A pillow

Abstract

 A pillow (10) includes a series of juxtaposed sections (30, 40, 50, 60), each foldable relative to each other. Each section (30, 40, 50, 60) has information (36, 46, 56, 66) of an educational nature displayed thereon. Each section (30, 40, 50, 60) is also provided with a fixing means (32, 42, 52, 62) arranged to fix the pillow (10) in a folded arrangement in which the pillow (10) is useable for sleeping. Selected sections (30, 40, 50, 60) of the pillow (10) can be unfixed from one another and turned like the pages of a book, thereby allowing the information (36, 46, 56, 66) displayed thereon to be studied.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to pillows.

[0002] Children are often reluctant to go to bed. If it were possible to make going to bed more interesting or enjoyable for a child, that child might be more inclined to go to bed.

[0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a pillow that may be used to entertain or educate a child.

[0004] According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a pillow that is foldable into a folded arrangement in which the pillow is usable for sleeping, wherein the pillow includes fixing means arranged to releasably fix the pillow in the folded arrangement.

[0005] The pillow may have information displayed thereon.

[0006] According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a pillow that is foldable into a folded arrangement in which the pillow is usable for sleeping, wherein the pillow has information displayed thereon.

[0007] The pillow of the second aspect may include fixing means arranged to releasably fix the pillow in the folded arrangement.

[0008] The pillow may include padding material and an outer layer, the padding material being at least partially enclosed by the outer layer.

[0009] The outer layer may include the fixing means.

[0010] The outer layer may be at least part of a pillow case arranged to receive and substantially enclose the rest of the pillow which is referred to hereinafter as the "inner pillow". The pillow case may be removable from the inner pillow so that it may be washed individually.

[0011] The pillow may include a plurality of sections, the pillow being foldable between the sections. In the folded arrangement, the sections may constitute substantially parallel and overlapping layers.

[0012] The pillow, in an unfolded arrangement, may be divided into the pillow sections along its length, its width, or both its length and its width.

[0013] The outer layer of the pillow may have information displayed thereon.

[0014] Preferably, the outer layer of one or more section has information displayed thereon.

[0015] The information that is displayed may include literary information, such as a poem, a nursery rhyme, a story or multiplication tables. The information that is displayed may include pictures. Preferably the information is of an educational nature.

[0016] The pillow may include padding means and at least one sheet, the padding means being substantially enclosed by the sheet or sheets. The padding means may be a synthetic material, such as nylon members or foam. The padding means may be a natural material, such as goose or duck down. The sheet or sheets may be cotton; the sheet or sheets may be polyester; the sheet or sheets may be a polyester-cotton mix.

[0017] The padding means may be removable from the sheet or sheets. The padding means may be one or more pads of padding material. Each pad may be insertable into and removable from a respective pocket defined by the sheet or sheets. Each pocket, together with the respective pad, may make up a respective section of the pillow. The padding means may be removably retained between the sheet or sheets. The padding means may be removably retained between the sheet or sheets by one or more flaps of material attached to, or integral with, one of the sheet or sheets. The flaps may be similar to those of a conventional pillow case for retaining a conventional pillow therein.

[0018] The padding means in juxtaposed pairs of sections of the pillow may be separated by a respective seam that joins opposite portions of the sheet or sheets therealong.

[0019] The sections may be substantially rectangular and may be substantially flat. Each section may be of substantially the same size. Each section may have substantially the same dimensions in planform as a conventional pillow.

[0020] Subsequent sections of the length of the pillow may be foldable in opposite directions, thereby giving the pillow a concertina-like appearance in the folded arrangement. Subsequent sections of the pillow may be foldable in the same direction, thereby giving the pillow a rolled-up appearance in the folded arrangement. A first group of subsequent sections may be foldable in alternate directions and a second group of subsequent sections may be foldable in the same direction, thereby giving one portion of the pillow an appearance that is concertina-like and another portion of the pillow an appearance that is rolled-up, in the folded arrangement.

[0021] The pillow may be arranged to be folded by folding substantially its entire length, or width, in half. The pillow may be further arranged to be folded in half a further or more times.

[0022] The pillow may be arranged to be folded such that at least some sections resemble pages of a book. For example, subsequent sections may be folded in opposite directions to achieve a concertina-like appearance and alternate pairs of sections may be provided with fixing means so as to be permanently or releasably attached, each alternate pair thereby forming a "leaf" of a notional "book" which may be turned relative to the other leaves of the book. The alternate pairs of sections may be permanently attached by being sewn together.

[0023] The pillow may include at least one pillow element, the pillow element including padding material and an outer layer, the padding material being at least partially enclosed by the outer layer. One or more pillow elements may include one or more of the specific features of the pillow as described hereinbefore. For example, the outer layer of the pillow element may be at least part of a pillow case arranged to receive and substantially enclose the rest of the pillow, ie the inner pillow.

[0024] The pillow may include a plurality of pillow elements. The pillow elements may be permanently or releasably attached to each other so that the pillow elements are mutually overlapping and adjacent. Preferably each pillow element is attached to each other pillow element along the seam between juxtaposed sections of each pillow element, the seams corresponding to a "spine" of the notional book. Preferably, the pillow elements are attached to each other by sewing. Preferably, each pillow element includes two sections.

[0025] The fixing means may include pairs of inter-engaging members, such as hook-and-loop type fasteners, press-studs, zips or buttons.

[0026] At least one pair of opposite and adjacent surfaces of opposite and adjacent sections of the folded arrangement may be provided with at least one pair of inter-engaging members, each inter-engaging member of the pair being provided on a respective opposite and adjacent surface such that the two of opposite and adjacent sections are releasably fixable to each other.

[0027] In some embodiments, only the two sections of the folded arrangement that are outermost are provided with fixing means, each of the two outermost sections being provided with at least one respective inter-engaging member, such that the two outermost sections are releasably fixable to each other, thereby sandwiching the other sections therebetween. The two sections that are outermost in the folded arrangement may be different to the two sections that are outermost in the unfolded arrangement.

[0028] The information that is displayed may be printed on one or more surface of the or each section. The information that is displayed may be embroidered on one or more surface of the or each section. The information that is displayed may be displayed on a member that is affixed to one or more surface of the or each section.

[0029] According to a third aspect of this invention there is provided a pillow case for receiving an inner pillow so as to form a pillow, the pillow case being arranged such that the inner pillow and the pillow case are foldable into a folded arrangement in which the pillow is usable for sleeping, wherein the pillow case includes fixing means arranged to releasably fix the inner pillow and the pillow case in the folded arrangement.

[0030] The optional features of the pillow described hereinbefore may also be optional features of the pillow case, it being understood that changes to the language of the optional features of the pillow may by necessary in order to achieve consistency with the language of the third aspect of this invention.

[0031] Specific pillows in which the invention is embodied are now described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first pillow in an unfolded arrangement;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first pillow in a partially folded arrangement;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the first pillow in a folded arrangement;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second pillow in another folded arrangement;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third pillow in a further folded arrangement; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sixth pillow comprised of three pillow elements in a partially folded arrangement.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a pillow 10. The pillow is substantially rectangular in planform, with a length that is approximately three times its width. The thickness of the pillow is less than that which is desirable for comfortable use. The pillow 10 is fabricated from a first sheet of cotton 20 and a second sheet of cotton 25 (not shown in Figure 1). The sheets 20,25 are positioned one on top of the other and mutually attached around their respective edges so as to enclose a volume. This volume is filled with duck down. To maintain a uniform thickness throughout the pillow 10, the pillow 10 is quilted.

[0033] The length of the pillow is made up of four substantially rectangular sections 30,40,50,60 arranged in a linear array, the length of each section being perpendicular to the length of the pillow. Each section 30,40,50,60 is of substantially the same planform dimensions as a conventional pillow. Between each juxtaposed pair of sections 30 and 40; 40 and 50; 50 and 60, the two sheets 20 are sewn together along a respective straight seam 35,45,55 that is substantially perpendicular to the length of the pillow 10. Each section has a first surface defined by a portion of the first sheet 20 and a second surface defined by a portion of the second sheet 25.

[0034] Each section 30,40,50,60 of the pillow 10 is provided with respective fixing means 32,42,52,62 on the one sheet 20. In this pillow, the fixing means 32,42,52,62 are strips of hook-and-loop type fasteners, but it is envisaged that press studs, buttons, zips and/or any other such fixing means may be used. Eight strips are sewn onto the first sheet 20, two on the first surface of each section 32,42,52,62, so that a respective strip is adjacent each shorter edge of each section 32,42,52,62. The two strips on the first surface of each of each of the two outermost sections 30,60 are to engage with the two strips on the first surface of the respective adjacent innermost sections 40,50. Accordingly, the strips on each of the outermost sections 30,60 are hook-type fasteners and the strips on each of the innermost sections 40,50 are loop-type fasteners. Although not shown in Figure 1, the pillow 10 is provided with further fixing means that are sewn onto the second sheet 25. The further fixing means are two further strips on the second surface of each of the two innermost sections 40,50, one strip being adjacent each shorter edge of each section 40,50. The two further strips of a first innermost section 40 are to engage the two further strips of the other innermost section 50. The two further strips of the first innermost section 40 are therefore hook-type fasteners; and the two further strips of the other innermost section 50 are therefore loop-type fasteners.

[0035] The first surface of each section 30,40,50,60 has an image printed thereon. It is envisaged that the image may be any image that would appeal to a child, such as a story that includes words and/or pictures, a nursery rhyme, or a song that includes lyrics and/or musical notation; or any image that would be of educational benefit to a child. Accordingly, in this embodiment each section has multiplication tables printed thereon. The image printed onto each section is shown schematically in Figure 1 by a respective shaded area 36,46,56,66.

[0036] The images 36,46,56,66 may be viewed in a number of ways. One way in which the images 36,46,56,66 may be viewed, is with the pillow in an unfolded arrangement as shown in Figure 1. In this arrangement any and all of the images 36,46,56,66 on the first surfaces of the sheets may be viewed. An alternative way in which the images 36,46,56,66 may be viewed is shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the pillow 10 in a partially folded arrangement, the other surfaces of each of the two innermost sections being placed in juxtaposition so that the further fixing means attached thereto are mutually engaged so as to maintain the two other surfaces of the two innermost sections 40,50 in juxtaposition. In this arrangement a first one of the two outermost sections 30 that is adjacent the first innermost section 40, the two innermost sections 40,50 taken together, and the other outermost section 60 constitute three "leaves" of a notional "book". Each of these leaves 30,40-50,60 may be turned relative to the other leaves allowing different ones of the images 36,46,56,66 to be viewed.

[0037] Although not a feature of this embodiment, and not shown in the drawings, the other surfaces of each of the sections 30,40,50,60 may also have a respective image printed thereon. In particular, it is envisaged that the other surfaces of each of the two outermost sections 30,60 may have a respective image printed thereon, these surfaces corresponding to a "front cover" and a "back cover" of the notional book.

[0038] When the pillow 10 is to be used as a pillow, rather than as a book, it is arranged as shown in Figure 3. This arrangement is similar to the partially folded arrangement described previously with reference to Figure 2, but further includes the first surfaces of the first outermost section 30 and the first innermost section 40 being in juxtaposition such that the respective fixing 32,42 means attached thereto are mutually engaged; and the first surfaces of the other outermost section 60 and the other innermost section 50 also being in juxtaposition such that the respective fixing means 52,62 attached thereto are mutually engaged. The overall effect is to cause the pillow 10 to be folded in a concertina-like manner.

[0039] In use, the pillow 10 may be folded and unfolded between the arrangement in which it is not folded as described previously with reference to Figure 1, the arrangement in which it is partially folded as described previously with reference to Figure 2, and the arrangement in which it is folded as described previously with reference to Figure 3.

[0040] Alternative pillows to that described above are also envisaged. One such pillow 100 is shown in Figure 4. The sections of this second pillow 100 are substantially the same as those of the first pillow 10 described above, the principal difference being in the way in which they are folded. The sections 130,140,150,160 of the second pillow 100 are each for folding in the same direction so as to give the second pillow 100 a rolled-up arrangement as shown in Figure 4. In this arrangement, the first surface of the first outermost section 130 is juxtaposed with the first surface of the first innermost section 40. These two surfaces are therefore provided with mutually engaging fixing means. For example, one of these surfaces is provided with hook-type fixing means and the other is provided with loop-type fixing means. The other surface of the first outermost section 130 is juxtaposed with the first surface of the other innermost section 150, the two surfaces being provided with mutually engaging fixing means. The other surface of the first innermost section 140 is juxtaposed with the first surface of the other outermost section 160, the two surfaces being provided with mutually engaging fixing means. In this arrangement, the second pillow 100 has the appearance of being rolled-up.

[0041] A third pillow 200 is shown in Figure 5. The sections of this third pillow 200 are also substantially the same as those of the first pillow 10 described above, the principal difference, again, being in the way in which they are folded, and hence in relation to the fixing means. The first outermost section 230 and the first innermost section 240 are both for folding in the same direction. The other innermost section 250 is for folding in the opposite direction. In this arrangement the first surface of the first outermost section 230 is juxtaposed with the first surface of the first innermost section 240. These two surfaces are therefore provided with mutually engaging fixing means. For example, one of these surfaces is provided with hook-type fixing means and the other is provided with loop-type fixing means. The other surface of the first outermost section 230 is juxtaposed with the first surface of the other innermost section 250, the two surfaces being provided with mutually engaging fixing means. The other surface of the other innermost section 250 is juxtaposed with the other surface of the other outermost section 260, the two surfaces being provided with mutually engaging fixing means. In this arrangement, the third pillow 200 has the appearance of being partly rolled-up and partly folded like a concertina.

[0042] It is also envisaged that an inner pillow with no fixing means may be provided. A pillow case may be provided that receives and closely covers the inner pillow, thereby making up a pillow. The pillow case may be fabricated from two rectangular pillow case sheets, each pillow case sheet lying over a respective one of the sheets of the inner pillow. Each pillow case sheet would preferably be joined to the other pillow case sheet along three of its edges, the fourth edge being left unjoined to allow removal of the pillow case from the inner pillow. The fixing means of the pillows of the previously described embodiments would be provided on the pillow case sheets so as to allow folding of the pillow as previously described. It will be appreciated that a pillow case is advantageous in reducing soiling of the inner pillow.

[0043] A fourth pillow (not shown) which may be folded into any of the aforementioned arrangements is also envisaged. Both surfaces of each section are provided with two strips of hook-and-look type fasteners, one strip being adjacent each shorter edge of each section and on both surfaces of each section so that there are sixteen strips in total. Each strip is a selected combination of both hook-type fasteners and loop-type fasteners so that any strip will engage any other strip if the two are pressed together.

[0044] In a fifth pillow (not shown) only two of the sections may be provided with fixing means. If the fifth pillow is folded so as to be in a concertina-like arrangement or in a rolled-up arrangement, only the two sections that are outermost when the fifth pillow is so folded may be provided with mutually engaging fixing means. It will be appreciated that this would be sufficient to maintain the fifth pillow in the arrangement in which it is folded. Alternatively, the third pillow 200 described previously with reference to Figure 5 may be maintained in its folded arrangement either by fixing means provided on the two sections that are outermost when the third pillow 200 is folded (as just described) or by fixing means provided on the first outermost section 230 and other outermost section 260 of the further third 200 as not folded. To facilitate the engagement of the fixing means, each fixing means may be provided on a respective flap of material attached along a respective shorter edge of the respective section. Many known fixing means would be suitable for such a pillow, for example zips, press studs, buttons, or hook-and-loop type fasteners.

[0045] It is also envisaged that the different folding arrangements of the pillows described above may be used to create different composite images by placing two or more images, each image displayed on a respective section, side-by-side. The respective image on each section may be a body part of an animal or of a person so that folding a pillow so as to place difference sections, and hence different images, side-by-side results is the production of different composite images made up of unusual combinations of animal body parts, for example a composite image made up of an image of a pig's head on one section and an image of a frog's body on another section.

[0046] Figure 6 shows a sixth pillow 300 that includes three pillow elements 310,320,330. The three pillow elements 310,320,330 are similar to each other and so for brevity, only one 310 of the pillow elements 310,320,330 will be described in detail. The pillow element 310 is substantially rectangular in planform and is of a thickness that is less than that which is desirable for comfortable use of the sixth pillow 300. The pillow element 310 includes a pillow case 312 and padding means (not shown). The pillow case 312 is made from two rectangular sheets 314,316 sewn together along three edges so as to leave an opening along the fourth edge, the fourth edge running the length of the pillow case 312. The padding means is comprised of two rectangular pads (not shown) of padding material, such as foam. The rectangular pillow case 312 is divided into two pockets 312a,312b by a seam 314 running from the middle of the fourth edge to the middle of the edge opposite thereto, each pocket 312a,312b corresponding to a section of the pillow element 310. Each of the two rectangular pads is situated within a respective one of the pockets 312a,312b and is releasably retained therein by a respective flap of material sewn onto the inside of the pocket. Such flaps are to be found on conventional pillow cases.

[0047] The three pillow elements 310,320,330 are mutually arranged so as to be adjacent and overlapping, with two pillow elements 310, 330 being outermost and sandwiching the other, middle, pillow element 320. The pillow elements 310,320,330 are attached to one another by a series of stitches through the seam of each pillow element 310,320,330. Thus, the sixth pillow 300 has the appearance of a notional "book", each section of one of the three pillow elements 310,320,330 constituting a "leaf" of the book and the seams of the pillow elements 310,320,330 corresponding to the "spine" of the book.

[0048] Each section of each of the three pillow elements 310,320,330 includes fixing means, which in this case are press studs 340. The outermost pillow elements 310,330 each include four male press studs, each press stud adjacent a respective corner on the side of each of the two outermost pillow elements 310,330 adjacent the middle pillow element 320. The middle pillow element 320 includes eight female press studs, each adjacent a respective corner on both sides of the middle pillow element 320. The press studs are arrange such that when the leaves of the book are closed, each female press stud lines-up with a respective male press stud. This allows the sections of the sixth pillow 300 to be mutually affixed, thereby fixing the sixth pillow 300 in a folded-up arrangement in which the sixth pillow 300 is useable for sleeping and that corresponds to "closing" the book. It is envisaged that the sections of the pillow elements 310,320,330 may also include printed information as described hereinbefore and that the book may be "opened" from the folded-up arrangement in order to view this information.

Claims

1. A pillow that is foldable into a folded arrangement in which the pillow is usable for sleeping, wherein the pillow has information displayed thereon.

2. A pillow according to claim 1, wherein the pillow includes fixing means arranged to releasably fix the pillow in the folded arrangement.

3. A pillow according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the information that is displayed includes literary information, such as a poem, a nursery rhyme, a story or multiplication table, and/or wherein the information that is to be displayed includes pictures.

4. A pillow according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, the information that is displayed is of an educational nature.

5. A pillow according to any proceeding claim, wherein the pillow is arranged to be folded such that at least some sections thereof resemble pages of a book.

6. A pillow according to any proceeding claim, wherein the pillow includes padding means and at least one sheet, the padding means being insertable into and removable from the sheet or sheets and being substantially enclosed by the sheet or sheets when inserted therein.

7. A pillow according to claim 6, wherein the padding means is one or more pads of padding material, each pad being insertable into and removable from a respective pocket defined by the sheet or sheets, wherein each pocket, together with the respective pad makes up a respective section of the pillow, the pillow being foldable between the sections such that, in the folded arrangement, the sections constitute substantially parallel and overlapping layers.

8. A pillow according to any one of claim 5 to claim 7, wherein subsequent sections of the length of the pillow are foldable in opposite directions, thereby giving the pillow a concertina-like appearance in the folded arrangement, and/or subsequent sections of the pillow are foldable in the same direction thereby giving the pillow a rolled-up appearance in the folded arrangement.

9. A pillow according to claim 8, wherein subsequent sections are folded in opposite directions to achieve a concertina-like appearance and alternate pairs of sections are provided with fixing means so as to be permanently or releasably attached, each alternate pair thereby forming a "leaf" of a notional book which can be turned relative to the other leaves of the book.

10. A pillow according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pillow includes at least one pillow element, the or each pillow element including padding material and an outer layer, the padding material being at least partially enclosed by the outer layer.

11. A pillow according to claim 10, wherein there is a plurality of pillow elements which are permanently or releasably attached to each other so that the pillow elements are mutually overlapping and adjacent, attachment being along an edge of each element such that those edges collectively constitute a "spine" of a notional book and each element constitutes a "leaf" of a notional book.

12. A pillow according to any one of claim 2 to claim 11, wherein the fixing means includes pairs of inter-engaging members, the inter-engaging members being hook-and-loop type fasteners, press-studs, zips or buttons.

13. A pillow according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the pillow includes a pillow case and the pillow case includes the fixing means and has displayed thereon the information that is to be displayed.

14. A pillow case for use with an inner pillow, the pillow case and the inner pillow together forming a pillow according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the pillow case includes the fixing means and has displayed thereon the information that is to be displayed.

Drawing