Pillow

Abstract

A pillow with a head zone for providing a generally flat cushion means interposed between a user's head and a surface upon which said user is resting; and two wings, configured to extend away from a center-line of the head zone towards wing ends, such that the deflated pillow is substantially U-shaped in the plane of the pillow. The head zone is substantially thinner than the wings. The pillow comprises an inflatable bladder removably received within a fabric cover, the bladder comprising two sheets of flexible material, joined together to define a space, suitable for inflating to provide a cushioned support and comprising wing portions for providing support in the wings of the pillow, and a channel, defined between the sheets of flexible material, configured to connect the wing portions, and positioned at a point in the head zone remote from the wing ends.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pillow having a shape which comprises:
 a head zone for providing a generally flat cushion means interposed between a user's head and a surface upon which said user is resting; and   two wings, configured to extend away from a center-line of the head zone towards wing ends such that the deflated pillow is substantially U-shaped in the plane of the pillow;   the head zone being substantially thinner than the wings;   the pillow comprising an inflatable bladder removably received within a fabric cover,   the bladder comprising two sheets of flexible material, joined together to define a space, suitable for inflating to provide a cushioned support and comprising wing portions for providing support in the wings of the pillow, and a channel, defined between the sheets of flexible material, configured to connect the wing portions, and positioned at a point in the head zone remote from the wing ends,   wherein, in the head zone, opposing sheets of fabric of the fabric cover are permanently or releasably joined together in a way that allows the inflatable bladder to be inserted into the fabric cover.   
     
     
         2 . A pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposing sheets of fabric are joined together by a joining means. 
     
     
         3 . A pillow according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position. 
     
     
         4 . A pillow according to  claim 3 , wherein the joining means closes the hole by fitting inside the hole. 
     
     
         5 . A pillow according to  claim 2 , wherein the opposing sheets of fabric are joined together by the joining means which is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric and/or permanently attached to the other of the opposing sheets of fabric. 
     
     
         6 . A pillow according to  claim 2 , wherein the joining means joins the opposing sheets of fabric by passing through the head zone. 
     
     
         7 . A pillow according to  claim 6 , wherein the inflatable bladder has a hole through which the joining means passes when joining the opposed sheets of fabric. 
     
     
         8 . A pillow according to  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the joining means forms part of the outer surface of the head zone when the joining means joins together the opposing sheets of fabric. 
     
     
         9 . A pillow according to  claim 8 , wherein the surface of the joining means comprises a non-slip material. 
     
     
         10 . A pillow according to  claim 8 , wherein the surface of the joining means has at least one ridge. 
     
     
         11 . A pillow according to  claim 2 , wherein the joining means is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric by the joining means catching or holding the sheet of fabric in the joining means. 
     
     
         12 . A pillow according to  claim 11 , wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position, and wherein the joining means is releasably attached to one of the opposing sheets of fabric by the joining means catching or holding the sheet of fabric at the perimeter of the hole in the joining means. 
     
     
         13 . A pillow according to  claim 11 , wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric is caught or held in the joining means between a projection or flange of the joining means and the other of the opposing sheets of fabric. 
     
     
         14 . A pillow according to  claim 13 , wherein the projection or flange is provided at the periphery of the joining means. 
     
     
         15 . A pillow according to  claim 13 , wherein the projection or flange is provided at least at opposite sides at the periphery of the joining means. 
     
     
         16 . A pillow according to  claim 15 , wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position, and wherein the hole has a smallest dimension that is smaller than the largest dimension between outer edges of the projection or flange. 
     
     
         17 . A pillow according to  claim 13 , wherein the flange or projection is resilient to provide releasable attachment of the joining means to the one of the opposing sheets. 
     
     
         18 . A pillow according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric is caught or held in the joining means between the projection or flange of the joining means and another projection or flange of the joining means. 
     
     
         19 . A pillow according to  claim 2 , wherein the joining means is disc-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . A pillow according to  claim 3 , wherein the hole has a reinforced perimeter. 
     
     
         21 . A pillow according to  claim 20 , wherein the reinforced perimeter is flexible. 
     
     
         22 . A pillow according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position, and wherein the hole has a resilient perimeter which can be stretched to receive the flange or projection. 
     
     
         23 . A pillow according to  claim 2 , comprising cushioning means on the outside of the joining means. 
     
     
         24 . A pillow according to  claim 23 , wherein the cushioning means is between the joining means and the user's head, in use. 
     
     
         25 . A pillow according to  claim 23 , wherein one of the opposing sheets of fabric has a hole, the joining means being moveable between a first position in which it closes the hole and a second position in which it does not close the hole, and wherein the inflatable bladder can be inserted into the hole when the joining means is in the second position, and wherein the joining means is between the cushioning means and the hole.