Abstract:
A multi-purpose pillow with attached blanket. The pillow comprises a body with one or more inwardly-turned arms. One edge of the blanket is attached to the pillow, and a pouch is formed in the pillow so that blanket is stowable inside. A pocket may be included for holding an MP3 player or other accessory. A flap wraps around the body to cover the pouch opening and the accessory pocket when the blanket is stowed. In its preferred embodiment, the pillow provides a convenient infant support pillow with a blanket that may be deployed beneath the pillow to provide a clean playing, napping or changing area or to spread over or wrap around the infant. This pillow also is a handy travel pillow for toddlers through adults, one of the arms serving as a head and neck cushion, while the body supports an MP3 player in a convenient position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to pillows and particularly to pillows for infants and toddlers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many products that have simplified and improved the care of infants. Among these is the infant support pillow, which is used to support an infant in a sitting or semi-reclining position. These pillows are lightweight and portable and are especially useful when the caregiver and child are outside the home. 
     The pillow of this invention comes equipped with an attached blanket that is stowable in a pouch in the pillow. When deployed, the blanket provides a covered surface under the pillow, a light cover, or a snug wrap for the infant. When spread out under the pillow, the blanket provides a clean, soft area for playing or for setting other infant care accessories. It may also be used as a changing mat or as a sleeping pallet. The pillow is also useful as a travel pillow for a toddler or an adult. The pillow preferably includes a pocket for an accessory, such as an MP3 player. These and other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a pillow made in accordance with the present invention. The pillow is shown in its resting position, with the blanket in the stowed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the pillow shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the pillow shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the pillow in  FIG. 1 , with the pouch flap open. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the pillow with the pouch flap open and the blanket in a partially deployed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the pillow with the blanket in the fully deployed position. 
         FIG. 7  is perspective view of the pillow in the storage or carrying position, with the blanket stowed and the arms knotted. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the pillow supporting an infant in one of the arms with blanket fully deployed beneath the infant. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the drawings in general and to  FIGS. 1-3  in particular, there is shown therein a pillow made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The pillow  10  comprises a body  12  having a first end  14  and a second end  16 . The body  12  has an inner perimeter  20  and an outer perimeter  22 , as viewed from above in  FIG. 1 , defining a top half above the inner and outer perimeter and a bottom half below the inner and outer perimeter. 
     In its preferred form, the pillow  10  further comprises at least one and preferably two arms, such as the first and second arms  26  and  28 . The first arm  26  extends from the first end  14  of the body  12 . Like the body  12 , the first arm  26  has an inner perimeter  32  and an outer perimeter  34 . The first arm  26  terminates in a free end  36 . The second arm  28  extends from the second end  16  of the body  12  and also has an inner perimeter  40  and an outer perimeter  42  and likewise terminates in a free end  44 . 
     The body  12  and the first and second arms  26  and  28  all are formed of compressible resilient material so that the pillow provides good cushioning and returns to its original shape or resting position after being deformed. As used herein, “resting position” refers to the position and shape the pillow  10  naturally assumes when no tension or pressure is exerted on any part it. 
     Preferably, as seen in  FIG. 2 , the pillow  10  is formed by first sewing a fabric enclosure  50  in the desired configuration. The enclosure material may be any suitable fabric, including but not limited to waterproof nylon, flannel, or elastic fabrics, such as spandex or cotton-spandex blends. However, presently a polyester/cotton blend is preferred. 
     The enclosure  50  is filled with a compressible, resilient material  52 . A preferred filler is polyester fiberfill. Other suitable fillers include down feathers, memory foam, polystyrene pellets. In some instances, an inflatable inner liner may be preferred. This construction provides a continuous compressible and resilient pillow form. 
     In this embodiment, a fabric cover  54  is also included. The cover  54  is formed similar to the enclosure, but may be designed for easy removal and cleaning. For example, the cover  54  may be provided with a zipper, buttons, snaps, ties, hook and loop connectors, or simply overlapping edges (not shown). Although the fabric of which the cover  54  is made may vary widely, a soft flannel fabric is highly preferred in most instances. 
     The ideal shape for the body  12  is generally cylindrical, that is generally circular in cross-section. Likewise the cross-sectional shape of the each of the arms  26  and  28  will be similar. The width of the body  12  and the arms  26  and  28  usually will be in the range of about 4 to about 6 inches, and the body may be slightly narrower so that its width will be about the same as the arms when the blanket is stowed in the pocket, as will be described in more detail hereafter. The length of the body  12  may vary as well, but a preferred length is between about 12 and about 24 inches, and more preferably is between about 16 and about 20 inches. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first arm  26  is configured so that its inner perimeter  32  forms, with inner perimeter  20  of the body  12 , a multi-sided support area designated generally at  60 , when the pillow  10  is in the resting position. In this preferred embodiment, the first arm  26  is curled or curved in towards the body  12  so that the terminal end  36  is adjacent the body, the arm having a generally toroidal shape. In this way, the support area  60  defined by the first arm  26  is a substantially enclosed well. 
     The well-shaped support area  60  may be virtually any shape, though usually the area will be generally circular, oval or square. The outer perimeter  34  may also take different shapes. For example, the outer perimeter  34  could be angular, such as square or polygonal, or it could be scalloped, without affecting the intended function of the pillow  10 . However, in most instances it will have generally the same shape as the well-shaped support area  60 . 
     Though the size or diameter of the well-shaped support area  60  may vary, it is advantageous to size the area to receive the torso of an infant. For example, a well having a diameter of about 4 to about 8 inches is ideal for use as an infant support pillow. This also allows the curved first arm  26  to fit around the neck of a larger child or adult for use as a head and neck cushion. 
     Like the first arm  26 , the second arm  28  also preferably is configured so that its inner perimeter  40  forms, with inner perimeter  20  of the body  12 , a multi-sided support area designated generally at  62 , when the pillow  10  in the resting position. In this preferred embodiment, the support area  62  formed by second arm  28  is partially open, the second arm being generally perpendicular to the body  12 . As shown herein, the second arm  28  and the body  12  together generally form an L-shape, though an open curve or other configuration may be used. 
     Now it will be seen that the arms  26  and  28  in the preferred embodiment shown and described herein are not symmetrical, that one forms a nearly closed well  60 , while one forms an open or L-shaped bolster around the area  62 . It will be understood, though, that a pillow with symmetrical arms is also contemplated by the present invention. Additionally, though the preferred embodiment has two arms  26  and  28 , two arms are not essential to the present invention. Still further, although in the preferred embodiment, both arms  26  and  28  curve toward the same side of the body  12  (the inner perimeter  20  of the body  12  as in  FIG. 1 ), other embodiments include a pillow in which the arms extend toward opposite sides of the body, similar to an S-shape. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4-6 , the pillow  10  comprises a blanket  70 . The shape and size of the blanket  70  may vary, but rectangular is a convenient shape and 24 inches by 28 inches is an ideal size for the pillow  10  as previously described. The blanket  70  may be made of the same fabric as the cover  54 , or it may be a coordinating or a contrasting pattern or color, or even a different fabric. 
     The blanket  70  has a proximal edge  72  that is attached to the body  12 , preferably along the inner perimeter  20 . This attachment may be permanent, or the blanket  70  may be removable by attaching it with a zipper, buttons, snaps, ties, hook and loop connectors, or any other suitable attachment. 
     As indicated, the blanket  70  is stowable in the pillow  10 . To that end, the pillow  10  includes a pouch  76  with an opening. Preferably, the pouch  76  is rectangular, but other shapes may be employed. The opening is most conveniently a long slot  78  that runs lengthwise along the body  12  adjacent the attached proximal edge  72  of the blanket  70 . In the preferred embodiment, there is no closure on the slot  78 . However, if desired, the slot could be equipped with a zipper, buttons, snaps, ties, hook and loop connectors, or any other suitable closure. 
     Especially where there is no closure on the slot  78  itself, it is often desirable to include a flap  80  to cover the slot. The flap  80  has a proximal edge  82  ( FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 ) attached to the body  12  very near where the blanket&#39;s edge  72  is attached. Similarly, though in the preferred practice of this invention, the flap  80  is permanently sewn or attached, the flap could be made removable by attaching it with a zipper, buttons, snaps, ties, hook and loop connectors, or any other suitable means. 
     The flap  80  is sized and positioned to cover the slot  78  (or other opening) when the flap is in the closed position, as seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , and to permit access to the pouch  76  through the slot (opening) when the flap is in the open position, shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . Some closure means, such as a zipper, buttons, snaps, ties, or the hook and loop fasteners  84  ( FIGS. 3-5 ), as shown in the preferred embodiment, may be used to maintain the flap  80  in the closed position. Most desirable, the flap  80  is about the same length as the body  12  and is wide enough to extend over and cover a substantial portion of the top half of the body, so that its distal edge  86  is about even with the seam  88  along the outer perimeter  22  of the body. This provides a smooth area over the top of the body  12 . 
     Now it will be apparent that the blanket  70  may be folded, rolled or otherwise retracted and pushed inside the pouch  76  into a stowed position, as seen in  FIGS. 1-4 . When desired, the blanket  70  may be unfolded, unrolled, or otherwise extended into a deployed position, as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , spreading out a distance from the body  12 . 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 4-6 , a pocket  90  may be included in the pillow  10  for holding an accessory. As shown herein, the accessory is an MP3 player  92 . However, the accessory pocket  90  may be used to hold other accessories, such as a small wallet, car keys, a small toy, a packet of tissues, a pacifier, a bottle, a sippy cup, or virtually any other accessory that may be needed or desired by the baby or the caregiver. The pocket  90  will be sized and shaped accordingly. The placement of the pocket  90  may be virtually anywhere on the body  12  or either of the arms  26  and  28 . However, a preferred placement is on the top of the body  12  near the slot  78 , so that the flap  80  will cover the pocket  90  entirely when the flap is in the closed position. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 7 , it will be seen that the shape of the pillow  10 , combined with its compressibility and flexibility, allows the pillow to be twisted or tied in a knot as shown for convenient storage or for carrying. The pillow  10  readily springs back to its resting position ( FIG. 1 ), when the arms  26  and  28  are unfolded. 
     Although the uses of this pillow  10  are many, one illustrative use is shown in  FIG. 8 . The blanket  70  has been deployed and spread out beneath the pillow  10 , and an infant  94 , shown in broken lines, is positioned in a semi-upright position inside the first arm  26 . 
     Although not shown, it will be understood that the infant  94  could be laid flat on the blanket  70  for changing. Also, a very young infant could be placed on its side on the blanket  70  with its back propped up against the inner perimeter  20  of the body  12 , in a SIDS-preventive position. A larger infant or toddler could be placed on the blanket  70  transverse or perpendicular to the body  12  with its head supported on the body. Still further, the blanket  70  could be laid over the infant  94  or wrapped around the infant. Yet another use for the pillow  10  is as a travel pillow for an older child or an adult. The toroidal first arm  26  makes an ideal head and neck cushion, and the pocket  90  ( FIGS. 4-6 ) is conveniently placed for easy access to the MP3 player. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are exemplary. Many details are often found in the art and, therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. It is not claimed that all of the details, parts, elements, or steps described and shown were invented herein. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present inventions have been described in the drawings and accompanying text, the description is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the inventions to the full extent indicated by the broad meaning of the terms of the attached claims. The description and drawings of the specific embodiments herein do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but rather provide an example of how to use and make the invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.