Sack For Transporting Pillow

Disclosed herein, in one aspect, is a sack for holding a pillow. The sack includes a body defining a pocket that is sized to receive a pillow. The body has a top and a bottom that are spaced along a first axis and first and second lateral ends that are spaced along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The pocket has an opening at the first lateral end of the body. The sack further includes a sleeve extending outwardly from the body. The sleeve defines a receiving space (e.g., slot) extending along the first axis. The slot is configured to receive (optionally, receive therethrough) a handle of a suitcase.

FIELD

This application is related to a sack for transporting a pillow.

BACKGROUND

It can be desirable to travel with a pillow. However, the pillow takes up too much space in conventional luggage, and leaving the pillow outside of luggage makes the pillow subject to being dropped, soiled, or lost. Accordingly, a better way to transport the pillow is desirable.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein, in one aspect, is a sack for holding a pillow. The sack includes a body defining a pocket that is sized to receive a pillow. The body has a top and a bottom that are spaced along a first axis and first and second lateral ends that are spaced along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The pocket has an opening at the first lateral end of the body. The sack further includes a sleeve that extends outwardly from the body. The sleeve defines a receiving space (e.g., slot) extending along the first axis. The slot is configured to receive (optionally, receive therethrough) a handle of a suitcase.

Methods of using the sack are also disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes positioning a pillow in the pocket of the body of the sack. A handle of a suitcase is inserted into (optionally, through) the receiving space (e.g., slot) of the sleeve of the sack.

Additional advantages of the disclosed systems and methods will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be understood from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed systems and methods. The advantages of the disclosed systems and methods will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

The drawings illustrate only example embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, as the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis is instead placed on clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions of positioning may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed sack and method may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of particular embodiments and the examples included therein and to the Figures and their previous and following description.

It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.

Optionally, in some aspects, when values or characteristics are approximated by use of the antecedents “about,” “substantially,” or “generally,” it is contemplated that values within up to 20%, up to 15%, up to 10%, up to 5%, or up to 1% (above or below) of the particularly stated value or characteristic can be included within the scope of those aspects.

Disclosed herein, and with reference toFIG.1, is a sack10for holding and transporting a pillow. The sack10can comprise a body20defining a pocket22that is sized to receive a pillow. The body20can have a top30and a bottom32that are spaced along a first axis4when in a use (pillow holding/transporting position). The body20can have first and second lateral ends34,36that are spaced along a second axis6that is perpendicular to the first axis4. The pocket22can have an opening24positioned at the first lateral end34of the body.

Referring also toFIG.3, a sleeve42can extend outwardly from the body20in between the first and second lateral ends34,36of the body. The sleeve42can define a receiving space (e.g., a slot)44that extends along the first axis4. The receiving space (e.g., slot)44can be configured to receive (optionally, receive therethrough) a handle of a suitcase. For example, the slot receiving space (e.g., slot)44can have a width from about 6 inches to about 12 inches along the second axis6. Optionally, the sleeve42comprises a strap40that is coupled to (e.g., stitched to) the body20. The strap40can at least partly define the receiving space (e.g., slot)44. In some aspects, the strap40can be coupled to (e.g., stitched to) the body20at coupling regions that are spaced by a slot width, and the strap can have a length between the coupling regions of about the slot width. In this way, the strap40can lie flat or substantially flat against the body20when no suitcase handle is received in the slot receiving space (e.g., slot)44. This can permit the strap40to securely receive the suitcase handle within the receiving space (e.g., slot)44with limited movement of the handle relative to the receiving space (e.g., slot)44.

In some aspects, and as illustrated in the Figures, the strap40and an outer surface26of the body20can cooperate to define the sleeve42. It other aspects, the strap40can form a continuous loop that defines an entirety of the sleeve42.

The sleeve42can have a length along the first axis4. In some aspects, the length of the sleeve along the first axis can be from about 2 inches to about 10 inches, or about 4 inches.

It should be understood that, in various aspects, the body20can comprise fabric (e.g., cotton canvas). For example, the body20can comprise a front portion and a rear portion that are stitched together to form the body. Optionally, in these aspects, the body20can consist of, or consist essentially of, fabric. Accordingly, in various aspects, the body20can be advantageously collapsible. It is contemplated that the dimensions of the pocket22herein can correspond to the dimensions of the pocket when the body20is fully opened and spread across a surface. In further aspects, it is contemplated that the fabric of the body20can comprise a pattern or other desired visual features to achieve a desired external appearance.

In various aspects, the pocket22can be sized to receive a particular pillow size. For example, the pocket22can have dimensions to receive a king sized pillow, a queen sized pillow, or a travel pillow. In some aspects, the pocket22can snugly receive the pillow therein. Accordingly, the pocket22can have approximately the dimensions of the pillow to be carried (e.g. a king sized pillow, a queen sized pillow, or a travel pillow). In some aspects, the pocket22have a length along the second axis6from about 18 inches to about 44 inches. For example, the pocket22can have a length from about 18 inches to about 22 inches, from about 28 to about 34 inches, or from about 35 inches to about 44 inches. In some aspects, the pocket22can have a height along the first axis6from about 14 inches to about 25 inches. For example, the pocket22can have a height from about 14 inches to about 18 inches, from about 18 inches to about 20 inches, or from about 20 inches to about 24 inches. In some exemplary aspects, the pocket22can have a length from about 18 inches to about 22 inches and a height from about 14 inches to about 18 inches (e.g., a length of 16 inches and a height of about 20-½ inches). In some exemplary aspects, the pocket22can have a length from about 28 to about 34 inches and a height from about 20 inches to about 24 inches (e.g., a length of 22 inches and a height of about 31 inches). In some exemplary aspects, the pocket22can have a length from about 35 inches to about 44 inches and a height from about 20 inches to about 24 inches (e.g., a length of 22-½ inches and a height of about 39 inches). In further aspects, the pocket22can have a length of about 35 to about 45 inches (e.g., about 40 inches) and a height from about 25 inches to about 35 inches (e.g., 30 inches).

Referring toFIGS.2and4, in various aspects, the sack10can comprise a carrying strap50. The carrying strap50can be, for example, a shoulder strap. Accordingly, the carrying strap50can be sized and shaped to be used as such. In exemplary aspects, the carrying strap50can have an adjustable length. For example, the carrying strap50can comprise a slide buckle52that permits adjustment of the length of the carrying strap.

In various exemplary aspects, and with reference toFIG.2, the body20can have opposite first and second end portions27,28spaced along the second axis6, with the first end portion27comprising the first lateral end34and the second end portion28comprising the second lateral end36. The carrying strap50can have a first end54that is coupled to the first end portion27and a second end56that is coupled to the second end portion28. In some optional aspects, the first and second ends54,56of the carrying strap50can couple to the body at the top30. In various aspects, the carrying strap50can be coupled to the body via stitching58.

In some optional aspects, the sack10does not comprise (is free of) any additional pockets. In other aspects, the sack10comprises at least one additional pocket. In various aspects, the sack10does not comprise any pockets having larger dimensions than the pocket22.

In some aspects, the sack10further comprises a closure element60that is configured to at least partly close the opening. For example, the closure element60can comprise a drawstring62, a zipper, at least one button, or hook and loop fastener. In further aspects, the closure element can comprise a drawstring62and a fastening slider64. The fastening slider64can be, for example, a cord lock or a slide keeper.

The first lateral end34of the body20can have a dimension (e.g., length) along the first axis (e.g., corresponding to the height of the pocket along the first axis4). In some optional aspects, when the pocket is open, the opening24of the pocket22can extend at least 80% of the dimension of the first lateral end along the first axis. In some various aspects, when the pocket is open, the opening24of the pocket22can extend at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 90%, all, or substantially all of the length of the lateral end.

In exemplary aspects, when the body20is open and the pocket22is empty, the body can be generally rectangular. In various other aspects, the body20can have rounded corners. In still other aspects, the body20can be oval, oblong, or irregularly shaped.

A method of using the sack as disclosed can include receiving a pillow90in the pocket22of the body20of the sack10. For example, with the sack10in the use position as shown inFIGS.1and8, the pillow can be inserted into the pocket22through the opening24along the second axis6. With reference toFIGS.8and9, a handle102of a suitcase100can be received through the receiving space (e.g., slot)44of the sleeve42(e.g., along the first axis4). For example, the handle102can be inserted through the receiving space44of the sleeve42so that the sack10rests on an upper surface104of the suitcase100. Optionally, a top portion of the handle102can be positioned above the sleeve42, and a lower portion of the handle102can be positioned below the sleeve42, thereby minimizing the vertical footprint of the sack10and maximizing the stability provided to the sack10by the suitcase100.