Patent Publication Number: US-2010117431-A1

Title: Maternity pillow

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,022, filed on May 1, 2006, which in turn claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/676,993, filed on May 2, 2005, the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of head and back support cushion devices for seats, and more particularly, to a head or back support cushion 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cushion devices for chairs or other seats are typically used to provide head, neck, or back support for a user. People often place cushions on the backrest of a seat in order to give them added support and comfort as they sit in either an upright or inclined position. The angle of incline of the seat and the specific preferences or needs of the user dictate the location on the backrest of the seat at which the user desires the cushion to be placed. One problem that often arises with seat cushions is that their positioning on the backrest of the seat changes as the user moves in the chair or leans forward, allowing gravity to pull the cushion in a downward direction. A number of devices in the prior art utilize a variety of fastening arrangements that fix cushions in place by connecting them to the seat. However, these attachments make vertical and lateral adjustment of the cushion, as well as its removal from the seat, more complicated. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,886 shows a headrest mounted on a pair of brackets made of spring steel and forming a ‘V’ shape enclosure. The device snaps over the uppermost portion of an automobile seat. As wing nuts on the device are tightened, the resulting increased spring tension against the seat locks the headrest assembly in place. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,488 shows an adjustable headrest with an elongated tab with a fastener to hang the adjustable headrest from the back of a seat or to hold the headrest in a doubled-over position to function as a neck support. The device contains a ‘U shaped” bolster or pillow with an elongated tab containing VELCRO™ brand connection strips and is fastened to a flexible fabric panel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,015 shows an inflatable headrest device with two cushions attached to a sheet member with a mechanism for securing the apparatus to the back of a chair. The device contains a flexible sheet member, a pair of lateral head support cushions, and belts and straps to secure the device to the seat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,034 shows a storage bag and chair cover that can act as a pillow. This device contains VELCRO™ brand connection straps that attach the device to the chair. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,189 shows a body support device that allows the user to modify the density of specific parts of the device by redistributing filler material in the device through a continuous hollow chamber. The device contains a hollow housing member&#39;that has a hollow neck portion and bulbous housing elements on opposite sides of the hollow neck portion which combine to form a continuous hollow chamber. The hollow chamber is partially filled with filler material that can be redistributed throughout the hollow chamber to vary the firmness and density of the bulbous housing elements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,335 shows a pillow unit containing a pillow, a pocket assembly, and straps connecting the pillow to the back of a seat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,615 shows a neck supporting cushion containing a securing unit that has elongated adjustable straps with cooperating fasteners on opposite ends, a pillow unit that contains a pillow member and a cylindrically shaped fabric envelope filled with foam beads or other particulate material, and a removable cover unit that has a cylindrically shaped fabric cover with end panels dimensioned to slidably receive the elongated strap member and hidden elongated zipper portion. 
     U.S. Design Number 400,042 shows an ornamental design for a headrest cover. 
     Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art reveals numerous portable pillows or cushions that can be attached to the backs of chairs, there is a need for a neck or back support device that can be manufactured inexpensively and can be used easily, without the need for various attachment mechanisms. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention in accordance with one embodiment contains a cushion device, for example, in the shape of a cylindrical pillow body having an elongated skirt portion with an inner side and an outer side attaching at one end to the outer circumference of the cylindrical pillow body. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical pillow body has a tapered portion in the middle. Furthermore, in yet another embodiment, the inner side of the skirt portion includes a friction portion having a high coefficient of static friction. 
     The cushion device, when configured with the skirt extending over the front face, upper end, and rear face of the backrest of a seat, fixes the cylindrical pillow body at any desired height against the backrest of the seat. The inner side of the skirt portion holds the cylindrical pillow body at the specified height and prevents it from moving. As neither the skirt portion nor the cylindrical pillow body attaches to the seat, the cushion device is easily adjustable and removable. If the user places the cylindrical pillow body at head level, then the exemplary tapered portion provides lateral support. 
     This device can be easily stored, for example, under a seat because the skirt portion wraps around the cylindrical pillow, and the tapered portion allows the device to be folded in half. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following&#39;discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a representation of the front perspective view of the pillow embodying various features of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the pillow as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a notch cut out of the skirt portion of the pillow; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the pillow as shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of  FIG. 3  with a bib placed on the skirt portion of the pillow next to the notch. 
     
    
    
     Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various Figs. are designated by the same reference numerals. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a support apparatus  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is disclosed, having a cylindrical pillow body  12 , a skirt portion  14 , and a friction portion  16 , although the invention is not limited in scope in that respect. For example, pillow body can be in any desired shape suitable to provide back or neck support. 
     Cylindrical pillow body  12  has a first side  18 , a second side  20 , an outer circumference  22  between the first side  18  and the second side  20 , a tapered portion  24  in the middle of it and a zipper  26  on the outer circumference  22  running along a substantially horizontal axis. The interior of cylindrical pillow body  12  contains a removable pillow cushion  27  having substantially the same shape as the pillow body itself. In one embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical pillow body includes two side sections  12   a  and  12   c  and a middle section  12   b  having a diameter smaller than the adjoining side sections so as to form the taper portion  24 . However, as mentioned previously, the invention is not limited in scope in that respect and other forms and shapes of pillows are contemplated within the context of the present invention. 
     Skirt portion  14  has a first end  28  attached to the outer circumference  22  of cylindrical pillow body  12  along a substantially horizontal axis, a second free end  30 , an inner side  32 , and an outer side  34 . Friction portion  16 , is defined within the inner side  32  of skirt portion  14  in a desired shape, such as a rectangular shape as shown in  FIG. 2 . However, this depiction of the friction portion  16  is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, it is understood that friction portion  16  could be located anywhere on the inner side  32  of skirt portion  14 . Furthermore, friction portion  16  in accordance with one embodiment is integrated within skirt portion  14 . In the alternative, and in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, friction portion  16  is attached on inner side  32  of the skirt portion. Yet in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, friction portion  16  is removably attached on a desired location along the length of inner side  32 , for example via a VELCRO™ brand connection arrangement. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the entire surface of inner side  32  is made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, in such a way that when apparatus  10  is resting on a structure, such as the back of the chair, the friction is sufficient to prevent the apparatus from sliding undesirably. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a support apparatus  110  is shown as another embodiment of the present invention. Support apparatus  110  has a cylindrical pillow body  120 , a skirt portion  140 , and a neckline  130  defining a neck opening  160 . Support apparatus  110  includes cylindrical pillow body  120  attached to skirt portion  140 . Neckline  130  defines a left shoulder flap  310  and a right shoulder flap  320 . 
     An exemplary use of apparatus  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is further explained in reference with  FIG. 4 . Support apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown draped over a seat  50 . Seat  50  has a backrest  52  with a front face  54 , a rear face  56 , an upper end  58 , and a lower end  60 . Friction portion  16 , made of corrugated rubber or other material having a high coefficient of static friction, is placed against front face  54  of seat  50  at upper end  58 . 
     Friction portion  16  prevents cylindrical pillow body  12  from sliding. In addition, the weight of skirt portion  14 , hanging over the backrest  52  helps prevent cylindrical pillow body  12  from sliding in a downward direction. Cylindrical pillow body  12  can be placed at any desired point along front face  54  of seat  50 , but would most often be utilized at the upper end  58 , to support the user&#39;s head or neck, or at the lower end  60 , to support the user&#39;s lower back. The support apparatus  10  is especially useful for a woman nursing an infant. It may also be draped over a car seat or the headboard of a bed. 
     The tapered portion  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the cylindrical pillow body  12  provides both lateral and vertical support to a user&#39;s head or neck. The height of cylindrical pillow body  12  along front face  54  of backrest  52  of seat  50  can be easily adjusted by moving the cylindrical pillow body  12  to the desired location, and keeping skirt portion  14  over backrest  52  of the seat  50 . Support apparatus  10  does not require any attachments fixing it to seat  50 , regardless of the height along backrest  52  at which cylindrical pillow body  12  is placed. Zipper  26  (see  FIG. 2 ) on cylindrical pillow body  12  allows pillow cushion  27  to be taken out, cleaned, and replaced. 
     An exemplary use of apparatus  110  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is described in reference with  FIG. 5 . Accordingly, support apparatus  110  of  FIG. 3  is shown with shoulder flaps  310  and  320  positioned to be draped over a user&#39;s shoulders, for example, while the user sits on a seat In this configuration, cylindrical pillow body  120  is pressed between the front face of the backrest of the seat and the user&#39;s neck or back. Left shoulder flap  310  of the skirt portion  140  rests over the user&#39;s left shoulder and right shoulder flap  320  rests over the user&#39;s right shoulder. A bib may be attached to the right flap  320  of the skirt portion  140 , for example, via a VELCRO™ brand connection attachment  650 . 
     A user by moving the shoulder flaps up and down can easily adjust the position of cylindrical pillow  120  within the neck or back area. The user can then lean back in the seat. This configuration will provide support to the users head, neck, or back and provide a place to put a napkin or bib while feeding a baby. This arrangement allows the user to use the support device with public seats, such as for example on airplane seats, without the need to rest the skirt portion on the back rest of the airplane seat. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the side of skirt portion  140  that rests on the user&#39;s back is made of a material having a sufficiently high friction coefficient, so as to avoid sliding along the user&#39;s back. As such, pillow body  120  remains in the same desired position along the user&#39;s back, even when the user is not leaning against the back rest, until such time that the user readjusts its position. 
     While the invention has been described and shown in various terms and certain embodiments, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modification or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.