Pocketed body pillow cover
A cover for a body pillow. The cover may be made in various sizes and shapes, although the cover is preferably generally rectangular in shape with a left side and a right side. The cover has an opening to receive a body pillow. A pair of pockets to receive the feet of the person using the body pillow are disposed opposite to one another on the left and right sides, respectively, of the cover toward the bottom edge, one pocket on the left side and one pocket on the right side, so disposed as to each receive a foot of the person. The pockets are closed on their respective side and bottom edges with the openings of the pockets facing toward the upper edge of the cover. The cover may be made of various fabrics corresponding to ambient conditions or the particular preferences of the user.
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a body pillow, and in particular, to a body pillow having pockets to receive the feet of the person using the body pillow.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
It is believed that a comfortable sleeping position for a person is the fetal position with the knees and lower legs of the person drawn upwardly. Such a position, however, may place a strain on the person's anatomy, particularly the spine, hips and legs due to misalignment. A body pillow addresses this problem and allows one to sleep comfortably with the musculature and skeletal anatomy well aligned.
A body pillow is a pillow having a generally elongated shape with an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion may be enfolded by the person's arms and torso and may also provide support for the person's head. The upper portion is thus generally as long as a person's upper body. The lower portion is enfolded between the person's legs in the fetal position and is therefore generally as long as the person's lower legs.
Body pillows are made in many shapes. A common form is an elongated, generally rectangular form that has a cross-section that is generally oval or elliptical.
A problem with the use of body pillows is that body pillows may be difficult or uncomfortable to use with blankets, sheets or other bed covering materials. If so used, the person's feet may be exposed and subject to chilling. Furthermore, even if used with bed covering materials, additional insulation for the person's feet may be desirable. In other situations, the person using the body pillow may prefer cool feeling material in contact with the feet.
The limitations of the prior art are overcome by the present invention as described below.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a cover for a body pillow. The cover may be made in various sizes and shapes as appropriate to receive different sizes and shapes of body pillows, although the cover is preferably generally rectangular in shape with a left side and a right side. The cover has an opening to receive a body pillow and the opening may be closed by fastening means, preferably by a zipper along a bottom edge or by an overlapping flap along a top edge.
A pair of pockets to receive the feet of the person using the body pillow are disposed opposite to one another on the left and right sides, respectively, of the cover in the lower portion of the body pillow toward the bottom edge, one pocket on the left side and one pocket on the right side, each so disposed as to receive a foot of the person. The pockets are closed on their respective side and bottom edges with the openings of the pockets facing toward the upper edge of the cover. A person using the body pillow may sleep with the legs enfolding the body pillow and each foot may be placed in respective pockets of the body pillow cover. The pockets may be of various sizes and shapes. It is desirable that the pocket be deep enough to receive the person's feet and extend approximately halfway to the person's knee.
The cover may be made of various fabrics corresponding to ambient conditions or the particular preferences of the user. For example, the cover may be made of a cool feeling material, such as linen, while the pockets are lined with a warm insulating material, such as flannel or sheepskin. The reverse situation could also be used in some embodiments, with the cover made of warm feeling material, for example flannel, and the pocket lined with cool feeling material, such as linen. Likewise the cover and pockets may both be made of warm feeling or cool feeling materials.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims in conjunction with the drawings as described following:
With reference to
The present invention is a cover for a body pillow 10. The cover may be made in various sizes and shapes as appropriate to receive different sizes and shapes of body pillows 10. As shown in
Although the present invention is not limited to a particular shape of body pillow or body pillow cover, the body pillow cover preferably comprises two generally rectangular panels as shown in
One form of soft fastener is an overlapping flap 40 as shown in
With respect to
The cover may be made of various fabrics selected as desirable for various ambient conditions or the particular preferences of the user. For example, the cover may be made of a cool feeling material, that is, a material that produces a cool sensation to the user or that actually carries away heat, while the pocket liner may be a warm feeling material, that is a material that produces a warm sensation to the user or that provides a heat insulating effect. A cooling feeling material may include, without limitation, linen, satin and the like. A warm feeling material may include, without limitation, flannel, lambswool, sheepskin and the like. In some embodiments the cover may be made of warm feeling material, while the pocket or pocket liner may be made of cool feeling material. Likewise the cover and the pockets or pocket liners may both be made of warm feeling or cool feeling materials. It is desirable that the materials of the cover, pockets and pocket liners be hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenicity is especially important when the present invention is used in hospitals or for geriatric purposes. Sheepskin for the pocket liner is particularly desirable in these applications.
The present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments that are intended to be exemplary only and not limiting to the full scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A cover for a body pillow, comprising:
- a left side having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- a right side having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- said left side and said right side defining an interior space accessible by an opening for receiving a body pillow;
- a left pocket on said left side, said left pocket disposed toward said bottom edge of said left side; said left pocket having closed bottom and side edges and having an open top edge defining an interior space for receiving a left foot of a user; and
- a right pocket on said right side, said right pocket disposed toward said bottom edge of said right side, said right pocket having closed bottom and side edges and having an open top edge defining an interior space for receiving a right foot of a user.
2. The cover of claim 1, wherein said opening is disposed at said bottom edge of said left side and said right side.
3. The cover of claim 1, wherein said opening is disposed at said top edge of said left side and said right side.
4. The cover of claim 1, wherein said left side and said right side comprise a left panel and a right panel, respectively, and further wherein said left panel and said right panel are substantially rectangular in shape.
5. The cover of claim 4, wherein said left panel and said right panel are characterized by a first width, wherein said left pocket and said right pocket are characterized by a second width substantially equal to said first width, and wherein said left pocket and said right pocket are disposed within a margin along respective side edges of said left panel and said right panel.
6. The cover of claim 1, wherein said cover comprise a cool feeling material.
7. The cover of claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a warm feeling material.
8. The cover of claim 6, wherein said left pocket and said right pocket each comprise a liner and further wherein said liner comprise a cool feeling material.
9. The cover of claim 6, wherein said left pocket and said right pocket each comprise a liner and further wherein said liner comprise a warm feeling material.
10. The cover of claim 7, wherein said left pocket and said right pocket each comprise a liner and further wherein said liner comprise a cool feeling material.
11. The cover of claim 7, wherein said left pocket and said right pocket each comprise a liner and further wherein said liner comprise a warm feeling material.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 11, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 15, 2009
Inventors: Jamie L. Yates (Jacksonville, AR), Joy C. Yates (Jacksonville, AR)
Application Number: 11/827,332