Abstract:
A pillow is provided. The pillow includes an elongated pillow extending along a single axis and a pad attached to and extending outward from a middle section of the elongated pillow. The pad is operable to support a torso of a user in a side lying position with the elongated pillow in front of the user and a portion of the pad beneath the torso.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Pregnancy can cause discomfort in many aspects of life. Sometimes sleeping can be uncomfortable due to the extra body weight. Many people prefer to sleep laying on their side in a position sometimes referred to as the fetal position. The fetal position tends to be a favorable position because it allows a person&#39;s muscles to relax, and is a comfortable sleeping to position. 
     Multiple individual pillows or other objects are commonly utilized to support and position a person&#39;s body in the fetal position. These multiple pillows are typically placed beneath a person&#39;s head and between a person&#39;s knees to support the head and knees in the fetal position. 
     It is within this context that the embodiments arise. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments include a pillow capable of supporting a person in a fetal position. It should be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiments can be implemented in numerous ways, such as a process an apparatus, a system, a device or a method. Several inventive embodiments of the present invention are described below. 
     In one embodiment, a pillow is provided. The pillow includes an elongated pillow extending along a single axis and a pad attached to and extending outward from a middle section of the elongated pillow. The pad is operable to support a torso of a user in a side lying position with the elongated pillow in front of the user and a portion of the pad beneath the torso. 
     In another embodiment, a side sleeping support is provided. The side-sleeping support includes a tubular pillow having a single axis extending along a length of the tubular pillow. The side sleeping support includes a wedge protruding from a side of the body pillow and a head pad affixed to an end of the tubular pillow, wherein the head pad shares the single axis 
     Other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a top view of a body pillow in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a person or user utilizing the body pillow in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the body pillow in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments include monolithic body pillow configured to comfortably assist a person sleeping or laying down in a fetal position. It will be obvious, however, that the present embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the exemplary embodiments. 
     The embodiments provide a pillow configured to support a person laying in a fetal position. The pillow is configured with a flap or extension extending from a body where the body may be cylindrically shaped. One end of the pillow has a rounded or otherwise shaped extension that has a larger diameter than the body in some embodiments. A person&#39;s head may be supported by the shaped end of the pillow, while the body of the pillow supports the body of the person. The flap or extension is configured to be placed under the belly or torso of a person and the lower portion of the pillow may be placed between the thighs and/or knees to allow the person&#39;s hip/thigh muscles to relax and to cushion the knees from rubbing against each other. As used herein, torso may refer to the lower torso of a person, i.e., the tummy or belly, in some embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a top view of a body pillow in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Pillow  100  includes a head portion  102  coupled to one end of body portion  104 . Body portion  104  extends from head portion  102  in a substantially straight or linear manner. In some embodiments, head portion  102  and body portion  104  extend around a single axis, i.e., axis  107 . Body portion  104  is configured as a tubular pillow in some embodiments and may be referred to as an elongated pillow. Flap or extension  106  is coupled to a side surface of a middle section of body portion  102 . In the embodiment illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 , head portion  102  is configured having a diameter greater than a width of body portion  104 . It should be appreciated that while head portion  102  is illustrated as having a circular shape, head portion  102  can have any geometric shape with a diameter or width that is greater than, equal to, or less than the width of body portion  104 . Extension  106  is illustrated having a trapezoidal shape where a length of extension  106  affixed to body portion  104  is less than a length of an opposing side distal to the body portion. However, this is not meant to be limiting as extension  106  may have any suitable geometric shape and size configuration. Extension  106  may be referred to as a wedge, a pad, or a belly wedge in some embodiments. It should be appreciated that head portion  102  and extension  106  may be integral with body portion  104  or detachable from body portion  104 . Pillow  100  is configured to provide head support through head portion  102 , torso support through extension  106 , and hip or leg support through a lower portion of body portion  104 . 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a person or user utilizing the body pillow in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. In  FIG. 2 , user  108  is illustrated superimposed over the body pillow. A user&#39;s head is supported by head portion  102  while the torso or belly of user  108  is supported by extension  106 . The user&#39;s legs are separated by body portion  104  in order to support the hips and to separate the user&#39;s knees and ankles from rubbing against each other in some embodiments. As illustrated in  FIG. 2  pillow  100  may be conformal, i.e., body portion  104  can be curved to accommodate the user&#39;s position, so that user  108  is comfortable in a side sleeping position. Thus, head portion  102  functions as a conventional pillow to support the head of user  108 . Body portion  104  conforms to support the side sleeping position of user  108 , as well as provide separation of the knees and/or ankles of the user. It should be appreciated that while body portion  104  is illustrated to extend past the user&#39;s feet, this is not meant to be limiting as the user&#39;s feet may be disposed outside of body portion  104  in some embodiments. The torso of user  108  is supported through extension  106 . In some embodiments, extension  106  is configured such that the proximate end affixed to body portion  104  is thicker than the distal end. The wedge configuration for extension  106  provides user  108  the torso/and or belly support, especially where user  108  is pregnant. In some embodiments pillow  100  includes a cover configured to cover body portion  104  head portion  102  and extension  106 . The cover is removable in some embodiments. As noted above, head portion  102  and extension  106  may be detachable or integral with body portion  104 . Pillow  100  and the removable cover may be composed of any suitable materials commonly used in the manufacture of pillows, such as commonly available soft pliable materials. These materials include cotton, synthetic materials, hypoallergenic materials, etc. Pillow  100  may be filled with materials commonly used for pillow filling, such as synthetic fillers, down material, memory foam, etc. 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the body pillow in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Pillow  100  includes body portion  104 , head portion  102 , and extension  106 . Body portion  104  is illustrated as a tubular or elliptical shape in this embodiment. It should be appreciated that this is not meant to be limiting as alternative configurations for the shape of body portion  104  are possible. For example, body portion  104  may be more circular in some embodiments. Head portion  102  is affixed to one end of body portion  104  and is illustrated as having a larger width than body portion  104 . Extension  106  extends from an approximate midsection of body portion  104  in some embodiments. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , extension  106  has a wedge shape where the surface proximate or affixed to body portion  104  is thicker than the distal surface of extension  106 , i.e., extension  106  tapers from the surface affixed to body portion  104 . As mentioned above, extension  106  can have various shapes in configurations suitable to support a torso or belly of the user when lying in a side sleeping or fetal position. In some embodiments, extension  106  is about one quarter to about one third an overall length of pillow  100 . Extension  106  and/or head portion  102  may be detachable from body portion  104  through any known means. For example, common detachable configurations include snaps, zippers, Velcro, etc. In some embodiments, extension  106  or head portion  102  may be interchanged with extensions or head portions having different sizes and/or shapes. It should be appreciated that body portion  104  and head portion  102  share a common axis  107  in some embodiments. That is, body portion  104  is substantially straight or linear so that body portion  104  has a single axis  107 . It should be further appreciated that while body portion  104  has a single axis  107 , body portion  104  may be compliant or flexible so that the body portion can be curved to conform to a comfortable sleeping position and still have a single axis. 
     The embodiments provide for a pillow suited to provide head leg and torso support. The torso support is especially helpful for pregnant users. The pillow makes sleeping more comfortable by conforming to the user&#39;s body position throughout the night. The versatile and compliant shape of the pillow allows the user to adjust the support as the user&#39;s body changes by switching which side the user utilizes to align their hips. The streamlined design enables maximum support and minimal use of bed space. The head, belly/torso and knees are specifically supported for a comfortable, ideal sleep position. The wedge or extension enables maximum support during sleep, and the streamlined design takes up less space than traditional body pillows. 
     Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.