"The Side Sleeper" Contoured Leg Support Pillow

Abstract

A contoured leg support pillow that extends from the knee to the foot. “The Side Sleeper” contoured leg support pillow uses a contoured channel that extends from top to bottom for a leg to rest in, and optionally, a flat plank at the top and bottom for the foot to rest on. The contoured leg support pillow changes from thinner near the knee to thicker near the foot such that it elevates the upper leg and keeps it parallel to the lower leg while sleeping.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A contoured leg support pillow for aligning an individual's legs while sleeping on the side, comprising:
 a central plank, the central plank having a lower end for positioning near an individual's feet, an upper end for positioning near the individual's upper leg, and opposing side edges;   the central plank further having first and second sides, each having a set of side walls extending along at least a portion of each opposing side edge, the side edges together providing opposing channel for each individual's leg to rest therein; and   attachment straps to secure the contoured leg support pillow to at least one of the individual's legs;   whereby the individual's legs are held in alignment while the individual is sleeping on the individual's side.   
     
     
         2 . A contoured leg support pillow, as in  claim 1 , wherein the securing means further comprises:
 at least one attachment strap extending from the first side to the second side such that the individual's leg is securely held by the contoured leg support pillow.   
     
     
         3 . A contoured leg support pillow, as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 each attachment strap is attached at one end to the side of the contoured leg support pillow, and on the other end the strap further comprises hook and loop material that removably attaches to hook and loop material on the opposing side of the contoured leg support pillow.   
     
     
         4 . A contoured leg support pillow, as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 each attachment strap comprises opposing first and a second portions, each portion attached at one end to the side of the contoured leg support pillow, and on the other end each portion further comprises hook and loop material that removably attaches to hook and loop material on the opposing portion; and   each attachment strap is sized such that it is adjustable for attachment to differing leg sizes.   
     
     
         5 . A contoured leg support pillow, as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lower end of the central plank is thicker than the upper end, such that when worn, the distance between the individual's legs is greater near the lower end;   whereby the individual's legs are held in proper alignment to prevent injury to the individual's Iliotibial band due to leg misalignment.   
     
     
         6 . A contoured leg support pillow, as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper end of the central plank is rounded.   
     
     
         7 . A contoured leg support pillow, as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lower end of the central plank extends past the side walls, is wider than the upper end, and is sized to accommodate the length of an individual's foot.   
     
     
         8 . A contoured leg support pillow, as in  claim 1 , wherein the central plank and sidewalls are fabricated from foam material. 
     
     
         9 . A contoured leg support pillow, as in  claim 1 , wherein the central plank further comprises a medial malleolus indentation near the lower end of the central plank.