled with a fluid to inflate
the pillow body, a top side, a bottom side, and at least one wall
disposed in the interior and that connects the top side to the
bottom side to facilitate flattening of the top and the bottom
sides when the pillow body is inflated, and wherein the pillow body
further comprises a medial region and first and second opposing
arms extending from the medial region, wherein the arms have
respective first and second end portions remote from the medial
region, wherein the cantilever arms are curved about a vertical
axis, and wherein the cantilever arms and medial region cooperate
to define an open well.
14. A support pillow as in claim 13, wherein the pillow body is
constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of
rubber and vinyl.
15. A support pillow as in claim 13, further comprising a plurality
of spaced apart walls that are disposed in the interior and that
are coupled to the top side and the bottom side.
16. A support pillow as in claim 13, wherein the wall has a height
in the range from about 2 inches to about 8 inches.
17. A support pillow as in claim 13, wherein the top and the bottom
sides comprise separate pieces of material that are attached to
each other.
18. A support pillow as in claim 13, further comprising an
inflation port that is adapted to permit fluids to be introduced
into and removed from the interior of the pillow body.
19. A support pillow as in claim 15, wherein the walls extend
radially outward from the well.
20. A support pillow as in claim 19, wherein the walls are spaced
apart by a distance in the range from about 3 inches to about 10
inches.
21. A support pillow as in claim 13, further comprising at least
one passage between the pillow body and the wall to permit the
fluid to flow around the wall.
22. A support pillow as in claim 13, further comprising a fabric
cover disposed about the pillow body.
23. A method for making a support pillow, comprising: providing a
an inflatable pillow body having an interior that is adapted to be
filled with a fluid to inflate the pillow body, a top side, and a
bottom side, and wherein the pillow body further comprises a medial
region and first and second opposing arms extending from the medial
region, wherein the arms have respective first and second end
portions remote from the medial region, wherein the cantilever arms
are curved about a vertical axis, and wherein the cantilever arms
and medial region cooperate to define an open well; and inflating
the pillow body.
24. A method as in claim 23, further comprising attaching at least
one wall to the top and bottom sides and then attaching the top
side to the bottom side, and wherein the wall facilitates
flattening of the top and the bottom sides when the pillow body is
inflated.
25. A method as in claim 23, further comprising placing a fabric
cover about the pillow body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/799,759, filed Mar. 6, 2001,
which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/537,949, filed Mar. 28, 2000, which is a divisional
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/265,163, filed
Mar. 9, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,687), which is a divisional
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/831,803, filed
Apr. 9, 1997 (now abandoned), which is a continuation-in-part
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/590,653, filed
Jan. 24, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,861), the complete
disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
therapeutic support pillows, and in particular to support pillows
and methods for their use which are intended as improvements to the
support pillow and methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134,
the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134 describes a therapeutic support
pillow which is provided to support a small child or an infant, and
particularly to hold a small child in a manner that prohibits
lateral movement. Although the support pillow described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,261,134 has been generally successful when used to
prohibit the lateral movement of a small child, various
improvements are desired. For example, it would be desirable if
such a support pillow could be used with an adolescent or an adult.
For some applications, it would be further desirable if
improvements could be made to the overall structure of the support
pillow.
[0004] Many adults or adolescents participate in activities which
make it desirable to support certain objects or body parts. For
example, with activities such as reading, typing, breast feeding,
and the like, it is often desirable to support the arms or elbows.
As another example, when sleeping in an upright position it is
often desirable to have the neck and head supported. As a further
example, it is often desirable to provide support to the lower
back.
[0005] Although some support structures have been proposed for
supporting objects or body parts, such as the arms of a chair or
certain braces, such structures are often uncomfortable and
inconvenient to use. Further, some support structures are not
easily portable, thereby limiting their use. In a further drawback,
most support structures are designed only for a particular
application and do not have multiple uses.
[0006] For these and other reasons, it would be desirable to
provide an improved support pillow and methods which would overcome
these and other drawbacks. In particular, it would be desirable if
such a support structure and methods were capable of supporting
certain small objects or body parts, such as the arms, elbows,
lower back, neck or head. Such a support pillow and methods should
be comfortable, portable, and easy to use. In one particular
aspect, it would be desirable if such a support pillow could be
used in a variety of applications to support certain objects or
body parts.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention provides a support pillow and methods for its
use. In one exemplary method, support is provided to a person's
lower back. According to this method, a support pillow is provided
having a resilient cushion body with a medial region and first and
second opposing cantilever arms extending from the medial region.
The cantilever arms have respective first and second end portions
remote from the medial region. The cantilever arms are curved about
a vertical access to define a substantially toroidal configuration
for the cushion body and to position the first and second end
portions in a confronting relation to one another. The cantilever
arms and medial region cooperate to define a generally circular
open well. Such a support pillow is placed around the person's
torso in the area of the lower back. The first and second end
portions of the cantilever arms are positioned in front of the
person's torso, and the medial region of the support pillow is
positioned adjacent the person's lower back. The cantilever arms
are biased around the person's torso to hold the support pillow
vertically positioned relative to the person's torso while the
medial region is positioned against the person's lower back. In
this manner, the support pillow may be employed to support the
person's lower back even when the person is in various positions.
For example, the support pillow may be used to support the lower
back when the person is sitting in an upright position, such as
when sitting in a chair. Alternatively, the support pillow may
provide support to the person's lower back while the person is
lying.
[0008] In one particular aspect, the support pillow is removably
held within a flexible container having a bottom end, at least one
side and an open top. A base member is held within the bottom end
of the container. With this configuration, the base member holds
the container in a vertical orientation when the bottom end rests
upon a surface, thereby providing a convenient way to store the
support pillow. To use the support pillow, the user simply removes
the support pillow from the container and then places the pillow
around the torso. Preferably, the container comprises a clear
polymer and the base member is constructed of a paper material.
Optionally, the top end may be provided with a snapable handle
which provides a way to both carry the pillow and to close the top
end of the container.
[0009] In another exemplary method, such a support pillow may be
placed around the person's torso, with the first and second end
portions of the cantilever arms being at the back of the person's
torso, and with the medial region of the support pillow being
adjacent the front of the person's torso. The cantilever arms are
biased around the person's torso to hold the support pillow
vertically positioned relative to the person's torso. With the
support pillow placed around the person's torso in this manner, an
object may be rested on the cantilever arms or the medial region
while the cantilever arms are biased around the person's torso.
[0010] For example, the person may be sitting while resting the
object on the cantilever arms. In one exemplary aspect, the object
is printed material, such as a book, that is rested on the medial
region. Alternatively, other objects such as games, food, video
game controls, and the like, may be rested on the medial region. In
a further aspect, the person's elbows or forearms are rested on the
medial region. Resting of the person's forearms or elbows in this
manner is advantageous when performing a variety of activities with
the hands, such as typing on a keyboard, breast feeding a baby, and
the like.
[0011] In yet another exemplary method, such a support pillow is
provided to support a person's neck and head. According to the
method, the support pillow is placed around the person's neck with
the first and second end portions of the cantilever arms being at
the front of the person's neck. The medial region of the support
pillow is positioned adjacent the back of the person's neck. The
cantilever arms extend around the person's neck so that the neck is
supported at least in part by the cantilever arms in the medial
region.
[0012] In one aspect, the support pillow is positioned so that the
cantilever arms rest on the person's shoulders. In another aspect,
the person's head is tilted so as to rest the person's neck and
head against the support pillow in the region of the open well. For
example, the support pillow may be employed to support the person's
neck and head while sitting in a chair or other location where the
person's head may be supported when titled. Alternatively, the
support pillow may be employed to support the person's neck while
lying down.
[0013] The invention provides an exemplary support pillow having a
resilient cushion body, a medial region and first and second
opposing cantilever arms extending from the medial region. The
cantilever arms have respective first and second end portions
remote from the medial region. The cantilever arms are curved about
a vertical axis to define a substantially toroidal configuration
for the cushion body and to position the first and second end
portions in a confronting relation to one another. The cantilever
arms and medial region cooperate to define a generally circular
open well. At least a portion of the cushion body is covered with a
material suitable for receiving a marking substance from a writing
instrument such as a pen, marker, or the like. Preferably, such a
material comprises a fabric having a smooth surface (such as satin,
rip-stop nylon, and the like) and covers a bottom portion of the
cushion body. In this way, the support pillow may be employed to
receive an autograph or other message by simply turning the support
pillow on its side or top and writing on the bottom portion.
[0014] In a preferable aspect, a head member is further provided
and is attached to the cushion body. The head member will
preferably be attached to one of the cantilever arms such that the
head member extends in a direction generally parallel to the
vertical axis. In one particular aspect, the head member is in the
shape of a unicorn.
[0015] The invention provides one particularly preferable
embodiment of a support pillow which may be used in a liquid
medium, such as water. The support pillow comprises a resilient
cushion body having a medial region and first and second opposing
cantilever arms extending from the medial region. The cantilever
arms have respective first and second end portions remote from the
medial region, with the cantilever arms being curved about a
vertical axis to define a substantially toroidal configuration for
the cushion body and to position the first and second end portions
in a confronting relation to one another. The cantilever arms and
medial region cooperate to define a generally circular open well.
The cushion body is constructed of a sponge material so that the
cushion body may be placed in a liquid medium. In this way, the
support pillow may be placed around the torso of a person when
bathing, with the support pillow maintaining the person in a
generally upright position. Alternatively, the support pillow may
be placed on the bottom of the bath tub, with the person's head
being supported by the medial region.
[0016] The invention still further provides a support pillow which
conveniently may be provided in kit form. The pillow comprises a
pillow body having a medial region and a pair of opposing arms.
Further, a central holder is removably secured to the medial region
of the pillow body to provide a convenient way to carry and store
the support pillow.
[0017] In one particular aspect, the central holder comprises a
piece of material, such as a paper product, which encircles the
medial region. Preferably, the holder includes at least one
aperture which is adapted to receive a hanger to hang the support
pillow, thereby providing a convenient way to both store and
display the support pillow. Optionally, a protective cover, such as
a plastic, may be provided to encompass the support pillow.
[0018] The invention further provides an exemplary method for
storing a support pillow having two opposing arms and a medial
region. According to the method, a central holder is placed around
the medial region and a hanger is introduced through the central
holder to allow the support pillow to hang from the hanger. In this
way, the hanger may be employed to conveniently store and display
the support pillow. For example, the support pillow may be display
along a store aisle to allow a purchaser to easily visualize the
support pillow and then remove the support pillow from hanger for
purchase. In a further exemplary embodiment, a support pillow is
provided comprising a resilient cushion body and at least one strap
which is attached to the cushion body. The strap is configured to
attach an article, such as a child's toy, to the cushion body.
[0019] In a preferable aspect, the pillow includes two or more
straps so that a variety of toys may be attached to the pillow.
Further, the pillow will preferably be fashioned to include a
medial region and first and second arms extending from the medial
region to define a generally circular open well. With this
arrangement, the straps are attached to the medial region so that a
child may lay on the pillow, with the stomach being over the well,
and play with the toys that are attached to the pillow. The straps
are therefore advantageous in that they hold the toys close to the
pillow so that the child will not push the toys out of reach during
play.
[0020] The straps may be configured in a variety of ways to hold
the toys to the pillow. For example, the toys could be tied to the
pillow with the straps. Preferably, each strap will include a
fastener which allows the strap to be formed into a loop to secure
the article. For instance, each strap may be provided with a hook
and loop fastener. In this way, the toys will be removably attached
to the pillow to allow for convenient removal and replacement of
the toys.
[0021] In another embodiment, the support pillows of the invention
may be inflatable.
[0022] In this way, the pillows may be deflated during storage to
save space, and then inflated when needed. Manufacturing costs may
also be reduced. The inflatable support pillows may be inflated to
any of the shapes described herein, and may be used for any of the
applications described herein. Optionally, a fabric cover may be
provided over the support pillow.
[0023] The inflatable support pillows in one embodiment may be
constructed of a flexible material that defines an interior that
may be filled with a fluid. An inflation port may be provided to
permit easy inflation and deflation. In some cases, one or more
walls may be positioned in the interior and attached to top and
bottom sides of the pillow body. In this way, when the pillow is
inflated, the walls help to limit the amount of curvature of the
top and bottom sides. This generally flattens the top and bottom
sides to facilitate placement of objects onto the surfaces, such as
when resting a baby during nursing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a top view of a support pillow constructed in
accordance with the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the support pillow
of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of an alternative
embodiment of a support pillow according to the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 3A is a top view of a further alternative embodiment of
a support pillow according to the invention.
[0028] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of the support pillow
of FIG. 3A.
[0029] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate one exemplary use of the support
pillow of FIG. 1 when placed around a person while in a sitting
position.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a further exemplary method for using the
support pillow of FIG. 1 to support an object in front of a
person's torso according to the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates yet another use of the support pillow of
FIG. 1 for supporting a person's neck and head according to the
present invention.
[0032] FIG. 8 illustrates still yet another use of the support
pillow of FIG. 1 for supporting a person's lower back according to
the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a support
pillow having a head member attached to one of the cantilever arms
according to the present invention.
[0034] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate exemplary uses of the support
pillow of FIG. 9.
[0035] FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom portion of the support pillow
of FIG. 9 which is constructed of a material suitable for receiving
a marking substance from a writing instrument according to the
present invention.
[0036] FIG. 13 is a front view of a support pillow having a central
holder to allow the support pillow to be conveniently hung and
displayed according to the invention.
[0037] FIG. 14 is a side view of the support pillow of FIG. 13.
[0038] FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of a support pillow
which is stored within a container according to the invention.
[0039] FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of a support pillow having
a plurality of straps for attaching articles to the pillow
according to the invention.
[0040] FIG. 17 is a top view of an inflatable support pillow
according to the invention.
[0041] FIG. 18 is a side view of the inflatable support pillow of
FIG. 17.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a support
pillow 10 will be described. The support pillow 10 may be
constructed essentially identically to the support pillow described
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134, previously incorporated herein by
reference. The support pillow 10 includes a curved outer surface 12
which is rounded in both a longitudinal and a lateral direction.
The support pillow 10 further includes a curved central inner
surface 14 which defines a rounded, generally circular or
elliptical well region 16. While the body of the support pillow 10
is substantially continuous and uniform, with curved surfaces 12
and 14 also being continuous, it is convenient to consider the
pillow body as consisting of a medial region 15, and two opposed
cantilever arms 18 and 20. The arms 18, 20 extend in opposite
directions away from the medial region 15, but are curved towards
one another to give the pillow 10 its toroidal configuration. While
the continuous structure does not provide a precise or exact
division between the medial region 15 and each arm, considering the
body of the pillow in view of these components facilitates a
description of the structure and function of the pillow 10.
[0043] Cantilever arms 18, 20 include respective blunt ends 20 and
24, positioned remotely of the remedial region. The support pillow
10 is proportioned so that ends 22, 24 normally, i.e., when not
under external stress, touch one another. However, the ends 22, 24
do not exert substantial pressure against each other. The toroidal
shape defined by the outer and inner curved surfaces 12, 14 is
proportioned such that at a central vertical plane, represented by
line 2-2 in FIG. 1, bisects the pillow 10 at the medial region 15.
Pillow 10 thus has bilateral symmetry with respect to the central
plane. The central plane further contains a vertical, central axis
about which the toroidal pillow body is formed. Profiles of the
pillow 10 taken radially of the central axis, i.e., sections of the
pillow 10 in planes that also contain the central axis, are
elliptical in shape throughout the medial region, and likewise are
elliptical throughout the length of each cantilever arm 18, 20 with
the exception of blunt ends 22, 24.
[0044] Well region 16 has a width W in the direction perpendicular
to the central plane. The width W will preferably be in the range
from about four to about twelve inches, and more preferably from
about four to about eight inches, with a particularly preferred
width being about six inches. Such a width will enable the support
pillow to fit "snug" around the torso or waist of most users. The
pillow preferably has a circumference of about 15 to 30 inches, and
more preferably about 21 inches. As will be described in greater
detail hereinafter, the pillow 10 is constructed so that the arms
18, 20 may be moved away from each other to vary the width W so
that the pillow 10 may be used in a variety of applications.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 2, the pillow 10 includes a central core
30 which is constructed of a resilient, compression resistant,
hypoallergenic material, such as a polyester filling. The central
core 30 is encased in a lining 32, such as cotton or other pliant
conforming fabric. The polyester is firmly and tightly packed into
lining 32, such that the core 30 and lining 32 together provide a
self-supporting pillow body, i.e., the support pillow 10 retains
its shape without any sagging or drooping of the cantilever arms
18, 20 when held at the medial region 15. The tightly packed
polyester core 30 also provides the pillow with firmness in the
sense that it will undergo only slight elastic deformation (as
compared to a conventional pillow) when an object (such as a
persons' arms or elbows) is rested on the arms 18, 20 or medial
region. Covering the lining 32 is a conforming, removable exterior
covering 34, also preferably constructed of cotton. The elliptical
profile i.e., the profile in the central plane, preferably has a
vertical height of about four to eight inches, and preferably at
about six inches. Line A-A in FIG. 2 represents a horizontal
mid-plane, with the top and bottom halves of pillow 10 being
symmetrical about the mid-plane.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a support
pillow 40. Support pillow 40 is constructed of a sponge material or
other porous material (such as a foamed rubber). The sponge
material will preferably provide substantially the same type of
support as described in connection with the support pillow of FIG.
1. Constructing the pillow 40 of a sponge material allows the
support pillow to be placed in liquids, such as water. For example,
the support pillow may be placed around the waist or torso of a
person (particularly an infant or a small child) when bathing. The
support pillow holds the person upright to prevent the person from
falling or slipping while within the bathtub. This is particularly
advantageous when attempting to bathe a small child, who may be
slippery due to water or soap on the skin. After bathing, the
support pillow may be removed from the person, wrung out, and left
in the tub to dry.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an alternative embodiment of a
support pillow 140 which may be used in a liquid environment, such
as when bathing, will be described. Support pillow 140 is
preferably constructed of a sponge material, polyurethane foam or
the like so that it may be used in water. Alternatively, support
pillow 140 may be inflatable to its illustrated configuration. For
example, the pillow may be constructed of a rubber or vinyl
material which is inflated similar to pool toys.
[0048] Pillow 140 includes a medial region 142 and a pair of arms
144 and 146. As best shown in FIG. 3B, pillow 140 tapers from
medial region 142 to arms 144 and 146. Also, arms 144 and 146 are
spaced apart from each other. When configured in this manner,
pillow 140 will preferably be used by placing the pillow on a
bottom surface of a bath tub, large sink, or the like. A person is
then placed on their back, with medial region 142 supporting the
head. Pillow 142 will preferably have a height sufficient to keep
the person's head from being covered by water when in such a
position. With an infant or small child, arms 144 and 146 will tend
to hold the person's torso stationary so that they will not roll
off pillow 140. Optionally, pillow 140 could be placed around a
person's waist similar to the other embodiments described herein.
Also, a person could lay supine or sideways on the pillow.
[0049] Although the size of pillow 140 will vary depending on the
size of the person using the pillow, some exemplary size ranges are
as follows. Medial region 142 will preferably have a depth in the
range from about 4 inches to about 15 inches, and more preferably
about 9 inches. Arms 144 and 146 will preferably be spaced-apart by
about 0.5 inch to about 6 inches, and more preferably at about 3
inches. Medial region 142 will preferably have an average thickness
of about 2 to about 6 inches, and more preferably about 4
inches.
[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an exemplary method for
using the support pillow 10 will be described. In FIGS. 4 and 5,
the support pillow 10 is placed around a person's torso with the
medial region 15 being at the front of the person's torso. The
cantilever arms 18, 20 extend around the side of the person's
torso, with the ends 22, 24 being at the back of the person's
torso. As previously described, the arms 18, 20 are resilient so
that they may be moved away from each other. In this way, the
pillow 10 may be positioned around the person's torso by grasping
the arms 18, 20 and pulling them away from each other while sliding
the ends 22, 24 around the person's torso. The arms 18, 20 are
sufficiently biased so that the pillow 10 will remain vertically
secured to the person's torso by the arms 18, 20. Preferably, the
support pillow 10 will be positioned around the person's torso just
above the waist, with the waist and the person's thighs helping to
prevent the support pillow 10 from sliding down the person's waist
when a force is applied to the top surface of the pillow 10.
[0051] In FIGS. 4 and 5, the person is in a sitting position, with
the bottom of the support pillow 10 resting upon the person's knees
and legs. In this configuration, the person may rest the elbows or
forearms on the cantilever arms 18, 20 and/or the medial region 15
to support the person's arms while operating a keyboard 36, a
computer game, an electronic device, or the like 36. When resting
the elbows and/or the forearms on the support pillow 10, the
support pillow 10 will experience only slight deformation so that
sufficient support is provided to the person's arms while also
providing a comfortable support surface. Optionally, the keyboard
36 itself may be directly rested on the support pillow 10, such as
on the medial region 15 when operating the keyboard 36.
[0052] The support pillow 10 will preferably be constructed so that
a single size may be used for most people. In some circumstances,
however, it may be advantageous to vary the dimensions of the
pillow 10 to fit the particular person.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative use of the support
pillow 10 will be described. In FIG. 6, the support pillow 10 is
placed around a person's torso in a manner similar as that
previously described in FIGS. 4 and 5. The person will preferably
be in a sitting position, with the support pillow 10 around the
torso and being supported by the person's thighs. The person's
elbows are rested on the support pillow at the cantilever arms 18,
20 or at the medial region 15 to provide support to the person's
arms while reading a book 38 or other printed material. The
vertical position of the support pillow 10 relative to the person's
torso may be adjusted to place the book 30 at a comfortable reading
position.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 7 still yet another exemplary use of the
support pillow 10 will be described. In FIG. 7, the support pillow
10 is placed around a person's neck, with the medial region 15
being at the back of the person's head and the ends 22, 24 being in
front of the person's neck. The well region 16 is sufficiently
sized so that the support pillow 10 will not choke or interfere
with the breathing of the person. The support pillow 10 is placed
around the person's neck by pulling the ends 22, 24 away from each
other and sliding the ends 22, 24 around the neck. When placed
around the neck, the support pillow 10 rests upon the person's
shoulders so that when the person's head is tilted, the person's
neck or head will rest against the support pillow 10 in the region
of the open well 16. The support pillow 10 may be used to support a
person's neck or head when the person is in virtually any position,
such as lying, sitting, or the like. When around the neck, the
support pillow 10 is particularly useful when the person is sitting
in a chair or other supporting member, such as when in an airplane
or an automobile as shown in FIG. 7. When sitting in an upright
position, it is often difficult to sleep comfortably since little
support is provided to the head and neck. When the support pillow
10 is around a person's neck, the person may comfortably sleep in
an upright position, with the support pillow 10 providing
sufficient support to the neck and head.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 8, still yet another exemplary method for
using the support pillow 10 will be described. In FIG. 8, the
support pillow 10 is placed around a person's torso with the medial
region 15 being at the back of the person's torso, and the ends,
22, 24 being at the front of the person's torso. The medial region
15 will preferably be positioned in the area of the lower back,
such as at the lumbar region, so that the support pillow may
provide support to the person's lower back. The support pillow 10
is placed around the person's torso in a manner similar to that
previously described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. The arms 18,
20 are sufficiently resilient so as to hold the support pillow in a
constant vertical position relative to the person's torso.
[0056] The support pillow 10 may be used to provide support to the
lower back when the person is in a variety of positions, such as
when lying, sitting, and the like. The support pillow 10 will be
particularly useful when sitting in a chair C with the outside
surface 12 of the pillow being positioned against the back of the
chair C. In this way, the inner surface 14 will be biased against
the person's lower back. The support pillow 10 will undergo only
slight elastic deformation when positioned against the person's
back so that sufficient support will be provided to the lower back.
At the same time, the support pillow 10 is sufficiently resilient
so that the support will be comfortable to the person. A further
advantage of support pillow 10 is that it will snugly fit around
the person's torso so that when the person twists or moves about,
the support pillow 10 will generally maintain its position about
the person's torso. As shown in FIG. 8, arms 22, 24 are available
to support the person's arms, such as when typing.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment of a support
pillow 40 will be described. The support pillow 40 may be
constructed essentially identically to the support pillow of FIGS.
1-3 except that the support pillow 40 includes a head member 42
which is attached to one of the cantilever arms 18'. Alternatively,
the head member 42 may be attached to the pillow 10 anywhere along
the top surface, with the head member 42 preferably being generally
parallel to a vertical axis of the support pillow 40. Although
shown with the head of a unicorn, the head member 42 may include
the head of virtually any animal or other figure. The head member
42 will preferably be filled with the same materials used to make
the central core 30 of the support pillow 10. In this manner, the
head member 42, will be soft and cushiony but will also be
sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting. The support pillow 10
will also include a portion suitable for receiving a marking
substance from a writing instrument as described in connection with
FIG. 12.
[0058] Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, exemplary uses of the
support pillow 40 will be described. In FIG. 10, the support pillow
40 is placed around the person's torso with the cantilever arms
18', 20`being around the person`s waist or lower torso, and with
the head member 42 being in front of the person's torso. In this
way the person may rest the head, neck, or chest on the head member
when in a sitting position.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the support pillow 40 may be
placed around the person's torso when in the standing position. In
this manner, the person may conveniently walk about with the
support pillow 40 held around the torso, and with the head member
42 being at a comfortable viewing distance in front of the person.
When the person sits, the support pillow 40 may be employed to rest
his or her arms on the cantilever arms 18', 20'.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 12, a bottom portion 44 of the support
pillow 40 is preferably constructed of a material which is suitable
for receiving ink from aspen 46, marker, or similar writing
instrument. Preferably, the bottom portion 44 will be constructed
of a fabric having a smooth surface, such as satin, non-rip nylon,
and the like. In this manner, the support pillow 40 may be used to
receive autographs or other messages, such as when used at a
slumber party, or to personalize the support pillow 40.
[0061] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, an exemplary device and method
for storing and displaying a support pillow 50 will be described.
Support pillow 50 includes a medial region 52 and two opposing arms
54 and 56, and may be constructed similar to the support pillows
previously described herein. Surrounding medial region 52 is a
central holder 58. Holder 58 preferably comprises a generally
flexible material, such as cardboard, cardstock, plastic, and the
like which is secured around medial region 52 to provide a
convenient way to hold and display the support pillow 50.
Preferably, holder 58 includes a tab 60 having an aperture 62
extending therethrough to enable the support pillow to be hung from
a hanger 64 as shown in phantom line in FIG. 14.
[0062] Hence, by providing holder 58, support pillow 50 may be
conveniently hung from a conventional hanger along an aisle of a
retail store. Such a display is advantageous in that it reduces the
amount of space required to store multiple support pillows.
Further, by displaying the support pillow in this manner,
purchasers are able to easily visualize the support pillow when
passing down the aisle, therefore increases the chances for selling
the pillow.
[0063] Upon removal from the hanger, a purchaser may simply remove
holder 58, e.g., by tearing it from the support pillow, whereupon
the support pillow 50 will be available for use. Optionally, a
protective cover 66, such as a piece of clear plastic, may be
provided over the support pillow 50 to protect the pillow from dirt
and dust during storage. The protective cover 66 may simply be
removed from pillow 50 prior to use.
[0064] Referring now to FIG. 15, an exemplary container 68 for
holding support pillow 50 will be described. Container 68 is
constructed of a flexible material, such as a clear plastic, and
has an open top end 70, a bottom end 72 and sides 74. Held within
container 68 is a base member 76 which is preferably constructed of
a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as cardboard or cardstock,
which is folded so that it is flat on the bottom. In this way, when
pillow 50 is placed in container 68, medial region 52 will rest on
base member 76, which in turn will hold pillow 50 in a generally
vertical orientation.
[0065] Conveniently, a snapable handle 78 is provided for carrying
container 68. When snapped together, handle 78 also closes top end
70 to enclose pillow 50 within container 68. Hence, with such an
arrangement, pillow 50 may conveniently be stored and displayed in
a vertical orientation, while being able to be conveniently carried
simply by grasping handle 78. To remove pillow 50 from container
68, handle 78 is separated and pillow 50 is lifted from container
68.
[0066] Referring now to FIG. 16, another exemplary embodiment of a
support pillow 90 will be described. Support pillow 90 comprises a
resilient cushion body 92 having a medial region 94 and two arms
96, 98 to define a generally open well 100. Support pillow 90 may
be constructed similar to the other support pillows described
herein.
[0067] Attached to medial region 94 are a pair of straps 102, 104,
it being appreciated that other numbers of straps may be attached
to the cushion body at other selective locations. Straps 102, 104
are preferably constructed of a strong, flexible material, such as
cloth, nylon, and the like and may conveniently be sewn into the
seam of the pillow body cover. As shown, each strap includes hook
and loop fastener material 106, commonly sold under the tradename
of Velcro (see strap 102). As best shown with strap 104, fastener
material 106 allows strap 104 to be formed into a loop to hold a
toy 108 to cushion body 98.
[0068] Although the fastener is shown as a hook and loop material,
it will be appreciated that other attachment schemes may
alternative be provided. For example, toys could be attached by
tying one or two straps around the toy. Alternatively, fasteners
such as buckles, snaps, and the like could also be used with the
straps.
[0069] In use, a child will preferably lay on the support pillow
90, with the stomach being generally over open well 100. The
child's hands will then hang over medial region 94 so they are near
straps 102 and 104. In this way, the toys held by the straps with
always be within the child's reach. More specifically, the straps
will prevent the child from pushing the toys out of reach during
play and then becoming frustrated. In an alternative arrangement,
the straps could be located at other areas on the pillow to allow
the child to sit or lay in other orientations while playing with
the toys. For example, the straps could be located on the arms to
allow the child to lay across the arms or to sit in the well while
playing with the toys.
[0070] Another advantage of the straps is that they allow for easy
removal of the toys from the pillow. In this way, a variety of toys
may be conveniently substituted so that the child will not become
bored with the toys. Further, the toys may easily be removed for
cleaning, repair or the like. The removable nature also allows the
toys to be sold with the pillow as a system or a kit, or separately
as replacement items.
[0071] The invention further provides a variety of support pillows
that are configured to be inflatable. Such support pillows may be
inflated to have essentially the same configurations and sizes of
any of the support pillows described herein. Conveniently, the
support pillows may be manually inflated by the user. As such, the
support pillows may be deflated for storage and then inflated when
needed for use. In this way, the amount of storage space can be
greatly reduced. Moreover, in some cases manufacturing costs may
also be reduced.
[0072] Such support pillows may be constructed of a pillow body
having an open interior that is configured to be filled with a
fluid, such as air or other gases. Conveniently, one or more
inflation ports may be used to permit the support pillows to be
manually inflated by a user. A wide variety of materials may be
used to construct the pillow body so that it may be inflated. For
example, the pillow body may be constructed of plastic, vinyl,
rubber, or the like. Further, a variety of fabrication techniques
may be used to construct the pillow body. As one example, the
pillow body may be constructed of two halves that are welded or
glued together along a center seam. However, it will be appreciated
that other techniques may be used.
[0073] In some embodiments, material or structures may be attached
to both the top and bottom sides of the support pillow and disposed
in the interior of the support pillow to modify the shape of the
support pillow when inflated. For example, a wall, post, strip of
fabric, or the like may be attached to both the bottom and top
sides to limit the vertical height of the support pillow when
inflated. In this way, the amount of rounding on the top and bottom
sides may be limited to generally flatten the top and bottom sides.
This is advantageous in providing a relatively flat surface on the
top and bottom sides when resting an object on the top and bottom
sides. For example, when the pillow is used as a nursing pillow,
the top and bottom sides may be generally flattened to facilitate
placement of a baby onto one of the surfaces. These structures may
be strategically placed within the interior of the pillow body to
provide the desired shape of the pillow upon inflation. Merely by
way of example, multiple walls may be placed in the pillow body so
that they extend radially outward from the interior wall. However,
it will be appreciated that other configurations may be used as
well. When constructed of a plastic material, these walls may be
welded or otherwise attached to both the top and bottom pieces, and
then the top and bottom pieces in turn may be welded or attached
together. Further, one or more air flow channels may be provided
within the interior so that the entire pillow may be inflated using
a single inflation port.
[0074] Optionally, a fabric cover may be provided over the inflated
pillow body to provide an aesthetically pleasing exterior surface.
The cover may be configured to be removable or may be permanently
sewn about the pillow body. Examples of covers that may be used
include those described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/802,310,
filed Mar. 8, 2001, the complete disclosure of which is herein
incorporated by reference. Further, any of the fabric shells
described herein may also be used, including those with various
attachment mechanisms.
[0075] Another advantage of using such interior walls is that the
pillow body may be fully inflated without distorting the overall
shape of the pillow body. In this way, the pillow body may be
relatively firm so that it may provide adequate support to the
user.
[0076] Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, one embodiment of an
inflatable support pillow 120 will be described. Support pillow 120
comprises a pillow body 122 that is shown in the inflated
configuration. Pillow body 122 may conveniently be defined in terms
of a top side 124 and a bottom side 126. Similar to the other
support pillows described herein, pillow body 122 has a medial
region 128 and two opposing arms 130 and 132. The overall dimension
of pillow body 122 may be similar to any of the embodiments
described herein. Further, in some cases it will be appreciated
that pillow bodies which are larger or smaller than the dimensions
set forth herein may also be provided.
[0077] Arms 130 and 132 are generally curved to form an open well
134. Surrounding well 134 is an interior perimeter 136. The outer
portion of pillow body 122 also includes an outer perimeter
138.
[0078] Pillow body 122 may conveniently be formed of a plastic
material. To construct pillow body 122, the plastic pieces that
form top side 124 and 126 may be separate and then welded or glued
together along a seam zone that is formed along inner perimeter 136
and outer perimeter 138. Once these two pieces are joined together,
they form a generally open interior. Conveniently, an inflation
port 140 may be provided to permit a user to inflate pillow body
122. Inflation port 140 may comprise a plastic or rubber tube
having an end cap that is placed over the opening once
inflated.
[0079] To help maintain top side 124 and bottom side 126 generally
flat during inflation, a plurality of walls 142 may be attached to
top side 124 and bottom side 126 and be disposed within the
interior of pillow body 122. When pillow body 122 is inflated,
walls 142 limit the amount of vertical movement of top side 124 and
bottom side 126 relative to each other as best shown in FIG. 18.
Hence, by limiting the size of walls 142, the amount of vertical
inflation may also be limited. Further, by constructing walls 142
to be generally straight, they assist in flattening out top side
124 and bottom side 126 as illustrated in FIG. 18. In this way, the
amount of rounding of top side 124 and bottom side 126 is reduced
to increase the amount of generally flat surface area available for
resting an object. As such, the overall shape may be more similar
to the embodiments previously described herein. Furthermore, by
limiting the shape in this manner, pillow body 122 may be fully
inflated so that it is sufficiently firm without contorting the
overall shape.
[0080] Walls 142 may conveniently be bonded or glued to top side
124 and bottom side 126 prior to joining top side 124 to bottom
side 126. Further, one or more gaps may be provided between walls
142 and the outer or inner perimeter of pillow body 122 so that gas
flow channels are provided throughout the interior of pillow body
122. In this way, a single inflation port may be used to inflate
the entire pillow body.
[0081] As shown, walls 142 extend radially outward from wall 134.
Further, the number of walls is five in number. However, it will be
appreciated that other orientations and/or numbers of walls may be
used. Further, walls 142 may be shorter in size and placed at
various discrete locations to alter the overall shape of pillow
body 122. For example, multiple narrow pieces of fabric may be
judiciously positioned within the interior pillow body 122.
[0082] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, walls 142 may
have a vertical height in the range from about 2 inches to about 8
inches. Further, walls 142 may be separated by a distance in the
range from about 3 inches to about 10 inches. However, as just
described, other configurations of walls may be used.
[0083] Although not shown, it will be appreciated that a fabric
cover may be provided over pillow body 122. This may be removable,
i.e., by providing a zippered accessway so that various covers may
be provided about pillow body 122. Alternatively, the fabric cover
may be integrally sewn over pillow body 122.
[0084] The present invention has been described in detail. However,
modifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the art
without departing from the principles of the claimed invention.
Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined
primarily with reference to the appended claims, along with a full
scope of equivalents to which those claims are entitled by law.
* * * * *