A pillow

Abstract

 A pillow comprising two panels attachable to one another and adapted to be layered one on top of the other. Preferably, the panels of the pillow are quilted. One or more further panels are attachable to increase the thickness of the pillow.

Description

[0001] THIS INVENTION RELATES TO a pillow and more particularly to a pillow which can be easily and better cleaned than conventional pillows and which has a dramatically reduced drying time after washing.

[0002] Conventional pillows comprise a pillow shaped envelope filled with feathers or, now more commonly, foam or polyester fibres, foam chunks, polymeric fibres and the like.

[0003] Even though most pillows are protected by a pillowcase, the pillow eventually becomes dirty and it has been shown that a large proportion of the mass of a conventional bed pillow is made up of dried saliva and dead skin. Clearly, there is a need to wash regularly the pillow as well as pillowcases so as to maintain the pillow in a clean and hygienic condition. The problem with washing pillows is that the wadding or filling of the pillow becomes saturated with water during washing and, owing to the centrifugal force provided by a washing machine, the sodden mass conglomerates a single lump. This problem is exacerbated by the large volume of filling required to fill a conventional pillow. During a spin cycle in a washing machine, the saturated mass of the pillow filling is so great that it can imbalance the spin cycle and cause damage to the washing machine. If, rather than carrying out a spin cycle, it is elected to dry the pillow by convection on a line or on a radiator, then the drying time is excessively long due to the large mass of still substantially saturated filling material located within the pillow cover. For this reason, a common method of cleaning pillows is to go to the expense of dry cleaning - a facility which is unavailable within the domestic environment.

[0004] Another problem associated with conventional pillows is that, by their very nature, they are of a predetermined thickness. In some circumstances, pillows may pad down and become thinner with age but, generally speaking, it is impossible to adjust easily the thickness of a pillow.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to seek to provide a pillow which solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a pillow comprising two panels attachable to one another and adapted to be layered one on top of the other.

[0007] Preferably, one edge of one panel is permanently attached to one edge of the other panel.

[0008] Advantageously, the remaining tree edges of the two panels are provided with engagement means such that the two panels may be folded one on top of the other and the edges releasably attached to one another.

[0009] Conveniently, the edges of the two panels are provided with engagement means such that one panel may be laid on top of the other panel and the edges of the panels releasably attached to one another.

[0010] Preferably, one or more further panels are releasably attachable to the two panels and are adapted to be laid on top of the two panels.

[0011] Advantageously, the panels are attachable to one another by hook and loop fastening means.

[0012] Conveniently, engagement means are provided on a major surface of the panels such that the panels are releasably attachable to one another by the major surfaces.

[0013] Preferably, the two panels are releasably attachable to one another by opposed major surfaces.

[0014] Advantageously, one or more of the panels of the pillow are quilted.

[0015] Conveniently, a pillow comprising three panels attached to one another and layered one on top of the other has a thickness substantially the same as that of a conventional pillow.

[0016] Preferably, a pillow comprising two panels attached to one another and layered one on top of the other has the thickness of a pillow suitable for use by a small child.

[0017] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pillow embodying the present invention in an unassembled condition;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the pillow of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the pillow of FIGURE 1 in a partly assembled condition; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the pillow of FIGURE 1 in a fully assembled condition.

[0018] Figure 1 shows a pillow embodying the present invention in a partially assembled condition. The pillow 1 comprises three separate panels 2, 3, 4. Each panel 2, 3, 4 comprises an elongate rectangular envelope, manufactured from cotton or the like, in which is inserted a conventional pillow filling such as a foam rubber or polymeric fibres to provide the panels 2, 3, 4 with a degree of body or wadding. It should, however, be noted that the thickness of each of the panels 2, 3, 4 is substantially less than that of a conventional pillow and hence each of the panels 2, 3, 4 contains substantially less wadding than would be contained in a pillow of conventional size.

[0019] Since the panels 2, 3, 4 are substantially rectangular in shape, they conform to the profile of a conventional pillow shape such that each of the panels would fit snugly within a conventional pillowcase.

[0020] In the example shown in Figure 1, a lateral edge 5 of the first panel 2 is stitched to a lateral edge 6 of the second panel 3. The margins of the remaining three tree edges 7, 8, 9 of the first panel 2 on one major surface of the panel are fitted with lengths of a nylon filament loop fastening strip such as VELCRO (trade mark). The margins of the remaining three free edges 10, 11, 12 of the second panel 3 on the same major surface of the panel 3 are fitted with lengths of a nylon filament hook fastening strip such as VELCRO (trade mark). The first panel 2 may thus be folded onto the second panel 3 and the loop fastening strips along the tree edges 7, 8, 9 of the first panel 2 are engaged with and secured to the hook fastening strips along the free edges 10, 11, 12 of the second panel 3. The folding of one panel onto another, the two panels 2, 3 being layered one on the other, doubles the thickness of the resultant pillow.

[0021] In the example shown in Figure 1 the panels 2, 3 are quilted so as to divide the panels into discrete small compartments. It should be appreciated that this not a essential feature of the invention but is, however, preferable. Lateral or longitudinal stitches may be applied to the panels 2, 3 so as to break up the panels 2, 3 into quilted units containing smaller volumes of wadding.

[0022] The third panel 4 is not permanently fixed to the second panel 3 but is detachable. The margins of the four edges of the other major surface of the second panel 3 are fitted with lengths of a loop fastening strip so as to engage lengths of a hook fastening strip fitted around the margins of the four edges on a major surface of the detachable panel 4. When the detachable panel 4 is attached to the first and second panels 2, 3 as shown in Figure 3, the resultant pillow, shown in Figure 4 is substantially identical to a conventional pillow.

[0023] Because each of the panels 2, 3, 4 is thinner than and contains substantially less wadding than a conventional pillow the panels 2, 3, 4 can be easily washed without putting undue stress on a washing machine and can also be subjected to a spin cycle. Rather than using a spin cycle, it is also possible to dry the panels by convection, in which case, the drying time compared to that of a conventional pillow is substantially reduced.

[0024] The provision of quilting in the panels serves to reduce further the amount of wadding within any one quilted compartment thereby preventing large volumes of wadding being saturated when washing to form a single large sodden mass. It should be appreciated that quilting is not appropriate for conventional pillows due to the thickness of the pillows, the resultant troughs between quilt panels being uncomfortable for the head to rest upon. In contrast, the quilting of the thin panels of pillows embodying the present invention do not present an uncomfortable surface upon which to rest the head.

[0025] Other forms of quilting are possible in which the panels 2, 3, 4 are stitched in longitudinal, lateral or diagonal strips.

[0026] The detachable panel is especially useful if the thickness of the resultant pillow is to be adjusted, for example, for use by small children. In this regard, a pillow comprising two panels attached to one another and layered one on top of the other has the thickness of a pillow suitable for use by a small child and a pillow comprising three panels attached to one another and layered one on top of the other has a thickness substantially the same as that of a conventional pillow. If an especially thick pillow is required, then a fourth or even fifth detachable panel can be provided.

[0027] Whilst preferred, it is not essential for the first and second panels 2, 3 to be permanently attached to one another. Instead, the two panels 2, 3 may be releasably attachable to one another in the same manner as the third panel 4 is releasably attachable to the second panel 3.

[0028] It is also envisaged that three or more panels can be permanently attached to one another by appropriate edges so that the panels can be folded into a pillow shape.

[0029] Additionally, whilst the example shown in Figure 1 shows lateral edges 5, 6 of the panels permanently attached to one another, it is also possible to attach two panels to one another permanently by a longitudinal edge 7, 9, 10, 12 of each panel.

[0030] It is advantageous to provide engagement means such as hook and loop fastening strips along the edges or margins of the panels since the joining of panels along their edges or margins promotes the pillow to conform to a conventional pillow shape - i.e. a full central body formed with tapering edges.

[0031] Rather than, or in addition to, releasably attaching the panels to one another along their edges or margins, engagement means such as hook and loop fastening strips can be provided on the major surfaces of the panels so that the panels are joined at their major surfaces.

[0032] Press studs or other fastening systems can be used instead of hook and loop fastening means.

Claims

1. A pillow comprising two panels attachable to one another and adapted to be layered one on top of the other.

2. A pillow according to Claim 1, wherein one edge of one panel is permanently attached to one edge of the other panel.

3. A pillow according to Claim 2, wherein the remaining free edges of the two panels are provided with engagement means such that the two panels may be folded one on top of the other and the edges releasably attached to one another.

4. A pillow according to Claim 1, the edges of the two panels are provided with engagement means such that one panel may be laid on top of the other panel and the edges of the panels releasably attached to one another.

5. A pillow according to any preceding Claim, wherein one or more further panels are releasably attachable to the two panels and are adapted to be laid on top of the two panels.

6. A pillow according to any preceding Claim, wherein the panels are attachable to one another by hook and loop fastening means.

7. A pillow according to any preceding claim, wherein engagement means are provided on a major surface of the panels such that the panels are releasably attachable to one another by the major surfaces.

8. A pillow according to Claim 1, wherein the two panels are releasably attachable to one another by opposed major surfaces.

9. A pillow according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the panels of the pillow are quilted.

10. A pillow according to any preceding claim, wherein a pillow comprising three panels attached to one another and layered one on top of the other has a thickness substantially the same as that of a conventional pillow.

11. A pillow according to any preceding claim, wherein a pillow comprising two panels attached to one another and layered one on top of the other has the thickness of a pillow suitable for use by a small child.

12. A panel for use with a pillow according to any preceding claim.

Drawing