Adjustable Pillow
An adjustable pillow includes a pillow cover having a plurality of removable pillow layer inserts. The pillow layer inserts can be of various thicknesses and firmnesses to permit adjustment for overall pillow height, overall firmness, and surface firmness upon insertion into the pillow cover. The total height of the pillow depends on the total height of the various inserts being used, the overall firmness depends on whether the inserts are soft, medium, or hard, and the surface firmness depends on the firmness of the topmost inside layer. To avoid movement of the inserts relative to each other while sleeping, at least one portion of each of the inserts is removably attachable to a corresponding portion of at least one other insert.
The present invention relates to the field of pillows, and in particular to pillows that can be adjusted through the use of inserts.
BACKGROUND ARTPeople have traditionally used pillows that come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. Pillows can be made with different heights and firmnesses to suit the desires of the sleeper. Some people are more comfortable and sleep better using a pillow that is relatively soft, while others prefer a pillow that is firmer. Similarly, some people prefer a relatively high, tall pillow while others are more comfortable with a relatively flat pillow. Some users might even want a pillow of a particular height and firmness part of the time and of a different height or firmness another time. Thus, it would be advantageous for a pillow to be adjustable in firmness and height, and various attempts have been made to provide such flexibility. Some people have a physical malady that makes an adjustable pillow desirable, such as an orthopedic or therapeutic pillow.
Some pillows have segmented sections, each of a different firmness or size. Adjustability is typically achieved by moving the pillow so that the appropriate section is directly under head, leaving the undesired sections still attached but moved away from the head of the user.
Pillows can be quite expensive and therefore it would be advantageous if conventional pillows that have lost their shape, size, or firmness could be restored without the expense of purchasing a replacement pillow. Unfortunately, conventional pillows without removable inserts can be adjusted or refreshed only by entirely replacing the pillow.
Although pillows have been made with replaceable inserts, providing adjustability, in actual use, the inserts have an unfortunate tendency to move around or bunch up inside the surrounding pillow cover or pillow case. Sleepers tend to move around while trying to go to sleep, while they are asleep, or while they are between cycles. They may push on or otherwise try to reshape their pillow to a more comfortable position, even while unaware of their action. This generally does not cause a problem with a conventional pillow, but when there are multiple pillow inserts inside the pillow cover, the activity of the sleeper may cause movement of one insert relative to another, such as one insert bunching up or shifting relative to another insert, resulting in the pillow not having the desired feel or characteristics that had been carefully configured by the insertion of the multiple inserts. A way of preventing that relative movement of the pillow inserts would be desirable.
From the discussion above, it should be apparent that there is a need for an easily adjustable pillow cover that can be used with a conventional pillow and provides different firmness and thickness across the entire sleeping area of the pillow. The present disclosure satisfies this need.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIn one aspect, an adjustable pillow, comprises an openable pillow cover; a plurality of removable pillow inserts each comprising: a pillow insert cover; a stuffing material disposed within the pillow insert cover; and a means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other, formed in an exterior portion of the pillow insert cover.
In a second aspect, a pillow insert for an adjustable pillow, comprises a pillow insert cover; a stuffing material disposed within the pillow insert cover; and a means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other, formed in an exterior portion of the pillow insert cover.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the invention. In the drawings,
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structure and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the invention. References to numbers without subscripts are understood to reference all instance of subscripts corresponding to the referenced number. Moreover, the language used in this disclosure has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter, resort to the claims being necessary to determine such inventive subject matter. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiment of the invention, and multiple references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” should not be understood as necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Although as illustrated in
The pillow 100 as illustrated in
In some embodiments, pillow inserts may be provided with the pillow 100, allowing the purchaser to customize the pillow 100 to the desired height or firmness. A set of three pillow inserts 200 is illustrated in
As described above, a user can adjust the arrangement of the inserts 320-340 to adjust overall pillow height, overall firmness, and surface firmness.
The total height of the adjustable pillow depends on the total height of the various pillow inserts being used. The pillow inserts may all be equally thick or they may vary in their thickness. If a collection of pillow inserts have varying thicknesses, a greater number of possible pillow thickness is achievable than with pillow inserts that are all of the same thickness. For example, if the medium pillow insert 330 of
Similarly, the surface firmness of pillow 300 may be adjusted by changing the top-most pillow insert in the pillow cover 310 to a pillow insert that is more or less firm than the previous top-most pillow insert. Or if the pillow 300 is stuffed with inserts of different firmness, a sleeper may turn the pillow upside down so that the bottom-most pillow insert (pillow insert 340 in
It should be apparent that the softest perceived surface firmness is obtained if the soft pillow insert 320 is placed top-most, the firmest perceived surface firmness is obtained if the firm insert 340 is placed top-most, and a medium perceived surface firmness is obtained if the medium insert 330 is placed top-most. The perceived overall firmness of the pillow 100 largely depends on the combination of pillow inserts placed within the pillow cover 110. For example, if medium pillow insert 330 of
The perceived overall firmness of the pillow 100 depends not only on the combination of the different pillow insert firmnesses, but also to a lesser extent on the surface firmness. That is, the perceived overall firmness of the pillow 100 may change somewhat depending on the ordering of the inserts in the pillow cover 110. If the arrangement of pillow inserts 320-340 in
As explained above, the adjustable pillow 100 can be used in combination with a conventional pillow to provide adjustability that otherwise would be lacking. Conventional pillows often become flat and lose their height due to the constant weight and pressure of the head upon the pillow surface. Pillows are often thrown away due to wear and tear. By adding pillow inserts such as one or more of pillow inserts 200 to an old pillow in a pillow cover 110 (where the old pillow becomes effectively a pillow insert), the pillow can be restored to an original or preferred pillow height and firmness. Often the users of conventional pillows become attached to the top surface to which they have become accustomed. Such users may add one or more pillow inserts 200 under their old pillow inside the pillow cover 110, thus improving overall height while retaining a preferred or familiar top surface.
Any desired size opening 420 may be used. The size may be chosen based on the technique selected for using the opening 420 for binding the pillow cover 400 to another pillow cover. Although illustrated as an elliptical opening in
Although the opening 420 is illustrated in
Fastener 500 illustrates a simple fastener that comprises two roughly spherical end elements 505A and 505B, held together by link 510. The fastener may be manufactured of any desired material, such as metal, plastic, thread, or fabric. In one example, fastener 500 may be made of silk thread formed as a small rope which is knotted on both ends to form the end elements 505A and 505B and link 510. Although illustrated in
Fastener 520 is a mechanical cufflink type of fastener, in which fixed end element 525 is attached to one end of a pair of links 530, while the other end holds a rotatable end element 535 that can rotate relative to the pair of links 530. As with a shirt cufflink, rotating the rotatable end element 535 to be parallel to the pair or links 530 allows the rotatable end element 535 to pass through openings 420 easily, then be rotated perpendicular to pair of links 530. In the rotated position (illustrated in
Fastener 540 is a fixed fastener illustrating that the end elements 545 and 555, which are connected by link 550, do not need to have the same shape. As illustrated in
Although links 510, 530, and 540 are illustrated as solid elements, embodiments may use forms such as small chains for the links, allowing movement of the two ends of the fasteners 500, 520, and 540 relative to each other. Preferably, the fasteners are small enough that should the sleeper's head happen to rest upon the portion of the pillow covers 400 that are held together by the fasteners 500, 520, or 540, the fasteners 500, 520, or 540 do not cause discomfort. The links 510, 530, and 540 can be of any desired length, but preferably are long enough to allow attaching as many pillow covers 400 as the sleeper may desire to use at any given time.
The fasteners 510, 530, and 540 illustrated in
By making the fasteners 500, 530, and 540 removable, a sleeper may detach the pillow covers 400 from each other at any time the sleeper wishes to change the pillow configuration, such as by replacing one pillow insert 400 with another of different configuration, or to allow laundering or repair of one or more of the pillow inserts 400.
Other techniques may be used for attaching pillow inserts 400 to each other. For example, in
Another embodiment is illustrated in
The fastening techniques illustrated in
The above describes an easily adjustable pillow that provides configurability for different surface firmnesses, overall firmnesses, and height across the entire sleeping area of the pillow cover and also is compatible with conventional pillows to provide them with adjustability. In addition, the pillow inserts may be attached to each other to prevent relative movement of the pillow inserts as the sleeper uses the pillow, which would otherwise result in undesirable bunching or rolling of pillow inserts and diminish the perceived comfort of the pillow to the sleeper. Because the attachments are detachable, the advantages of being able to swap out pillow inserts as desired is retained, without the disadvantages of having the pillow inserts modify their configuration and position.
Although disclosed above in terms of pillows, pillow inserts, and pillow covers, the same techniques may be used on other types of bedding. For example a comforter may be inserted into a duvet cover and attached to the duvet cover using any of the techniques disclosed above, fastening the comforter to the duvet cover to keep the comforter from shifting inside the duvet cover, such as by putting a button on a corner of the comforter and a button hole on the duvet cover, allowing the comforter to be attached to the duvet cover. Similarly, a pillow or pillow insert may be fastened to a pillow cover to keep the pillow or pillow insert from shifting inside the pillow cover.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, which is determined by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. An adjustable pillow, comprising:
- an openable pillow cover; and
- a plurality of removable pillow inserts each comprising: a pillow insert cover; a stuffing material disposed within the pillow insert cover; and a means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other, formed in an exterior portion of the pillow insert cover.
2. The adjustable pillow of claim 1, wherein the means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other comprises:
- an opening formed in the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover;
- a fastener configured for insertion through the opening.
3. The adjustable pillow of claim 2, wherein the means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other comprises:
- a button attached to the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover and configured for engagement with a corresponding opening formed in an exterior portion of another pillow insert of the plurality of removable pillow inserts.
4. The adjustable pillow of claim 2,
- wherein the opening is cut through a top surface and a bottom surface of the pillow insert cover, providing a path from inside the pillow insert cover to outside the pillow insert cover,
- further comprising stitching to prevent migration of the stuffing material through the opening.
5. The adjustable pillow of claim 2,
- wherein the opening is cut through a top surface and a bottom surface of the pillow insert cover, and
- wherein a perimeter of the opening is sewn closed to prevent migration of the stuffing material from inside the pillow insert cover to outside the pillow insert cover.
6. The adjustable pillow of claim 2, wherein the fastener comprises:
- a link; and
- a first fastener end element and a second fastener end element disposed at each end of the link,
- wherein the first fastener end element is configured to fit through the opening formed in the exterior portion of the pillow insert covers of the plurality of removable pillow inserts, holding the plurality of removable pillow inserts together.
7. The adjustable pillow of claim 6, wherein the first fastener end element is movable relative to the link.
8. The adjustable pillow of claim 1, wherein the means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other comprises:
- a male snap fastener formed in a first surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and
- a female snap fastener formed in a second surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover,
- wherein the male snap fastener is configured to engage with a female snap fastener formed in a second pillow insert cover, and
- wherein the female snap fastener is configured to engage with a male snap fastener formed in a third pillow insert cover.
9. The adjustable pillow of claim 1, wherein the means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other comprises:
- a hook-and-loop hook portion attached to a first surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and
- a hook-and-loop loop portion attached to a second surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover,
- wherein the hook-and-loop hook portion is configured to engage with a loop portion attached to a second pillow insert cover, and
- wherein the hook-and-loop loop portion is configured to engage with a hook portion attached to a third pillow insert cover.
10. The adjustable pillow of claim 1, wherein the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover is a corner of the pillow insert cover.
11. A pillow insert for an adjustable pillow, comprising:
- a pillow insert cover;
- a stuffing material disposed within the pillow insert cover; and
- a means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other, formed in an exterior portion of the pillow insert cover.
12. The pillow insert of claim 11, wherein the means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other comprises:
- an opening formed in the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and
- a fastener configured for insertion through the opening.
13. The adjustable pillow of claim 12, wherein the means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other comprises:
- a button attached to the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover and configured for engagement with a corresponding opening formed in an exterior portion of another pillow insert.
14. The pillow insert of claim 12,
- wherein the opening is cut through a top surface and a bottom surface of the pillow insert cover, providing a path from inside the pillow insert cover to outside the pillow insert cover,
- further comprising stitching to prevent migration of the stuffing material through the opening.
15. The pillow insert of claim 12,
- wherein the opening is cut through a top surface and a bottom surface of the pillow insert cover, and
- wherein a perimeter of the opening is sewn closed to prevent migration of the stuffing material from inside the pillow insert cover to outside the pillow insert cover.
16. The pillow insert of claim 12, wherein the fastener comprises:
- a link; and
- a first fastener end element and a second fastener end element disposed at each end of the link,
- wherein the first fastener end element is configured to fit through the opening formed in the exterior portion of a pillow insert covers of a plurality of pillow inserts, holding the plurality of pillow inserts together.
17. The pillow insert of claim 16, wherein the first fastener end element is movable relative to the link.
18. The pillow insert of claim 11, wherein the means for removably attaching two or pillow inserts to each other comprises:
- a male snap fastener formed in a first surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and
- a female snap fastener formed in a second surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover,
- wherein the male snap fastener is configured to engage with a female snap fastener formed in a second pillow insert cover, and
- wherein the female snap fastener is configured to engage with a male snap fastener formed in a third pillow insert cover.
19. The pillow insert of claim 11, wherein the means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other comprises:
- a hook-and-loop hook portion attached to a first surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and
- a hook-and-look loop portion attached to a second surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover,
- wherein the hook-and-loop hook portion is configured to engage with a loop portion attached to a second pillow insert cover, and
- wherein the hook-and-loop loop portion is configured to engage with a hook portion attached to a third pillow insert cover.
20. The pillow insert of claim 11, wherein the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover is a corner of the pillow insert cover.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 9, 2020
Publication Date: Feb 10, 2022
Inventor: David A. Smith (The Woodlands, TX)
Application Number: 16/947,601