Abstract:
Described is a traveling pillow having embedded headphones for providing a traveler with a comfortable place for resting the neck and head and music to the ears. A universal plug can be located within a pocket of the pillow to permit connection to the headphones and a location for storing an MP3 player, iPod® or cellular phone with music files. Alternatively, a separate plug is provided and accessible from the exterior of the pillow should the traveler desires to use an audio cord and place the music storage device elsewhere, or to connect a Walkman®, Discman®, laptop or DVD player to the pillow headphones. A volume control knob permits the traveler to set an appropriate volume level to provide his or her favorite music in surround sound and total comfort.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/886,264 filed Jan. 23, 2007. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to pillows, more specifically, to an acoustical travel pillow adapted to supporting a user&#39;s head and neck and providing auditory enjoyment at the same time. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Public transportation vehicles, whether trains, planes, automobiles or intra-city busses, all require passengers to occupy their seats for extended periods of time. Except for the very fortunate few, passenger seating is arranged to efficiently pack as many people together, over as small an area, as possible. While this may bring travel costs down, such tight packing can make long periods of time excruciatingly uncomfortable as well as tedious for travelers. Attempting to relax in such an environment risks sleep. This in turn, without neck support, results in a stiff neck and cramped shoulder muscles upon awakening. 
     Many travelers resort to travel pillows to provide a stable support for the neck. These pillows are typically small, often having a foam core with a fabric cover. Some are U-shaped to receive the neck and head in an upright manner. Others are L-shaped to provide enhanced support for the neck and side of the face. While permitting the user to relax and rest while sitting in an up-right position, traveling can be somewhat chaotic, and a need exists to provide a resting traveler with the ability to sonically escape without interfering with the peace and enjoyment of travelers located literally inches away. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention discloses a travel pillow comprising: a body; a pocket disposed about said body, said pocket configured to house an electronic device; and a pair of ear bud headphones disposed about said body, said headphones operable to output an audio signal from said electronic device. The electronic device includes MP3 player, iPod, cellular phone, Walkman, Discman, laptop and DVD player. A volume control knob can be disposed about said body for controlling the volume of said audio signal. The pillow further includes fastening means for securing said electronic device to said pocket, said fastening means including zippers, Velcro, hook and loop fastening strips and other suitable fasteners. Compartments may be disposed about said body, said compartments configured to store said headphones with flaps for securing said compartments. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention discloses a travel pillow comprising: a body; an audio jack disposed about said body, said audio jack operable to receive an audio signal from an electronic device; and a pair of ear bud headphones coupled to said audio jack, said headphones operable to output said audio signal from said electronic device. The electronic device includes MP3 player, iPod, cellular phone, Walkman, Discman, laptop and DVD player. A volume control knob can be disposed about said body for controlling the volume of said audio signal. Compartments may be disposed about said body, said compartments configured to store said headphones with flaps for securing said compartments. 
     A third embodiment of the present invention discloses a travel pillow comprising: a body; a pocket disposed about said body, said pocket configured to house a first electronic device capable of outputting a first audio signal; an audio jack disposed about said body, said audio jack operable to receive a second audio signal from a second electronic device; and a pair of ear bud headphones disposed about said body, said headphones operable to output said first audio signal from said first electronic device or said second audio signal from said second electronic device. The electronic devices include MP3 player, iPod, cellular phone, Walkman, Discman, laptop and DVD player. A volume control knob can be disposed about said body for controlling the volume of said audio signal. The pillow further includes fastening means for securing said first electronic device to said pocket, said fastening means including zippers, Velcro, hook and loop fastening strips and other suitable fasteners. Compartments may be disposed about said body, said compartments configured to store said headphones with flaps for securing said compartments. In addition, an audio splitter may be disposed within said body, said audio splitter configured to switch between said first audio signal from said first electronic device and said second audio signal from said second electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a travel pillow according to the presently disclosed invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the travel pillow of  FIG. 1  with portions in phantom; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the travel pillow in operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 1  illustrating a perspective view of a travel pillow  10  according to a first embodiment of the presently disclosed invention. As shown, the pillow  10  has a generally U-shape with a left arm  14  and a right arm  16  collectively forming a notch  18  for receiving a user&#39;s neck and head. In other embodiments, the pillow  10  can take on other polygonal shapes including L-shape, square or rectangular. 
     A pocket  22  can be formed in the left arm  14  and suitably sized to receive an electronic or music storage device  26  including an MP3 player, Apple iPod® or cellular phone with music files. The pocket  22  can also be sized to receive electronic devices  26  capable of streaming live audio and/or video feeds. In one embodiment, the pillow pocket  22  measures approximately 3×5 inches, which sufficiently accommodates the majority of music storage devices  26  in use today. In other embodiments, the pillow pocket  22  can be as large or as small as desired. Although shown to be disposed on the left arm  14 , it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the pocket  22  can also be formed on the right arm  16  or other parts of the pillow  10 . In other embodiments, multiple pockets  22  may be formed on either the left arm  14 , right arm  16  or both arms  14 ,  16  of the travel pillow  10  for housing multiple electronic devices  26  with music files. The pockets  22  may also be used to store other objects including PDA&#39;s and Blackberries. 
     A connector  28  can be disposed within the pillow pocket  22  to electrically couple the music storage device  26  to a pair of ear bud headphones  36  via lines  42  (see  FIG. 2 ) within the interior of the travel pillow  10 . This will become more apparent in subsequent figure and discussion. In one embodiment, each ear bud headphone  36  is housed within a storage area or compartment  44 , which is disposed on both the left arm  14  and right arm  16  of the travel pillow  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . It is understood that the headphones  36  can also be housed within a single compartment  44  between the left and right arms  14 ,  16  of the pillow  10 . In other embodiments, the compartments  44  can be disposed elsewhere on the left and right arms  14 ,  16  in addition to the locations shown in  FIG. 1 . Once coupled, the ear bud headphones  36  can receive audio signals from the music storage device  26 , though the lines  42 , and output the corresponding audio signals as audio and music to a user&#39;s ear should the person be wearing the ear bud headphones  36 . In other embodiments, speakers (not shown) may be incorporated in place of headphones  36 . It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the operations of the music storage device  26  are commonly known and will not be discussed in further detail. 
     A pair of hook and loop fastening strips  38  adjacent the pillow pocket  22  may be selectively used for opening and closing the pillow pocket  22  thereby retaining the music storage device  26  therein. Likewise, cover flaps  48  with associated hook and loop fasteners may be utilized for opening and closing of the compartments  44  similar to that of the hook and loop fastening strips  38 . In other embodiments, zippers, Velcro, and other suitable fastening means may be utilized to secure the music storage device  26  within the pocket  22  or the ear bud headphones  36  within the compartments  44 . In some instances, the fasteners  38  and flaps  48  may not be necessary. 
     In another embodiment, an audio input or jack  52  can be disposed about the exterior surface of the right arm  16  of the travel pillow  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The audio jack  52  allows a user to plug in an external source (not shown) of musical signals, which can be sent over an audio cable  54  and connected to the audio jack  52  in a conventional manner via an audio plug  58 . In this instance, the audio jack  52  can be electrically coupled to the headphones  36 . Like the previous embodiments, once coupled, the ear bud headphones  36  are capable of receiving audio signals from the external acoustical device and output the corresponding audio signals as audio and music to a user&#39;s ear. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the input jack  52  can also be disposed about the left arm  14  of the travel pillow  10 . 
     The interior portions of the travel pillow  10  may utilize any various conventional filler material to maintain the exterior shape and user comfort/support. In one embodiment, a foam rubber material is incorporated. In other embodiments, flexible polymeric materials and plastics may be utilized. The exterior surface of the travel pillow  10  can be fabricated of cloth, leather or other suitable material. In one embodiment, the travel pillow  10  can be constructed of an outer shell consisting of 100% polyester and filled with materials including cotton and/or polyester. The resulting product can be provided in several different sizes. For example, the travel pillow  10  can be 12 inches long, 12.5 inches wide, and 4.5 inches thick with a total outer circumference of approximately 36 inches. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2  illustrating a perspective view of the travel pillow  10  of  FIG. 1  with portions in phantom for illustrating a plurality of electrical lines  42 ,  66  running throughout the interior of the travel pillow  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , an audio splitter  64  can be used to receive electrical signals from the music storage device  26  through the connector  28 , or the audio jack  52  through an audio line  66 . The audio splitter  64  subsequently splits the electrical signal to energize each of the ear bud headphones  36 . In one embodiment, a toggle switch (not shown) may be disposed about an exterior surface of the right arm  16  to facilitate switching of audio signal from the two different inputs. In others words, a user can toggle between receiving audio signals from the music storage device  26  housed within the pillow pocket  22  or the audio signals from the external device (not shown) via the jack  52  and plug  58 . A volume control knob  68  can be disposed about the exterior surface of the travel pillow  10  to permit user access and control of the volume of the audio signals being output by the headphones  36 , whether from the music storage device  26  or the external device. In one embodiment, the audio splitter  64  and the volume control knob  68  can be integrated as a single electronic unit. It is understood that additional electronic components and circuits including batteries may be incorporated in operating the audio splitter  64  and volume control knob  68  as necessary. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3  illustrating a perspective view of the travel pillow  10  in operation. As shown, a user  72  is positioned against a passenger seat  74  with the head and neck of the user  72  being received within the notch  18  of the travel pillow  10 . In operation, the user  72  can place the music storage device  26  within the pillow pocket  22  and coupled to the input connector  28 . Once connected, audio signals from the device  26  including the likes of a CD playing or a music file playing can be received and output to the ear bud headphones  36 , which can be placed in or adjacent the ear of the user  72 . In another mode of operation, audio signals can be transmitted from a laptop  78 , via an audio cable  54  and plug  58  into the audio jack  52 , and output through the ear bud headphones  36  in a similar fashion as that before. In this instance, the audio signals from the laptop  78  can come from a streaming movie, news broadcast or music file. In one embodiment, the audio jack  52  may not be necessary and the audio input only comes from the electronic device  26  via input connector  28 . In another embodiment, the input connector  28  may not be necessary and the audio input only comes from the laptop  78  via audio cable  54  and plug  58 . In yet another embodiment, both input receivers  28 ,  52  can be utilized wherein the user  72  can switch between the two using the toggle switch as previously described. Furthermore, volume control can be exercised for these embodiments via the volume control knob  68 . Accordingly, the travel pillow  10  is capable of providing a user  72  with head and neck support, as well as the convenience of acoustical enjoyment in an easily transported package. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.