Abstract:
A travel sleeping device includes a lower platform, a support post, and a plush face pillow having a rigid support frame. The support post is configured to be adjustably extendable, and the travel sleeping device may be collapsed or disassembled for compact storage and transport. The support frame for the face pillow is mounted to the support post to allow for adjustment of the pitch angle and rotation of the pillow on the support post. In use, the platform is placed on a seat or floor and a user&#39;s face rests on the pillow supported by the post.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to the field of pillows and the like, particularly including pillows for use when traveling. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Most people find it difficult to sleep while traveling as a passenger on an airplane, train, bus, or car. In most instances, typical seats do not recline far enough for the passenger to sleep in either a horizontal or sufficiently reclined position. Even where the passenger seat is capable of reclining, the act of reclining the seat is often viewed as a rude gesture by the passenger in the seat behind, because reclining reduces that passenger&#39;s available space. 
         [0003]    Because of the small amount of space and the difficulty of reclining typical aircraft or other passenger seats, many people try to sleep by leaning forward with their head supported by a fold-down tray table attached to the seat in front of the passenger. This position works only briefly, if at all. In this position, the passenger must lean forward in a manner that bends at the torso in an uncomfortable position, and must also place the head and arms on a rigid and uncomfortable tray table. 
         [0004]    There is more room in the front of the passenger than there is behind the passenger because of the difficulty in reclining the seat back, but currently there is no satisfactory way to make use of that space. Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can comfortably support a person in a position in which the head and a portion of the torso is inclined forward rather than backward. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to a travel sleeping device having a lower platform, a support post, and a plush face pillow having a rigid support frame. 
         [0006]    In one version of the invention, the support post is configured to be adjustably extendable, preferably through the inclusion of an internal or external telescoping post. 
         [0007]    In some versions of the invention, the travel sleeping device may be collapsed or disassembled for compact storage and transport, and in one particularly preferred version of the invention the lower platform, support post, and face pillow are detachable from one another. 
         [0008]    In another example of the invention, the support frame for the face pillow is mounted to the support post via a gimbal or similar mounting structures allowing for pivotal attachment of the support frame to the support post. Most preferably, the connection of the support frame to the support post allows for rotation of the support frame about an axis defined by the support post and also provides for the ability to adjust the pitch angle of the support platform about an axis perpendicular to that defined by the support post. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a preferred travel sleeper in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the preferred travel sleeper as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a preferred pillow for use with the present invention, showing an embedded internal support frame in phantom lines. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the preferred pillow of  FIG. 3 , viewed in the direction of arrow A in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of a preferred base platform and support post, shown with an exemplary gimbal and other mounting structures but with the face pillow and support frame for the face pillow not shown for ease of illustration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    With reference to the accompanying figures, a preferred travel sleeper  10  includes a base platform  20 , a support post  30 , and a face pillow  70 . The face pillow  70  is supported by a support frame which is attached to the support post  30  by a mount  40 , which in the preferred version of the invention is configured as a gimbal allowing for pivotal movement of the support frame in two or more axes. 
         [0016]    The support platform  20  is configured as a relatively elongated oblong shape in the illustrated version of the invention, and most preferably is constructed from a relatively thin and rigid material such as a thin sheet of aluminum, polycarbonate, or any other material having similar qualities of rigidity and light weight in a thin material. As described further below, the base platform is designed to be positioned beneath the legs of a traveler while seated, and therefore in the preferred version of the invention the width of the base platform is about the same as the width between the outer edges of a person&#39;s legs while seated. In one example of the invention, the base platform  20  is approximately 18 inches wide. In other versions of the invention, the base platform is between 12 inches and 24 inches from one side to the other. 
         [0017]    At a central location, the base platform  20  includes a perpendicular stem  22  mounted to the base platform. In one version of the invention, such as when the base platform  20  is formed from metal, the perpendicular stem  22  may be formed from a similar metal material and be attached to the base platform by welding or similar methods. In other versions of the invention, the stem  22  may be bolted or riveted to the base platform  20 . In yet other examples of the invention, such as when the base platform is constructed from a plastic material, the stem  22  may be integrally formed with the base platform  20 . 
         [0018]    The support post  30  is preferably formed from a sturdy, lightweight and rigid material such as aluminum tubing. The support post  30  may alternatively be formed from any other materials of sufficient durability to support a person&#39;s head while leaning on the travel sleeper, such as steel, carbon fiber, or any of a variety of plastics. 
         [0019]    The diameter of the support post may vary as desired, depending on size, strength, weight, and ergonomic factors. At a lower end of the support post, the support post  30  is configured to attach to the stem  22 . As discussed above, most preferably the support post  30  is removably attachable to the stem  22 . In one version, the support post and stem are sized and configured such that either the support post is snugly and frictionally fit within the stem or, conversely, the stem is snugly and frictionally fit within the support post. In other versions, the support post and stem may have complementary mating threads so that the support post  30  and stem  22  may be threadably attached to one another. The two components may also include button-release, snap-fit, or other retention features. 
         [0020]    The support post  30  is preferably sized to allow for an extension of a distance above the base platform  20  so that the pillow  70  allows a person&#39;s head to be comfortably placed on the pillow from a seated position with the base platform resting on the seat. In one example of the invention, the support post  30  is in the range of 18 inches to 24 inches in length. In some versions, the support post may be configured with a length sufficient to extend upward to a comfortable support position when the platform  20  is resting on a floor, and therefore the post may be in the range of 30 to 42 inches or more in such versions. 
         [0021]    Most preferably, the support post  30  is adjustably extendable in length to accommodate taller and shorter individuals. Thus, in some versions of the invention, as best seen in  FIG. 2 , the support post  30  includes a telescopically attached second post  34  (shown partially extended from the main post  30 ) and a fastening sleeve  32 . In one preferred example, the second post  34  is sized to be slightly smaller than the main support post  30  so that the second post  34  fits within the support post  30 . In this fashion, the second post  34  can be retracted fully within the main post  30  or may extend beyond the main post in an axial direction with only a portion of the second post  34  remaining within the main post  30 . The fastening sleeve  32  is preferably of the type in which mating threads within the fastening sleeve and formed on the post  30  cause an upper end of the main post  30  to crimp around the second post  34 , and the fastening sleeve is tightened by rotating in the appropriate direction. Rotating the fastening sleeve in the opposite direction loosens the crimping end of the main post, allowing the second post  34  to be extended or retracted as desired. 
         [0022]    The face pillow  70  is preferably supported by a substantially rigid support frame allowing the face pillow to retain its shape under the weight of a person&#39;s head resting on the pillow. In one example of the invention, as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the support frame for the face pillow  70  includes an internal U-shaped planar plate  80  positioned within the pillow  70 . Most preferably, the internal plate  80  is formed from a sheet metal, plastic, or other material capable of retaining its rigidity under pressure. While a U-shaped plate is preferred for an internal structure within the pillow, other structures such as webbing or various frame structures may be used instead. The internal plate or support frame  80  further includes a pair of mounting locations  82 ,  84  for attachment to the mount.  40 . In the illustrated example, a pair of support stems  60 ,  62  are attached to the support frame  80  (by welding, bolts, or other means) and extend substantially vertically downward from the support frame. 
         [0023]    In other versions of the invention, only a single support stem may be provided. Likewise, the one or more vertical support stems may be positioned in different locations other than as illustrated. For example, in other versions of the invention a single support stem may be located substantially at the base of the U-shape frame, thereby placing the support stem approximately at the location of the person&#39;s forehead when the person is resting his or her face on the base pillow. 
         [0024]    The face pillow  70  further includes an outer pliable material such as fabric or the like surrounding the internal support frame  80 . Most preferably, the outer pliable material is filled with foam or batting material in order to form the pillow. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the base platform  20 , support post  30 , and pillow mount  40  are illustrated with the pillow  70  and support frame  80  not shown for ease of illustration. As illustrated, the base platform  20  includes a vertical support stem  22  having a hollow interior  23  are sized and configured to receive a lower end of the support post  30 . 
         [0026]    In the preferred version, the mount  40  for the support frame  80  includes a mounting sleeve  41  having a threaded bolt  42 . The mounting sleeve is sized to receive an upper end of the support post  30  within the sleeve (or the second support post  34  in the case of a telescoping version of the invention). The threaded bolt  42  includes a knob grippable by a user to tighten or loosen the bolt in order to attach the mounting sleeve  41  to the support post  30 . 
         [0027]    Loosening the threaded bolt  42  allows the mount  40  to be removed from the post  30 . Likewise, loosening the threaded bolt  42  allows the mount  40  to be loosened with respect to the support post  30  so that the mount may pivot in a direction about the vertical axis formed by the support post  30 . In this fashion, the mount, and therefore the pillow frame and pillow, may be rotated to a desired orientation with respect to the support platform  20 . 
         [0028]    The mounting sleeve  41  is attached to a mounting block  44  which is further attached to an upper support bar sleeve  48 . The support bar sleeve  48  receives and retains a horizontal support bar  50 , while an adjustment knob  46  selectively and firmly attaches the support bar sleeve  48  to the horizontal support bar  50 , allowing for loosening of the sleeve with respect to the support bar. In one example, the adjustment knob  46  is threadably attached to the support bar sleeve  48  to allow it to be loosened or tightened. In a loosened position, the support bar may be rotated along an axis defined by the support bar, which allows for an adjustment of the pitch of the face pillow in an upward and downward direction along an axis parallel to the axis defined by the support post. 
         [0029]    Each of the two opposing ends of the horizontal support bar  50  is attached a collar  52 ,  53 . In each case, the collar is mounted to the horizontal support bar by a screw or bolt  54 ,  55 . Each of the collars includes an attached vertical support stems  60 ,  62 , which are in turn attached to the face pillow support frame  80  as discussed above. In some versions, the vertical support stems  60 ,  62  may be otherwise attached to the horizontal support bar  50 , such as by welding or other means. 
         [0030]    In the preferred version of the invention as described above, the mount  40  for the pillow support frame  80  is configured as a gimbal allowing for adjustment of pitch and roll of the face pillow. In other versions of the invention, the mount may be simplified and may not allow for the same degree of adjustability. For example, in alternate version of the invention the vertical support post may be directly attached to the pillow support frame  80  in a manner that does not allow for any adjustment. In one example, the vertical support post  30  may be permanently attached to the pillow support frame  80 . Likewise, in yet other versions of the invention the mount may allow for a lesser degree of adjustability, or adjustability and only one axial direction. 
         [0031]    In use, the support platform  20  is attached to the vertical post  30  and the mount  40  is attached to the vertical post  30 . In a version that includes a telescoping or otherwise adjustable vertical support post, the height of the vertical support post is also adjusted as desired. The support platform  20  is positioned beneath each of the legs of the user (or placed on the floor, beneath the feet of the user, in some versions), with the stem  22  and vertical support  30  extending upward from a position between the two legs of the user. With the height adjusted as desired, the user leans forward, placing his or her face against the face pillow with the nose and mouth positioned in the center of the U-shape and the forehead positioned at the base of the U. The user may also grasp the vertical support post or fold one&#39;s arms about the vertical post for additional stability. 
         [0032]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.