U.S. patent application number 12/465899 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for maternity pillow.
Invention is credited to Felicity Huffman.
Application Number | 20100117431 12/465899 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37308669 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100117431 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huffman; Felicity |
May 13, 2010 |
MATERNITY PILLOW
Abstract
A support apparatus for use with a seat that supports the user's
head, neck, or back, and provides an area for the user to rest an
infant while nursing. The support apparatus is used with a backrest
of a seat having an upper end, a rear face and a front face. The
support apparatus has a pillow body with first and second sides and
an outer circumference between them, a skirt portion with a first
end attached to the outer circumference of the cylindrical pillow
body and a second free end, and a friction portion located on the
skirt portion that prevents the pillow body from sliding down the
front face of the seat.
Inventors: |
Huffman; Felicity; (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SOFER & HAROUN LLP.
317 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 910
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
37308669 |
Appl. No.: |
12/465899 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11381022 |
May 1, 2006 |
7547071 |
|
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12465899 |
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60676993 |
May 2, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/397 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/425 20130101;
A47C 7/383 20130101; Y10S 297/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/397 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/38 20060101
A47C007/38 |
Claims
1. A support apparatus for use with a seat having a backrest, said
backrest having an upper end, a rear face and a front face, said
support apparatus comprising: a cylindrical pillow body having
first and second sides and an outer circumference between said
first and second sides; a skirt extending from a substantially
horizontal axis along the surface of said cylindrical pillow body
at a first end and further having a second free end, said skirt
having inner and outer sides, said inner side for contacting a
portion of the rear face and the front face of the backrest; and a
friction portion located on said inner side of said skirt so that
when said cylindrical pillow body is placed at said upper end of
the backrest and said skirt is draped over the backrest, said
friction portion allows said cylindrical pillow body to be
positioned at any height on the backrest of the seat and prevents
said cylindrical pillow body from sliding down the front face of
the backrest.
2. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical
pillow body is tapered such that the diameter of the first and
second lateral sides of said cylindrical pillow body is greater
than the diameter of a middle section of said cylindrical pillow
body.
3. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical
pillow body further comprises a zipper mounted along a horizontal
axis to allow the removal of a pillow fill material.
4. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical
pillow body and said skirt portion are made of a fabric
material.
5. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein said friction portion
is made out of a rubber material.
6. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein said friction portion
is secured to: said skirt at said first end.
7. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein said friction portion
is secured to said skirt at said free end.
8. A support apparatus for use with a seat having a backrest, said
backrest having an upper end, a rear face and a front face, said
support apparatus comprising: a cylindrical pillow body having a
fiberfill interior, said cylindrical pillow body fabricated from a
cloth material and having first and second sides and an outer
circumference between said first and second sides; a skirt
fabricated from a cloth material, extending from a substantially
horizontal axis along the surface of said cylindrical pillow body
at a first end and a second free end, said skirt having inner and
outer sides, said inner side for contacting a portion of the rear
face and said the front face of the backrest; and at least one side
of said skirt having a friction portion so that when said
cylindrical pillow body is placed at said upper end of the backrest
and said skirt is draped over the backrest, said friction portion
allows said cylindrical pillow body to be positioned at any height
on the backrest of the seat and prevents said cylindrical pillow
body from sliding down the front face of the backrest.
9. The support apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one side
of said skirt is made of a friction material.
10. The support apparatus of claim 8, wherein said friction portion
is made of rubber.
11. The support apparatus of claim 8, wherein said outer
circumference of said cylindrical pillow body is tapered such that
the diameter of first and second lateral sides of said cylindrical
pillow body is greater than the diameter of a middle section of
said cylindrical pillow body.
12. The support apparatus of claim 11, wherein said cylindrical
pillow body further comprises a zipper mounted along a horizontal
axis to allow the removal of a pillow fill material.
13. The support apparatus of claim 8, wherein said friction portion
is secured to said skirt at said first end.
14. The support apparatus of claim 8, wherein said friction portion
is secured to said skirt at said free end.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of allowed U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/381,022, filed on May 1, 2006, which in
turn claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/676,993, filed on May 2, 2005, the entirety of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of head
and back support cushion devices for seats, and more particularly,
to a head or back support cushion
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Cushion devices for chairs or other seats are typically used
to provide head, neck, or back support for a user. People often
place cushions on the backrest of a seat in order to give them
added support and comfort as they sit in either an upright or
inclined position. The angle of incline of the seat and the
specific preferences or needs of the user dictate the location on
the backrest of the seat at which the user desires the cushion to
be placed. One problem that often arises with seat cushions is that
their positioning on the backrest of the seat changes as the user
moves in the chair or leans forward, allowing gravity to pull the
cushion in a downward direction. A number of devices in the prior
art utilize a variety of fastening arrangements that fix cushions
in place by connecting them to the seat. However, these attachments
make vertical and lateral adjustment of the cushion, as well as its
removal from the seat, more complicated.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,886 shows a headrest mounted on a pair
of brackets made of spring steel and forming a `V` shape enclosure.
The device snaps over the uppermost portion of an automobile seat.
As wing nuts on the device are tightened, the resulting increased
spring tension against the seat locks the headrest assembly in
place.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,488 shows an adjustable headrest with an
elongated tab with a fastener to hang the adjustable headrest from
the back of a seat or to hold the headrest in a doubled-over
position to function as a neck support. The device contains a `U
shaped" bolster or pillow with an elongated tab containing
VELCRO.TM. brand connection strips and is fastened to a flexible
fabric panel.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,015 shows an inflatable headrest device
with two cushions attached to a sheet member with a mechanism for
securing the apparatus to the back of a chair. The device contains
a flexible sheet member, a pair of lateral head support cushions,
and belts and straps to secure the device to the seat.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,034 shows a storage bag and chair cover
that can act as a pillow. This device contains VELCRO.TM. brand
connection straps that attach the device to the chair.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,189 shows a body support device that
allows the user to modify the density of specific parts of the
device by redistributing filler material in the device through a
continuous hollow chamber. The device contains a hollow housing
member'that has a hollow neck portion and bulbous housing elements
on opposite sides of the hollow neck portion which combine to form
a continuous hollow chamber. The hollow chamber is partially filled
with filler material that can be redistributed throughout the
hollow chamber to vary the firmness and density of the bulbous
housing elements.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,335 shows a pillow unit containing a
pillow, a pocket assembly, and straps connecting the pillow to the
back of a seat.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,615 shows a neck supporting cushion
containing a securing unit that has elongated adjustable straps
with cooperating fasteners on opposite ends, a pillow unit that
contains a pillow member and a cylindrically shaped fabric envelope
filled with foam beads or other particulate material, and a
removable cover unit that has a cylindrically shaped fabric cover
with end panels dimensioned to slidably receive the elongated strap
member and hidden elongated zipper portion.
[0011] U.S. Design Number 400,042 shows an ornamental design for a
headrest cover.
[0012] Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art reveals numerous
portable pillows or cushions that can be attached to the backs of
chairs, there is a need for a neck or back support device that can
be manufactured inexpensively and can be used easily, without the
need for various attachment mechanisms.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention in accordance with one embodiment
contains a cushion device, for example, in the shape of a
cylindrical pillow body having an elongated skirt portion with an
inner side and an outer side attaching at one end to the outer
circumference of the cylindrical pillow body. In accordance with
another embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical pillow body
has a tapered portion in the middle. Furthermore, in yet another
embodiment, the inner side of the skirt portion includes a friction
portion having a high coefficient of static friction.
[0014] The cushion device, when configured with the skirt extending
over the front face, upper end, and rear face of the backrest of a
seat, fixes the cylindrical pillow body at any desired height
against the backrest of the seat. The inner side of the skirt
portion holds the cylindrical pillow body at the specified height
and prevents it from moving. As neither the skirt portion nor the
cylindrical pillow body attaches to the seat, the cushion device is
easily adjustable and removable. If the user places the cylindrical
pillow body at head level, then the exemplary tapered portion
provides lateral support.
[0015] This device can be easily stored, for example, under a seat
because the skirt portion wraps around the cylindrical pillow, and
the tapered portion allows the device to be folded in half.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0016] Various other objects, advantages and features of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following'discussion taken in conjunction with the following
drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a representation of the front perspective view of
the pillow embodying various features of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pillow as shown in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a notch cut out of
the skirt portion of the pillow;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view of the pillow as shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0021] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 3 with a bib
placed on the skirt portion of the pillow next to the notch.
[0022] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like
characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the
various Figs. are designated by the same reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a support apparatus 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention is disclosed,
having a cylindrical pillow body 12, a skirt portion 14, and a
friction portion 16, although the invention is not limited in scope
in that respect. For example, pillow body can be in any desired
shape suitable to provide back or neck support.
[0024] Cylindrical pillow body 12 has a first side 18, a second
side 20, an outer circumference 22 between the first side 18 and
the second side 20, a tapered portion 24 in the middle of it and a
zipper 26 on the outer circumference 22 running along a
substantially horizontal axis. The interior of cylindrical pillow
body 12 contains a removable pillow cushion 27 having substantially
the same shape as the pillow body itself. In one embodiment of the
invention, the cylindrical pillow body includes two side sections
12a and 12c and a middle section 12b having a diameter smaller than
the adjoining side sections so as to form the taper portion 24.
However, as mentioned previously, the invention is not limited in
scope in that respect and other forms and shapes of pillows are
contemplated within the context of the present invention.
[0025] Skirt portion 14 has a first end 28 attached to the outer
circumference 22 of cylindrical pillow body 12 along a
substantially horizontal axis, a second free end 30, an inner side
32, and an outer side 34. Friction portion 16, is defined within
the inner side 32 of skirt portion 14 in a desired shape, such as a
rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 2. However, this depiction of
the friction portion 16 is not intended to limit the scope of the
present invention. For example, it is understood that friction
portion 16 could be located anywhere on the inner side 32 of skirt
portion 14. Furthermore, friction portion 16 in accordance with one
embodiment is integrated within skirt portion 14. In the
alternative, and in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention, friction portion 16 is attached on inner side 32 of the
skirt portion. Yet in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention, friction portion 16 is removably attached on a desired
location along the length of inner side 32, for example via a
VELCRO.TM. brand connection arrangement. In accordance with another
embodiment of the invention, the entire surface of inner side 32 is
made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, in such a
way that when apparatus 10 is resting on a structure, such as the
back of the chair, the friction is sufficient to prevent the
apparatus from sliding undesirably.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, a support apparatus 110 is shown as
another embodiment of the present invention. Support apparatus 110
has a cylindrical pillow body 120, a skirt portion 140, and a
neckline 130 defining a neck opening 160. Support apparatus 110
includes cylindrical pillow body 120 attached to skirt portion 140.
Neckline 130 defines a left shoulder flap 310 and a right shoulder
flap 320.
[0027] An exemplary use of apparatus 10 in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention is further explained in reference with
FIG. 4. Support apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 is shown draped over a seat
50. Seat 50 has a backrest 52 with a front face 54, a rear face 56,
an upper end 58, and a lower end 60. Friction portion 16, made of
corrugated rubber or other material having a high coefficient of
static friction, is placed against front face 54 of seat 50 at
upper end 58.
[0028] Friction portion 16 prevents cylindrical pillow body 12 from
sliding. In addition, the weight of skirt portion 14, hanging over
the backrest 52 helps prevent cylindrical pillow body 12 from
sliding in a downward direction. Cylindrical pillow body 12 can be
placed at any desired point along front face 54 of seat 50, but
would most often be utilized at the upper end 58, to support the
user's head or neck, or at the lower end 60, to support the user's
lower back. The support apparatus 10 is especially useful for a
woman nursing an infant. It may also be draped over a car seat or
the headboard of a bed.
[0029] The tapered portion 24 (see FIG. 1) of the cylindrical
pillow body 12 provides both lateral and vertical support to a
user's head or neck. The height of cylindrical pillow body 12 along
front face 54 of backrest 52 of seat 50 can be easily adjusted by
moving the cylindrical pillow body 12 to the desired location, and
keeping skirt portion 14 over backrest 52 of the seat 50. Support
apparatus 10 does not require any attachments fixing it to seat 50,
regardless of the height along backrest 52 at which cylindrical
pillow body 12 is placed. Zipper 26 (see FIG. 2) on cylindrical
pillow body 12 allows pillow cushion 27 to be taken out, cleaned,
and replaced.
[0030] An exemplary use of apparatus 110 in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention is described in reference with
FIG. 5. Accordingly, support apparatus 110 of FIG. 3 is shown with
shoulder flaps 310 and 320 positioned to be draped over a user's
shoulders, for example, while the user sits on a seat In this
configuration, cylindrical pillow body 120 is pressed between the
front face of the backrest of the seat and the user's neck or back.
Left shoulder flap 310 of the skirt portion 140 rests over the
user's left shoulder and right shoulder flap 320 rests over the
user's right shoulder. A bib may be attached to the right flap 320
of the skirt portion 140, for example, via a VELCRO.TM. brand
connection attachment 650.
[0031] A user by moving the shoulder flaps up and down can easily
adjust the position of cylindrical pillow 120 within the neck or
back area. The user can then lean back in the seat. This
configuration will provide support to the users head, neck, or back
and provide a place to put a napkin or bib while feeding a baby.
This arrangement allows the user to use the support device with
public seats, such as for example on airplane seats, without the
need to rest the skirt portion on the back rest of the airplane
seat. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the side
of skirt portion 140 that rests on the user's back is made of a
material having a sufficiently high friction coefficient, so as to
avoid sliding along the user's back. As such, pillow body 120
remains in the same desired position along the user's back, even
when the user is not leaning against the back rest, until such time
that the user readjusts its position.
[0032] While the invention has been described and shown in various
terms and certain embodiments, the scope of the invention is not
intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and
such other modification or embodiments as may be suggested by the
teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall
within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.
* * * * *