Patent Publication Number: US-2021186238-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for bed rest reading pillow

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisional application entitled, “Memory Foam Bed Rest Reading Pillow With Arm Rests and Integrated Plastic Molded Cup Holders,” having Ser. No. 62/952,627, filed on Dec. 23, 2019, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the arts of bed rest devices that assist a person while resting in their bed, and in particular bed rest reading pillows, a variety legacy bed rest reading pillows are known that are operable to support the back of a user in a substantially upright position while in bed. The person is said to be sitting in a Fowler&#39;s position (45° angle) or a semi-Fowler&#39;s position. Sonic legacy bed rest reading pillows include outward extending arm rests that the user may rest their arms upon, thereby improving user comfort. 
     However, with such legacy bed rest reading pillows, the user may encounter difficulties when reaching for beverages that are located nearby. For example, such beverages, or even other physical objects, may be resting on a bedside table, cabinet, or the like. The user must sit upward from their rest position while turning and reaching to enable grasping of the beverage container from the surface of the bedside table, cabinet, or the like. A similar movement is required to return the beverage container or other object to the bedside table, cabinet, or the like. 
     In the best of situations, this effort is very inconvenient to the user, and is distracting in that the user must turn away from their television to turn, reach and then grasp the beverage container. As another example, the user must stop reading their book or magazine, and likely even place it down on their bed, to turn, reach and then grasp or return the beverage container. 
     In other situations, where the user is bed ridden nth a sickness or physical injury, the user might not even be able to physically turn, reach and then grasp or return the beverage container that is on the bedside table, cabinet, or the like. Or, at best, such efforts will require an undesirable expenditure of energy on the part of the user, and/or cause the user a substantial amount of pain and/or physical discomfort. 
     Further, the process of to turning, reaching and then grasping the beverage container crates a risk of spillage, particularly since the user is still in a partially reclining position in the bed and is stretching out of a normal position when reaching for their beverage container. In the event that spillage occurs, the effort to clean up the spillage is undesirable for many reasons. Further, if the beverage is hot, the user might be burned if the spillage occurs onto their person. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the arts to eliminate the need for a bed-ridden user to turn, reach and then grasp the beverage container that is on the bedside table, cabinet, or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the bed rest reading pillow provide a system and method for securing a beverage container with a liquid to provide easy and convenient access for the user, and to prevent inadvertent spillage of a beverage that is in the beverage container. An example embodiments of the bed rest reading pillow comprises a body portion that supports the back of a user in an upright position, a first arm rest extending outwardly from the body portion that is configured to support the arm of the user, a second arm rest extending outwardly from the body portion that is configured to support the arm of the user, a beverage container holder configured to secure a beverage container when placed therein by the user, and a beverage container holder receptacle disposed in the first arm rest and configured to receive the beverage container holder. A beverage container, when inserted into the beverage container holder, is readily accessible by the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bed rest reading pillow and cup holder. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of another embodiment of the bed rest reading pillow and cup holder. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bed rest reading pillow and cup holder with the cup holder inserts removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an example cup holder insert. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bed rest reading pillow  100 . Embodiments of the bed rest reading pillow  100  provides a system and method for providing a safe and convenient place for a bed-ridden user to access a beverage container from one or more beverage container holders  102  disposed in the arm rests  104  of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . The beverage container holders may be interchangeably referred to herein as cup holders  102 . 
     The disclosed bed rest reading pillow  100  will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description. 
     Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various bed rest reading pillow  100  are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example. 
     The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated. 
     “Substantially” means to be more-or-less conforming to the particular dimension, range, shape, concept, or other aspect modified by the term, such that a feature or component need not conform exactly. For example, a “substantially cylindrical” object means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. 
     “Comprising,” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) are used interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to, and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional, elements or method steps not expressly recited. 
     Terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used to distinguish or identify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intended to denote a serial, chronological, or numerical limitation. 
     “Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components. 
     Embodiments of the bed rest reading. pillow  100  comprise one or more cup holders  102  that are slidably insertable into cup holder receptacles  106  ( FIG. 3 ) in the arm rests  104  that are outwardly protruding from the body portion  108  of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . The cup holder receptacles  106  are interchangeably referred to herein as a beverage container holder receptacle  106 . In a preferred embodiment, a cup base portion  110  ( FIG. 4 ) of the cup holder  102  is frictionally secured within the cup holder receptacle  106 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the body portion  108  supports the back of the user in an upright position. The first arm rest  104  and the opposing second arm rest  104  extend outwardly from the body portion  108  and are configured to support the arms of the user. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a rim  112  of the cup holder  102 , which has an outside diameter  114  that is greater that an inside diameter  116  of the cup base portion  110  (interchangeably referred to herein as a beverage container holder base portion  110 ). The cup holder rim  112  limits the travel distance that the cup holder  102  will travel into the cup holder receptacle  106 , which is an advantage with large heavy cans, bottles or cups that are full of a beverage. Further, the larger diameter  114  of the rim  112  stabilizes the cup holder  102 , and therefore stabilizes any can, bottle or cup of beverage, within the cup holder receptacle  106 . Additionally, the outside diameter  114  of the rim  112  is sized so as to substantially overlap the second arm rest cover onto the arm rests  104  of the bed rest reading pillow  100 , thereby preventing drainage of inadvertent spills into the interior of the cup holder receptacle  106 . 
     In some embodiments, the rim  112  is detachable from the cup base portion  110 . In some embodiments, the upper exterior of the rim  112  is decorative, which may be a colored pattern or texture that is applied to the surface of the rim  112 . In some embodiments, the rim  112  includes a liquid retaining portion  118  ( FIG. 4 ), such as an upwardly extending ridge, lip or the like, that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the rim  112 . The liquid retaining portion  118  directs inadvertent spills from the beverage container are the interior of the cup holder  102 . When such spillage is directed into the interior of the cup holder  102 , the cup holder  102  may be removed for cleaning. 
     Some embodiments may include an optional handle  120  located at a convenient location on the top of the body  108  of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . The user is able to grasp the handle  120  to place and/or orient the bed rest reading pillow  100  on the bed or other surface that the bed rest reading pillow  100  is being used. 
     Preferably, the cup holder  102  is fabricated of a rigid, substantially rigid, or semi-rigid material so as to retain its shape when in the cup holder receptacle  106  and to secure the can, bottle or cup of beverage. Some embodiments of the cup holder  102  may be semi-flexible to facilitate insertion into and/or removal from the cup holder receptacle  106 . In some embodiments, the cup holders  102  may be fabricated using an injection molding machine or the like. Any suitable material may be used, preferably a rubber, plastic or other polymer-based material. 
     The bed rest reading pillow  100  is fabricated by sewing a plurality of exterior fabric sections together to form the arm rests  104  and body  108  of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . Shredded memory foam or the like may then be inserted to fill the interior cavity of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . Alternatively, a solid foam core or other solid core material may be used, wherein the arm rests  104  and body  108  of the bed rest reading pillow  100  are fitted around the core. Alternatively, the arm rests  104  and body  108  of the bed rest reading pillow  100  form an airtight cavity that is then filled with a gas or liquid, such as air, water or the like. When pressurized with a gas, the pressurized gas maintains the designed shape of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the outer shell fabric coverings of the arm rests  104  and body  108  of the bed rest reading pillow  100  are made of a soft comfortable fabric, such as, but not limited to, velour. Preferably, the outer shell fabric of the bed rest reading pillow  100  is waterproof, or substantially waterproof, so that spills of the beverage or other materials do not stain or otherwise damage the bed rest reading pillow  100 . 
     The bed rest reading pillow  100  can be of any suitable size, such as large, medium or small, so as to fit any age and/or size of the user. Further, the front of the body  108  of the bed rest reading pillow  100  may be oriented at any desired angle (as measured from vertical) to provide a desired level of comfort and convenience to the user. Further, the length of the arm rests  104  of the bed rest reading pillow  100  may be any desired length to accommodate the resting of the user&#39;s arm and to provide room for the cup holder receptacle  106  that is preferably located near the edge (or end) of the arm rest  104 . Alternatively, the cup holder receptacles  106  may be placed at any desirable location in the arm rests  104  of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . 
     In some embodiments, a removable outer shell fabric  302 . ( FIG. 3 ) for the arm rests  104  and/or a second outer shell fabric  302  for the body  108  may be used to provide additional coverage over the bed rest reading pillow  100 . This additional coverage material may be removable for easy cleaning, preferably using a washing machine. In such embodiments, the outside diameter of the cup base portion  110  of the cup holder  102 , plus the thickness of the fabric of the outer shell fabric of the second arm rest cover and its receptacle correspond to the inside diameter of the cup holder receptacle  106  so as to provide a snug and secure fit. That is, a first diameter defined by two times the fabric thickness of the outer shell fabric  302  plus two times a thickness of cup holder  102  plus an indie diameter  116  of the cup holder  102  is substantially equal to a diameter of the cup holder receptacle  106  in the arm rest  104  such that the cup holder  102  is snugly secured within the cup holder receptacle  106 . 
     Further, the inserted cup holder  102  further secures the removeable outer shell fabric  302  of the arm rest cover portions over the top of the arm rests  104  of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . Additionally, the outside diameter  114  of the rim  112  is sized so as to overlap the removeable arm rest cover  302 , thereby facilitating stability of the cup holders  102 . 
     One skilled in the arts appreciates that the cup holder receptacle  106 , in a preferred embodiment, is also made of a. fabric material that is sewn onto or otherwise secured to the arm rests of the bed rest reading pillow  100 . The fabric of the cup holder receptacle  106  may the same as, or different from, the outer shell fabric used for the outer shell fabric of the arm rests  104 . Alternatively, the material of the cup holder receptacle  106  may be a rigid, semirigid or partially rigid molded plastic or other polymer-based material that is sewn, and/or that is secured using an adhesive, to the outer shell fabric of the arm rests  104 . 
     In some embodiments, different sized cup base portions  110  may be used to facilitate different sized beverage containers. Here, an insert sleeve  402  ( FIG. 4 ) may be used to adjust the inside diameter  116  of the cup base portion  110 . Alternatively, or additionally, a sleeve  402  may be used about the exterior surface of the cup base portion  110  so that the cup holder  102  and sleeve  402  fit snugly into the cup holder receptacle  106 . 
     Alternatively, or additionally, the cup base portion  110  may have different portions with different diameters. For example, the diameter of lower portion of the cup base portion  110  may be smaller (to hold a beverage can) than the diameter of an upper portion of the cup base portion  110  (to hold a lager glass, cup or the like). 
     In some embodiments, a height of the cup holders  102  may be different from other cup holders  102 . For example, a longer cup holder  102  might be used for taller beverage containers, while a shorter cup holder  102  may be used when short beverage containers are to be secured. Here, the user may select a preferred cup holder  102  based on their particular needs. 
     In some embodiments, an optional temperature insulating material may be disposed about the interior and/or exterior of the cup base portion  110  of the cup holder  102 , and/or the sleeve  402 , to maintain a desired initial temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. The insulating material may be included as an integral part of the cup holder  102  and/or the sleeve  402 . Alternatively, or additionally, the insulating material may be included within, or secured to, the interior of the cup holder receptacles  106 . 
     In the various embodiments, the cup holders  102  are removable from the cup holder receptacles  106 . The cup holders  102  may be optionally configured and sized to fit into cup holder receptacles of a vehicle, such as a car, boat, aircraft or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, cup holders  102  may be optionally configured and sized to fit into cup holder receptacles of other objects, such as chairs, tables, couches or the like. 
     In some embodiments, the interior of the cup holders  102  may have other shapes than a round cylindrical shape. For example, but not limited to, a square or rectangular shape may be used for securing other objects, such as, but not limited to, cell phones, pencils, pens, notebooks, books, other electronic devices, or the like. Alternatively, or additionally, an insert or the like having another shape may be sized to fit within, and to be secured by, the cup holder  102  when inserted into the cup holder  102 . 
     An unexpected benefit provided by the various embodiments is that the user may safely sit upright in their bed while reading or watching television without having to get up from their resting position to grasp or return a beverage container from or to the bedside table, cabinet, or the like. Here, the user may not be unnecessarily subjected to potential pain that would be otherwise associated with turning and reaching to enable grasping and/or return of the beverage container from or to the surface of the bedside table, cabinet, or the like, particularly if the user is injured and/or is sick with an illness. Further, there is significantly less risk of unintentional beverage spillage since the user does not have to turn and reach to enable grasping and/or return of the beverage container from or to the surface of the bedside table, cabinet, or the like, particularly if the beverage is hot. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the bed rest reading pillow  100  are merely possible examples of implementations of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims. 
     Furthermore, the disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. 
     Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.