Travel pillow with reactive surfaces for enhanced comfort

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composite travel pillow that fits about the neck of a wearer for support in a seated or semi-reclined position. Notably, the present pillow includes a resiliently deformable, relatively stiff cap portion fitted to a shoulder portion of the pillow, with the cap portion defining a pair of spaced apart reactive surfaces that can engage an associated seating area. During use, the reactive surfaces provide dynamic interaction with the seating area, with the cap portion mechanically flexing and shaping the pillow on the user. Greatly enhanced support of the head and neck of the user is achieved, considerably enhancing the comfort provided by the pillow when in used in a seated or semi-reclined position.

1 . A composite travel pillow, comprising:
 a pillow body having a generally U-shaped configuration, including a shoulder portion, and a pair of leg portions depending from said shoulder portion in spaced apart relationship,   said shoulder portion and said leg portions together defining a central opening for fitting the travel pillow about the neck of a user; and   a cap portion joined to said shoulder portion generally opposite of said depending leg portions,   said cap portion defining a pair of spaced apart reactive surfaces respectively aligned with said leg portions of said pillow body, and further defining a recess positioned between said reactive surfaces,   said reactive surfaces being engageable with an associated seating area when said pillow is being worn by a user and said recess is spaced from the seating area, so that said reactive surfaces act against said leg portions of said pillow body to urge said leg portions inwardly toward each other for the comfort of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . A composite travel pillow in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said pillow body comprises resiliently flexible material for supporting a user when said pillow is worn,   said cap portion comprising material exhibiting a relatively higher stiffness than said pillow body for transmitting forces from said reactive surfaces to said leg portions of said pillow body.   
     
     
         3 . A composite travel pillow in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein
 said cap portion further defines a flexing region positioned intermediate said pair of reactive surfaces, said reactive surfaces being movable relative to said flexing region when said reactive surfaces engage an associated seating area.   
     
     
         4 . A composite travel pillow in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said flexing region of said cap portion defines at least one portion of relatively reduced thickness to facilitate relative movement of said reactive surfaces.   
     
     
         5 . A composite travel pillow in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein
 said flexing region of said cap portion defines a plurality of raised projections extending transversely of said cap portion, each of said portions of relatively reduced thickness being defined between adjacent ones of said raised projections.   
     
     
         6 . A composite travel pillow in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said pillow body comprises a hollow structure having resilient fill material herein, and said cap portion comprises polymeric material joined to said pillow body.   
     
     
         7 . A composite travel pillow in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said pillow body comprises an inflatable structure, and said cap portion comprises polymeric material joined to said inflatable pillow body.   
     
     
         8 . A composite travel pillow, comprising:
 a pillow body having a generally U-shaped configuration, including a shoulder portion, and a pair of leg portions depending from said shoulder portion in spaced apart relationship,   said shoulder portion and said leg portions together defining a central opening for fitting the travel pillow about the neck of a user; and   a cap portion joined to said shoulder portion generally opposite of said depending leg portions,   said cap portion defining a pair of spaced apart reactive surfaces respectively aligned with said leg portions of said pillow body, and further defining a recess positioned between said reactive surfaces,   said reactive surfaces being engageable with an associated seating area when said pillow is being worn by a user and said recess is spaced from the seating area, so that said reactive surfaces act against said leg portions of said pillow body to urge said leg portions inwardly toward each other for the comfort of the wearer,   said cap portion comprising a material having a relatively higher stiffness than said pillow body for transmitting forces from said reactive surfaces to said leg portions of said pillow body.   
     
     
         9 . A composite travel pillow in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein
 said cap portion comprises a flexing region positioned between said reactive surfaces, said flexing region defining a plurality of raised projections extending transversely of said cap portion, said flexing region further defining at least one portion of relatively reduced thickness of said cap portion between adjacent ones of said raised projections.   
     
     
         10 . A composite travel pillow in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein
 said pillow body comprises a hollow structure having resilient fill material therein, and said cap portion comprises polymeric material joined to said pillow body.