Head Encircling Sensory Deprivation Pillow

Abstract

A sleep-enhancing device comprising an elongated pillow that wraps around the eyes and ears of the user and is thick enough to enable the user to rest their head on a hard surface without any part of their face touching the hard surface.

1 . A sleep-enhancing device, comprising:
 an elongated pillow, the elongated pillow comprising:
 an outer shell of a generally tubular shape, the outer shell comprising a first end and a second end, the length of the outer shell being slightly greater than the circumference of an average person's head; 
 a soft stuffing material evenly disposed on the interior of the outer shell; 
 a first fastener on the first end; 
 a second fastener on the second end; 
 wherein the first fastener and the second fastener can attach to each other; 
   wherein the elongated pillow is configured to fully encompass a user's head;   wherein the elongated pillow can conform to the shape of a user's nose without leaving any gaps through which light can leak in;   wherein the elongated pillow portion, when compressed by the weight of approximately 45N, is more than 2.5 cm thick.   
     
     
         2 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated pillow blocks at least 8 decibels of sound. 
     
     
         3 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated pillow is approximately 36 inches long, 4.5 inches high, and 3 inches thick when uncompressed. 
     
     
         4 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the soft stuffing material is selected from the group consisting of down, microbeads, air, foam, cotton and wool. 
     
     
         5 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the soft stuffing material is polyfiber fill. 
     
     
         6 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated pillow is opaque to light. 
     
     
         7 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is made of polyester fleece. 
     
     
         8 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is made of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, corduroy, velvet, polyester, cotton, linen, nylon, broadcloth, buckram, bunting, calico, artificial leather, felt, hide/leather, natural rubber, tyvek. 
     
     
         9 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is made of an airtight material and the soft stuffing material is air. 
     
     
         10 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 9 , wherein the airtight material is plastic film. 
     
     
         11 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal cross-sectional area of the outer shell is approximately the same along the length of the outer shell. 
     
     
         12 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener and the second fasteners are selected from the group consisting of hooks, magnets, snaps, ties, buttons. 
     
     
         14 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener and the second fastener may be attached in at least two different positions. 
     
     
         15 . The sleep-enhancing device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following group:
 speakers;   a heating element insert;   a scented insert.