PILLOW TOY
A pillow with a pillow covering that resembles an animal, a character, or a creature. The pillow may include a series of pockets at different positions on the pillow that allow for storage of items including a journal or diary and a key to unlock the journal or diary. The pillow may be comprised of a cushioning element within the pillow covering that may be a single unitary piece of material, such as a foam. The pillow may also include a speaker system that is wirelessly connectable to a mobile device to allow for the playing of an audio file, such as music. The cover may be removable, washable, and interchangeable with other covers.
A claim for priority to the Jul. 13, 2020, filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/051,078, titled PILLOW TOY (“the '078 Provisional Application”), is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). The entire disclosure of the '078 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates generally to various embodiments of pillow, or toy that may be a plush toy. More specifically, it relates to a pillow including a cushioning element and a pillowcase, or cover to the pillow, the pillowcase having various features that may cause the pillow to look like an animal, creature, or character. Additionally, speakers may be placed within the cushioning element to provide playing of an audible sound, such as music. The features disclosed herein are numerous in nature and may be employed in various different ways to provide the same or similar results. The following description may refer to the design as a pillow, a toy, pillow toy, or plush toy, all of which refer to the same element.
SUMMARYThis disclosure relates to a pillow or toy including a cushioning element and a cover, or pillowcase. The cushioning element may be made of a polyurethane memory foam. The pillowcase may have a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a back surface that together define a void within the pillowcase, the void being sized and shaped to fit snuggly around the cushioning element. The pillowcase may include: a number of head features fixed to the pillowcase on at least one of the front surface or the top surface. The pillowcase may also include a number of additional features fixed to the pillowcase on at least one of the top surface, bottom surface, or back surface.
The pillowcase may also include a number of limbs fixed to the pillowcase on at least one of the top surface, bottom surface, or back surface. The number of limbs may include a sleeve of fabric with a small cushioning element or other cushioning material enclosed within the sleeve of fabric. The pillowcase may also include a number of pockets fixed to the pillowcase.
The cushioning element of the pillow may comprise perforated polyurethane memory foam or high-density polyurethane memory foam. The cushioning element may also form the shape of a rounded, oblong prism, or an irregular cylinder with a flat side and a rounded side.
The surfaces of the pillowcase may be made of a combination of at least one of the following materials: cotton, silk, polyester, linen, wool, velvet, fleece, or leather. The surfaces of the pillowcase may also form one unitary piece of material of fabric. The pillowcase may also include a zipper, which may be used to open and close the pillowcase.
The number of head features may include various facial features of an animal, creature, or character, the plurality of head features being embroidered or sewn onto the pillowcase. The number of head features may be made out of the same or similar material that the pillowcase is made out of and may be stuffed with a cushioning material.
The number of additional features may cause the pillowcase to appear like an animal, creature, or other character. The number of additional features may include features made out of a fabric that is stuffed with a cushioning material. Additionally, the plurality of additional features comprises features made out of a fabric that is stuffed with a cushioning material, the number of additional features being shaped and sized to have the appearance of at least one of tails, wings, fins, flippers, spikes, spines, spots, or other animal body parts.
The number of limbs may include four legs. Two of the four legs may be fixed to the pillowcase near where the front surface joins with the top surface and the bottom surface, and two other legs may be fixed to the pillowcase near where the back surface joins with the top surface and the bottom surface. The small cushioning element or other cushioning material within the number of limbs may include a combination of at least one of the following: foam, cotton, down feathers, buckwheat hulls, or microbeads.
The number of pockets may include: a sheet of fabric fixed to at least one of the top surface, the bottom surface, or the back surface of the pillowcase defining a space between the sheet of fabric and the pillowcase; and a pocket opening that opens up into the space between the sheet of fabric and the pillow case, which may be sized and shaped to receive and hold various different items. The number of pockets may each include an elastic band along the pocket opening to keep the plurality of pockets closed or flush with the remainder of the cover. The number of pockets may include: a first pocket that is fixed to the bottom surface of the pillowcase; and a second pocket that is fixed to the back surface of the pillowcase.
Additionally, a speaker system may be positioned within the cover on or within the cushioning element. The speaker system may reside within voids in the cushioning element the complementary fit with the speaker and a speaker control box. Channels may be positioned between the speakers and control box to allow the wires to lay within the channels and flush with the cushioning element.
The speaker system may be wireless and connectable to mobile devices such as phones and tablets. The speaker system may also be chargeable with a charging port wired to the control box and exposable on the outside of the cover.
In the drawings:
Cushioning element 100 may also comprise a length (L), a height (H), and a width (W). Referring to
Although
The cushioning element 100 may be made out of various different types of materials, such as foam. More specifically, the cushioning element 100 may comprise unperforated open cell polyurethane foam. Other materials that the cushioning element 100 may comprise, by way of example and not limitation, include a combination of at least one of the following types of memory foam: open cell polyurethane foam, unperforated polyurethane foam, perforated polyurethane foam, high-density polyurethane foam, or low-density polyurethane foam. Unperforated polyurethane foam may allow for, inter alia, additional insulation. Perforated polyurethane foam may allow for, inter alia, greater breathability and greater flexibility, which may allow the cushioning element to be more easily stored and transported.
Other embodiments of the cushioning element 100 may alternatively, or additionally, include a combination of at least one of the following cushioning materials: foam, soft feathers (e.g., down feathers), cotton, buckwheat hulls, microbeads, or any other materials used in conjunction with, plush toys, mattresses, or pillows. Regardless of the composition of the cushioning element 100, the cushioning element 100 may further comprise a fabric sleeve, which may be fixed around the cushioning element 100. Depending on its composition, the cushioning element 100 may have a variety of different properties, including, by way of example and not limitation, low-resilience, high-resilience, or viscoelasticity. The surfaces of the cushioning element 100 may be one continuous piece of material or fabric or alternatively different pieces of material or fabric engaged at seems between the different surfaces.
It will be appreciated that the front surface 208 of the cover 202 may include additional cushioning or plush material to help define characteristics of the pillow 200.
Referring to
The opening 220 of the cover 202 may also comprise an open position and a closed position. Various methods may be applied to move the opening 220 from the open position to the closed position (and vice versa). Referring to
Providing a user with the ability to open and close the cover 202 may facilitate removal of the cover 202 for cleaning of the cushioning element or cover 202. It may also facilitate replacement of the cushioning element 100 or the cover 202.
The pillowcase 202 may also comprise various additional features that may allow the pillow 200 to appear like an animal, creature, or other character. The cover 202 illustrated contains various features that cause the pillow 200 to look like a triceratops. The various features that may be added to the cover 202 to cause the pillow 200 to look like an animal or other character will be discussed at length below. These additional features may serve various different functions including, but not limited to, providing additional portions of cushioning to the pillow and allowing the pillow to be used as a decoration, toy, or other form of entertainment.
Referring to
The head features 230 may take various different forms and be made of various different materials. Other features, like the horns 230c, may be made out of the same or similar fabric that the cover 202 is made out of and may be stuffed with other cushioning material(s). These cushioning materials may include a combination of at least one of the materials described above that may be used to form cushioning element 100.
Referring to
The cover 202 may also comprise a plurality of limbs 234, which may include arms, legs, hands, feet, fins, flippers, hooves, etc. The plurality of limbs 234 may be attached to (or be extensions of) the cover 202. The plurality limbs 234 may be located along any of the surfaces of the cover 202 to make the pillow resemble an animal, creature, or character.
On cover 202, the plurality of limbs 234 may comprise four legs, which may be attached on either side of the cover 202. Two of the four legs may be fixed to the cover 202 near where the front surface 208 joins with the top surface 204 and the bottom surface 206, and two other legs may be fixed to the cover 202 near where the back surface 210 joins with the top surface 204 and the bottom surface 206. The plurality of limbs 234, or four legs, in the case of cover 202, may comprise a sleeve of fabric with a small cushioning element or other cushioning material(s) enclosed within it (e.g., by being sewn inside it). The sleeve of fabric may be coupled to the cover 202. The sleeve of fabric may be made of any number of materials including, but not limited to, any combination of at least one of the following: cotton, silk, polyester, linen, wool, velvet, fleece, other natural or synthetic fibers, or leather. The cushioning material enclosed within the sleeve of fabric may comprise any number of materials including, but not limited to, foam, cotton, down feathers, buckwheat hulls, microbeads, or any other material described above which may be used to make cushioning element 100.
Referring to
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The first pocket 240, including the first sleeve of fabric 242, may be made of various different materials including, but not limited to, any combination of at least one of the following: cotton, silk, polyester, linen, wool, velvet, fleece, other natural or synthetic fibers, or leather.
The first pocket 240 may also comprise a first pocket opening 244, which may be configured to receive and hold various different items within an interior of the first pocket 240. The first pocket 240 may be defined as a space between the first sleeve of fabric 242 and the bottom surface 206 of the cover 202.
The first pocket 240 may comprise various different methods for opening and closing the first pocket 240. The first pocket opening 244 may, for example, comprise a zipper which may be used to open and close the first pocket opening 244. Alternatively, other embodiments may comprise at least one of hook and loop surfaces, elastic bands, buckles, snaps, buttons, or clips to allow for the opening and closing of the first pocket opening 244.
Referring to
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Alternatively, the second pocket 250 may be sized and configured to provide an opening for the cushioning element 100 to be inserted into the cover 202 and receive the cushioning element such that the cover 202 covers an entirety of the cushioning element 100. Thus, cover 202 may not need opening 220 in order to insert the cushioning element 100 into the cover 202. Or, in the alternate, the opening 220 may be positioned within the second pocket 250 toward a base of the second pocket 250.
The cover 202 may also comprise at least one patch 252, which may include branding information, trademarks, logos, or other information. The at least one patch 252 may be fixed to any number of surfaces on the cover 202. Referring to
The cover 202 may also comprise at least one identification marker 254. The at least one identification marker 254 may comprise, for example, identifying information for the owner of the pillow 200, including but not limited to, a name, an address, a phone number, or other contact information. It may alternatively comprise a name for the animal, creature, of character that the pillow 200 is meant to look like. The at least on identification marker may take many different shapes and be made of various different materials. Referring to
In different embodiments of pillows, the various types of features on the cover 202, such as the head features 230, the other features 232, and the plurality of limbs 234 may be changed, rearranged, or omitted in order to make such pillows more comfortable or appear like a different animal, creature, or character.
Referring to
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Each of the voids and channels are configured and positioned to allow for speakers and wires to lay flush within the voids and/or channels so as not to protrude from the cushioning element 600; however, a small protrusion may occur and is contemplated herein.
Referring to
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The control box 656 may reside within the lateral void 611 and be of substantially the same shape as the void 611 to lay flush within the void.
The control box 656 may include Bluetooth, or similar, capability to wirelessly connect to a phone, tablet or other device. The control box 656 may also include a power supply that is rechargeable via the charging port described herein. The control box may include a power button and volume buttons as well that reside on the outside of the control box and allow for turning on and off of the speaker system 650 and adjust the volume. However, by connecting the speaker to a device such as a phone and controlling the device in that manner.
The speakers 652 may be low volume speakers and may require a user to place the cushioning element 600 to the ear of the user in order to hear sufficiently. However, a full volume speaker is also contemplated herein.
The cover 202 may be the same, or substantially the same, as the covers set forth previously herein. However, a hole or inlet may be sewn to allow for passage of the charging port out of the back surface 210 of the cover 202. The inlet may be positioned within the second pocket 250 so has to hide the charging port. Alternatively, the opening 220 to place the cushioning element 600 within the cover 202 may allow for passage of the charging port and storage within the cover 202, thus hiding the charging port within the fastening mechanism such as the zipper, hook and loop, etc.
Although the foregoing disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed separately or in combination. Accordingly, all additions, deletions and modifications to the disclosed subject matter that fall within the scopes of the claims are to be embraced thereby. The scope of each claim is indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements.
Claims
1. A pillow comprising:
- a cushioning element; and
- a cover with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a back surface that together define a void within the cover, the void being sized and shaped to fit snuggly around the cushioning element; the cover further comprising: a plurality of head features coupled to the cover on at least one of the front surface or the top surface; a plurality of additional features coupled to the cover on at least one of the top surface, bottom surface, or back surface; a plurality of limbs coupled to the cover on at least one of the top surface, bottom surface, or back surface, the plurality of limbs comprising: a sleeve of fabric with a cushioning material enclosed within the sleeve of fabric; a plurality of pockets fixed to the cover.
2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the cushioning element comprises at least one of polyurethane memory foam, perforated polyurethane memory foam, or high-density polyurethane memory foam.
3. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets comprises a first pocket positioned on the bottom surface and a second pocket positioned on the back surface.
4. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the cushioning element forms the shape of an irregular cylinder with a flat side and a rounded side.
5. The pillow of claim 1, wherein surfaces of the cover are made of a combination of at least one of cotton, silk, polyester, linen, wool, velvet, fleece, or leather.
6. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the top surface, the bottom surface, the front surface, and the back surface form one unitary piece of material or fabric.
7. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a zipper, which may be used to open and close the pillow case.
8. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the plurality of head features comprises various facial features of an animal, creature, or character, the plurality of head features being embroidered or sewn onto the cover.
9. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the plurality of head features comprises various facial features of an animal, creature, or character, the plurality of head features being made out of the same or similar material that the cover is made out of and being stuffed with a cushioning material.
10. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the plurality of additional features comprises features that may cause the cover to appear like an animal, or creature.
11. The pillow of claim 10, wherein the plurality of additional features comprises features made out of a fabric that is stuffed with a cushioning material.
12. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the plurality of limbs comprises four legs.
13. The pillow of claim 12, wherein two of the four legs are fixed to the cover toward a junction between the front surface, the top surface, and the bottom surface, and a remaining two legs are fixed to the cover toward a junction between the back surface, the top surface, and the bottom surface.
14. The system of claim 1, comprising a wireless speaker system positioned on the cushioning element and covered by the cover.
15. A system comprising:
- a first cushioning element comprising a front portion, back portion, a rounded top portion and substantially planar bottom portion; and
- a cover configured to fit around the first cushioning element, the cover comprising: a face portion, a bottom portion, a top portion and a rear portion; a first pocket; and a second pocket.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first pocket is positioned on the bottom portion.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second pocket is positioned on the rear portion.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first pocket and second pocket each comprise an elastic opening to allow the opening and pocket lay flush against the cover.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the cover further comprises extremities extending from the cover in a plurality of positions, wherein the extremities comprise the same fabric as the cover and a second cushioning element within the extremities.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the face portion of the cover comprises a third cushioning element within the face portion and character features.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein the cover comprises a single unitary piece of fabric.
22. The system of claim 15, wherein the cover comprises numerous pieces of fabric fixed together at junctions of each portion.
23. The system of claim 15, comprising a wireless speaker system positioned on the cushioning element and covered by the cover.
24. A system comprising:
- a first cushioning element comprising a front portion, back portion, a rounded top portion and substantially planar bottom portion;
- a speaker system recessed into at least a portion the first cushioning element; and
- a cover configured to fit around the first cushioning element, the cover comprising: a face portion, a bottom portion, a top portion and a rear portion.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the speaker system is wireless and chargeable.
26. The system of claim 24, wherein the first cushioning element comprises a plurality of voids to receive the speaker system.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the speaker system comprises a control box wired in chain to three speakers.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first cushioning element comprises a plurality of channels to receive wires between the control box and speakers.
29. The system of claim 26, wherein the voids allow the speaker system to sit flush with the first cushioning element.
30. The system of claim 24, wherein in the speaker system comprises a charging port.
31. The system of claim 24, wherein the cover further comprises a first pocket and a second pocket separate from the first pocket.
32. The system of claim 24, wherein the cover is secured around the first cushioning element with a fastening mechanism.
33. The system of claim 24, wherein the cover further comprises extremities extending from the cover in a plurality of positions, wherein the extremities comprise the same fabric as the cover and a second cushioning element within the extremities.
34. The system of claim 33, wherein the face portion of the cover comprises a third cushioning element within the face portion and character features.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein the second cushioning element and third cushioning element are the same material and different material from the first cushioning element.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 13, 2021
Publication Date: Jan 13, 2022
Inventors: Nathan Thompson (Twin Falls, ID), Jimmy Morrison (Springville, UT)
Application Number: 17/373,984