Pillow having a work surface

Abstract

The invention generally pertains to a pillow convertible between an open position as a food and beverage holder and a closed position as a pillow. By way of example, the pillow has a first and second pillow portion that may be coupled and uncoupled to switch between a closed position and an open position. The pillow also has a food surface member with one or more beverage holders that is sized to fit within the interior of the pillow in the closed position. In another example, the food surface member is a two-piece construction with a slidable tray lock that moves between a first position when the pillow is closed and a second position that secures the two pieces together as a substantially coplanar surface when the pillow is open. In yet another example, the beverage holder is tapered so as to fit a variety of sizes of beverage containers.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A convertible pillow comprising:
 a pillow member having a first pillow portion and a second pillow portion, each portion having a cushion material for a user to rest on in a closed position as a pillow; and   a rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface in an open position as a surface, the rigid surface member sized to be located inside the pillow member and substantially surrounded by the cushion material of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion in the closed position as a pillow.   
     
     
         25 . The convertible pillow of  claim 24 , further comprising a pillow fastening mechanism for securing the first pillow portion to the second pillow portion in the closed position as a pillow. 
     
     
         26 . The convertible pillow of  claim 24 , wherein said rigid surface member further comprises a two-piece rigid surface member having a first surface piece and a second surface piece, at least one edge of the first surface piece adjacent at least one edge of the second surface piece in an open position as a surface. 
     
     
         27 . The convertible pillow of  claim 24 , wherein said the pillow member further comprise a section of an edge of the first pillow portion coupled to a section of an edge of the second pillow portion to form a hinge member for pivoting between the closed position as a pillow and the open position as a surface. 
     
     
         28 . The convertible pillow of  claim 24 , wherein at least a part of the first pillow portion and a part of the second pillow portion supports the rigid surface member in the open position as a surface. 
     
     
         29 . The convertible pillow of  claim 24 , wherein the substantially planar surface further comprises a non-skid textured surface. 
     
     
         30 . The convertible pillow of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one beverage holder disposed within the surface member and configured to securely receive different sizes of beverage containers. 
     
     
         31 . A convertible pillow comprising:
 a pillow member having a first pillow portion and a second pillow portion, each portion having a cushion material for a user to rest on in a closed position as a pillow; and   a two-piece rigid surface member having a first surface piece and a second surface piece, at least one edge of the first surface piece adjacent at least one edge of the second surface piece in an open position as a surface, the two-piece rigid surface member sized to be inside the pillow member in the closed position as a pillow.   
     
     
         32 . The convertible pillow of  claim 31 , further comprising a pillow fastening mechanism for securing the first pillow portion to the second pillow portion in the closed position as a pillow. 
     
     
         33 . The convertible pillow of  claim 31 , wherein said the pillow member further comprise a section of an edge of the first pillow portion coupled to a section of an edge of the second pillow portion to form a hinge member for pivoting between the closed position as a pillow and the open position as a surface. 
     
     
         34 . The convertible pillow of  claim 31 , wherein at least a part of the first pillow portion and a part of the second pillow portion supports the two-piece rigid surface member in the open position as a surface. 
     
     
         35 . The convertible pillow of  claim 31 , wherein the two-piece rigid surface member further comprises a non-skid textured surface. 
     
     
         36 . The convertible pillow of  claim 31 , further comprising at least one beverage holder disposed within the two-piece rigid surface member and configured to securely receive different sizes of beverage containers. 
     
     
         37 . A method of providing a convertible pillow comprising:
 providing a convertible pillow having,
 a pillow member having a first pillow portion and a second pillow portion, each portion having a cushion material for a user to rest on in a closed position as a pillow; and 
 a rigid surface member having a substantially planar surface in an open position as a surface, the rigid surface member sized to be located inside the pillow member and substantially surrounded by the cushion material of the first pillow portion and the second pillow portion in the closed position as a pillow. 
   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said providing a convertible pillow further comprises providing a pillow fastening mechanism for securing the first pillow portion to the second pillow portion in the closed position as a pillow. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said rigid surface member further comprises a two-piece rigid surface member having a first surface piece and a second surface piece, at least one edge of the first surface piece adjacent at least one edge of the second surface piece in an open position as a surface.