GB2134383A

GB2134383A - Pillows and cushions

Info

Publication number: GB2134383A
Application number: GB08402512A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Howard Hawkes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-02-03
Filing date: 1984-01-31
Publication date: 1984-08-15
Also published as: GB2134383B; GB8402512D0

Abstract

A pillow or cushion comprises an envelope (10) of cotton or other fabric material containing a quantity of a soft filling material (16). So that it will retain a comfortable and soft feel for a long period of time, the envelope contains also at least one fluid filled bag or sack (12) made of some flexible impervious material. The soft filling material may be on one side only of the bag (12), and the bag (12) may be removable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pillows and cushions The invention relates to pillows and cushions.

A conventional pillow or cushion is invariably only an envelope of cotton or other fabric material with some suitable filling, for example a filling of feathers or of fibre or of a sponge rubber material. However, most filling materials have a tendency to harden or lose softness after a relatively short period of use so that, for example, a conventional pillow may become uncomfortable after only a few weeks use.

As an alternative to using a conventional pillow, it is known to use an inflatable envelope of a synthetic plastics material, and indeed campers frequently use an inflatable air bed device which includes an attached pillow part. However, devices of this sort are not very comfortable because they lack a soft feel. Even when covered by a blanket or other fabric material they do not have sufficient "give" to be comfortable.

The object of the invention is to provide a pillow or cushion which will retain a comfortable and soft feel for a long period of time.

According to the invention, there is provided a pillow or cushion in the form of an outer envelope of cotton or other fabric material, the latter containing at least one fluid filled bag or sack made of some flexible impervious material, the envelope also containing on at least one side of said at least one fluid filled bag or sack a quantity of soft filling material.

The soft filling material may be a quantity of feathers, or fibre or a sponge rubber material and may surround the at least one fluid filled bag or sack on all sides. The at least one fluid filled bag or sack may befitted with a valve by means of which the fluid can be entered into or released therefrom when it is desired to vary the degree of support of the pillow or cushion. On the other hand, it may be devoid of a valve and, having been filled with an appropiate volume of fluid, be permanently sealed.

The soft filling material may be loosely contained within the outer envelope but be contained within at least one closed bag, in which case the at least one closed bag may be formed as part of the outer envelope. The outer envelope may have an openable end through which the at least one fluid filled bag or sack can be inserted (and subsequently removed when it is desired to wash the outer envelope for example) the openable end preferably being closable by a sliding clasp fastener or by some other suitable fastening. The at least one fluid filled bag or sack may be loosely contained within the outer envelope. On the other hand, it may be provided on at least two sides with an integral skirt portion stitched to the outer envelope so that it remains substantially at the central core of the pillow or cushion.The at least one fluid filled bag or sack may have a central aperture which tends to keep the pillow cool in hot weather.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure lisa part-sectional view of a pillow embodying the invention, Figure2 is a plan view, Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the pillow in a deformed condition which it will assume when in use, Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 3 and 4 of another form of pillow embodying the invention, Figure 7 is an exploded view of another form of pillow embodying the invention, and Figures 8 and 9 are illustrations of further possible modifications.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the pillow there illustrated has an outer envelope 10 made of cotton or other fabric material, the outer envelope containing a fluid filled bag or sack 12 made of a flexible impervious material (in this case a thin synthetic plastics material). The bag or sack is shown to be provided along its two longer sides with integral skirt portions 14, these being stitched between the upper and lower fabric sheets forming the outer envelope.

The outer envelope is also shown to contain, on both sides of the fluid filled bag or sack, a quantity of a soft filling material 16, the soft filling material being feathers or fibre or a sponge rubber material.

Referring now to Figure 4, the pillow is such that in use it is deformed, somewhat as shown, by the head of the user. The fluid filled bag or sack contains a relatively small amount of fluid (for example air), that is to say an amount considerably less than it would be capable of containing, but when a central area of the bag or sack is flattened or substantially flattened by the head of the user, as shown in Figure 4, the displaced fluid increases the effective thickness of the pillow towards its opposite ends and this is found to create a pleasant feeling of snugness for the user. This cradle effect, producing the feeling of snugness for the user, results whenever the user places his or her head along what may be termed the intermediate length of the pillow.At the same time of course, the area of the pillow immediately beneath the user's head remains soft by virtue of the soft filling material. This is an effect which is not provided either by a conventional pillow or by a conventional air bed or the like because a conventional pillow quickly loses its softness and a conventional air bed or the like requires to be pumped up to such a pressure to be effective that it is devoid of any softness from the start.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is illustrated a pillow basically similar to that described above except that in this case the soft filling material 16 is contained in the space on only one side of the fluid bag or sack 12.

Consequently, the pillow is not reversible in the way that the first described pillow is reversible.

Referring now to Figure 7, the pillow there illustrated is rather different from the pillows described above in that the fluid filled bag or sack is a good deal smaller than the outer envelope of cotton or other fabric material. However, the outer envelope is a double envelope as shown, and the soft filling material of fibre or the like is contained in the space surrounding the smaller envelope. One end of the pillow is sewn together but at the other end the outer envelope is provided with a sliding clasp fastening 22 so that when the fluid filled bag or sack has been entered into the central space 24 the fastening 22 can be closed to retain said bag or sack in position. The pillow then has the appearance of a conventional pillow but acts in the same manner as the inventive pillows previously described to give a feeling of snugness to the user.

Figure 8 illustrates a slightly different construction of outer envelope of double form. It will be seen that in Figure 7 the double envelope has a smaller envelope entirely free, except at its opposite ends, within a larger envelope. However, it will be seen that in Figure 8 there is a membrane 28 extending completely across the interior of the larger envelope and that the smaller envelope has been formed by the stitching thereto of a narrower membrane 30. In this case therefore the smaller envelope is located within the larger envelope by the marginal edges of the membrane 28. In use, the soft filling material of feathers or the like will be contained in two separate outer spaces 18 and 20. The double envelope is otherwise the same as that illustrated in Figure 7 in having a sliding clasp fastening 22 for retaining a fluid filled bag or sack within the central space 24.

In Figure 9 there is illustrated a further possible modification, this being the forming of a fluid filled bag or sack (forfitment within any of the outer envelopes described) with a central aperture 32 so that, in effect, the fluid filled bag or sack has opposite end portions 34 connected by front and rear tubular portions 36. The purpose of this modification is to ensure that, as far as possible, a pillow in which the bag or sack is used will tend to keep relatively cool in hot weather. (It will be understood that the feeling of snugness for the user which is created by the displacement of fluid in a pillow embodying the invention can at the same time exacerbate any feeling of excessive warmth and it is thought that any possible cooling effect which can be obtained without affecting the main object of the invention will be very useful).

In Figure 10 there is illustrated a further possible modification, this being the fitment of two fluid filled bags or sacks 12 within an outer envelope 10 (this being any one of the outer envelopes described). It is thought that this may well give an enhanced feeling of snugness forthe user. The user may perhaps decide to use either one or two inserted fluid filled bags or sacks depending on whether the surrounding atmosphere is fairly warm or relatively colder.

Various other modifications may be made. For example, it will be seen that the fluid filled bag or sack illustrated in Figure 7 is shown to have an inflating valve 26 so that the degree of inflation can be varied to adjust the degree of support of the pillow. However, it has been found that for best results the bag or sack should have a relatively small amount of fluid within it, that is to say such an amount that when extracted from the pillow its central area (of perhaps one third its total area) can be flattened quite easily to displace all of the fluid into the outermost areas (that is to say, in this case into the outer thirds). Forthis reason it would be quite possible to permanently seal the bag or sack with the correct amount of fluid within it.It will be understood that the fluid in the or each fluid filled bag or sack may be either gas (such as air) or liquid (such as water) or in fact any filling capable of acting as a fluid. Furthermore, the general construction of pillow illustrated in Figure 7 is preferred but it is not essential that the outer envelope should have a sliding clasp fastening; it could instead have tapes by means of which the open end of the envelope can be closed. On the other hand, the pillow could be provided with so-called "touch and close" material (such as that obtainable under the trademark VEL CRO) by means of which the open end of the outer envelope could be closed. These are of course modifications which could be made to any of the pillows previously described and illustrated. The outer envelopes of the pillows illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 could of course be double skinned on only one side if preferred but in this case would not then be reversible. If double skinned on both sides the thickness of the soft filling on both sides could be different or indeed the fillings employed could be different to give a different feel or degree of "give" when the pillow is turned over.

A lavender bag, for example, or indeed a sachet of any other aramatic herb, can be contained within a pillow embodying the invention in addition to at least one fluid filled bag or sack.

Claims

1. A pillow or cushion in the form of an outer envelope of cotton or other fabric material the latter containing at least one fluid filled bag or sack made of some flexible impervious material, the envelope also containing on at least one side of said at least one fluid filled bag or sack a quantity of soft filling material.

2. A pillow or cushion according to claim 1, in which the soft filling material is a quantity of feathers, or fibre or a sponge rubber material.

3. A pillow or cushion according to either one of the preceding claims, in which the soft filling material surrounds the at least one fluid filled bag or sack on all sides.

4. A pillow or cushion according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one fluid filled bag or sack is fitted with a valve by means of which the fluid can be entered into or released therefrom when it is desired to vary the degree of support of the pillow or cushion.

5. A pilllow or cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the at least one fluid filled bag or sack is devoid of a valve and, having been filled with an appropriate volume of fluid, has been permanently sealed.

6. A pillow or cushion according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the soft filling material is loosely contained within the outer envelope but is contained within at least one closed bag.

7. A pillow or cushion according to claim 6, in which the at least one fluid filled bag is formed as part of the outer envelope.

8. A pillow or cushion according to claim 7, in which the outer envelope has an openable end through which the at least one fluid filled bag or sack can be inserted (and subsequently removed when it is desired to wash the outer envelope for example) the openable end preferably being closable by a sliding clasp fastener or by some other suitable fastening.

9. A pillow or cushion according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one fluid filled bag or sack is loosely contained within the outer envelope.

10. A pillow or cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the at least one fluid filled bag or sack is provided on at least two sides with an integral skirt portion stitched to the outer envelope so that it remains substantially at the central core of the pillow or cushion.

11. A pillow according to any one of the preced- ing claims in which the at least one fluid filled bag or sack has a central aperture which tends to keep the pillow cool in hot weather.

12. A pillow or cushion constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.