U.S. patent number 3,883,906 [Application Number 05/446,626] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-20 for sleeping pillow with arm openings.
Invention is credited to Alray Sumpter.
United States Patent |
3,883,906 |
Sumpter |
May 20, 1975 |
Sleeping pillow with arm openings
Abstract
A sleeping pillow with tunnel-like openings for receiving the
arms of a sleeper, thus aiding to position the sleeper's head with
respect to the pillow and preventing cutting off of circulation in
the sleeper's arm extremities by engagement with the head.
Inventors: |
Sumpter; Alray (Port Arthur,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
23773276 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/446,626 |
Filed: |
February 28, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/632; 5/636;
5/646 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
9/10 (20130101); A47G 9/1063 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
9/00 (20060101); A47G 9/10 (20060101); A47g
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/336-338,341,327B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mitchell; James C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Baldwin, Egan, Walling &
Fetzer
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a pillow for sleeping comprising, a body portion, passageway
means on opposite sides of the transverse vertical center plane of
said body portion and adapted to extend generally parallel to said
plane for receiving therein the arms of a sleeping person, and
including means pivotally mounting said passageway means relative
to said body portion.
2. A pillow in accordance with claim 1 wherein said passageway
means extends through said body portion.
3. A pillow in accordance with claim 1 wherein said passageway
means is disposed below and exteriorly of said body portion.
4. A pillow in accordance with claim 1 wherein said passageway
means comprise defining tunnel-like surfaces extending through said
body portion, and means coupling said spaced passageway means
together, said coupling means extending generally transverse to
said plane.
5. A pillow in accordance with claim 1 wherein said passageway
means includes spaced outer passages on opposite sides of said
plane comprised of defining cloth-like material extending from one
side of said body portion to the other side thereof and opening to
the exterior of said sides, and an inner passageway member mounted
in the respective outer passage, said inner member being adapted to
receive therethrough an arm of a sleeping person and being movably
mounted in said respective outer passage by said mounting
means.
6. In a pillow for sleeping comprising, a body portion, passageway
means on opposite sides of the transverse vertical center plane of
said body portion and extending generally parallel to said plane,
adapted for receiving therein the arms of a sleeping person, said
passageway means being movable relative to said body portion, and
wherein said passageway means comprises sleeve-like members, and
means coacting with said body portion and said sleeve-like members
pivotally mounting the latter relative to said body portion.
7. A pillow in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body portion
includes a generally rigid base member supporting on the upper
surface thereof a resilient compressible mass, and said passageway
means comprises arm receiving members extending beneath said base
member, and said mounting means comprising a stud movably coupling
each said passageway means to said base member for limited pivotal
movement thereof relative to said base member.
8. A pillow in accordance with claim 6 wherein the lengthwise ends
of said passageway means are padded to cushion the contact thereof
with the arms of a sleeping person when the latter's arms extend
through said passageway means.
9. A pillow in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means coupling
said passageway means together comprises a barlike member which is
received downwardly in the vicinity of the head receiving section
of the pillow body portion.
10. A pillow in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said
passageway means is disposed closer to the respective distal end of
said pillow as compared to the spacing of the respective passageway
means from said plane.
11. A pillow in accordance with claim 1 including means movably
mounting said passageway means for both pivotal and linear movement
in a horizontal plane, and relative to said body portion.
12. In a pillow for sleeping comprising, a body portion, passageway
means on opposite sides of the transverse vertical center plane of
said body portion and extending generally parallel to said plane
adapted for receiving therein the arms of a sleeping person, said
body portion including a generally rigid base member supporting on
the upper surface thereof a resilient compressible mass, said
passageway means comprising arm receiving portions extending
beneath said base member, said passageway means being integrally
formed with said base member and embodying rigid top and side
surfaces defining the respective arm portion, said top surface
sloping downwardly in converging relation to the horizontal, and
said side surface comprising a side wall portion of said base
member which aids in supporting said base member on a generally
horizontal surface, the central section of said base member being
of generally U-shaped configuration in front elevation for aiding
in providing cushioning for the head of a sleeper by said resilient
mass, and being of sufficient width to receive the head of the
sleeper.
13. In a pillow for sleeping comprising, a body portion, passageway
means on opposite sides of the transverse vertical center plane of
said body portion and extending generally parallel to said plane,
adapted for receiving therein the arms of a sleeping person, and
wherein said passageway means each comprises a first relatively
stationary passage extending from the exterior of said body portion
to opposite sides thereof and a second passage in the form of a
tunnel-like sleeve extending through each said first passage, and
means mounting said second passage in said first passage for
pivotal and horizontal movement therein, said second passages being
adapted to receive therein the arms of a sleeping person.
14. A pillow in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said first
passages diverge at the lengthwise ends thereof.
15. A pillow in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first passage
of said passageway means at opposite ends thereof is secured to
said body portion of said pillow.
Description
This invention relates in general to pillows and more particularly
to a pillow having arm receiving means associated therewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During sleeping, a pillow is liable to be moved during movements of
the sleeping person and many times winds up on the floor. Moreover,
often times the head of a sleeping individual rests on one of his
arms and cuts off or reduces circulation in the arm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel sleeping pillow which
embodies passageway means for receiving therein the arms of the
sleeper, thus aiding in positioning the head of the sleeper with
respect to the pillow and preventing the head of the sleeper from
directly engaging his arms.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel
pillow for sleeping.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel sleeping
pillow having passageway means associated therewith for receiving
arms of a sleeper.
A further object of the invention is to provide a sleeping pillow
of the aforedescribed type wherein the passageway means extends
through the body portion of the pillow on opposite sides of the
transverse center plane thereof and generally parallel to said
center plane.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a pillow
including a generally rigid base member wherein the passageway
means is oriented exteriorly of the base member for receiving the
arms of a sleeper.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a pillow of
the aforedescribed type wherein the passageway means has at least
some limited movement relative to the body portion of the
pillow.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel
pillow with arm receiving passageway means associated therewith for
aiding in positioning the pillow with respect to the head of a
sleeper and for preventing the head of a sleeper from directly
engaging one of his arms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sleeping pillow embodying
the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the pillow of FIGS. 1 and
2 in use by a sleeping person;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of pillow
embodying the invention;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the FIG. 4 embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of pillow
embodying the invention;
FIG. 7 is an end elevational view taken generally along the plane
of line 7--7 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the FIG. 6 embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now again to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2
and 3, the sleeping pillow 10 illustrated comprises a cover 12
preferably made of some type of cloth material, and stuffed with
some conventional generally resilient stuffing material 14 such as
for instance cotton, foam plastics, or any other suitable stuffing
material, many of which are known in the pillow art. The pillow 10
comprises the usual central section 16 adapted for receiving the
head of a sleeping person (FIG. 3) and end sections 16a and
16b.
In accordance with the invention, passageway means 18 are provided
extending through the body portion of the pillow from one side to
the other side thereof, and opening to the exterior. Passageway
means 18 are adapted for receiving the arms of a sleeping person,
as shown for instance in FIG. 3, and thus are of sufficient size
for comfortably receiving therein the arm extremities of a
sleeper.
Passageway means 18 in the embodiment illustrated include outer or
first passageway 19 preferably formed of some flexible or non-rigid
material, such as for instance, canvas, cloth or flexible plastic,
so that the defining surfaces of the passageways 19 have "give"
upon application of force thereto by the arms of a sleeping person.
Passageways 19 extend transversely of the pillow and are generally
parallel and on opposite sides of the transverse center plane X--X
(FIG. 1) of the pillow. Passageways 19 preferably diverge toward
the lengthwise ends thereof as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.
When the arms of the sleeping person are received through such
passageway means 18, the pillow is positioned with respect to the
sleeping person and the latter's head is generally maintained
relative to the central section 16 of the pillow during the
sleeping process. The lengthwise ends of the passageways 19 are
preferably secured as by sewing beading or the like to the exterior
of the pillow and as at 20. Passageway means 18 in the embodiment
illustrated also include an inner or second passageway 22 disposed
in the respective outer passageway 19, with passageway 22 being
movably mounted relative to the first passageways and to the body
portion of the pillow. Passageways 22 are of sufficient size to
comfortably receive therein the arms of all different size and ages
of individuals and may be formed of any suitable materials, such as
for instance semi-rigid or rigid, or flexible plastics, metals,
rubber, etc. which may be padded or cushioned to increase the
comfort thereof to the received arms of the sleeper. Preferably the
passageway members 22 are coupled to one another and in the
embodiment illustrated by means of coupling element 24.
Element 24 in the embodiment illustrated takes the form of a
bar-like member having a U-shaped central section 26 (FIG. 1) for
increasing the accommodation of the head of the sleeper, and
maintaining considerable cushioning effect between the head of the
sleeper and the pillow. Element 24 may at its distal ends extend
into passageways 19 (FIG. 1) with passageway members 22 being
movably coupled to the exposed ends of element 24. Each passageway
22 may have a headed stud or projection 28 centrally located with
respect to the lengthwise dimension thereof, received in a flanged
slot 29 (FIG. 2) in the element 24, for mounting the respective
passageway member 22 for both pivotal and linear movement in a
generally horizontal plane, and with respect to the pillow body
portion. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the passageway means 18 may be
located generally below the horizontal center plane Y--Y of the
pillow. Passageway members 22 may be selectively detachable from
coupled coaction with element 24.
Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that in use, the arms of
the sleeping person are adapted to be received through the
respective inner passageway member 22 and through the pillow thus
maintaining the head of the sleeping person generally centrally
located with respect to the pillow and on central section 16 of the
latter. Also, the head of the sleeping person is generally
maintained out of direct contact with the arms of the sleeping
individual, and that movable passageway members 22 can be
adjustably positioned to the comfort and to the size or space
relationship of the arms of the user.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown another embodiment
of pillow comprising a base member 30 which may be in the U-shaped
configuration illustrated, having coupled or secured thereto by any
suitable means the cushioning body portion 32 of the pillow proper.
Base member 30 may be generally rigid, but preferably is of
semi-rigid or flexible nature and may be made of any suitable
material, such as for instance, plastic or rubber, both of the
flexible and semi-rigid types, or may be formed of a more rigid
material such as for instance metal or wood. The passageway means
18' in this embodiment are disposed exteriorly of the cushioning
portion 32 of the pillow and are coupled as at 28' to the end
sections of base member 30, for limited movement of the passageway
means 18' with respect to the cushioning portion 32 of the pillow.
The passageway means 18' may be formed of any suitable material and
preferably rigid or semi-rigid materials similarly to
aforementioned passageway members 22, and may be movably coupled to
base 30 by a headed stud coacting in slot 29', for both pivotal and
linear movement of members 18' in a generally horizontal plane.
Passageway means 18' may be detachably connected to base 30, and
may be cushioned as at 33 for increasing the comfort of the arms of
the user. As can be seen, the U-shaped configuration of the base
member 30 facilitates the cushioning of the head of the sleeper
which is received generally in the central portion of the
pillow.
Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 there is shown another embodiment
of pillow wherein base member 30' has the passageway means 18"
integrally formed therewith adjacent opposite ends thereof. Base
30' may be formed of any rigid or semi-rigid self-sustaining
material, such as for instance, plastic, metal or the like, with
the cushioning portion 32' of the pillow being secured to the base
member 30'. This securement may be either permanent or removable
for facilitating removal of the cushioning portion from the base
for washing or the like. The end portions 34 of base member 30' in
addition to partially defining the respective passageway means 18"
aid in supporting the pillow on a sleeping surface.
Referring now in particular to FIG. 7, it will be seen that in the
embodiment illustrated these end sections 34 are so shaped that the
defining surface of the respective passageway means 18" slopes
downwardly from one side of the pillow to the other side thereof,
with the higher opening end of the respective passageway being
adapted to be the entry end for the arm extremities of the sleeper.
Here again, the central portion of the base member 30' is recessed
or formed into generally U-shaped configuration, for increasing the
cushioning capacity of the cushioning portion 32' of the pillow.
All of the pillows may, of course, have pillow cases (not shown)
removably coacting with the pillow for easy removal for laundry
purposes.
From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will
be seen that the invention provides a novel sleeping pillow having
passageway means coacting therewith adapted to receive the arm
extremities of a sleeping person, for facilitating positioning of
the pillow with respect to the head of the sleeping person and for
preventing the head from directly engaging the arms of the sleeper.
Moreover, the invention provides a novel pillow arrangement of the
aforedescribed type wherein the passageway means is movable with
respect to the pillow proper for aiding in the comfort of the
sleeper, and providing for various sizes of user and preferences of
the latter.
The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of
description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the
use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of
any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it
is recognized that various modifications are possible within the
scope of the invention claimed.
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