Pillowcase construction and method of using same

Abstract

The invention is a pillowcase for use in covering a conventional bed sleeping pillow. The pillowcase has a length and width, and an open edge running the length of the pillowcase and an interior pouch positioned at the open edge. The interior pouch is integral with the interior of the pillowcase, running along the entire length of the pillowcase and having a depth of less than about half of the pillowcase width. The pillowcase is configured to receive a pillow through the open edge and secure the pillow within the interior of the pillowcase by engaging a portion of the pillow with the interior pouch. A pillowcase of the invention speeds and facilitates pillowcase changes (for example, in the hospitality industry) while ensuring a completely covered pillow for the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pillowcase with interior pouch comprising:
 (a) a front surface;   (b) a reverse surface; and   (c) a pouch surface;   where said pouch surface is disposed between said front surface and said back surface forming a pouch on an interior surface of the pillowcase.   
     
     
         2 . A pillowcase of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) said front surface has an obverse side, a reverse side, a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge; 
 (b) said reverse surface has an obverse side, a reverse side, a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge, and 
 (c) said pouch surface has a first side, a second side, a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge. 
 
     
     
         3 . A pillowcase of  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the top edge of said front surface is attached to said top edge of said back surface such that the reverse side of said front surface faces the reverse side of said back surface; and 
 (b) the bottom edge of said pouch surface is attached to the bottom edge of said front surface such that the first side of said pouch surface faces the reverse side of said front surface and such that the second side of said pouch surface faces the reverse side of said back surface. 
 
     
     
         4 . A pillowcase of  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) at least a portion of the left edge of said front surface is attached to at least a portion of the right edge of said back surface; and 
 (b) at least a portion of the right edge of said front surface is attached to at least a portion of the left edge of said back surface; 
 surface. 
 
     
     
         5 . A pillowcase of  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) at least a portion of the right edge of said pouch surface is attached to ( 1 ) at least a portion of the right edge of said front surface and ( 2 ) at least a portion of the left edge of said back surface; and 
 (b) at least a portion of the left edge of said pouch surface is attached to ( 1 ) at least a portion of the left edge of said front surface and ( 2 ) at least a portion of the right edge of said back surface. 
 
     
     
         6 . A pillowcase of  claim 2  comprising an opening positioned along the bottom edge of said front surface leading towards an interior section of the pillowcase. 
     
     
         7 . A pillowcase of  claim 2  where said front surface is substantially the same size of the back surface. 
     
     
         8 . A pillowcase of  claim 2  where the span of the top edge of the front surface, the span of the bottom edge of the front surface, the span of the top edge of the reverse surface, the span of the bottom edge of the reverse surface, the span of the top edge of the pouch surface and the span of the bottom edge of the pouch surface are substantially the same. 
     
     
         9 . A pillowcase of  claim 8  where the span of the left edge of the front surface, the span of the right edge of the front surface, the span of the left edge of the reverse surface and the span of the right edge of the reverse surface are substantially the same. 
     
     
         10 . A pillowcase of  claim 9  where (a) the span of the left edge of the pouch surface is between about a third the span and a quarter the span of the left edge of the front surface and (b) the span of the right edge of the pouch surface is between about a third the span and a quarter the span of the right edge of the front surface. 
     
     
         11 . A pillowcase of  claim 2  further comprising (1) piping cord positioned along at least a portion of the right edge of said front surface and (2) piping cord positioned along at least a portion of the left edge of said front surface. 
     
     
         12 . A pillowcase of  claim 2  comprised of cotton. 
     
     
         13 . A pillowcase of  claim 2  comprised of a cotton and polyester blend. 
     
     
         14 . A method of making a pillowcase with interior pouch comprising:
 (a) positioning a substantially rectangular sheet of material having a length and a width, said sheet comprising an upper segment, a lower segment, and a middle segment disposed between said upper segment and said lower segment,   (b) folding the upper segment of said sheet onto the middle segment;   (c) folding the lower segment of said sheet onto the upper segment;   (d) joining a portion of the upper segment to a portion of the middle segment; and   (e) joining a portion of the lower segment to a portion of the upper segment.   
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 14  where said substantially rectangular sheet has a length of about 45.75 inches and a width of about 41 inches. 
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 14  where said joining a portion of the upper segment to a portion of the middle segment comprises sewing said portions, and where said joining a portion of the lower segment to a portion of the upper segment comprises sewing said portions. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manipulating a pillow in a pillowcase comprising:
 (a) inserting a pillow into a pillowcase via an opening within the pillowcase; and   (b) securing said pillow within the interior of the pillowcase by engaging the pillow with a pouch located on the interior of said pillowcase.   
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 (c) disengaging said pillow from said pouch; and 
 (b) completely removing said pillow from the interior of the pillowcase via said opening. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 18  where said pillowcase is substantially rectangular having a length and a width, where the span of said width is longer than the span of said length. 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 19  where said opening is positioned along the width of the pillowcase.