US20200237123A1

US20200237123A1 - Rollable Pillow and Furling Method Thereof

Info

Publication number: US20200237123A1
Application number: US16/848,790
Authority: US
Inventors: Liling Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-01-18
Filing date: 2020-04-14
Publication date: 2020-07-30

Abstract

A rollable pillow includes an elongated pillow body and a constriction assembly. The pillow body has a first end portion, a second end portion and a main body extended between the first end portion and the second end portion. The pillow body is normally extended in a closed position to form an arc-shaped support structure and able to be rolled up and furled to a furled condition to form a furled spiral structure. The constriction assembly includes an extensible constriction member arranged at a first predetermined position of an outer side of the pillow body and a first joining member arranged at a second predetermined position of the outer side of the pillow body such that the constriction member is able to be extended to connect with the first joining member to constrict the pillow body in the furled condition so as to retain the rollable pillow in the furled spiral structure.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-In-Part application that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to a non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 16/251,096, filed Jan. 18, 2019, which is a non-provisional application that claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to a China application number CN201811248354.2, filed on Oct. 25, 2018, and a China application number CN201821739645.7, filed on Oct. 25, 2018, which are incorporated herewith by references in their entities.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the united states patent and trademark office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to pillow, and more particularly to a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein the rollable pillow can be unfurled to function as an elongated cushion pillow, a curved neck pillow, and etc., and conveniently furled to a compact size that is convenient for a user to carry and store.

Description of Related Arts

Neck pillows are common portable instruments in our daily lives in various occasions, such as while taking a snore or resting in office, driving or travelling in car, or travelling in airplane. The neck pillow substantially and effectively helps the user to well support his or her neck in proper position and reduce the fatigue of his or her neck.
The conventional neck pillows are usually made of elastic materials, such as EVA and memory foam materials, that when a pressure is applied to a position, the shape of that position will be deformed elastically and correspondingly and return to its original shape shortly after the applied force is remove. In order to meet the essential neck support need, the neck pillow is usually constructed to have a predetermined structure, such as a U-shaped or C-shaped structure, with relative size and volume.
The neck pillow may be needed by a user at anytime and anywhere. For example, in the office, when the user feels tired after a long period of working time in sitting position, the neck pillow can be placed on the user's shoulder around his or her neck to help the user to support his or her neck for a short break in a sitting state to eliminate neck fatigue. Also, while travelling by car or by airplane, people are usually limited to in an upright sitting position, so the user's neck has to be maintained a posture for a long time. When the user wants to have a reset, the upright sitting position results in a greater pressure suffered by the neck. Therefore, during the travelling, the user can place the neck pillow on the shoulder around his or her neck to withstand and share the pressure suffered by the neck. That is to say, it is desired for people that the neck pillow can be used anytime or be placed within reach that it can be conveniently and quickly taken for use, rather than being stored by a complicated method or being stored in a bag or suitcase with multiple packaging layers.
The conventional neck pillow is usually on sale or packed in its original U-shape or C-shape, i.e. an unfolded state. In other words, the conventional neck pillow is designed to be continuously maintained in the unfolded state that has a relatively large size and volume, which is not convenient for the user to carry and store while it also occupy a relatively large space. Due to inconvenient placement, the user sometimes has to place the neck pillow around his or her neck all the time for ease of use, for example, while going to take the train or the airplane, the user has to walk with the neck pillow around the neck in the station or airport, which is a hindrance and troublesome to the user.
Due to bulky size of the neck pillow, it takes up much space if the user would like to carry and store the neck pillow in his or her carrying bag or backpack. In some occasions, the user may try to squash and compress the elastic material made neck pillow to a smaller size by, for example, squeezing into a smaller pocket or container so as to reduce the size and volume of the neck pillow while it is not use for ease of carrying and storage. However, the neck pillow after removed from pocket or container takes a pretty long time to recover to its original size and volume for use and the user has to find a place to store the pocket or container when the neck pillow is in use too. The extra effort and time consumed in squeezing and squashing the neck pillow in the smaller pocket or container is the main reason that most of the users would like to simply carry the neck pillow on the shoulder or hang the neck pillow to a carrying bag or backpack externally.
However, to carrying the neck pillow outside the luggage, carrying bag or backpack renders the neck pillow to be contaminated and smudged easily that it is not sanitation to the user while the user has to mount the neck pillow around his or her neck which is so close to his or her mouth and nose when it is in use. As mentioned above, because the shape of the neck pillow is relatively irregular and has a three-dimensional structure, the neck pillow is not easily to be stored as a regular object or a flat object in the carrying bag or backpack. It is a great desire to all users to find a suitable way to carry and store the neck pillow efficiently, quickly and hygienically while minimizing the storage space thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein the rollable pillow can be quickly and efficiently rolled up to a furled state for carrying and storage that can be unfolded to an unfurled normal state automatically and quickly for use as a cushion pillow or neck pillow too.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein the rollable pillow can be rolled and furled from a normal extending form in an unfurled state to a curled form in a furled state and maintained in a stable furled state based on a form generated after being rolled up by means of a simple and effective constriction assembly.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein the rollable pillow can be furled to a generally circular shape body with a compact size in a stable condition, which is convenient to carry and store.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein the rollable pillow can be rolled up from its normal extending form in U-shape or C-shape with an annular enclosing room surrounded therein to a constricted compact body in the furled sate so as to sufficiently reduce its overall size for saving the storage space therefor be occupied.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein the rollable pillow can maintain its constricted compact body in a furled state that can directly resist its releasing elastic force through a constriction force applied to an outer side of the rollable pillow in the furled state, so as to make the furled state be a stable condition for ease of carrying and storage.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein the rollable pillow is rolled up along a curling direction during the normal extending form thereof to avoid causing any damage to its original usage form.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein after the rollable pillow is rolled and furled to its furled state, the rollable pillow is constricted from two opposite directions at the outer side thereof to form a constricted compact body in the furled state.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein, in one embodiment, the furling method of the rollable pillow is started from an end of the rollable pillow and then rolled and furled towards the other end of the rollable pillow until the rollable pillow is rolled and furled into a furled state. Thereafter, the constricted compact body of the rollable pillow in the furled state can be constricted towards two opposite ends thereof so as to pull the end during constriction to further furl the rollable pillow more tightly.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein during its unfurled state in normal extending form, the two ends of the rollable pillow can be connected to form a ring shape defining an annular enclosing room therearound, so that the rollable pillow can be worn stably around the user's neck, wherein the size of the annular enclosing room defined within the ring shaped rollable pillow can be adjusted to be smaller to better fit the user's neck by adjusting a distance between the two ends of the rollable pillow by fastening the two ends of the rollable pillow further towards each other.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein the furled rollable pillow in furled state can be released to return to its unfurled state in an opening condition for use simply by releasing the constriction force applied to the rollable pillow in the furled state, that is convenient in use.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a rollable pillow and furling method thereof, wherein in one embodiment, a constriction assembly of the rollable pillow is arranged in a hidden manner, so that no extra component will be exposed on a surface of the rollable pillow.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a rollable pillow, which comprises:
an elongated pillow body having a first end portion and a second end portion and comprising a main body extended between the first end and the second end, wherein the main body has an inner side and an outer side, wherein the pillow body is normally extended in an unfurled state and is configured to be rolled and furled to a furled state; and
a constriction assembly, which comprises a joining member and a constriction member arranged at the pillow body in such a manner that the second end portion is able to be rolled and furled inwardly along the inner side of the pillow body towards the first end portion of the pillow body to the furled state, forming a constricted compact body, that the joining member is able to be connected with the constriction member so as to apply a constriction force along two opposition directions to constrict and maintain the pillow body in the furled state
In one embodiment, the constriction assembly comprises a first joining member provided at the first end portion of the pillow body, a second joining member provided at the second end portion of the pillow body configured for connecting with the first joining member in the unfurled state, and a constriction member provided at a predetermined position of the outer side of the main body of the pillow body, such that the second end portion is able to be rolled and furled inwardly along the inner side of the pillow body towards the first end portion of the pillow body to the furled state, forming a constricted compact body, that the first joining member is able to be connected with the constriction member so as to apply a constriction force between the first end portion of the pillow body and the outer side of the main body of the pillow body so as to constrict and maintain the pillow body in the furled state.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view a rollable pillow in an unfurled state while in an open extending form according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the rollable pillow in the unfurled state while in a ring shape form according to the above first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a schematic view of the rollable pillow in a furled state according to the above first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the rollable pillow in the furled state according to the above first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a furling process of the rollable pillow according to the above first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrating a unfurling process of the rollable pillow according to the above first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are respectively schematic views illustrating usage methods of the rollable pillow according to the above first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a second usage method of the rollable pillow according to the above first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an alternative carrying method of the rollable pillow according to the above first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view a rollable pillow during an opened condition in an unfurled state according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the rollable pillow during a closed condition in the unfurled state according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7C is a schematic view of the rollable pillow in a furled state according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7D is a side view of the rollable pillow according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7E is a rear view of the rollable pillow according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7F is a perspective view of the rollable pillow according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7G is a side view of the rollable pillow when it is worn on the neck of a user illustrating a front and a side support performance of the rollable pillow according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7H is a rear view of the rollable pillow when it is worn on the neck of a user illustrating a rear support performance of the rollable pillow according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a furling process of the rollable pillow according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an unfurling process of the rollable pillow according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rollable pillow according to a first alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rollable pillow illustrating an extended state of a constriction assembly of the rollable pillow according to the first alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partial view of the rollable pillow according to the first alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention, illustrating the constriction assembly and the reception pocket.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the rollable pillow in the furled state according to the first alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a rollable pillow according to a second alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the rollable pillow in a furled state according to the second alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a rollable pillow according to a third alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 17A illustrates a furling process of the rollable pillow according to the third alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 17B illustrates another furling process of the rollable pillow according to the third alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a rollable pillow in an unfurled state according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of the rollable pillow in the furled sate according to the above third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a rollable pillow according to a first alternative mode of the above third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a rollable pillow according to a second alternative mode of the above third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22A illustrates a first furling process of the rollable pillow according to the second alternative mode of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22B illustrates a second furling process of the rollable pillow according to the second alternative mode of the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure of the present invention, terminologies of “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “upper,” “front,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “perpendicular,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” and etc. that indicate relations of directions or positions are based on the relations of directions or positions shown in the appended drawings, which are only to facilitate descriptions of the present invention and to simplify the descriptions, rather than to indicate or imply that the referred device or element is limited to the specific direction or to be operated or configured in the specific direction. Therefore, the above-mentioned terminologies shall not be interpreted as confine to the present invention.
Referring to the FIG. 1A to FIG. 6, a rollable pillow 100 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The rollable pillow 100 comprises an elongated pillow body 110 and a constriction assembly 120, wherein the constriction assembly 120 is arranged at the pillow body 110 for constricting the shape and form of the pillow body 110.
The pillow body 110 is an elongated body having a first end portion 111, a second end portion 112, and comprising a main body 113 which is extended between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 and has an inner side 1131 and an outer side 1132.
The rollable pillow 100 is able to be extended in an unfurled state having a normal extending form in an opening condition 101, wherein the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 are extended at opposite directions and located away from each other, as shown in FIG. 1A. The rollable pillow 100 is also able to be curved to a closed condition 102, as shown in FIG. 1B, wherein the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 are bent to be positioned adjacent to each other to form the closed condition, wherein rollable pillow 100 is in C-shape for wearing on the user's shoulder around his or her neck. As shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, when the rollable pillow 100 is not in use, the pillow body 100 can be furled to a furled state, wherein the first end portion 111 is rolled and furled around the second end portion 112 spirally in a furled condition 103 to form a constricted compact body for ease of carrying and storage. The rollable pillow 100 can be extended or furled between the opening condition 101, the closed condition 102 and the furled condition 103 to adapt to different usage needs.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pillow body 110 can be an air filled body or a solid body preferred to be made of elastic and flexible material, such as EVA or foam material, to facilitate bending and deformation to the opening condition 101, the closed condition 102 or the furled condition 103, and to be suitable for contacting and touching with a body part of the human body comfortably. Preferably, the pillow body 110 can also be made of elastic flexible material, such as memory foam, so that the pillow body 110 can automatically recover its original form and shape after the deformation force applied thereon is released.
According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pillow body 110 is made of hydrophilic cotton, so that the rollable pillow 100 of the present invention is lighter in weight and better in elasticity, and is also convenient for carrying and furling. More specifically, the pillow body 110 may include an outer sleeve pocket and an inner core body configured to be detachably placed and filled in the outer sleeve pocket to form the pillow body 110. The inner core body can be made of hydrophilic cotton, latex or polyurethane.
According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner side 1131 and the outer side 1132 of the main body 113 are generally extended parallelly, wherein in the opening condition 101, the inner side 1131 and the outer side 1132 are extended substantially and linearly to form an elongated linear support structure 104 as a cushion pillow, as shown in FIG. 1A, specially adapted for linear support for a user U, such as lying temporarily and lying prone with a support of arms while using laptop, as shown in FIG. 4B, or placing between a back rest of a chair and a lower back of the user U to function as a waist cushion support, as shown in FIG. 4A. In the closed state, the inner side 1131 and the outer side 1132 are bended towards each other to form an arc support structure 105 as a neck pillow, as shown in FIG. 1B, adapted for supporting a specific body part of the user U, such as his or her neck. As shown in FIG. 5, when the rollable pillow 100 is used as a neck pillow, the inner side 1131 of the pillow body 110 worn around the neck of the user U is adapted for contacting with the body part, i.e. the neck, of the user U, and the outer side 1132 is facing outside. In one embodiment, in order to roll and furl the rollable pillow 100 of the present invention to the furled condition 103, i.e. in a furled state, one of the first and second end portions 111, 112 is rolled and furled towards the other end portion, wherein the outer side 1132 of the pillow body 113 is rolled up along the inner side 1131 to form a furled spiral structure 106 as shown in FIG. 1C, wherein constriction assembly 120 is configured selectively for constricting and maintaining the furled spiral structure 106 of pillow body 110, i.e. the rollable pillow 100 in the furled state.
In particular, in the furled condition 103, the pillow body 110 is furled up to the furled spiral structure 106 for ease of carrying and storage, wherein, as shown in FIG. 2, the pillow body 110 is converted from its extending form, in the opening condition 101, with a relatively larger size and volume to its furled spiral structure 106, in the furled condition 103, with a relatively smaller compact size and volume for convenient carrying and storage, as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 6. In the closed state 102, an entrance 1101 is formed between the first end portion 111 and the second 112 of the pillow body 110, and the inner side 1131 of the main body 113 defines an annular enclosing room 1102 to surround the body part, such as the neck, of the user U, as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 5. In other words, in the furled condition 103, one of the first and second end portions 111, 112 of the rollable pillow 100 in the normal extending form is rolled to be furled the other end portion 111, 112 so as to roll the outer side 1132 of the main body 113 of the pillow body 110 along and in contact with the inner side 1131 of the main body 113 of the pillow body 110 so as to eliminate the annular enclosing room 1102 to reduce the overall size of the rollable pillow 100 to form a constricted compact body as shown in FIGS. 1C, 1D, 2 and 6 to sufficiently reduce the space occupied while storing in a carrying bag or backpack.
The constriction assembly 120 is arranged for constricting the pillow body 110 in the furled condition 103, i.e. in the furled state, as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, or alternatively, in one embodiment, maintaining the pillow body 110 in the closed condition 102 as shown in FIG. 1B. According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the constriction assembly 120 comprises a constriction member 121, a first joining member 122 and a second joining member 123, wherein the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 are both embodied as being provided at the first end portion 111 of the pillow body 110 and the second joining member 123 is embodied to be provided at the second end portion 111 of the pillow body 110.
According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIGS. 1A to 2, the constriction member 121 is embodied as a male connector such as a male buckle, a magnetic fastener or a hook fastener and connected with the first end portion 111 through an extensible constriction strap 124 having a proximal end 1241 attached to the first end portion 111 and a distal end 1241 coupling through the constriction member 121 in such a manner that the constriction member 121 can be selectively mounted at any position between the proximal end 1241 and the distal end 1242, so as to adjust and control a length of the portion of the constriction strap 124 between the first end portion 111 and the constriction member 121, i.e. the distance between the first end portion 111 and the constriction member 121. The first joining member 122 is embodied as female connector such as a female buckle, a magnetic fastener or a loop fastener attached to the first end portion 111 via a first connecting strap 124′, and the second joining member 123 is also embodied as a female connector such as a female buckle, a magnetic fastener or a loop fastener attached to the second end portion 112 via a second connecting strap 124″, wherein the first and second joining member 122, 123 are each arranged and adapted to be joined, connected or fastened with the constriction member 121 selectively.
Accordingly, when pillow body 110 of the rollable pillow 100 is in the furled condition 103, as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, the second end portion 112 with the second joining member 123 provided thereat is rolled up and furled inwardly until the pillow body 110 is furled to a constricted compact body, wherein the constriction member 121 is moved closer to the distal end 1241 of the constriction strap 124 to extend the length of the portion of the constriction strap 124 between the constriction member 121 and the first end portion 111 for circling around the furled compact body of the pillow body 110 along the outer side 1132 thereof until reaching the first joining member 122, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 2, so that the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 provided at the first end portion 111 of the pillow body 110 can be connected and jointed together, such as by connecting the male connector of the constriction member 121 with the female connector of the first joining member 122, so as to constrict the pillow body 110 to maintain in its furled compact body, i.e. in the furled state, while the constriction strap 124 is extended and tightened around the furled compact body of the pillow body 110 towards two opposite directions to a closed constricting form 1201, wherein the furled spiral structure 106 of the pillow body 110 is constricted and maintained, as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, so as to stably maintain the furled condition 103 of the pillow body 110 for ease of storing in a carrying bag, backpack or etc. It is worth mentioning that the tightness of furled spiral structure 106 of the pillow body 110 can be controlled by adjusting the length of portion of the constriction strap 124 extending between the constriction member 121 and the first end portion 111, wherein the connection of the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 as well as the wrapping of the constriction strap 124 substantially hold the furled pillow body 110 in position and prevent the pillow body 110 being released from the furled state back to its unfurled normal state.
The rollable pillow 100 further comprises a holding member 125 provided at either the first end portion 111 or the second end portion 112, so that the user may also attach the rollable pillow 100 in furled state to the user's carrying bag or backpack as shown in FIG. 6 that it is ready for use anytime.
Further, when a user U likes to use the rollable pillow 100 of the present invention, the user U may simply release the connection between the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121, as shown in FIG. 3, the furled pillow body 110 is able to recover its original shape, i.e. the extending normal form, due to the release of the constriction force applied through the constriction strap 124 from the two opposite directions, wherein the user may place the pillow body 110 in the opening condition 101 at predetermined position for use as a cushion pillow, such as on his or her lap for supporting arms while using laptop, as shown in FIG. 4B. When the user U would like to use the rollable pillow 100 as a neck pillow, the user U may wear the pillow body 110 around his or her neck, and then the first joining member 122 provided at the first end portion 111 thereof can be jointed and connected with the second joining member 123 provided at the second end portion 112 thereof so as to retain the C-shape or U-shape of the pillow body 110 and constrict the pillow body 110 in the closed condition 102, as shown in FIG. 5.
It is worth to further mention that, according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the user U would like to reduce the size and volume of the rollable pillow 100 for carrying or storage, the user U may simply roll the pillow body 110 up to form the furled spiral structure 106, so that the furled spiral structure 106 of the pillow body 110 is tightly furled in the furled condition 103. At this time, the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 are extended towards two opposite directions along the outer side 1132 of the main body 113 of the pillow body 110 and surround the pillow body 110 in the furled spiral structure 106 to ensure its relatively small and compact size and volume in the furled condition 103.
As mentioned above, the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121, which are extended towards two opposite directions along the outer side 1132, as well as the second joining member 123 may be embodied as a variety of joining members which are suitable for maintaining the furled spiral structure 106, such as button members, loop and hook fasteners, buckles, snap buttons, magnetic buckles, and insertion buckles. Preferably, the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 or the second joining member 123 are embodied as a set of insertion buckle members, wherein the constriction member 121 is embodied as the male buckle member and the first joining member 122 and the second joining member 123 are embodied as the female buckle members. The constriction assembly 120 further comprises the extensible constriction strap 124, wherein the first joining member 122 or the constriction member 121 is arranged to be connected with the first end portion 111 through the constriction strap 124. The first joining member 122 or the constriction member 121 is arranged in a manner that the first joining member 122 or the constriction member 121 can be extended by adjusting the length of the constriction strap 124, so as to adjust a tightness of the constriction. If the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 are embodied as a pair of insertion buckle members, when the pillow body 110 is required to be maintained in its furled condition 103, the user U just needs to connect first joining member 122 embodied as a female insertion buckle member to the constriction member 121 embodied as a male insertion buckle member so as to constrict the rollable pillow 100 in the furled state by inserting the male insertion buckle member 121 into the female insertion buckle member 122. Alternatively, the first joining member 122 and the second joining member 123 can be embodied as the male insertion buckle members and the constriction member 121 can be embodied as the female insertion buckle member so that the first and second joining members 122, 123 can each be inserted into the constriction member 121. Accordingly, by fastening the insertion buckle members, i.e. the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121, the furled pillow body 110 can maintain its furled spiral structure 106, i.e. in the furled condition 103, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 2, without complex operation process. When the user U needs to release the furled spiral structure 106 of the pillow body 110, the user U only needs to gently press an insertion end of the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 is automatically separated from the constriction member 121, so that the pillow body 110, that is made of memory foam material, is naturally stretched due to its own elasticity without extra manual operation. In addition, in order to open and release the furled spiral structure 106 of the rollable pillow 100 if the pillow body 110 is made of cotton material or memory foam, the user U may simply perform a simple operation as shown in FIG. 3 to open up the pillow body 110 from the furled condition 103 back to its opening condition 101.
The constriction assembly 120 can be arranged at any suitable position where the constriction assembly 120 can constrict the furled spiral structure 106 of the rollable pillow 100 in the furled state. In the first preferred embodiment, the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 of the constriction assembly 120 are preferred to be arranged adjacent to the first end portion 111 of the pillow body 110. According to the first preferred embodiment, the constriction assembly 120 is arranged at the first end portion 111 of the pillow body 110, wherein the first end portion 111 is extended from the outer side 1132 towards the inner side 1131 of the pillow body 110, as shown in FIG. 1A. In other words, the first end portion 111 is inclindedly extended from the outer side 1132 towards the inner side 1131 of the main body 113 of the pillow body 110, so that during the furling of the pillow body 110, a pull of the constriction assembly 120 will further constrict the furled spiral structure 106 to form a smaller size and volume of the furled spiral structure 106. In addition, when the pillow body 110 is in the closed condition 102, as shown in FIG. 1B, the pulling force applied by the constriction assembly 120 to the first end portion 111 may help to prevent the pillow body 110 from returning to the opening condition 101 due to the elasticity of the pillow body 110. Preferably, the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 of constriction assembly 120 are provided at the first end portion 111 closed to an adjacent end of the outer side 1132, so that when the pillow body 110 is in the furled condition 103, the constriction assembly 120 is adapted for constricting the pillow body 110 in the furled state, wherein both the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 apply pulling forces in two opposite directions at a joint force point of the first end portion 111 by the constriction assembly 120, which is adjacent to the outer side 1132, so that the rollable pillow 100 can be wholly compressed and furled inwardly from the outer side 1132.
It is worth mentioning that, when the rollable pillow 100 is in the furled state, the outer side 1132 of the main body 113 is furled with the furled pillow body 110 along the inner side 1131 of the main body 113 to form the stable furled spiral structure 106. It is appreciated that the constriction assembly 120 substantially constricts the furled spiral structure 106 of the pillow body 110, wherein a curly form defined by outer side 1132 is constricted and a constriction direction is substantially in an uniform plane with an extending direction of the first end portion 111. Therefore, the constriction assembly 120 directly limits and resists the rebounding elastic force generated by the stretching of the pillow body 110 to ensure its furled spiral structure 106 in a stable furled state to avoid the rollable pillow 100 be carried or stored with irregular shape due to unbalanced force that may cause unexpected inconvenience to the user U.
In one embodiment, the constriction assembly 120 may only comprise the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 which are provided at one of the two end portions 111, 112 of the pillow body 110 for constricting the furled condition of the pillow body 110.
In one embodiment, the constriction assembly 120 may only comprise the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 which are provided at a predetermined position along the outer side 1132 of the pillow body 110 for constricting the furled condition of the pillow body 110, as illustrated in FIG. 16, by extending the constriction strap 124 to cycle around the furled pillow body 110 until the constriction member 121 connected to the constriction strap 124 reaching and connecting with the first joining member 122.
According to the first preferred embodiment, the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 of the constriction assembly 120 are arranged at the same position at the first end portion 111, which are adapted for constricting the furled condition 103 of the pillow body 110 in the furled state as shown in FIG. 1C , and that the second joining member 123 is provided at the second end portion 112 adapted for connecting with the constriction member 121 to retain the closed condition 102 as shown in FIG. 1B.
According to an alternative mode of the first preferred embodiment, the constriction member 121 and the second joining member 123 are provided at the first and second end portions 111, 112 respectively, and the first joining member 122 is provided at a predetermined position along the outer side 1132 of the pillow body 110, so that after the second end portion 112 is rolled up along the inner side 1131 for furling the pillow body 110 to the furled condition 103, the constriction member 121 can reach the first joining member 122 provided at the outer side 1132 of the pillow body 110 by adjusting the length of the portion of the constriction strap 124 between the constriction member 121 and the first end portion 111 and connect with the first joining member 122 so as to constrict the furled pillow body 110 in the furled state, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.
According to the first preferred embodiment, the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 are coupled in a manner that the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 are extended in opposite directions so as to form a substantially closed annular structure while constricting the pillow body 110 in the furled condition 103.
According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 can both be arranged at the first end portion 111 through the constriction strap 124 and the first connecting strap 124′ respectively. In order to ensure the furled pillow body 110 in the furled condition 103 after the pillow body 110 is rolled up and furled to form the furled condition 103, the constriction strap 124 connected to the constriction member 121 and the first connecting strap 124′ of the first joining member 122 are operated to extend along the outer side 1132 of the pillow body 110 in opposite directions until the constriction member 121 reaches the first joining member 122 and connected with the first joining member 122 to form a closed constricting structure 1201 as shown in FIG. 1C. For example, but not limited, the first joining member 122 and the short first connecting strap 124 connected thereto are extended in front of the first end portion 111, and the constriction strap 124 is extended around the outer side 1132 of the furled pillow body 110 towards an opposite direction until the constriction member 121 is able to be connected with the first joining member 122 while the extended constriction strap 124 substantially wraps around the furled pillow body 110 to constrict the furled condition 103 of the pillow body 110 so as to retain the rollable pillow 100 in the furled state.
In other words, the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 can be attached to the first end portion 111 through a shorter strap, the first connecting strap 124′, and an elongated strap, the constriction strap 124, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, according to the above first preferred embodiment, or alternatively with only one constriction strap as mentioned in the above paragraph to simplify the manufacturing process. It is worth mentioning that, no matter the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 are arranged at the first end portion 111 through two straps, the constriction strap 124 and the first connecting strap 124′, or through only one strap by affixing at the affixing position of the strap to the first end portion 111 to divide it into the portion as the first connecting strap 124′ and the portion as the constriction strap 124, it is preferred both the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122 are fixed at the same position of the first end portion 111 so that the force points of the first joining member 122 and the force of the constriction member 121 are at the same position. Therefore, when the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 are pulled and extended in two opposite directions from the same position until the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 are connected while the constriction strap 124 constricts around the furled pillow body 110, the whole circumference of the outer side 1132 of the furled spiral structure 106 can suffer a direct constriction force. In other words, the constriction strap 124, the constriction member 121, the first connecting strap 124′, and the first joining member 122 form a circular constriction means that wraps and constricts around the whole circumference of the furled pillow body 110 in 360 degrees for applying an even inward radially constriction force to compress and constrict the furled pillow body 110 to retain its furled condition 103, where the stronger the constriction force, the smaller the size and volume of the rollable pillow 100 in the furled state, as shown in FIG. 1C, FIG. 7C and FIG. 13, due to the elasticity of the material of the pillow body 110.
Alternatively, the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 can be attached to the first end portion 111 of the pillow body 110 by means of one constriction strap 124, wherein the first joining member 122 is coupled to a first end of the constriction strap 124 and the constriction member 121 is adjustably coupled from a second end of the constriction strap 124 while a predetermined affixing position of the constriction strap 124, adjacent to the first end of the constriction strap, is affixed, such as sewing, to the first end portion 111 of the pillow body 110 and the constriction member 121 is adjustably coupled to any position between the second end and the affixing position of the constriction strap 124, wherein the portion of the constriction strap 124 between the first end of the constriction strap 124 and the first joining member 122 forms the first connecting strap 124′. Accordingly, when the pillow body 110 is in the furled condition 103, as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, the constriction member 121 can be moved along the constriction strap 124 at a position closer to the first end thereof so as to extend the length of the constriction strap 124 between the constriction member 121 and affixing position of the constriction strap 124, i.e. the first end portion 111, for cycling around the furled pillow body 110 to able the constriction member 121 to reach and connect with the first joining member 122. When the pillow body 110 is in the closed condition 102, as shown in FIG. 1B, the constriction member 121 can be moved along the constriction strap 124 at a position closer to the affixing position of the constriction strap 124, i.e. the first end portion 111, so as for connecting with the second joining member 123 connected to the second end portion 112 through the second connecting strap 124″ to retain the closed condition 102 of the pillow body 110.
According to the present invention, the constriction strap 124 is preferred to be made of non-elastic material adapted to more tightly constrict the rollable pillow 100 in its furled state. Practically speaking, the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 can be selectively arranged at the first end portion 111, the second end position 112 or any predetermined position along the outer side 1132 of the main body 113 of the pillow body 110. Also, the second joining member 123 can also be arranged to any corresponding position of the first end portion 111, the outer side 1132 and the second end portion 112 as long as the second joining member 123 can be connected with the constriction member 121 to retain the closed condition 102 of the pillow body 110 while the first joining member 122 can alternatively be connected with the constriction member 121 to retain the furled condition 111 of the pillow body 110.
As mentioned above, the constriction assembly 120 may selectively further comprise the second joining member 123 configured for joining, connecting or fastening with the constriction member 121 for retaining the pillow body 110 of the rollable pillow 100 in its closed condition 102. That is to say, the second joining member 123 is coupled with the constriction member 121 for maintaining and controlling a distance between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 so as to adjust a circumferential size of the pillow body 110 to match and fittingly wear on the neck of the user U. An entrance 1101 is formed between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112, that is when the distance between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 is shorter, the entrance 1101 is narrower, and when the distance between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 is longer, the entrance 1101 is wider, so as to control how close of the inner side 1131 of the main body 113 of the pillow body 110 with the body part, for example the neck, of the user U.
It is worth mentioning that, according to the first preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1C to 6 of the present invention, the pillow body 110 of the rollable pillow 100 in the opening condition 101 as shown in FIG. 1A, which is substantially a linear extending structure, can be bended by the user by bringing the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 of the pillow body 110 towards each other to form the closed condition 102, as shown in FIG. 1B, wherein the user U may connected the constriction member 121 and the second joining member 123 to form an arc-shaped support structure 105 in U-shape or C-shape suitable for supporting the neck in various support forms and manners. Further, the user U may retained the closed form 102 of the pillow body 110 so as to maintain the desired arc-shaped support structure 105 of the rollable pillow 100 by connecting the constriction member 121 and the second joining member 123, thereby ensuring the pillow body 110 fitting for the neck and preventing the rollable pillow 100 from falling off the neck of the user U, as shown in FIG. 5.
It is worth mentioning that the second joining member 123 can be arranged at any position of the pillow body 110 where the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 can approach each other. In one embodiment, the second joining member 123 may be arranged at the outer side 1132 of the main body 113 of the pillow body 110. In one embodiment, the second joining member 123 may also arranged at a position adjacent to the second end portion 112. Preferably, the second joining member 123 is arranged at the second end portion 112, so that the second joining member 123 can be directly coupled with the constriction member 121 arranged at the first end portion 111 for the face to face approaching of the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112. Preferably, the second joining member 123 is arranged at the second end portion 112 adjacent to the outer side 1132, so that the force point of the pulling force applied to the second joining member 123 is adjacent to the outer side 1132.
It is appreciated that, practically, the second joining member 123 arranged at the second end portion 112 may be connected with either the constriction member 121 or the first joining member 122 arranged at the first end portion 111 of the pillow body 110, wherein it is all depends on the type of connector is the second joining member 123 with respect to the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 122, wherein the types of the constriction member 121 and the first joining member 121 are preferred to be pair for connecting with each other. For example, when the constriction member 121 is a male connector and the first joining member 121 is a female connector, if the second joining member 123 is a female connector, the second joining member 123 is adapted to be connected with the constriction member 121 to retain the closed condition 102 of the pillow body 102, or alternatively, if the second joining member 123 is a male connector, the second joining member 123 is adapted to be connected with the first joining member 122 to retain the closed condition 102 of the pillow body 102. Alternatively, when the constriction member 121 is a female connector and the first joining member 121 is a male connector, if the second joining member 123 is a male connector, the second joining member 123 is adapted to be connected with the constriction member 121 to retain the closed condition 102 of the pillow body 102, or alternatively, if the second joining member 123 is a female connector, the second joining member 123 is adapted to be connected with the first joining member 122 to retain the closed condition 102 of the pillow body 102.
In other words, preferably the first joining member 122 and the second joining member 123 of the constriction assembly 120 as well as the constriction member 121 are respectively arranged at corresponding positions of the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 in a manner that when the second joining member 123 is coupled with the first joining member 122 or the constriction member 121, the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 approach to each other in a face to face manner retaining the rollable pillow 100 in the arc-shaped support structure 105.
It is worth mentioning that the inner side 1131 of the rollable pillow 100 is arranged to be closer to the body part needing support of the user U, such as the waist part or the neck, by the connecting or joining of the second joining member 123 with the first joining member 122 or the constriction member 121. For example, when the rollable pillow 100 is used as a neck pillow for supporting the neck of the user U, the entrance 1101 is located adjacent to a chest of the user U. If the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 are far from each other, a lower jaw located at the entrance 1101 will not be supported by the pillow body 110 when the user U lowers his/her head. In addition, when the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 are applied with a pressure force, the entrance 1101, i.e. the distance between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112, will be enlarged. However, when the second joining member 123 is coupled with the first joining member 122 or the constriction member 121, the distance between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 is limited and narrowed to narrow the entrance 1101. Therefore, the main body 113 of the pillow body 110 adjacent to the first end portion 111 or the second end portion 112 is closer to the lower jaw of the user U, and that when the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 are applied with separating forces respectively in two opposite directions, the second joining member 123 and the first joining member 122 or the constriction member 121 are strained to remain connecting or joining with each other, so that the entrance 1101 between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 is retained and the surrounding shape of the rollable pillow 100 is maintained for desired comfort and support for the user U even while he or she is lowering his or her head.
According to the preferred embodiment, the constriction strap 124 is configured extensible in length between the constriction member 121 and the first end portion 111 by moving the constriction member 121 along the constriction strap 124 towards either its proximal end or distal end and holding in desired position of the constriction strap 124, the distance between the constriction member 121 and the second joining member 123 that is connected with the constriction member 121 is adjustable and controllable by adjusting the position of the constriction member 121 along the constriction strap 124. It is appreciated that, alternatively, when the second joining member 123 is embodied to be connected with the first joining member 122 for retaining the pillow body 110 in the closed condition 102, the first connecting strap 124′ can be configured extensible in length between the first joining member 122 and the first end portion 111 by moving the second joining member 122 along the first connecting strap 124′ towards either a proximal end or a distal end thereof and holding in desired position of the first connecting strap 124′, the distance between the first joining member 122 and the second joining member 123 that is connected with the first joining member 122 is adjustable and controllable by adjusting the position of the first joining member 122 along the first connecting strap 124′.
Further, the second joining member 123 can also be arranged to move along the second connecting strap 124″ and located at different positions so as to adjust and control the distance between the second joining member 123 and the second end portion 112, the distance between the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 when the pillow body 110 is in the closed condition 102 while the second joining member 123 and the constriction member 121 or the first joining member 122 by adjusting the position of the second joining member 122 along the second connecting strap 124″.
According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the pillow body 110 is required to be in the furled condition 103, the constriction member 121 is moved towards the distal end 1242 of the constriction strap 124, so that the constriction member 121 is able to extend around the pillow body 110 in the furled condition 103 by wrapping the constriction strap 124 along the outer side 1132 of the furled pillow body 110, as shown in FIG. 2, to reach and connect with the first joining member 122 to constrict the rollable pillow 100 in the furled state via the extending constriction strap 124. Also, by adjusting an extension length of the portion of the constriction strap 124 extending between the first end portion 111 and the constriction member 121, the compression force of the constriction strap 124 applied radially to the furled pillow body 110 can be adjusted to control the constricting of the pillow body 110 in the furled condition 103. In other words, the shorter the extension length of the constriction strap 124 between the constriction member 121 and the first end portion 111, the more constriction force is applied to furled pillow body 110 to constrict the rollable pillow 100 in a smaller compact size in the furled state. When the pillow body 110 is required to be in the closed condition 102, the constriction member 121 is moved towards the proximal end 1241 of the constriction strap 124 and held in position close to the first end portion 111, so that when the second joining member 123 is connected with the constriction member 121 (or the first joining member 122), the first end portion 111 is connected with the second end portion 112 through the joining or connecting of the second joining member 123 and the constriction member 121 (or the first joining member 122).
Moreover, the constriction assembly 120 may further comprise the assistance holding member 125. The assistance holding member 125 is arranged in cooperation with the first connecting strap 124′ which connects the first joining member 122 with the first end portion 111, so as for suspending and storing the rollable pillow 100 when the rollable pillow 100 is rolled up to the furled state, as shown in FIG. 6. For example, the assistance holding member 125 can be movably arranged in an independent closed loop attached to the first end portion 111 of the outer side 1132 of the main body 113 of the pillow body 110, so that the assistance holding member 125 can be moved independently and freely without affecting the constriction member 121 or the first joining member 122. Further, the assistance holding member 125 and the first joining member 122 are both mounted to the first connecting strap 124′ at one time during manufacturing, and do not need to be separately fixed to simplify the manufacturing process. It is worth mentioning that when the rollable pillow 100 is in the opening condition 101, its size and volume is relatively large and not convenient to carry, wherein if the user U would like the rollable pillow 100 be maintained in the opening condition 101 at anytime for use, the assistance holding member 125 assists the user U for detachably attaching the pillow body 110 to another object such as luggage, carrying bag, backpack, or etc.
According to the present invention, when the user U needs to use the rollable pillow 100, the rollable pillow 100 is operated to the opening condition 101 or the closed condition 102 to support the body part of the user U for rest. When it is not in use, the user U can furl the second end portion 112 of the pillow body 110 towards the first end portion 111 thereof by rolling the outer side 1132 of the pillow body 110 up along the inner side 1131 to form the furled spiral structure 106, and then the pillow body 110 in the furled condition 103 can be constricted by the constriction assembly 120 to maintain the form of the furled spiral structure 106 in a substantial circular shape with smaller and compact size and volume, that can be conveniently placed in a pocket, a duffel bag, a backpack, or etc., for ease of carrying and storing. If the user U does not want to be placed inside the pocket or the duffel bag, the user U can suspend the rollable pillow 100 by the assistance holding member 125, such as hanging the rollable pillow 100 on a side of a backpack without occupying extra space, to carry conveniently. When the user needs to use the rollable pillow 100, the user U can take the rollable pillow 100 from, for example, the side of the backpack and perform a simple pressing operation on the constriction assembly 120 to separate the first joining member 122 and the constriction member 121 from each other, as shown in FIG. 3. The pillow body 110 of the rollable pillow 100 is freely stretched by means of its own elastic force to its opening condition 101 or closed condition 102 for use at any time. Accordingly, the rollable pillow 100 of the present invention satisfies the needs of the user U to be conveniently stored and used at anytime.
Referring to FIG. 7A to FIG. 10, a rollable pillow 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, which comprises a pillow body 210 and a constriction assembly 220, wherein the constriction assembly 220 is arranged at the pillow body 210 for constricting the shape and form of the pillow body 210.
The pillow body 210 is an arc-shaped body, for example in U-shape or C-shape, having a first end portion 211, a second end portion 212, and comprising a main body 213 which is extended between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 and has an inner side 2131 and an outer side 2132.
The rollable pillow 200 is able to be extended in an unfurled state having a normal extending form in an opening condition 201, wherein the constriction assembly 220 is in a detaching state that the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are disconnected and away from each other to form an entrance 2201 therebetween, as shown in FIG. 7A. The rollable pillow 200 can be operated to a closed condition 202, as shown in FIG. 7B, wherein the constriction assembly 220 is in a connecting state that the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are connected with each other in such a manner that a size of the entrance 2201 is adjustable. In the closed condition 202, the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are connected by the constriction assembly 220 and positioned adjacent with each other. The rollable pillow 200 may also be operated to a furled state. In the furled state, the second end portion 212 is rolled up and furled towards the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210 to form a furled body in a furled condition 203, as shown in FIG. 7C. In other words, the pillow body 210 of the rollable pillow 200 can be transformed between the opening condition 201, the closed condition 202 and the furled condition 203 to adapt to different usages according to the need of the user U.
The pillow body 210 can be an air filled body or a solid body preferred to be made of elastic and flexible material, such as EVA or foam material, to facilitate bending and deformation so as to change between the opening condition 201, the closed condition 202 and/or the furled condition 20, and to be suitable for contacting and touching with a body part of the human body comfortably. Preferably, the pillow body 210 can be made of elastic flexible material, such as memory foam, so that the pillow body 210 can automatically recover its original form and shape after the deformation force applied thereon is released.
According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pillow body 210 is made of hydrophilic cotton, so that the rollable pillow 100 is lighter in weight and better in elasticity, and is also convenient for carrying and furling. More specifically, the pillow body 210 may include an outer sleeve pocket and an inner core body configured to be detachably placed and filled in the outer sleeve pocket to form the pillow body 210. The inner core body can be made of hydrophilic cotton, latex or polyurethane.
According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, an inner side 2131 and an outer side 2132 are both extended with the arc-shaped main body 213, wherein in the opening condition 201 and the closed condition 202, the inner side 2131 and the outer side 2132 are bended towards each other to a substantially arc-shape to form an arc support structure 205 for supporting a specific body part of the user U, such as a neck, as shown in FIG. 7G. During the closed condition 202, the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are connected by the constriction assembly 220 and can be pulled to be closer with each other than the opening condition 201 by the constriction assembly 220. That is, the inner side 2131 and the outer side 2132 are more curved inwardly, so that, while used, the inner side 2131 is facing inside and more adjacent to the body part of the user U, such as the neck, while the outer side 2132 is facing outside, as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B. The inner side 2131 defines an annular enclosing room 2202 therein for receiving the body part of the user U, such as the neck. The entrance 2201 communicates the annular enclosing room 2202 with outside, so that when used, the pillow body 210 can be worn around the neck through the entrance 2201 so as to place the neck in the annular enclosing room 2202, so that the main body 213 may rest on the shoulder of the user U and surround the neck. Of course, the arc support structure 205 of the pillow body 210 can also be used to support other body parts of the user U, such as a back and a waist. One skilled in the art will understand that where and how the arc support structure 205 of the rollable pillow 200 can be used to support the human body is not intended to be limiting in the present invention.
In order to roll and furl the rollable pillow 200 of the present invention to the furled condition 203, i.e. in a furled state, one of the first and second end portions 211, 212 is rolled and furled towards the other end portion, wherein the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 is rolled up inwardly along the inner side 2131, following the curvature of the inner side 2131, to form a furled spiral structure 206. According to the second preferred embodiment, to roll up the pillow body 213, the second end portion 212 is started to roll up and furl towards the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210 until the pillow body 210 is furled in the furled condition 203, as shown in FIG. 7C, wherein the constriction assembly 220 is configured selectively for constricting and maintaining the furled spiral structure 206 of the pillow body, i.e. the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state.
In particular, in the furled condition 203, the pillow body 210 is furled up to the furled spiral structure 206 for ease of carrying and storage, wherein as shown in FIG. 8, the pillow body 210 is converted from its arc-shape form, in the opening condition 201, with a relatively larger size and volume to its furled spiral structure 206, in the furled condition 203, with a relatively smaller compact size and volume for convenient carrying and storage, as shown in FIG. 7C and FIG. 8. That is to say, in the furled condition 203, the annular enclosing room 2202 surrounded by the inner side 2131 of the pillow body 210 in the opening condition 201 is eliminated and the pillow body 210 is furled to reduce the overall size and volume of the rollable pillow 200 to form a constricted compact body to sufficiently reduce the space occupied while storing in a carrying bag or backpack.
The constriction assembly 220 is arranged for constricting the pillow body 220 in the furled condition 203, i.e. in the furled state, as shown in FIG. 7C, or alternatively, in one embodiment, maintaining the pillow body 210 in the closed condition 202 as shown in FIG. 7B. According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the constriction assembly 220 comprises a constriction member 221, a first joining member 222 and a second joining member 223, wherein the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 are both embodied as being provided at the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210 and the second joining member 223 is embodied to be provided at the second end portion 211 of the pillow body 210.
According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, the constriction member 221 is embodied as a male connector such as a male buckle, a magnetic fastener or a hook fastener and connected with the first end portion 211 through an extensible constriction strap 224 having a proximal end 2241 attached to the first end portion 211 and a distal end 2241 coupling through the constriction member 221 in such a manner that the constriction member 221 can be selectively mounted at any position between the proximal end 2241 and the distal end 2242, so as to adjust and control a length of the portion of the constriction strap 224 between the first end portion 211 and the constriction member 221, i.e. the distance between the first end portion 211 and the constriction member 221. The first joining member 222 is embodied as female connector such as a female buckle, a magnetic fastener or loop fastener attached to the first end portion 111 via a first connecting strap 124′ and the second joining member 223 is also embodied as a female connector such as a female buckle, a magnetic fastener or a loop fastener attached to the second end portion 212 via a second connecting strap 224″, wherein the first and first joining member 222, 223 are each arranged and adapted to be joined, connected or fastened with the constriction member 221 selectively.
Accordingly, when the pillow body 210 of the rollable pillow 200 is in the furled condition, as shown in FIG. 7C, the second end portion 212 with the second joining member 223 provided thereat is rolled up and furled inwardly until the pillow body 210 is furled to a constricted compact body, wherein the constriction member 221 is moved closer to the distal end 2241 of the constriction strap 224 to extend the length of the portion of the constriction strap 224 between the constriction member 221 and the first end portion 211 for circling around the furled compact body of the pillow body 210 along the outer side 2132 thereof until reaching the first joining member 222, as shown in FIGS. 7C and 8, so that the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 provided at the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210 can be jointed and connected together, such as by connecting the male connector of the constriction member 221 with the female connector of the first joining member 222, so as to constrict the pillow body 210 to maintain in its furled compact body, i.e. in the furled state, while the constriction strap 224 is extended and tightened around the furled compact body of the pillow body 210 towards two opposite directions to a closed constricting form 2201, wherein the furled spiral structure 206 of the pillow body 210 is constricted and maintained, as shown in FIG. 7C, so as to stably maintain the furled condition 203 of the pillow body 210 for ease of storing in a carrying bag, backpack or etc. It is worth mentioning that the tightness of the furled spiral structure 206 of the pillow body 210 can be controlled by adjusting the length of the portion of the constriction strap 224 extending between the constriction member 221 and the first end portion 211, wherein the connection of the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 as well as the wrapping of the constriction strap 224 substantially hold the furled pillow body 210 in position and prevent the pillow body 210 being released from the furled state back to its unfurled normal state.
Further when a user U likes to use the rollable pillow 200 according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user U may simply release the connection between the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221, as shown in FIG. 9, the furled pillow body 210 is able to recover its original arc-shape, U-shape or C-shape, due to the release of the constriction force applied through the constriction strap 224 from the two opposite directions, wherein the user may place the pillow body 210 in the opening condition 210, as shown in FIG. 7A, at predetermined position for use as a neck pillow for wearing around his or her neck. Then, the first joining member 222 provided at the first end portion 211 thereof can be jointed and connected with the second joining member 223 provided at the second end portion 212 thereof so as to retain the arc-shape, U-shape or C-shape, of the pillow body 210 and constrict the pillow body 210 in the closed condition 202, as shown in FIGS. 7B, G and H.
It is worth to further mention that, according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the user U would like to reduce the size and volume of the rollable pillow 200 for carrying or storage, the user U may simply roll the pillow body 210 up to form the furled spiral structure 206, so that the furled spiral structure 206 of the pillow body 210 is tightly furled in the furled condition 203. At this time, the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 are extended towards two opposite directions along the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 and surround the pillow body 210 in the furled spiral structure 206 to ensure its relatively small and compact size and volume in the furled condition 203.
As mentioned above, the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221, which are extended towards two opposite directions along the outer side 2132, as well as the second joining member 223 may be embodied as a variety of joining members which are suitable for maintaining the furled spiral structure 206, such as button members, loop and hook fasteners, buckles, insertion buckles, snap buttons and magnet buckles. Preferably, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 or the second joining member 223 are embodied as a set of insertion buckle members, wherein the constriction member 221 is embodied as the male buckle member and the first joining member 222 and the second joining member 223 are embodied as the female buckle members. The constriction assembly 220 further comprises the constriction strap 224, wherein the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 is arranged to be connected with the first end portion 211 through the constriction strap 224. The constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 is arranged in a manner that the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 can be adjusting the length of the constriction strap 124, so as to adjust a tightness of the constriction. If the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 are embodied as a female insertion buckle member to the constriction member 221 embodied as a male insertion buckle member so as to constrict the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state by inserting the male insertion buckle member 221 into the female insertion buckle member 222. Alternatively, the first joining member 222 and the second joining member 223 can be embodied as the male insertion buckle members and the constriction member 221 can be embodied as the female insertion buckle member so that the first and second joining members 222, 223 can each be inserted into the constriction member 221. Accordingly, by fastening the insertion buckle members, i.e. the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221, the furled pillow body 210 can maintain its furled spiral structure 206, i.e. the furled condition 203, as shown in FIGS. 7C and 8, without complex operation process. When the user U needs to release the furled spiral structure 206 of the pillow body 210, the user U only needs to gently press an insertion end of the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 is automatically separated from the constriction member 221, so that the pillow body 210, that is made of memory foam material, is naturally stretched due to its own elasticity without extra manual operation. In addition, in order to open and release the furled spiral structure 206 of the rollabel pillow 200 if the pillow body 210 is made of cotton material or memory foam, the user U may simply perform a simple operation as shown in FIG. 9 to open up the pillow body 210 from the furled condition 203 back to its opening condition 201.
The constriction assembly 220 can be arranged at any suitable position where the constriction assembly 220 can constrict the furled spiral structure 206 of the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state. In the second preferred embodiment, the constriction member 221 and/or the first joining member 222 of the constriction assembly 220 are preferred to be arranged adjacent to the first end portion 211 at the pillow body 210. According to the second preferred embodiment, the constriction member 221 is arranged at the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210, wherein the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210, wherein the first end portion 211 is extended from the outer side 2132 towards the inner side 2131 of the pillow body 210, as shown in FIG. 7A. In other words, the first end portion 211 is inclinedly extended from the outer side 2132 towards the inner side 2131 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210, so that during the furling of the pillow body 210, a pull of the constriction assembly 220 will further constrict the furled spiral structure 206 to form a smaller size and volume of the furled spiral structure 206. In addition, when the pillow body 210 is in the closed condition 202, as shown in FIG. 7B, the pulling force applied by the constriction assembly 220 to the first end portion 211 may help to prevent the pillow body 210 from returning to the opening condition 201 due to the elasticity of the pillow body 210. Preferably, the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 of the constriction assembly 220 are provided at the first end portion 210 closed to an adjacent end of the outer side 2132, so that when the pillow body 210 is in the furled condition 203, the constriction assembly 220 is adapted for constricting the pillow body 210 in the furled state, wherein both the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 apply pulling forces in two opposite directions at a joint force point of the first end portion 211 by the constriction assembly 220, which is adjacent to the outer side 2132, so that the rollable pillow 200 can be wholly compressed and furled inwardly from the outer side 2132.
It is mentioning that, when the rollable pillow 200 is in the furled state, the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 is furled with the furled pillow body 210 along the inner side 2131 of the main body 213 to form the stable furled spiral structure 206. It is appreciated that the constriction assembly 220 substantially constricts the furled spiral structure 206 of the pillow body 210, wherein a curly form defined by outer side 2132 is constricted and a constriction direction is substantially in an uniform plane with an extending direction of the first end portion 211. Therefore, the constriction assembly 220 directly limits and resists the rebounding elastic force generated by the stretching of the pillow body 210 to ensure its furled spiral structure 206 in a stable furled state to avoid the rollable pillow 200 be carried or stored with irregular shape due to unbalanced force that may cause unexpected inconvenience to the user U.
It is worth mentioning that, in an alternative mode of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the constriction assembly 220 may only comprise the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 which are provided at one of the two end portions 211, 212 of the pillow body 210 for constricting the furled condition of the pillow body 210.
In another alternative mode of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the constriction assembly 220 may only comprise the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 which are provided at a predetermined position along the outer side 2132 of the pillow body 210 for constricting the furled condition of the pillow body 210, as illustrated in FIG. 16 to FIG. 17B, by extending the constriction strap 224 to cycle around the furled pillow body 210 until the constriction member 221 connected to the constriction strap 224 reaching and connecting with the first joining member 222.
According to the second preferred embodiment, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 of the constriction assembly 220 are arranged at the same position at the first end portion 211, which are adapted for constricting the furled condition 203 of the pillow body 210 in the furled state as the shown in FIG. 1C, and that the second joining member 223 is provided at the second end portion 212 adapted for joining and connecting with the constriction member 221 to retain the closed condition 202 as shown in FIG. 1B.
According to an alternative mode of the second preferred embodiment, the constriction member 221 and the second joining member 223 are provided at the first and second end portions 211, 212 respectively, and the first joining member 222 is provided at a predetermined position along the outer side 2132 of the pillow body 210, so that after the second end portion 212 is rolled up along the inner side 2131 for furling the pillow body 210 to the furled condition 203, the constriction member 221 can reach the first joining member 222 provided at the outer side 2132 of the pillow body 210 by adjusting the length of the portion of the constriction strap 224 between the constriction member 221 and the first end portion 211 and connect with the first joining member 222 so as to constrict the furled pillow body 210 in the furled state, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.
In comparison with the above first preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 6 and the second preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 7A to FIG. 9, the main difference between the first and second preferred embodiments is that the pillow body 110 is embodied as made of elastic material that is normally in elongated extending form as shown in FIG. 1A and is able to bend to the arc-shaped form as shown in FIG. 2B and retain the arc-shaped form by connecting the constriction member 121 and the second joining member 123, and that the pillow body 210 is embodied as made of memory foam material that is normally in arc-shaped form as shown in FIG. 7A even the constriction member 221 is not connected with the second joining member 223.
Like the above first preferred embodiment, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 of the second preferred embodiment are coupled in a manner that the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 are extended in opposite directions so as to form a substantially closed annular structure while constricting the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203.
Also, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention can also both be arranged at the first end portion 211 through the constriction strap 224 and the first connecting strap 224′ respectively. In order to ensure the furled pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203 after the pillow body 210 is rolled up and furled to form the furled condition 203, the constriction strap 224 connected to the constriction member 221 and the first connecting strap 224′ of the first joining member 222 are operated to extend along the outer side 2132 of the pillow body 210 in opposite directions until the constriction member 221 reaches the first joining member 222 and connected with the first joining member 222 to form a closed constricting structure 2201 as shown in FIG. 7C. For example, but not limited, the first joining member 222 and the short first connecting strap 224 connected thereto are extended in front of the first end portion 211, and the constriction strap 224 is extended around the outer side 2132 of the furled pillow body 210 towards an opposite direction until the constriction member 221 is able to be connected with the first joining member 222 while the extended constriction strap 224 substantially wraps around the furled pillow body 210 to constrict the furled condition 203 of the pillow body 210 so as to retain the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state.
It is worth mentioning that, similar to the first preferred embodiment, according to the second preferred embodiment, the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 can also be attached to the first end portion 211 through a shorter strap, the first connecting strap 224′, and an elongated strap, the constriction strap 224, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, or alternatively with only one constriction strap as mentioned in the above paragraph to simplify the manufacturing process. It is worth mentioning that, no matter the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 are arranged at the first end portion 211 through two straps, the constriction strap 224 and the first connecting strap 224′, or through only one strap by affixing at the affixing position of the strap to the first end portion 211 to divide it into the portion as the first connecting strap 224′ and the portion as the constriction strap 224, it is preferred both the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 are fixed at the same position of the first end portion 211 so that the force points of the first joining member 222 and the force of the constriction member 221 are at the same position. Therefore, when the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 are pulled and extended in two opposite directions from the same position until the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 are connected while the constriction strap 224 constricts around the furled pillow body 210, the whole circumference of the outer side 2132 of the furled spiral structure 206 can suffer a direct constriction force. In other words, the constriction strap 224, the constriction member 221, the first connecting strap 224′, and the first joining member 222 form a circular constriction means that wraps and constricts around the whole circumference of the furled pillow body 210 in 360 degrees for applying an even inward radially constriction force to compress and constrict the furled pillow body 210 to retain its furled condition 203, where the stronger the constriction force, the smaller the size and volume of the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, FIG. 7C and FIG. 13, due to the elasticity of the material of the pillow body 210.
Alternatively, the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 can be attached to the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210 by means of one constriction strap 224, wherein the first joining member 222 is coupled to a first end of the constriction strap 224 and the constriction member 221 is adjustably coupled from a second end of the constriction strap 224 while a predetermined affixing position of the constriction strap 224, adjacent to the first end of the constriction strap, is affixed, such as sewing, to the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 110 and the constriction member 221 is adjustably coupled to any position between the second end and the affixing position of the constriction strap 224, wherein the portion of the constriction strap 224 between the first end of the constriction strap 224 and the first joining member 122 forms the first connecting strap 224′. Accordingly, when the pillow body 210 is in the furled condition 203, as shown in FIG. 7C, the constriction member 221 can be moved along the constriction strap 224 at a position closer to the first end thereof so as to extend the length of the constriction strap 224 between the constriction member 221 and affixing position of the constriction strap 224, i.e. the first end portion 211, for cycling around the furled pillow body 210 to able the constriction member 221 to reach and connect with the first joining member 222. When the pillow body 210 is in the closed condition 202, as shown in FIG. 7B, the constriction member 221 can be moved along the constriction strap 224 at a position closer to the affixing position of the constriction strap 224, i.e. the first end portion 211, so as for connecting with the second joining member 223 connected to the second end portion 212 through the second connecting strap 224″ to retain the closed condition 202 of the pillow body 210.
Same as the first preferred embodiment, the constriction strap 224 is preferred to be made of non-elastic material adapted to more tightly constrict the rollable pillow 200 in its furled state. Practically speaking, the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 can be selectively arranged at the first end portion 211, the second end position 212 or any predetermined position along the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210. Also, the second joining member 223 can also be arranged to any corresponding position of the first end portion 211, the outer side 2132 and the second end portion 212 as long as the second joining member 223 can be connected with the constriction member 221 to retain the closed condition 202 of the pillow body 210 while the first joining member 222 can alternatively be connected with the constriction member 221 to retain the furled condition 211 of the pillow body 210.
As mentioned above, the constriction assembly 220 may selectively further comprise the second joining member 223 configured for connecting or fastening with constriction member 221 for not only retaining the rollable pillow 200 in its closed condition 202, but also adjusting the distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212, i.e. the size of the entrance 2101. In other words, the second joining member 223 is coupled with the constriction member 221 for maintaining and controlling a distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 so as to adjust a circumferential size of the pillow body 210 to match and fittingly wear on the neck of the user U. The entrance 2101 formed between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 is adjustable, that is when the distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 is shorter, the entrance 2101 is narrower, and when the distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 is longer, the entrance 2101 is wider, so as to control how close of the inner side 2131 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 with the neck of the user U.
As mentioned above, the constriction assembly 220 is preferred to comprise the second joining member 223 which is configured for joining, connecting or fastening with the constriction member 221 for retaining the pillow body 210 of the rollable pillow 200 in the closed condition 202. That is to say, the second joining member 223 is coupled with the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 for maintaining and controlling a distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 so as to adjust a circumferential size of the pillow body 210 to match and fittingly wear on the neck of the user U. The entrance 2201 formed between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 is provided in such a manner that when the distance between the first end potion 211 and the second end portion 212 is shorter, the entrance 2101 is narrower, and when the distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 is longer, the entrance 2101 is wider, so as to control how close of the inner side 2131 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 with the neck of the user U.
It is appreciated that, practically, the second joining member 223 arranged at the second end portion 212 may be connected with either the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 arranged at the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210, wherein it is all depends on the type of connector is the second joining member 223 with respect to the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222, wherein the types of the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 221 are preferred to be pair for connecting with each other. For example, when the constriction member 221 is a male connector and the first joining member 221 is a female connector, if the second joining member 223 is a female connector, the second joining member 223 is adapted to be connected with the constriction member 221 to retain the closed condition 202 of the pillow body 202, or alternatively, if the second joining member 223 is a male connector, the second joining member 223 is adapted to be connected with the first joining member 222 to retain the closed condition 202 of the pillow body 202. Alternatively, when the constriction member 221 is a female connector and the first joining member 221 is a male connector, if the second joining member 223 is a male connector, the second joining member 223 is adapted to be connected with the constriction member 221 to retain the closed condition 202 of the pillow body 202, or alternatively, if the second joining member 223 is a female connector, the second joining member 223 is adapted to be connected with the first joining member 222 to retain the closed condition 202 of the pillow body 202.
It is worth mentioning that, according to the second preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7C to 9 of the present invention, the pillow body 210 of the rollable pillow 200 in the opening condition 201 has a substantial arc-shaped structure, which can be bended more inwardly to bring the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 more towards each other by the joining and connecting of the second joining member 223 and the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 to form an arc-shaped support structure 205 specifically suitable for supporting the neck of the user U and capable of changing between various support forms. Further, when the rollable pillow 200 is supported at the neck of the user U, the joining and connecting of the second joining member 223 and the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 forms a closed annular form, thereby making the pillow body 210 more fitting to the neck of the user U and preventing the rollable pillow 200 from falling off the neck of the user U.
Furthermore, the second joining member 223 can be arranged at any position of the pillow body 210 where the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 can approach each other. In one embodiment, the second joining member 223 may be arranged at the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210. In one embodiment, the second joining member 223 may also be arranged at a position adjacent to the second end portion 212. Preferably, the second joining member 223 is arranged at the second end portion 212, so that the second joining member 223 can be directly coupled with the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 arranged at the first end portion 211 for the face to face approaching of the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212. Preferably, the second joining member 223 is arranged at the second end portion 212 adjacent to the outer side 2132, so that the force point of the pulling force applied to the second joining member 223 is adjacent to the outer side 2132.
Preferably, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 of the constriction assembly 220 and the second joining member 223 are respectively arranged at the corresponding positions of the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212, so that when the second joining member 223 is coupled with the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222, the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are approaching face to face towards each other.
It is worth mentioning that the inner side 2131 of the rollable pillow 200 is arranged to be closer to the body part needing support of the user U by the joining or connecting of the second joining member 223 and the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222. For example, when the rollable pillow 200 is used for supporting the neck of the user U, the entrance 2201 is located adjacent to a chest of the user U. If the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are far from each other, a lower jaw located at the entrance 2101 will not be supported by the pillow body 210 when the user U lowers his or her head. In addition, when the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are applied with the pressure force, the entrance 2201. i.e.
the distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212, will be enlarged. However, when the second joining member 223 is coupled with the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222, the distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 is narrowed to narrow the entrance 2101. Therefore, the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 is closer to the lower jaw of the user U, and that when the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are applied with separating forces respectively in two opposite directions, the second joining member 223 and the first joining member 222 or the constriction member 221 are strained to remain connecting or joining with each other, so that the entrance 2101 between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 is retained and the surrounding shape of the rollable pillow 200 is maintained for desired comfort and support for the user U even while he or she is lowering his or her head.
Furthermore, the constriction member 221 and/or the first joining member 222 can be arranged to move and hold in any position along the constriction strap 224 and/or the first connecting strap 224′ respectively so as to adapt a length requirement of the joining and connecting of the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 when the pillow body 210 of the rollable pillow 200 is in the furled condition 203, as well as to adapt a length requirement of the joining and connecting of the second joining member 223 and the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 when the pillow body 210 of the rollable pillow 200 is in the closed condition 202. For example, in the furled condition 203, the constriction member 221 is moved towards a distal end of the constriction strap 224, so that the constriction member 221 can constrict the rollable pillow 200 via the extending of the constriction strap 224. In the closed condition 202, the constriction member 221 is moved towards a proximal end of the constriction strap 224 for making the constriction member 221 closer to the first end portion 211, so that when the constriction member 221 and the second joining member 223 are joined and connected, the constriction member 211 or the first end portion 211 is closer with the second end portion 212 are closer with each other.
In other words, the constriction strap 224 is configured extensible in length between the constriction member 221 and the first end portion 211 by moving the constriction member 221 along the constriction strap 224 towards either its proximal end or distal end and holding in desired position of the constriction strap 224, the distance between the constriction member 221 and the second joining member 223 that is connected with the constriction member 221 is adjustable and controllable by adjusting the position of the constriction member 221 along the constriction strap 224. It is appreciated that, alternatively, when the second joining member 223 is embodied to be connected with the first joining member 222 for retaining the pillow body 210 in the closed condition 202, the first connecting strap 224′ can be configured extensible in length between the first joining member 222 and the first end portion 211 by moving the second joining member 222 along the first connecting strap 224′ towards either a proximal end or a distal end thereof and holding in desired position of the first connecting strap 224′, the distance between the first joining member 222 and the second joining member 223 that is connected with the first joining member 222 is adjustable and controllable by adjusting the position of the first joining member 222 along the first connecting strap 224′.
Further, the second joining member 223 can also be arranged to move along the second connecting strap 224″ and located at different positions so as to adjust and control the distance between the second joining member 223 and the second end portion 212, the distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 when the pillow body 210 is in the closed condition 202 while the second joining member 223 and the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 by adjusting the position of the second joining member 222 along the second connecting strap 224″.
According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the pillow body 210 is required to be in the furled condition 203, the constriction member 221 is moved towards the distal end 2242 of the constriction strap 224, so that the constriction member 221 is able to extend around the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203 by wrapping the constriction strap 224 along the outer side 2132 of the furled pillow body 210, as shown in FIG. 8, to reach and connect with the first joining member 222 to constrict the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state via the extending constriction strap 224. Also, by adjusting an extension length of the portion of the constriction strap 224 extending between the first end portion 211 and the constriction member 221, the compression force of the constriction strap 224 applied radially to the furled pillow body 210 can be adjusted to control the constricting of the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203. In other words, the shorter the extension length of the constriction strap 224 between the constriction member 221 and the first end portion 211, the more constriction force is applied to furled pillow body 210 to constrict the rollable pillow 200 in a smaller compact size in the furled state. When the pillow body 210 is required to be in the closed condition 202, the constriction member 221 is moved towards the proximal end 2241 of the constriction strap 224 and held in position close to the first end portion 211, so that when the second joining member 223 is connected with the constriction member 221 (or the first joining member 222), the first end portion 211 is connected with the second end portion 212 through the joining or connecting of the second joining member 223 and the constriction member 221 (or the first joining member 222).
It is worth mentioning that, the rollable pillow 200 of the second preferred embodiment may not have the closed condition 202, wherein the pillow body 210 may not arrange with the second joining member 223 while the arc support structure 205 of the pillow body 210 can meet the support needs of the user U in the opening condition 201. One skilled in the art will understand that the arrangement of the providing of the second joining member 223 is not intended to be limiting the present invention.
Further, the constriction assembly 220 further comprises an assistance holding member 225. The assistance holding member 225 is arranged in cooperation with the first connecting strap 224′, which connects the first joining member 222 with the first end portion 211, so as for suspending and storing the rollable pillow 200 when the rollable pillow 200 is rolled up to the furled state, as shown in FIG. 7C. For example, the assistance holding member 225 can be movably arranged in an independent closed loop attached to the first end portion 211 of the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210, so that the assistance holding member 225 can be moved independently and freely without affecting the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222. Further, the assistance holding member 225 and the first joining member 222 ware both mounted to the first connecting strap 224′ at one time during manufacturing, and do not need to be separately fixed to simplify the manufacturing process. It is worth mentioning that when the rollable pillow 200 is in the open condition 201, its size and the volume is relatively large and not convenient to carry, wherein if the user U would like the rollable pillow 200 be maintained in the opening condition 201 at anytime for use, the assistance holding member 225 assists the user U for detachably attaching the pillow body 210 to another object such as luggage, carrying bag, backpack, or etc.
According to the present invention, when the user U needs to use the rollable pillow 200, the rollable pillow 200 is operated to the opening condition 201 or the closed condition 202 to support the body part of the user U for rest. When it is not in use, the user U can furl the second end portion 212 of the pillow body 210 towards the first end portion 211 thereof by rolling the outer side 2132 of the pillow body 210 up along the inner side 2131 to form the furled spiral structure 206, and then the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203 can be constricted by the constriction assembly 220 to maintain the form of the furled spiral structure 206 in a substantial circular shape with smaller and compact size and volume, that can be conveniently placed in a pocket, a duffel bag, a backpack, or etc., for ease of carrying and storing. If the user U does not want to be placed inside the pocket or the duffel bag, the user U can suspend the rollable pillow 200 by the assistance holding member 225, such as hanging the rollable pillow 200 on a side of a backpack without occupying extra space, to carry conveniently. When the user needs to use the rollable pillow 200, the user U can take the rollable pillow 200 from, for example, the side of the backpack and perform a simple pressing operation on the constriction assembly 220 to separate the first joining member 222 and the constriction member 221 from each other, as shown in FIG. 9. The pillow body 210 of the rollable pillow 200 is freely stretched by means of its own elastic force to its opening condition 201 for can use at any time. Accordingly, the rollable pillow 200 satisfies the needs of the user U to conveniently store and use at anytime.
Referring to FIGS. 7D-7H, the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 comprises a rear support section 2135, a pair of side support sections 21341, 21342 and a pair of front support sections 21331, 21332. The two front support sections 21331, 21332 are respectively located at two sides of the two side support sections 21341, 21342, and the two side support sections 21341, 21342 are respectively located at opposite ends of the rear support section 2135.
When the rollable pillow 200 is worn by the user, the rear support section 2135 is configured corresponding to a back of the user, wherein the rear support section 2135 is located on a rear side for supporting the back side of the neck of the user. The pair of the side support sections 21341, 21342 is configured corresponding to the shoulder portions of the user for supporting the sides of the neck of the user. The pair of front support sections 21331, 21332 is configured corresponding to the chest of the user, wherein the pair front support sections 21331, 21332 is located on a front side for supporting the front side of the neck of the user, and more particularly, the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332 is intended to support the body part of the user U between his or her chest and lower jaw.
Furthermore, the two side support sections 21341, 21342 are symmetrically provided on two sides of the rear support section 2135, and the two front support sections 21331, 21332 are symmetrically with respect to the back region and are respectively connected to the side support segments 21341, 21342. In other words, the pair of side support sections 21341, 21342 and the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332 are respectively provided on two sides of the rear support section 2135 and are symmetrically with respect to the rear support section 213, wherein each of the front support sections, each of the corresponding side support sections and the rear support section are integrally connected in sequence.
According to the second preferred embodiment of the invention, the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332, the pair of side support sections 21341, 21342 and the rear support section 2135 are integrally, sequentially and arcuately connected in a predetermined arc to define the annular enclosing room 1102 by the inner side 2131 thereof.
In addition, the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332, the pair of side support sections 21341, 21342 and the rear support section 2135 are integrally connected in sequence. In other words, the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332, the pair of side support sections 21341, 21342 and the rear support section 2135 form a predetermined size of the annular enclosing room 1102 in an initial state. For example, the annular enclosing room 1102 that is adapted to the size and shape of the neck of the user U is formed.
The pair of front support sections 21331, 21332, the pair of side support sections 21341, 21342 and the rear support section 2135 have a predetermined elasticity to facilitate the pillow body 210 to be deformed to adapt various circumstances, wherein when the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332, the pair of side support sections 21341, 21342 and/or the rear support section 2135 are subjected to an external force, the pillow body 210 abuts against the neck region of the user U and provides stably support to the corresponding body parts of the user U.
According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a top surface of the rear support section 2135 forms a pair of raised peaks 21351, 21352, wherein a first concave curved surface 21350 is formed between the pair of raised peaks 21351, 21352 for stably supporting the back side of the neck of the user U. For example, when the neck of the user U is supported by the rear support section 2135, the two raised peaks 21351, 21352 are elastically retained on the two sides of the back side of the neck of the user U respectively, while the first concave curved surface 21350 elastically abuts against the back side of the neck of the user U. In other words, the pair of convex peaks 21351, 21352 of the rear support section 2135 and the first concave curved surface 21350 together form an undulating structure adapted to the neck structure of the user, such that when the pillow body 210 is worn by the user U, the back side of the neck of the user U is elastically retained in position, so that a relative position between the rollable pillow 200 and the neck of the user U is determined, and the rotation of the pillow body 210 around the neck of the user U is reduced. In addition, the two convex peaks 21351, 21352 are convexly provided on the two sides of the first concave curved surface 21350 and are supported at a position adjacent to an upper portion of the rear part of the head of the user U at the back side of the neck of the user. In other words, the supporting effect is provided to the body portions between the brain and shoulders of the user U which are relatively stiff parts of the user U, rather than directly compressing the soft neck, so that it is better for relieving neck pressure, and that the first concave curved surface 21350 fits over the neck of the user, so as to cooperate with the pair of raised peaks 21351, 21352 to form a more stable support structure.
Furthermore, according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower sides of the rear support section 2135 are symmetrical. In other words, the upper and lower sides of the rear support section 2135 can be respectively provided with the pair of convex peaks 21351, 21352 and the concave curved surface 23350. When the pair of convex peaks 21351, 21352 and the concave curved surface are located on the upper side thereof, the pair of convex peaks 21351, 21352 is close to the back of the head of the user U, and the concave curved surface 21350 abuts against the neck of the user at a rear upper portion. When the pair of raised peaks 21351, 21352 and the concave curved surface 21350 are on the lower side thereof, the pair of raised peaks 21351, 21352 is close to the shoulder of the user U and the concave curved surface 21350 abuts against the user U at a lower part of the back of the neck.
According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a top surface of each of the side support sections 21341, 21342 forms a second concave curved surface 21340. In other words, the portion between the front support section and the rear support section is inwardly indented, or the heights thereof are gradually decreased from the joint positions between the corresponding front support section and the rear support section to the middle portion thereof.
In addition, according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, two second concave curved surfaces 21340 are symmetrically provided on the upper and lower sides of the set of side supporting sections 21341, 21342 respectively. In other words, the pair of side supporting sections 21341 can be provided with the second concave curved surfaces 21340 at both of the upper and lower sides thereof. When each of the second concave curved surfaces 21340 is located on the upper side, the second concave curved surface 21340 corresponds to the ear of the user U, or the second concave curved surface 21340 is close to the ear of the user, to provide an accommodation space for the ear of the user U. It should be understood that, since the ear of the user U protrudes from the surface of the head of the user U, when the user U wears the rollable pillow 200 as a neck pillow to rest, the ear portion is easily pressed and thus is uncomfortable. However, according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention, the two concave curved surfaces 21340 are recessed and inwardly formed, such that the height of each of the side support sections is relatively reduced in compassion with the heights of front support sections and the rear support section. When the head of the user U is tilted toward a lateral side, the head of the user U is easily supported by the position between the corresponding front support section and the rear support section, and the position corresponding to the ear is less stressed, thereby protecting the ears of the user U. When each of the second concave curved surfaces 21340 is located on the lower side, the second concave curved surface 21340 is configured corresponding to the shoulder of the user. In other words, the second concave curved surface 21340 is supported on the shoulder of the user U when the rollable pillow 200 is worn. It is worth mentioning that the second concave curved surface 21340 is shaped to be matched with the shape of the shoulder of the user U. On one hand, the rollable pillow 200 is easily positioned, that is it is easy to be worn to a suitable position of the user U. On the other hand, when the rollable pillow 200 is worn, the attaching surface of the inner side 2131 is larger and the support is more stable.
Furthermore, according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the top surfaces of the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332 is formed with a convex curved surface 21330. In other words, an ach of the front support sections protrudes from the corresponding side support section and extends outwardly. More specifically, each of the front support sections gradually increases in height and thickness from the corresponding side support section to form an enlarged end portion. Also, the two front support segments 21331, 21332 form the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112 of the pillow 210 respectively. The pair of front support sections 21331, 21332 tapers at a height near the outer end surfaces of the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112. For example, the outer ends of the two front support segments 21331, 21332 form a tapered tip. In other words, each of the front support sections is gradually decreased in height from the corresponding side support section to a predetermined position and then gradually decreases toward the first end portion 111 or the second end portion 112, thereby forming a convex surface.
In addition, the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332 gradually reduces in thickness near the outer end surfaces of the first end portion 111 and the second end portion 112. In other words, each of the front support sections is gradually decreased in thickness from the corresponding side support section to a predetermined position and then gradually decreases toward the first end portion 111 or the second end portion 112.
Furthermore, according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the front support sections is vertically symmetric, and the top surface and the bottom surface thereof are respectively provided with the convex curved surfaces 21330.
It is worth mentioning that when the pillow body 210 is worn by the user U, the pair of front support sections 21331, 21332 is located at the front position and is supported between the lower jaw and the chest of the user U. However, the space under the head of the user U is relatively large, so that the space between the chest and the lower jaw needs to be supported, so that the support demand is different from the support of the shoulder and the back, but the enlarged end portions of each of the set of front support segments 21331, 21332 can satisfy the requirement. In other words, the head of the user U does not need to be tilted downward with a relatively large extent, or the neck of the user U does not need to bend too much.
Referring to FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, a first alternative mode of the above first and second embodiments of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the pillow body 210 comprises a reception pocket 214. The reception pocket 214 is arranged at the main body 213, or alternatively the first end portion 211. The constriction assembly 220 is arranged at the main body 213 in a hidden manner, wherein the constriction assembly 220 has a hidden condition and an exposing condition. When the constriction assembly 220 is in the hidden condition, as shown in FIG. 10, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 of the constriction assembly 220 are shrunk and pulled back to be hidden in the reception pocket 214. When the constriction assembly 220 is in the exposing condition, as shown in FIG. 11, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 of the constriction assembly 220 are extended and pulled out from the reception pocket 214 to be exploded outside the reception pocket 214 to facilitate the user U to operate and constrict the rollable pillow 200. In order to facilitate the shrinking and extending of the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 of constriction assembly 220, the constriction strap 224 and the first connecting strap 224′ are both preferred to be made of elastic material.
The reception pocket 214 has an inner side wall and an outer side wall defining a reception chamber 2104 therebetween and an opening 2105 communicating the reception chamber 2104 with outside at a front portion of the reception pocket 214. The constriction assembly 220 is arranged to be received in the reception chamber 2104 in a hidden manner.
According to this first alternative mode, the reception pocket 214 is arranged at a predetermined position of the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 where the constriction assembly 220 is arranged thereat, configured to cover and receive the constriction assembly 220. In other words, a configuration position of the reception pocket 214 is arranged with respect to the constriction assembly 220 for hiding the constriction assembly 220 within the reception pocket 214 when the rollable pillow 200 is used in the opening condition 201.
According to the first alternative mode, the reception pocket 214 is integrally provided, such as by sewing, at the outer side 2132 of the pillow body 210 with respect to the constriction member 221 and/or the first joining member 222 which are arranged at the outer side 2132 of the pillow body 210 through the constriction strap 224 and/or the first connecting strap 224′ respectively in such a manner that the elastic constriction strap 224 and/or the elastic first connecting strap 224′ and the constriction member 221 and/or the first joining member 222 are normally shrunk and pulled back to be received in the reception pocket 214 in a hidden manner as shown in FIG. 10. Preferably, the reception pocket 214 is arranged at the pillow body 210 adjacent to the first end portion 211 and the constriction strap 224 and the first connecting strap 224′ are both connected to the inner side wall of the reception pocket 214 or the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 at a position covered by the reception pocket 214.
Alternatively, in one embodiment, the reception pocket 214 can also be arranged at the first end portion 211 with respect to the constriction member 221 and/or the first joining member 222 which are arranged at the first end portion 211 in such manner that the constriction member 221 and/or the first joining member 222 connected to the first end portion 211 through the constriction strap 224 and/or the first connecting strap 224′ are normally shrunk and pulled back to be received in the reception pocket 214.
According to this first alternative mode, the constriction strap 224 and the first connecting strap 224′ are made of elastic material, so that the user U may apply a pulling force to pull out the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 by extending the constriction strap 224 and the first connecting strap 224′, as shown in FIG.
11.
In the second alternative mode, an elongated elastic strap is used to form the constriction strap 224 and the first connecting strap 224′, wherein the elongated elastic strap is fixed, such as by sewing, to the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 within the reception pocket 214 at a position thereof dividing a shorter portion as the first connecting strap 224′ having free end connected with the first joining member 222 and a longer portion as the constriction strap 224 having a proximal end 2241 fixed to the outer side 2132 and a distal end 2242 connected with the constriction member 221 in such a manner that the constriction member 221 is movable along the constriction strap 224, wherein the constriction member 221 is moved and held in position near the proximal end 2241 thereof adapted for connecting with the second joining member 223 during the closed condition 202 of the pillow body 210 or for extending around the furled pillow body 210 to connect with the first joining member 222 during the furled condition 203 of the pillow body 210.
Preferably, the reception pocket 214 is made of the same material of the pillow body 210 and embodied as a cover panel sewed to the outer side 2132 of the main body 213, wherein the cover panel is the outer side wall of the reception pocket 214 and the corresponding portion of the outer side 2132 is the inner side wall of the reception pocket 214. Alternatively, the reception pocket 214 can be made of rigid material such as plastic and embodied as a tubular body or a cover having a U-shape cross section to be attached on the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 as shown in FIG. 12.
In order to furl and retain the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 of the constriction assembly 220 is taken out of the reception pocket 214 by pulling the first connecting strap 224′ to extend out of the reception pocket 214 via its opening 2105, wherein the user U may roll up the pillow body 210 to the furled condition 202, as shown in FIG. 13, and extend the constriction member 221 around the furled pillow body 210 to connect with the first joining member 222, wherein the extended constriction strap 224 encircles and wraps around furled pillow body 210 to constrict the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state. By shrinking the constriction strap 224, the furled spiral structure 206 will be further shrunk to reduce the size and volume of the rollable pillow 200. Also, the connection between the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 prevents the first end portion 211 from freely rebounding back to its normal unfurled form due to the elastic force of the pillow body 210.
In one embodiment, the reception pocket 214 can also be arranged within the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 while the opening 2105 is provided in the outer side 2132, so that the reception pocket 214 is arranged in hidden manner that is not appeared on the surface of the pillow body 210 so as to ensure a more neat, compact and beautiful appearance of the rollable pillow 200.
When the connection between constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 is released during the furled condition 202 as shown in FIG. 13, the constriction strap 224 and the first connecting strap 224′ are shrunk to pull the detached constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 back to be received in the reception pocket 214, and the pillow body 210 will recover its original arc-shape as shown in FIG. 10.
When the user U wears the rollable pillow 200 in the opening condition 201, he/she can hide the constriction assembly 220 in the reception pocket 214. And, when the rollable pillow 200 is required to be furled in the furled state, he or she can roll up the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203 and take the constriction assembly 220 out of the reception pocket 214 to constrict the furled spiral structure 206 of the rollable pillow 200, so that the constriction assembly 220 is just pulled out and exploded when it is needed to be used, while other conditions the constriction assembly 220 is hided within the reception pocket 214.
As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, a second alternative mode according to the above first and second embodiments of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 of the constriction assembly 220 are respectively arranged at different positions of the pillow body 210, wherein the force points of the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 are different. Accordingly, the constriction member 221 is connected to the first end portion 211 through the extensible constriction strap 224 and the first joining member 222 is connected to a predetermined position of the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 through the first connecting strap 224′, wherein one end of the first connecting strap 224′ is attached to the outer side 2132 and the other end of the first connecting strap 224′ is connected to the first joining member 224′.
In order to furl the pillow body 210, the second end portion 212 is rolled up towards the first end portion 211, wherein the outer side 2132 is rolled up inwardly along the inner side 2131 to form the furled spiral structure 206. Then, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 are respectively extended towards two opposite directions until the constriction member 221 meets the first joining member 222 for joining and connecting with each other to constrict the furled spiral structure 206.
Preferably, the constriction member 221 is arranged at the first end portion 211 adjacent to the outer side 2132, and the first joining member 222 is arranged at the predetermined position of the outer side 2132 close to the first end portion 211 and away from the second end portion 212 to increase the constriction force of the constriction assembly 220 to the furled spiral structure 206.
Referring to FIG. 16 to FIG. 17B, a third alternative mode of the above first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention, wherein the constriction assembly 220 merely comprises the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 which are both arranged at the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210. For example, the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 are both arranged at a side position or a middle position of the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210, such that when the pillow body 210 is furled, the constriction assembly 220 is exposed to the outside and is capable of restraining and constricting the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203.
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17A, the first connecting strap 224′ is embodied as a loop for the first joining member 222 and the assistance holding member 225 thereto, and the constriction strap 224 is embodied as an elongated strap having a proximal end 2241 attached to the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 and a distal end 2242 connected with the constriction member 221 such that the constriction member 221 is configured to connect with the constriction strap 224 in such a manner that the constriction member 221 is movable along the constriction strap 224 and able to be held in any predetermined position along the constriction strap 224 between its proximal end 2241 and the distal end 2242.
Referring to FIG. 17A, in order to roll and furl the pillow body 210 into the furled condition 203, the user U may either roll up the second end portion 212 towards the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210 to furl the pillow body 210 to the furled condition 203 or wind the first end portion 211 of the pillow body 210 around with respect to the second end portion 212 to form the furled condition 203. To retain the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203, the constriction member 221 is cycled and wrapped around the furled pillow body 210 to reach and connect with the first joining member 222 so as to constrict the furl pillow body 210 in the furled state. In other words, an end of the second end portion 212 can function as a center while the other end of the first end portion 211 is wrapped around the center to form the furled spiral structure 206, and then the constriction member 221 or the first joining member 222 is wound around the outside of the furled pillow body 210 until the constriction member 221 and the first joining member 222 are connected to each other, so as to stably restrain the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state.
Referring to FIG. 17B, the pillow body 210 can be furled in an alternative manner that both the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are furled inwardly until the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 are overlapped with each and wrapped around by the main body 213 of the pillow body 210, or that the main body 213 is wound around the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212 to form the furled condition 203 as shown in FIG. 17B. Then, the constriction member 221 can be cycled and wrapped around the pillow body 210 until reaching and connecting with the first joining member 222 to constrict the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 203, so that the rollable pillow 200 is retained in the furled state thereof.
It is worth mentioning that the constriction member 221 and the constriction strap 224 are embodied as an elongated constriction string, the first joining member 222 and the first connecting strap 224′ are embodied as a first string, and the second joining member 223 and the second connecting strap 224″ are embodied as a second string, wherein the elongated constriction string and the first string can be affixed to the first end portion 211 or the outer side 2132 of the main body 213 of the pillow body 210 and the second string can be affixed to the second end portion 212, such that the constriction string is capable of tying up with the second string to retain the pillow body 210 in the arc-shape and adjust the distance between the first end portion 211 and the second end portion 212, and that the constriction string is capable of simply tying up with the first string to retain the pillow body 210 in the furled condition 210 so as to retain the rollable pillow 200 in the furled state.
As shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, a rollable pillow 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The rollable pillow 300 comprises a pillow body 310 which has a first end portion 311, a second end portion 312, and a main body 313 which is extended between the first end portion 311 and the second end portion 312. The main body 313 has an inner side 3131 and an outer side 3132. The rollable pillow 300 further comprises a constriction member 330 which is a loop shaped elastic strap affixed to the first end portion 311, the second end portion 312 or a predetermined position of an outer side 3132 of the main body 313 of the pillow body 310 for constricting the pillow body 310.
The pillow body 310 of the rollable pillow 300 has a closed condition 302 as shown in FIG. 18. In the closed condition 302, the pillow body 310 is extended in normal arc-shape, such as U-shape or C-shape, that the first end portion 311 and the second end portion 312 are facing towards the same direction to form an entrance 3101 between the first end portion 311 and the second end portion 312. The pillow body 310 of the rollable pillow 300 has a furled condition 303, wherein the first end portion 311 is wrapped around the second end portion 312 to form a furled spiral structure 306, wherein the second end portion 312 is furled in an inner position and the first end portion 311 is furled in an outer position. The rollable pillow 300, which can be changed between the open condition 301 for use and the furled condition 303 for carrying and storage, is adapted for the need of different usages.
The pillow body 310 can be made of various elastic and flexible materials to facilitate bending and deformation in the closed state 302 and the furled state 303 and to be suitable to contact with a body part of the user. Preferably, the pillow body 310 can be made of an elastic and flexible material, such as memory foam, so that the pillow body 310 can return to its original shape and form after the compressing or deforming force applied to the pillow body 310 is released.
Alternatively, if the pillow body 310 is made of flexible material such as hydrophilic cotton, the pillow body 310 is normally extended in linear shape like what is shown in FIG. 1A, wherein the pillow body 310 is in an opening condition adapted to be used as a cushion pillow for waist support or arm support. The loop shaped constriction member 330 is arranged at the first end portion 311 and may provide a buttonhole 3301, wherein a button 3302 may be provided at the second end portion 312 configured for connecting with the buttonhole 3301. When the pillow body 310 is bent to form an arc-shaped structure as shown in FIG. 18, the pillow body 310 is in the closed condition 302, wherein the first end portion 311 and the second end portion 312 are closed with each other and the button 3302 can be fastened with the buttonhole 3301 so as to retain the arc-shape closed condition 302 of the pillow body 310. If the user would like the distance between the first end portion 311 and the second end portion 312 during the closed condition being adjustable, either one or more buttonholes 3301 can be formed in the constriction member 330 or one or more buttons 3302 can be provided at the second end portion 312, so that by controlling the connection between which button 3302 with which buttonhole 3301, a size of the entrance 3101 can be adjusted so as to control and adjust the distance between the first end portion 311 and the second end portion 312.
According to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the closed condition 302, two ends of the outer side 3132 are bended towards the inner side 3131 so as to extend in a substantial arc-shape to form an arc support structure 305 for supporting a specific body part of the user, such as a neck. The outer side 3132 is facing outside and the inner side 3131 is facing inside and defines an annular enclosing room 3102 to receive the body part of the user, such as the neck. The entrance 321 is communicated with the annular enclosing room 322, so that when used, the neck can be into the annular enclosing room 322 via the entrance 3101, so that the main body 313 is arranged to rest on the shoulder of the user and surround his or her neck. Of course, the arc support structure 305 of the pillow body 310 can also be used to support other body parts of the user, such as a back and a waist. One skilled in the art will understand that the support way of the arc support structure 305 is not intended to be limiting the scope of the present invention.
According to the third preferred embodiment, in order to furl the pillow body 310 in the furled condition 303, as shown in FIG. 19, the second end portion 312 is rolled up and furled towards the first end portion 311 of the pillow body 310, wherein the outer side 3132 is rolled up along the inner side 3131 to form the furled spiral structure 306. In particular, during the furled condition 303, the pillow body 310 is furled to form the furled spiral structure 306, that is the pillow body 310 is transformed from a relatively larger size and volume when the pillow body 310 is unfurled in the closed condition 302 to a relatively smaller size and volume when the pillow body 310 is furled into the furled condition 303 for ease and convenient of carrying and storage, as shown in FIG. 19. In other words, in the furled condition 303, the annular enclosing room 322 of the inner side 3131 of the pillow body 310 is eliminated in such a manner that the main body 313 is generally rolled up in layers to reduce the occupying space of the main body 313 when it is stored in a carrying bag.
In order to retain the furled condition 303 of the pillow body 310, the elastic constriction member 330 is used to wrap around the furled pillow body 310 so as to constrict the pillow body 310 in the furled condition 303. The constriction member 330, which is made of elastic material, can elastically constrict the furled spiral structure 306 of the rollable pillow 300.
According to the third preferred embodiment, the constriction member 330 itself forms a closed constricting structure to retain the furled spiral structure 306 of the rollable pillow 300 by encircling and wrapping around the furled pillow body 310 so as to stably maintain the furled condition 303 of the pillow body 310.
The constriction member 330 can be embodied as various elastic members to be suitable for maintaining the furled spiral structure 306, such as but not limited to elastic band made of fabric, rubber or plastic. When the pillow body 310 is required to be furled from the closed condition 302 to the furled condition 303, the user only needs to stretch and enlarge the constriction member 330 to have a larger loop shape that is at least slightly larger than the overall size of the furled pillow body 310, and to encircle and wrap around the outer side 3132 of the pillow body 310 to form a stable furled spiral structure 306 in compact size without complex operation. When the rollable pillow 300 is need to release the furled condition 303 for use, the user may simply unwrap the constriction member 330 from the furled pillow body 310 from one side thereof, so that the constriction of the pillow body 310 is released and the pillow body 310 will naturally stretch out and return to its normal form, such as the closed condition 302, due to its own elasticity, without the need of extra operation.
The constriction member 330 can be arranged at any suitable position where the constriction member 330 is able to be operated to constrict the furled spiral structure 306 in the furled condition 303. Beside attaching the constriction member 330 to the first end portion 311 or the second end portion 312, according to a first alternative mode of the above third preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, the constriction member 330 can be arranged at the outer side 3132 of the main body 313 of the pillow body 310 at a position adjacent to the first end portion 311 of the pillow body 310, so that a force point of the constriction member 330 is positioned on the outer side 3132 and the loop shape constriction member 330 applies two opposite elastic forces in opposite directions from the force point to constrict the pillow body 310 in the furled condition 303 and ensure the pillow body 310 being wholly compressed and furled to retain in the furled spiral structure 306. The constriction of the furled pillow body 310 by the constriction member 330 can also prevent the first end portion 311 from freely dispersing and returning to its original shape such as the closed condition 302 due to the elasticity of the pillow body 310.
It is worth mentioning that the loop shaped constriction member 330 may also function as an assistance holding member for hanging the rollable pillow 300 to an object such as a carrying bag or backpack. It is also worth mentioning that when the pillow body 310 is in the closed condition 302, the size and volume thereof is relatively large and not convenient to carry. After the pillow body 310 is rolled up and furled to the furled condition 303 and constricted in the furled condition 303 by the constriction member 330, whenever the user needs to use the rollable pillow 300, the user may simply unwrap the constriction member 330 to release the constriction of the pillow body 310 which will automatically return to its original arc-shape form for use anytime. According to the present invention, when the user needs to use, the rollable pillow 300 is normally in the closed state 302 to support the body part of the user for rest. When it is not in use, the user can roll the outer side 3132 of the pillow body 310 up along the inner side to form the furled spiral structure 306 and constrict the furled pillow body 310 by the constriction member 330 to retain the furled spiral structure 306 of the rollable pillow 300 which has a substantial circular shape with smaller size and volume, adapted for conveniently placing in a pocket, a carrying bag, a backpack, or a duffel bag. Alternatively, the user may also simply suspend the rollable pillow 300 by the constriction member 330 as the assistance holding member, such as hanging the rollable pillow 300 in the furled condition 303 on a side of a backpack without occupying extra space. When needed, the user can take the rollable pillow 300 from the side of the backpack, and perform a simple unwrapping operation of the constriction member 330 from the furled pillow body 310, the pillow body 310 freely stretches and returns to its normal arc-shape form due to its elasticity for the user to use as neck pillow any time.
Referring to FIGS. 21 to 22B, a second alternative mode of the constriction member 330 according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the constriction member 330 is arranged at a side of the outer side 3132 of the pillow body 310. For example, the constriction member 330 is affixed to the pillow body 310 at a side portion of the outer side 3132 of the pillow body 310 in such a manner that ,when the pillow body 310 is furled, the constriction member 330 is exposed to the outside and the pillow body 310 and can be restrained and constricted by the constriction member 330.
Referring to FIG. 22A, a first furling process of the rollable pillow 300 according to the second alternative mode of the third preferred embodiment is illustrated, wherein in order to furl the pillow body 310 to the furled condition 303, the first end portion 311 of the pillow body 310 can be wrapped around the second end portion 312 or the second end portion 312 of the pillow body 310 can be rolled up and furled towards the first end portion 311 to form the furled spiral structure 306. Then, the constriction member 330 can be wound and wrapped around the furled pillow body 310 in the furled condition 203 to elastically constrict the pillow body 310 so as to retain the pillow body 310 in the furled condition 303. In other words, either the first end portion 311 or the second end portion 312 can serve as a center of the furled pillow body 310 while the other end portion 311, 312 is wound around the center to form the furled spiral structure 306, and then the constriction member 330 is wound around the outside of the furled pillow body 310 to stably restrain and constrict the pillow body 310 in the furled condition 303.
Referring to FIG. 22B, a second furling process of the rollable pillow 300 according to the second alternative mode of the third preferred embodiment is illustrated, wherein in order to furl the pillow body 310 to the furled condition 303, the first end portion 311 and the second end portion 312 are both rolled up and furled inwardly the main body 313 of the pillow body 310 is wound around the first end portion 311 and the second end portion 312 to form the furled spiral structure 306. Then, the constriction loop 330 can be wound and wrapped around the furled pillow body 310 in the furled condition 303 to elastically constrict the pillow body 310 so as to retain the pillow body 310 in the furled condition 303.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A rollable pillow, which is adapted for being worn on a neck of a user, comprising:

an elongated pillow body having a first end portion, a second end portion and a main body extended between said first end portion and said second end portion, wherein said pillow body is normally extended in a closed position to form an arc-shaped support structure and able to be rolled up and furled to a furled condition to form a furled spiral structure; and

a constriction assembly comprising an extensible constriction member arranged at a first predetermined position of an outer side of said pillow body and a first joining member arranged at a second predetermined position of said outer side of said pillow body such that said constriction member is able to be extended to connect with said first joining member to constrict said pillow body in said furled condition so as to retain said rollable pillow in said furled spiral structure.

2. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 1, wherein said constriction assembly further comprises a constriction strap having a proximal end affixed to said outer side of said pillow body and a distal end coupling with said constriction member, wherein said constriction strap is extended to wrap around said pillow body in said furled condition until said constriction member reaches said first joining member and connects with said first joining member so that said constriction strap surrounding and constricting said pillow body in said furled condition substantially retains said rollable pillow in said furled spiral structure.

3. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 2, wherein said constriction member is coupled with said constriction strap that said constriction member is able to be moved along said constriction strap and held in position at a predetermined position between said proximal end and said distal end of said constriction strap, wherein when said constriction strap is extending to wrap and surround said pillow body in said furled condition, said constriction member is moved and held in position closer to said distal end of said constriction strap, wherein by reducing the distance between said proximal end of said constriction strap and said constriction member, said constriction strap is able to compress and constrict said pillow body in said furled condition.

4. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second joining member arranged at said second end portion of said pillow body.

5. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a second joining member arranged at said second end portion of said pillow body.

6. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 3, further comprising a second joining member arranged at said second end portion of said pillow body.

7. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 1, wherein said constriction member is arranged at said first end portion of said pillow body.

8. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 4, wherein said constriction member is arranged at said first end portion of said pillow body and configured to be able to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

9. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 4, wherein said first joining member is arranged at said first end portion of said pillow body and configured to be able to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

10. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 5, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to said first end portion of said pillow body and said constriction member is configured to be able to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

11. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 5, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to said first end portion of said pillow body and said constriction member is configured to be able to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

12. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 6, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to said first end portion of said pillow body and said constriction member is configured to be able to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

13. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 6, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to said first end portion of said pillow body and said constriction member is configured to be able to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

14. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 1, wherein said constriction member and said first joining member are arranged at an outer side of said main body of said pillow body.

15. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 2, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to an outer side of said main body of said pillow body and said first joining member is arranged at said outer side of said main body of said pillow body.

16. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 3, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to an outer side of said main body of said pillow body and said first joining member is arranged at said outer side of said main body of said pillow body.

17. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 4, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to an outer side of said main body of said pillow body, wherein said first joining member is arranged at said first end portion and configured to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

18. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 5, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to an outer side of said main body of said pillow body, wherein said first joining member is arranged at said first end portion and configured to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

19. The rollable pillow, as recited in claim 6, wherein said proximal end of said constriction strap is affixed to an outer side of said main body of said pillow body, wherein said first joining member is arranged at said first end portion and configured to connect with said second joining member to adjust and control a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion.

20. A rollable pillow, which is adapted for being worn on a neck of a user, comprising:

a constriction assembly comprising a loop shaped constriction member, made of elastic material, arranged at a predetermined position of an outer side of said pillow body in such a manner that said constriction member is able to be extended to encircle and wrap around said pillow body in said furled condition so as to constrict and retain said rollable pillow in said furled spiral structure.

21. A furling method of a rollable pillow adapted for being worn on a neck of a user, comprising the steps of:

(a) rolling up and furling a second end portion of a pillow body of said rollable pillow towards a first end portion of said pillow body to form a furled spiral structure;

(b) extending a constriction strap, which has a proximal end affixed to an outer side of said pillow body and a distal end coupled with a constriction member, to encircle and wrap around said furled spiral structure of said pillow body until said constriction member reaching a first joining member arranged at said outer side of said pillow body; and

(c) connecting said constriction member with said first joining member so as to constrict said pillow body in a furled condition by said constriction strap wrapping around said pillow body in said furled condition so as to retain said furled spiral structure.

22. A furling method of a rollable pillow adapted for being worn on a neck of a user, comprising the steps of:

(a) rolling up a second end portion of a pillow body of said rollable pillow towards a first end portion of said pillow body so as to furl said pillow body in a furled condition; and

(b) enlarging a constriction member, which is made of elastic material to form a loop shape strap, and wrapping around said pillow body in said furled condition so as to constrict and retain said pillow body in said furled condition to form a furled spiral structure.