Neck pillow having a strap

Abstract

The present invention relates to a neck pillow having a strap to support and comport the neck and the lower head of a user for providing support, comfort, safety, convenience and convenient carriage. The neck pillow includes first and second fabric layers, having a central portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, and a strap portion. The neck pillow further includes an elastic band placed between the strap portions. The central portion is constructed in a substantially hemispheric form and the left and right side portions extend and taper upwardly from the central portion. Additionally, the strap portion is configured to form a hemispheric shape and extends towards the left and right side portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A neck pillow having a strap, comprising:
 a first fabric layer, which comprises
 a first central portion, constructed in a substantially hemispheric form; 
 a first left side portion, extending upwardly from an upper left end of the first central portion; 
 a first right side portion, extending upwardly from an upper right end of the first central portion; and 
 a first strap portion configured to form a hemispheric shape, extending towards an upper end of the first left side portion and an upper end of the first right side portion; 
   a second fabric layer, substantially identical to the first fabric layer, which comprises
 a second central portion, constructed in a substantially hemispheric form; 
 a second left side portion, extending upwardly from an upper left end of the second central portion; 
 a second right side portion, extending upwardly from an upper right end of the second central portion; and 
 a second strap portion configured to form a hemispheric shape, extending towards a left end of the second left side portion and a right end of the second right side portion; and 
   an elastic band placed between the first strap portion and the second strap portion;   
       wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are substantially identical and sewn together; 
       wherein an inner space defined by the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer, except the first and second strap portions, is filled with an elastic material to form a U-shaped neck pillow. 
     
     
         2 . The neck pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the first central portion has a first vertical radius of 7 to 7.5 inches and a second horizontal radius of 8 to 9 inches, substantially hemispherically tapering from the vertical width; and
 wherein the second central portion has a second vertical radius of 7 to 7.5 inches and a second horizontal radius of 8 to 9 inches, substantially hemispherically tapering from the vertical width.   
     
     
         3 . The neck pillow of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second vertical radiuses are about 7.5 inches and the first and second horizontal radiuses are about 8.5 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The neck pillow of  claim 2 , wherein the first left side portion extends and tapers upwardly from the left upper end of the first central portion, having a vertical length of 5 to 6 inches and tapering to a width of 4 and 4.5 inches;
 wherein the first right side portion extends and tapers upwardly from the right upper end of the first central portion, having a vertical length of 5 to 6 inches and tapering to a width of 4 and 4.5 inches;   wherein the second left side portion extends and tapers upwardly from the upper left end of the second central portion, having a vertical length of 5 to 6 inches and tapering to a width of 4 and 4.5 inches;   wherein the second right side portion extends and tapers upwardly from the upper right end of the second central portion, having a vertical length of 5 to 6 inches and tapering to a width of 4 and 4.5 inches.   
     
     
         5 . The neck pillow of  claim 4 , wherein the first left and right side portions and the second left and right side portions have the vertical length of about 5.5 inches, and the first left and right side portions and the second left and right side portions taper to a width of about 4.25 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The neck pillow of  claim 4 , wherein the first strap portion has a horizontal width of 4 to 4.5 inches and a vertical width of 1.75 to 2.25 inches; and
 wherein the second strap portion has a horizontal width of 4 to 4.5 inches and a vertical width of 1.75 to 2.25 inches.   
     
     
         7 . The neck pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the first strap portion has a horizontal width of about 4.25 inches and a vertical width of about 2 inches; and
 wherein the second strap portion has a horizontal width of about 4.25 inches and a vertical width of about 2 inches.   
     
     
         8 . The neck pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the elastic material is cotton, wool, foam, micro-polyester, duck or goose down, polyester, nylon, natural fabric, or synthetic fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The neck pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the elastic material is micro-polyester. 
     
     
         10 . The neck pillow of  claim 9 , wherein weight of the neck pillow is about 350 to 410 grams. 
     
     
         11 . The neck pillow of  claim 9 , wherein weight of the neck pillow is about 400 grams. 
     
     
         12 . The neck pillow of  claim 9 , wherein weight of the neck pillow is about 350 grams. 
     
     
         13 . The neck pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second fabric layers are made of cotton. 
     
     
         14 . The neck pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second fabric layers are made of about 50% of cotton and about 50% of silk. 
     
     
         15 . The neck pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second fabric layers are made of polyester. 
     
     
         16 . The neck pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second strap portions include anti-slip material for maintaining the position of the neck pillow relative to a seat when in use. 
     
     
         17 . The neck pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic band is stretchable. 
     
     
         18 . The neck pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic band is sewn to the upper left end of the first left side portion, the upper right end of the first right side portion, the upper left end of the second left side portion, and the upper right end of the second right side portion. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a neck pillow having a strap comprising the steps of:
 cutting a fabric to produce a first fabric layer wherein the first fabric layer comprises
 a first central portion, constructed in a substantially hemispheric form; 
 a first left side portion, extending upwardly from an upper left end of the first central portion; 
 a first right side portion, extending upwardly from an upper right end of the first central portion; and 
 a first strap portion configured to form a hemispheric shape, extending towards an upper end of the first left side portion and an upper end of the first right side portion; 
   cutting a fabric to produce a second fabric layer, substantially identical to the first fabric layer, which comprises
 a second central portion, constructed in a substantially hemispheric form; 
 a second left side portion, extending upwardly from an upper left end of the second central portion; 
 a second right side portion, extending upwardly from a upper right end of the second central portion; and 
 a second strap portion configured to form a hemispheric shape, extending towards an upper end of the second left side portion and an upper end of the second right side portion; 
   sewing the first and second fabric layers together along inner and outer seams, except a small opening portion, wherein the small opening portion is not located either at the first strap portion or the second strap portion;   inserting an elastic band through the small opening portion to place between the first and second strap portions;   sewing the elastic band to the left end of the first left side portion, the right end of the first right side portion, the left end of the second left side portion, and the right end of the second right side portion;   sewing the elastic band to about middle of the first and second strap portions;   filling an inner space, defined by the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer, except the first and second strap portions, with an elastic material to form a U-shaped neck pillow; and   sewing the small opening portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of applying anti-slip material to the first and second strap portions.