Feeding and support pillow

Abstract

A feeding and support pillow for babies includes a pillow cover containing filling material. The pillow generally defines a frame around a central open region, where the frame has first, second, third, and fourth longitudinal members. The distal end of the fourth longitudinal member is discontinuous with the proximal end portion of the first longitudinal member. The fourth longitudinal member can be converted between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the fourth longitudinal member is generally coplanar with the first, second, and third longitudinal members. In the second position, the fourth longitudinal member is pivoted to extend transversely to the first, second, and third longitudinal members. In the second position, the pillow is constructed to extend around the user's waist with the fourth longitudinal member extending up the user's back.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A feeding and support pillow comprising:
 a pillow cover containing filling material and comprising:
 a first longitudinal member having a first proximal end portion and extending to a first distal end portion; 
 a second longitudinal member having a second proximal end portion joined to the first distal end portion at a first corner region and extending to a second distal end portion; 
 a third longitudinal member having a third proximal end portion joined to the second distal end portion at a second corner region and extending to a third distal end portion; and 
 a fourth longitudinal member having a fourth proximal end portion joined to the third distal end portion at a third corner region and extending to a fourth distal end portion; 
 wherein the fourth distal end portion is discontinuous with the first proximal end portion and the first longitudinal member, the second longitudinal member, the third longitudinal member, and the fourth longitudinal member generally define a frame around a central open region sized to accept an user's waist; and 
 wherein when the pillow is convertible between a first position in which the fourth longitudinal member extends towards the first proximal end portion, and a second position in which the fourth longitudinal member extends transverse to first longitudinal member, the second longitudinal member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising an connecting strap having a first strap end connected to the first proximal end portion and a second strap end connected to the third corner region. 
     
     
         3 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 2  further comprising a releasable fastening device between the first strap end and the second strap end. 
     
     
         4 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 1 , wherein an outside perimeter of the pillow cover is rectangular. 
     
     
         5 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 1 , wherein an outside perimeter of the pillow cover is arcuate. 
     
     
         6 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first longitudinal member, the second longitudinal member, and the third longitudinal member are arcuate. 
     
     
         7 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 5 , wherein the first corner region and the second corner region are rounded. 
     
     
         8 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the central open region has an ellipsoidal shape when the pillow is in the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the central open region defines a D shape when the pillow is in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The feeding and support pillow of  claim 1 , where the frame generally has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         11 . A method of supporting a baby comprising:
 providing a pillow cover containing filling material and comprising:
 a first longitudinal member extending from a first proximal end portion to a first distal end portion; 
 a second longitudinal member having a second proximal end portion joined to the first distal end portion at a first corner region and extending to a second distal end portion; 
 a third longitudinal member having a third proximal end portion joined to the second distal end portion at a second corner region and extending to a third distal end portion; and 
 a fourth longitudinal member having a fourth proximal end portion joined to the third distal end portion at a third corner region and extending to a fourth distal end portion; 
 wherein the fourth distal end portion is discontinuous with the first proximal end portion and the first longitudinal member, the second longitudinal member, the third longitudinal member, and the fourth longitudinal member generally define a frame around a central open region sized to accept an user's waist; 
   positioning the pillow around an user in a seated position with a waist of the user occupying the central open region and the first corner region on a lap of the user;   pivoting the fourth longitudinal member to extend upward along the user's back;   moving the first proximal end portion towards the third corner region, thereby constricting the central open region around the user's waist; and   positioning a baby on the first corner region in front of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising connecting a strap between the first proximal end portion and the third corner region. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the seated position is on an open floor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the seated position is on a floor adjacent a wall and wherein the step of pivoting the fourth longitudinal member includes positioning the fourth longitudinal member between a back of the user and the wall.