Abstract:
A contoured body pillow adapted to permit unlimited positioning options to facilitate relief from persistent back and neck pain, respiratory and digestive disorders, and to provide a sensation of closeness, comfort and security by conforming to the body of a user, thereby permitting the user to sleep comfortably through the night, the contoured body pillow having a substantially candy cane shape comprising a first terminal end having a semi-bell shape connecting to a U-shaped portion, a downwardly extending leg connecting to the U-shaped portion, the leg expanding at its lowermost portion to form a bell shape, the bell shape terminating at a second terminal end in a beveled edge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a body pillow. More particularly, the present invention involves a contoured body pillow having a substantially candy cane shape with a semi-bell-shaped rounded top portion adapted to accommodate the upper front torso portion of a person, a U-shaped curved portion adapted to accommodate the head, a downwardly extending leg adapted to accommodate the back and rear torso, and a beveled bell-shaped bottom for accommodating the lower portion (legs) of the person. 
     2. Prior Art 
     There are a number of patents that show or relate to support pillows. Some of the support pillows are designed particularly for infants, some particularly for small children and some especially for adults. It is believe to be novel to provide a contoured body pillow with a substantially candy cane shape for optimal body support in a resting position. A preliminary patentability search was conducted on this invention and the following listed references were uncovered in the search. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Patent No. 
                 Name 
                 Date 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 6,499,164 B1 
                 Leach 
                 Dec. 31, 2002 
               
               
                   
                 Des. 382,435 
                 Schaffner, et al. 
                 Aug. 19, 1997 
               
               
                   
                 6,088,854 
                 Brownrigg 
                 Jul. 18, 2000 
               
               
                   
                 5,987,990 
                 Akey 
                 Nov. 9, 1999 
               
               
                   
                 5,519,906 
                 Fanto-Chan 
                 May. 28, 1996 
               
               
                   
                 6,052,848 
                 Kelly 
                 Apr. 25, 2000 
               
               
                   
                 Des. 201,492 
                 Jacobson 
                 Jun. 29, 1965 
               
               
                   
                 5,987,674 
                 Schaffner, et al. 
                 Nov. 23, 1999 
               
               
                   
                 5,097,551 
                 Smith 
                 Mar. 24, 1992 
               
               
                   
                 4,624,021 
                 Hofstetter 
                 Nov. 25, 1986 
               
               
                   
                 4,173,048 
                 Varaney 
                 Nov. 6, 1979 
               
               
                   
                 Des. 377,881 
                 Watt 
                 Feb. 11, 1997 
               
               
                   
                 Des. 303,897 
                 Phillips 
                 Oct. 10, 1989 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The above patents are not considered to be particularly pertinent to the present invention. Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,164 B1 appears to be the most relevant of the prior art patents. However, the present invention is substantially different from U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,164 B as will hereinafter appear. 
     U.S. Des. Pat. No. 382,485 to Schaffier discloses a long pillow comprising a straight portion provided with a slight curvature at one end and circular indentations located in central spaced relation along the length of the pillow. U.S. Des. Pat. No. 201,492 to Jacobson discloses a J-shaped pillow. The Brownrigg U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,854 discloses an ultra-flexible pillow for medical applications which appears to be designed for use in hospitals and which is limited in its claims to a diameter of 4.5 inches and which does not satisfy the cooling feature of the present invention. Akey U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,990 discloses a comfort maternity pillow comprising a rectangular pillow having two arms extending therefrom to form a sort of pear shape having a central opening therein. Fanto-Chan U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,906 discloses a horseshoe shaped pillow having two legs extending therefrom. Kelly U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,848 discloses an elongated U-shaped pillow which may be of various lengths and the shape of which is easily adjustable for a variety of uses. Smith U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,551 discloses a segmented, elongated body pillow. Hofstetter U.S. Pat. No.4,624,021 discloses an elongated pillow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A contoured body pillow having a substantially candy cane shape with a semi-bell-shaped portion connected to a U-shaped portion which transitions into a downwardly extending leg terminating in a beveled bell-shaped portion. The semi-bell-shaped top portion of the pillow consists of a short, fat pillow provided with a wide, rounded terminating end. A non-terminating end of the semi-bell-shaped top portion tapers upwardly and convergingly inward and curves to form a U-shaped portion, which U-shaped portion then transitions into an elongated leg, the elongated leg tapering divergently outward at its lower end to form a bell shape, the bell shape terminating in a beveled edge. 
     The contoured body pillow of the present invention is intended to permit unlimited positioning options to facilitate relief from persistent back and neck pain, respiratory and digestive disorders, and to provide a sensation of closeness, comfort and security by conforming to the body of a user, thereby permitting the user to sleep comfortably through the night. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top of the pillow of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adult woman lying on her side within the pillow of FIG. 1 showing the woman&#39;s arms wrapped around the semi-bell-shaped upper portion and her legs supported by the lower beveled bell-shaped bottom portion of the pillow. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the woman in the reverse position of that shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 but showing the pillow rotated approximately 180° and “flipped over” to produce a mirror image with the pillow being fully enclosed around the woman&#39;s body. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  but showing the pillow fully enclosed around the woman lying in a supine position. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a woman seated with the pillow of the present invention wrapped around her mid-section and showing the lower beveled bell-shaped bottom portion extending upward behind the woman while she holds an infant. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a contoured body pillow  10  comprising a substantially candy cane shape, the contoured body pillow  10  having a semi-bell-shaped member  12  which forms a first terminal end of the contoured body pillow  10  and which tapers upwardly and convergingly inward at an opposite non-terminal end and which semi-bell-shaped member  12  transitions at the opposite non-terminal end into a U-shaped portion  14  having an outer perimeter edge (not numbered) and an inner perimeter edge  16  which inner perimeter edge forms a well, the U-shaped portion transitioning at a side opposite the semi-bell-shaped member  12  into a downwardly extending leg  18  having an upper end and a lower end (not numbered), the downwardly extending leg  18  being slightly longer than the semi-bell-shaped member  12  and the downwardly extending leg  18  transitioning at its lower end (not numbered) into an outwardly expanding bell shape portion  20  terminating in a beveled edge  22 . The semi-bell shaped member  12  of the body pillow  10  is asymmetrical and has straight outer portion  40 , a rounded terminal edge  42 , and a curved inner portion  44  which is adapted to support the lower back or stomach area of an adult user  24  (see FIGS.  2  and  3 ). The inner perimeter edge (or well)  16  of the U-shaped portion  14  curves slightly inward to conform to the curvature of an adult body. The downwardly extending leg  18  is narrow at the upper end thereof and gradually widens until it reaches the lower end thereof (not numbered), where the downwardly extending leg  18  flares outwardly to form the substantially symmetrical bell shaped portion  20  which achieves a width of approximately eighteen inches at the terminal end thereof or beveled edge  22 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a contoured body pillow  10  employed in supporting an adult female  24  who is lying on her side. When the adult female  24  is in this position, her head  26  will rest against the U-shaped portion  14  of the pillow, the semi-bell shaped portion  12  is received between her arms  28 , and the bell shaped portion  20  is received between her legs  34 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a contoured body pillow  10  employed in supporting an adult female  24  who is lying on her side, but who is facing the opposite direction of the adult female shown in FIG.  2 . When the adult female  24  is in this position, her head  26  will rest against the U-shaped portion  14  of the pillow, the semi-bell shaped portion  12  is received against her back  30 , the downwardly extending leg  18  is received between her arms  28 , and the bell shaped portion  20  is received between her legs. 
     FIG. 4 shows a contoured body pillow  10  employed in supporting an adult female  24  who is lying on her side, similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, but who has situated the contoured body pillow  10  substantially upside-down and brought the semi-bell shaped portion  12  and the bell shaped portion  20  into contact with each other to provide the sensation of “closeness.” When the adult female  24  is in this position, her head  26  will rest against the bell shaped portion  20  of the contoured body pillow  10 , the downwardly extending leg  18  will be received against her back  30 , the U-shaped portion  14  will be received between her legs  34 , and the semi-bell shaped portion will be received against her torso  32  and between her arms  28 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a contoured body pillow  10  employed in supporting an adult female  24  who is lying on her back (not shown in this Figure) and who has situated the contoured body pillow  10  substantially upside-down and brought the semi-bell shaped portion  12  and the bell shaped portion  20  into contact with each other to provide the sensation of “closeness.” When the adult female  24  is in this position, her head  26  will rest against the U-shaped portion  14  of the contoured body pillow  10 , the semi-bell shaped portion  12  and the downwardly extending leg  18  are received under her arms  28 , provide support to her torso  32  and back (not shown), and the bell shaped portion  20  is received under her legs  34  to alleviate pressure on her spine (not shown). 
     FIG. 6 shows a contoured body pillow  10  wrapped around the torso  32  of an adult female and extending upward against her back  30  for support when reading, holding an infant, or similar activity. It should be noted that the contoured body pillow  10  must be propped against a wall, headboard or similar surface (not shown) to achieve this position. When the adult female  24  is in this position, her head  26  and back (not shown) will rest against the bell shaped portion  20  of the contoured body pillow  10 , while the downwardly extending leg  18 , the U-shaped portion  14 , and the semi-bell shaped portion  12  wrap around her torso  32  and rest on top of her legs  34 . 
     That is, FIG. 2 shows the body pillow  10  of FIG. 1 being bent at approximately location  18  with the adult female  24  having the semi-bell shaped portion  12  tucked under her arm and the bell shaped portion  20  received between her legs. FIG. 3 shows the user facing the opposite direction from her position in FIG. 2 while maintaining the body pillow  10  in substantially the same position shown in FIG. 2, the adult female  24  having the downwardly extending leg  18  received between her arms  28 , the semi-bell shaped portion  12  received against her back and conforming thereto, and the bell shaped portion  20  received between her legs. FIG. 4 shows the body pillow  10  wrapped around the body of the adult female  24  with the semi-bell shaped portion  12  being received between the arms  28  of the adult female  24 , the downwardly extending leg of the pillow being received against the back  30  of the adult female  24 , the U-shaped portion  14  being received between the legs  34  of the adult female  24 , and the head  26  of the adult female  24  being supported by the bell shaped portion  20 . FIG. 5 shows the body pillow  10  supporting an adult female (not numbered in this Figure) in the supine position, the legs  34  of the adult female being supported by the bell shaped portion  20 , the bell shaped portion  20  being in direct contact with the semi-bell shaped portion  12 , the arms  28  of the adult female being supported by the semi-bell shaped portion  12  and the downwardly extending leg  18 , and the head of the adult female being supported by the U-shaped portion  14 . FIG. 6 shows the body pillow being wrapped around the torso of the adult female with the bell shaped portion  20  extending behind the back (not numbered) and head  26  of the adult female to provide cushion and support when the adult female is resting against a headboard, wall, or other surface, the semi-bell shaped portion  12 , downwardly extending leg  18 , and U-shaped portion  14 , wrapping around the torso of the adult female with the legs  34  of the adult female below the body pillow and the arms  28  of the adult female resting thereon. Therefore, the body pillow  10  of the present invention is malleable and is capable of being shaped, bent, or drawn out depending upon the desires of the user. 
     While FIGS. 2 through 6, inclusive, depict the various positions which may be achieved with the contoured body pillow  10  of the present invention, it should be apparent that other and further modifications of the present invention, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.