Abstract:
A neck supporting piece of apparel, such as a scarf, which includes an inflatable bladder in a neck portion and a tube coupled to the bladder and extending downward to a port easily accessible by the user while wearing the apparel in order to inflate and deflate the bladder, which serves as a neck cushion or pillow. While the neck portion may be configured to go behind the user&#39;s neck, the apparel also may include a connector to join the apparel together in front of the user, helping to keep the cushion formed around the user&#39;s neck. In addition, the scarf may include pockets at a position generally where the user&#39;s hands would lie when sitting or standing, such that tensioning the scarf with the user&#39;s arms may increase the cushioning effect of the pillow.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/405,629, filed Nov. 3, 2011. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to apparel with one or more integrated features, such as a neck pillow, various pockets, and a chamois. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A person that sits for extended periods of time, e.g., a traveler, a person with a job sitting at a desk, or a medical patient receiving treatment such as chemotherapy, dialysis, etc., may experience neck and shoulder pain from supporting his or her head without significant movement. Although the person may be able to recline slightly in his or her chair, often the degree to which the chair reclines may be limited, such that the weight of supporting the head remains. 
     This problem may be exacerbated if the person attempts to sleep either while sitting upright or slightly reclined. As the person sleeps, the head may fall into a position that leaves the person with a stiff neck and/or muscle soreness when the person wakes up. 
     Neck pillows that envelop at least a portion of the person&#39;s head are available, but these can be bulky to transport. Particularly with respect to air travelers, as airlines become more stringent on the limits of what a person can bring into the cabin of a plane, these pillows can take up valuable space in the person&#39;s luggage, and they may be bulky to store when not in use. 
     What is needed is a method and apparatus for neck support that overcomes the drawbacks described above. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, neck-supporting apparel may include: a neck portion having an interior side and an exterior side with a pocket therebetween, a first portion extending outward from an end of the neck portion and a second portion extending outward from another end of the neck portion, an inflatable bladder configured to be disposed within the pocket, a tube operatively connected to the bladder, the tube configured to extend through a channel in the first portion, and a coupler configured to join the first portion to the second portion in front of a user. The coupler is releasably couplable to at least one of, and maybe both of, the first and second portions. The first portion may include a plurality of buttons, and the coupler may include an eyelet at one end, the eyelet configured to receive each of the plurality of buttons. 
     The apparel also may include an opening on the exterior side of the neck portion, the opening providing access to the pocket. In addition, the channel may extend to a port in the first portion, which may be vertically spaced at least about 6″ from a median of the neck portion. In addition, the port may be on an interior side of the first portion, the apparel further comprising a cover concealing the port. The apparel further may include a hood extending from the neck portion and an external pocket on an exterior side of each of the first and second portions. 
     In another embodiment, a neck supporting scarf may include: a neck portion with a first arm portion and a second arm portion, a pocket on an exterior side of, and proximate a bottom of, the first arm portion and the second arm portion, an inflatable bladder disposed within the neck portion, a tube coupled at one end proximate an end of the bladder and having a valve at an opposite end, a port in one of the first and second arm portions, the port configured to receive the valve, and a channel extending from the neck portion through at least a portion of the first arm portion, the channel connecting the pocket and the port. 
     The scarf also may include a connector configured to couple the first and second arm portions together, and attachment means on the first and second arm portions configured to couple to the connector. The attachment means on at least one of the first and second arm portions may be disposed proximate an end of the bladder. Alternatively, the attachment means may be disposed in a position overlying the channel. 
     The scarf further may include a hood extending from the neck portion and a visor attached at one end to the hood and releasably attached to the hood at another end. 
     The bladder may flare outward toward its edges, which may provide increased lateral support, and the tube may be about 10 inches long, which may allow for easier inflation and deflation of the bladder. 
     In still another embodiment, neck supporting apparel may include: a neck portion having an inner radius of curvature, a plurality of arm portions extending from the neck portion, a pocket on an exterior side of each arm portion, an inflatable bladder spanning the neck portion, the bladder having a radius of curvature substantially similar to the neck portion radius of curvature, at least one button on each arm portion, the buttons disposed below the ends of the bladder, and a coupler configured to join a button on a first arm portion with a button on a second arm portion. The neck supporting apparel also may include a tube extending downward into one of the arm portions, the tube having a length about half a length of the bladder. 
     These and other features and advantages are evident from the following description of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view of the internal side of a piece of apparel with an inflatable neck cushion, the apparel in the form of a scarf. 
         FIG. 1A  is one embodiment of a bladder and tube usable with the apparel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1B  is another embodiment of a bladder and tube usable with the apparel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the external side of the scarf of  FIG. 1 , the other external side generally a mirror-image thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the external side of a second embodiment of a piece of apparel with an inflatable neck cushion, the other external side generally a mirror image thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the apparel of  FIG. 1  worn around the neck of a user with the bladder deflated. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the apparel of  FIG. 1  with the bladder of the neck pillow inflated. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the apparel of  FIG. 1  worn around the neck of a user with the bladder inflated. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a second embodiment of apparel with an inflatable neck cushion, including a hooded portion. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the apparel of  FIG. 7  with a visor portion extending downward from the hood to cover at least a portion of the user&#39;s face. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the apparel of  FIG. 7  with the arm portions in an alternative configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus for supporting the neck may be part of apparel  10 , wearable by a user and configured to be inflated or deflated by the user whenever desired. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , in one embodiment, the apparel  10  may comprise and may be referred to herein as a scarf. Scarf  10  may include a portion  12  configured to go behind the user&#39;s head, preferably substantially aligned with the user&#39;s neck. Scarf  10  further may include a first arm portion  14  extending from one end of neck portion  12  and a second arm portion  16  extending from an opposite end of neck portion  12 . First and second arm portions may be substantially similarly shaped, although arm portions also may be distinct from one another. 
     Arm portions  14 ,  16  may be substantially symmetrical to one another, although differently shaped arm portions are possible. In one embodiment, arm portions  14 ,  16  each are about 7″ wide. Arm portions  14 ,  16  also may have a generally constant width between neck portion  12  and first and second ends  15 ,  17 , respectively, as seen in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, one or both of arm portions  14 ,  16  may include tapering and/or flaring over at least a portion of their lengths. 
     Scarf  10  may include an interior side  18 , which generally may rest against the user&#39;s body and an exterior side  20  opposite interior side  18  and facing away from the user. These designations are for description and reference only, as it clearly may be possible to rest at least a portion of the exterior side  20  against the user during use. 
     At least one, and preferably both, of first and second arm portions  14 ,  16  may include at least one pocket  22 , which may be used for storage or as a receptacle for the user&#39;s hands. Preferably, both arm portions include a pocket  22  in substantially the same position on each arm portion. Each pocket may include an opening sized to receive the user&#39;s hands comfortably. Opening  24  into each pocket  22  may point upward, rearward, or both, as seen in  FIGS. 2-3 . In one embodiment, opening  24  may include a closure device, such as a zipper, snap, or button. In another embodiment, opening  24  may remain open, without any kind of closure. In addition, scarf  10  may include an additional pocket  26  disposed within at least one pocket  22 . 
     Pockets  22  may be disposed at a height that allows for a plurality of users of different heights and/or arm lengths to wear scarf  10  and to use pockets  22  comfortably. For example, middle of pockets  22  may be disposed generally at waist height for an average sized person, but pockets may have a large enough depth to accommodate users with different arm lengths. Bottoms of pockets  22  may be between about 20 inches and about 40 inches from a transition between neck portion  12  and first and second arm portions  14 ,  16 , preferably between about 24 inches and about 30 inches, and in one embodiment, about 28 inches. Pockets may be between about 4 inches and about 12 inches deep, preferably between about 6 inches and about 10 inches deep, and in one embodiment, about 8½ inches deep. 
     Scarf  10  may be sized such that pockets  22  may be proximate first and second ends  15 ,  17 , although one or more of first and second arm portions  14 ,  16  may extend a significant distance beyond a bottom of the pockets  22 . 
     Turning back to  FIG. 1 , scarf  10  additionally may include one or more internal pockets  28 . Because pocket  28  may be disposed inward from interior side  18 , this pocket  28  may be better suited for storing items of greater importance to the user, e.g., identification, money, etc. Pocket  28 , therefore, may have a closure device to assist in retaining items within pocket  28 , e.g., a zipper, one or more buttons or snaps, etc. Preferably, closure device is a zipper, which may enable the entire pocket opening to be sealed. 
     Pocket  28  may be disposed closer to neck portion  12  than pockets  22 , e.g., mimicking a breast pocket on a coat, making it easier for the user to store and retrieve items from pocket  28 . 
     Scarf  10  additionally may include a chamois-type portion  30  disposed on interior side  18 , e.g., opposite one of exterior pockets  22  or proximate a first or second end  15 ,  17 . Chamois may be made of a microfiber, cotton, or other material that may adequately clean glass or plastic without scratching it. Preferably, chamois-type portion  30  is disposed far enough down its arm portion that a user can employ it to easily clean an object such as glasses, a cell phone or computer tablet-type device screen, etc., while wearing scarf  10 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1A-B , scarf  10  may include one or more inflatable bladders  32 . Preferably, bladder  32  is disposed within internal pocket  34  within neck portion  12 . Bladder  32  may be operatively coupled to tube  36 , e.g., proximate one end of bladder  32 . As seen in  FIGS. 1A-B , bladder  32  and tube  36  may be fixedly coupled to one another, although tube  36  alternatively may be designed to be separable from bladder  32 . 
     Bladder  32  may span a substantial height of neck portion  12 . As such, bladder  32  may be made of a relatively thin, flexible material so that when the bladder is deflated, the user may be able to fold neck portion  12  over, forming a collar, without the bladder attempting to return to an unfolded configuration, as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     Bladder  32  also may span a substantial amount of the width of neck portion. In one embodiment, bladder  32  spans at least the part of neck portion  12  located laterally inwards between arm portions  14 ,  16 . Additionally, bladder  32  may have a lateral extent overlapping onto width of arm portions  14 ,  16 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , bladder  32  may extend widthwise to about the median width of arm portions  14 ,  16 . 
     Neck portion  12  may include an inner arch  38  for resting on the user&#39;s neck during use. Additionally, neck portion  12  may include an outer arch  40  Inner and outer arches may have similar radii of curvature. Staying with  FIG. 1 , however, inner arch  38  may have a smaller radius of curvature than outer arch  40 . As such, neck portion may be narrowest proximate the apex of the arches and may widen when expanding outward toward arm portions  14 ,  16 . 
     Bladder  32  may be configured to generally match the contours of neck portion  12 , i.e., it may be narrowest at an apex and expand towards its ends, as seen in  FIG. 1A . Alternatively, bladder  32  may have a generally uniform thickness along its length, as seen in  FIG. 1B . In one embodiment, neck portion  12  may be about 7″ thick at its apex, or generally about as thick as a width of arm portions  14 ,  16 . When deflated, bladder  32  may be narrower than this, e.g., about 4½″ wide at its apex, which may allow for expansion of bladder within internal pocket  34  of neck portion  12  as bladder  32  is inflated. Deflated bladder  32  may have a width of about 6½″ proximate its ends. Moreover, bladder  32  may have one or more radii of curvature substantially similar to radii of curvature of inner and outer arches  38 ,  40 . These dimensions are exemplary and bladders with other dimensions and/or dimensional ratios are possible. 
     As stated above, bladder  32  may be operatively coupled to tube  36 . Tube  36  may travel within channel  42  from neck portion  12  into one of arm portions  14 ,  16 . Tube  36  may terminate in a fill valve  44 , which may exit channel at port  46  on the arm portion. Tube may be between about 6″ and about 24″ long, preferably between about 8″ and about 16″, and in one embodiment, about 10″. As such, fill valve  44  may extend down into arm portion  14  a sufficient distance that it may be used easily by user while wearing scarf  10 . For example, a shorter tube—which correlates with a port higher up on arm portion or on neck portion—may require the user to bend his or her head at a severe angle to reach tube. Additionally, with a shorter tube, valve then may be at a location where it presses against the user&#39;s neck or head when bladder  32  is inflated, which may lead to discomfort. Instead, port  46  may be located a vertical distance between about 4″ and about 12″ from inner arch  38  of neck portion  12 , preferably between about 5″ and about 9″, and in one embodiment, about 7″. 
     Although a single bladder-tube combination has been described herein, scarf  10  may include a plurality of bladders and/or tubes or a single bladder having multiple separate chambers fillable by separate tubes. For example, scarf may include first and second bladders or a bladder having a first and second chamber disposed laterally adjacent to one another with separate tubes to fill each portion. As such, the user may be able to adjust each bladder to a desired level for increased customization. In this example, the user may wish to sleep more on his or her side, so the user may inflate the side that will be underneath the head while not inflating the other side or inflating it to a lesser degree. Alternatively, a plurality of bladders may be arranged generally vertically with respect to one another so as to allow the user to provide increased or decreased cervical or head support. Tubes for the plurality of bladders may extend through the same channel  42  and exit port  46 , or scarf may include a plurality of channels, such as a second channel leading to the other arm portion, and a plurality of exit ports with covers. 
     Fill valve  44  may retract within port  46  when not being used to inflate or deflate bladder  32 , concealing fill valve  44  during use. Alternatively, scarf  10  may include cover  48  to conceal fill valve  44 . Cover and arm portion may include interfacing attachment mechanisms  50 , e.g., Velcro, snaps, buttons, tabs/slots, etc., to keep cover  48  in place. Additionally, cover  48  may be made of the same material (including color, fabric pattern, etc.) as arm portion  14  to further conceal cover. In yet another embodiment, cover  48  may remain generally stationary with respect to arm portion  14 , as in the case of a patch over port  46  that is coupled to arm portion at all but one side. Cover  48  then may conceal fill valve  44  while allowing for access to fill valve via the uncoupled part of cover  48 . 
     Bladder  32  and/or tube  36  may be removable from within scarf  10 . Neck portion  12  may include an opening  52  through which bladder  32  and tube  36  may pass into and out of pocket  34 . Opening  52  may be resealable, e.g., via use of a zipper  54  or other type of closure device. In one embodiment, opening  52  may be disposed on interior side  18  of neck portion  12 , thereby concealing opening  52 . Alternatively, opening  52  may be disposed along exterior side  20  of neck portion. This may prevent the zipper pull from contacting and/or pressing into the user&#39;s head or neck, which may cause discomfort for some users. 
     Scarf  10  also may include an increased friction element  56  such as a rubber-type portion on an exterior side of neck portion  12 , e.g., in a spot overlying bladder  32 . Element  56  may be generally centered on neck portion and may be made of a suitable material to help prevent scarf from sliding when the user turns his or her head and when the scarf is pressed against a surface, such as a chair back or headrest. Element  56  may be large enough to provide increased friction but small enough so as to avoid creating unwanted rigidity in neck portion  12 , e.g., element  56  may be between about 1″×1″ and about 2″×2″. 
     Scarf  10  may be made of a variety of different materials. In one embodiment, scarf  10  may include at least a portion of a LYCRA or polyester/cotton blend material with rayon, which may impart a slight degree of stretch into the scarf. This may allow for expansion of scarf  10  as bladder  32  is inflated. Alternatively, internal bladder pocket  34  may be sized to accommodate fully inflated bladder  32 , which may decrease importance of fabric stretch. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6-8 , scarf  10  further may include a coupler  58  to releasably couple arm portion  14  to arm portion  16 . Coupler  58  may include a fabric portion similar to fabric of arm portions  14 ,  16 . Alternatively, coupler  58  may include decorative attachments to provide for different aesthetic appearances. 
     Coupler  58  and arm portions  14  also may include attachment means  60 , such as buttons and eyelets, snaps, Velcro, latches, ties, stitching, etc. Coupler  58  may be fixedly attached to one or both of arm portions, removably attached to one or both of arm portions, or fixedly attached to one arm portion and removably attached to the other arm portion. Coupler  58  may be sized to keep arm portions relatively close to one another to pull ends of bladder  32  together, but not so close as to pinch around the user&#39;s neck. For example, coupler  58  may be about 6 inches long with eyelets of attachment means spaced about 4 inches apart, although alternative dimensions are possible. 
     Preferably, attachment means  60  may comprise one or more buttons  62  on each of arm portions  14 ,  16  and a plurality of openings on coupler  58 . In the embodiment seen in  FIGS. 7-8 , arm portion  16  includes a single button and arm portion  14  includes a plurality of buttons, which may allow for adjustment of scarf  10  for various-sized users. Buttons  62  may be located such that, when joined to both arm portions, scarf  10  with coupler  58  may form a collar  64  around the user&#39;s neck, proximate the user&#39;s collarbone, as seen in  FIG. 6 . Coupler  58  may include a radius of curvature  66  on an upper portion, which may lay more comfortably against the user in the event of a tighter fit than if coupler had a different configuration, e.g., a straight line or convex. 
     Buttons  62  may be arranged in one or more ways. For example, buttons may be generally vertically aligned with respect to arm portion  14 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, buttons may be angled relative to arm portion  14 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . This may allow for a larger degree of adjustment, as collar  64  may change a greater amount when using angled buttons as compared to generally vertical alignment. In one embodiment, buttons  62  may be angled about 35 degrees relative to a leading edge of arm portion  14 , although other angle variations are possible. Buttons  62  also may be disposed proximate ends of bladder, as seen in  FIG. 2  or outward from bladder  32 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     Without coupler  58 , bladder  32  may tend to flare outwards at its ends, decreasing support or cushioning for the user. Additionally, the closer buttons  62  arelocated with respect to bladder ends, the more countoured bladder  32  will be around the user&#39;s neck, providing enhanced support to more of the user&#39;s neck. 
     Second arm portion  16  also may include a plurality of buttons, which may provide even greater adjustability for the user. Alternatively, second arm portion  16  may include a single button, so the user only has to adjust one side in order to adjust collar  64 . 
     Coupler  58  also may be employed when bladder is deflated to provide for different scarf configurations for the user. As seen in  FIG. 7 , coupler may be joined across the front of the user, with arm portions  14 ,  16  generally adjacent to one another. Alternatively, as seen in  FIG. 9 , arm portion  14  may be crossed over arm portion  16 , such that arm portion  14  provides greater coverage for the user&#39;s neck. In this configuration, coupler may be disposed to one side of the user&#39;s neck, contributing to a different look for the user. Other arm/coupler configurations are possible, including removing coupler entirely when bladder  32  is deflated. 
     In another embodiment, as seen in  FIGS. 7-9 , scarf  10  may include a hooded portion  68 , which may serve as an extension of neck portion. Although bladder  32  and internal bladder pocket  34  may be enlarged to continue within at least a portion of hooded portion  68 , preferably bladder and bladder pocket remain substantially the same as in the non-hooded embodiment. In this embodiment, scarf  10  further may include a visor or mask  70  having one end secured to hooded portion  68  and another end releasably coupled an underside of hooded portion  68 , e.g., via fasteners  72 . When uncoupled, visor  70  may cover at least a portion of the user&#39;s face, e.g., the eyes, nose, and/or mouth. Visor  70  may be made of a material that is at least partially opaque, which may serve one or more purposes. Visor  70  may shield the user&#39;s eyes from light in the event the user wishes to sleep or to have a darkened, more relaxing environment. Additionally, visor  70  may offer the user additional privacy while sleeping, as some people sleep with their mouths open and would prefer to avoid making that visible to other people. 
     In another embodiment, apparel  10  may comprise a vest. In yet another embodiment, apparel  10  may comprise a shirt or jacket with a collar. In a further embodiment, apparel  10  may comprise a hooded sweatshirt. Descriptions of the various aspects of the scarf may apply to these and other embodiments of the apparel  10 . Although these different apparel embodiments may include more fabric than just neck and arm portions, they each may include a neck portion suitable for holding bladder, material extending downward from the neck portion in front of the user, and some form of coupling or other manner of holding this downward extending material together so as to form a collar around the user&#39;s neck. 
     To use scarf  10  as a neck pillow or supporter, the user may place neck portion  12  behind his or her neck, with arm portions  14 ,  16  draped in front. Coupler  58  may join arms together, and may be adjusted to a desired tightness for the user. The user then may open cover  48  and, if not already protruding, remove tube  36  from port  46 . By blowing into fill valve  44 , the user may inflate bladder  32  to the desired level. The user then may close fill valve  44  and close cover  48 . In order to provide additional support to the user&#39;s neck, the user may insert his or her hands into pockets  22 . Downward force in pockets  22  may pull arm portions  14 ,  16  forward, which further may pull neck portion  12  against the user&#39;s neck, causing neck portion to bend inward to a greater degree and providing a greater circumferential cushioning effect. 
     While the foregoing written description enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific exemplary embodiments and methods herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments and methods, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.