Pillowcase and Blanket Combination Device

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a combination pillowcase and blanket device with a pocket therein for receipt of a portion of a user's head that enables a user to (i) sleep or rest in a darkened environment, even in the presence of sunlight and/or ambient light; and (ii) selectively experience the cooling/warming effects of different materials during periods of rest. More specifically, the blanket portion has opposing sides, each of which is comprised of a different material, and is selectively repositionable between a first position and a second position. When the blanket portion is in the first position, the user is exposed to one of said opposing sides and a first material. When the blanket portion is in a second position, the user is exposed to the other of said opposing sides and a different material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/651,072 filed on May 24, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a pillowcase and blanket combination device wherein a portion of an individual's head may be positioned between the pillowcase and a first or second side of the blanket, said sides being comprised of different materials, to provide maximum comfort to the individual.

BACKGROUND

Many individuals require a darkened and comfortable environment for sleeping or resting. Unfortunately, this is not always possible due to a number of factors. For example, a student may not be able to sleep in a darkened environment because his or her roommate has a light on, or a traveler may not be able to rest on a plane or train due to sunlight passing through a window and/or the presence of ambient lighting. The inability to sleep or rest in a darkened environment could dramatically impact an individual's sleep patterns and lead to headaches or poor health.

Other users find it difficult to regulate their temperature while resting or sleeping, and many of said users will periodically flip over their pillow from one side to the other to experience the relatively cool side of the pillow on their head or face. Other users prefer a warmer environment for their head or face while sleeping or resting and may pull a blanket over their head.

Consequently, there is a long felt need in the art for a combination pillowcase and blanket device that enables a user to sleep or rest in a darkened environment even in the presence of sunlight and/or ambient light. There is also a long felt need for a combination pillowcase and blanket device that enables a user to selectively experience the cooling/warming effects of different materials on their head and/or face during period of rest. Finally, there is a long felt need for a pillowcase and blanket combination device that accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and safe and easy to use.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed herein, in one aspect thereof, is a combination pillowcase and blanket device that enables a user to both: (i) sleep or rest in a darkened environment, even in the presence of sunlight and/or ambient light; and (ii) selectively experience the cooling/warming effects of different blanket materials (e.g., silk, flannel, wool, etc.) on portions of their head and/or face during periods of rest. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the combination pillowcase and blanket device is comprised of a pillowcase portion and a blanket portion attached to said pillowcase portion and forming a pocket for receipt of a portion of user's head. The blanket portion is preferably comprised of a first side with a first material and an opposing second side comprised of a second material, wherein said first material is different than said second material and further wherein said blanket portion is selectively repositionable between a first position and a second position. Because the blanket portion is repositionable, the user may select between the first material and the second material for use in forming the pocket.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pillowcase and blanket combination device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pillowcase and blanket combination device of the present invention with the blanket portion partially lifted to reveal a pocket for receipt of a user' head.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pillowcase and blanket combination device of the present invention being used by a user wherein the first side of the blanket portion is exposed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pillowcase and blanket combination device of the present invention being used by a user wherein the second side of the blanket portion is exposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pillowcase and blanket combination device 100 of the present invention. Device 100 is preferably comprised of a generally rectangular shaped pillowcase portion 110 and a blanket portion 150 attached thereto. Pillowcase portion 110 may be any pillowcase known in the art and is typically comprised of a top 112, a bottom 114, opposing sides 116, and an exterior surface 118. Pillowcase portion 110 may further comprise an opening 119 therein for receipt of a pillow (not shown). Pillowcase portion 110 is preferably comprised of cotton, though any other suitable material known in the art for constructing pillowcases may also be used without affecting the overall concept of the present invention.

Blanket portion 150 is preferably generally rectangular in shape and comprised of a top 152, a bottom 154, opposing ends 156, a first side 158 and an opposing second side 160. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, blanket portion 150 is attached to pillowcase portion 110 by any means commonly known in the art such as sewing, stitching, etc. More specifically, top 152 of blanket portion 150 may be sewn to top 112 of pillowcase portion 110 and each of ends 156 may similarly be sewn to a corresponding one of sides 116 of pillowcase portion 110, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Bottom 114 of pillowcase portion 110 is typically not attached to bottom 154 of blanket portion 150 thereby creating an opening or pocket 170 near bottoms 114, 154 for receipt of a portion of a user's head, as described more fully below. To ensure that pocket 170 can accommodate a user's head, the width of blanket portion 150, as measured between opposing ends 156, is preferably 40 to 60% wider than pillowcase portion 110, as measured between sides 116, with the excess material of blanket portion 150 adding to the overall size of pocket 170. Additionally, the overall length of blanket portion 150, as measured between top 152 and bottom 154 when attached to pillowcase portion 110 (when not attached to pillowcase portion 110, the length of blanket portion 150 is actually greater than the length of pillowcase portion 110) is preferably between 15 to 35% shorter than the length of pillowcase portion 110, as measured between top 112 and bottom 114, to permit a user's head to rest on pillowcase portion 110 without blanket portion 150 extending completely over the user's head 210. More specifically, blanket portion 150 would ideally cover a user's eyes, but not his or her nose or mouth to enable the user to breath more easily while utilizing device 100.

Importantly, and as shown in FIG. 2, first side 158 is further comprised of a first material 1582, and second side 160 is further comprised of a second material 1602. Each of first material 1582 and second material 1602 may be any type of material commonly known in the art to be used as a blanket including, without limitation, silk, satin, flannel, wool, cotton, etc. However, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, first material 1582 is different than second material 1602. For example, first material 1582 may be flannel and second material 1602 may be silk, or vice versa. In this manner, a user may select between a warmer material (i.e., flannel) or a cooler material (i.e., silk) to form one interior side of pocket 170 by repositioning blanket portion 150 between a first position and a second position.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of pillowcase and blanket combination device 100 of the present invention being used by a user 200, wherein the user's head 210 is placed partially within pocket 170 and wherein blanket portion 150 is in a first position, meaning that first side 158 of blanket portion 150 is exposed and second side 160 forms one interior side of pocket 170. When user's head 210 is partially positioned within pocket 170, user's eyes are shielded from sunlight (not shown) and/or ambient light (also not shown) by blanket portion 150 and user 200 is able to rest or sleep more comfortably in a darkened environment. By comparison, FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of pillowcase and blanket combination device 100 with blanket portion 150 being in a second position, meaning that second side 160 of blanket portion 150 is exposed and first side 158 forms one interior side of pocket 170 and is adjacent to user's head 210 to cover the eyes of user 200.

Because blanket portion 150 is somewhat oversized as previously mentioned, it can be relatively easily repositioned between the first and second positions by inverting blanket portion 150 over pillowcase portion 110. In this manner, a user 200 desiring to have a cooler material (e.g., silk) against a portion of his or her head 210 can simply place blanket portion 150 in a first or second position depending upon whether first material 1582 or second material 1602 is comprised of silk. Likewise, when user 200 desires to have a warmer material (e.g., flannel) against a portion of his or her head 210, user 200 can simply invert blanket portion 150 over pillowcase portion 110 so that the opposite side of blanket portion 150 (with the flannel thereon) is adjacent to user's head 210 and forms one interior side of pocket 170.

Consequently, combination pillowcase and blanket device 100 enables a user 200 to sleep or rest in a darkened environment, even in the presence of sunlight and/or ambient light. Further, combination pillowcase and blanket device 100 of the present invention also enables a user to selectively experience the cooling/warming effects of different materials during period of rest by selectively positioning blanket portion 150 between a first and second position. Finally, pillowcase and blanket combination device 100 is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and safe and easy to use.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. A combination device comprising:

a pillowcase portion; and

a blanket portion attached to said pillowcase portion and forming a pocket for receipt of a user's head.

2. The combination device of claim 1, wherein said blanket portion is comprised of a first side comprised of a first material and an opposing second side comprised of a second material.

3. The combination device of claim 2, wherein said first material is different than said second material.

4. The combination device of claim 2, wherein said first material is comprised of silk.

5. The combination device of claim 2, wherein said first material is comprised of flannel.

6. The combination device of claim 2, wherein said blanket portion is capable of being selectively repositioned between a first position wherein said first side faces in the general direction of the pillowcase portion, and a second position wherein said first side faces away from said pillowcase portion.

7. The combination device of claim 1, wherein said pillowcase portion further comprises an opening for receipt of a pillow and wherein said blanket portion is sewn to at least one end of said pillowcase portion.

8. The combination device of claim 1, wherein said blanket portion is further comprised of a width between a pair of opposing ends of said blanket portion, and said pillowcase portion is also comprised of a width between a pair of opposing sides, wherein the width of said blanket portion is greater than the width of said pillowcase portion.

9. The combination device of claim 1, wherein said blanket portion is further comprised of a top and a bottom and a length between said top and bottom, and said pillowcase portion is comprised of a top portion and a bottom portion and a length between said top portion and said bottom portion, wherein the length of said blanket portion is less than the length of said pillowcase portion.

10. A combination device comprising:

a pillowcase portion comprised of a top portion, a bottom portion, a pair of opposing sides and an exterior surface; and

a blanket portion comprised of a top, a bottom and a pair of opposing ends, wherein said blanket portion is attached to said pillowcase portion along said top and said pair of opposing ends.

11. The combination device of claim 10, wherein said combination device further comprises a pocket for receipt of a user's head.

12. The combination device of claim 10, wherein said blanket portion is comprised of a first side comprised of a first material and an opposing second side comprised of a second material.

13. The combination device of claim 12, wherein said pocket is formed by the exterior surface and one of said first side or said second side of blanket portion.

14. The combination device of claim 12, wherein said first material is different than said second material.

15. The combination device of claim 12, wherein said blanket portion is capable of being selectively repositioned between a first position wherein said first side faces in the general direction of the pillowcase portion, and a second position wherein said first side faces away from said pillowcase portion.

16. The combination device of claim 10, wherein said blanket portion is further comprised of a width between said pair of opposing ends and said pillowcase portion is also comprised of a width between said pair of opposing sides, wherein the width of said blanket portion is greater than the width of said pillowcase portion.

17. The combination device of claim 10, wherein said blanket portion is further comprised of a length between said top and bottom of blanket portion and said pillowcase portion is comprised of a length between said top portion and said bottom portion, wherein the length of said blanket portion is less than the length of said pillowcase portion.

18. A combination device comprising:

a pillowcase portion comprised of a top portion, a bottom portion, a pair of opposing sides; and

a blanket portion attached to said pillowcase portion and comprised of a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing ends, a first side and an opposing second side, wherein said first side is comprised of a first material and said opposing second side is comprised of a second material that is different than the first material.

19. The combination device of claim 18, wherein said pillowcase portion and said blanket portion form a pocket for receipt of a user's head.

20. The combination device of claim 18, wherein said blanket portion is selectively repositioned between a first position and a second position, wherein said first side faces in the general direction of the pillowcase portion when the blanket portion is in the second position.