Water pillow

• US 4,896,388 A
• Filed: 09/30/1988
• Issued: 01/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maurice R. Bard
• Original Assignee: Maurice R. Bard
• Inventors: Bard, Maurice R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US07/251,240
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 5/441, 5/451, 5/452, 5/422, 5/434, 5/436, 5/442, 5/490, 297/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 5/644
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/085 of liquid type, e.g. filled with water or gel
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/088 incorporating elastic bodies, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/18 in combination with inflatable bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2009/008 using a liquid as filling material
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/1081 comprising a neck support, e.g. a neck roll

Abstract

A pillow casing according to the present invention comprises a top surface and a connected bottom surface which cooperate to define an enclosure for receiving a compressible filler therein. The pillow casing further includes a thin envelope layer intermediate the surfaces and attached to the bottom surface. The envelope layer is adapted to sealably receive a fluid-like material therein to form a thin fluid-like layer remote and isolated from the top surface when the compressible filler is received in the enclosure. The filler, when received in the enclosure, is supported by the envelope layer to effectively float the received compressible filler on the fluid-like material received in the envelope. The pillow casing is particularly adapted for receiving a conventional pillow as the compressible filler material therein. Thus, the pillow casing can cooperate with a conventional pillow to substantially alter the pillow characteristics of the combination by floating the pillow on a thin layer of fluid. The invention is also directed to a complete pillow, in which case a compressible filler material is inserted into the pillow casing at the time of manufacture.

Claims

1. A pillow casing comprising a first surface and a connected second surface which cooperate to define an enclosure for receiving a compressible filler therein, said pillow casing further including a thin envelope layer intermediate said surfaces and attached to said second surface at sufficient points such that the envelope is secured to and essentially immediately above the second surface to maintain said envelope layer and said second surface in overlapping relationship, said envelope layer being adapted to sealably receive a fluid-like material therein to form a thin fluid-like layer remote and isolated from said first surface when said compressible filler is received in said enclosure, said filler when received in said enclosure being supoorted by said envelope layer to effectively float such received compressible filler on such fluid-like material received in said envelope.

2. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said envelope layer includes a peripheral securement region thereabout which is physically attached to said second surface to maintain the envelope in position above said second surface.

3. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 2, including a thermal reflective layer intermediate said envelope and said second surface to limit heat transfer therebetween.

4. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 3, wherein said thermal reflective layer and said envelope are each attached by the same means to said second surface.

5. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 3, including pockets at a front edge and rear edge of the pillow casing running the length of said envelope and filled with a compressible fill material and extending above said envelope to define a raised border either side of said envelope, said raised border and said envelope cooperating to support said compressible filler.

6. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 5, including a cloth type fabric covering sheet intermediate said envelope and said compressible filler.

7. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 2, including a resealable spout in said envelope through which the fluid material enters said envelope or is removed therefrom, said resealable spout being of a polyethylene material.

8. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resealable spout passes through an aligned hole in said second surface and includes an outer collar and an interior flange, said second surface about said aligned hole including an elastic border region for maintaining said border region intermediate said collar and said flange and about said spout.

9. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 8, wherein said spout includes a plug threadably received in said spout with said plug including an exteriorly exposed recess which is interiorly divided to allow the user to grip and rotate the plug.

10. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 8, wherein said envelope is of a double ply thickness.

11. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 10, wherein said enclosure is of a size to receive at least a three inch depth of compressible fill material above said envelope, and said envelope is sized in a flat orientation to retain a dephth of a fluid of about 1/2 of an inch to 1 inch.

12. In combination, a conventional headrest pillow for a bed and a water pillow casing, said headrest pillow having a fabric casing and a compressible filler material within said casing, said water pillow casing comprising a fabric outer shell having distinguishable top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface including a plastic fluid retaining envelope attached thereto essentially immediately above said bottom surface for forming a thin layer of fluid for supporting the compressible filler material of said headrest pillow,

said headrest pillow being received within said water pillow casing intermediate said plastic fluid retaining envelope and the top surface of said fabric outer shell.

14. In combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plastic fluid retaining envelope includes an outer border area which is physically attached to said bottom surface to maintain the envelope generally overlapping with said bottom surface.

15. In combination as claimed in claim 12, including a suitable thermal reflecting material intermediate said fluid retaining envelope and said bottom surface and of a size to separate said envelope from said bottom surface.

16. In combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plastic fluid retaining envelope includes an outer border area which is physically attached to said bottom surface to maintain the envelope generally overlapping with said bottom surface and including a suitable thermal reflecting material intermediate said fluid retaining envelope and said bottom surface and of a size to separate said envelope from said bottom surface.

17. In combination as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plastic envelope is of a double ply thickness of plastic film such that two thicknesses of plastic film oppose leakage of fluid from said envelope.

18. In combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said envelope includes an accessible resealable spout through which a fluid can be introduced into said envelope.

19. In combination as claimed in claim 18, including a fabric-like thermal reflecting material intermediate said bottom surface and said envelope covering the bottom surface of the envelope, said fabric like thermal reflecting material and said bottom surface of said water pillow casing include aligned holes through which a portion of said resealable spout extends, said spout including an outer collar portion and a cooperating flange which receive and retain a portion of said thermal reflecting material and said bottom surface about the aligned holes intermediate said outer collar portion and said cooperating flange.

20. In combination as claimed in claim 18, wherein said resealable spout is of a polyethylene material.

21. In combination as claimed in claim 20, wherein said bottom surface about said aligned hole includes an elastic stitching for retaining the same in snug engagement about said spout intermediate said collar and said flange.

22. In combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein said resealable spout includes a threaded plug by means of which the spout is opened and closed.

13. In combination as claimed in claimed 12, wherein the uncompressed depth of said compressible filler material is at least three times greater than the depth of fluid in said fluid retaining envelope when supported by said bottom surface on a flat surface.

23. A pillow casing comprising a top surface and a connected bottom surface which cooperate to define an unobstructed enclosure running the length of the pillow casing for receiving a compressible filler therein, said pillow casing further including an envelope layer intermediate said surfaces and attached to said bottom surface, said envelope layer being sized and of a material to sealably receive a fluid-like material therein to form a fluid-like layer of a depth of about 1/2 to 11/2 inches when supported horizontally on said bottom surface, said enclosure being sized to snuggly receive a conventional bed pillow therewithin between said envelope and said top surface.

24. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 23, wherein said envelope layer includes a peripheral securement region thereabout which is physically attached to said bottom surface to maintain the envelope in position above said bottom surface.

25. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 24, including a thermal reflective layer intermediate said envelope and said bottom surface to limit heat transfer therebetween.

26. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 25, wherein said thermal reflective layer and said envelope are each attached by the same means to said bottom surface.

27. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 24, including a resealable spout in said envelope through which the fluid material enters said envelope or is removed therefrom, said resealable spout being of a polyethylene material.

28. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 23, wherein the envelope layer is of reduced size relative to said bottom surface and is generally centered on said bottom surface to define a border of the bottom surface of about two inches.

29. A nonsymmetrical pillow comprising:

an outer casing,

an envelope for receiving a fluid medium, said envelope covering and attached interiorly and essentially immediately adjacent to a major surface of said outer casing,

a gusset member attached to the pillow casing to define a front pocket adjacent a front edge of the pillow and extending generally in the length thereof,

a compressible filler within said front pocket which isolates said envelope from said front edge, and a compressible filler material within said outer casing such that a major portion of the compressible filler is supported above and by said envelope when said envelope is supported from below.

30. A nonsymmetrical pillow as claimed in claim 29, including a second gusset adjacent a rear edge of said pillow and extending in the length of said pillow defining a rear pocket adjacent the rear edge of the pillow and a compressible filler therein which provides a rear edge support for said envelope and extends substantially above said envelope.

31. A nonsymmetrical pillow as claimed in claim 30, including a fabric sheet attached to said envelope and said outer casing which separates said compressible filler material above said envelope from said envelope.

32. A nonsymmetrical pillow as claimed in claim 31, wherein said gussets and said fabric sheet fully separate said envelope from said compressible filler material and maintain said compressible filler material above said envelope.

33. A nonsymmetrical pillow as claimed in claim 32, wherein said compressible filler material is a rolled batt of compressible filler material.

34. A nonsymmetrical pillow as claimed in claim 30, wherein said envelope has a border of said casing of at least two inches thereabout which forms part of the pillow support surface.

35. A nonsymmetrical pillow as claimed in claim 34, wherein said envelope is about 20 inches by 13 inches.

36. A nonsymmetrical pillow as claimed in claim 30, wherein said envelope includes a fastening periphery thereabout which is secured to said outer casing by stitching.

37. A nonsymmetrical pillow as claimed in claim 36, wherein said envelope and a portion of each gusset are secured to said outer casing by the stitching securing said envelope to said outer casing.

38. A pillow casing comprising a first outer surface and a connected second outer surface which cooperate to define an enclosure for receiving a compressible filler therein, said pillow casing including a thin envelope layer for receiving and retaining a fluid-like medium intermediate said surfaces with said envelope layer being positioned adjacent to said second surface and attached thereto at sufficient points such that the envelope layer is tied to the second surface to maintain said envelope layer and said second surface in overlapping relationship, said enclosure above the envelope being open and of a size to receive a depth of several inches of compressible filler above said envelope to thereby position said envelope layer below a central plane running between said surfaces.

39. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 38, wherein said enclosure defines a single compartment extending the length of the pillow casing.

40. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 38, wherein said envelope includes a resealable spout passing through an aligned hole in said second surface, said resealable spout having an outer collar and an interior flange, said second surface adjacent said spout being trapped between said outer collar and said interior flange.

41. A pillow casing as claimed in claim 40, wherein said second surface about the aligned hole includes an elastic border region snuggly engaging said spout between said outer collar and said interior flange.