WO2016079704A1

WO2016079704A1 - Comfort article and cover for a comfort article

Info

Publication number: WO2016079704A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/058970
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam White
Original assignee: Etihad Airways
Priority date: 2014-11-21
Filing date: 2015-11-19
Publication date: 2016-05-26
Also published as: GB2532498B; GB201420753D0; GB2532498A

Abstract

A comfort article (1) comprises: a neck cushion (2) comprising first (4) and second (5) lobes and an adjoining (6) portion adjoining the first (4) and second (5) lobes; and a cover (3). The cover (3) comprises: first (7) and second (8) lobe-receiving portions for receiving the first (4) and second (5) lobes of the a neck cushion (2); an adjoining portion receiving portion (9) for receiving the adjoining portion (6) of the neck cushion (2); and a frangible region between the first (7) and second (8) lobe-receiving portions. The comfort article (1) is convertible from a pillow configuration to a neck cushion configuration by separating the first and second lobes at the frangible region of the cover.

Description

COMFORT ARTICLE AND COVER FOR A COMFORT ARTICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a comfort article and a cover for a comfort article.

Comfort articles embodying the invention may, for example, be used as a pillow and/or a neck cushion by passengers travelling on transport vehicles, particularly when travelling long distances or during the night.

BACKGROUND TO THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is generally known for operators of transport vehicles to provide passengers with a cushion for additional comfort, particularly on long journeys, including on long-haul flights and overnight coach or train journeys.

It is also generally known for passengers to take with them when travelling on transport vehicles a neck cushion for supporting their neck during periods of rest or sleep.

Pillows and neck cushions have different purposes. Neck cushions are more effective at supporting a passenger's head when in a sitting or reclined position, whereas pillows are typically more effective for supporting a passenger's head in a lying down position, or for supporting a passenger's lower back (e.g. to provide lumbar support).

Currently, in order for passengers to have access to the benefits of both a pillow and a neck cushion, separate articles are required. This either requires the transport operator to provide one of each product for each passenger on board the vehicle, or requires a passenger to bring their own neck cushion on board the vehicle to supplement the pillow that is often provided by the operator. Providing an additional item for each passenger, or having them bring their own neck cushion on board, can increase clutter on board the vehicle and add weight which may lead to an increase in fuel consumption. If a separate neck cushion were to be provided by the transport operator, that is also likely to increase running costs and create additional work for cleaning staff e.g. to replace disposable covers on both of the articles.

There is a general need, particularly for commercial flights, to provide a comfortable environment for passengers while minimising clutter, and reducing running costs and weight. The invention seeks to provide a novel comfort article which provides passengers on transport vehicles with the benefits of both a pillow and a neck cushion while limiting the number of articles which must be provided by the transport operator or taken on board a transport vehicle by a passenger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is defined in the appended independent claims and provides, in a first aspect, a comfort article comprising:- a neck cushion comprising first and second lobes and an adjoining portion adjoining the first and second lobes; and

a cover;

wherein the cover comprises:

first and second lobe-receiving portions for receiving the first and second lobes of the a neck cushion;

an adjoining portion receiving portion for receiving the adjoining portion of the neck cushion; and

a frangible region between the first and second lobe-receiving portions; wherein the comfort article is convertible from a pillow configuration to a neck cushion configuration by separating the first and second lobes at the frangible region of the cover.

Some preferred or advantageous features of the present invention are set out in the dependent claims to which reference should now be made. These features include the following.

Preferably, the frangible region of the cover extends from the adjoining portion receiving portion of the cover to an end of the lobe-receiving portions of the cover. This ensure that the frangible region only extends part way across the comfort article and enables the article to be reconfigured without being completely divided or separated.

Optionally, the cover may be provided with at least one fastening means for permitting reconfiguration of the comfort article from the neck cushion configuration to the pillow configuration. Suitable fastening means may include snap fasteners, buttons, a strip or one or more pads of a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive strip, a seam welding process, or a zip fastener, or a combination of any of these types of fasteners. Any number of such fasteners may be provided substantially along the entire length of the frangible region, only at discrete portions of the frangible region or only at the end of the frangible region nearest the free ends of the lobes. The one or more fasteners may be affixed to the cover or to the neck cushion, or a combination of the two. Any fasteners affixed to the neck cushion may be accessible, for example, through apertures in the cover or by manipulating the fixings with the cover in place.

Preferably, the cover further comprises a flap portion extendable from a first side of the comfort article over the adjoining portion of the neck portion onto a second side of the comfort article. This provides a simple way of covering a top surface of the neck cushion. Optionally, the flap portion may comprises at least one fastening means for fastening the flap portion to the second side of the comfort article. Suitable fixing means may include snap fasteners, buttons, a strip or one or more pads of a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive strip, a seam welding process, or a zip fastener, or a combination of any of these types of fasteners. Any number of such fasteners may be provided substantially around the entire periphery of the flap or only at one or more discrete regions of the flap. Preferably, the frangible region comprises a perforated or weakened tear-line. This enables the comfort article to be easily converted from the pillow configuration to the neck cushion configuration.

Preferably, the cover is made from a non-woven fabric material but other suitable materials may be used, as will be understood by the skilled person. These may, for example, include paper materials or other fabric materials.

Preferably, the frangible region of the cover comprises a double layer of the non- woven fabric material. This may give the cover greater strength and durability.

Preferably, the double layer of the non-woven fabric material is heat-stitched around its periphery. This provides a pocket or enclosure for receiving the neck cushion. Other means for joining the two layers of material will be will be understood by the skilled person. These may include stitching, an adhesive, a seam welding process, or a zip fastener, among others.

Preferably, the frangible region of the cover is heat-stitched adjacent a first side and adjacent a second side of the tear-line. The first and second lines of heat-stitching preferably run parallel to the tear-line. This provides the cover with additional strength in the region of the tear line. Each of the first and second lines of heat-stitching may comprise only a single run of heat stitching or two or more runs of heat-stitching which are preferably substantially adjacent, and parallel to one another and to the tear line.

The heat stitching adjacent the tear line forms a double layer of the cover material over the frangible portion of the cover. The perforated or weakened tear line preferably runs through both layers of the double layer of material.

Preferably, the first and second lines of heat-stitching adjacent the tear line are connected by a continuously curved line of heat stitching which passes around an end of the tear line. This may reduce or eliminate any risk of the cover being torn as the user tears the cover along the tear line so as to convert the comfort article from the pillow configuration to the neck cushion configuration. The curved line of heat stitching may thereby act as a stress reducer.

The tear line may be a straight line extending across a portion of the cover. Alternatively, the tear line may form a triangular, semicircular, rectangular or other similarly shaped region of the cover which can be removed from the cover so as to convert the comfort article from the pillow configuration to the neck pillow configuration. In other words, the first and second lobes may either be manually separated by a user so as to tear the frangible region along an intermediate tear line to form the neck pillow configuration, or the first and second lobes may be separated by a user gripping and removing a portion of the cover between the lobes so as to form the neck pillow configuration. Preferably, the cover is a replaceable cover. The cover may be replaced, if desired, after each use so that the same comfort article can be used by a different passenger.

Preferably, the replaceable cover is a disposable cover. Making the cover from sheets of non-woven fabric material attached by a heat stitching process helps to provide a low cost but effective and hygienic cover which can be disposed after each use. Preferably, the neck cushion is made from, or coated with, a low-friction material.

This may facilitate insertion of the neck cushion into the cover and ensure that the cover can be quickly and easily replaced.

The present invention also provides, in a second aspect, a cover for a comfort article, the cover comprising: first and second lobe-receiving portions for receiving first and second lobes of a neck cushion;

an adjoining portion receiving portion for receiving an adjoining portion of a neck cushion; and

a frangible region between the first and second lobe-receiving portions;

wherein the cover is convertible from a pillow cover configuration to a neck cushion cover configuration by separating the first and second lobe-receiving portions at the frangible region of the cover. It should be appreciated that any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination.

It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a comfort article embodying the present invention in a closed (pillow) configuration;

Figure 2 is a front view of the comfort article of Figure 1 in a pillow configuration;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the comfort article of Figure 1 showing a neck cushion and a cover;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a passenger using the comfort article of Figure 1 as a pillow;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the comfort article of Figure 1 in a partial neck cushion configuration;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the comfort article of Figure 1 in a full neck cushion configuration; Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a passenger using the comfort article of Figure 1 as a neck cushion; and

Figure 8 is a close up view of an frangible region of the comfort article of Figure 1 comprising a tear line which enables reconfiguration of the comfort article from the pillow configuration to the neck cushion configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A comfort article 1 embodying the present invention is shown in Figures 1 to 8. The comfort article generally comprises a neck cushion 2 and a disposable, replaceable, cover 3.

The neck cushion has first 4 and second 5 lobes and an adjoining portion 6 adjoining the two lobes. The neck cushion is preferably made from, or coated with, a low-friction material to facilitate insertion of neck cushion into the cover and to facilitate replacement of the cover.

The cover is made from thin sheets of non-woven fabric material. The cover comprises a front panel and a rear panel that are heat stitched around their peripheries (with the exception of the immediate vicinity of an outer end of the tear line discussed further below) to form a generally U-shaped pocket for receiving the neck cushion. Around its periphery, the cover therefore comprises a double layer or double thickness of the non-woven material. The cover comprises first 7 and second 8 lobe-receiving portions for receiving the first 4 and second 5 lobes of the a neck cushion and an adjoining portion receiving portion 9 for receiving the adjoining portion 6 of the neck cushion.

The frangible region comprises a weakened, or perforated, tear or fracture line 10. The tear line region extends from the adjoining portion receiving portion of the cover to the ends of the lobe-receiving portions of the cover. It therefore extends along a portion, but not all, of the width of the comfort article. The front and rear panels of the cover are heat-stitched adjacent a first side and adjacent a second side of the tear-line, the first 1 1 and second 12 lines of heat-stitching running substantially parallel to the tear-line. The first and second lines of heat-stitching adjacent the tear line are connected by a continuously curved line of heat stitching 13 which passes around an inner end of the tear line and acts as a stress reducer to oppose further tearing of the cover beyond the end of the tear line.

The cover further comprises a flap portion (not shown) extendable from a front surface of the comfort article over the adjoining portion of the neck portion to a rear surface of the comfort article. The flap portion need not be provided with any fastening means. However, the flap portion may, optionally be provided with one or more fastening means (not shown) as discussed above for fastening the flap portion to a rear side of the comfort article.

The comfort article may be used a pillow as shown in Figure 4. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, the comfort article may be converted from a pillow configuration (Figure 4) to a neck cushion configuration (Figure 7) by separating the lobes of the neck cushion at the frangible region of the cover so as to permit the comfort article to be positioned around user's neck.

To convert the comfort article, the passenger grips the first and second lobes of the neck cushion through the cover and gently pulls them apart (which may be away from each other in opposite lateral directions as shown in Figures 5 and 6 or in opposite fore-aft directions) in order to tear the frangible region along the tear line until the tear line has been opened up along its length. The curved line of heat-stitching around the top of the tear line provides a limit of tearing of the cover and opposes any further tearing of the adjoining portion receiving portion 9 of the cover. The lines of heat stitching to each side of the tear line and the double layer of material in the frangible region ensure that, once separated, the lobes of the neck cushion remain covered.

With the end portions of the lobes separated, the user may place the article over their head and position the lobes on either side of their neck as shown in Figure 7 to support their head and neck during periods of rest or sleep.

The comfort article need not be provided with any fastening means for enabling the article to be reconfigured from the neck cushion configuration to the pillow configuration. However, the article may optionally be provided with one or more fastening means (not shown) as discussed above for fastening the first and second lobes together to return the article from the neck cushion configuration to the pillow configuration and to maintain it in the pillow configuration configuration. The one or more fastening means may be releasable so as to permit repeated reconfiguration of the comfort article between the neck cushion configuration and the pillow configuration are required by a user.

Claims

1. A comfort article comprising:- a neck cushion comprising first and second lobes and an adjoining portion adjoining the first and second lobes; and a cover; wherein the cover comprises: first and second lobe-receiving portions for receiving the first and second lobes of the a neck cushion; an adjoining portion receiving portion for receiving the adjoining portion of the neck cushion; and a frangible region between the first and second lobe-receiving portions; wherein the comfort article is convertible from a pillow configuration to a neck cushion configuration by separating the first and second lobes at the frangible region of the cover.

2. A comfort article according to Claim 1 , wherein the frangible region of the cover extends from the adjoining portion receiving portion of the cover to an end of the lobe- receiving portions of the cover.

3. A comfort article according to Claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one fastening means for permitting reconfiguration of the comfort article from the neck cushion configuration to the pillow configuration.

4. A comfort article according to any of the Claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover further comprises a flap portion extendable from a first side of the comfort article over the adjoining portion of the neck cushion to a second side of the comfort article.

5. A comfort article according to Claim 4, wherein the flap portion comprises at least one fastening means for fastening the flap portion to the second side of the comfort article.

6. A comfort article according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the frangible region comprises a perforated or weakened tear-line.

7. A comfort article according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the cover is made from a non-woven fabric material.

8. A comfort article according to Claim 7, wherein the frangible region of the cover comprises a double layer of the non-woven fabric material.

9. A comfort article according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the non-woven fabric material is heat-stitched around its periphery to form an enclosure for the neck cushion.

10. A comfort article according to Claim 8 or 9 when appended to Claim 6, wherein the double layer of the non-woven fabric material is heat-stitched adjacent a first side and adjacent a second side of the tear-line, the first and second lines of heat-stitching running parallel to the tear-line.

1 1. A comfort article according to Claim 10, wherein the first and second lines of heat- stitching adjacent the tear line are connected by a continuously curved line of heat stitching which passes around an end of the tear line.

12. A comfort article according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the cover is a replaceable cover.

13. A comfort article according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the cover is a disposable cover.

14. A comfort article according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the neck cushion is made from a low-friction material.

15. A cover for a comfort article, the cover comprising: first and second lobe-receiving portions for receiving first and second lobes of a neck cushion; an adjoining portion receiving portion for receiving an adjoining portion of a neck cushion; and a frangible region between the first and second lobe-receiving portions; wherein the cover is convertible from a pillow cover configuration to a neck cushion cover configuration by separating the first and second lobe-receiving portions at the frangible region of the cover.

16. A cover for a comfort article according to Claim 15, wherein the frangible region of the cover extends from the adjoining portion receiving portion of the cover to an end of the lobe-receiving portions of the cover.

17. A cover for a comfort article according to Claim 16 or 17, further comprising at least one fastening means for permitting reconfiguration of the cover from neck cushion cover configuration to a pillow cover configuration.

18. A cover for a comfort article according to any of Claims 15 to 17, wherein the cover further comprises a flap portion extendable over an adjoining portion of a neck cushion.

19. A cover for a comfort article according to Claim 18, wherein the flap portion comprises at least one fastening means.

20. A cover for a comfort article according to any of Claims 15 to 20, wherein the frangible region comprises a perforated or weakened tear-line.

21. A cover for a comfort article according to any of Claims 15 to 19, wherein the cover is made from a non-woven fabric material.

22. A cover for a comfort article according to Claim 21 , wherein the frangible region of the cover comprises a double layer of the non-woven fabric material.

23. A cover for a comfort article according to Claim 21 or 22, wherein the non-woven fabric material is heat-stitched around its periphery to form an enclosure for a neck cushion.

24. A cover for a comfort article according to Claim 22 or 23 when appended to claim 20, wherein the double layer of the non-woven fabric material is heat-stitched adjacent a first side and adjacent a second side of the tear-line, the first and second lines of heat-stitching running parallel to the tear-line.

25. A cover for a comfort article according to Claim 24, wherein the first and second lines of heat-stitching adjacent the tear line are connected by a continuously curved line of heat stitching which passes around an end of the tear line.

26. A cover for a comfort article according to any of the Claims 15 to 25, wherein the cover is a replaceable cover.

27. A cover for a comfort article according to any of Claims 15 to 26, wherein the cover is a disposable cover.

28. A comfort article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.

29. A cover for a comfort article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.