Pillow and blanket system

Abstract

A pillow system includes a hollow pillow casing and a cushioning element therein. The cushioning element includes a blanket or an inflatable airtight bladder, both of which are stored within the pillow. When the blanket is not in use, the blanket is used as the cushion for the pillow. When the blanket is removed from the pillow casing and in use, the bladder can be inflated to cushion the pillow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pillow system, comprising:
 a) a pillow casing with an exterior surface, an interior space, and an opening;   b) an inflatable bladder having an inflation valve, the bladder provided in the interior space and the valve accessible from the outside the pillow casing; and   c) a folded fabric blanket provided in the interior space and removable through the opening, wherein,
 when the folded blanket is provided in the interior space the pillow is expanded and cushioned by the blanket, and 
 when the blanket is removed from interior space and the bladder is inflated via the inflation valve, the pillow is expanded and cushioned by the inflatable bladder. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pillow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the opening has a zippered closure.   
     
     
         3 . The pillow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pillow casing having a hole separate from the opening, and the valve extend through the hole.   
     
     
         4 . The pillow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interior space has a periphery, and the bladder is sized to substantially fill the interior space.   
     
     
         5 . The pillow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pillow casing is rectangular and a short side dimension of at least 4 inches and a long side dimension of at least 8 inches.   
     
     
         6 . The pillow system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the short side dimension is approximately 8 inches and the long side dimension is approximately 12 inches.   
     
     
         7 . The pillow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pillow casing is fabric.   
     
     
         8 . The pillow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inflatable bladder is inelastic.   
     
     
         9 . The pillow system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a strap attached to the casing and adapted for attaching the casing to a piece of luggage.   
     
     
         10 . The pillow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the blanket unfolds to a size of at least 30 inches by 40 inches.   
     
     
         11 . A pillow system for a user, comprising:
 a) a pillow casing with an exterior surface, defining an interior space, and having an opening into the interior space, the opening having a closure;   b) an inflatable bladder having an inflation valve, the bladder providable into the interior space such that the valve is accessible to the user from outside the pillow casing; and   c) a blanket configurable to fit through the opening and be located completely in the interior space when the blanket is folded and the bladder is deflated,
 such that either of the inflatable bladder or the blanket can be used as cushioning within the pillow casing to cushion the user. 
   
     
     
         12 . The pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the opening has a zippered closure.   
     
     
         13 . The pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the pillow casing having a hole separate from the opening, and the valve extend through the hole.   
     
     
         14 . The pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the interior space has a periphery, and the bladder is sized to substantially fill the interior space.   
     
     
         15 . The pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the pillow casing is rectangular and a short side dimension of at least 4 inches and a long side dimension of at least 8 inches.   
     
     
         16 . The pillow system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the short side dimension is approximately 8 inches and the long side dimension is approximately 12 inches.   
     
     
         17 . The pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the pillow casing is fabric.   
     
     
         18 . The pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the inflatable bladder is inelastic.   
     
     
         19 . The pillow system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a strap attached to the casing for attaching the casing to a piece of luggage.   
     
     
         20 . The pillow system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the blanket unfolds to a size of at least 30 inches by 40 inches.