PILLOW WITH FOUNDATION
A pillow is provided. The pillow includes a top fabric panel extending to a bottom fabric panel, the bottom fabric panel having a greater width than the top fabric panel; and a first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel folded about a first axis, the first axis being a line parallel to the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel and the first axis being a first non-zero distance from the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel, the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel coupled to a first length-wise edge of the top fabric panel. Other embodiments are also included.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to a provisional application filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 21, 2014, and assigned U.S. Ser. No. 61/968,927, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to pillows with a foundation. More particularly, the present invention is directed to pillows with multiple chambers of different densities that support and/or prevent the pillow from collapsing or bottoming out when pressure is applied.
BACKGROUNDThere are many types of pillows. There are pillows for infants, for children and for adults. There are pillows that have simple designs, and there are pillows with complex designs. More complicated designs include pillows with multiple internal compartments.
Moreover, there are firm pillows, soft pillows, pillows designed specifically for back sleepers, and pillows designed specifically for side sleepers. Generally, there are pillows designed for every type of preference. However, while pillows of various designs are currently available and/or have been previously proposed, there still remains the need for a pillow that can be utilized more universally, that is, be suitable for use by persons with different types of sleep preferences.
SUMMARYAccording to an aspect of the present invention, a pillow is provided, including a top fabric panel extending to a bottom fabric panel, the bottom fabric panel having a greater width than the top fabric panel; and a first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel folded about a first axis, the first axis being a line parallel to the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel and the first axis being a first non-zero distance from the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel, the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel coupled to a first length-wise edge of the top fabric panel.
According to another aspect of the present invention, as pillow is provided, including a first panel coupled to a second panel, forming a first chamber, the first chamber filled with a first fill; and the second panel coupled to a third panel, forming a second chamber, the second chamber filled with a second fill, and a density of the second fill being higher than a density of the first fill.
According to another aspect of the present invention, as pillow is provided, including a top fabric panel extending to a bottom fabric panel, the bottom fabric panel having a greater width than the top fabric panel; a first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel folded about a first axis, the first axis being a line parallel to the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel and the first axis being a first non-zero distance from the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel, the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel coupled to a first length-wise edge of the top fabric panel; and an inner fabric panel disposed between a top fabric panel and a bottom fabric panel, forming a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber filled with a first fill and the second chamber filled with a second fill, a density of the second fill being higher than a density of the first fill.
According to another aspect of the present invention, as pillow is provided, including a first panel coupled to a second panel; and a baffle coupled to the first panel and the second panel, forming a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber filled with a first fill, the second chamber filled with a second fill, and the baffle being angled.
The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:
Referring to
As shown in the internal view of
In detail, the pillow in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention includes two inner fabric panels and, along with a top fabric panel and a bottom fabric panel, collectively forms the three chambers (i.e., top chamber 101, middle chamber 103, and bottom chamber 105). Moreover, as further described herein, the pillow in accordance with this first embodiment has no seams along the Y edges of the pillow, as shown in
Referring to the top view of
Referring particularly to the exploded view shown in
In addition to the top fabric 107 and bottom fabric 109 shown in
The bottom inner fabric panel 115 (or, simply, the “bottom inner fabric”) has the construction shown in
Therefore, give the herein-provided description and the illustrations shown in
An exemplary pillow in accordance with the herein described first embodiment of the present invention may include top fabric 107 and bottom fabric 109 (representing the outer surfaces of the pillow) made of 330 tc, 100% Cotton, Twill, SPI 173×156/60×60, top inner fabric being a stretchable material as described above, and a bottom inner fabric of 230 tc, 100% polyester, 1×1 plainweave, 144×86/65D×65D. Exemplary dimensions of the pillow have the following dimensions: A=12 inches (″); B=4″; X=20″; and Y=26″. Other appropriate dimensions, as well as materials, may be employed.
After construction of the pillow shell as shown in
Moreover, the three chamber construction of the first embodiment extends a cushiony comfort to the pillow's edge by means of the comfort provided by the pillow's top chamber (in one configuration), provides an even support across the entire sleep surface by means of the pillow's center/middle chamber 103 (also called “inner core”), and further provides the above-mentioned foundation to prevent the pillow from bottoming out by means of the bottom support (also called “bottom support base”).
An exemplary pillow in accordance with this first embodiment of the present invention has its top and center chambers filled with Lumera™ down alternative fiber fill, and the bottom chamber is filled a durable high loft fill, such as Voluma™ fiber fill, and wherein the density of the bottom chamber fill is greater than, or even substantially greater than the density of the top and center chambers fill. However, other fills may be employed. In addition, in a variation, the top and center chambers have different types of fill and/or different densities of fill.
As a particular example, a down/feather pillow in accordance with this embodiment includes fill in the amounts as follows: outer chamber: 2.5 oz.; inner/center chamber: 29 oz.; and foundation chamber: 4 oz. As another particular example, a polyester pillow includes fill in the amounts as follows: outer chamber: 14 oz.; inner/center chamber: 12 oz.; and foundation chamber 6 oz. In addition, in the exemplary pillows, the foundation chamber is 12″ high, by the length of the pillow (centered); the inner chamber is 20″ high, by the length of the pillow; and the outer chamber is 28″ total, 20″ high, by the length of the pillow while allowing for remaining 8″ of the outer chamber to wrap around the pillow. These numbers are exemplary.
As shown in
In an exemplary pillow embodying the second embodiment, the top fabric 201 (or fabric A) is approximately 60% polyester and 40% lyocell (or, more specifically, 63% polyester/37% lyocell (i.e., a form rayon that includes a cellulose fiber made from dissolving pulp (dissolving pulp is bleached wood pulp or cotton linters with a high cellulose content such as 90% or above))) circular knit fabric; weight: 240 g per yard; with a pattern as shown in
After construction of the pillow shell as shown in
As best shown in the internal view of
In one version, fabric A and fabric B are different materials. In one example of this version, fabric A is 63% polyester/37% lyocell circular knit fabric, with a weight of 240 g per yard, and a pattern such as shown in
Exemplary dimensions of the pillow are defined as A=18″ and B=4″ (dimensions A and B shown in
After construction of the pillow shell as shown in
Moreover, as best shown in
Fabric B may be a single piece of fabric or may be comprised of multiple pieces of fabric. In
In a different version, all of the fabric B sections are part of a single panel in which such single panel extends initially along a part of the top of the pillow, then folded (as described in various other embodiments), then extends along the entire bottom of the pillow, then folded again, and then extends partially along a part of the top of the pillow, such as best shown in
As described above, the bottom chamber 307 has a fill of greater density than the fill of the top chamber 301. However, in another version of this third embodiment, the top chamber 301 can include a fill of greater density than the fill of the bottom chamber 307.
In addition, other types of materials and dimension may be employed than that described above. In yet another version of this third embodiment, fabric A and fabric B are made from the same type of material.
Using the exemplary dimensions given above in connection with the third embodiment in this fourth embodiment, with X=20″ and Y=26″ (see
Also like the third embodiment, the bottom chamber 407, shown in
Also similar to the third embodiment, the dimensions and materials of the pillow in accordance with the fourth embodiment may differ from that described above.
As shown in the internal view of
The inner stretch panel operates as an interior stretch baffle 501. As shown in
During construction, one end of the interior stretch baffle 501 is sewn to a first set of edges of the top panel 503 and bottom panel 505 and, likewise, the other end of the interior stretch baffle is sewn to the other set of edges of the top onale 503 and bottom panel 505. Accordingly, the above-mentioned two chambers 507 and 509 are formed within the pillow. The size and dimension of each chamber, in the version shown in
Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, the interior stretch baffle 501 is comprised of stretch fabric that provides greater spring and recovery of the chambers during use of the pillow and the angling of the interior stretch baffle provides yet even greater spring and recovery as compared to pillows without such a baffle.
Still further, by providing the baffle 501 angled as shown in
An exemplary pillow in accordance with this first embodiment of the present invention has both outer panels comprised of 330 tc, 100% Cotton, Twill, SPI 173×156/60×66, and the interior stretch baffle 501 comprised of 4-way stretch polyester (87% polyester/13% Spandex, 282 g/yard). In another example, the interior stretch baffle is stretch spandex fabric. Other suitable stretch and/or elastic materials may be employed. Exemplary dimensions are A=6″, B=8″, X=20″ and Y=26″. Of course, other sizes may be employed. In a variation, the interior baffle 501 is non-stretch.
After construction of the pillow shell as shown in
In a variation, the interior baffle extends between the top and bottom portions of the pillow at an angle that is different from that shown in
In each of the embodiments of the invention described herein, and all variations thereof, the various described pillows of the invention may be manufactured, using the constructions and features described, in manners well known in the art. In particular, the manner in which the fabric panels are sewn together may be achieved in various ways and, thus, the inventions described herein are not limited to any particular manner of connection. In addition, upon such connection/assembly of the various panels/components, as discussed herein, the multiple chambers of the pillows are filled in any manner known in the art or in future-devised manners. For example, some of the figures show blow openings, but such blow openings are merely illustrative of particular manners of complete manufacture of the pillows. Moreover, the particular filling material may differ from that mentioned above. For example, other types of fill may be employed, such as Lyocell Down, partial Lyocell/Poly blend, to name just a few.
Still further, the various embodiments have been described as including multiple fabric panels, but the particular type of material used for the various panels, particularly the outer panels, may be different than the examples disclosed herein and, further, may be made of material that some may deem to not represent fabric, such as leather. Accordingly, the terms “fabric” or “fabric panel” are used for convenience to refer to a panel of material have the shape and size of that shown in the various embodiments described herein.
In addition, in select embodiments of the present invention, the pillows advantageously have constructions that cause the fill to move to the edge of the pillow. In particular, in those embodiments and variations in which some of the edges of the pillow do not have seams, but rather are formed by employing the herein-described and shown fold lines, such embodiments and variations result in pillows in which the filling material within the one or multiple chambers move outward towards such edges that do not have seams, which in turn provides additional neck support to users than otherwise would be the case. Moreover, the seamless edges provide curved edges on the pillows, which provides contoured support for a user's head and neck.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A pillow, comprising:
- a top fabric panel extending to a bottom fabric panel, the bottom fabric panel having a greater width than the top fabric panel; and
- a first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel folded about a first axis, the first axis being a line parallel to the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel and the first axis being a first non-zero distance from the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel, the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel coupled to a first length-wise edge of the top fabric panel.
2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein each length-wise edge of the pillow has no seams.
3. The pillow of claim 1, further comprising a second length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel folded about a second axis, the second axis being a line parallel to the second length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel and the second axis being a second non-zero distance from the second length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel, the second length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel coupled to a second length-wise edge of the top fabric panel,
4. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the first non-zero distance and the second non-zero distance are the same.
5. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the top fabric panel does not extend along an entire width of an outside portion of the pillow.
6. The pillow of claim 3, further comprising a bottom inner panel having same dimensions as a bottom fabric panel and a top fabric panel having same dimensions as a top fabric panel, wherein the bottom inner panel is folded about the first axis and the second axis.
7. The pillow of claim 3, wherein the bottom fabric panel extends along an entire width and length of a bottom of the pillow and extends partially along both sides of a top of the pillow.
8. A pillow, comprising:
- a first panel coupled to a second panel, forming a first chamber, the first chamber filled with a first fill; and
- the second panel coupled to a third panel, forming a second chamber, the second chamber filled with a second fill, and a density of the second fill being higher than a density of the first fill.
9. The pillow of claim 8, wherein the fill of the first chamber is 14 oz. and the fill of the second chamber is 6 oz.
10. The pillow of claim 8, wherein a fabric of the first panel comprises approximately 60% polyester and 40% lyocell.
11. The pillow of claim 8, wherein a fabric of the first panel comprises 63% polyester, 37% lyocell, is a circular knit fabric, with a weight of 240 g per yard.
12. A pillow, comprising:
- a top fabric panel extending to a bottom fabric panel, the bottom fabric panel having a greater width than the top fabric panel;
- a first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel folded about a first axis, the first axis being a line parallel to the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel and the first axis being a first non-zero distance from the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel, the first length-wise edge of the bottom fabric panel coupled to a first length-wise edge of the top fabric panel; and
- an inner fabric panel disposed between a top fabric panel and a bottom fabric panel, forming a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber filled with a first fill and the second chamber filled with a second fill, a density of the second fill being higher than a density of the first fill.
13. The pillow of claim 12, wherein the fill of the first chamber is 14 oz. and the fill of the second chamber is 6 oz.
14. The pillow of claim 12, wherein a fabric of the top fabric panel comprises approximately 60% polyester and 40% lyocell.
15. The pillow of claim 12, wherein a fabric of the top fabric panel comprises 63% polyester, 37% lyocell, is a circular knit fabric, with a weight of 240 g per yard.
16. The pillow of claim 12, wherein the first chamber extends along an entire length of the pillow but does extend along an entire width of the pillow.
17. The pillow of claim 12, wherein the first chamber extends along an entire width of the pillow but does extend along an entire length of the pillow.
18. A pillow, comprising:
- a first panel coupled to a second panel; and
- a baffle coupled to the first panel and the second panel, forming a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber filled with a first fill, the second chamber filled with a second fill, and the baffle being angled.
19. The pillow of claim 18, wherein a density of the first fill is higher than a density of the second fill.
20. The pillow of claim 18, wherein the angle of the baffle is 45°.
21. The pillow of claim 18, wherein a width of the first panel and the second panel is 20 inches and a height of the first panel and the second panel is 26 inches.
22. The pillow of claim 18, wherein a width of the baffle is 8 inches.
23. The pillow of claim 18, wherein the first panel and the second panel each comprise 330 tc, 100% Cotton, Twill, SPI 173×156/60×66.
24. The pillow of claim 18, wherein the baffle extends diagonally from a bottom of the first panel to a top of the second panel.
25. The pillow of claim 18, wherein the first chamber is adjacent to the second chamber and the baffle separates the first chamber and the second chamber.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 23, 2015
Publication Date: Sep 24, 2015
Inventors: Tracy Laskowski Miller (Naperville, IL), Brandon Palmer (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 14/666,064