Abstract:
Disclosed herein, is a pillow curler case, also called a pillow cover having a specialty panel that is used in conjunction with a traditional pillow. When the pillow is placed in the cover, an indentation is formed allowing the user to place their head in the indented region of the pillow while having their neck and shoulders supported by the edges of the pillow. This indentation provides for greater comfort when lying on the pillow, in particular when wearing hair or head devices or where there is a desire for separation between a user&#39;s face and their pillow. Other applications will be apparent to those of skill in the art for uses of the final rolled pillow which is formed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     None 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a pillow that provides comfort to a user while sleeping by giving appropriate neck support. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pillow cover that is designed to accommodate the pillow such that the user can sleep comfortably, for example, when hair devices are attached to his hair and/or when the user desires a separation between the face and the pillow. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Various types of pillows and pillow covers have been known in the art that provide comfort to a user while sleeping. Generally pillow covers or pillow cases (the words cover and case are interchangeable here) are used primarily for covering a pillow and allowing a barrier from the user and surface of the pillow. However, not many covers are intended to mold the pillow in a particular format. Some orthopedic pillows have been designed that are molded, and provide appropriate support to the neck so as to prevent headache, stiffness and pain in the back, shoulder, and arms. Pillows are developed for dissipating body heat, or having a particular shape to allow a body to hold it easily between a user&#39;s legs. Generally, these pillows are considered specialty items and are available in one-piece, they are not suitable for all users as they do not always match with the user requirements; e.g., the preferences of the softness of pillows vary across different users, or the type of support they provide vary with the shape of the pillow. 
     Specialty pillows such as orthopedic pillows can be expensive and require additional accessories such as special pillow cases. 
     Individuals who wear head gear can find it difficult to sleep on a standard pillow. Head gear is defined herein as items useful for covering your head, for example for protection of your mouth/teeth, head injury wrappings or equipment, or the wearing of hair accessories such as rollers or curlers. Many a time, the user while sleeping or taking a power nap prefers that his hair is not disturbed. Specifically, hair devices like curlers and the like do not allow the user to sleep comfortably on a standard or currently available pillow. Moreover, the placement of curlers present on the head gets disturbed because of the existing pillows. Women and girls generally tend to frequently change their hairstyle which follows with fashion trends for various events and occasions. The use of various hair devices like curlers, rollers and the like is not uncommon to be worn or used during a sleep period. Generally it takes a couple of hours or more for these hair devices to set the hair as per the desired hairstyle. It becomes cumbersome for women to sit upright for a long period of time and hence they prefer to sleep till the desired hairstyle is achieved. However, it becomes uncomfortable to sleep with these devices on and also while sleeping, the placement and positioning of the hair device is disturbed. 
     US publication No. 2008/0086818 by Roger A. Sramek, David E. Lovejoy and Roger S. Smith discloses a pillow comprising variable displacement parameters that support a head of a reclining body in a comfortable and ideal sleeping position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,513 by Gustave R. Rinz discloses a pillow cover and removable insert for converting a conventional pillow into an orthopedic pillow. Though the aforementioned disclosures provide a pillow and a pillow cover respectively that provide neck support for head and body comfort, they fail to provide comfort to the user in the presence of hair devices and/or comfort of a pillow which allows separation between the face and the pillow itself. 
     In light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need for an innovative pillow cover that not only provides neck support to the user but also provides comfort while using various hair devices and also provides comfort while separating the face from the pillow. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a pillow cover for accommodating a traditional, standard size pillow that protects the user&#39;s hairstyle, when desired; and providing comfort while sleeping with hair devices attached to one&#39;s hair. It can also be used by anyone having head devices or head gear on one&#39;s head while sleeping on or with a standard pillow. Additionally, the invention provides a cave between both ends of the pillow, allowing facial separation from the pillow. It can also be used as a body rest for arms and or legs, or to support a person&#39;s back while they are seated. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the pillow cover includes an opening present at both ends along its width. This can be used for inserting the pillow and it also allows the user to insert their hands through both ends for additional comfort while sleeping. Alternatively, the pillow cover has an opening at only one end, which can be used for inserting the pillow and a hand, when desired. The total surface area of the pillow cover is less than the total surface area of most traditional pillows. A front surface of the pillow cover on which a user rests his head includes elastomeric edges. Since the elastomeric edges have a tendency to contract, and since the area of the pillow cover is less than that of the pillow, the pillow is curled, forming a hollow space therein. 
     A panel is provided along the front surface that covers the formed hollow space. The panel covers an area equivalent to an area covered by an indentation. Hence, when the pillow is inserted inside the pillow cover, the border formed between the edges of the pillow cover and the panel is rolled outwardly to form the indentation along the front surface. The indentation superimposes with the hollow space formed by the pillow. 
     The panel is designed to minimize the discomfort caused while sleeping due to the presence of hair devices and/or to create a space between the user and the pillow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a pillow cover without the presence of a pillow; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the pillow cover with the presence of the pillow; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the pillow cover positioned inside-out; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the pillow cover along with a rolled pillow; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the pillow cover while inserting of the rolled pillow; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the pillow cover with the presence of the rolled pillow and a user adjusting the sides. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “an article” may include a plurality of articles unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the elements in the Figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the Figures may be exaggerated, relative to other elements, in order to improve the understanding of the present invention. 
     There may be additional components described in the foregoing application that are not depicted on one of the described drawings. In the event such a component is described, but not depicted in a drawing, the absence of such a drawing should not be considered as an omission of such design from the specification. 
     Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention utilizes a combination of system components which constitutes a pillow cover used for achieving comfortable sleeping conditions in presence of hair devices on one&#39;s hair and providing a separation between the face and pillow. Accordingly, the components and the method steps have been represented, showing only specific details that are pertinent for an understanding of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
     Disclosed herein is a pillow cover for accommodating a pillow and forming an indention comprising a generally rectangular shaped pillow case smaller than a pillow to be inserted therein, having at least one opening but alternatively a first and second opening on each end thereof and means to close the opening, wherein the opening is sufficiently large for insertion and removal of at least one pillow; a front side and a rear side of the case, wherein the front side contains a panel comprising about one third to about one quarter (⅓ to ¼) of the total space of the pillow cover, such that when the pillow is inserted into the cover, at least one edge along the panel buttresses an edge of the pillow panel causing the pillow to curl and form an indentation, the depth of which is at least about ⅓ the size of the pillow. The pillow cover and panel can be made of a variety of fabrics such as satin, cotton, flannel, winceyette, nylon, velvet, polyester and linen and the like. The resulting rolled pillow having a defined indentation can be used by a person wearing hair curlers or other appliances while they sleep or used by those needing additional support during rest. 
     A pillow cover  100  designed to be used by a user for sleeping with a set of hair devices (not shown) attached to his hair is shown in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention and is also designed to produce a cavity between the user and pillow to protect the face from pillow marks. 
     The pillow cover  100  not only provides neck support to the user but also provides comfort when the hair devices are attached on the user&#39;s head. 
     The pillow cover  100  minimizes discomfort caused while sleeping with a set of hair or head devices and creates a comfortable sleeping condition for the user. The set of head devices may include hair rollers, hair curlers, hair clippers, and hair crimpers or medical head gear or ear gear or the like. The pillow and pillow cover  100  of the present invention are intended to be used with such hair devices; however, they can be used without the hair devices, wherein the user seeks a comfortable sleeping posture, or when a traditional pillow is required to be used as an orthopedic pillow. The indented pillow can also be used as a leg or arm rest (i.e., body rest) or a back support while sitting up on a chair or bed mattress. 
     The pillow cover  100  includes an opening  102  for inserting and removing a pillow, such as a traditional pillow. Alternatively, other insertions for the pillow may be used; such as side seams along the edge of a panel. To close the seam, i.e. zippers, buttons, Velcro, etc. can be used in the body of the invention. The point being is to have an opening to insert a rolled pillow, and form a dent. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening  102  is on both ends present along the width of the pillow cover  100 . In an alternative embodiment, the opening  102  may be provided on one end only. The pillow cover  100  is intended to be used with a traditional standard sized pillow. However, it should be appreciated that the pillow of any dimension can be accommodated inside the pillow cover  100  by appropriately designing the pillow cover  100 . 
     The pillow cover  100  has a front side  104  and a rear side (not shown). The user attempts to sleep with his head always occupying the front side  104  of the pillow cover  100 . Edges  106  are formed between the front side  104  and the rear side (not shown) of the pillow cover  100 . The edges  106  define an area therebetween on the front side  104 , onto which indentations  108  are formed. 
     The edges  102  are made of an elastomeric material, such as rubber. It should be appreciated that any polymeric material that exhibits good stretch ability and elastic properties can be used as the elastomeric material. 
     The pillow cover  100  is designed in such a way that total surface area of the pillow is always greater than total surface area occupied by the pillow cover  100 . As a result, when the pillow is placed inside the pillow cover  100 , the front side  104  forms a concave surface in the form of an indentation  108  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As the total surface area of the pillow is more than the total surface area of the pillow cover  100 , the plurality of edges  106  bends outwardly to form the indentation  108 . In other words, the pillow is curled inside the pillow cover  100 , when viewed from a side position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The size of the pillow cover  100  plays a significant role in the formation of the indentation  108 . If the size of the pillow cover  100  is greater than desired, the pillow will be folded in half inside the pillow cover  100  failing to form an appropriate indentation  108 . Similarly, a considerably smaller size of the pillow cover  100  will force the pillow to form a roll and not the indentation  108 . Hence, the pillow cover  100  of appropriate dimension should be used that will enable the formation of the indentation  108 . The pillow cover  100  should be of sufficient size that the rolled up pillow forms a dent and not a roll, or alternatively folds in effect to half its size and does not form a defined dent. Neither of the later two options are the intent of the subject invention. 
     A panel  110  is present on the indentation  108  such that the area covered by the indentation  108  coincides with the area covered by the panel  110 . 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the panel  110  occupies about one-fourth to one-third of the total area that is covered by the front side  104  of a standard size pillow, having either one of soft, medium and/or firm foam. While foam is a preferred pillow interior, feathers or other pillow internal material can be used. 
     The panel  110  covers a central area of the front side  104  of the pillow cover  100 . As the openings as shown in the figures are of an elastomeric material, they shrink, thereby making the panel  110  appear tapered towards the openings  102 . 
     The panel  110  provides a visual indication, or a marker, to the user for appropriately placing the pillow inside the pillow cover  100  such that a front face of the pillow lies below the panel  110  at all times thereby facilitating the formation of the indentation  108 . The panel  110  also contributes to the formation of the indentation through use of the elasticized ends, and the edges or seams thereof. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, when using a standard size US (United States) pillow inserted in the case, the width of the panel  110  is about 9 inches, tapering at the gathered ends. At the elastomeric openings  102 , the width of the panel  110  is about 5 inches with the pillow inserted in the case. The following dimensions are considered for pillows and pillow cases for forming ideal indentations: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Pillow Case/Panel 
               
               
                   
                 Pillow (inches) 
                 (for indentation) (inches) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 20 × 28 (super standard) 
                 27/13 
               
               
                   
                 20 × 30 (standard jumbo) 
                 31.5/12.5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The ideal length for a pillow case was found to be about 25 inches long for a standard jumbo (US term) pillow or about 22 inches long for a super standard (US term) pillow. 
     In another embodiment, the panel  110  can range from about 9.5 to 13.5 inches, however this range will vary based on the size of the pillow to be used. In an example, the dimensions of the sleeping pillow can range from about 27 to 44 inches long while the dimensions of the panel  110  can range from about 9.5 to 13.5 inches wide. 
     In an embodiment the maximum width of the pillow cover  100  without a pillow inside, i.e., including the edges and the panel (or when the pillow cover is completely stretched) at the center of the front side is at least about 18 inches. The distance measured between the opening  102  present at both ends of the pillow cover  100  (i.e., the overall length of the pillow cover  100 ) is about 20-22 inches; however, it may be longer. Hence, to form the indentation  108 , the dimensions of the pillow need to be greater than the dimensions of the pillow case cover  100 . 
     It should be appreciated that any standard US pillow can be used with the pillow cover  100  to form the indentation  108 . The dimensions are provided for a standard US pillow, but these can be altered proportionally to a different size pillow. 
     To use the cover, the pillow is rolled along its length and inserted into the pillow cover  100  through the openings  102  or a side seam and zipper, such that the roll enters with the pillow edges first. 
     After inserting, the pillow is unrolled inside the pillow cover  100  so that it forms the desired indentation  108  on the pillow which is reflected on the panel  110 . 
       FIGS. 4, 5 and 6  show a user rolling a pillow lengthwise and inserting the pillow in the pillow cover  100  through the opening  102 . The user adjusts the pillow inside the pillow cover  100  having the edges of the pillow along or near the edges of the panel, thereby positioning the pillow at the center of the pillow cover  100 , and forming a dent. A soft or medium padding on the pillow forms a softer indentation  108  whereas a firm padding on the pillow forms a harder indentation  108 . However, the type and size of the pillow can vary depending on the user&#39;s desired comfort. 
     The formation of an indentation  108  is affected by the cushioning or thickness of the pillow. If the panel  110  is narrow, the indentation  108  formed is small. However, the small indentation  108  an still provide desired comfort to a person. Moreover, a bigger indentation  108  is likely preferred on the pillow when a user wears large curlers on their hair. If they just want to keep their face off the pillow, a smaller indentation  108  is likely suitable. When the pillow cover  100  with the pillow is used as a back rest or leg rest/holder, a smaller indentation  108  is suitable. The design of the pillow cover  100  helps to manipulate a pillow for various uses in an inexpensive manner. 
     In an example, a pillow is folded, inserted, and accommodated in the pillow cover  100  through the opening  102  to form a dent. The formed indentation  108  on the top surface  104  allows a person with hair accessories such as rollers or curlers to comfortably place the head in the indentation  108 . The design of the pillow cover  110  does not disturb the hair or head pieces, or the hairstyle of the person and moreover allows the person to rest or sleep without damage to their hairstyles. 
     It has been found that the indentation  108  is formed when the pillow is positioned within the pillow cover  100  such that the edges of the pillow are abutting the edges of the panel  110 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the panel includes a seam  112  on an inner side  114  of the pillow cover  100 . The seam  112  on the inner side  114  of the pillow cover  100  can be seen when the pillow cover  100  is folded inside-out as shown in  FIG. 3 . The seam  112  defines a region of adherence of the panel  110  to the pillow cover  100 . On this seam maybe closure means such as zipper, buttons, or velco. 
     The pillow cover  100  can be made of a variety of soft fabrics including satin, cotton, flannel, winceyette, nylon, velvet, polyester and linen. Alternatively, the fabric can also be of a disposable type material particularly useful in germ-centered or germ-concerned areas such as a hospital setting, or the like. It should be appreciated that any other material used for manufacturing the pillow cover  100  is well within the scope of the invention. 
     The panel  110  can be made from the same fabric as the remainder of the pillow or it can be made from any other suitable material. The panel  110  and the pillow cover  100  can both be made of elastomeric (or stretch) fabric, or of a non-stretch fabric, or a mixture of either. The choice of fabric is per the user&#39;s discretion, but the chosen fabric should be easy to maintain, clean, and use. 
     The present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Although selected embodiments have been illustrated and described in detail, it may be understood that various substitutions and alterations are possible. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings may recognize additional various substitutions and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and as defined by the following claim.