Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/682187 filed Aug. 10, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention relates generally to beach and outdoor accessories and in particular to inflatable pillows for relaxing on the beach or outdoors. Many people enjoy relaxing outdoors or sunbathing while keeping their face and eyes shielded from the sun. Conventional sunglasses and hats offer only partial protection of the eyes and face, and large beach umbrellas are awkward to carry and set up making them less than optimal solutions. A small and lightweight apparatus that can cast shade over the user&#39;s face would therefore be desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, the invention is directed to an inflatable shaded pillow for beach or other outdoor use. An inflatable bladder is provided in any of a variety of beach or outdoor themed shapes and colors. The bladder in its inflated shape generally has a pillow base, a rear support member, and a shade providing member with the rear support member fixedly attached to the pillow base and supporting the shade member above the head of the user. Optionally, one or more cylindrical cavities for supporting a beverage container may be incorporated into the shape of the base. 
         [0007]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment resembling a tree showing the base  100 , shade member  101 , rear support  102 , and cavity  103 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the second exemplary embodiment resembling a breaking ocean wave showing the base  200 , shade member  201 , rear support  202 , and cavity  203 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a side-elevated view of the third exemplary embodiment resembling a shell showing the base  300 , shade member  301 , rear support  302 , and cavity  303 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the fourth exemplary embodiment resembling a surfboard showing the base  400 , shade member  401 , rear support  402 , and cavity  403 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of the fifth exemplary embodiment resembling a bent-over surfboard resting on sand showing the sand-textured base  500 , shade member  501 , rear support  502 , and cavity  503 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to an inflatable pillow for beach or outdoor use. Each pillow comprises a bladder composed of a flexible and airtight material; many such plastics are known in the prior art. Many means of inflation and deflation are likewise known in the prior art, and any may be used. For example, a flexible plastic or rubber check valve of the kind commonly used in inflatable toys and objects may be provided. Such valves may be inflated or deflated manually, or with a manual or automatic air pump, which may be provided with the pillow to form a kit. 
         [0015]    In general, each embodiment comprises, in its inflated shape, a base on which the user lays his or her head, a rear support member attached to the rear top thereof, and a shade-providing member attached to and supported by the rear support member, which is raised over the user&#39;s head to provide shade. The several members are preferably monolithically affixed to one another with internal fluid communication among them so as to form a single fluid container, though alternative embodiments may provide multiple separate fluid containers that are separately inflated or separated by internal baffles to allow for differing fluid pressures between the several members or regions thereof. 
         [0016]    In each embodiment, the base, rear support, and shade member are shaped according to a conceptual theme. The theme may be related to the beach or other outdoor area where the invention may be used, or to the ocean or marine life. For example, conceptual beach related themes of a palm tree, breaking ocean wave, shell, and surfboard are contemplated and described herein. 
         [0017]    Optionally, the base member or any embodiment may feature a cavity formed in its top surface; the cavity is preferably cylindrical and of sufficient diameter and depth to support a beverage container. A retained beverage may be kept at a reduced temperature in part by the shade provided. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows the first exemplary embodiment. In the first exemplary embodiment, the invention is shaped to resemble a tree, for example a palm tree. A base  100  is provided; the base  100  is generally oblong or pillow shaped and decorated with a color or pattern to resemble sand or ground. Attached monolithically to the rear center of the base  100  is a rear support  102 ; the rear support  102  rises vertically to a sufficient height to comfortably accommodate an adult person&#39;s head. The rear support  102  is decorated with a color or pattern to resemble a tree trunk, for example a palm tree trunk. Attached monolithically to the rear support  102  is a shade member  101 . The shade member  101  is shaped and decorated to resemble a tree canopy, including a regular deciduous tree canopy or palm fronds. Optionally, a cavity  103  may be provided; the cavity  103  is a part of the shape of the base  100 , and is sized to accommodate a beverage container. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows the second exemplary embodiment. In the second exemplary embodiment, the pillow is shaped and decorated (for example in blue, or a blue and white pattern) to resemble a breaking ocean wave. A base  200  is provided resembling the bottom of a breaking wave; the material of the base  200  sweeps back to form a rear support  202  resembling the rear of a breaking wave and curves over in front at a height sufficient to comfortably accommodate an adult person&#39;s head to form a shade member  201  resembling the breaking top region of a breaking wave. Optionally, a cavity  203  may be provided; the cavity  203  is part of the base  200  and is sized to accommodate a beverage container. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows the third exemplary embodiment, which is shaped and decorated (for example in pink, or a pink and white pattern) to resemble a shell. A base  300  resembles the lower half of the shell , and is monolithically attached to a rear support  302 , which resembles the hinge of the shell, and which is monolithically attached to a shade member  301  which is shaped to resemble the upper half of the shell. Optionally, a cavity  303 , sized to accommodate a beverage container may be provided in the shape of the base  300 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows the fourth exemplary embodiment. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a base  400  is provided. The base  400  may be an abstract or any convenient shape suitable for a surfboard to be leaned upon and to function as a head pillow, and may be decorated in a manner thematically appropriate for the beach (e.g. sand pattern or water pattern). Monolithically attached to the base  400  is a rear support  402 , which in the fourth exemplary embodiment may be reduced to a single attachment point. The rear support  402  supports a shade member  401 , which is shaped and decorated to resemble a surfboard. Optionally, a cavity  403 , sized to accommodate a beverage container, may be provided in the shape of the base  400 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows the fifth exemplary embodiment. In the fifth exemplary embodiment, a base  500  is provided. The base  500  is decorated to resemble a patch of sandy ground, for example at a beach. Monolithically attached to the base  500  is a rear support  502 , which supports a shade member  501 . The rear support  502  and shade member  501  are together shaped and decorated to resemble a surfboard that has been bent over from its usual flat configuration into a partial arch shape. Optionally, a cavity  503 , sized to accommodate a beverage container, may be provided in the shape of the base  500 . 
         [0023]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

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