Beds – Support means for discrete portion of user – useable with bed... – For head or neck
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-01-23
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Beds
Support means for discrete portion of user, useable with bed...
For head or neck
C005S636000, C005S655300, C005S490000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175978
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pillows, and more particularly to pillows which are suitable for use while traveling and which can be conveniently carried and stowed when not in use. In particular, the invention relates to an inflatable pillow which is covered for both comfort and sanitary purposes, and which is disposable.
2. Introduction to the Invention
In an attempt to reduce travel time and avoid long delays in airports and other terminals, more and more passengers are hand carrying more and more luggage and personal items onto airplanes and other carriers, and are trying to squeeze the luggage and personal items into less and less space available in the passenger compartment. As a result, carriers have recently instituted programs to severely limit the size and number of hand-carried items which each passenger may carry on-board.
Moreover, whereas comfort items such as pillows, blankets and related items used to be plentiful and widely available for all on board, presently such items are commonly in scarce supply, especially in coach or economy class. Storage space previously allocated to items such as pillows and blankets has been usurped to hold baggage and other items carried on by passengers.
Even when items such as blankets and pillows are available, passengers may have concerns about the cleanliness of such items. With airplanes commonly turned around quickly between flights, it may not be practicable to assure that such items, especially pillows and pillow covers, are properly replaced with clean items.
Pillows large enough to be comfortable are commonly too large and bulky to be conveniently carried on board aircraft. Alternatively, passengers who may wish to carry their own pillows on-board are therefore limited in what other personal items and luggage they may otherwise carry.
There is therefore a need for a pillow which is suitable for use by passengers on airplanes and other vehicles, which pillow may be conveniently carried on-board by passengers and take up minimal space when not in use. Similarly, a need in hospitals or shelters, or analogous locations during emergencies such as after a natural disaster, for a disposable pillow that stores compactly prior to use. Such a pillow should be comfortable to use and should be pleasant to contact with the skin on the face and head. Such a pillow should provide a clean interface to the user. Such a pillow should be inexpensive so that, if desired, the pillow may be disposed of after even only one use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have invented an inflatable, disposable, covered pillow which is suitable for use by passengers on airplanes and other vehicles. The inflatable pillow of the invention is both comfortable and clean, and is inexpensive so that it may be disposed of, even after only one use. In a deflated state, the inflatable pillow of the invention may be conveniently carried or stowed in a minimal space.
In a first aspect, the invention provides an inflatable pillow comprising a first fabric sheet, a second fabric sheet, and an inflatable airtight chamber sandwiched between the first and second fabric sheets. The inflatable airtight chamber is joined to the first and second fabric sheets at a seam along a first edge of each of the inflatable airtight chamber, the first fabric sheet and the second fabric sheet. The inflatable airtight chamber has a inflation assembly for regulating inflation and deflation of the inflatable airtight chamber, and the first and second fabric sheets configured to wrap around and cover substantially all of the inflatable airtight chamber when the inflatable airtight chamber is substantially inflated.
In preferred embodiments, the fabric sheets may be made of a cloth, textile, paper or other sheet material which is suitable for use as a pillow case.
In a preferred embodiment, an inflatable pillow according to the invention includes means to secure the first fabric sheet to the second fabric sheet at a point located along an edge that is opposite the respective first edges of each of the first and second fabric sheets. The securing means is used to join the first fabric sheet and second fabric sheet at respective second edges in order to provide a comfortable fabric cover around the airtight chamber. The securing means may be an adhesive tab or other suitable fastener, e.g. clasps, clamps, pins, and the like. However, an adhesive tab is preferred since such a tab can be integrated with the pillow assembly. Also, other means, e.g. metal fasteners, could cause discomfort on contact or have a tendency to scratch the user.
In a preferred embodiment, an inflatable pillow according to the invention includes a sanitary sheet joined to the sandwich of the first and second fabric sheets and inflatable airtight chamber. The sanitary sheet is outside either the first or second fabric sheet, and a first edge of the sanitary sheet is joined to the sandwich along the seam. The sanitary sheet may provide a cover for the pillow in an inflated state, for example by insulating the inflatable pillow from a seat, window, or other items upon which a user may place a pillow. The sanitary sheet may also serve as a protective cover for the inflatable pillow in a deflated state in which the inflatable pillow may be folded, rolled, or the like for shipping, for carrying by a user, or for storage.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a one-piece, hollow fabric sleeve, which encircles the airtight chamber, replaces the first and second fabric sheets.
These and other features, objects and advantages will be understood or apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments as illustrated in the various drawing figures in which elements depicted in more than one FIG. carry a common reference numeral in each FIG. Neither of the FIGS. are to scale.
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Freiermuth Anne R.
Nizzi Marsha
Melius Terry Lee
Nizzi Marsha
Santos Robert G.
Schreiber Donald E.
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