GB2506112A

GB2506112A - Travel pillow with earpieces

Info

Publication number: GB2506112A
Application number: GB201216672A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rajeev Nayyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-19
Filing date: 2012-09-19
Publication date: 2014-03-26
Also published as: GB201216672D0

Abstract

A travel pillow comprises a neck pillow and two earpieces. The neck pillow has a central support portion and two lateral support portions fits around the neck of a user such that, in use, the lateral support portions are positioned either side of the user's neck. Each earpiece can be independently moved from a first configuration in which the earpiece protrudes from its respective lateral support portion so that it can engage with an ear of a user to a second configuration in which the earpiece does not engage with the ear of a user. In the first configuration the earpiece reduces the level of noise that the user can hear and in the second a user can hear normally whilst wearing the travel pillow. Preferably the earpieces are provided with loudspeakers or earphones that can be connected to an audio source. The travel pillow may have a cover, which may be washable, have a storage pocket and may have an integral bag for the storage of the travel pillow when it is not in use.

Description

tM:;: INTELLECTUAL

PROPERTY OFFICE

Application No. 0B1216672.4 RTM Date:28 October 2012 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

VELCRO

Intellectual Ptoperty Office is an operaling name of Ihe Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk Travel Pillow

Field of the Invention

The invention provides a travel pillow comprising a neck pillow and earpieces. The neck pillow supports the head and neck of a user whilst the earpieces reduce the noise that can be heard by the user.

Background to the Invention

A passenger in a seated position in an aircraft, train, bus or motor vehicle is usually in a vertical position or partially reclined towards the horizontal with restricted leg room.

In this way there is no opportunity to lie in a conventional horizontal sleeping position. When a passenger attempts to sleep, the head will roll forward or to the side which can make it difficult to sleep for prolonged periods of time. Further, sleeping in such a position can result in neck stiffness and pain. Sudden movements of the vehicle or aircraft will also cause the head to roll which can wake up the passenger.

An additional problem is that there can be noise which can make it difficult to get to sleep or to remain asleep. This may be noise from oilier passengers, or the aircraft or vehicle. Existing devices such as inflated neck supporting cushions do not address all these problems.

The invention helps to mitigate against the above problems so that a passenger may sleep more easily, better and/or for longer than without the travel pillow of the invention.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a travel pillow comprising a neck pillow and earpieees.

The neck pillow provides support to a user's head so as to reduce and/or prevent the head of the user from rolling. The pillow comprises a central support portion and two spaced-apart lateral support portions. The neck pillow may have a generally 13 or C-shape. The neck pilllow is designed to fit around the neck of a user such that, in use, the lateral (or side) support portions are positioned either side of the user's neck. The side support portions may extend around the neck so that the ends come into close proximity at the front of the neck in the throat area. The central support portion is positioned behind the user's neck.

Once placed around the neck, the neck pillow should remain in position and should not be able to become disengaged from the neck region of the user by accident, i.e. without the user deliberately removing the neck pillow.

The ends of the lateral support portions that in use, are positioned at the front of the pillow in the throat region of the user may have a fastener attached thereto in order to help keep the pillow in position around the neck of the user. For example, a strap may be positioned on the end of one of the lateral supports which can be adjustably secured to the end of the other lateral support. This may be secured at one end using hook and loop material (e.g. Velcro).

The neck pillow comprises two earpieces. A first earpiece is positioned on one lateral support portion and the second ealpiece is positioned on the other lateral support portion. Each earpiece is sizcd so that it can cover the ear to reduce the noise that the user can hear. The earpiece should be designed to cover the whole ear. Suitable earpiece designs are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the earpieces used in ear defenders or ear protectors which cover the whole ear would be suitable (with or without minor modification).

Each earpiece can be independently orientated in two configurations wherein the earpiece can be moved between the two configurations. In the first configuration, each earpiece protrudes from the lateral support portion so that it can engage with the ear of a user and substantially cover the ear so as to reduce the level of noise that the user can hear. Further, in this configuration, the earpiece also helps to support the head to stop it from rolling. In the second configuration, the earpiece in not engaged with the ear of the user. This allows the user to hear normally whilst still wcaring the travel pillow. Preferably, in the second configuration, each earpiece is at least partially recessed into the lateral support portion of the neck pillow. In other words, each lateral support portion comprises a recess into which the corresponding earpiece can fit. This acts to at least partially contain the earpiece in the lateral support portion. This allows the earpieces to be conveniently stored in the neck pillow when the support and/or noise reducing functions of the earpieces are not required.

The earpieces can move between the first and second configurations in any suitable way. Each earpiece may be connected to the lateral support portion by a moveable connection mechanism. In some embodiments, the moveable connection mechanism may allow thc carpiccc to pivot relative to the lateral support portion so that the earpiece rotates from the first configuration to/from the second configuration. In particular embodiments, a hinge may be attached between the earpiece and the lateral support portion so that the earpiece rotates around the hinge to move from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice versa.

Each earpiece may comprise a locking mechanism to releaseably lock the earpiece in the first and/or the second configurations. Preferably, each earpiece can be releaseably locked in the first configuration in which the carpiece protrudes from the lateral support portion so that it can engage with the ear of a user and substantially cover the ear. This advantageously help to support the head of the user to prevent rolling of the head.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 shows a travel pillow in accordance with the invention with the earpieees in the closed configuration; and Figure 2 shows a travel pillow in accordance with the invention with the earpieees in the open configuration.

There is provided a travel pillow comprising a neck pillow and earpieces. The neck pillow provides support to a user's head and is fastened at the front by means of a Velcro strap meaning that it is adjustably seeurable. The neck pillow incorporates one earpiece on the left side of the neck pillow and one earpieee on the right side of the neck pillow. The earpieces are attached to the neck pillow by a hinge. Where each earpiece is attached to the neck pillow, there is a rigid piece of material that extends downwards into the neck pillow to help stabilise the eatpiece.

Each earpiece can be raised to conceal the user's ear by being lifted and rotated upwards over the hinge that links the earpiece to the neck pillow. The earpiece locks in place by means of a slide which moves downwards along a rail. The slide engages with the neck pillow in order to prevent the earpiece from rotating back towards the neck pillow. When the earpiece is raised, it conceals the user's ears and thereby reduces the level of noise that would otherwise be heard by the user.

Each carpiccc may have a small gap or conduit that allows for the passing of, tbr example, wires into the earpieces.

In some embodiments, the earpieces may comprise noise dampening/blocking material. Further, the earpieces may comprise headphones in addition to or in place of noise dampening/blocking material.

The neck pillow may have a pocket on the side to allow the user to store and have easy access to other items.

The neck pillow may have a pocket at the rear that conceals a bag that is attached to the travel pillow and into which the travel pillow can be placed. That concealed bag has an attaching device to allow the travel pillow to be attached to other items.

The neck pillow may have holes or apertures that pass through the neck pillow (from the outer side to the inner side) which allow for greater airflow for user comfort.

The neck pillow may have a removable washable cover. The cover may be attached to the neck pillow by Velcro or may be attached by means of a different fastener.

In some embodiments, the neck pillow is inflatable. In other embodiments, the neck pillow may be filled with a stuffing material or foam. The neck pillow is preferably made of memory foam.

Claims

Claims 1. A travel pillow comprising a ncck pillow and two carpicces, whcrcin the ncck pillow has a central support portion and two lateral support portions and is designed to fit around the neck of a user such that, in use, the lateral support portions are positioned either side of the user's neck, and wherein each earpiece can be independently orientated in a first configuration in which the earpiece protrudes from the lateral support portion so that it can engage with the ear of a user and substantially cover the ear so as to reduce the level of noise that the user can hear, and a second configuration in which the earpiece does not engage with the ear of a user so that, in use, a user can hear normally whilst wearing the travel pillow.
2. The travel pillow of claim 1, wherein, in the second configuration, each earpiece is at least partially recessed into the lateral support portion of the neck pillow.
3. The travel pillow of claim I or claim 2, wherein each earpiece is connected to the lateral support portion by a moveable connection mechanism which allows the earpiece to pivot relative to the lateral support portion so that the earpiece can rotate from the first configuration to/from the second configuration.
4. The travel pillow of claim 3, wherein the moveable connection mechanism is a hinge attached between the earpiece and the lateral support portion so that the earpiece rotates around the hinge to move flom the first configuration to/from the second configuration.
5. The travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein each earpiece comprises a locking mechanism to releaseably lock the earpiece in the first configuration.
6. The travel pillow of claim 5, wherein each earpicce comprises a locking mechanism to releaseably lock the earpiece in the first and the second configurations.
7. The travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein the ends of the lateral support portions have a fastener attached thereto in order to help keep the pillow in position around the neck of the user.
8. The travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein each earpiece has a gap or conduit that allows for the passing of wires into the earpieces.
9. The travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein the earpieces comprise noise dampening/blocking material.
10. Thc travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein the carpicces comprise headphones.
II. The travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein the neck pillow comprises a pocket on the side to allow the user to store and have easy access to other items.
12. The travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein the neck pillow comprises a pocket at the rear that conceals a bag that is attached to the travel pillow and into which the travel pillow can be placed.
13. The Iravel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein the neck pillow comprises holes or apertures that pass through the neck pillow from the outer side to the inner side which allow for greater airflow for user comfort.
14. The travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein the neck pillow has a removable washable cover.
15. The travel pillow of any preceding claim, wherein the neck pillow is made of memory foam.
16. A travel pillow substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.