Pillow cover

Abstract

A pillow cover that can be placed on and removed from a pillow quickly and easily, while providing a snug fit on pillows in a range of different sizes and shapes. The pillow cover includes a piece of material such as silk or satin, and a band of stretchable elastic fabric. The silk or satin material is cut to form a substantially elliptical (oval) or circular shape. The band of stretchable elastic fabric is placed along the entire periphery of the silk or satin material, and a portion of the material is folded over the elastic fabric to form a channel in which the elastic fabric is disposed. The material along the periphery is then sewn to securely enclose the elastic fabric within the channel. As a result, the channel with the band of stretchable elastic fabric disposed therein forms a substantially oval or circular opening of the pillow cover.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/925,596 filed Apr. 20, 2007 entitled PILLOW COVER.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pillowcases and pillow covers, and more specifically to a pillow cover configured to allow quick and easy placement on and removal from a pillow, while providing a snug fit on pillows in a range of different sizes and shapes.

In recent years, men and women have expended increasing amounts of time and money on the care and maintenance of their hair. To maintain the quality and styling of their hair, such individuals have often employed silk or satin pillowcases on their pillows used for resting or sleeping. Because silk or satin is significantly smoother than cotton or other fabrics typically used for pillowcases, a user's hair can easily glide over the surface of the silk or satin pillowcase while the user is resting or sleeping, thereby reducing breakage and other damage to the user's hair.

However, conventional silk or satin pillowcases have a number of drawbacks. For example, after such pillowcases are washed and dried multiple times, they tend to lose their shape and no longer fit snugly on a pillow. As a result, users must frequently adjust the fit of silk or satin pillowcases on their pillows a number of times during the night, which can have a detrimental effect on the user's sleep.

In addition, silk or satin pillowcases are often used on either a temporary or occasional basis. However, because conventional silk or satin pillowcases are typically not adapted for speedy and easy placement on and removal from a pillow, the changing of such pillowcases can quickly become time consuming and tedious. It may also be difficult for some elderly or physically challenged individuals to slide a pillow into a silk or satin pillowcase constructed in the conventional manner. Such individuals may resort to placing a silk or satin pillowcase on a spare pillow, and using that pillow for resting or sleeping instead of the pillows from their usual matching set of bedding. However, the storage of such spare pillows with silk or satin pillowcases can be problematic during the daylight hours.

It would therefore be desirable to have a silk or satin pillowcase or pillow cover that avoids the drawbacks of the above-described conventional silk or satin pillowcases.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a pillow cover is provided that can be placed on and removed from a pillow quickly and easily, while providing a snug fit on pillows in a range of different sizes and shapes.

In one embodiment, the pillow cover comprises a piece of material such as silk or satin fabric or cloth, and a band of stretchable elastic fabric. The silk or satin material is cut to form a substantially elliptical (oval) or circular shape. The band of stretchable elastic fabric is placed along the entire periphery of the silk or satin material, and a portion of the material is folded over the elastic fabric to form a channel in which the elastic fabric is disposed. The material along the periphery can then be sewn to securely enclose the elastic fabric within the channel. As a result, the channel with the band of stretchable elastic fabric disposed therein forms a substantially oval or circular opening of the pillow cover.

The band of stretchable elastic fabric at the opening of the pillow cover allows the pillow cover to be placed and held snugly in position on a pillow, without requiring the use of zippers, buttons, snaps, hooks, or any other type of fastener. To place the pillow cover on a pillow with or without an existing pillowcase in place on the pillow, a user simply expands the stretchable elastic fabric to fit over the pillow, thereby covering the entire surface of the pillow (the “front surface”) upon which the user would normally rest his or her head, while covering a portion of the pillow surface opposite the front surface (the “back surface”). When the user releases the band of elastic fabric, allowing it to contract, the substantially oval or circular opening of the pillow cover is disposed approximately at the center of the back surface of the pillow. Due to the action of the stretchable elastic fabric, the silk or satin material of the pillow cover is pulled tautly across the front and side surfaces of the pillow, thereby securing the pillow cover in place on the pillow, and providing a smooth surface upon which the user may rest his or her head.

A number of benefits are derived from the presently disclosed pillow cover. For example, the silk or satin pillow cover can be used to maintain a user's expensive hair style while the user sleeps, minimizing hair damage and breakage often caused by pillowcases made of other types of material or fabric. The silk or satin pillow cover also helps to maintain the natural moisture balance of the user's hair and face due to its non-absorbent characteristics. In addition, the disclosed pillow cover has a “one size fits all” type of construction, allowing the pillow cover to be used with standard-sized through king-sized pillows. In addition, the user can quickly and easily slip the pillow cover on and remove the pillow cover from his or her existing matched pillowcases, obviating the need to redress his or her pillows every morning. In addition, the disclosed pillow cover is constructed to provide a snug fit on pillows in a range of different sizes and shapes.

Other features, functions, and aspects of the invention will be evident from the Detailed Description of the Invention that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following Detailed Description of the Invention in conjunction with the drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front and side surfaces of a pillow cover, shown as it would appear on a pillow; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back and side surfaces of the pillow cover of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/925,596 filed Apr. 20, 2007 entitled PILLOW COVER is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

A pillow cover is disclosed that can be placed on and removed from a pillow quickly and easily, while providing a snug fit on pillows in a range of different sizes and shapes.

FIGS. 1-2 depict an illustrative embodiment of a pillow cover 100, in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the pillow cover 100 includes a piece of material such as silk or satin fabric or cloth, and a band of stretchable elastic fabric. In one mode of fabrication, the silk or satin material is cut to form a substantially elliptical (oval) or circular shape. Next, the band of stretchable elastic fabric is placed along the entire periphery 102 of the silk or satin material, and a portion of the material is folded over the elastic fabric to form a channel 104 in which the elastic fabric is disposed. The material along the periphery can then be sewn to securely enclose the elastic fabric within the channel 104. As a result, the channel 104 with the band of stretchable elastic fabric disposed therein forms a substantially oval or circular opening of the pillow cover 100. It is noted that the band of stretchable elastic fabric enclosed within the channel 104 formed along the periphery 102 of the pillow cover 100 is a commercially available staple item.

The band of stretchable elastic fabric at the opening of the pillow cover 100 allows the cover to be placed and held snugly in position on a pillow 110, without requiring the use of zippers, buttons, snaps, hooks, or any other type of fastener. To place the pillow cover 100 on the pillow 110, with or without an existing pillowcase in place on the pillow 110, a user simply expands the stretchable elastic fabric to fit over the pillow 110, thereby covering the entire surface of the pillow (the “front surface”; see FIG. 1) upon which the user would normally rest his or her head, while covering a portion of the pillow surface opposite the front surface (the “back surface”; see FIG. 2). When the user releases the band of elastic fabric, allowing it to contract, the substantially oval or circular opening of the pillow cover 100 is disposed approximately at the center of the back surface of the pillow 110 (see FIG. 2). Due to the action of the stretchable elastic fabric, the silk or satin material of the pillow cover 100 is pulled tautly across the front and side surfaces of the pillow (see FIG. 1), thereby securing the pillow cover in place on the pillow 110, and providing a smooth surface upon which the user may rest his or her head.

The presently disclosed pillow cover 100 can be fabricated using silk material, satin material, or any other suitable type of material, fabric, or cloth. In addition, the disclosed pillow cover 100 can be fabricated in a range of sizes to form a substantially elliptical or oval shape, a substantially circular shape, or any other suitable size or shape.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to and variations of the above-described pillow cover may be made without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed as limited except as by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pillow cover, comprising:

a substantially oval piece of cloth; and

a stretchable elastic fabric secured along the entire periphery of the oval piece of cloth,

thereby forming an expandable opening of the pillow cover to facilitate placing the pillow cover on and removing the pillow cover from a pillow.

2. The pillow cover of claim 1:

wherein the stretchable elastic fabric comprises a band of stretchable elastic fabric, the band of stretchable elastic fabric being disposed along the entire periphery of the oval piece of cloth; and

wherein the oval piece of cloth includes a portion along the periphery that is folded over the band of stretchable elastic fabric to form a channel in which the band of stretchable elastic fabric is disposed.

3. The pillow cover of claim 2 wherein the periphery of the oval piece of cloth is sewn to enclose and to secure the band of stretchable elastic fabric within the channel.

4. The pillow cover of claim 1 wherein the oval piece of cloth comprises a piece of material selected from the group consisting of silk and satin fabric.

5. A method of dressing a pillow, comprising the steps of:

providing a pillow for use in resting a user's head, the pillow having a front surface, a back surface, and side surfaces;

providing a pillow cover, the pillow cover including a substantially oval piece of cloth, and a stretchable elastic fabric secured along the entire periphery of the oval piece of cloth to form an expandable opening of the pillow cover; and

placing the pillow cover on the pillow, including:

expanding the stretchable elastic fabric to expand the opening of the pillow cover,

fitting the expanded stretchable elastic fabric over the pillow, and

releasing the stretchable elastic fabric to allow the stretchable elastic fabric to contract, thereby causing the front surface, the side surfaces, and at least a portion of the back surface of the pillow to be covered by the substantially oval piece of cloth,

wherein the releasing of the stretchable elastic fabric causes the substantially oval piece of cloth to be pulled tautly across the front and side surfaces of the pillow, thereby securing the pillow cover in place on the pillow and providing a smooth surface upon which to rest the user's head.