Adjustable pillow for supporting an infant
A pillow that provides support for an infant, especially during feeding. The pillow is preferably adjustable to accommodate for the varying lengths and thicknesses of different caretakers' arms. Further preferably, the pillow is also adjustable to help secure the pillow about the upper portion of the caretaker's arm. Still further preferably, the pillow is adjustable to help secure the pillow about the lower portion of caretaker's arm.
This invention pertains in general to pillows and pertains in particular to an adjustable pillow for providing support to an infant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWhen feeding an infant, a caregiver usually cradles the infant in his/her arm to hold the infant upright. Oftentimes, the caregiver may sit in a chair or couch and will rest his/arm upon the chair's arm for support. However, during a prolonged feeding period, the infant may experience discomfort from the caregiver's arm and the caregiver may experience fatigue. Further discomfort may arise from the build-up of perspiration on the caregiver's arm. Several attempts have been made to address these issues.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,717, issued to Sue, appears to disclose a pillow for a caregiver's arm for supporting the head of a baby. The pillow is comprised of two side-by-side interconnected layers which lie flat and are juxtaposed relative to each other. The pillow forms a tube when a part of the arm of a caregiver is inserted between the two layers. While wearing this tube about his/her arm, the caregiver and the infant are provided with cushioning for a more comfortable feeding. A problem arises, however, when the caregiver is young and has a thinner and shorter arm than an adult caregiver would. The Sue invention does not provide any adjustability to accommodate for the different arm lengths that caregivers may have. Furthermore, the Sue invention is not secured about the caregiver's arm, therefore creating the possibility that the pillow may accidentally slip down the caregiver's arm.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,786, issued to Cadden, discloses an infant pillow feeding sleeve. The sleeve is slipped over the arm of the caregiver and when the arm is bent to position the baby for feeding, the sleeve props the infant's head up, thereby reducing fatigue and increasing the comfort of the caregiver and the child. Like the Sue invention, the Cadden infant pillow feeding sleeve does not account for the varying arm lengths of different caregivers. And the Cadden invention also lacks any sort of securing device to ensure that the pillow feeding sleeve is held firmly in place. Furthermore, the Cadden device discloses a reduced thickness at both ends, which could cause an infant's head to accidentally slip off of the pillow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,769, issued to Thomas, appears to disclose another cylindrical pillow for supporting a baby's head. The pillow is slipped onto the caregiver's arm like a sleeve and has elastic bands to hold the pillow in place around the caregiver's arm. Although these elastic bands help provide security, they are rough and may cause abrasions on the highly sensitive skin of the infant. And again, the Thomas invention fails to provide any adjustability for the varying arm lengths of different caregivers.
Therefore a need existed to provide a pillow for supporting an infant that is adjustable to accommodate for the varying lengths of different caretakers' arms. Preferably the pillow will also be adjustable to help secure the pillow about the upper portion of the caretaker's arm. Further preferably, the pillow will be further adjustable to help secure the pillow about the lower portion of caretaker's arm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a pillow for supporting an infant that is adjustable to accommodate for the varying lengths of different caretakers' arms.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pillow for supporting an infant that is adjustable to help secure the pillow about the upper portion of the caretaker's arm.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pillow for supporting an infant that is adjustable to help secure the pillow about the lower portion of the caretaker's arm.
BRIED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSIn accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a pillow for supporting an infant is disclosed. The pillow comprises: a substantially tubular body having a substantially uniform width and having a first open end and a second open end and defining a bore therebetween, the bore being dimensioned to retain an arm of a user inserted through either the first open end or the second open end so that the substantially tubular body covers substantially all of the arm of the user, and the substantially tubular body having a length sufficient to support a substantial portion of a body of an infant. The pillow also comprises at least one adjustment device coupled to at least one of the first open end and the second open end, the at least one adjustment device allowing at least one of the first open end and the second open end to be securely coupled about at least one of an upper portion of the arm of the user and a lower portion of the arm of the user. And the substantially tubular body comprises: an inner surface, an outer surface coupled to the inner surface to form a void defined by and located between the inner surface and the outer surface, and filling inserted within and distributed substantially equally between the inner surface and the outer surface of the substantially tubular body thereby providing the substantially tubular body with a substantially uniform thickness.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a pillow for supporting an infant is disclosed. The pillow comprises: a substantially tubular body having a substantially tapered width and having a first open end and a second open end and defining a bore therebetween, the bore being dimensioned to retain an arm of a user inserted through one of the first open end and the second open end so that the substantially tubular body covers substantially all of the arm of the user and the substantially tubular body having a length sufficient to support a substantial portion of a body of an infant. The substantially tubular body comprises: an inner surface, an outer surface coupled to the inner surface to form a void defined by and located between the inner surface and the outer surface, and filling inserted within and distributed substantially equally between the inner surface and the outer surface of the substantially tubular body thereby providing the substantially tubular body with a substantially uniform thickness.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a pillow for supporting an infant is disclosed. The pillow comprises: a substantially tubular body having a substantially tapered width and having a first open end and a second open end and defining a bore therebetween, the bore being dimensioned to retain an arm of a user inserted through one of the first open end and the second open end so that the substantially tubular body covers substantially all of the arm of the user and the substantially tubular body having a length sufficient to support a substantial portion of a body of an infant. The pillow also comprises a first annular elastic strip coupled to the inner surface of the substantially tubular body and coupled proximate the first open end such that a portion of the substantially tubular body extends beyond the first annular elastic strip, the portion of the substantially tubular body extending beyond the first annular elastic strip being capable of folding back upon itself and thereby shortening a length of the substantially tubular body. The pillow further comprises a second annular elastic strip coupled to the inner surface of the substantially tubular body and coupled proximate the second open end such that a portion of the substantially tubular body extends beyond the second annular elastic strip, the portion of the substantially tubular body extending beyond the second annular elastic strip being capable of folding back upon itself and thereby shortening the length of the substantially tubular body, wherein the outer surface and at least a portion of the inner surface comprising a substantially soft material so that when at least one of the portion of the substantially tubular body extending beyond the first annular elastic strip and the portion of the substantially tubular body extending beyond the second annular elastic strip is folded back upon itself, the substantially soft material of the at least a portion of the inner surface being exposed. In addition, the pillow comprises at least one pocket coupled to the outer surface of the substantially tubular body, the at least one pocket being oriented such that an opening defined by the at least one pocket being proximate the second open end and the at least one pocket coupled at a distance from the second open end such that the at least one pocket being accessible to the user despite any length adjustment of the substantially tubular body. The pillow also comprises at least one loop coupled to the outer surface of the substantially tubular body, the loop being dimensioned such that an infant feeding accessory may be passed therethrough and secured to the pillow. And the substantially tubular body comprises: an inner surface, an outer surface coupled to the inner surface to form a void defined by and located between the inner surface and the outer surface, and filling inserted within and distributed substantially equally between the inner surface and the outer surface of the substantially tubular body thereby providing the substantially tubular body with a substantially uniform thickness.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements.
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While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the coupling mechanisms 58 in
Claims
1. A pillow for supporting an infant comprising:
- a substantially tubular body having a substantially uniform width and having a first open end and a second open end and defining a bore therebetween, said bore dimensioned to retain an arm of a user inserted through one of said first open end and said second open end so that said substantially tubular body covers substantially all of said arm of said user and said substantially tubular body having a length sufficient to support a substantial portion of a body of an infant, said substantially tubular body comprising:
- an inner surface;
- an outer surface coupled to said inner surface to form a void defined by and located between said inner surface and said outer surface; and
- filling inserted within and distributed substantially equally between said inner surface and said outer surface of said substantially tubular body thereby providing said substantially tubular body with a substantially uniform thickness; and
- at least one adjustment device coupled to at least one of said first open end and said second open end, said at least one adjustment device allowing at least one of said first open end and said second open end to be securely coupled about at least one of an upper portion of said arm of said user and a lower portion of said arm of said user.
2. The pillow of claim 1 having a first adjustment device coupled to said first open end and having a second adjustment device coupled to said second open end.
3. The pillow of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first open end and said second open end defining a slit, said slit extending substantially perpendicularly from said at least one of said first open end and said second open end towards a middle area of said substantially tubular body proximate said at least one of said first open end and said second open end, at least one of said first open end and said second open end defining a first edge and a second edge proximate said slit.
4. The pillow of claim 3 wherein said at least one adjustment device comprises:
- a band, one edge of said band being coupled to one of said first open end and said second open end of said substantially tubular body so that a first end of said band being proximate said first edge proximate said slit and a second end of said band being proximate said second edge proximate said slit;
- a first coupling mechanism coupled to said first end of said band;
- a second coupling mechanism dimensioned to mate with said first coupling mechanism and coupled to said second end of said band in order to maintain a desired circumference of said band.
5. The pillow of claim 3 wherein said at least one adjustment device comprises a zipper, a first half of said zipper being coupled along said first edge proximate said slit and a second half of said zipper being coupled along said second edge proximate said slit.
6. The pillow of claim 1 wherein said at least one adjustment device comprises at least one annular elastic strip, said at least one annular elastic strip being coupled to said inner surface of said substantially tubular body and being coupled proximate at least one of said first open end and said second open end such that a portion of said substantially tubular body extends beyond said at least one annular elastic strip.
7. The pillow of claim 6 wherein said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said annular elastic strip being capable of folding back upon itself and thereby shortening a length of said substantially tubular body.
8. The pillow of claim 7 wherein said outer surface and at least a portion of said inner surface proximate said annular elastic strip comprising a substantially soft material so that when said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said annular elastic strip is folded back upon itself, said substantially soft material of said at least a portion of said inner surface being exposed.
9. The pillow of claim 6 wherein said at least one adjustment device further comprises:
- at least one strap, a first end of said at least one strap being coupled to said substantially tubular body proximate at least one of said first open end and said second open end and a second end of said at least one strap being disposed opposite said first end of said at least one strap and extending beyond one of said first open end and said second open end;
- a first coupling mechanism coupled to a bottom surface of said strap proximate said second end of said strap;
- a second coupling mechanism coupled to said outer surface of said substantially tubular body proximate one of said first open end and said second open end so that said first coupling mechanism and said second coupling mechanism being dimensioned to be mated such that said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said annular elastic strip being gathered and thereby shortening a length of said substantially tubular body.
10. The pillow of claim 1 further comprising at least one pocket coupled to said outer surface of said substantially tubular body and coupled at a distance from at least one of said first open end and said second open end such that said at least one pocket being accessible to said user despite any length adjustment of said substantially tubular body.
11. The pillow of claim 10 wherein said at least one pocket being oriented such that an opening of said pocket being proximate said second open end.
12. The pillow of claim 1 further comprising at least one loop coupled to said outer surface of said substantially tubular body, said loop being dimensioned such that an infant feeding accessory may be passed therethrough and secured to said pillow.
13. A pillow for supporting an infant comprising:
- a substantially tubular body having a substantially tapered width and having a first open end and a second open end and defining a bore therebetween, said bore dimensioned to retain an arm of a user inserted through one of said first open end and said second open end so that said substantially tubular body covers substantially all of said arm of said user and said substantially tubular body having a length sufficient to support a substantial portion of a body of an infant, said substantially tubular body comprising:
- an inner surface;
- an outer surface coupled to said inner surface to form a void defined by and located between said inner surface and said outer surface; and
- filling inserted within and distributed substantially equally between said inner surface and said outer surface of said substantially tubular body thereby providing said substantially tubular body with a substantially uniform thickness.
14. The pillow of claim 13 further comprising at least one adjustment device coupled to at least one of said first open end and said second open end, said at least one adjustment device allowing at least one of said first open end and said second open end to be securely coupled about at least one of an upper portion of said arm of said user and a lower portion of said arm of said user.
15. The pillow of claim 14 having a first adjustment device coupled to said first open end and having a second adjustment device coupled to said second open end.
16. The pillow of claim 14 wherein at least one of said first open end and said second open end defining a slit, said slit extending substantially perpendicularly from said at least one of said first open end and said second open end towards a middle area of said substantially tubular body proximate said at least one of said first open end and said second open end, at least one of said first open end and said second open end defining a first edge and a second edge proximate said slit.
17. The pillow of claim 16 wherein said at least one adjustment device comprises:
- a band, one edge of said band being coupled to one of said first open end and said second open end of said substantially tubular body so that a first end of said band being proximate said first edge proximate said slit and a second end of said band being proximate said second edge proximate said slit;
- a first coupling mechanism coupled to said first end of said band;
- a second coupling mechanism dimensioned to mate with said first coupling mechanism and coupled to said second end of said band in order to maintain a desired circumference of said band.
18. The pillow of claim 16 wherein said at least one adjustment device comprises a zipper, a first half of said zipper being coupled along said first edge proximate said slit and a second half of said zipper being coupled along said second edge proximate said slit.
19. The pillow of claim 14 wherein said at least one adjustment device comprises at least one annular elastic strip, said at least one annular elastic strip being coupled to said inner surface of said substantially tubular body and being coupled proximate at least one of said first open end and said second open end such that a portion of said substantially tubular body extends beyond said at least one annular elastic strip.
20. The pillow of claim 19 wherein said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said annular elastic strip being capable of folding back upon itself and thereby shortening a length of said substantially tubular body.
21. The pillow of claim 20 wherein said outer surface and at least a portion of said inner surface proximate said annular elastic strip comprising a substantially soft material so that when said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said annular elastic strip is folded back upon itself, said substantially soft material of said at least a portion of said inner surface being exposed.
22. The pillow of claim 19 wherein said at least one adjustment device further comprises:
- at least one strap, a first end of said at least one strap being coupled to said substantially tubular body proximate at least one of said first open end and said second open end and a second end of said at least one strap being disposed opposite said first end of said at least one strap and extending beyond one of said first open end and said second open end;
- a first coupling mechanism coupled to a bottom surface of said strap proximate said second end of said strap;
- a second coupling mechanism coupled to said outer surface of said substantially tubular body proximate one of said first open end and said second open end so that said first coupling mechanism and said second coupling mechanism being dimensioned to be mated such that said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said annular elastic strip being gathered and thereby shortening a length of said substantially tubular body.
23. The pillow of claim 14 further comprising at least one pocket coupled to said outer surface of said substantially tubular body and coupled at a distance from at least one of said first open end and said second open end such that said at least one pocket being accessible to said user despite any length adjustment of said substantially tubular body.
24. The pillow of claim 23 wherein said pocket being oriented such that an opening of said pocket being proximate said second open end.
25. The pillow of claim 13 further comprising at least one loop coupled to said outer surface of said substantially tubular body, said loop being dimensioned such that an infant feeding accessory may be passed therethrough and secured to said pillow.
26. A pillow for supporting an infant comprising:
- a substantially tubular body having a substantially tapered width and having a first open end and a second open end and defining a bore therebetween, said bore dimensioned to retain an arm of a user inserted through one of said first open end and said second open end so that said substantially tubular body covers substantially all of said arm of said user and said substantially tubular body having a length sufficient to support a substantial portion of a body of an infant, said substantially tubular body comprising:
- an inner surface;
- an outer surface coupled to said inner surface to form a void defined by and located between said inner surface and said outer surface; and
- filling inserted within and distributed substantially equally between said inner surface and said outer surface of said substantially tubular body thereby providing said substantially tubular body with a substantially uniform thickness;
- a first annular elastic strip, said first annular elastic strip being coupled to said inner surface of said substantially tubular body and being coupled proximate said first open end such that a portion of said substantially tubular body extends beyond said first annular elastic strip, said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said first annular elastic strip being capable of folding back upon itself and thereby shortening a length of said substantially tubular body;
- a second annular elastic strip, said second annular elastic strip being coupled to said inner surface of said substantially tubular body and being coupled proximate said second open end such that a portion of said substantially tubular body extends beyond said second annular elastic strip, said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said second annular elastic strip being capable of folding back upon itself and thereby shortening said length of said substantially tubular body, wherein said outer surface and at least a portion of said inner surface comprising a substantially soft material so that when at least one of said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said first annular elastic strip and said portion of said substantially tubular body extending beyond said second annular elastic strip is folded back upon itself, said substantially soft material of said at least a portion of said inner surface being exposed;
- at least one pocket coupled to said outer surface of said substantially tubular body, said at least one pocket being oriented such that an opening defined by said at least one pocket being proximate said second open end and said at least one pocket coupled at a distance from said second open end such that said at least one pocket being accessible to said user despite any length adjustment of said substantially tubular body; and
- at least one loop coupled to said outer surface of said substantially tubular body, said loop being dimensioned such that an infant feeding accessory may be passed therethrough and secured to said pillow.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 14, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2006
Inventor: Rachel Margalit (Scottsdale, AZ)
Application Number: 11/057,722
International Classification: A47D 15/00 (20060101);