Abstract:
This invention relates generally to a travel pillow and tote combination having a pillow filler and a casing acting as a tote that is formed in a bladder shape with a receiving member and an engaging member at opposite ends of the casing. In order to use the combination as a travel pillow, the pillow filler, preferably a jacket, is inserted into the interior of the casing and the receiving member and engaging member are connected such that the pillow may fit around the neckline and shoulders of a user.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application relates generally to a travel pillow and tote combination. More specifically, the invention involves an apparatus for providing a storage location for a coat or other articles while one is traveling that simultaneously operates as a travel pillow. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The travel industry has changed tremendously in the last decade. With airlines and other travel providers charging for checked baggage, more and more passengers are resorting to carry-on luggage only. As a result, carry-on luggage compartments are becoming over-crowded with less room available for smaller items, such as coats and extra layers one may wear while traveling. 
         [0003]    Additionally, many transportation providers are offering less complementary benefits and charging consumers, i.e., passengers, for on-board luxuries. These on-board luxuries can range from beverages and food to other items such as blankets and pillows. Thus, more and more passengers are relying on self-provided supplies for travel. 
         [0004]    For instance, many travelers now carry their own travel pillow and blanket. Not only can a passenger ensure that they will receive a pillow and/or blanket at no cost, but the passenger can also ensure that the blanket and pillow the traveler may use is clean and in good condition. Previous travel pillows which are known, include inflatable pillows, bean-bag pillows, and the traditional sewn-in stuffed pillows. Most travel pillows also form a shape to encircle the neckline of an individual such that the pillow provides support from all angles to allow a user to rest in virtually any position. 
         [0005]    However, previous travel pillows, inflatable or not, simply provide a passenger with yet another carry-on item in addition to all other carry-on items that the passenger already has. Thus, there is a need for a travel pillow that not only provides neck-comfort for a user but also alleviates the burden that all travelers now face with regards to limiting his or her carry-on baggage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the deficiencies and drawbacks in the prior art, it is a primary feature of the present invention to provide an improved travel pillow and tote combination for passengers that also allows for easy storage. The casing of the present invention provides a tote for the filler and/or other objects that may be placed in the interior of the casing. 
         [0007]    Another feature of the present invention is to provide travelers with a carrier that allows travelers to store small, compact items while in transit. 
         [0008]    In summary, there is provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention a travel pillow and tote combination. The combination includes a pillow casing having a top side and a bottom side mirroring each other and forming a curved bladder shape with a first opposing end and a second opposing end, wherein the curved shape includes a proximal curved portion and a distal curved portion. The first opposing end further has a receiving member attached to the first opposing end via a receiving member attachment, and the second opposing end has an engaging member attached to the second opposing end via an engaging member attachment. The receiving member and engaging member are fashioned such that when the engaging member engages and connects to the receiving member, the travel pillow and/or tote forms a closed substantially circular shape. The distal portion of the pillow casing further includes an enclosing member to enclose an interior portion of the pillow, wherein the interior portion may include a pillow filler, such as a jacket. 
         [0009]    Additional features of the invention are described below in more detail. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The above-described and other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings of which 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a travel pillow of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of said travel pillow; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of said travel pillow illustrating the pillow casing in combination with and ready to receive a garment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the pillow casing; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of said travel pillow in use, the dot and dash lines illustrating the same being worn around the neck of a traveler. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , there is shown a first preferred embodiment of a travel pillow and tote combination  1  for providing storage and comfort to a traveler. The combination  1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , comprises a casing  2 , which is bladder-shaped and configured to enclose a pillow filler  24  when the casing is used as a tote. The preferred material of the casing is nylon, cotton, satin, flannel, winceyette, velvet, polyester, linen, or some blend of those materials, but may also include other known materials. The preferred material is durable, yet soft and non-abrasive so as to allow a user to securely carry items inside the casing without damaging or destroying the casing, yet provide a comfortable surface for a user to rest on. 
         [0017]    The casing  2  further includes a curved top side  4  and a curved bottom side  6 , which are essentially mirror images of one another. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the top side  4  is the side on which the user primarily rests. Optionally, the material that makes up the top side  4  of the pillow casing  2  may be softer and more comfortable to be in contact with the neck of the wearer and may differ from the material that makes up the bottom side  6  so as to allow for a more durable material to be used on the bottom side. 
         [0018]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , the casing further includes a proximal curved portion  8  and a distal curved portion  10  that create a curved shape for the casing  2 . The proximal portion  8  contacts a person&#39;s neck when in use as a pillow. The distal portion  10  includes an operable enclosing member  20  to allow a user to open and close the casing  2  in order to insert and remove items, such as the pillow filler  24 , into and out of the pillow casing  2 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the curved top side  4  and curved bottom side  6  are connected in a sewn fashion along the proximal curved portion  8  and the distal curved portion  10 , except for the section of the distal portion  10  that encompasses the operable enclosing member  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the enclosing member  20  of the casing  2  is a zipper. However, the operable enclosing member  20  may be any sort of fastening member, such as buttons, a fabric hook and loop fastener, or some other fastening means. 
         [0020]    The casing also includes a first opposing end  11  and a second opposing end  15 . The first opposing end  11  has a receiving member  12  that is attached to the first opposing end via a receiving member attachment  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and by way of example, the receiving member  12  is a ring attached to the first opposing end  11  by a stem  14 . The second opposing end  15  has an engaging member  16  that is attached to the second opposing end  15  via an engaging member attachment  18 . Additionally, by way of example, the engaging member  16  is a well-known unit including a latching member  17 , and is attached to the second end  15  by a stem  18  using a ring and loop combination. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment, the length of the proximal curved portion  8 , measured from the first opposing end  11  to the second opposing end  15  ranges from 16 to 18 inches. Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , it is preferable that the length from a midpoint M of the distal curved portion  10  to a point between the two opposing ends  11 ,  15 , illustrated as X, ranges from 12.5 to 14.5 inches (D 1 ) and the length from a point A along the distal curved portion  10  to a point B along the distal curved portion  10  ranges from 15.5 to 17.5 inches (D 2 ). In the preferred embodiment, it is also desirable that the distal curved portion  10  be of a length ranging from 38 to 40 inches, with an enclosing member running a length of about 18 to 20 inches along the distal curved portion  10 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the pillow filler  24 . In this embodiment, the pillow filler  24  is made up of a jacket with a main body  26  and sleeves  28 . Optionally, the jacket  24  may have a hood  30 . It is desirable that the jacket is comprised of a down or down-alternative filling. In this manner, the jacket will provide warmth to a user when in use as a jacket, be easily compressed to fit inside the casing  2 , and provide substantial cushioning for a user when in use as a pillow filler  24 . Furthermore, the casing  2  provides a storage compartment for the jacket when the user is traveling. In an alternative embodiment, the pillow filler  24  may be another article of clothing or the like that would provide the necessary comfort to be used as a filling for inside of a pillow. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  exemplifies the preferred embodiment while in use as a travel pillow  1 . In order to most effectively utilize the travel pillow  1 , the pillow filler  24  is inserted into the pillow interior  22 . A user then places the pillow  1  around his or her neck such that the proximal curved portion  8  rests along the user&#39;s neckline and comforts the head and neck of the traveler. The engaging member  16  is then attached to the receiving member  12  such that the engaging member  16  and the receiving member  12  are interconnected and pulled somewhat close to one another. Thus, the connection between the engaging member  16  and the receiving member  12  creates the requisite structure to maintain a snug yet comfortable fit around a user&#39;s neck to provide the necessary support for proper travel pillow use. Obviously, the members  12  and  16  may be readily disengaged. 
         [0024]    Once a user no longer desires to use the travel pillow  1  for use as a pillow, such as after departure from an airplane, train, or other form of transportation, the user may wish to use the pillow filler  24  for another use. For example, where the pillow filler  24  is a jacket, the user may want to remove the jacket from the casing  2  and wear it. By removing the pillow filler  24 , the casing  2  remains empty to either provide an additional carrier or tote for the user or may be easily folded or bundled inside of another carrier or tote. The casing  2  is conveniently transformed into a tote using the engaging member  16  and receiving member  12  combination as a strap to go over a user&#39;s shoulders emulating a hobo bag. 
         [0025]    The accompanying drawings only illustrate a travel pillow, its constituent parts, and method of use. However, other types and styles are possible, and the drawings are not intended to be limiting in that regard. Thus, although the description above and accompanying drawings contains much specificity, the details provided should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment(s) but merely as providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiment(s). The drawings and the description are not to be taken as restrictive on the scope of the embodiment(s) and are understood as broad and general teachings in accordance with the present invention. While the present embodiment(s) of the invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for present illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that modifications and variations to such embodiments, including but not limited to the substitutions of equivalent features, materials, or parts, and the reversal of various features thereof, may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.