Continuously adjustable pillow compression device

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices and methods to continuously adjust pillow compression and firmness. In some aspects, the devices include at least one cord configured to an adjusting fixture, wherein the at least one cord comprises a plurality of cord segments that extend outward from the adjusting fixture, wherein at least one cord segment of the plurality of cord segments is configured to a pillow. Methods of use and manufacturing also are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A continuously adjustable pillow compression device comprising:
 (a) at least one cord; and   (b) an adjusting fixture,   
       wherein the at least one cord is configured to the adjusting fixture; wherein the at least one cord comprises a plurality of cord segments that extend outward from the adjusting fixture; and 
       wherein the adjusting fixture comprises an internal locking mechanism for adjusting the length of said cord segments to compress a pillow to the desired pillow compression. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one cord segment of said plurality of cord segments is configured to the pillow. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least two cord segments of said plurality of cord segments are configured to the pillow; wherein the at least two cord segments comprise cord ends that attach to the pillow. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one cord segment of said plurality of cord segments is configured to the pillow; wherein the at least one cord segment is in the form of a loop that wraps around the pillow. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein two cord segments of said plurality of cord segments are configured to the pillow; wherein said two cord segments are in the form of loops that wrap around the pillow. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cord comprises inelastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cord comprises elastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cord comprises a combination of elastic and inelastic materials. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cord comprises two elastic sections and one inelastic section, wherein the one inelastic section is positioned between the two elastic sections. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the two elastic sections are of equal length. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein
 (a) each elastic section of the two elastic sections comprises about 5 to 30 percent of the overall cord length; and   (b) the inelastic section comprises about 70 to 95 percent of the overall cord length.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein
 (a) each elastic section of the two elastic sections comprises about 12.5 percent of the overall cord length; and   (b) the inelastic section comprises about 75 percent of the overall cord length.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal locking mechanism of the adjusting fixture comprises a self-locking mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the self-locking mechanism comprises a plate compression mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the self-locking mechanism comprises a cam mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting fixture comprises a release feature, wherein said release feature provides means to unlock the at least one cord from the adjusting fixture, thereby allowing the at least one cord to travel freely through the adjusting fixture in the locked direction to release the device from the pillow. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making the device of  claim 1  comprising assembling the cord and the adjusting fixture. 
     
     
         18 . A method of compressing a pillow comprising:
 (a) configuring the device of  claim 1  to the pillow; and   (b) shortening the length of the cord segments configured to the pillow by pulling the cord through the adjusting fixture, thereby compressing the pillow.   
     
     
         19 . A continuously adjustable pillow compression device comprising:
 (a) one cord; and   (b) an adjusting fixture,   
       wherein the one cord is configured to the adjusting fixture; wherein the one cord comprises three cord segments that extend outward from the adjusting fixture; wherein said three cord segments are in the form of loops; and wherein the adjusting fixture comprises an internal locking mechanism for adjusting the length of said cord segments. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein two cord segments of said three of cord segments are configured to a pillow.