WO2012078596A2

WO2012078596A2 - Backrest pillow

Info

Publication number: WO2012078596A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/063479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Iain Scorgie
Original assignee: Mindsinsync (Hong Kong) Limited
Priority date: 2010-12-07
Filing date: 2011-12-06
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Also published as: WO2012078596A3

Abstract

A lounging pillow includes a main body portion and two arm portions that extend away from the main body portion. The main body and arm portions are constructed and arranged to support a user in an upright seated position. At least a portion of the pillow includes a laminated textile and foam combination. In an embodiment, the pillow is constructed from multiple panels, some of which include the laminated textile and foam combination.

Description

BACKREST PILLOW

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This international application claims the benefit and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/420,600, filed December 7, 2010. The foregoing application is incorporated in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to backrest pillows (also known as husbands), other types of pillows, or other soft line items or upholstered items having some or all of its outward facing surfaces having a fabric-covered surface attached to a cushioning layer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0003] Items such as husbands and pillows are generally comprised of an outer fabric shell that is filled or stuffed with feathers, foam, or other filler material. Some pillows have used memory foam as the filler material, but it is cost prohibitive to have the entire pillow filled with such material. Furthermore, these items may have the fabric or textile covering a memory foam core, but the fabric is not attached to the memory foam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The inventor has developed a commercially successful method of producing thin sheets of memory foam that have a fabric or textile attached to one side. The textile or fabric can be any number of materials, including an absorbent microfiber known as Microdry®. It has been determined that this new textile/memory foam combination can be used in a variety of applications, allowing new and innovative products to be developed. One such product is a husband or pillow that has some or all of its outward facing surfaces to be comprised of a textile/memory foam layer. This provides superior tactile feel to the user, while allowing the product to be less expensive. In addition, the interior of the husband or pillow can be filled with other materials as desired. For example, a less expensive filler material can be used to reduce overall costs. Furthermore, the filler material can be selected to have different properties than the memory foam layer, allowing for new and improved combinations of properties. For example, the interior of the husband can be filled with a stiff material, allowing the husband to better maintain its overall shape when leaned against, while still feeling soft to the user because of the foam layers that are immediately in contact with the user. [0005] A husband with one or more pockets has also been developed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] FIGURE 1 illustrates a front view of the husband formed in accordance with the invention.

[0007] FIGURE 2 illustrates a top view of the husband formed in accordance with the invention.

[0008] FIGURE 3 illustrates a back view of the husband formed in accordance with the invention.

[0009] FIGURE 4 illustrates a bottom view of the husband formed in accordance with the invention.

[0010] FIGURE 5 illustrates a side view of the husband formed in accordance with the invention

[0011] FIGURE 6 illustrates a front view of a husband having pockets formed in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] FIGURES 1 - 5 illustrate multiple views of a husband 10 formed in accordance with the invention. Husband 10 has a main body 12 and two arms 14.

The surface 20 of husband 10 is comprised of multiple panels - a front panel 22, a back panel 24, a top panel 26, and a bottom panel 28.

In an embodiment, portions of the husband 10 includes a material made from a laminated textile and foam combination. In particular, such a material may include an outer textile material such as microfiber material and an inner foam material such as a memory foam, i.e., a viscoelastic compressible foam material layer. These two layers may be, for example, glued together.

[0013] In an embodiment, a structural backing is applied to the textile prior to assembly with the foam material. By way of example, the structural backing may be a 100% polyester fabric, while the textile material may be, 60-90% polyester with the balance polyamide, and in a particular embodiment 80%polyester/20% polyamide. In an embodiment, the fabric is woven into a material having a weight between 200 and 300 g/m², and in a particular embodiment, a material having a weight between about 250 and 275 g m². In an embodiment, the woven textile material has a pile height of approximately 0.1-0.175 in., particularly approximately 0.157 in.

[0014] In an embodiment, a backing may also be applied to the side of the memory foam opposite to the side that the textile is attached.

[0015] In one embodiment, front panel 22 and top panel 26 are composed of the textile/foam combination material. Back panel 24 and bottom panel 28 are composed of the same textile without the foam layer underneath. In an embodiment, all of the panels include the foam layer.

[0016] Other configurations and numbers of panels can be used in accordance with the invention. Different panels can also use different thickness of foam as desired, and multiple fabrics can be used for the different panels instead of using the same fabric.

[0017] The interior of husband 10 may be filled with any number of filler materials. In one embodiment, the filler is polyester. Alternatively, the husband may be comprised of an inner frame, around which the panels are sewn so as to enclose the frame. Instead of one integral frame, multiple interior sections or segments can also be used on the inside of husband 10.

[0018] The filler or frame material may be selected to fulfill any number of desired characteristics, including cost, stiffness, and other consumer and/or manufacturing concerns.

[0019] The panels may be attached to each other using any number of methods, including sewing them together and using adhesives. Panels 20 may also be attached to the inner frame if applicable and desired.

[0020] The technique of selectively using the textile/memory foam combination material can be applied to many different products. For example, a throw pillow may have one or both sides composed of the textile/memory foam material, or a chair may be selectively upholstered so that the seat and arms are covered with the textile/memory foam material.

[0021] The inventor has also developed a husband having one or more pockets. FIGURE 6 shows husband 100 with a front panel 102 having recessed pockets 110. Pockets 110 may be used for multiple purposes. In one embodiment, pocket 110 can hold a reusable heating element. Alternatively, one or more pockets can be formed on the outside surface of the husband 100, and could be formed out of different materials for a variety of effects.

[0022] Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention in not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A pillow comprising:

a main body portion; and

two arm portions, extending away from the main body portion, the main body and arm portions together constructed and arranged to support a user in an upright seated position, at least a portion of the pillow comprising a laminated textile and foam combination.

2. A pillow as in claim 1, wherein the laminated textile and foam combination comprises microfiber textile material and memory foam.

3. A pillow as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pillow comprises a front panel, a back panel, a top panel and a bottom panel, and wherein the portion of the pillow comprises the front panel and the top panel.

4. A pillow as in claim 3, wherein the back panel and the bottom panel comprise a microfiber textile material.

5. A pillow as in claim 1, wherein the pillow further comprises a filler material.

6. A pillow as in claim 3, wherein the pillow further comprises a structural frame, enclosed within the panels and constructed and arranged to provide structural support to the pillow.

7. A pillow as in claim 6, wherein the structural frame comprises a plurality of separate members.

8. A pillow as in claim 1 , further comprising at least one pocket on the pillow.

9. A pillow as in claim 8, wherein the pocket is configured to contain a reusable heating element.

10. A cushion comprising:

a plurality of panels fastened together to enclose a filler material; at least one of the panels comprising a laminated textile and foam combination; and at least one of the panels not comprising the laminated textile and foam combination.

11. A cushion as in claim 10, wherein the laminated textile and foam combination comprises microfiber textile material and memory foam.