Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to pillows and more specifically to a pillow structure having a cavity in the pillow structure and openings from the outside of the structure to the cavity so that users can rest face-down on the structure and place their hands and arms into the structure and be able to view an item placed into a cavity in the middle of the pillow structure through the opening for their face. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many bedding products, including mattresses and pillows designed to increase a user&#39;s comfort while lying down to sleep or rest or perform sedentary activities. Some major concerns for people lying down or sleeping are related to breathing, pressure, stress, alignment, and overall comfort. These concerns can be greater for overweight or taller users, athletic users, and pregnant women. 
     Most pillows are designed to provide support for the user&#39;s head and neck while the user lays down on their back or side. Some designs are created to keep the user&#39;s spine in alignment while the user sleeps on their side or back. These pillows may be designed with curves upward to provide further support in the area at the base of the skull for the user sleeping on their back or at the neck and jawline of the user sleeping on their side. Some pillows are manufactured out of special materials to provide support or flexibility and to contour to the user&#39;s unique shape. However, not all people prefer to lay down or sleep on their back or side, and the above mentioned specially designed pillows are not comfortable for a user who chooses to sleep on their front facing the pillow. 
     Some people prefer to sleep or rest face-down to increase their comfort and alleviate their concern with breathing, loss of circulation, and pressure. For example, some people sleep face down because they are uncomfortable sleeping on their back due to breathing problems, such as a closing of their airway or sleep apnea. Some people sleep face down because they find that sleeping on their side will cause their arms to fall asleep or their spine to feel misaligned. Many people toss and turn throughout the night trying to get comfortable or reposition their body to relieve some stress on their arms, hips, neck, head, and back. 
     Sleeping face-down on a standard pillow can cause issues with airflow, breathing, and temperature control. Sleeping facing down can also cause problems with blood circulation in the arms if the arms are pressed under the body. It can also cause breathing problems or issues with air flow or circulation when the user is facing the pillow. Further, issues with temperature control can be caused by breathing into a pillow pressed against the user&#39;s face. Some users turn their head sideways when sleeping face-down to increase airflow and temperature control. This can cause a strain on the user&#39;s neck, arms, and back if the user turns their head to sleep with their current pillows. Pillows have been designed to help provide a place for an adult&#39;s face to lay, or a hole, which allows room for the user to breathe, for example U.S. Design Pat. No. D277,059 (Boone). 
     Some users take stress off their neck when they sleep on their front by placing their arms or hands under the pillow to prop the pillow up to. This can cause a loss of blood circulation to the arms or hands with their arm placed under the pressure of the body, head, or pillow. One attempt to solve this problem of creating space under a pillow, is U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,906 (Sumpter), which provides tunnel-like openings for the arms of a sleeper. Sumpter provides that the user&#39;s arms would be extended above the user&#39;s head and parallel to their body underneath the pillow. 
     The problems described above also occur when the user tries to perform sedentary tasks when resting on their front facing a pillow structure. For example, users seek a comfortable way to perform sedentary tasks, such as reading email or typing on an electronic device, reading books, or performing tasks on their mobile devices, cell phones, or tablets while resting. These tasks can include many different tasks on various devices or objects, such as reading and writing emails and text messages; watching videos, such as sports, movies and television shows; surfing the internet; reading the news and gossip; shopping online; and other tasks requiring limited ability to move. With the proliferation of smaller devices capable of performing these tasks and other tasks, people are more likely to perform these tasks on a smaller device and at various locations. Although these tasks may take place while the user is seated, such as on an airplane, or at a desk, or at a table, these tasks may alternately take place while the user is leaning forward while seated or while the user is lying down. Many people perform these tasks in bed. Some people are not comfortable lying on their back while holding a book or mobile device, cell phone, or tablet above them for an extended period of time. Holding an object above your face for an extended period of time can be uncomfortable. Some people are not comfortable lying on their side for an extended period of time holding a book or device. Lying on one&#39;s side limits the ability of one arm or hand to hold the book and turn the page or to touch the device. Further, many new devices contain technology that automatically turns the image on the device based on how the device is oriented, assuming the user is not lying sideways, so that a user reading a website or looking at a picture or video with their head turned sideways must awkwardly turn (or change the settings on their device). 
     Another problem people have is trying to rest or perform sedentary activities comfortably while seated. This is particularly the case while users are seated on an airplane or at a desk or table. Some pillows have been designed to help support the user&#39;s head and neck, but these do not provide the desired amount of support or stability. Some users lean forward and cross their arms and rest their head against their arms, turning their head to the side. This position allows for some level of comfort if the user can comfortably do so while bending at the waist. In many locations, bending at the waist is not a comfortable option, including on an airplane. Also, by turning their head, the user&#39;s spine is not aligned. Some users lean their head to the side or try to keep their head back against a headrest, but during their rest their head may lean forward or to a different side if not given the desired support. Leaning the head to the side for too long will also cause pain, stiffness, or soreness for the user&#39;s neck. By turning their head, the user&#39;s spine is not aligned and the user cannot comfortably rest or sleep. Based on the restricted size of seats, leg space, and lap space for user&#39;s sitting on airplanes, users seek a comfortable alternative to the available options. Users are particularly sedentary on airplanes, but the inventive pillow structure would be similarly useful for users seated at a desk or table. 
     Another problem people have while lying down is comfortably listening to audio through headphones. Some people listen to music, books “on tape,” audio with video, or other sounds such as “white noise” while resting. People place headphones over their ears or place earbuds into their ears while leaning forward in a seated position or while lying down. Many headphones that cover the user&#39;s ears or earbuds inserted into the ear are not comfortable when the user&#39;s head is against a pillow or against the user&#39;s arm or another object. Pressure from an object against the headphones or earbuds, even from a relatively soft object such as a pillow, can cause discomfort to the user. 
     Designing a comfortable pillow structure that allows the user to rest facing down towards a pillow structure, while the user&#39;s arms and/or hands are comfortably placed underneath the user&#39;s head at an angle substantially perpendicular to the user&#39;s body would be a useful invention as it would allow the user to rest comfortably and position their arms in a manner that allowed flexibility in the user&#39;s movements and allow the user to perform sedentary activities. Designing a pillow structure with a cavity in the middle of the pillow structure for the user to place an object such as a book or device, and providing at least one opening for the user&#39;s face and at least two openings for the user&#39;s arms and/or hands that meet at the cavity would be a useful invention allowing the user to perform sedentary activities while comfortably resting. Designing a pillow structure with space in at least one opening to the cavity for wires, power cords, or headphones or earbuds would be a useful invention. Designing a pillow structure with a source of light for viewing objects placed in the cavity in the middle of the pillow structure the would be a useful invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention features a pillow structure for the user to rest facing down toward the pillow structure. The pillow structure has a top surface, at least two sides, a bottom, and a cavity in the middle of the pillow structure. The inventive pillow structure has a cavity in the middle of the structure, at least one opening located substantially on the top of the pillow structure for the user&#39;s face, at least two side openings in the sides of the pillow structure for the user&#39;s hands and arms to be placed within the cavity. The inventive pillow&#39;s cavity can be accessed from the outside of the pillow from the at least one opening on the top surface and from the at least two openings on the sides. The cavity may also be accessed from other openings of the pillow structure. All these openings may increase air flow and may provide a space for a light source and power source. Any opening may be large enough for the insertion of useful objects or devices into the pillow structure, such as wires, cords, and headphones to extend through the openings into the cavity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive pillow structure, showing the embodiment in use in a first configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing the pillow structure without a user. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a head-side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 10  is a second top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the embodiment in use in a second configuration. 
         FIG. 11  is a third top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the embodiment in use in a third configuration. 
         FIG. 12  is a fourth top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the embodiment in use in a fourth configuration. 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive pillow structure, showing the embodiment in use. 
         FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , showing the embodiment without a user. 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is a head-side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 18  is a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 19  is a left side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 20  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 21  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A first embodiment of the inventive pillow structure  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive pillow structure  100 , showing the embodiment in use by a user  150 . The pillow structure  100  in this first embodiment has a top surface  105 , and at least two sides  110 , and has a one side towards the user&#39;s head, referred to herein as the head-side  115  In the first embodiment, the user  150  is resting on the top surface of the pillow structure  105 . In this embodiment, substantially all of the user&#39;s body  160  is resting on the top surface  105  of the pillow structure  100 , except for the user&#39;s arms  170  and the user&#39;s legs  165  which comfortably extend beyond the pillow structure  100 . This figure shows the user&#39;s legs extending beyond the pillow substantially at the user&#39;s knees. In other embodiments, the pillow structure may be smaller and not designed to support substantially all of the user&#39;s entire body. For example, a different embodiment may be designed to support only the user&#39;s face  155  or a smaller portion of the user&#39;s body  160 . 
     The top surface of the pillow structure  105  contains at least one opening  106  in the top surface. The user  155  can place her face into the opening in the top surface  106 . There are at least two sides  110  to the pillow structure  100 . There are at least two openings  120  in the at least two sides  110 . The at least two openings in the sides  120  provide access to a cavity in the middle of the pillow structure  100 . (The cavity will be described in the description of  FIG. 2 .) The user  150  can place their arms  170  and hands  175  into the openings in the sides  120  and reach into the cavity and through the pillow structure  100  to a different opening in the sides  120  or an opening in the head-side  117 . The user  150  can also place one or more objects into the cavity, which could be a book or a device  190 . The device  190  is herein defined as any type of device, such as an electronic device, a cellular phone, a mobile device, a gaming device, or a watch, that may contain audio or visual capabilities, or both, or may allow the user to communicate with others. The device  190  has a minimum size of a standard woman&#39;s size watch face or an Apple iPod shuffle product, which measures approximately 1 inch in height, 1 inch in width, and one-third of an inch in depth, including its clip; however, devices, particularly electronic devices and audio/visual devices, have been getting smaller, so the absolute minimum size of the openings in the sides  120 , the opening in the top surface  106 , and the cavity each depends on the size of the devices and the size of the user. 
     The perpendicular angle of the user&#39;s arms  170  when placed in the openings in the sides  120  provides additional comfort and the ability to view objects or devices  190  in the user&#39;s hands  175  when the user&#39;s hands  175  are directly below the user&#39;s face  155 . By designing the pillow structure with side openings  120  that provide access to the cavity in the middle of the pillow structure, the user can lean their body  160  into the pillow structure and place their arms  170  horizontally underneath their head in a position substantially perpendicular to their body  160  position without the stress of the user&#39;s body-weight against their arms. The side openings  120  provide an inventive way for the user to place the user&#39;s arms  170  underneath their face  155  and support their weight with other parts of their body  160  against the top surface  105  of the pillow structure. 
     The user can place their arms  170  into the openings in the sides  120 , and place their arms  170  underneath their face  155 . In this embodiment, the user&#39;s arms  170  are substantially perpendicular to their body  160 , providing a comfortable way to rest without pressure on the user&#39;s arms  170  caused by the weight of the user&#39;s body  160 . The openings in the side  120  may be structurally supported by other materials such as plastic, foam, metal, or wood, providing additional support for the weight of the user&#39;s face  155  and body  160  on top surface of the pillow structure. Said side openings  120  can be any shape or size which is sufficiently large to insert the user&#39;s arms therein, so long as the material making up the pillow structure can allow the side openings to be sized that large. Comparing the dimension of the side opening in the figure to the sitting height of an average woman, it is believed that this dimension is sufficiently large to insert the user&#39;s arms therein. The pillow structure  100  may be filled with plastic, foam, feathers, air, or any material strong enough to support the weight from the user&#39;s face  155  and the front of the user&#39;s body  160  leaning against the top surface  105  of the pillow structure while still maintaining the cavity in the middle of the pillow structure and at least two side openings  120 . Said side openings  120  can be circular shaped to the contours of the user&#39;s arm  170 . Said side openings  120  may be open at the bottom, as demonstrated by the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be closed. 
     The head-side of the pillow structure  115  in the first embodiment has at least one opening  117 , which provides access to the cavity. This opening in the head-side  117  provides additional air flow and circulation from outside the pillow structure  100 . This opening in the head-side  117  can be used to insert other objects, such as a book or device  190 . This opening in the head-side  117  can be used for other reasons that provide additional utility to the pillow structure  100 , including providing a space for illumination for a user reading a book, a power source for a user using a device, a space for wires or cords, such as wires for a headsets or earbuds. The opening in the head-side  117  can be used for a user to place their hand  175  or arm  170  out of the pillow structure  100 . 
     The overall shape of the pillow structure  100  in the first embodiment is angled at a gradual incline so that the user&#39;s face  155  is at a slightly higher elevation than the user&#39;s body  160  and legs  165 . The gradual incline allows for the user&#39;s body  160  to be supported throughout the pillow structure  100 . This gradual incline allows for room for the cavity in the pillow structure beneath the user&#39;s face  155 . This also allows for room for the user&#39;s arms  170  and hands  175  to fit under the user&#39;s face  155 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing the embodiment without a user.  FIG. 2  illustrates the overall shape of the pillow structure  200  and shows the top surface  205  of the pillow structure, an opening  206  in the top surface. The at least one opening in the top surface  206  has a rim  207  around the opening. The user places her face into the opening in the top surface  206  and the user&#39;s face is supported by the rim  207  and inside edge  209 . The rim  207  may be in a circular shape to comfortably fit the contours of the user&#39;s face. The rim  207  may be angled or rounded to provide more comfort for the user&#39;s face. The inside edge  209  can be curved or angled to provide further support to the user&#39;s face when the user&#39;s face is placed inside the opening  206 . The rim  207  and inside edge  209  may have a removable cover or sheet to keep the pillow structure clean. The at least one opening in the top surface  206  provides access to a cavity  240 . The cavity  240  can be accessed from the outside of the pillow from the at least one opening on the top surface  206  and from the at least two openings on the sides  220 . 
     The opening in the top surface  206  is not circular in this embodiment, but instead has a figure-eight shape with a substantially circular-shaped rim  207  for the user&#39;s face  155  and a substantially oval-shaped rim  208  extended downward from the circular-shaped rim  207 . The substantially oval-shaped rim  208  provides more air flow and circulation for a user&#39;s face  155  when the user is facing down into the opening at the top surface  206  and breathing into the cavity  240 . The substantially oval-shaped rim  208  provides room for a user to insert one arm  170  into the opening at the top surface  206  if the user turns sideways. The sides  210  of the pillow structure are sloped in this embodiment in a concave shape. The sides  210  can be rounded, straight, concave, convex, or any other shape or combination of shapes. In another embodiment, the sides  210  may be straight down from the top surface  205  down to the base. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . The pillow structure  200  in this embodiment is supported with a flat base  345  at the bottom of the pillow structure. The flat base  345  may be various shapes, including circular, oval, square, rectangular, or any other shape. The flat base  345  is flat so that the pillow structure  200  can be placed onto a level surface. The flat base  345  may be flexible and able to accommodate to an uneven or un-level surface, such as a soft mattress on a bed. The base  345  in this embodiment is extended out from the sides  210  in order to provide a wider base and more support. With this wider base  345 , the pillow structure is less likely to shift or tip over. The head-side  315  of the pillow structure contains at least one opening  317 . The cavity  240  can be accessed from the outside of the pillow from the at least two openings on the sides  220  and the at least one opening in the head-side  317 . The at least two openings in the sides  220  and the at least one opening in the head-side  317  are not circular in this embodiment, shown by the cut-outs in the shape of the base  345 . The cavity  240  has more space for air flow and circulation with the openings in the sides  320  and opening in the head-side  317  cut through the base  345 . This space can also provide more illumination from outside the pillow structure  200  and space for objects such as a device to be placed into the cavity  240 , including wires and cords. 
       FIG. 4  is head-side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . This view shows the head-side  315  of the pillow structure, the at least one opening  317  in the head-side of the pillow structure, and the cavity  240 . This angle illustrates the concave curved shapes of the sides of the pillow structure  210  and the head-side of the pillow structure  315  and the wider base  345 . From this angle,  FIG. 2  demonstrates the air flow from the at least two openings in the sides  220  and the at least one opening in the head-side  317  through the cavity  240  to the opening at the top surface. 
       FIG. 5  is front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . This view shows the incline of the top surface  205  of the pillow structure, and the contours  505  in the top surface of the pillow that are concave to form to the shape of the user  150 . These contours in the top surface  505  can be deeper or wider to accommodate a larger user  150 , such as a pregnant woman. The contours  505  could be various shapes for different parts of a user&#39;s body  160 , such as the user&#39;s stomach, chest, shoulders, hips, legs, knees, or other body parts. 
       FIG. 6  is right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . This view demonstrates that the side openings  320  are on substantially opposite sides of the pillow structure  200 , as the angle shows that objects can pass straight through one side opening  320  through the cavity  240  and through the other side opening  320 . This view shows the gradual incline of the pillow structure  100 . The bottom end  605  is the space where the top surface  205  meets the base  345 . The bottom end  605  can be a minimal height if the top surface  205  makes contact with the base  345 , making the pillow structure  200  substantially resemble a triangle-shape. The bottom end  605  can be various heights at various points, based on the contours in the top surface  205  and the flexible shape of the base  345 , or it could be the same height throughout the bottom end  605  from one side  210  of the pillow structure to the other side  210 . 
       FIG. 7  is left side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . This view further demonstrates that the side openings  320  are on substantially opposite sides of the pillow structure  200 . This view shows the gradual incline of the pillow structure  100  from the opposite view from  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 8  further demonstrates that the base  345  of the pillow structure  200  is wider than the top surface  205  of the pillow structure in this embodiment. This angle also shows the inside edge  209  of the opening in the top surface  206 . The inside edge  209  in this embodiment provides more support for the user&#39;s face when placed into the opening of the top surface  206 . In this embodiment, the inside edge  209  of the top opening  206  is narrower than the circular-shaped rim  207  of the top opening  206 . The inside edge  209  can be any shape, width, height, and diameter. 
       FIG. 9  is bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 9  further demonstrates the overall shape of the base  345  of the pillow structure  200 . 
       FIG. 10  is a second top perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive pillow structure, showing the embodiment in use in a second configuration.  FIG. 10  shows the first embodiment with the user&#39;s arms  170  and hands  175  lying to the side outside the pillow structure  100 . The user&#39;s arms  170  and hands  175  could be placed inside the openings in the side  120 . The user&#39;s face  155  is still facing the pillow structure  100  and placed inside the opening in the top  106 . The pillow structure  100  is designed to be comfortable whether the user  155  places their arms  170  and hands  175  inside the at least two openings in the side  120  or does not. 
       FIG. 11  is a third top perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive pillow, structure, showing the embodiment in use in a third configuration.  FIG. 11  illustrates a user using the opening in the head-side  117  to place her hand  175  or arm  170  out of the pillow structure  100 .  FIG. 11  shows one of the user&#39;s arms  170  extended through the hole at the top surface  106  with the user&#39;s face  155  turned sideways. The user&#39;s other arm  170  is outside the pillow structure  100  and lying to the side. 
       FIG. 12  is a fourth top perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive pillow structure, showing the embodiment in use in a fourth configuration.  FIG. 12  illustrates a user  150  with her arms  170  around the head-side  115  of the pillow structure  100 . 
     A second embodiment of the inventive pillow structure is shown in  FIGS. 13-21 .  FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive pillow structure, showing the embodiment in use. The pillow structure  1300  in the second embodiment is designed for a seated user  1350 . This second embodiment of the pillow structure  1300  consists of a top surface  1305  and at least one side surface  1310 . In  FIG. 14 , the top surface is labeled  1405  and the side surface is labeled  1410 . In this embodiment, the sides  1310  are rounded without delineated edges and the overall shape of the pillow structure  1300  in this embodiment is cylindrical.  FIG. 14  clearly shows that top surface  1410  bounds a top pillow portion which is largely hemispherical in configuration, and side surface  1410  bounds a basically cylindrical portion which serves as a pedestal pillow portion with the hemispherical  FIGS. 13-21  also clearly show that the diameter of base  1545  is substantially smaller than the vertical height of the pillow structure, i.e., that in this embodiment, the pillow is substantially taller than its horizontal length or width. The top surface of the pillow structure  1305  contains at least one opening  1306 . The at least one side surface  1310  contains at least two opposing openings  1320  extending inward from the sides. A seated user can use this pillow structure when seated on a user seating surface, close to a substantially flat object (i.e., a platform) raised above the ground. An example of a platform raised above the ground near the user seating surface is a desk or table or other flat object such as a tray table on an airplane. As is indicated in  FIG. 13 , the platform on which the pillow is placed is a different surface than the user seating surface. Furthermore, the platform is raised substantially relative to the user seating surface. Like the pillow structure in the first embodiment, the pillow structure  1300  in the second embodiment is designed so that the user&#39;s face  1355  is at a comfortable elevation, higher than the individual&#39;s body  1360 . By placing the user&#39;s face  1355  at a higher elevation than the user&#39;s body  1360 , the user  1350  can place her arms  1370  and hands  1375  into the side openings  1320  in the side of the pillow structure  1310  and lean forward into the pillow structure, placing her face  1355  into the top opening  1306 , which can alternately be referred to as a face opening, without leaning too far at the waist or hips. When the user&#39;s arms  1370  are placed into the side openings  1320 , which can alternately be called arm openings, the user&#39;s arms  1370  are in a comfortable position substantially perpendicular to the user&#39;s body  1360 , which provides for comfortable access to object that may be placed in the cavity in the pillow structure. The pillow structure  1300  can be various heights and widths. The pillow structure  1300  can be placed at various distances from the user depending on the space available in front of the user and the height of the table or desk or supporting structure placed beneath the pillow structure. The embodiment in  FIG. 13  shows the at least two side openings  1320  are large enough to provide adequate room for the user&#39;s arms  1370  and hands  1375  to be placed in the side openings  1320  and provide space for air to circulate through to the cavity. These side openings  1320  are also sized and shaped to provide room for cords or wires for electronic devices. 
     The top surface  1305  of the pillow structure in the second embodiment is angled at a slight and gradual incline for the comfort of the user leaning forward into the pillow structure. 
     The pillow structure  1300  in the second embodiment does not contain any openings in the head-side of the pillow structure. 
       FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive pillow structure of  FIG. 13 , showing the embodiment without a user. The top surface  1405  of the pillow structure  1400  is rounded with at least one opening  1406  in the top surface. The opening in the top surface  1406  in this embodiment is substantially at the top of the pillow structure  1400 , but it is not necessarily at the apex of the pillow structure  1400 . The opening at the top surface  1406  has a rim  1407  around the edge to support the user&#39;s face. The rim  1407  is rounded and is about an inch or two wide in this embodiment, but the rim  1407  can be any width or shape. The top opening  1406  in this embodiment is substantially circular-shaped, with a cut-out  1408  in the bottom portion. The cut-out  1408  and the inside edge  1411  of the cut-out  1408  provides additional support for the user&#39;s face or chin to rest when the users face is placed in the top opening  1406 . The inside edge  1411  can be any shape, width, height, and diameter. In this embodiment, the inside edge of the top opening  1411  is substantially horizontal. The inside edge  1411  can be any angle. The cut-out  1408  also provides additional air circulation and flow near the user&#39;s mouth when the user&#39;s face is placed in the top opening  1406 . 
     The pillow structure  1400  in this embodiment is substantially round and circular in shape. The at least two side openings  1420  in the sides provide access from the outside of the sides of the pillow structure to the cavity in the middle of the pillow structure  1440 . The at least one opening in the top surface  1406  provides access to a cavity  1440 . The cavity  1440  can be accessed from the outside of the pillow from the at least one opening on the top surface  1406  and from the at least two openings on the sides  1420 . The at least two side openings  1420  provide space for the insertion of an object into the cavity  1440  in the middle of the pillow structure  1400 , such as a mobile device, phone, tablet, gaming device, or other device. The side opening  1420  could also provide space for a power cord or wire for headphones. The cavity  1440  in the middle of the pillow structure can be various sizes and shapes to accommodate various objects or devices. The pillow structure  1400  may contain additional side openings or head-side openings for objects, cords, headphones, or wires to be inserted into the cavity  1440 . The pillow structure  1400  may have additional side openings or head-side openings to provide space to illuminate the cavity  1440 , or to increase air circulation or flow in the cavity  1440  or in the side openings  1420 . This embodiment has an indented edge  1409  where the bottom of the rounded top surface  1405  meets the at least two sides  1410 . The at least two sides  1410  are continuous, without delineations, since the pillow structure  1400  is circular with a circular base  1545 . A different embodiment could have delineated sides  1410 . The indented edge  1409  may not exist if the embodiment has a smooth transition where the top surface  1405  and the sides  1410  meet, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 15  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . The flat base  1545  of this embodiment is substantially circular, although the flat base  1545  can be various shapes. The flat base  1545  is wider at the base than the sides  1410  of the pillow structure  1400 . The sides  1410  are tapered towards the top surface  1405  and flared outward to the base  1545  at the bottom of the pillow structure  1400 . This wider flat base  1545  is not necessary for the invention, but it increases the balance of the pillow structure  1400 , so that the pillow structure does not tip over. 
       FIG. 16  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 16  shows the concave shape of the sides  1410  with the side openings  1420  from the front view. The cut-out  1408  at the lower end of the top opening  1406  is shown here to be substantially round, although it can be any shape, width, and depth. The rim  1407  is substantially round and extends both up and out from the top surface  1405  of the pillow structure, but the rim  1407  can be any shape, width, and depth. The rim  1407  does not need to protrude or extend either up or out from the top surface  1405 . 
       FIG. 17  is a head-side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . The openings in the sides  1420  are on substantially opposite locations of the pillow structure  1400 .  FIG. 14  shows the rim  1407  protruding upward toward the front of the pillow structure  1400 . The top surface  1405  is substantially rounded and circular with an indented edge  1409  where the bottom of the rounded top surface  1405  meets the at least one sides  1410 . 
       FIG. 18  is a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 18  further demonstrates that the side openings  1420  are on substantially opposite sides of the pillow structure  1400 , as the angle shows that objects can pass straight through one side opening  1420  through the cavity  1440  and through the other side opening  1420 . These side openings  1420  are circular in shape, but they can be any shape and size that allows a user&#39;s arms  1470  and hand  1475  to be inserted into the side opening  1420 . The side openings  1420  do not extend through the flat base  1545  in this embodiment. 
       FIG. 19  is a left side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14  further demonstrates that the side openings  1420  are on substantially opposite sides of the pillow structure  1400 . This view shows the pillow structure  1400  from the opposite view from  FIG. 18 . 
       FIG. 20  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 20  further demonstrates that the base  1545  of the pillow structure  1400  is wider than the top surface  1405  of the pillow structure in this embodiment. This angle also shows the inside edge  1411  of the cut-out  1408  in the top opening  1406 . 
       FIG. 21  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 21  further demonstrates the overall circular shape of the base  1545  of the pillow structure  1400 . The side openings  1420  do not extend through the flat base  1545  in this embodiment in contrast to the first embodiment. 
     It is not expected that the invention be restricted to the exact embodiments disclosed herein. Modifications can be made without departing from the inventive concept. For example, other materials can be used to manufacture the pillow structure other than those listed. The scope of the invention should be construed in view of the claims.

Technology Category: 1