Segregated, multiple-fill comforter

Abstract

A comforter comprising at least a top and a bottom outer shell fabric panels joined together about their peripheral edges and interiorly to form at least a first portion filled with a first filling material comprising down or a down-like material, and a second portion filled with a second filling material comprising a non-down or non-down-like material, where the first portion and the second portion are segregated. In various embodiments, the first portion comprises a central area of the comforter and the second portion comprises a peripheral area of the comforter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A comforter comprising
 at least a top and a bottom outer shell fabric panels joined together about their peripheral edges, the fabric panels defining the outer surface of the comforter and having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge,   a first portion filled with a first filling material comprising down or a down-like material, and   a second portion filled with a second filling material comprising a non-down or non-down-like material, the first portion and the second portion are segregated such that the first portion consists essentially of the first filling material and the second portion consists essentially of the second filling material.   
     
     
         2 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the top and bottom shell panels are additionally joined together along at least one seam dividing said comforter into at least two areas. 
     
     
         3 . The comforter of  claim 2  wherein the at least two areas comprise the first portion and the second portion, which are segregated by lines of stitching connecting the at least a top and a bottom outer shell fabric panels. 
     
     
         4 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the first portion comprises a central area of the comforter and the second portion comprises a peripheral area of the comforter. 
     
     
         5 . The comforter of  claim 4  wherein the peripheral area comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the peripheral area outwardly defined by the top edge, the bottom edge, the first side edge, and the second side edge, and inwardly defined by the central area. 
     
     
         6 . The comforter of  claim 4  wherein the peripheral area comprises a first side portion and a second side portion, the peripheral area outwardly defined by the first side edge, the second side edge, a portion of the top edge, and a portion of the bottom edge, and inwardly defined by the central area. 
     
     
         7 . The comforter of  claim 4  wherein the peripheral area comprising a first side portion, a second side portion, and a bottom portion, the peripheral area outwardly defined by the first side edge, the second side edge, the bottom edge, and a portion of the top edge, and inwardly defined by the central area. 
     
     
         8 . The comforter of  claim 5  wherein the peripheral area has a width from the outer edge which is substantially similar for each of the top portion, the bottom portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion. 
     
     
         9 . The comforter of  claim 6  wherein the peripheral area has a width from the outer edge which is substantially similar for each of the first side portion, and the second side portion. 
     
     
         10 . The comforter of  claim 7  wherein the peripheral area has a width from the outer edge which is substantially similar for each of the bottom portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion. 
     
     
         11 . The comforter of  claim 7  wherein the peripheral area has a width from the outer edge which is substantially similar for each of the first side portion and the second side portion, and is greater for the bottom portion. 
     
     
         12 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the first filling material is selected from the group consisting of down, a mixture of down and feathers, and feathers. 
     
     
         13 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the first fill material is down and the second fill material is a polyester fiber. 
     
     
         14 . The comforter of  claim 13  wherein the polyester fiber is a microfiber having a fiber width of less than 1 denier. 
     
     
         15 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the second filling material is selected from the group consisting of wool, polyester, cotton, tencel, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the edges of the comforter are weighted. 
     
     
         17 . The comforter of  claim 16  wherein the first fill material is down and the second fill material is feathers. 
     
     
         18 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the comforter is substantially rectangular in overall shape. 
     
     
         19 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the first portion is 40% to 60% of the area of the comforter. 
     
     
         20 . The comforter of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the first and second portions are substantially similar. 
     
     
         21 . The comforter of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of the at least one seam being releasable and restorable comprising an openable and closable passage in said seam through which fill material can be shifted between the at least two areas of the comforter to adjust the amount of said fill in said areas. 
     
     
         22 . The comforter of  claim 7 , wherein the top outer shell fabric covering the first portion is a different color or hue than the top outer shell fabric covering the second portion.