MULTIPLE-PILLOW CASE FOR ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT

A multiple-pillow case includes a rectangular flexible compartment sealed along three sides and sealable along a fourth side. The flexible compartment has opposing substantially rectangular faces. A substantially rectangular flexible material is elasticized along a first pair of its opposing edges and attached only along a second pair of its opposing edges to one of the flexible compartment faces. A first edge of the second pair of opposing edges is substantially parallel to and offset from the flexible compartment's fourth side. A second edge of the second pair of opposing edges is substantially parallel to and offset from one of the flexible compartment's three sides opposing its fourth side. Each edge of the first pair of opposing edges is substantially parallel to one of the flexible compartment's three sides adjacent to its fourth side. The flexible material is bloused relative to the attaching face of the flexible compartment.

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Description

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119, the benefit of priority from provisional application 61/920,607, with a filing date of Dec. 24, 2013, is claimed for this non-provisional application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to pillow cases, and more particularly to a pillow case that holds multiple pillows to provide for the formation of an adjustable support for one who is reclining or sitting up.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Increasing amounts of time and money are being spent on products designed to help people who suffer with any of a variety of physical conditions affecting sleep. Such physical conditions include, for example, night time acid reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, and other sleep interrupting conditions. To maintain good quality sleep as well as help reduce the symptoms and consequences of these conditions, individuals often resort to sleeping in an inclined or semi-recumbent position. Sleeping on an incline is a well-accepted, natural-remedy approach suggested by medical doctors to their patients affected by episodes of interrupted sleep due to night time reflux and other sleep disorders.

Methods used to achieve inclined positions during night time sleeping include stacking bed pillows, sleeping on foam wedge pillows, or purchasing/using expensive specialty beds with variable inclined positioning capabilities. Unfortunately, stacked bed pillows, foam wedge pillows, and specialty beds have a number of drawbacks. For example, stacked pillows tend to lose their shape and position, and then can no longer support a person trying to sleep comfortably in an inclined position. As a result, users must frequently gather and adjust their pillows at night to remain elevated and comfortable. Night time acid reflux sufferers who do not maintain proper elevation at night lose the benefits afforded by sleeping in an incline or semi-recumbent position. In general, foam wedge pillows tend to be less comfortable and users tend to slide down the foam wedge pillow at night thereby eliminating the benefit of sleeping in an inclined or semi-recumbent position. The cost of specialty beds puts them out of reach of most users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is to be an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive product that allows a user to readily achieve a variety of inclined positions for sleeping, sitting, and relaxing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a product that allows caregiver to readily adjust a patient's inclined position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a product that is easily configured using conventional sleeping pillows to form a wedge shape and provide flexibility in achieving a desired amount of incline and comfort levels.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a product that is easily packed/transported when traveling to hotels and other overnight stay locations.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, a multiple-pillow case includes a flexible compartment having a substantially rectangular shape. The flexible compartment is sealed along three sides thereof and is sealable along a fourth side thereof. The flexible compartment has opposing substantially rectangular faces. A substantially rectangular piece of flexible material is elasticized along a first pair of opposing edges thereof and attached only along a second pair of opposing edges thereof to one of the faces of the flexible compartment. A first edge of the second pair of opposing edges is substantially parallel to and offset from the fourth side of the flexible compartment. A second edge of the second pair of opposing edges is substantially parallel to and offset from one of the flexible compartment's three sides that opposes the flexible compartment's fourth side. Each edge of the first pair of opposing edges is substantially parallel to one of the flexible compartment's three sides adjacent to the flexible compartment's fourth side. The substantially rectangular piece of flexible material is bloused relative to the attaching face of the flexible compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front side of a multiple-pillow case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back side of a multiple-pillow case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the multiple-pillow case taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an edge of a portion of the multiple-pillow case;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the front side of the multiple-pillow case illustrating two sleeping pillows inserted in the front compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the back side of the multiple-pillow case illustrating two sleeping pillows inserted in the back compartment thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the multiple-pillow case illustrating a wedge shape created with multiple pillows inserted therein;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the back side of a multiple-pillow case in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the multiple-pillow case taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the front side of a multiple-pillow case in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, simultaneous reference will be made to FIGS. 1-3 where front, back, and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a multiple-pillow case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are shown and are referenced generally by numeral 10. In general, case 10 is made from flexible materials (e.g., fabrics) used by the bed clothing industry. Such materials can include, but are not limited to, cotton or other natural fiber-based fabrics, polyester or other man-made fabrics, and combinations or blends thereof, the choice of which is not a limitation of the present invention. The same or different materials can be used to construct the various parts of case 10 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Case 10 defines a plurality of flexible compartments arranged to allow case 10 to be configured to form an adjustable-angle wedge when a plurality of conventional sleeping pillows are inserted into the flexible compartments. In the illustrated embodiment, case 10 defines two flexible compartments 20 and 30 where compartment 20 is a front compartment that provides the interface with a user and compartment 30 is a back compartment that provides the wedge-angle-defining portion of case 10. As will be explained later below, one or more conventional sleeping pillows (e.g., two are suitable for most individuals or applications) will be inserted into and snugly retained by compartment 20, and one or more conventional sleeping or other types of pillows will be inserted into and loosely retained by compartment 30. The types and/or sizes of pillows inserted into case 10 are not limitations of the present invention.

Flexible compartment 20 is substantially rectangular in shape. Compartment 20 is defined by a front face 21 (i.e., the face of case 10 that interfaces with a user) and a back face 22. Two separate pieces of flexible material can be used for faces 21 and 22, or a single piece of folded flexible material could be used to form faces 21 and 22 without departing from the scope of the present invention. In either case, three sides of compartment 20 are “sealed” (e.g., formed by a fold line, stitched, adhered, etc.) and one side of compartment 20 is “sealable” (e.g., by using a zipper, snaps, buttons, VELCRO fastener strips, etc.) In the illustrated embodiment, side 23 has a zipper 24 coupled to the edges of faces 21 and 22, side 25 opposing side 23 is sealed (e.g., by a fold, stitching, etc.), and opposing sides 26 and 27 that are adjacent to side 23 are also sealed (e.g., by stitching).

Flexible compartment 30 is substantially rectangular in shape. In general, compartment 30 is defined between a bloused piece of flexible material 31 and the back face 22 of compartment 20. Flexible material 31 is substantially rectangular in shape with two of its opposing edges 32 and 33 being elasticized. For example and as shown in cross-section in FIG. 4, material 31 can be formed/stitched to form a tube at edge 32 that encases an elastic band 34. A similar structure can be used at edge 33. Other methods for elasticizing edges 32 and 33 can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. The other two opposing edges 35 and 36 of flexible material 31 are attached (e.g., stitched as indicated by dashed lines 37A and 37B) to back face 22 of compartment 20. More specifically and for reasons that will be explained further below, edge 35 is attached to back face 22 along a stitch line 37 that is substantially parallel to and offset from its closest side 23 of compartment 20, and edge 36 is attached to back face 22 along a stitch line 37B that is substantially parallel to and offset from its closest side 25 of compartment 20. For exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the offset distance D1 (between edge 36 and side 25) can be in the range of approximately 0.1(H) to approximately 0.25(H) where “H” is the distance between sides 23 and 25 of compartment 20 when it has no pillows therein. The offset distance D2 (between edge 35 and side 23) can be in the range of approximately 0.05(H) to approximately 0.1(H).

Elasticized and opposing edges 32 and 33 are not attached to back face 22 such that compartment 30 is accessible from either side of case 10, i.e., between back face 22 and each of opposing edges 32 and 33. The portion of flexible material 31 between edges 32, 33, 35 and 36 blouses out from back face 22 to thereby form a baggy compartment for the loose containment of sleeping pillows as will be explained further below. In the illustrated embodiment, edge 32 is offset from side 26 of compartment 20 and edge 33 is offset from side 27 of compartment 20. As a result, compartment 30 is substantially hidden from view when viewing case 10 from front face 21. For exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the offset distance D3 (between edge 32 and side 26) can be in the range of approximately 0.01(W) to approximately 0.07(W) where “W” is the distance between sides 26 and 27 of compartment 20 when it has no pillows therein. The offset distance D4 (between edge 33 and side 27) can also be in the range of approximately 0.01(W) to approximately 0.07(H). Offsets D3 and D4 allow compartment 30 to be sized to remain hidden behind compartment 20 while snugly capturing pillows therein such that a wedge formed by a pillow-filled compartment 30 remains stable.

Case 10 can also include flaps 40 and 41 coupled to compartment 20 adjacent to edges 32 and 33, respectively. By way of a non-limiting example, flaps 40 and 41 can be substantially rectangularly shaped, single pieces of folded flexible material attached (e.g., stitched) to compartment 20 along sides 26 and 27, respectively. Flaps 40 and 41 are sized to span or slightly exceed the openings to compartment 30 defined by edges 32 and 33. The width “WE” of flaps 40 and 41 should be large enough to allow flaps 40 and 41 to conceal pillows inserted into compartment 30 via the openings defined at edges 32 and 33, respectively. In this way, flaps 40 and 41 form a visual cover for the ends of compartment 30 when one or more pillows are inserted therein.

In use of the illustrated case 10, two sleeping pillows are inserted into compartment 20 via (the zippered) side 23 thereof. For example, and as shown in FIG. 5, the two sleeping pillows 100 are arranged side-by-side in compartment 20 with the long sides thereof being substantially parallel to sides 26 and 27 of compartment 20. Referring now to FIG. 6, two additional sleeping pillows 102 are inserted in compartment 30 using either (or both) of the compartment's openings defined along elasticized opposing edges 32 and 33. The long sides of pillows 102 will generally be substantially parallel to attached edges 35 and 36. Pillows 102 can be adjusted within compartment 30 such that a resulting wedge-like support is defined for compartment 20 as best seen in FIG. 7. The adjustable wedge configuration is made possible by the offset between stitched edge 36 and side 25 of compartment 20 as well as the bagginess of bloused flexible material 31. The angle and firmness of the wedge can be adjusted by adjusting the positions, numbers, and/or types of pillows 102 in compartment 30. By making compartment 30 readily accessible along edges 32 and 33, pillows 102 can be inserted/adjusted from either side of case 10. The bloused nature of flexible material 31 simplifies the adding/adjusting of pillows 102 to compartment 30 to change the wedge angle. The elasticized feature of edges 32 and 33 combined with the bloused nature of flexible material 31 retains pillows 102 in their inserted/adjusted position.

The advantages of the present invention are numerous. The multiple-pillow case is a simple and inexpensive approach to providing a readily-adjusted wedge for reclining and sitting. The case uses conventional sleeping pillows so that the filled case can provide the level of support, firmness, softness, etc., needed and desired using pillows owned by the user or those provided by hotels when traveling. The pillow-filled case can also be used as a back support when sitting upright where the pillows in compartment 30 form a lumbar support. The pillow-filled case can also be flipped over such that a pillow-filled compartment 30 is raised vertically by a pillow-filled compartment 20 to define an elevated wedge on which a user can recline. The multiple-pillow case in its unfilled state is easily folded and can, therefore, be readily transported for use in overnight stay locations away from one's home.

Although the invention has been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, FIGS. 8-9 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention where a multiple-pillow case 50 includes another substantially rectangular flexible material 61 disposed in compartment 30 to essentially divide compartment 30 into compartments 30A and 30B. Opposing edges 62 and 63 of material 61 are not attached to flexible material 31, while its other opposing edges 65 and 66 are attached to flexible material 31 such that compartment 30A is defined and is accessible along edges 62 and 63. In the illustrated example, edge 65 is substantially coincident with edge 35 and edge 66 is offset from edge 36. This allows pillow(s) 102 in compartment 30A to define the lower portion of a support wedge, and pillow(s) 102 in compartment 30B to define the upper portion of a support wedge.

In another embodiment of the present invention, one or more slit openings can be provided in compartment 20 to facilitate insertion of a therapeutic device (e.g., a heating pad, ice pack, massager, etc.) into compartment 20. For example, FIG. 10 illustrates another multiple-pillow case 70 having two slit openings 71 and 72 placed near (e.g., within 1-3 inches) sides 26 and 27, respectively, so that a therapeutic device can be inserted into compartment 20 from either side thereof even when a person is reclining on case 70. Slit openings could additionally or alternatively be located on back face 22 without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

Claims

1. A multiple-pillow case, comprising:

a flexible compartment having a substantially rectangular shape, said flexible compartment sealed along three sides thereof and sealable along a fourth side thereof, said flexible compartment having opposing substantially rectangular faces;
a substantially rectangular piece of flexible material elasticized along a first pair of opposing edges thereof and attached only along a second pair of opposing edges thereof to one of said faces of said flexible compartment;
a first edge of said second pair of opposing edges being substantially parallel to and offset from said fourth side of said flexible compartment;
a second edge of said second pair of said opposing edges being substantially parallel to and offset from one of said three sides that opposes said fourth side; and
each edge of said first pair of opposing edges being substantially parallel to one of said three sides that is adjacent to said fourth side, wherein said substantially rectangular piece of flexible material is bloused relative to said one of said faces of said flexible compartment.

2. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 1, further comprising a zipper coupled to said flexible compartment at said fourth side thereof.

3. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 1, wherein said flexible compartment comprises at least one piece of fabric.

4. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 1, wherein each edge of said first pair of opposing edges is offset from said one of said three sides closest thereto by an offset distance in the range of approximately 0.01 to approximately 0.07 of a distance defined between two of said three sides that oppose one another.

5. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 1, further comprising a flexible flap coupled to each said one of said three sides that is adjacent to said fourth side, each said flexible flap being substantially aligned with one said edge of said first pair of opposing edges of said flexible material.

6. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 1, wherein said offset associated with said second edge is in the range of approximately 0.1 to approximately 0.25 of a distance defined between said fourth side and said one of said three sides that opposes said fourth side.

7. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 1, further comprising at least one slit opening in one of said faces of said flexible compartment.

8. A multiple-pillow case, comprising:

a first pillow compartment having a substantially rectangular shape and adapted to snugly hold two sleeping pillows in a side-by-side relationship, said first pillow compartment sealed along three sides thereof and sealable along a fourth side thereof, said first pillow compartment having opposing substantially rectangular faces;
a substantially rectangular piece of fabric having an elastic coupled thereto along a first pair of opposing edges thereof and attached only along a second pair of opposing edges thereof to one of said faces of said first pillow compartment;
a first edge of said second pair of opposing edges being substantially parallel to and offset from said fourth side of said first pillow compartment;
a second edge of said second pair of said opposing edges being substantially parallel to and offset from one of said three sides that opposes said fourth side; and
each edge of said first pair of opposing edges being substantially parallel to one of said three sides that is adjacent to said fourth side, wherein said substantially rectangular piece of fabric is bloused relative to said one of said faces of said first pillow compartment to thereby define a second pillow compartment accessible between said one of said faces of said first pillow compartment and each of said first pair of opposing edges, wherein said second pillow compartment is adapted to receive, loosely hold, and provide for the adjustment of a plurality of sleeping pillows therein.

9. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 8, further comprising a zipper coupled to said first pillow compartment at said fourth side thereof.

10. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 8, wherein said first pillow compartment comprises at least one piece of fabric.

11. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 8, wherein each edge of said first pair of opposing edges is offset from said one of said three sides closest thereto by an offset distance in the range of approximately 0.01 to approximately 0.07 of a distance defined between two of said three sides that oppose one another.

12. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 8, further comprising a flexible flap coupled to each said one of said three sides that is adjacent to said fourth side, each said flexible flap being substantially aligned with one said edge of said first pair of opposing edges of said fabric.

13. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 8, wherein said offset associated with said second edge is in the range of approximately 0.1 to approximately 0.25 of a distance defined between said fourth side and said one of said three sides that opposes said fourth side.

14. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 8, further comprising at least one slit opening in one of said faces of said first pillow compartment.

15. A multiple-pillow case, comprising:

a flexible compartment having a substantially rectangular shape, said flexible compartment sealed along three sides thereof and sealable along a fourth side thereof, said flexible compartment having opposing substantially rectangular faces;
a substantially rectangular piece of flexible material elasticized along a first pair of opposing edges thereof, non-elasticized along a second pair of opposing edges thereof, and attached only along said second pair of opposing edges to one of said faces of said flexible compartment;
a first edge of said second pair of opposing edges being substantially parallel to and offset from said fourth side of said flexible compartment;
a second edge of said second pair of said opposing edges being substantially parallel to and offset from one of said three sides that opposes said fourth side;
each edge of said first pair of opposing edges being substantially parallel to and offset from a closest one of said three sides that is adjacent to said fourth side by an offset distance in the range of approximately 0.01 to approximately 0.07 of a distance defined between two of said three sides that oppose one another, wherein said substantially rectangular piece of flexible material is bloused relative to said one of said faces of said flexible compartment; and
a flexible flap coupled to each said closest one of said three sides that is adjacent to said fourth side, each said flexible flap being substantially aligned with one said edge of said first pair of opposing edges of said flexible material.

16. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 15, further comprising a zipper coupled to said flexible compartment at said fourth side thereof.

17. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 15, wherein said flexible compartment comprises at least one piece of fabric.

18. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 15, wherein said offset associated with said second edge is in the range of approximately 0.1 to approximately 0.25 of a distance defined between said fourth side and said one of said three sides that opposes said fourth side.

19. A multiple-pillow case as in claim 15, further comprising at least one slit opening in one of said faces of said flexible compartment.

Patent History
Publication number: 20150173535
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 5, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 25, 2015
Inventor: Thomas L. Reese (Chesapeake, VA)
Application Number: 14/533,557
Classifications
International Classification: A47G 9/02 (20060101); A47G 9/10 (20060101);