Helmet Pillow

Abstract

A helmet-shaped pillow having a chin strap in the front side, a neck opening, and a face opening above the chin strap. A cushioning material comprising polystyrene microbeads, memory foam, feathers, air, grains, herbs, or polystyrene pellets may be disposed in one or more compartments within the pillow. The cushioning material may be a thermal insulation material. The pillow may include built-in headphones, massaging devices, and an opening for passage of a ponytail. There may be a removable covering for the face opening and an eye covering. An anti-microbial agent may be incorporated into the fabric. The inner layer and outer layer may be reversible through manual manipulation. There may be an image or pattern on one or both outer surfaces of the inner and outer layers.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to pillows. In particular, the present invention relates to a pillow wearable on a user's head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a cushioned pillow to provide comfort to a user's head and neck during rest. The pillows most commonly used for sleeping on a bed are generally too large to be conveniently used when travelling or resting away from a bed.

Existing prior art pillows have tried to provide a solution to this need, but with limited success. It is known to provide a C-shaped cushioned ring for placement around a user's neck. Such a neck pillow, however, provides only limited support to the user's head, and is likely to be dislodged by movement during sleep, potentially causing discomfort or injury. It is also known to provide a head-covering pillow which includes openings for insertion of hands. The so-called “ostrich” pillow is a large, unwieldy device which is not convenient to carry, and which appears to obstruct a user's vision during use. A “hoodie” pillow exists which provides a hood connected to a standard pillow. The hood does not provide direct cushioning to a user's head, but merely maintains the pillow in proximity to the user.

It is desirable to provide a pillow which is small, easy to carry, and able to provide consistent cushioning of the head and neck, while not obstructing a user's movement or vision.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided a pillow in the shape of a full helmet, having inner and outer layers connected along their perimeters, left and right sides, front and back sides, a chin strap in the front side, a top side, a neck opening opposite the top side, and a face opening in the front side above the chin strap. Each the inner and outer layers may comprise two or more panels, each inner panel connected along its perimeter to a corresponding outer panel to form two or more closed compartments within the pillow, each pair of adjacent compartments separated by a seam.

A cushioning material may be disposed in one or more of the compartments. The cushioning material may be selected from the group of cushioning materials comprising polystyrene microbeads, memory foam, feathers, air, grains, herbs, and polystyrene pellets, and it may be a thermal insulation material.

The chin strap may comprise left and ride strap portions releasably attachable by fastening means to one another. The fastening means may comprise hook and loop fasteners, snaps, or hooks.

The pillow may further comprise headphones disposed within the pillow. There may be an opening in the back surface for passage therethrough of a user's hair.

The pillow may have one or more ventilation openings between the outer and inner layers adjacent one or more seams. There may be massaging means disposed within one or more compartments of the pillow.

There may be a removable panel for reversibly covering the face opening. An anti-microbial agent may be incorporated into the fabric.

The inner layer and outer layer may be reversible through manual manipulation. There may be an image or pattern on one or both outer surfaces of the inner and outer layers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the preferred embodiments is provided by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, having a fastenable chin strap in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the present invention, having a fastenable chin strap in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a rear view of another embodiment of the present invention, having an opening for passage of a ponytail.

In the drawings, several embodiment of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in the drawings, there is provided a pillow shaped to fit over a user's head. Preferably, the pillow comprises a plurality of panels forming inner and outer layers. In the preferred embodiment, each of the inner 2 and outer 4 layers is comprised of opposing left 6 and right 8 panels separated by a central panel 10. Each of the left and right panels further comprises a first chin strap portion 12 extending medially from the lower front portion to connect with a second chin strap portion 14 extending from the opposing right or left panel. In an alternate embodiment, the chin strap may be a fixed strap extending between the lower ends of the left and right sides of the pillow.

The pillow includes a lower neck opening 16 for insertion of a user's head, and a face opening 18 in its front side.

The layers are connected along their perimeters 20 to form at least one closed compartment. Each of the panels may also be connected along its perimeter to the corresponding panel in the opposing layer to form three compartments 22, 24, 26. Additional compartments may also be formed by adding one or more seams between the opposing layers of the pillow. It is also possible to use layers comprised of more than three panels.

Each of the compartments is filled with a cushioning material. Preferably, the cushioning material comprises polystyrene microbeads, but other cushioning materials are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the invention, including memory foam, feathers, pressurized air, grains, herbs, and polystyrene pellets which may be heated or cooled.

The panels preferably are comprised of an elastic material which is lightweight, durable, and easily cleaned. In a preferred embodiment, the material used is polyester lycra fabric. Other materials are also possible, including waterproof materials.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the helmet pillow includes a chin strap which may be reversibly fastened around a user's chin. The opposing sides of the chin strap may be fastened together with Velcro™-type fasteners, snaps, hooks, or other fastening means.

For air circulation, there may be ventilation openings along the seams or elsewhere in the helmet pillow (not shown). The helmet pillow may also include vibrating or massaging mechanisms built into the pillow to relax the user (not shown).

The helmet pillow may contain any thermally insulating material known in the prior art which retains heat when heated, and retains cold when chilled. This permits use of the helmet pillow as a device for application of heat or cold for comfort or therapeutic reasons.

The helmet pillow may be manufactured in a variety of sizes to fit users of different ages and head sizes. The material used for the panels may be dyed a desired colour, or may include patterns, textures, images, or other desired esthetic features. Anti-microbial agents may be incorporated into the fabric.

One or more openings 28 may be provided in the rear portion of the pillow to allow passage therethrough of a ponytail, as depicted in FIG. 7.

In an alternate embodiment, a pair of headphones may be provided within the pillow adjacent the user's ears, preferably connected by Bluetooth or other wireless technology to an audio device. In yet a further embodiment, the pillow may further comprise eye covering means, for example a moveable flap over the top of the face opening. There may be a flap for covering the entire face opening.

The helmet pillow of the present invention, according to one embodiment, also may be used in an inverted position, allowing a user to display two different patterns or images on the outside of the pillow.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations of the preferred embodiment may also be practised without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A pillow in the shape of a full helmet, having inner and outer layers connected along their perimeters, left and right sides, front and back sides, a chin strap in the front side, a top side, a neck opening opposite the top side, and a face opening in the front side above the chin strap.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein each of the inner and outer layers comprises two or more panels, each inner panel connected along its perimeter to a corresponding outer panel to form two or more closed compartments within the pillow, each pair of adjacent compartments separated by a seam.

3. The pillow of claim 2, wherein a cushioning material is disposed in one or more of the compartments.

4. The pillow of claim 3, wherein the cushioning material is selected from the group of cushioning materials comprising polystyrene microbeads, memory foam, feathers, air, grains, herbs, and polystyrene pellets.

5. The pillow of claim 4, wherein the cushioning material is a thermal insulation material.

6. The pillow of claim 2, wherein the chin strap may comprise left and ride strap portions releasably attachable by fastening means to one another.

7. The pillow of claim 6, wherein the fastening means may comprise hook and loop fasteners, snaps, or hooks.

8. The pillow of claim 2, further comprising headphones disposed within the pillow.

9. The pillow of claim 2, further comprising an opening in the back surface for passage therethrough of a user's hair.

10. The pillow of claim 2, further comprising one or more ventilation openings between the outer and inner layers adjacent one or more seams.

11. The pillow of claim 2, further comprising massaging means disposed within one or more compartments.

12. The pillow of claim 2, further comprising a removable panel for reversibly covering the face opening.

13. The pillow of claim 2, further comprising a removable panel for reversibly covering the eyes of a user.

14. The pillow of claim 2, further comprising an anti-microbial agent incorporated into the fabric.

15. The pillow of claim 2, wherein the inner layer and outer layer may be reversed through manual manipulation.

16. The pillow of claim 2, further comprising an image on the outer surface of at least one of the inner and outer layers.