WO2011070523A1

WO2011070523A1 - A pillow

Info

Publication number: WO2011070523A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/055677
Authority: WO
Inventors: Victoria Anne Bamford; David Mcdonald Scott
Original assignee: Air New Zealand Limited
Priority date: 2009-12-09
Filing date: 2010-12-09
Publication date: 2011-06-16

Abstract

A pillow to be interposed, at least in part, between the head of a user and a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central region and at least two flanking regions located on each side of the central region that can displace relative to the central region, the pillow comprising a pillow body to locate against the headrest, the pillow body adapted to be compliant with the configuration of the headrest by virtue of the pillow body including complementary line or lines of weakness.

Description

A PILLOW

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly relates to a pillow. More specifically, but not exclusively, it relates to a pillow for use in conjunction with a reconfigurable seat headrest. BACKGROUND

In some situations it is necessary for a person to stay seated in a seat for an extend period of time, such as on a bus, on a train or on an aircraft. To facilitate a passenger's comfort, headrests have been commonly used for many years. Pillows have also been used to help increase the comfort of a sedentary passenger in the vehicle.

There are many types of headrest for supporting a passengers head. Some known headrests provide a cushioning support for the back of the head and can be adaptable to also provide support for the side of the head. This has been achieved by having pivoting so called "wings" that extend from the sides of the main headrest portion. The wings can be folded forward to provide a lateral support for a passengers head. US 7201448 shows such a head rest. Whilst this reconfigurable headrest can increase the lateral support offered to a passenger, it does not improve cushioning comfort of the passenger. There are some of such headrests that rely on their integral cushioning to offer support to a passenger but some passengers may not like the additional cushioning. Hence such integral cushioning is kept to sufficiently low. Nor do such head rests help with preventing a person's head from slumping forwards in the absence of the seat back being able to tilt backwards sufficient to let a person recline in a substantial manner.

Many variations of portable pillows exist for use by passengers to increase the cushioning and comfort levels when travelling. Such pillows are designed to be portable and not to be fixed to the seat. They have a tendency to move during sleep and thereby not provide effective comfort.

Many aircraft seat headrests are now reconfigurable as described above and the known pillows are not designed to be used in conjunction with such a headrest.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in or relating to pillows that overcomes or at least ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to be a pillow to be interposed, at least in part, between the head of a user and a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central region and at least two flanking regions located on each side of the central region that can displace relative to the central region, the pillow comprising:

a pillow body to locate against the headrest, the pillow body adapted to be compliant with the configuration of the headrest by virtue of the pillow body including complementary line or lines of weakness.

Preferably the pillow includes a removable cover inside which the pillow body is located.

Preferably the cover encompasses substantially all of the pillow body.

Preferably the cover at least in part covers the headrest.

Preferably the cover includes fasteners to removable fasten the pillow to a said head rest in a position for use by a person.

Preferably the cover defines at least one pocket.

Preferably the cover has a plurality of pockets.

Preferably the pocket(s) can slip over part of the headrest to removably retain the pillow to the headrest.

Preferably the pillow can be held to the headrest by a pair of pockets of the cover that at least in part slip over each of the flanking regions.

Preferably the line or lines of weakness are sections of the pillow body that have a lower structural bending resistance compared to other sections of the pillow body.

Preferably the line or lines of weakness are defined by stitching passing through the pillow body.

Preferably the line or lines of weakness are sections of the pillow body that are thinner compared to other sections of the pillow body.

Preferably the pillow body is substantially a uniform thickness, save for the line or lines of weakness that are defined by regions of reduced thickness. Preferably the regions of reduced thickness are lines of stitched thread passing between opposing sides of the pillow body thereby reducing the pillow body thickness in those sections.

Preferably the line or lines of weakness are sections of the pillow body that have a lower density compared to other sections of the pillow body.

Preferably the pillow is able to be used with a headrest that has two flanking regions in the form of wing sections that can fold relative to a mid section.

Preferably the pillow body defines two opposed side edges and two opposed upper and lower edges and is preferably substantially quadrilateral in shape.

Preferably at least one line of weakness (herein after referred to as "chin line") extends between opposite side edges of the pillow, to define at a lower zone of the pillow body, at least one chin support section that can offer support to a chin of a user.

Preferably the chin line extends inward from opposite side edges of the pillow and dips down towards the lower edge.

Preferably the pillow body has at least two lines of weakness (herein after referred to as "flanking lines") extending downwardly from the upper side edge.

Preferably the flanking lines extend downwardly from points proximate the upper edge of the pillow.

Preferably the pillow body has at least two lines of weakness (herein after referred to as "flanking lines") extending downwardly from the upper edge of the pillow, the flanking lines extend downwardly from points proximate the upper side edge of the pillow and the flanking lines extend downwardly to the chin line.

Preferably the lines of weakness define at least two zones of the pillow body, a first zone located extending inward from all of the lower edge and both side edges and a second zone that extends inward and downwardly from said upper edge.

Preferably the first zone also extends inwardly from parts of said upper edge proximate most each side edge.

Preferably said first zone is divided into 3 subzones by two lines of weakness that defines an intermediate of said 3 subzones extending inward from said lower edge, flanked by side zones of said 3 subzones that each extend inwardly from a respective said side edge.

Preferably the line or lines of weakness that defined the first and second zone are connected to the two lines of weakness that define the 3 subzones.

Preferably the second zone is located to receive the back of a person's head and the first zone provides a bolster to for each side of a person's head. Preferably the intermediate of said 3 subzones offer at least nape support for a person and preferably also chin support, the side zones providing a bolster to for each side of a person's head.

In a second aspect the present invention may be said to be a head support for a person in a seat, said head support comprising:

a reconfigurable seat headrest associated with the seat, that includes a central head rest region for offering support to the back of a person's head and at least two flanking head rest regions that can displace relative to the central region to present themselves for offering support to each side of a person's head,

a pillow positioned or able to be positioned interposed at least in part between the head of a user and the head rest, the pillow comprising:

a pillow body adapted to be compliant with the configuration of the headrest by virtue of a line or lines of weakness.

Preferably the line or lines of weakness are defined by stitching through the pillow body.

Preferably the stitching is provided at least partially at locations corresponding at where each flanking head rest region is interfaced with the central head rest region.

Preferably the pillow body has at least two lines of weakness (herein after referred to as "flanking lines") extending downwardly from the upper edge of the pillow, the flanking lines extend downwardly from points proximate the upper side edge of the pillow and the flanking lines extend downwardly to the chin line. Preferably the lines of weakness define at least two zones of the pillow body, a first zone located extending inward from all of the lower edge and both side edges and a second zone that extends inward and downwardly from said upper edge.

Preferably the second zone is located to receive the back of a person's head and the first zone provides a bolster to for each side of a person's head.

Preferably the intermediate of said 3 subzones offer at least nape support for a person and preferably also chin support, the side zones providing a bolster to for each side of a person's head.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a seat that comprises a back rest,

a reconfigurable seat headrest as described above.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a pillow to be interposed, at least in part, between the head of a user and a reconfigurable seat headrest that at least includes a central region and two flanking regions to said central region that can displace relative to the central region, the pillow comprising:

a pillow body to locate against the headrest, the pillow body adapted to be compliant with the configuration of the headrest by virtue of a line or lines of weakness of the pillow body.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a pillow for use with a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central head rest region for offering support to the back of a person's head and at least two flanking head rest regions dependent from and that can displace relative to the central region to present themselves for offering support to each side of a person's head,

the pillow comprising:

a pillow body, at least partially through which stitching passes to create a line or lines of weakness that are at least partially matched to the interface between the central head rest region and each flanking head region, such that when each flanking head rest region is displaced relative to the central head rest region, parts of the pillow on each side of said stitching can also move relative to each other. In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a pillow for use with a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central head rest region for offering support to the back of a person's head and two flanking head rest regions dependent from and that can displace relative to the central region to present themselves for offering support to each side of a person's head,

the pillow comprising:

a pillow body that includes a line or lines of weakness at least partially matched to the interface between the central head rest region and each flanking head region, such that when each flanking head rest region is displaced relative to the central head rest region, parts of the pillow on each side of said line or lines of weakness can also move relative to each other.

Preferably the pillow body also include a line of weakness that at least partially separates the lower region of the pillow from an upper region of the pillow, the lower region including two zones each to offer support to each chin of a user.

Preferably the lower region also includes a neck support region to be able to locate at the nape of the neck of a person.

Preferably the neck support region is thicker than the region of the pillow immediately above.

Preferably the line or lines of weakness split the pillow into at least three zones, a. a first to locate at the central head support region of the headrest, b. a second to locate at a first of said flanking head rest regions, and c. a third to locate at a second of said flanking regions.

Preferably the line or lines of weakness split the pillow into at least four zones, a. a first to locate at the central head support region of the headrest, b. a second to locate at a first of said flanking head rest regions, c. a third to locate at a second of said flanking regions, and

d. a fourth to locate across at least part of all said central and flanking head rest regions below said first second and third zones.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a pillow, for use with a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central head rest region for offering support to the back of a person's head and at least two flanking head rest regions dependent from and that can displace relative to the central region to present themselves for offering support to each side of a person's head, the pillow comprising a pillow body having at least three zones,

a. a first to locate at the central head support region of the headrest, b. a second to locate at a first of said flanking head rest regions, and c. a third to locate at a second of said flanking regions.

Preferably the pillow has at least four zones,

a. a first to locate at the central head support region of the headrest, b. a second to locate at a first of said flanking head rest regions, c. a third to locate at a second of said flanking regions, and

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a pillow that comprises a pillow body that offers a cradle to a person's head, the cradle defined by at least two zones, a first zone that is positioned centrally of the pillow body and against with the back of a head of a person can be positioned and a second zone at least partially surrounding the first zone, said second zone positioned to offer at least a bolster for each side of a person's head.

Preferably the first zone and second zone are separated at least in part by at least one line of weakness between the first and second zones.

Preferably the second zone is divided into 3 parts, a middle part that is positioned to extend across the nape of the neck of a person and two side parts flanking each side of the middle part and positioned to offer a bolster for each side of a person's head.

Preferably the 3 parts are divided by lines of weakness in the pillow body.

Preferably the pillow body at said first zone is thinner than at the second zone.. Preferably the cover is washable..

Preferably the cover is reusable..

Alternatively the cover is disposable..

Preferably the chin line extends between points proximate both outer edges of the pillow..

Preferably the chin line extends between the two outer edges of the pillow..

Preferably the chin line extends at least in part at an upward angle from a point proximate the base of the pillow to the outer edge of the pillow. .

Preferably the chin support section can move at least in part inwardly and upwardly to provide a chin support surface, facilitated by the chin line.. Preferably the pillow is quadrilateral and preferably rectangular in shape..

Preferably the flanking lines intersect the chin line..

Preferably the flanking lines extend down to points proximate the lower edge.. Preferably the flanking lines extend between the upper and lower edges of the pillow..

Preferably the chin line at least in part defines a neck support section of the pillow..

Preferably the neck support section is configured to at least in part be compliant with a user's neck such as the nape of the neck..

Preferably the lines of weakness are at least in part curved..

Alternatively the lines of weakness are at least in part straight..

Preferably the pillow has two lines of weakness that each substantially coincide with the axes of the hinged flanking sections..

In still a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a pillow as herein defined and as shown with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used herein the term "and/ or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/ or singular forms of the noun.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification [and claims] means "consisting at least in part of. When interpreting statements in this specification [and claims] which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the pillow,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional plan view through line B-B in figure 1 of an embodiment of the pillow,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional end elevation view through line A-A in figure 1 of an embodiment of the pillow,

Figure 4A is a cross sectional plan view through line B-B in figure 1 of the pillow mounted on a headrest,

Figure 4A is a cross sectional plan view through line B-B in figure 1 of the pillow mounted on and compliant with a headrest that has its flanking sections in a displaced position,

Figure 5 is a cross sectional end elevation view through line A-A in figure 1 of the pillow mounted on a seat's headrest,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pillow mounted on a seat headrest,

Figure 7 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the pillow, Figure 8 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the pillow, Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pillow,

Figure 10 is a front view of figure 9,

Figure 11 is a bottom view of figure 9,

Figure 12 is a side view of figure 9,

Figure 13 is a sectional view of figure 9,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of an aircraft seat that includes a pillow of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The pillow 100 in one form as seen in figures 1-6 includes a pillow body 110 that can at least in part interposed between a reconfigurable headrest 130 of a seat 140 and the head of a user.

The pillow body 110 includes a line or lines of weakness 120. The preferred embodiment as shown in figure 1 includes a line or lines of weakness 120 that separate the pillow body 110 into a central body region 111 and a pair of flanking body regions 112. In a preferred embodiment shown in figures 7 and 8 the pillow includes an additional line of weakness 122 (herein after referred to as "chin line") to define a chin support section 160 of the pillow 100. The chin line 122 extends from a point proximate the lower edge 101 of the pillow 100 to a point more proximate the outer and upper edges 102, 103, of the pillow. In the preferred embodiment the chin line 122 extends from one outer edge 102 of the pillow 100 to the other outer edge 102 of the pillow 100. Alternatively there are two chin lines 122 to define chin support sections 160 of the pillow 100 on each side of the pillow 100.

As can be seen in the embodiment of figure 9, the chin line may be curved and dips towards a lower edge of the pillow in from the edges of the pillow.

The chin line 122 in a preferred embodiment also defines a neck support section 170. Preferably the neck support section is configured to comply with a user's neck. Alternatively the neck support section 122 can deform to comply with a user's neck.

In one embodiment the two lines of weakness 123 (hereinafter referred to as "flanking lines") defining the flanking and central regions 111, 112, extend from the upper edge 103 downwardly. Alternatively the flanking lines 120 extend downwardly from a point proximate the upper edge 103. The flanking lines 123 extend downwardly until they are proximate the chin line 122. In one embodiment the flanking lines 123 intercept the chin line 122. Alternatively the flanking lines 123 intersect the chin line 122 and extend to the lower edge 101 or to a point proximate the lower edge 101 of the pillow 100.

The pillow body in one is of a substantially uniform thickness as shown in figures 2 and 3.

Alternatively the pillow body 110 is contoured to provide additional comfort and support or to more readily allow the pillow 100 to be compliant with any reconfiguration of the headrest.

The pillow of figure 9 has its central region made of either a denser material, or is of a material that is compacted more compared to the flanking material or is of a thinner material, so as to create a thinner cross section of the pillow in this region as shown in figure 13.

Compacting of this section may be achieved by introducing a plurality of sewn lines

260 in the central region.

The lines of weakness are defined by zones of the pillow body 110 that have a lower structural resistance to bending relative to other zones of the pillow body. In the preferred embodiment the zones of lower structural bending resistance 121 are defined by sections of the pillow body 110 that have a reduced thickness in comparison to other sections of the pillow body 110. In the preferred embodiment the sections of reduced thickness are reduced in thickness due to a line of stitching that causes the front and back sides of the pillow body 110 to be pulled closer together thereby creating a zone of lower structural bending resistance 121.

Alternatively the zone of lower structural bending resistance could be created by removing sections of the pillow body to reduce thickness, making the pillow body 110 with sections of material that have a lower density and/ or structural integrity compared to other sections of the body member 110, or any other equivalent method of reducing the structural bending resistance in the lower structural bending resistance zones 121.

The pillow 100 is suitable for use with a reconfigurable headrest that has a central region 131 and at least two flanking regions 131 that can displace relative to the central region 131. In the preferred embodiment the central region 131 and the at least two flanking regions 132 are a central panel 133 and a pair of flanking panels 134 respectively. In the preferred embodiment the pair of flanking panels 134 can pivot relative to the central panel 133 between a stowed position where all panels form a substantially continuous flat surface and a deployed position where one or more of the flanking panels 134 is at an angle to the central panel 133. In the preferred embodiment, when a pillow 100 is mounted on the headrest 130 and the headrest 130 is reconfigured from the stowed position to the deployed position the pillow 100 reconfigures to comply with the new configuration of the headrest. In the preferred embodiment the lines of weakness 120 substantially coincide with the axes of rotation 135 of the flanking panels 134. This allows the flanking body regions 112 of the pillow body 110 to more readily comply with the reconfiguration of the flanking panels 134.

The headrest 130 may also include chin support or supports that are at least in part reconfigurable to provide a support surface for a users chin. In the preferred embodiment the chin support sections 160 can move with the movement of the headrest 130 in a similar fashion as the flanking body regions 112 comply with the flanking panels 134. As the Flanking panels 134 come forward, the sections 160 of the pillow come forward and present a shelf surface onto which the chin of a person can rest.

The pillow of Figure 9 allows the flanking region 112 and the chin region to sit further forward compared to the central region 111. This helps ensure that the head of the person is tilted backwards more than otherwise to help prevent the head from slumping forward and help push the middle zone of the chin region into the neck of the person. The pillow is preferably able to be removably fixed to the headrest. This may be achieved by the use of a hook and loop fastener or other. In a preferred form it is achieved by a cover 150. The cover 150 covers substantially all of the pillow body 110. In the preferred embodiment the cover 150 is configure for mounting the pillow to the headrest. In the preferred embodiment the cover includes a sleeve 151 that is configured to slip over the upper edge 131 of the headrest 130 such that the pillow body 110 is supported on the front side of the headrest 130 within the cover 150. Alternatively such a sleeve may exist at each side of the pillow to allow it to slip over the flanking panels of the headrest and hence be held to the headrest.

In an alternative embodiment the cover could be mounted on the headrest using fastening material (eg. Velcro), fastening clips, fastening buttons, a hook, a bracket.

It is envisaged that in the preferred embodiment the pillow 100 can be optionally mounted on the headrest 130 of a seat 140 by a user to increase the comfort. The pillow 100 includes the cover 150 that is used to support the pillow body 110 encapsulated within, thereby protecting the pillow body 110 and allowing the pillow to be mounted to the headrest 130. The cover 150 can subsequently be removed and replaced with a new cover 150 so that the pillow 100 can be reused whilst still maintaining a clean and hygienic pillow 100. The line or lines of weakness 120 allow the pillow to more readily be able to bend and comply with the reconfiguration of the headrest 110. The pillow will have particular application for use with aircraft seats.

Claims

1. A pillow to be interposed, at least in part, between the head of a user and a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central region and at least two flanking regions located on each side of the central region that can displace relative to the central region, the pillow comprising:

2. A pillow as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pillow includes a removable cover inside which the pillow body is located.

3. A pillow as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cover encompasses substantially all of the pillow body.

4. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 2 or 3 wherein the cover at least in part covers the headrest.

5. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 4 wherein the cover includes fasteners to removable fasten the pillow to a said head rest in a position for use by a person.

6. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 5 wherein the cover defines at least one pocket.

7. A pillow as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cover has a plurality of pockets.

8. A pillow as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the pocket(s) can slip over part of the headrest to removably retain the pillow to the headrest.

9. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 2 or 8 wherein the pillow can be held to the headrest by a pair of pockets of the cover that at least in part slip over each of the flanking regions.

10. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 9 wherein the line or lines of weakness are sections of the pillow body that have a lower structural bending resistance compared to other sections of the pillow body.

11. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 10 wherein the line or lines of weakness are defined by stitching passing through the pillow body.

12. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 10 wherein the line or lines of weakness are sections of the pillow body that are thinner compared to other sections of the pillow body.

13. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 12 wherein the pillow body is substantially a uniform thickness, save for the line or lines of weakness that are defined by regions of reduced thickness.

14. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claim 12 wherein the regions of reduced thickness are lines of stitched thread passing between opposing sides of the pillow body thereby reducing the pillow body thickness in those sections.

15. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 10 wherein the line or lines of weakness are sections of the pillow body that have a lower density compared to other sections of the pillow body.

16. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 14 wherein the pillow is able to be used with a headrest that has two flanking regions in the form of wing sections that can fold relative to a mid section.

17. A pillow as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 15 wherein the pillow body defines two opposed side edges and two opposed upper and lower edges and is preferably substantially quadrilateral in shape.

18. A pillow as claimed in claim 17 wherein at least one line of weakness (herein after referred to as "chin line") extends between opposite side edges of the pillow, to define at a lower zone of the pillow body, at least one chin support section that can offer support to a chin of a user.

19. A pillow as claimed in claim 18 wherein the chin line extends inward from opposite side edges of the pillow and dips down towards the lower edge.

20. A pillow as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pillow body has at least two lines of weakness (herein after referred to as "flanking lines") extending downwardly from the upper side edge.

21. A pillow as claimed in claim 20 wherein the flanking lines extend downwardly from points proximate the upper edge of the pillow.

22. A pillow as claimed in claim 18 wherein the pillow body has at least two lines of weakness (herein after referred to as "flanking lines") extending downwardly from the upper edge of the pillow, the flanking lines extend downwardly from points proximate the upper side edge of the pillow and the flanking lines extend downwardly to the chin line.

23. A pillow as claimed in claim 17 wherein the lines of weakness define at least two zones of the pillow body, a first zone located extending inward from all of the lower edge and both side edges and a second zone that extends inward and downwardly from said upper edge.

24. A pillow as claimed in claim 23 wherein the first zone also extends inwardly from parts of said upper edge proximate most each side edge.

25. A pillow as claimed in claim 23 or 24 wherein said first zone is divided into 3 subzones by two lines of weakness that defines an intermediate of said 3 subzones extending inward from said lower edge, flanked by side zones of said 3 subzones that each extend inwardly from a respective said side edge.

26. A pillow as claimed in claimed in claim 25 wherein the line or lines of weakness that defined the first and second zone are connected to the two lines of weakness that define the 3 subzones.

27. A pillow as claimed in claim 23 wherein the second zone is located to receive the back of a person's head and the first zone provides a bolster to for each side of a person's head.

28. A pillow as claimed in claim 25 wherein the intermediate of said 3 subzones offer at least nape support for a person and preferably also chin support, the side zones providing a bolster to for each side of a person's head.

29. A head support for a person in a seat, said head support comprising:

30. A head support as claimed in claim 29 wherein the line or lines of weakness are defined by stitching through the pillow body.

31. A head support as claimed in claim 31 wherein the stitching is provided at least partially at locations corresponding at where each flanking head rest region is interfaced with the central head rest region.

32. A head support as claimed in anyone of claims 29 to 31 wherein the pillow body defines two opposed side edges and two opposed upper and lower edges and is preferably substantially quadrilateral in shape.

33. A head support as claimed in claim 32 wherein at least one line of weakness (herein after referred to as "chin line") extends between opposite side edges of the pillow, to define at a lower zone of the pillow body, at least one chin support section that can offer support to a chin of a user.

34. A head support as claimed in claim 33 wherein the chin line extends inward from opposite side edges of the pillow and dips down towards the lower edge.

35. A head support as claimed in claim 32 wherein the pillow body has at least two lines of weakness (herein after referred to as "flanking lines") extending downwardly from the upper side edge.

36. A head support as claimed in claim 35 wherein the flanking lines extend downwardly from points proximate the upper edge of the pillow.

37. A head support as claimed in claim 32 wherein the pillow body has at least two lines of weakness (herein after referred to as "flanking lines") extending downwardly from the upper edge of the pillow, the flanking lines extend downwardly from points proximate the upper side edge of the pillow and the flanking lines extend downwardly to the chin line.

38. A head support as claimed in claim 32 wherein the lines of weakness define at least two zones of the pillow body, a first zone located extending inward from all of the lower edge and both side edges and a second zone that extends inward and downwardly from said upper edge.

39. A head support as claimed in claim 38 wherein the first zone also extends inwardly from parts of said upper edge proximate most each side edge.

40. A head support as claimed in claim 38 or 39 wherein said first zone is divided into 3 subzones by two lines of weakness that defines an intermediate of said 3 subzones extending inward from said lower edge, flanked by side zones of said 3 subzones that each extend inwardly from a respective said side edge.

41. A head support as claimed in claimed in claim 40 wherein the line or lines of weakness that defined the first and second zone are connected to the two lines of weakness that define the 3 subzones.

42. A head support as claimed in claim 38 wherein the second zone is located to receive the back of a person's head and the first zone provides a bolster to for each side of a person's head.

43. A head support as claimed in claim 42 wherein the intermediate of said 3 subzones offer at least nape support for a person and preferably also chin support, the side zones providing a bolster to for each side of a person's head.

44. A seat that comprises

a back rest, a reconfigurable seat headrest as claimed in claim 29.

45. A pillow to be interposed, at least in part, between the head of a user and a reconfigurable seat headrest that at least includes a central region and two flanking regions to said central region that can displace relative to the central region, the pillow comprising: a pillow body to locate against the headrest, the pillow body adapted to be compliant with the configuration of the headrest by virtue of a line or lines of weakness of the pillow body.

46. A pillow for use with a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central head rest region for offering support to the back of a person's head and at least two flanking head rest regions dependent from and that can displace relative to the central region to present themselves for offering support to each side of a person's head,

the pillow comprising:

a pillow body, at least partially through which stitching passes to create a line or lines of weakness that are at least partially matched to the interface between the central head rest region and each flanking head region, such that when each flanking head rest region is displaced relative to the central head rest region, parts of the pillow on each side of said stitching can also move relative to each other.

47. A pillow for use with a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central head rest region for offering support to the back of a person's head and two flanking head rest regions dependent from and that can displace relative to the central region to present themselves for offering support to each side of a person's head,

the pillow comprising:

48. A pillow as claimed in claim 47 wherein the pillow body also include a line of weakness that at least partially separates the lower region of the pillow from an upper region of the pillow, the lower region including two zones each to offer support to each chin of a user.

49. A pillow as claimed in claim 48 wherein the lower region also includes a neck support region to be able to locate at the nape of the neck of a person.

50. A pillow as claimed in claim 49 wherein the neck support region is thicker than the region of the pillow immediately above.

51. A pillow as claimed in claim 47 wherein the line or lines of weakness split the pillow into at least three zones,

52. A pillow as claimed in claim 47 wherein the line or lines of weakness split the pillow into at least four zones,

a. a first to locate at the central head support region of the headrest, b. a second to locate at a first of said flanking head rest regions, c. a third to locate at a second of said flanking regions, and d. a fourth to locate across at least part of all said central and flanking head rest regions below said first second and third zones.

53. A pillow, for use with a reconfigurable seat headrest that includes a central head rest region for offering support to the back of a person's head and at least two flanking head rest regions dependent from and that can displace relative to the central region to present themselves for offering support to each side of a person's head, the pillow comprising a pillow body having at least three zones,

54. A pillow as claimed in claim 53 wherein the pillow has at least four zones,

55. A pillow that comprises a pillow body that offers a cradle to a person's head, the cradle defined by at least two zones, a first zone that is positioned centrally of the pillow body and against with the back of a head of a person can be positioned and a second zone at least partially surrounding the first zone, said second zone positioned to offer at least a bolster for each side of a person's head.

56. A pillow as claimed in claim 55 wherein the first zone and second zone are separated at least in part by at least one line of weakness between the first and second zones.

57. A pillow as claimed in claim 55 wherein the second zone is divided into 3 parts, a middle part that is positioned to extend across the nape of the neck of a person and two side parts flanking each side of the middle part and positioned to offer a bolster for each side of a person's head.

58. A pillow as claimed in claim 57 wherein the 3 parts are divided by lines of weakness in the pillow body.

59. A pillow as claimed in anyone one of more of the above claims and as shown with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.