PILLOW

Abstract

A pillow case for receiving first and second pillow inserts. The pillow case comprises first and second sleeves each being formed of top and bottom substantially planar sheets connected to each other along peripheral edges thereof so as to form first and second cavities sized and shaped to receive the first and second pillow inserts therein. The first and second sleeves are connected to each other at a plurality of locations along the peripheral edges. Also disclosed is a pillow formed of the pillow case with first and second cushioning members located within the first and second sleeves.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to pillows in general and in particular to a pillow and case for a pillow operable to receive two pillows with a space therebetween.

2. Description of Related Art

Pillows are a common household item which are commonly used to support the head or other body part of a user during sleep. Pillows provide a cushioned and raised surface to support the users head while sleeping. Pillows commonly include an outer cover or shell containing a fill material therein. Commonly fill materials include foam, feathers or down or cotton although other fill materials may be used as well. The cover may be formed of cloth, silk or any other suitable material. It is also common to use a pillow case over the fill and cloth which may more readily changed and washed as well as permitting a user to personalize the appearance of the pillow to their tastes.

Common difficulties with conventional pillow designs arise from their design to support the head of the user alone. In particular it is common to select a pillow sized to properly support the head of the intended user in a comfortable position. Problematically however, some users also commonly sleep with their arm under their head. This then requires that the user either place their arm between their head and their pillow, or between the pillow and the bed. Disadvantageously, when the users' arm is placed in either of these locations, it may be prone to paresthesia, or a feeling of the arm “falling asleep”.

Previous attempts to solve this issue have not been successful. In particular, applicant is aware of US Patent Application Publication No U.S. 2009/10151076 to Cararra for a comfort pillow having openings therethrough to receive the arm of a user. Disadvantageously however, such devices surround the arm of the user in a relatively close configuration and may therefore be prone to movement with the movement of the user's arm during sleep. This movement of the pillow during the night may be disruptive to the user or even place their head and neck in an uncomfortable position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a pillow comprising first and second cushioning members each comprising a substantially planar member and a peripheral edge therearound. The first and second cushioning members are connected to each other in parallel spaced apart relation at a plurality of connections wherein the connection points are located proximate to the peripheral edge.

The connections are spaced apart from each other around the peripheral edge to form openings therebetween. The first and second cushioning members form a cavity therebetween in communication with an exterior of the pillow through the openings.

The first and second cushioning members may have a plurality of corners. The first and second cushioning members may be substantially rectangular. The connection points may be located proximate to the corners.

The first and second cushioning members may comprise outer barriers with a cushioning fill therein. The cushioning fill of the first and second cushioning members may be separated from each other by the outer barriers.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a pillow case for receiving first and second pillow inserts. The pillow case comprises first and second sleeves each being formed of top and bottom substantially planar sheets connected to each other along peripheral edges thereof so as to form first and second cavities sized and shaped to receive the first and second pillow inserts therein. The first and second sleeves are connected to each other at a plurality of locations along the peripheral edges.

The top and bottom planar sheets have an outline shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, triangular, oval or round. The first and second sleeves may have an opening along at least one peripheral edge. The first and second sleeves may have connections at corners of the peripheral edge. The first and second sleeves may have openings therebetween between the connections. The first and second sleeves have a cavity therebetween having entrances at the openings.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pillow of FIG. 1 as taken along the line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pillow of FIG. 1 as taken along the line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a user having their arm inserted into the cavity of the pillow of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a pillow according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a pillow according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The pillow 10 comprises first and second cushioning members 12 and 14, respectively and a peripheral edge 16 and 18, respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the pillow may comprise a substantially planar padded member have a substantially rectangular outline wherein the first cushioning member 12 extends between first and second edges 20 and 22, respectively and first and second sides 24 and 26, respectively. Correspondingly, the second cushioning member 14 extends between first and second edges 28 and 30, respectively and first and second sides 32 and 34, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the first and second cushioning members 12 and 14 are aligned with each other in parallel spaced apart relation connected to each other at a plurality of connection locations 36. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the connection locations may be located at the corners of the first and second cushioning members. In such a manner, the peripheral edges 16 and 18 of the first and second cushioning members may be connected to each other with openings, generally indicated at 38 located between the connection locations 36. The first and second cushioning members 12 and 14 may also for a void, generally indicated at 40 therebetween. The void 40 is in communication with an exterior of the pillow 10 through the openings 38 and may be useful for permitting a user to place their arm or another portion of their body therethrough.

The first and second cushioning members 12 and 14 may be connected to each other by any suitable method, such as, by way of non-limiting example, stitching 42, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 or adhesives. The first and second cushioning members 12 and 14 may also be connected to each other by fasteners, such as, by way of non-limiting example, hook and loop fasteners, claps, clips and buttons.

The first and second cushioning members 12 and 14 may be formed of any conventional structure as are known. In particular, the first cushioning member 12 may be formed of an outer barrier 50 having a padding material 52 located therein. The outer barrier 50 may be formed of top and bottom barrier sheets 54 and 56, respectively which are attached to each other about their peripheral edge to retain the padded material therein. Similarly the second cushioning member 14 may be formed of an outer barrier 60 having a padded material 62 located therein. The outer barrier 60 may be formed of top and bottom barrier sheets 64 and 66, respectively which are attached to each other about their peripheral edge to retain the padded material therein.

The top and bottom sheets 54 and 64 and 56 and 66 may be formed of any suitable material as are commonly known, such as fabric mesh or silk, by way of non-limiting example. The padding material 52 and 62 may also be formed of any commonly known material, such as foam, synthetic or natural fibers, feathers, down or cotton, by way of non-limiting example.

In operation a user 8 may locate their arm 6 through the openings 38 and void 40 of the pillow as illustrated in FIG. 4. In such a position, the first cushioning member 12 will be located between the users arm 6 and the users head 4. Similarly, the second cushioning member 14 will be located between the user's arm and the bed 9 thereby reducing pressure on the user's arm while sleeping.

Turning now to FIG. 5, an optional embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at 100 as a pillow case for receiving first and second pillows, 102 and 104, therein in parallel spaced apart relation to each other. The pillow case 100 may be formed of a first set of top and bottom sheet members, 106 and 108, respectively to form a first sleeve 110 and a second set of top and bottom sheet members, 112 and 114, respectively to form a second sleeve 116. As illustrated the top and bottom sheet members of the first sleeve 110 are connected to each other about their periphery to form a top pocket 118 with an open side 120. The top and bottom sheet members 112 and 114 are similarly connected to each other about their periphery to form a bottom pocket 122 with an open side 124. In operation, the first and second pillows 102 and 104 may be located within the top and bottom pockets 118 and 124 so as to form a pillow having two cushioning members as set out above. The top and bottom sleeves 110 and 116 are connected to each other as set out above with reference to the pillow 10.

It will be appreciated that although the pillow and pillow case as set out above are described and illustrated as being rectangular or triangular, it will be appreciated that other shapes may also be useful, such as, by way of non-limiting example, oval, circular, octagonal, square, heart-shaped or irregular. It will also be appreciated that although the openings 120 and 124 for the top and bottom sleeves of the pillow case illustrated in FIG. 5 are illustrated as being located to one side of the top and bottom sleeves, such openings may also be located at other positions, such as through the top or bottom sheets as are commonly known. It will also be appreciated that the openings 120 and 124 may be selectably closable, by any conventional means, such as, by way of non-limiting example, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, clasps or snaps.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A pillow comprising first and second cushioning members each comprising a substantially planar member and a peripheral edge therearound, said first and second cushioning members being connected to each other in parallel spaced apart relation at a plurality of connection points wherein said connection points are located proximate to said peripheral edge.

2. The pillow of claim 1 wherein said connection points are spaced apart from each other around said peripheral edge to form openings therebetween.

3. The pillow of claim 2 wherein said first and second cushioning members form a cavity therebetween in communication with an exterior of the pillow through said openings.

4. The pillow of claim 1 wherein said first and second cushioning members have a plurality of corners.

5. The pillow of claim 4 wherein said first and second cushioning members are substantially rectangular.

6. The pillow of claim 4 wherein said connection points are located proximate to said corners.

7. The pillow of claim 1 wherein said first and second cushioning members comprise outer barriers with a cushioning fill therein.

8. The pillow of claim 7 wherein said cushioning fill of said first and second cushioning members are separated from each other by said outer barriers.

9. A pillow case for receiving first and second pillow inserts, the pillow case comprising first and second sleeves, each of said first and second sleeves being formed of top and bottom substantially planar sheets having peripheral edges therearound and being connected to each other said along peripheral edges so as to form first and second cavities sized and shaped to receive said first and second pillow inserts therein, said first and second sleeves being connected to each other at a plurality of locations along said peripheral edges.

10. The pillow case of claim 9 wherein said top and bottom planar sheets have an outline shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, triangular, oval or round.

11. The pillow case of claim 9 wherein said first and second sleeves have an opening along at least one peripheral edge.

12. The pillow case of claim 9 wherein said first and second sleeves have connections at corners of the peripheral edge.

13. The pillow case of claim 12 wherein said first and second sleeves have openings therebetween between said connections.

14. The pillow case of claim 12 wherein said first and second sleeves have a cavity therebetween having entrances at said openings.