Patent Publication Number: US-2015059098-A1

Title: Neck pillow having a strap

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a neck pillow having a strap and, more particularly, to a neck pillow having a strap to support and comport the neck and the lower head of a user for providing support, comfort, safety, convenience and convenient carriage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A pillow is designed to provide support and comfort to the head, neck, and body of a user, and specifically, a neck pillow has been introduced to help support and comfort a user&#39;s head and neck during traveling by airplane, train, bus or a car. Conventional neck pillows are generally U-shaped or C-shaped to fit about the neck of a user and filled with fillers, such as cotton, wool, foam, etc. 
     However, those neck pillows surround a user&#39;s neck and inconvenience him. He or she may feel stuffy or congested, making him or her sweating, and her makeup may be scrubbed and partially removed around her neck, chin and lower cheeks, annoying her. In addition, those neck pillows are open at one side and thus, they are easily slipped out of a user&#39;s neck and they are not convenient to carry. Oftentimes, a string is attached to the neck pillows for convenient carriage, but a user still has to tie and untie the string before using or carrying the pillow. Furthermore, the neck pillows are designed only to fit around a user&#39;s neck and thus, their use is limited. 
     Accordingly, to solve the above problems, a need for a neck pillow having a strap to support the neck and the lower head of a user has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. Additionally, the present invention is contrived to provide therapeutic effects to alleviate osteopenia or neck hernia. The present invention provides a neck pillow having a strap and a method for manufacturing the same. 
     The object of the invention is to provide a neck pillow having a strap to support and comport the neck and the lower head of a user for providing support, comfort, safety, convenience and convenient carriage. The neck pillow includes first and second fabric layers, having a central portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, and a strap portion. The neck pillow further includes an elastic band placed between the strap portions. 
     Experiments show that the present invention relieves pain in a person&#39;s neck or shoulder and helps cure neck stiffness. Furthermore, the present invention is very effective in treating osteopenia and neck hernia. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a neck pillow having a strap, comprising first and second fabric layers, and an elastic band. The fabric layer includes a central portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, and a strap portion. The central portion is constructed in a substantially hemispheric form and the left and right side portions extend and taper upwardly from the central portion. Additionally, the strap portion is configured to form a hemispheric shape and extends towards the left and right side portions. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a neck pillow having a strap, comprising first and second fabric layers, and an elastic band. The first and second fabric layers are substantially identical and sewn together along the edges of the fabric layers, and the elastic band is sewn to the strap portions of the first and second fabric layers. The inner space, defined by the central portions and side portions of the first and second fabric layers, is filled with an elastic material to form a U-shaped or C-shaped neck pillow. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a neck pillow having a strap, comprising first and second fabric layers, and an elastic band. The elastic material filling the inner space is micro-polyester and the weight of the neck pillow is about 400 grams. Preferably, the inner space is filled with 100% micro-polyester fill. The first and second fabric layers may be made of 100% of cotton, or 50% of cotton and 50% of silk. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a neck pillow having a strap. The method includes cutting a fabric to produce the first and second fabric layers, sewing the first and second fabric layers together except a small opening portion, inserting an elastic band and sewing it to the strap portions of the first and second fabric layers, filling the inner space with an elastic material, and sewing the small opening portion. The method may further include the step of applying anti-slip material to the strap portions. 
     The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the present invention provides a neck pillow having a strap and a method of manufacturing the same to support and comport the neck and the lower head of a user for providing support, comfort, safety, convenience and convenient carriage; (2) the present invention provides a neck pillow to fully support and comport the neck of a user and the lower peripheral area of a head of the user for maximized comport of a user&#39;s head and neck; (3) the present invention relieves pain in a person&#39;s neck or shoulder and helps cure neck stiffness and it is very effective in treating osteopenia and neck hernia; (4) the neck pillow of the present invention can be hung around a head rest of a seat or chair and thus, it does not fall or slip out of one&#39;s neck; (5) the neck pillow of the present invention is easy and convenient to carry because of the strap of the invention; and (6) the neck pillow of the present invention does not scrub or interfere with makeup of a user and does not make a user sweat. 
     Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the neck pillow of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  shows the first fabric layer of the neck pillow of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  shows the second fabric layer of the neck pillow of the present invention 
         FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the first and second fabric layers sewn together according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the neck pillow of the present invention, illustrating the elastic band; 
         FIG. 5  shows steps of the method to manufacture the neck pillow of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a use by a sleeping person of the neck pillow of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows the neck pillow of the present invention hung around the head rest of a seat; 
         FIG. 8  shows the way to carry the neck pillow of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates that the present invention provides a complete support to a user&#39;s neck, shoulder, and lower head. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the neck pillow  100  of the present invention and  FIGS. 2A and 2B  respectively show the first and second fabric layers  10 ,  20  of the present invention. 
     The neck pillow having a strap  100  according to the present invention comprises a first fabric layer  10  and a second fabric layer  20 . The first and second fabric layers  10 ,  20  are substantially identical. 
     The first fabric layer  10  includes a first central portion  12 , constructed in a substantially hemispheric form; a first left side portion  14 , extending upwardly from an upper left end of the first central portion  12 ; a first right side portion  16 , extending upwardly from an upper right end of the first central portion  12 ; and a first strap portion  18  configured to form a hemispheric shape, extending towards an upper end of the first left side portion  14  and an upper end of the first right side portion  16 . The second fabric layer  20  also includes a second central portion  22 , constructed in a substantially hemispheric form; a second left side portion  24 , extending upwardly from an upper left end of the second central portion  22 ; a second right side portion  26 , extending upwardly from an upper right end of the second central portion  22 ; and a second strap portion  28  configured to form a hemispheric shape, extending towards an upper end of the second left side portion  24  and an upper end of the second right side portion  26 .  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the structure and dimensions of the first and second fabric layers, units being inches. 
     The neck pillow  100  additionally includes an elastic band  30  placed between the first strap portion  18  and the second strap portion  28 . The first and second fabric layers  10 ,  20  are substantially identical and sewn together as shown in  FIG. 3  and the inner space defined by the first and second fabric layers  10 ,  20 , excluding the space between the first and second strap portions  18 ,  28 , is filled with an elastic material to form a U-shaped neck pillow  100 . Alternatively, the inner space may be defined by the first and second central portions  12 ,  22  and the first left, first right, second left and second right portions  14 ,  16 ,  24 ,  26 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show dimensions of the first and second fabric layers  10 ,  20 , and the units are inches. The first central portion  12  has a first vertical radius of 7 to 7.5 inches and a second horizontal radius of 8 to 9 inches, substantially hemispherically tapering from the vertical width towards sides of the hemispherical form. The second central portion  22  also has a second vertical radius of 7 to 7.5 inches and a second horizontal radius of 8 to 9 inches, substantially hemispherically tapering from the vertical width towards sides of the hemispherical form. 
     Preferably, the first and second vertical radiuses are about 7.5 inches and the first and second horizontal radiuses are about 8.5 inches as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     The first left side portion  14  extends and tapers upwardly from the left upper end of the first central portion  12 , having a vertical length of 5 to 6 inches and tapering to a width of 4 and 4.5 inches, and the first right side portion  16  extends and tapers upwardly from the right upper end of the first central portion  12 , having a vertical length of 5 to 6 inches and tapering to a width of 4 and 4.5 inches. Additionally, the second left side portion  24  extends and tapers upwardly from the upper left end of the second central portion  22 , having a vertical length of 5 to 6 inches and tapering to a width of 4 and 4.5 inches, and the second right side portion  26  extends and tapers upwardly from the upper right end of the second central portion  22 , having a vertical length of 5 to 6 inches and tapering to a width of 4 and 4.5 inches. 
     Preferably, the first left and right side portions  14 ,  16  and the second left and right side portions  24 ,  26  have the vertical length of about 5.5 inches, the first left and right side portions  14 ,  16  and the second left and right side portions  24 ,  26  taper to a width of about 4.25 inches. 
     The first strap portion  18  has a hemispheric shape having inner and outer radiuses with a horizontal width of 4 to 4.5 inches and a vertical width of 1.75 to 2.25 inches. The second strap portion  28  is substantially identical to the first strap portion. Preferably, the first and second strap portions  18 ,  28  have a horizontal width of about 4.25 inches and a vertical width of about 2 inches as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     The elastic material, filling the inner space, may be cotton, wool, foam, micro-polyester, duck or goose down, polyester, nylon, natural fabric, or synthetic fabric. Preferably, the elastic material consists of 100% micro-polyester fill and the weight of the neck pillow is about 350 to 410 grams, preferably about 400 grams. Alternatively, the weight of the neck pillow is about 350 grams. Weight of 400 grams generally provides the best comfort, but weight of 350 grams is more effective when a user is suffering from neck stiffness or other pains in his neck or shoulder. According to tests and experiments, when the first and second fabric layers have the dimensions as in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , and the elastic material of micro-polyester has the weight of about 400 grams, a user feels maximum support of his neck and sides of his head. Additionally, he can comfortably turn his head a little towards left or right, still feeling the support to his neck and lower sides of his head.  FIG. 6  shows a person using the neck pillow  100  while sleeping. 
     The first and second fabric layers  10 ,  20  may be made of cotton, or alternatively, about 50% of cotton and about 50% of silk. When silk is added, makeup of a user is not rubbed, scrubbed or interfered with. Alternatively, the first and second fabric layers  10 ,  20  may be made of polyester. 
     The first and second strap portions  18 ,  28  may further include anti-slip material for maintaining the position of the neck pillow relative to a seat when in use. Alternatively, the first and second strap portions  18 ,  28  may be made of non-slip fabric. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the elastic band  30  is sewn to the upper left end of the first left side portion  14 , the upper right end of the first right side portion  16 , the upper left end of the second left side portion  24 , and the upper right end of the second right side portion  26 . Additionally, the elastic band  30  may be sewn to about middle of the first and second strap portions  18 ,  28 . The elastic band  30  is elastic and stretchable, and thus, the neck pillow  100  can be hung around a head rest of a seat or chair. Because of the strap portions  18 ,  28  and the elastic band  30 , the neck pillow  100  does not fall or slip out of one&#39;s neck and it is easy and convenient to carry.  FIG. 7  shows the neck pillow  100  hung around the head rest of a seat and  FIG. 8  shows the way to carry the neck pillow  100 . The first and second strap portions  18 ,  28  may include anti-slip material or be made of non-slip fabric, and the elastic band  30  is elastic and stretchable. Accordingly, the neck pillow does not fall or slip out of the head rest. 
       FIG. 5  shows steps of the method to manufacture the neck pillow having a strap  100  of the present invention. The steps include cutting a fabric to produce a first fabric layer; cutting a fabric to produce a second fabric layer; sewing the first and second fabric layers together along inner and outer seams, except a small opening portion  110 , wherein the small opening portion  110  is not located either at the first strap portion or the second strap portion; inserting an elastic band through the small opening portion  110  to place between the first and second strap portions; sewing the elastic band to the left end of the first left side portion, the right end of the first right side portion, the left end of the second left side portion, and the right end of the second right side portion; sewing the elastic band to about middle of the first and second strap portions; filling an inner space, defined by the first fabric layer and the back fabric layer, except the first and second strap portions, with an elastic material to form a U-shaped neck pillow; and sewing the small opening portion  110 . The small opening is preferably located at side of the left or right side portions  14 ,  16 ,  24 ,  26 . 
     The first fabric layer  10  includes a first central portion  12 , constructed in a substantially hemispheric form; a first left side portion  14 , extending upwardly from a left end of the first central portion  12 ; a first right side portion  16 , extending upwardly from an upper right end of the first central portion  12 ; and a first strap portion  18  configured to form a hemispheric shape, extending towards an upper end of the first left side portion  14  and an upper end of the first right side portion  16 . The second fabric layer  20  is substantially identical to the first fabric layer  10 . The second fabric layer  20  includes a second central portion  22 , constructed in a substantially hemispheric form; a second left side portion  24 , extending upwardly from an upper left end of the second central portion  22 ; a second right side portion  26 , extending upwardly from an upper right end of the second central portion  22 ; and a second strap portion  28  configured to form a hemispheric shape, extending towards an upper end of the second left side portion  24  and an upper end of the second right side portion  26 . The method may further include the step of applying anti-slip material to the first and second strap portions  18 ,  28 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates that the present invention provides a complete support to a user&#39;s neck, shoulder, and lower head. Experiments show that the present invention relieves pain in a person&#39;s neck or shoulder and helps cure neck stiffness. Furthermore, the present invention is very effective in treating osteopenia and neck hernia. These advantages have been achieved by the present invention&#39;s unique structure, including, but not limited to, dimensions and structure of the first and second fabrics, the weight of the neck pillow, materials of the elastic material and fabrics. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.