Pillow with inserts

• US 5,682,633 A
• Filed: 05/04/1995
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Banyan Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Banyan Licensing LLC
• Inventors: Davis, E. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/433,965
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 5/636, 5/645, 5/639, 5/640, 5/643, 5/632, 5/630
• US Class Current: 5/636
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2009/1018 Foam pillows
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/1081 comprising a neck support, e.g. a neck roll

Abstract

The present invention provides a pillow with an insert and lobe of sufficient curvature to enable the user to obtain the intended firmness effects. The pillow includes a compressible and resilient body having a top portion and a bottom portion and a rounded lobe which upwardly protrudes from the bottom portion. Formed within the lobe is an opening which has an insert shaped and dimensioned for snug contact therein. The radius of curvature of the opening is at least 60% of the radius of curvature of the lobe. Inserts of varying compressibility, texture, and contour may be employed in single or multiple openings. Additionally, the pillow may be reversible, offering the user increased versatility.

Claims

1. A pillow comprising:

a compressible and resilient body having a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least one rounded lobe upwardly protruding from said bottom portion and extending across the width of said body having an upper surface rounded to approximately the curvature of a human neck;

at least one opening formed in said at least one lobe and extending across the width of said body;

at least one compressible and resilient insert positioned within said at least one opening, said insert having a radius of curvature substantially the same as the radius of curvature of said lobe;

said opening being shaded and dimensioned for snug contact of said insert therein

wherein said at least one opening is accessed from said top portion.

2. The pillow according to claim 1, wherein said at least one insert has an upper portion and a lower portion wherein each portion has a compressibility different from the other portion.

3. The pillow according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of inserts positioned within said at least one opening and adjacent to one another, each of said inserts being shaped and dimensioned for snug contact within said opening and extending vertically throughout at least a portion of the height of said opening and at least two of said inserts having different compressibilities.

4. The pillow according to claim 1, wherein said at least one insert comprises a plurality of distinct incisions extending from the surface of said insert to a predetermined distance therein.

5. The pillow according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of said at least one insert is of varied slope across the width of said body.

6. A pillow comprising:

a compressible and resilient body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a rounded front lobe, and a rounded rear lobe having an upper surface rounded to approximately the curvature of a human neck, said lobes protruding upward from said bottom portion at opposing ends of said body forming a trough therebetween;

at least one opening formed in the top of said rear lobe and extending across the width of said body, and said opening extending from the outer surface of said top portion and into said body, said opening being defined by a pair of opposing walls and a connecting surface extending across the distance between the opposed walls; and

at least one compressible and resilient insert positioned within said opening, said insert having a radius of curvature at least 80% of the radius of curvature of said rear lobe, said opening being shaped and dimensioned for snug contact of said insert therein.

7. The pillow according to claim 6, wherein said at least one insert comprises a plurality of distinct perforations extending from the surface of said insert to a predetermined distance therein.

8. The pillow according to claim 6, wherein the outer surface of at least one insert is of varied slope across the width of said body.

9. A pillow comprising:

a compressible and resilient body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a rounded front lobe, and a rounded rear lobe having an upper surface rounded to approximately the curvature of a human neck, said lobes protruding upward from said bottom portion at opposing ends of said body forming a trough therebetween;

at least one opening formed in the top of said rear lobe and extending across the width of said body, and said opening extending from the outer surface of said top portion and into said body, said opening being defined by a pair of opposing walls and a connecting surface extending across the distance between the opposed walls; and

at least one compressible and resilient insert positioned within said opening, said insert having a radius of curvature at least 80% of the radius of curvature of said rear lobe, said opening being shaped and dimensioned for snug contact of said insert therein,

wherein said at least one insert having an upper portion and a lower portion, each portion having a predetermined compressibility different from the other portion.

10. A pillow comprising:

a compressible and resilient body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a rounded front lobe, and a rounded rear lobe having an upper surface rounded to approximately the curvature of a human neck, said lobes protruding upward from said bottom portion at opposing ends of said body forming a trough therebetween;

at least one opening formed in the top of said rear lobe and extending across the width of said body, and said opening extending from the outer surface of said top portion and into said body, said opening being defined by a pair of opposing walls and a connecting surface extending across the distance between the opposed walls; and

at least one compressible and resilient insert positioned within said opening, said insert having a radius of curvature at least 80% of the radius of curvature of said rear lobe, said opening being shaped and dimensioned for snug contact of said insert therein,

further comprising a plurality of inserts positioned within said at least one opening and adjacent to one another, each of said inserts being shaped and dimensioned for snug contact within said opening and extending vertically throughout at least a portion of the height of said opening and at least two of said inserts having different compressibilities.

11. A pillow comprising:

a compressible and resilient body having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a first rounded lobe upwardly protruding from said bottom portion and extending across the width of said body and a second rounded lobe upwardly protruding from said bottom portion and extending across the width of said body;

at least one opening formed in said at least one of said lobes and extending across the width of said body;

at least one compressible and resilient insert positioned within said opening, said insert having a radius of curvature which is at least 80% of the radius of curvature of said lobe;

said opening being shaped and dimensioned for snug contact of said insert therein wherein said at least one opening extends into said body,

said opening being defined by a pair of opposed walls and a connecting surface extending continuously across the distance between the opposed walls;

a second opening formed in said at least one lobe and extending across the width of said body wherein said second opening is accessed from the opposite portion that said at least one opening is accessed from, said second opening extending from the outer surface of said body and into said body and being defined by a pair of opposing walls and a connecting surface extending continuously across the distance between said opposed walls; and

a second compressible and resilient insert positioned within said second opening, said second insert shaped and dimensioned for snug contact therein.

12. The pillow according to claim 11, wherein said inserts are of different predetermined compressibilities.