CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a non-provisional application that claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/321,440 filed on Apr. 6, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of tote bags and more specifically to the field of tote bags for pillows.
2. Background of the Invention
People often take a pillow with them when traveling. For instance, people sometimes take their pillow when traveling for medical reasons such as for neck and back problems. Drawbacks to taking a pillow when traveling include exposing the pillow to dirt and germs. Further drawbacks include potential damage to the pillow while traveling.
Consequently, there is a need for protecting a pillow. Further needs include improved covers for a pillow.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by a pillow tote. The pillow tote has a body. The body has an exterior side, an interior, and an interior opening. The exterior side has an outer attachment region. The outer attachment region has an outer pocket and a sleeve. The interior has an interior side. In addition, the interior side has an inner attachment region. The pillow tote also has a closure means.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an exterior side of a pillow tote having a sleeve and outer pockets;
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the interior of a pillow tote having inner pockets;
FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an exterior side of a pillow tote having a closure means and a lower attachment means;
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an exterior side of a pillow tote having a sleeve, outer pockets, and a closure means;
FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of an exterior side of a pillow tote having a closure means that has closed an interior opening of the pillow tote; and
FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an exterior side of a pillow tote having a sleeve, outer pockets, and a closure means that has closed an interior opening of the pillow tote.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an exterior side of a pillow tote 5 having body 10 and outer attachment region 15. Pillow tote 5 is of a sufficient size and configuration to allow a pillow to be disposed within its interior. Additional items such as a purse may also be disposed in the interior of pillow tote 5. Body 10 may be composed of any suitable type of material. It is to be understood that pillow tote 5 is composed of any material of a suitable durability. In an embodiment, body 10 may be composed of material of a thickness suitable to protect a pillow disposed in the interior of pillow tote 5. In an embodiment, body 10 is composed of a water resistant material. In some embodiments, body 10 is coated in a water resistant material. Further embodiments include pillow tote 5 composed of and/or coated with a fire resistant material.
As further shown in FIG. 1, pillow tote 5 has interior opening 100. Interior opening 100 is of a sufficient size to allow a desired size pillow to be inserted into the interior of pillow tote 5 therethrough. Pillow tote 5 has an exterior upper region 65 and an exterior lower region 70. Exterior lower region 70 is on the opposing end of pillow tote 5 from interior opening 100. Exterior upper region 65 includes interior opening 100. Pillow tote 5 also includes an outer attachment region 15. Outer attachment region 15 includes means for items to be secured, stored, or attached with pillow tote 5. Outer attachment region 15 may be disposed at any desired location on the exterior of body 10. In an embodiment, outer attachment region 15 is disposed near the center of an exterior side of pillow tote 5 in exterior lower region 70. In an embodiment as shown, outer attachment region 15 extends across a side of pillow tote 5. Without limitation, by outer attachment region 15 extending across a side of pillow tote 5, added support is provided to outer attachment region 15. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), outer attachment region 15 extends across a portion of a side of pillow tote 5. In embodiments, outer attachment region 15 has outer pockets 35. In the embodiment illustrated, outer attachment region 15 has two outer pockets 35. In alternative embodiments (not shown), outer attachment region 15 has one outer pocket 35 or more than two outer pockets 35. In an embodiment, outer pockets 35 have closure means (not shown). The closure means may include any means suitable for closing the openings of outer pockets 35. For instance, examples of closure means include buttons, hooks, and the like. Without limitation, a commercial example of a closure means is VELCRO, which is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries, B.V. Limited Liability Company. In an embodiment as illustrated, outer attachment region 15 has sleeve 20. Sleeve 20 has sleeve upper opening 25 and sleeve lower opening 30. Sleeve upper opening 25 and sleeve lower opening 30 allow items to pass through sleeve 20. For instance, sleeve 20 may facilitate the attachment of pillow tote 5 to a handle (i.e., luggage handle). In such an embodiment, the luggage handle passes through sleeve 20 via sleeve upper opening 25 and sleeve lower opening 30. In an embodiment as shown, sleeve 20 is disposed between the two outer pockets 35. In alternative embodiments (not shown), sleeve 20 and/or outer pockets 35 may be disposed at any location on outer attachment region 15. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), outer attachment region 15 has more than one sleeve 20. In further alternative embodiments (not shown), outer attachment region 15 has no sleeve 20 or no outer pocket 35.
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of pillow tote interior 45, which is a side of the interior of pillow tote 5. Pillow tote interior 45 has interior upper region 55 and interior lower region 60. In embodiments as shown, pillow tote interior 45 has inner attachment region 40. Inner attachment region 40 includes means for items to be secured, stored, or attached with pillow tote 5. Inner attachment region 40 may be disposed at any desired location in pillow tote interior 45. In an embodiment as shown, inner attachment region 40 is disposed near the center of pillow tote interior 45 and in the interior upper region 55. In an embodiment as shown, inner attachment region 40 extends across pillow tote interior 45. Without limitation, by inner attachment region 40 extending across pillow tote interior 45, added support is provided to inner attachment region 40. Further, without limitation, in embodiments in which inner attachment region 40 is placed near the center of pillow tote interior 45 and in the interior upper region 55, placement of items in inner attachment region 40 is facilitated (i.e., facilitates a user placing items in inner attachment region 40 without having to reach at an inefficient length inside of pillow tote 5). In addition, further, without limitation, such placement also does not block interior opening 100. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), inner attachment region 40 extends across a portion of pillow tote interior 45. In embodiments as shown, inner attachment region 40 has inner pockets 50. In the embodiment as illustrated, inner attachment region 40 has four inner pockets 50. In alternative embodiments (not shown), inner attachment region 40 has less than four inner pockets 50 or more than four inner pockets 50. In an embodiment, inner pockets 50 have closure means (not shown). The closure means may include any means suitable for closing the openings to inner pockets 50. For instance, examples of closure means include buttons, hooks, and the like. Without limitation, a commercial example of a closure means is VELCRO.
FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an external side of pillow tote 5. In the embodiment as shown, pillow tote 5 has lower attachment means 90. Lower attachment means 90 is disposed in exterior lower region 70 on the opposing end of pillow tote 5 from interior opening 100. Lower attachment means 90 may include any means suitable for attachment to another object. In an embodiment, lower attachment means 90 includes lower strap 105 and lower ring 110. Lower ring 110 is on an opposing end of lower strap 105 from body 10. In an embodiment as shown, pillow tote 5 also has closure means 75. Closure means 75 may include any means suitable for substantially or partially closing interior opening 100. Without limitation, examples of suitable closure means 75 include buttons, zippers, VELCRO, drawstring, and the like. In the embodiment shown, closure means 75 has hem 80 and drawstring 85. Hem 80 is disposed in exterior upper region 65 and passes completely around a portion of exterior upper region 65 as shown (i.e., a circumference). Drawstring 85 runs through hem 80. In embodiments, drawstring 85 is pullable through hem 80 to reduce the diameter of interior opening 100 and substantially close interior opening 100. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of pillow tote 5 as shown in FIG. 3 in which drawstring 85 has been sufficiently pulled through hem 80 to reduce the diameter of interior opening 100 and substantially close access to the interior of pillow tote 5. In an embodiment as shown, a portion of exterior upper region 65 is disposed above hem 80. A portion of each end of drawstring 85 is outside of hem 80.
FIG. 4 illustrates the opposing exterior side of pillow tote 5 from the side shown in FIG. 3. As shown, such exterior side has outer attachment region 15. The opposing side of hem 80 is also shown. In an embodiment as illustrated, pillow tote 5 has upper attachment means 95. Upper attachment means 95 may include any means suitable for attachment to another object. In an embodiment, upper attachment means 95 includes upper strap 115 and upper ring 120. Upper ring 120 is disposed on an opposing end of upper strap 115 from body 10. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of pillow tote 5 as shown in FIG. 4 in which drawstring 85 has been sufficiently pulled through hem 80 to reduce the diameter of interior opening 100 and substantially close access to the interior of pillow tote 5. In an embodiment as shown, a portion of exterior upper region 65 is disposed above hem 80. In embodiments, upper attachment means 95 is disposed between closure means 75 and a centerpoint of body 10.
It is to be understood that pillow tote 5 enables a person (i.e., traveler) to take their pillow with them when traveling and facilitates keeping the pillow germ and dirt free (i.e., reduces exposure to dirt and germs). Sleeve 20 also facilitates traveling by allowing attachment to luggage during transport. Further advantages of pillow tote 5 include protection of the pillow in a vehicle (i.e., in the trunk of a vehicle) from dirt and grease that may be disposed in the trunk. Additional advantages include protection against handling by others such as valets. In addition, pillow tote 5 hides the pillow from the view of others, which provides subtlety when arriving at a location such as a hotel.
In an embodiment of fabrication of pillow tote 5 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, a fabric of desired size is cut in desired dimensions (i.e., 22 inches by 36 inches) and then folded half length-wise and cut to produce body 10. To produce inner pocket 50, fabric of desired length (i.e., 44 inches by 12 inches) is folded in half and cut to produce a piece of fabric for inner pocket 50 of desired dimensions (i.e., 22 inches by 12 inches). A divider is cut from a fabric to a desired dimension (i.e., 22 inches by 26 inches). In embodiments, lining is cut in a desired length from fabric (i.e., one yard) and then folded in half length-wise and then cut to a desired dimension (i.e., 22 inches by 36 inches). In an embodiment, sleeve 20 and outer pockets 35 are cut from a fabric of desired dimension (i.e., 44 inches by 24 inches) and folded in half (i.e., 22 inches by 24 inches). Each folded fabric for sleeve 20 and outer pocket 35 may be folded in half length-wise with right sides facing up to provide pieces of desired dimensions (i.e., 22 inches by 12 inches). In embodiments, each of the longer sides (i.e., 22 inch sides) may be sewn to provide the other sides open (i.e., 12 inch sides). Sleeve 20 and outer pockets 35 are then sewn to the desired exterior side of pillow tote 5. The folded pieces for inner pockets 50 are folded in half length-wise with the right sides facing up (i.e., to provide 22 inch by 6 inch pieces). In embodiments, the longer sides (i.e., 22 inch sides) are sewn with the other sides (i.e., 6 inch sides) open. The pieces of inner pockets 50 are sewn to the interior side of the fabric. In embodiments, closure means are attached to the inner pockets 50. Three sides of fabric are sewn together leaving interior opening 100. Rings for lower attachment means 90 and upper attachment means 95 are attached. For the divider, with right sides facing, one of the long sides is sewn. The divider with the sewn side up is placed between the lining with right sides facing up, and the lining and divider are sewn together on three sides leaving one of the long sides (i.e., 22 inches) open. The lining is then placed inside of body 10 with both open sides up. In embodiments, the tops of body 10 and the lining are folded over a desired length (i.e., ¼ inch) with the folded over lining top above. In some embodiments, drawstring 85 is wrapped around the circumference underneath the bottom edge of the folding lining and body 10, and the folded portion is sewn around drawstring 85 with a portion of each end of drawstring 85 exposed.
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
