Pregnancy support pillow

Pregnancy support pillows provide support to a pregnant woman lying on her side. A head support, back support, thigh support, and stomach support are connected end-to-end in a C-shaped configuration. The back support is curved. A cover encloses the supports and defines a hollow between the cover and the supports. The supports define first, second, third, fourth, and fifth air chambers, respectively. Each air chamber has a separate valve in fluid communication with it. A pocket is attached to the cover adjacent to the thigh support and receives the stomach support when the stomach support is deflated. Padding fills a portion of the hollow between the cover and the supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pregnancy support pillow for use in connection with support pillows. The pregnancy support pillow has particular utility in connection with providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Pregnancy support pillows are desirable for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side. Many pregnant women are required to sleep on their sides as their pregnancy advances to avoid disturbances in blood flow caused by pressure of the baby on large blood vessels. A variety of devices are known that address this problem.

The use of contoured body pillows is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,817 to Leach discloses a contoured body pillow. However, the Leach '817 patent does not have an air chamber, and has further drawbacks of lacking a valve.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2006/0042012 to Littlehorn discloses a pregnancy support pillow that supports a pregnant woman. However, the Littlehorn 2006/0042012 patent application publication does not have a plurality of air chambers, and additionally does not have a plurality of valves.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,934 to Leach discloses a symmetrically contoured support pillow that supports an adult in a sleeping position. However, the Leach '934 patent does not have a plurality of air chambers, and cannot have a plurality of valves.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,164 to Leach discloses a body pillow with horseshoe-shaped top and J-shaped bottom that accommodates the upper and lower portion of a person. However, the Leach '164 patent does not have an air chamber, and also does not have a valve.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,854 to Brownrigg discloses a lateral body-supporting pillow that supports various portions of the body. However, the Brownrigg '854 patent does not have an air chamber, and further lacks a valve.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,848 to Kelly discloses a body support pillow that provides stable cushioned support to individuals. However, the Kelly '848 patent does not have an air chamber, and has the additional deficiency of lacking a valve.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 420,845 to Rumage discloses a neck support pillow that supports the neck. However, the Rumage '845 patent does not have an air chamber, and also does not have a valve.

Furthermore, United States Patent Application Publication Number 2006/0037142 to Binder discloses a support with buoyancy cushions that supports at least a part of the human body. However, the Binder 2006/0037142 patent application publication does not have an air chamber, and further lacks a valve.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,908 to Error! Reference source not found. discloses an inflatable support pillow and methods that provides a support pillow. However, the Error! Reference source not found. '908 patent does not have a pocket, and has the additional deficiency of not simultaneously supporting a person's head, back, thigh, and stomach.

Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,999 to Priolo et al. discloses an adjustable therapeutic pillow that supports the head and neck during sleep. However, the Priolo et al. '999 patent does not have a plurality of valves, and has the additional deficiency of not simultaneously supporting a person's head, back, thigh, and stomach.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a pregnancy support pillow that allows providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side.

Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved pregnancy support pillow that can be used for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the pregnancy support pillow according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of contoured body pillows now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved pregnancy support pillow, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved pregnancy support pillow which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a pregnancy support pillow which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a head support with one of its opposing ends attached to one of the opposing ends of a back support. A thigh support is attached to the back support opposite the head support. The head support defines a hollow comprising a first air chamber. The back support defines a hollow comprising a second air chamber. The thigh support defines a hollow comprising a fourth air chamber. A first valve is in fluid communication with the first air chamber. A second valve is in fluid communication with the second air chamber. A fourth valve is in fluid communication with the fourth air chamber.

The invention may also include a third air chamber defined by a hollow in the back support. There may be a third valve in fluid communication with the third air chamber. There may be a cover enclosing the head support, back support, and thigh support. The cover may define a hollow. Padding may fill at least a portion of the hollow. The pregnancy support pillow may be generally C-shaped. There may be a pocket attached to the cover adjacent to the thigh support. There may be a stomach support with one of its opposing ends attached to one of the opposing ends of the thigh support opposite the back support. The stomach support may define a hollow comprising a fifth air chamber. There may be a fifth valve in fluid communication with the fifth air chamber. The first air chamber, second air chamber, fourth air chamber, and fifth air chamber may be made of inflatable plastic. The cover may be made of cotton. The padding may be foam rubber. The back support may be curved. The pregnancy support pillow may be about 4 to 5 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 6 to 8 inches thick. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pregnancy support pillow that has all of the advantages of the prior art contoured body pillows and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pregnancy support pillow that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pregnancy support pillow that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such pregnancy support pillow economically available to the buying public.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new pregnancy support pillow that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a pregnancy support pillow for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side. This allows a pregnant woman to lie on her left side without experiencing blood flow disturbances.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pregnancy support pillow for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side. This makes it possible to prevent back and hip strain.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a pregnancy support pillow for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side. This allows the firmness of each air chamber to be adjusted independently.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pregnancy support pillow for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side. This enables the stomach support to be stored out of the way when it is not needed.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pregnancy support pillow for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly toFIGS. 1-4, a current embodiment of the pregnancy support pillow of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral10.

InFIG. 1, a new and improved pregnancy support pillow10of the present invention for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the pregnancy support pillow10has a head support12with one end attached to one end of a back support14. The opposing end of back support14is attached to one end of thigh support16. The opposing end of thigh support16is attached to one end of stomach support18. A cover46encloses head support12, back support14, thigh support16, and stomach support18. A first valve22protrudes from head support12(visible inFIGS. 3 and 4). Second valve24and third valve26protrude from back support14. Fourth valve28protrudes from thigh support16. Fifth valve30protrudes from stomach support18. A pocket20is attached to cover46adjacent to thigh support16.FIG. 1illustrates how stomach support18can be optionally deflated and stored within pocket20when stomach support18is not needed. In the current embodiment, the pregnancy support pillow10is generally C-shaped and back support14is curved. Cover46is made of cotton in the current embodiment, and the pregnancy support pillow10is about 4 to 5 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 6 to 8 inches thick.

Moving on toFIG. 2, a new and improved pregnancy support pillow10of the present invention for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the pregnancy support pillow10has a back support14attached to one end of head support12. Back support14defines a second air chamber50. Cover46encloses head support12and back support14, defining a hollow44between cover46and head support12and back support14. Padding32fills a portion of hollow44. Second valve24is in fluid communication with second air chamber50. In the current embodiment, padding32is made of foam rubber.

Continuing withFIG. 3, a new and improved pregnancy support pillow10of the present invention for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the pregnancy support pillow10is depicted in use by a pregnant woman34. Her head36is supported by head support12, her thigh40is supported by thigh support16, her back38is supported by back support14, and her stomach42is supported by stomach support18. In the current embodiment, the back support14is curved to fit the curve of back38. Note that the broken lines depicting pregnant woman34, head36, back38, thigh40, and stomach42are for illustrative purposes only and are not part of the current invention.

Concluding withFIG. 4, a new and improved pregnancy support pillow10of the present invention for providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the pregnancy support pillow10has a head support12with one end attached to one end of a back support14. The opposing end of back support14is attached to one end of thigh support16. The opposing end of thigh support16is attached to one end of stomach support18. A cover46encloses head support12, back support14, thigh support16, and stomach support18. A first valve22protrudes from head support12. Second valve24and third valve26protrude from back support14. Fourth valve28protrudes from thigh support16. Fifth valve30protrudes from stomach support18. Pocket20is attached to cover46adjacent to thigh support16. Head support12defines a first air chamber48. Back support14defines a second air chamber50and third air chamber52. Thigh support16defines a fourth air chamber54. Stomach support18defines a fifth air chamber56. Cover46encloses head support12, back support14, thigh support16, and stomach support18, defining a hollow44between cover46and head support12, back support14, thigh support16, and stomach support18. Padding32fills a portion of hollow44to provide the user with additional support beyond that provided by first air chamber48, second air chamber50, third air chamber52, fourth air chamber54, and fifth air chamber56. First valve22is in fluid communication with first air chamber48. Second valve24is in fluid communication with second air chamber50. Third valve26is in fluid communication with third air chamber52. Fourth valve28is in fluid communication with fourth air chamber54. Fifth valve30is in fluid communication with fifth air chamber56. In the current embodiment, first air chamber48, second air chamber50, third air chamber52, fourth air chamber54, and fifth air chamber56are made from inflatable plastic. Third air chamber52, third valve26, pocket20, fifth air chamber56, fifth valve30, and stomach support18are optional components of the pregnancy support pillow10. In the current embodiment, first air chamber48, second air chamber50, third air chamber52, fourth air chamber54, and fifth air chamber56are not in fluid communication with one another.

In use, it can now be understood that a pregnant woman34obtains the pregnancy support pillow10and adjust the level of inflation of first air chamber48, second air chamber50, third air chamber52, fourth air chamber54, and fifth air chamber56using first valve22, second valve24, third valve26, fourth valve28, fifth valve30, and an air pump if required so that the head support12, back support14, thigh support16, and stomach support18provide the desired level of support. The pregnant woman34then lies on her side with the pregnancy support pillow10extending behind her back38, under her head36, between her thighs40, and (optionally) underneath her stomach42. During early stages of the pregnancy, or after the pregnancy, the stomach support18can be deflated and folded neatly into pocket20when it is not needed.

While a current embodiment of the pregnancy support pillow has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, any suitable flexible material such as polyester or any other variety of fabric may be used instead of the cotton cover described. Also, the inflatable plastic air chambers may also be made of rubber or similar material. And although providing support to a pregnant woman lying on her side has been described, it should be appreciated that the pregnancy support pillow herein described is also suitable for providing support to obese persons and those suffering ailments of the lower back or other orthopedic problems that would benefit from full-body support while sipping resting. Furthermore, a wide variety of air chamber configurations may be used instead of the five air chambers described.