Abstract:
A backpack system that contains an internal pillow sleeve configured to hold a pillow without interfering with other classroom items. The separate sleeve will reduce the exposure of the pillow to external germs and contaminants. The pillow is shaped and configured to provide additional cushioning to the student for quick, short naps during long study sessions. The student will avoid or reduce embarrassing situations or encounters.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the invention relates to a backpack configured with removable sleeves for holding a pillow for back support and use as a sleeping pillow. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Students at higher education institutions have the ability to independently determine their own schedules, with certain class-load limitations. The student schedule is filled with classes and activities selected by the student. 
         [0003]    The course load at the higher education institution often requires the student to study or complete course work for long periods of time. Students usually chose quiet libraries or other student lounges due to their proximity to campus classrooms, and to avoid the distractions of their dorms, apartments, or other living quarters. 
         [0004]    Most of these libraries or study lounges do not offer any beds, sofas, or any other resting places to allow students to re-energize by sleeping. Small, short naps have been shown to provide large energy boosts to students engaged in long study sessions. These energy boosts are essential to limiting the intake of caffeine and continuing to engage in course work. Many students finally succumb to their exhaustion and leave the library, reducing the amount of time that could be used to study. 
         [0005]    Many students will attempt to engineer makeshift sleeping arrangements from library materials. However, these materials are usually very uncomfortable and use of these materials for this purpose is frowned upon by higher education officials. 
         [0006]    Students do usually have lightweight, durable, and padded backpacks to carry laptops, heavy textbooks, writing utensils, calculators, and notebooks. These backpacks do have extra padding on straps or on back surfaces designed for alleviating back or shoulder pressure when carrying heavier loads in the backpack. However, this padding is not comfortable as a pillow for sleeping. 
         [0007]    Most students may feel self-conscious about carrying a pillow around campus. In addition, carrying a pillow around campus may expose the pillow to a variety of germs and contaminants present all over campus. These germs and contaminants could easily be absorbed into the pillow, and spread to the student&#39;s head. A loose pillow may also be inadvertently left in a classroom or other location by a tired, or inattentive, student. Finally, campus officials may not approve a pillow being brought openly into their facilities. 
         [0008]    Placing a pillow into an existing student backpack is also not an ideal solution, as classroom textbooks contained in the backpack, may also expose the pillow to a variety of germs and contaminants. 
         [0009]    Therefore, a need exists for a backpack that may be configured to internally carry a pillow without interfering with other classroom items. This pillow is shaped and configured to provide additional cushioning to the student for quick, short naps during long study sessions. The student will avoid or reduce embarrassing situations or encounters. This backpack will carry the pillow in a separate sleeve, reducing the exposure of the pillow to external germs and contaminants. 
         [0010]    Many students also attend various campus events. This backpack pillow will allow students to rest between events to continue their coursework. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, students could use this backpack to save money on airline flights. Most commercial airlines now have separate charges for in-flight use of a pillow and blanket. Since many students attend higher education institutions at distances far from their hometowns, they often must take at least four flights per year (two round-trip flights) to begin and end the school year. These students could save on in-flight charges on these flights by using the pillow in this backpack. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0013]    The subject invention discloses a backpack configured to carry a removable pillow, the backpack comprising: a front cover coupled to a back cover along a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge to define a main body with a top opening to a main internal compartment; a flap foldably attached to the top edge, such that the flap is foldable over the top opening of the main internal compartment; a first plurality of re-usable fastening devices attached to the flap and the front cover for holding the flap over the top opening; at least one adjustable shoulder strap on the back cover, wherein the shoulder strap comprises a top padded portion coupled to the top edge, a bottom portion coupled to the bottom edge; a buckle attached to the top padded portion of the shoulder strap, wherein the buckle comprises at least one opening and a friction bar, further wherein the bottom portion of the shoulder strap may be inserted through the opening around the friction bar to adjustably couple the top portion and the bottom portion of the shoulder strap; a substantially flat pillow sleeve comprising a front sleeve cover coupled to a back sleeve cover along a bottom sleeve edge, a top sleeve edge, a first side sleeve edge, and a second side sleeve edge to define a sleeve body with a top sleeve opening to a sleeve internal compartment; a second plurality of re-usable fastening devices attached to the top sleeve edge of the pillow sleeve for removably closing the front sleeve cover and back sleeve cover over the sleeve opening; and a pillow removably inserted into the pillow sleeve through the sleeve opening, wherein the pillow sleeve configures to the shape of the inserted pillow; wherein the pillow sleeve containing the pillow is inserted into the main internal compartment of the main body. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the subject invention, the front cover of the pillow sleeve further comprises an exterior pocket. In embodiments of the subject invention, the opening of the pocket may have a plurality of re-usable fastening devices, such as button snaps, zippers, clasps, snaps, toggles, or hook and loop fasteners for closing the pocket. In other embodiments of the subject invention, the pocket is configured to removably receive and hold standard writing utensils, such as pencils and pens. 
         [0015]    In a further embodiment of the subject invention, the backpack further comprises a second adjustable shoulder strap on the back cover, wherein the second shoulder strap comprises a top padded portion coupled to the top edge, a bottom portion coupled to the bottom edge; a second buckle attached to the top padded portion of the second shoulder strap, wherein the second buckle comprises at least one opening and a friction bar, further wherein the bottom portion of the second shoulder strap may be inserted through the opening around the friction bar to adjustably couple the top portion and the bottom portion of the second shoulder strap. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment of the subject invention, the first and second pluralities of re-usable fastening devices may be button snaps, zippers, clasps, snaps, toggles, or hook and loop fasteners. 
         [0017]    In other embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the backpack may be ten to twenty-four inches, and the height of the backpack may be sixteen to thirty inches. 
         [0018]    In further embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the top flap may be eight to sixteen inches, and the height of the top flap may be four to ten inches. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the subject invention, the bottom portion of each shoulder strap may comprise a substantially flat webbing strap. In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the top portion of the shoulder straps may be one to three inches, and the width of the webbing strap may be one half to two inches. 
         [0020]    In further embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the pillow sleeve may be thirteen to twenty inches, and the height of the pillow sleeve may be eighteen to twenty-five inches. 
         [0021]    In additional embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the top opening may be fourteen and a half inches in width to accommodate the width of the pillow to be inserted. 
         [0022]    In other embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the pocket may be eight to twelve inches, and the height of the pocket may be six to ten inches. 
         [0023]    In further embodiments of the subject invention, the main body of the backpack and the body of the pillow sleeve may each further include additional external pockets, waist straps, chest straps, or reflective materials. 
         [0024]    In other embodiments of the subject invention, the main body of the backpack and the body of the pillow sleeve may be composed of any combination the following: animal fabrics such as wool or silk; animal skin, such as leather or fur; plant fabrics such as cotton, modal, or hemp; or synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, aramid, ingeo, olefin, acrylic, or synthetic leather. 
         [0025]    In further embodiments of the subject invention, the internal surface of the top flap, the external surface of the top flap, the front cover, and the back cover may contain printed indicia thereon. This printed indicia may include, but is not limited to: logos, cartoon images, photographic images, game images, lithographic images, advertisements, drawings, hand-painted images, or holographic images. 
         [0026]    The subject invention also discloses a backpack configured to carry a removable cushion, the backpack comprising: a main body with a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a bottom surface, wherein a top surface of the main body defines a first channel to a first storage compartment; a cover movably attached to an edge of the top surface, such that the cover is movable over the first channel of the storage compartment; a first plurality of re-usable fastening devices attached to the cover and the front surface for holding the cover over the channel; at least one adjustable shoulder strap on the back surface, wherein the shoulder strap comprises a top padded portion coupled to the edge of the top surface, a bottom portion coupled to the bottom surface; a buckle adjustably attaching the top padded portion and the bottom portion of the shoulder strap; a cushion cover comprising a front cover surface, a back cover surface, a first side cover surface, a second side cover surface, and a bottom cover surface, wherein a top cover surface of the cushion cover defines a second channel to a second storage compartment; and a cushion removably inserted into the cushion cover through the second channel, wherein the cushion cover configures to the shape of the inserted cushion, wherein the cushion cover containing the cushion is inserted into the first storage compartment of the main body. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment of the subject invention, the front cover of the cushion cover further comprises an exterior pocket. In embodiments of the subject invention, the opening of the pocket may have a plurality of re-usable fastening devices, such as button snaps, zippers, clasps, snaps, toggles, or hook and loop fasteners for closing the pocket. In other embodiments of the subject invention, the pocket is configured to removably receive and hold standard writing utensils, such as pencils and pens. 
         [0028]    In a further embodiment of the subject invention, the backpack further comprises a second adjustable shoulder strap on the back surface, wherein the second shoulder strap comprises a top padded portion coupled to the edge of the top surface, a bottom portion coupled to the bottom surface; and a second buckle adjustably attaching the top padded portion and the bottom portion of the second shoulder strap. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment of the subject invention, the first plurality of re-usable fastening devices may be button snaps, zippers, clasps, snaps, toggles, or hook and loop fasteners. 
         [0030]    In other embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the backpack may be ten to twenty-four inches, and the height of the backpack may be sixteen to thirty inches. 
         [0031]    In further embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the cover may be eight to sixteen inches, and the height of the cover may be four to ten inches. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment of the subject invention, the bottom portion of each shoulder strap may comprise a substantially flat webbing strap. In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the top portion of the shoulder straps may be one to three inches, and the width of the webbing strap may be one half to two inches. 
         [0033]    In additional embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the cushion cover may be thirteen to twenty inches, and the height of the cushion cover may be eighteen to twenty-five inches. 
         [0034]    In other embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the second channel may be fourteen and a half inches in width to accommodate the width of the pillow to be inserted. 
         [0035]    In further embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the pocket may be eight to twelve inches, and the height of the pocket may be six to ten inches. 
         [0036]    In additional embodiments of the subject invention, the main body of the backpack and the body of the pillow sleeve may each further include additional external pockets, waist straps, chest straps, or reflective materials. 
         [0037]    In other embodiments of the subject invention, the main body of the backpack and the cushion cover may be composed of any combination the following: animal fabrics such as wool or silk; animal skin, such as leather or fur; plant fabrics such as cotton, modal, or hemp; or synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, aramid, ingeo, olefin, acrylic, or synthetic leather. 
         [0038]    In further embodiments of the subject invention, an internal surface of the cover, an external surface of the cover, the front surface, and the back surface may contain printed indicia thereon. This printed indicia may include, but is not limited to: logos, cartoon images, photographic images, game images, lithographic images, advertisements, drawings, hand-painted images, or holographic images. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0039]    Advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: 
           [0040]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of one embodiment of the pillowpax backpack with the top flap in the open position. 
           [0041]      FIG. 2  illustrates a back view of the embodiment of the pillowpax backpack with the top flap in the open position. 
           [0042]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of one embodiment of the pillow sleeve of the pillowpax backpack. 
           [0043]      FIG. 4  illustrates a back view of one embodiment of the pillow sleeve of the pillowpax backpack. 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  illustrates another back view of the embodiment of the pillowpax backpack with the top flap in the open position. 
           [0045]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded back view of the embodiment of the pillowpax backpack strap buckle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]    The following will describe, in detail, several embodiments of the present invention. These embodiments are provided by way of explanation only, and thus, should not unduly restrict the scope of the invention. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that the invention teaches many variations and modifications, and that numerous variations of the invention may be employed, used and made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0047]    For a conceptual understanding of the invention and its operational advantages, refer to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment(s), taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which by way of example; illustrate the principles of the invention. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5  illustrate a backpack  1  configured to carry a removable pillow. The backpack  1  includes a front cover  2  coupled to a back cover  3  through stitching or adhesives along a bottom edge  4 , a top edge  5 , and side edges  6  to form a main body  7 . The main body  7  of the backpack  1  defines a main internal compartment  8 . 
         [0049]    The backpack  1  further contains a top edge flap  9  that is foldable along line  10  over a top opening  11  of main internal compartment  8 . The internal surface  12  of the top flap  9  and the front surface  13  of the backpack  1  may each have a plurality of re-usable fastening devices  14 , such as button snaps, zippers, clasps, snaps, toggles, or hook and loop fasteners as shown for closing the flap  9  over the main internal compartment  8 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 2 and 5  illustrate a back view of a pillowpax backpack  1 . The external surface  15  of the top flap  9  will extend over the top opening  11  of the backpack  1  when the top flap  9  is folded over along line  10 . 
         [0051]    In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of backpack  1  may be ten to twenty-four inches, with sixteen inches of width being the preferred embodiment. In further embodiments of the subject invention, the height of backpack  1  may be sixteen to thirty inches, with twenty-four inches of height being the preferred embodiment. 
         [0052]    In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of top flap  9  may be eight to sixteen inches, with thirteen inches of width being the preferred embodiment. In further embodiments of the subject invention, the height of top flap  9  may be four to ten inches, with six inches of height being the preferred embodiment. 
         [0053]    The rear surface  16  of the backpack  1  may contain at least one adjustable shoulder strap  17 . Each shoulder strap  17  may contain a top padded portion  18  with a top end  19 . The top end  19  of the shoulder strap  17  may be stitched or adhered to the top edge  5  of the backpack  1 . The bottom portion  20  of each shoulder strap  17  may comprises a substantially flat webbing strap  21 . The bottom end  22  of each bottom portion  20  may be stitched or adhered to the bottom edge  4  of backpack  1 . 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the top portion  18  of each shoulder strap  17  may also include a buckle  23  with at least one opening  24  and a friction bar  25  that engages the webbing strap  21 . The webbing strap  21  may be inserted through the opening  24  of the buckle  23  and wrapped around the friction bar  25  to adjustably connect the top portion  18  to the bottom portion  20  of each shoulder strap  17 . The webbing strap  21  may be slid through the opening  24  of the buckle  23  to adjust the length of each shoulder strap  17  for a user. A user of the backpack  1  may place these shoulder straps  17  over one or both shoulders for easy transport. 
         [0055]    In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the top portion  18  of the shoulder strap  17  may be one to three inches, with two and a half inches of width being the preferred embodiment. In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of the webbing strap may be one half to two inches, with one inch of width being the preferred embodiment. 
         [0056]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a pillow sleeve  26  of the pillowpax backpack  1 . The pillow sleeve  26  includes a front cover  27  coupled to a back cover  28  with stitching or adhesives along a bottom edge  29 , a top edge  30 , and side edges  31  to form a sleeve body  32 . The pillow sleeve  26  defines a second internal compartment  33 . This second internal compartment is configured to removably hold a pillow that is preferably fourteen inches wide by twenty inches in height. 
         [0057]    In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of pillow sleeve  26  may be thirteen to twenty inches, with sixteen inches of width being the preferred embodiment. In further embodiments of the subject invention, the height of pillow sleeve  26  may be eighteen to twenty-five inches, with twenty-one inches of height being the preferred embodiment. 
         [0058]    The pillow sleeve  26  contains a top opening  34  over the second internal compartment  33 . The top opening  34  of the pillow sleeve  26  may have a plurality of re-usable fastening devices  35 , such as button snaps, zippers, clasps, snaps, toggles, or hook and loop fasteners for closing the opening  34  over the second internal compartment  33 . In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of top opening  34  may be fourteen and a half inches in width to accommodate the width of the pillow to be inserted. 
         [0059]    The front cover  27  of the pillow sleeve  26  further contains a pocket  36 . The opening  37  of the pocket  36  may have a plurality of re-usable fastening devices  38 , such as button snaps, zippers, clasps, snaps, toggles, or hook and loop fasteners for closing the pocket  36 . The pocket  36  is configured to removably receive and hold standard writing utensils, such as pencils and pens. 
         [0060]    In embodiments of the subject invention, the width of pocket  36  may be eight to twelve inches, with ten inches of width being the preferred embodiment. In further embodiments of the subject invention, the height of pocket  36  may be six to ten inches, with 8.25 inches of height being the preferred embodiment. 
         [0061]    In embodiments of the subject invention, the main body  7  of backpack and the body  32  of pillow sleeve  26  may each further include additional external pockets, waist straps, chest straps, or reflective materials. 
         [0062]    In embodiments of the subject invention, the main body  7  of backpack  1  and the body  32  of pillow sleeve  26  may be composed of any combination the following: animal fabrics such as wool or silk; animal skin, such as leather or fur; plant fabrics such as cotton, modal, or hemp; or synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, aramid, ingeo, olefin, acrylic, or synthetic leather. 
         [0063]    In embodiments of the subject invention, the internal surface  12  of the top flap  9 , the external surface  15  of the top flap  9 , the front cover  2 , and the back cover  3  may contain printed indicia thereon. This printed indicia may include, but is not limited to: logos, cartoon images, photographic images, game images, lithographic images, advertisements, drawings, hand-painted images, or holographic images. 
         [0064]    The many aspects and benefits of the invention are apparent from the detailed description, and thus, it is intended for the following claims to cover such aspects and benefits of the invention, which fall within the scope, and spirit of the invention. In addition, because numerous modifications and variations will be obvious and readily occur to those skilled in the art, the claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described herein. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents should be understood to fall within the scope of the invention as claimed herein.