Pillow Support Structure

The present disclosure is directed to the field of sleeping aid articles of manufacture. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a pillow support structure comprising two sections with a right trapezoidal cross-section or other quadrilateral cross-section with an adjustable gap therebetween to increase comfort during sleep.

In general, in a first aspect, the disclosure features a pillow support structure. The pillow support structure includes first and second complementary polyhedral sections that each provide a flat, top surface and a sloped surface adjacent to the top surface; and complementary attachment surfaces designed to adjust the spacing between the first and second complementary polyhedral sections.

In general, in a second aspect, the disclosure features a pillow support structure. The pillow support structure includes a first section and a second section each having a pair of opposed right trapezoidal sides that are connected together by a top surface and bottom surface disposed perpendicularly to the opposed right trapezoidal sides, the bottom surface having a length exceeding a length of the top surface, the opposed right trapezoidal sides also connected together by a sloped surface extending from an edge of the top surface at an obtuse angle and to an edge of the bottom surface at an acute angle, and also connected together by an end surface opposed to the sloped surface and perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces, and a rectangular sheet of material extending from the bottom surface of the first section beyond the sloped surface. A top surface of the rectangular sheet of material and the bottom surface of the second section have complementary attachment structures for temporary attachment therebetween providing adjustable spacing between the sloped surfaces of first section and the second section.

In general, in a third aspect, the disclosure features a method. The method includes assembling first and second fabric casings by stitching or sewing panels of fabric together, the panels of each fabric casing including two opposed right trapezoid-shaped or other quadrilateral-shaped panels and a plurality of rectangular panels connecting the two opposed right trapezoid-shaped or other quadrilateral-shaped panels therebetween including a top, bottom, and end rectangular panel and a sloped rectangular panel extending from the top rectangular panel to the bottom rectangular panel, attaching a sheet of material to the bottom rectangular panel of fabric of the first fabric shell that extends beyond the bottom rectangular panel, and attaching complementary attachment structures to a top surface of the sheet of material and to the bottom rectangular panel of the second fabric shell. The method can further include attaching a zipper to the first and second fabric shells designed to provide access to an interior of the first and second fabric shells, and filling the first and second fabric shells with a filler material.

In general, in a fourth aspect, the disclosure features a method. The method includes attaching the bottom surface of the second section of the pillow support structure of the disclosure to a top surface of the rectangular sheet of material by way of the complementary attachment structures to provide a gap between the sloped surfaces of the first section and the second section; and placing a pillow over the first section and the second section such that a center of the pillow is cradled by the sloped surfaces of the first section and the second section.

Features of the pillow support structure and methods can include the following. Each side or surface of the first section and second section of the pillow support structure can be provided by a panel of fabric, and the panels of fabric can be attached together to provide a fabric shell. The panels of fabric can be attached together by stiches. The pillow support structure can further include a filler material that fills the fabric shell, the filler material chosen from polyurethane memory foam, polystyrene beads, polyester, cotton, feather, and down. The pillow support structure can include a zipper disposed in the fabric shell of the first section and second section that provides access to the filler material. The fabric of the pillow support structure can be cotton, polyester, denim, suede, corduroy, wool, and microfiber, or blends thereof. The complementary attachment structures of the pillow support structure can be chosen from hook and loop fasteners, magnets, two-sided tape, and snap fasteners. The first complementary attachment surface can be provided by a sheet of fabric attached to and extending beyond the first complementary polyhedral section, and the second complementary attachment surface can be a bottom surface of the second complementary polyhedral section. The complementary attachment surfaces can have the aforementioned complementary attachment structures. The first and second complementary polyhedral sections can be trapezoidal prisms such as right trapezoidal prisms. The right trapezoidal prisms can include an outer fabric shell comprising any of the aforementioned fabrics surrounding a filling material comprising any of the aforementioned filler materials.

It should be understood that the pillow support structure and methods are not to be considered limitations on the invention defined by the claims. The featured pillow support structure and methods can be implemented in one or more ways using one or more features depicted in the drawings, described in the detailed description, and set forth in the claims.

Reference will now be made in detail to various illustrative implementations. It is to be understood that the following discussion of the implementations is not intended to be limiting.

The present disclosure describes a pillow support structure to facilitate sleeping. The pillow support structure includes two complementary polyhedral units, pieces, or sections that each provide a flat, top surface and a sloped surface adjacent to the top surface, the flat, top surface and sloped surface each having different pillow support functions, and also includes complementary attachment surfaces designed to adjust the spacing between the polyhedral units.

One implementation provides two polyhedral sections each having an asymmetrical, trapezoidal cross-section. The trapezoidal shape of each piece provides a pair of sloped portions that cradle the user's head when back sleeping, while flat portions at the top of each section support the user's head when side sleeping. One piece has an extended piece of fabric with hook or loop features or other attachment structures. The other, companion piece has complementary hook or loop features or attachment structures underneath. The spacing between the two wedge sections is adjustable via the attachment structures that fix the position of one unit relative to the other unit.

Each section of the pillow support structure can be manufactured by sewing several panels of fabric together to create a shell or casing. The panels of fabric are polygonal and include two identical right trapezoid-shaped panels and four rectangular shaped panels joined together at 12 edges. The casing when filled forms a three-dimensional structure with a trapezoidal cross-section (i.e., a right trapezoidal prism). The panels of fabric can be any durable fabric or blends of fabric such as cotton, polyester, denim, suede, corduroy, wool, or microfiber. Other materials such as plastic or leather are possible alternatives. The panels can be sewn or stitched together at seams at the edges to create a three-dimensional shell which can be stuffed with a suitable filler such as polyurethane memory foam, polystyrene beads, polyester, cotton, feather, or down. A zipper can provide access to the interior of each section for adding or removing filler material. The pillow support structure or one or more components can also be manufactured by other means and materials that produce the same three-dimensional structure with trapezoidal cross-section, such as a monolithic block of memory foam, rubber, silicone, or other yielding material.

Turning now to the Drawings,depict implementations of the pillow support structure at various perspective views. The pillow support structure includes a primary or first sectionA and a companion or second sectionB. The primary section includes a three-dimensional, asymmetrical polyhedral structure having a plurality of rectangular faces including a top surfaceA and bottom surfaceA or base which is longer than the top surface and thus has greater surface area. The rectangular faces include a first end surfaceA of the structure which connects the top surfaceA and bottom surfaceA perpendicularly, and an opposed surface which provides a sloped surfaceA extending from an end of the top surfaceA to an end of the bottom surfaceA and forming an obtuse angle with the top surfaceA and an acute angle the bottom surfaceA. A right trapezoid represents a side surfaceA disposed perpendicularly to the top surfaceA and bottom surfaceA. Another right trapezoid forms the opposite side of sectionA (not shown). As can be seen in the projection Drawings such as, the polygonal faces or surfaces form a right trapezoidal prism. Extending from a junction of the bottom surfaceA and the sloped surfaceA of the right trapezoidal prism is a sheet of material providing an extended surfaceA that includes hook or loop fastener featuresA facing upward. The sheet of materialA can of be the same material as the remainder of the pillow support structure, or can be of a different material. The sheet of materialA can also be a portion of the bottom surfaceA that simply extends beyond the junction of bottom surfaceA with sloped surfaceA, or can be an entirely separate sheet of material joined to the right trapezoidal prism.

A companion sectionB, shown in, replicates the structure of the primary or first sectionA with respect to the right trapezoidal prism. The companion sectionB includes a top surfaceB corresponding in dimension to top portionA of sectionA, a bottom surfaceB corresponding in dimension to bottom surfaceA, an end surfaceB corresponding in dimension to end surfaceA, a sloped surfaceB corresponding in dimension to sloped surfaceA, and a side surfaceB corresponding in dimension to side surfaceA. Shown inare hook or loop portionsB attached to bottom surfaceB of companion sectionB. It should be understood thatA andB represent complementary hook or loop features for attachment of extended surfaceA of sectionA and bottom surfaceB of sectionB together, such as whenA represents hook features,B represents loop features, and vice versa. Figures such asshow that the hook or loop featuresA provide for adjustable spacing between sectionA and sectionB by providing temporary attachment between the two pieces. Such adjustable spacing between sections is called out at reference numberin. Such spacing or gapbetween sections can be a few inches to several inches (e.g., a foot or greater) in length and can be adjusted according to such factors as the thickness of the pillow (e.g., thicker pillows requiring greater spacing) or the size of the user (e.g., larger users requiring greater spacing). The disclosure also contemplates other attachment means that can be substituted for hook or loop features ofA andB, such as magnets, two-sided tape, snap fasteners, or other temporary attachment structures. Such attachment structures provide for temporary attachment between bottom portionB of sectionB and extended surfaceA of sectionA that remains attached during use but that can still be separated and adjusted in position with manual force.

represent an implementation where sectionA and sectionB are fabricated such that each polygonal surface (topA, bottomA, endA, sideA, slopeA, extensionA for sectionA, and topB, bottomB, endB, sideB, slopeB for sectionB) is a piece of fabric and the pieces of fabric are sewn together at seams joining adjacent pieces to form a cover.shows the pair of sectionsA andB with filler in place (top) and pair of sectionsAandBwith filler removed (bottom).show sectionsA andB each have a zipperA andB for access to the interiors of the sections to facilitate placement or removal of filler material. The polygonal sheets of fabric of the sections can be cut at precise dimensions using fabric die cutting machines or manually and stitched or sewn together.shows the pillow support structure during use where the center of a pillowis cradled between sectionsA andB underneath.shows that the sections are dimensioned so that when fitted together to form a pillow support structure, the structure is slightly smaller than the length and width of a standard sized pillow. However, other implementations can be larger in size to accommodate oversize pillows. The pillow support structure can have a height between top and bottom surfaces of one to several inches.

show additional implementations of a pillow support structure where the top surfacesA andB of sectionsA andB are much narrower than that of the structure shown in. The top surfacesA andB form a narrow ridge that extend across the width of the sectionsA andB and can be anywhere from a quarter of an inch wide to several inches wide. The bottom surfaces (not shown) are also narrower than that of the implementations shown in(although several times wider than said top surfaces), so that the sectionsA andB ofas a whole are much smaller in dimension providing more compact pillow support structures. Theshows such implementation as sectionsA andB forming right trapezoidal prisms where end surfaces such asA (and complementary end surface of sectionB, not shown) form a right angle with extended surfaceA, whiledepicts a polyhedral structure where end surface such asA (and complementary end surface of sectionB, not shown) form an acute angle with extended surfaceA. The polyhedral structures ofcan be trapezoidal prisms having a base that is wider than the much narrower flat, top surface of the polyhedral structures, or can take on other polyhedral forms having a flat, top portion which is much narrower than the base portion and having a quadrilateral cross-section. Such implementations can be used for supporting sleeping positions such as back sleeping by cradling the center portion of the pillow.

Another implementation provides a method which includes assembling first and second fabric casings by stitching or sewing panels of fabric together. The panels of each fabric casing include two opposed right trapezoid-shaped or other quadrilateral-shaped panels and a plurality of rectangular panels. The fabric casings can be assembled by connecting the two opposed right trapezoid-shaped or other quadrilateral-shaped panels together with the rectangular panels therebetween including a top, bottom, and end rectangular panel and a sloped rectangular panel extending from the top rectangular panel to the bottom rectangular panel. The method further includes attaching a sheet of material to the bottom rectangular panel of fabric of the first fabric shell that extends beyond the bottom rectangular panel, and attaching complementary attachment structures to a top surface of the sheet of material and the bottom rectangular panel of the second fabric shell. The method can further include attaching a zipper to the first and second fabric shells designed to provide access to an interior of the first and second fabric shells, filling the first and second fabric shells with a filler material, the filler material chosen from polyurethane memory foam, polystyrene beads, polyester, cotton, feather, and down.

The featured pillow support structure can be used as follows. The bottom surface of the second section of the pillow support structure is attached to a top surface of the rectangular sheet of material by way of the complementary attachment structures to provide a gap between sloped surfaces of the first section and the second section. A pillow is placed over the first section and the second section such that a center of the pillow is cradled by the sloping surfaces of the first section and the second section. Such configuration facilitates sleeping positions such as back sleeping by the cradled center portion of the pillow or alternatively side sleeping by the top surfaces of the first and second sections.

It should be understood that other implementations apparent to those skilled in the art, such as monolithic sections composed of foam, rubber, silicone, or other yielding material are also contemplated. The materials can be chosen according to a Shore hardness that indicates a degree of softness and less resistance to indentation to provide comfort while retaining enough firmness to provide support. The monolithic sections can be applied to bedding directly using temporary attachment structures described herein to achieve the same purpose of a pillow support function. Further, the sections can be implemented in other shapes that provide a sloped surface, such as those having a cross-section representing other trapezoidal or other polygonal shapes such as isosceles, scalene, acute, or obtuse trapezoids, and/or including curvilinear shapes or surfaces such as a curved concave or convex sloped surface.

It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as top, bottom, end, and side refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in posture and position. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.

The present disclosure has described particular implementations having various features. In light of the disclosure provided above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. One skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosed features may be used singularly, in any combination, or omitted based on the requirements and specifications of a given application or design. When an implementation refers to “comprising” certain features, it is to be understood that the implementations can alternatively “consist of” or “consist essentially of” any one or more of the features. Other implementations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure.

It is noted in particular that where a range of values is provided in this specification, each value between the upper and lower limits of that range is also specifically disclosed. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included or excluded in the range as well. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary in nature and that variations that do not depart from the essence of the disclosure fall within the scope of the disclosure. Further, all of the references cited in this disclosure including patents, published applications, and non-patent literature are each individually incorporated by reference herein in their entireties and as such are intended to provide an efficient way of supplementing the enabling disclosure as well as provide background detailing the level of ordinary skill in the art.