Comfort pillow

• US 7,415,742 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tempur World LLC (Tempur Sealy International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tempur World LLC (Tempur Sealy International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wassilefsky, Gerda
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos; Robert G
• Application Number:
  US11/443,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20060277684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 563/6, 564/4, 564/5, 549/0, 565/59, 595/3, 565/4, 565/54, 591/1
• US Class Current: 5/636
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/10 Pillows pillow holders A47C21/00, A47C21/026; specially adapted for preventing snoring A61F5/56
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 1/00 Loose filling materials for upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/953 Comprising structurally defined foam material or configuration

Abstract

In some embodiments, a pillow including a viscoelastic sleeve defining a cavity and filler material positioned within the cavity is disclosed. In other embodiments the pillow includes a sleeve in which is received viscoelastic filler material, or includes a viscoelastic sleeve in which is received other type(s) of filler material.

Claims

1. A pillow comprising:

a sleeve defining an internal cavity; and

a plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material enclosed within the cavity.

2. The pillow of claim 1, further comprising a cover substantially enclosing the sleeve.

3. The pillow of claim 2, wherein the cover comprises a resealable fastener through which access to the sleeve is obtained.

4. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises first and second panels of material joined together at peripheral seams to define the internal cavity.

5. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material has a density between about 30 kg/m³ and about 140 kg/m³.

6. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material has a density of about 85 kg/m³.

7. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material has a nominal length between about 0.6 cm and about 2 cm.

8. The pillow of claim 7, wherein the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material has a nominal length of about 1.3 cm.

9. The pillow of claim 1, wherein approximately 16% to 20% of the plurality of loose pieces of filler material includes lengths longer than about 2 cm.

10. The pillow of claim 1, wherein approximately 38% to 42% of the plurality of loose pieces of filler material includes lengths between about 1 cm and about 2 cm.

11. The pillow of claim 1, wherein approximately 38% to 42% of the plurality of loose pieces of filler material includes lengths shorter than about 1 cm.

12. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the filler material further includes a plurality of balls.

13. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the filler material further includes highly-elastic foam.

14. A pillow comprising:

a first layer of material; and

a second layer of material, the first and second layers of material coupled together to form a cavity therebetween;

wherein a plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material is positioned between the first and second layers and is enclosed within the cavity.

15. The pillow of claim 14, wherein the first and second layers of material are sewn together.

16. The pillow of claim 14, further comprising a cover substantially enclosing the first and second layers of material and the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material.

17. The pillow of claim 16, wherein the cover comprises a resealable fastener through which access to the first and second layers of material is obtained.

18. The pillow of claim 14, wherein the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material has a density between about 30 kg/m³ and about 140 kg/m³.

19. The pillow of claim 14, wherein the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material has a density of about 85 kg/m³.

20. The pillow of claim 14, wherein the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material has a nominal length between about 0.6 cm and about 2 cm.

21. The pillow of claim 20, wherein the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material has a nominal length of about 1.3 cm.

22. The pillow of claim 14, wherein approximately 16% to 20% of the plurality of loose pieces of filler material includes lengths longer than about 2 cm.

23. The pillow of claim 14, wherein approximately 38% to 42% of the plurality of loose pieces of filler material includes lengths between about 1 cm and about 2 cm.

24. The pillow of claim 14, wherein approximately 38% to 42% of the plurality of loose pieces of filler material includes lengths shorter than about 1 cm.

25. The pillow of claim 14, wherein the filler material further includes a plurality of balls.

26. The pillow of claim 14, wherein the filler material further includes highly-elastic foam.

27. A method of manufacturing a pillow comprising:

coupling a first peripheral edge of a first panel of material to a second peripheral edge of a second panel of material; and

enclosing a plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material between and within the first and second panels of material.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising inserting the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material between the first and second panels after coupling the first peripheral edge to the second peripheral edge.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising inserting the panels of material and the plurality of loose pieces of viscoelastic filler material into a cover with a resealable slot and sealing the slot to keep the material within the cover.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising shredding viscoelastic material into individual lengths to form the filler material.