Apparatus and method for bed rest reading pillow

Abstract

A system and method for a bed rest reading pillow is provided. One embodiment for the bed rest reading pillow comprises a body portion that supports the back of a user in an upright position, a first arm rest extending outwardly from the body portion that is configured to support the arm of the user, a second arm rest extending outwardly from the body portion that is configured to support the arm of the user, a beverage container holder configured to secure a beverage container when placed therein by the user, and a beverage container holder receptacle disposed in the first arm rest and configured to receive the beverage container holder. A beverage container, when inserted into the beverage container holder, is readily accessible by the user.

1 . A bed rest reading pillow, comprising:
 a body portion that supports the back of a user in an upright position;   a first arm rest extending outwardly from the body portion that is configured to support the arm of the user;   a second arm rest extending outwardly from the body portion that is configured to support the arm of the user;   a beverage container holder configured to secure a beverage container when placed therein by the user; and   a beverage container holder receptacle disposed in the first arm rest and configured to receive the beverage container holder; and   an outer shell fabric configured to encase at least the first arm rest,
 wherein the outer shell fabric includes a fabric beverage container holder receptacle that is configured to fit within the beverage container holder receptacle of the first arm rest, and 
 wherein the outer shell fabric is removable for cleaning. 
   
     
     
         2 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container holder is a first beverage container holder and wherein the beverage container holder receptacle is a first beverage container holder receptacle, and further comprising:
 a second beverage container holder configured to secure another beverage container when placed therein by the user; and   a second beverage container holder receptacle disposed in the second arm rest and configured to receive the second beverage container holder.   
     
     
         3 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container holder receptacle is located near an end of the first arm rest, 
     
     
         4 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fabric sections that are sewn together to form the body portion, the first arm rest and the second arm rest.   
     
     
         5 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of fabric sections are made of a soft velour. 
     
     
         6 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a fill material that is added into a cavity formed by the sewn fabric that forms the body portion, the first arm rest and the second arm rest.   
     
     
         7 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a core,   wherein the sewn fabric that forms the body portion, the first arm rest and the second arm rest is fitted around the core.   
     
     
         8 . A bed rest reading pillow, comprising:
 a body portion that supports the back of a user in an upright position;   a first arm rest extending outwardly from the body portion that is configured to support the arm of the user;   a second arm rest extending outwardly from the body portion that is configured to support the arm of the user;   a beverage container holder configured to secure a beverage container when placed therein by the user; and   a beverage container holder receptacle disposed in the first arm rest and configured to receive the beverage container holder,   
       wherein the beverage container holder comprises:
 a beverage container holder base portion that is sized to snugly fit into the beverage container holder receptacle of the first arm rest; and 
 a rim, wherein a diameter of the rim is greater than a diameter of the beverage container holder base portion, 
 wherein when the beverage container holder is inserted into the beverage container holder receptacle, the rim is operable to limit the distance that the beverage container holder and be inserted into the beverage container holder receptacle, and 
 wherein the rim stabilizes the position of the beverage container holder in the beverage container holder receptacle. 
 
     
     
         9 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 8 , wherein the rim further comprises:
 a liquid retaining portion that extends upwardly from an upper surface of the rim,   wherein the liquid retaining portion directs inadvertent spills from the beverage container into an interior of the beverage container holder.   
     
     
         10 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an insert sleeve,   wherein the insert sleeve fits around an exterior surface of a cup base portion of the beverage container holder, and   wherein the beverage container holder and insert sleeve fit snugly into the beverage container holder receptacle.   
     
     
         11 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the insert sleeve is made of a temperature insulating material so that a beverage in the beverage container maintains an initial temperature. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell fabric is defined by a fabric thickness, and wherein a first diameter defined by two times the fabric thickness of the outer shell fabric plus two times a thickness of a thickness of the beverage container holder plus an indie diameter of the beverage container holder is substantially equal to a diameter of the beverage container holder receptacle in the first arm rest such that the beverage container holder is snugly secured within the beverage container holder receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle attached to a top portion of the bed rest reading pillow,   wherein the handle is grasped by the user so that the user may position and orient the bed rest reading pillow on a bed or other surface.   
     
     
         15 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container holder is fabricated from a rigid or substantially rigid polymer-based material. 
     
     
         16 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container holder is configured to be secured within a beverage container holder receptacle of a vehicle or other object. 
     
     
         17 . The bed rest reading pillow of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a plurality of beverage container holders each having a different size, wherein each one of the plurality of beverage container holders are configured to secure a beverage container having a different size; and   a plurality of insert sleeves, wherein each one of the plurality of insert sleeves are configured to secure a corresponding one of the plurality of beverage container holders having a different size,   wherein each of the plurality of insert sleeves fits around an exterior surface of the cup base portion of the corresponding beverage container holder, and   wherein each one of the plurality of beverage container holders and the corresponding insert sleeve fit snugly into the beverage container holder receptacle.