Special receptacle or package – Convertible to or from display configuration – Having window or transparent wrapper
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-18
2003-11-04
Luong, Shian (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Convertible to or from display configuration
Having window or transparent wrapper
C206S806000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06640977
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of therapeutic support pillows, and in particular to support pillows and methods for their use which are intended as improvements to the support pillow and methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134 describes a therapeutic support pillow which is provided to support a small child or an infant, and particularly to hold a small child in a manner that prohibits lateral movement. Although the support pillow described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134 has been generally successful when used to prohibit the lateral movement of a small child, various improvements are desired. For example, it would be desirable if such a support pillow could be used with an adolescent or an adult. For some applications, it would be further desirable if improvements could be made to the overall structure of the support pillow.
Many adults or adolescents participate in activities which make it desirable to support certain objects or body parts. For example, with activities such as reading, typing, breast feeding, and the like, it is often desirable to support the arms or elbows. As another example, when sleeping in an upright position it is often desirable to have the neck and head supported. As a further example, it is often desirable to provide support to the lower back.
Although some support structures have been proposed for supporting objects or body parts, such as the arms of a chair or certain braces, such structures are often uncomfortable and inconvenient to use. Further, some support structures are not easily portable, thereby limiting their use. In a further drawback, most support structures are designed only for a particular application and do not have multiple uses.
For these and other reasons, it would be desirable to provide an improved support pillow and methods which would overcome these and other drawbacks. In particular, it would be desirable if such a support structure and methods were capable of supporting certain small objects or body parts, such as the arms, elbows, lower back, neck or head. Such a support pillow and methods should be comfortable, portable, and easy to use. In one particular aspect, it would be desirable if such a support pillow could be used in a variety of applications to support certain objects or body parts.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a support pillow and methods for its use. In one exemplary method, support is provided to a person's lower back. According to this method, a support pillow is provided having a resilient cushion body with a medial region and first and second opposing cantilever arms extending from the medial region. The cantilever arms have respective first and second end portions remote from the medial region. The cantilever arms are curved about a vertical access to define a substantially toroidal configuration for the cushion body and to position the first and second end portions in a confronting relation to one another. The cantilever arms and medial region cooperate to define a generally circular open well. Such a support pillow is placed around the person's torso in the area of the lower back. The first and second end portions of the cantilever arms are positioned in front of the person's torso, and the medial region of the support pillow is positioned adjacent the person's lower back. The cantilever arms are biased around the person's torso to hold the support pillow vertically positioned relative to the person's torso while the medial region is positioned against the person's lower back. In this manner, the support pillow may be employed to support the person's lower back even when the person is in various positions. For example, the support pillow may be used to support the lower back when the person is sitting in an upright position, such as when sitting in a chair. Alternatively, the support pillow may provide support to the person's lower back while the person is lying.
In one particular aspect, the support pillow is removably held within a flexible container having a bottom end, at least one side and an open top. A base member is held within the bottom end of the container. With this configuration, the base member holds the container in a vertical orientation when the bottom end rests upon a surface, thereby providing a convenient way to store the support pillow. To use the support pillow, the user simply removes the support pillow from the container and then places the pillow around the torso. Preferably, the container comprises a clear plastic or polymer and the base member is constructed of a paper material. Optionally, the top end may be provided with a fastener, such as a zipper, a snapable handle, or the like which provides a way to both carry the pillow and to close the top end of the container.
In one particular configuration, the base member comprises a bottom and two spaced apart walls extending from the bottom. In this way, the pillow may rest on the bottom while being held between the two walls. Further the container may comprise a transparent cover that covers the pillow and the base member. In one aspect, the walls may be triangular in geometry and may extend fully or only part way along the pillow. For example, the walls may angle to a point that is adjacent the medial region of the pillow.
Conveniently, the medial region may rest on the bottom of the base member. Alternatively, the ends of the arms may rest on the bottom of the base member. The base member may be configured to hold support pillows having a variety of sizes. In one particular configuration, the bottom of the base member may have a width in the range from about 1 inch to about 10 inches, more preferably from about 2 inch to about 6 inches, and still more preferably from about 2.5 inches to about 5 inches. Further, the walls may be parallel to the bottom to assist in holding the pillow in an upright orientation. In another configuration, the top end of the cover may be curved to match a curved outer perimeter of the pillow.
In still another configuration, the cover may used to hold various other items in addition to the pillow. For example, the pillow may be used in combination with one or more bars from which toys may be suspended. These bars, and any toys, may also be held within the cover. In one particular arrangement, the bars are curved and around a curved outer perimeter of the pillow. Further, the top end of the cover may be curved and be adjacent to the curved bar. As another example, the pillow may have a pad that is coupled to the pillow body. During storage, the pad is folded against the pillow body and inserted between the walls of the base member. Moreover, it will be appreciated that other configurations of support pillows may be held between the walls of such a base member.
In a further configuration, the base member may also include a top that is coupled to the two walls. In this way, the walls, the bottom and the top of the base member may be disposed around the medial region of the pillow.
In another exemplary method, such a support pillow may be placed around the person's torso, with the first and second end portions of the cantilever arms being at the back of the person's torso, and with the medial region of the support pillow being adjacent the front of the person's torso. The cantilever arms are biased around the person's torso to hold the support pillow vertically positioned relative to the person's torso. With the support pillow placed around the person's torso in this manner, an object may be rested on the cantilever arms or the medial region while the cantilever arms are biased around the person's torso.
For example, the person may be sitting while resting the object on the cantilever arms. In one exemplary aspect, the object is printed material, such as a book, that is rested on the medial region. Alternatively, other objects such as games, food, video g
Bonzer Clarice
Littlehorn Sheila
Matthews Brown Susan H.
Luong Shian
The Boppy Company
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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