AU2003201842A1

AU2003201842A1 - Portable travel pillow

Info

Publication number: AU2003201842A1
Application number: AU2003201842A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sirpa Marjatta Cole
Original assignee: SIRPA COLE
Current assignee: Cole Sirpa Marjatta Mrs
Priority date: 2002-03-21
Filing date: 2003-03-20
Publication date: 2003-10-09

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 STANDARD PATENT COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PORTABLE TRAVEL PILLOW The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- PORTABLE TRAVEL PILLOW This invention relates to a portable travel pillow to be used by children or adults while travelling in a motor vehicle, stroller or bicycle (children's bike seat), aeroplane, helicopter, wheelchair or any other mode of transport where such a pillow would be of assistance when the child or adult requires a safe and comfortable sleep and/or rest with head and neck support.

For many children or adults when they trawel their head is not comfortable when they whddto rt adors, a ndei h adfefalstoonesde orother, orrisfoe downwards or forwards making it extremely uncomfortable causing a strain on the neck, and it is potentially dangerous through causing difficulty of breathing for smaller children.

This invention provides a comfortable and safe support for the head while travelling, helping to support the head and prevent the head from falling to the side, or downwards and to a lesse degree but in most instances forwards, subsequently reducing or preventing strain of the neck or body.

This invention provides an adjustable secure headrest for the child or adult traveller in the form of two pillows on either side of the head, which allows the head to fall to either side, either left or right.

In one form the comfortable shaped pillows are provided on both sides of the child or adult and are held in place by an adjustable strap, which can be placed around the headrest of the seat.

.In another form where them is no headrest provided, the two comfortable shaped pillows which are provided on both sides of the child or adult can be attached by adjustable straps to an elasticised sleeve which can be placed around the seat to hold the pillows in place.

In both forms ansadjustable sturdy middle sectiois povided to keep the twopiflows at a set distance apart to suit individual requirements. The distance between the pillows is adjustable by two joining support mtaps. These middle support straps may be padded but are generally made sturdy by way of stiffening material to ensure that the two pillows remain at the individually prefere distance apart from one another. The body of the person using the portable travel pillow places additional weight over the middle straps located behind the person, to prevent movement of the pillows.

With both forms once the adjusted straps both those holding the two pillows above the head and those straps in the middle have been set at the preferred distance, then the invention will provide a comfortable support for the child or adult while sleeping and/or Testing.

The side of the pillows has provision for an adjustable strap to hold any sash sea belt in position to ensure the continued safety of the child or adult while sleeping or resting in those forms of transport such as a motor vehicle where it is crucial that a sea belt is worn at all times.

The portable travel pillow can be made from any suitable type of material (inclusive of but not limited to wool, cotton, rubber, plastic or foam or any other type of natural or synthetic nmerial), and sewn into shape, and then filled with any natural or synthetic fill such as but not linmited to wool, foam, bean balls, polystyrene or any other type of fill which may be or may become available.

Alternatively die portable travel pillow can be made in a moulded form by way of moulded foam, plastic, rubber, polystyrene or any other suitable material, whether man made synthetic, or natural mateial, which is then covered with a padded soft cover.

There are a wide variety of materials, which would be suitable to make the pillows, and no restriction is placed on the type of material that which may be chosen to be used to make the portable travel pillow, its cover or its mould or in fill.

The adjustable straps can be held together by Velcro, or press buttons and it is not intended that this is restricted in type of fastening method to be used, but generally the ideal would be to have them fully adjustable by the use of a Velcro type closure which would give the maximum adjustable placement of the straps, whether it be the top straps or the middle straps.

While preference of shape may be given to elongated shaped pillows, it is not intended that this shape restrict in any way other shapes that may wish to be used for construction of the two pillows. The shape of the pillows in no way hinders the workings of the invention.

The portable travel pillows may optionally take any particular shape, which would make them additionally attractive to children or adults, namely a type of animal or plant (for example a bear or flower) but not limited to either of these two options.

The portable travel pillows may have additional pockets, accessory compartments, inbuilt compartments or accessories, attached to the side of the pillows to hold such things as pens, glasses, notebooks, radios or other small items. The size or shape of these accessory compartments, pockets or inbuilt comnpartments is not restricted in size, shape or type and is not limited in its intended use of its attachment or accessories to the pillow.

These compartments or pockets may be attached to the pillows by way of Velcro type fastenings or sewn into position, or be inbuilt into the mould.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which show two examples of the inventions.

In the drawings:- FIGURE 1 shows one example of the portable travel pillow with the adjustable 'top straps going around a headrest.

FIGURE 2 shows another example of the portable travel pillow with adjustable top straps fastened to an elasticised sleeve for attachment to the sca.

FIGURE 3 shows the portable travel pillow as referred to in FIGURE 1, in its application on one type of seat available with a headrest.

FIGURE 4 shows the portable travel pillow as referred to in FIGURE 2, in its application on one type of seat available withoutabheadrest.

Referring to FIGURE I1(A) 1 it can be seen that the elongated shp of the two contoured pillows are held together by two adjustable top straps secured together with a Velcro type material which can be adjusted to the desired length down the seat and which is then secured around the headrest of the seat. The two pillows are additionally joined in the middle by two straps which are fastened together using a Velcro type material and can be adjusted to suit the distance required between the two pillows These two straps have been sewn to the sides of the pillows cover bu may be attached by other means. The two pillows themselves have been made using a sewn cloth type material cover around a mould making the desired shape. This can also be achieved by being filled with in fill to frm the shape desired. Shown on the side of the pillows are the optional pockets adjustable sea belt strap holder for the sash seat belt, which can be adjusted to the desired position on the pillow, and the optional inbuilt compartment for the radio and speakers The two pillows show only a demonstration of the type of compartments or pockets, which may be added to the side and are not restricted only to these types demonstrated as examnples.

Referring to FGURE 2(A) it can beseenthatthe elongated shape of the two contoured pillows are fatstened by two adjustable top straps secured with a Velcro type material which can be adjusted to the desired length clown the seat onto an elasticised sleeve This elasticised sleeve can then be placed around a seat securing the two pillows in place. The two pillows are additionally joined in the middle by two adjustable straps which are fastened together using a Velcro type material and can be adjusted to suit the distance required between the two pillows. These two straps have been sewn to the sides of the pillows, or the cover, but may be attached by another means. The two pillows themselves have been sewn using a cloth type material cover around a mould makting the desired shape. This can also be achieved by being filled with in fill to forn the shape desired. Shown on the side of the pillows are the optional pockets adjustable seat belt strap for the sash seat belt, which can be adjusted to the desired position on the pillow, and the optional inbuilt comnpartment for the radio and speakers The two pillows show only a demonstration of the type of compartments, or pockets which may be added to the side and are not restricted only to these types demonstrated as examples.

FIGURE 3 shows the portable travel pillow as referred to in Figure 1(A) 1$B) in operation in one example of its possible use, around a seat of a motor vehicle with a headrest, where the portable travel pillow has been adjusted into the desired position with the adjustable top straps around the headrest of the motor vehicle, and shows the car seat belt passing through the seat belt strap. The middle straps have been adjusted to the desired distance apar and they hold the two pillows at this set distance.

FIGURE 4 shows the portable travel pillow as referred to in Figure 2(A) 2(B) in operation in one example of its possible use, around a seat of a motor vehicle without a headrest, where the portable travel pillow has been adjusted into the desired position with the adjustable top straps and the elasticised sleeve has been secured around the top of the seat of the motor vehicle, and shows the car seat belt passing through the seat belt strap.

The middle straps have been adjusted to the desired distance apart and they hold the two pillows at this set distance.

Claims

2. The portable travel pillow of claim I wherein each of the adjustable straps of the portable travel pillow arc adjustable by use of a selected material to allow for the maximum adjustment capability of the straps.
3. The portable travel pillow of claim I and 2, wherein the middle strap which determines the adjusted distance between the pillows is further supported with a stiffening type material to retain the desired distance without having t two pillows collapse back towards each other.
4. The portable travel pillow of claims 1, 2 and 3, where the adjustable straps at the top of the pillows have selected fasteners, which allow the straps to be adjusted to the desired length of the pillows from the top of the headrest S. The portable travel pillow of claims 1, 2, and 3, where the adjustable stras at the top of the pillows have selected fasteers, which allow the strps to be adjusted to the desired length and attached to a sleeve, which secures the Pillows to the Seat.
6. The portable travel pillow of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, where the pillows are made of any suitable comfortable material and fill or moulded shape with a cover and which supports the persons head during sleep.
7. The portable travel pillow of claims 1, 2,3, 4, 5, and 6 where the pillows may have optional compartments, accessories, pockets or inbuilt components added to the pillow or pillows, to assist the person using the portable travel pillow to gain more enjoyment as well as comfort.
8. A portable travel pillow substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. SIRPA MARJATI7A COLE 2 0TH MARCH, 2003.