Pak-a-pillow

Details Pak-a-pillow Pak-a-pillow

1998-03-05

2001-04-17

Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3633)

Beds

Support means for discrete portion of user, useable with bed...

For head or neck

C005S639000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06216297

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to pillows wherein the exterior boundaries of the pillow also generally define the perimeter of a main pocket located in the interior of the pillow. The pillow and pocket combination can be suitably sized to accommodate the needs of adults, adolescents, pets and children to store various items such as for example, toys, pet supplies, recreational items and clothing apparel suitable for overnight trips, recreational outings, sporting events, trips away from home for either long or short term or sleep overs. The combination pocket in a pillow can either, after the removal of the pocket contents, or while the contents are still stored therein be used as a pillow, so as to preclude the necessity of having a pillow in addition to a carrying case for the items required for the trip or sleep over. This pocket in a pillow is for use as a travel bag, having a design providing improved durability, strength and comfort and to be carried or otherwise transported. Additionally, the pocket in a pillow may further include a blanket of suitable size to fit neatly within the interior pocket. The inclusion of this blanket further adds to the comfort and thickness of the pillow, and the protective utility of the padding between the outer casement and the inner lining.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Several forms of pillows with pockets or storage compartments are known in the art U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,784 to Cohen is directed to a pillow/display case for displaying various small objects. The pillow/display case in Cohen has a transparent, flexible overlay sheet secured to a wall of the pillow, creating a display pocket for the objects. U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,481 to Redman discloses a tooth-shaped pillow with a pocket for holding money and baby teeth. U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,283 to More shows a cushion with an exterior pouch for storing first-aid material particularly for carrying in an automobile. U.S. Pat. No. 2,962,731 to Bounds discloses a pillow with an interior pocket for carrying a radio, a handkerchief, or other valuable articles such that these articles are hidden. The prior art also includes pillow combinations which combine a pillow with some other article. U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,270 to.
Rivera is directed to a pillow with a baby bottle holder. British Patent 93,649 to Birch discloses a water bottle in a pillow. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. no. 4,768,245 to Dutton discloses a children's pillow with a book combination, including a conventional pillow with a pocket sewn to the exterior portion of the conventional pillow for receiving a book. The cover of the book contains some indicia, design, or color representing the contents or subject matter of the book and the identical or substantially similar indicia, designs, or color representations are likewise sewn into the cover of the pocket on the exterior of the pillow. U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,310 to Shields discloses a combined cushion and article carrier. This invention particularly provides a foam cushion held within a bag-like fabric covering, this fabric covering having a shoulder strap connected thereto to facilitate carrying of the bag. The foam cushion has an indentation formed in one surface for receiving articles such as closable cups or other bingo paraphernalia. U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,859 to Seaman discloses an inflatable traveling pillow, including an inner, rubber, inflatable portion and an intermediate fiber-filled case for the inflatable portion. The exterior cover is designed to prevent the head or other body part from contacting the plastic inflatable pillow portion. The carrying handle also provides a compartment for the storage of a small pneumatic pump to facilitate the inflation of the enclosed interior inflatable portion. The pillow's of the prior art disclose standard pillows with pouches and pockets superficially attached thereto whereby items may be protected and stored. Moreover the prior art teaches a pillow with additional cushioning supplied by inflatable or pneumatic cushion portions and/or where the pocket is superficially attached to the pillow where there is not sufficient padding between the layers of fabric which form the pocket, such that if items were stored within the pocket, and if the pillow were used, as a pillow, without removal of the items, the comfort of the user would be lessened as compared to the present invention. The prior art does not teach of a pillow to be transported by the use of a strap or handle, which is simultaneously a pocket for transporting and storing items, wherein the stored items are somewhat protected because of the padding which generally fills a compartment between the outer casement and the inner pocket lining.
The pillow of this invention solves these problems by means of a suitably sized pocket containing pillow which allows the individual to store items in the interior portion of the pillow, while still allowing for its use as a conventional pillow subsequent to, or coincident with, the articles being stored within the interior pillow pocket. The ability of the pillow of this invention to function as a pillow while simultaneously storing items is due, in part, to the inclusion of sufficient padding between the layers forming the exterior and interior lining portions. The pillow of this invention further comprises a handle, strap or other carrying means attached to the casement and different than the outer casement, to further facilitate use of the pillow as a transportable pillow and carrying bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Pursuant to the present invention, a pillow of conventional construction has an outer cover or casement of suitable material defining an interior space. As with a conventional pillow, the interior contains appropriate stuffing or padding held within the cover so it may, if desired, function as a pillow when empty and yet may simultaneous with the storage of items, also function as a suitably comfortable pillow. Unlike other designs, however, the present invention lacks a seam on one edge, thereby providing additional strength and durability and comfort to the pillow. The pillow can be of any desired configuration. However, for purposes of illustration it will be described in terms of a conventional pillow the perimeter of which is defined by opposing sides, an open edge and an edge lacking a seam, i.e. is generally rectangular in shape. Along one edge of the pillow is an opening that functions as an entrance to a pocket extending into the interior of the pillow.
In one preferred embodiment, the pocket is defined by means of opposing lining walls attached to the casement along either side of the opening at the pillow perimeter and attached to each other along opposing side edges. If desired, closure means may be located at the pocket entrance to secure the pocket in a closed position. In one preferred embodiment the closure means facilitates entrance into the pocket at any selected point of the entrance, while maintaining closed the remaining portions of the closure means. Still further, the closure means should be selected to provide optimum comfort, strength, durability and resistance to weather caused damage.
In another preferred embodiment, the pocket is as previously defined except were closure means may be along three sides of the pocket. In this embodiment, the pillow is only fixedly attached along one perimeter and is operably attached along the remaining perimeters. In this embodiment, the closure means could be opened, providing an elongated pillow. This type of opening can be visualized as the opening of a hanging file from a “V” configuration when each side perimeter is openable attached to the adjacent side but which can be opened up, pushing the two top edges away from each other, to lie flat on a surface, such as a desk or floor. In this embodiment, a pack a pillow according to this embodiment may open to provide a pillow of larger area, perhaps for use by a pet, more than one person or as a ground cover. Suitable closure means for accomplishing this embodiment are inter engaging snaps or perhaps hook and

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