Carrier For Body Support, Related Systems And Methods

Abstract

A carrier for at least partially receiving a body support includes a body, a closure, and shape retaining features. The body comprises a top side, a bottom side, a front side, a back side, a first end, and a second end. The sides and the ends extend at least partially around an interior configured to at least partially receive a body support therein. The closure interrupts the top side for transitioning the carrier between an open configuration, in which the interior is accessible through the top side, and a closed configuration, in which the interior is enclosed by the sides and the ends. The shape retaining features at least partially maintain the arrangement of the sides and the ends. The shape retaining features are configured to resist deformation of a body support when a body support is at least partially received within the interior of the carrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrier for at least partially receiving a body support, the carrier comprising:
 a body comprising a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a front side extending between the top side and the bottom side, a back side opposite the front side, a first end extending between the front side, the back side, the top side, and the bottom side, and a second end opposite the first end, the top side, the bottom side, the front side, the back side, the first end, and the second end extending at least partially around an interior configured to at least partially receive a body support therein;   a closure interrupting the top side for transitioning the carrier between an open configuration, in which the interior is accessible through the top side, and a closed configuration, in which the interior is enclosed by the top side, the bottom side, the front side, the back side, the first end, and the second end; and   shape retaining features at least partially maintaining the arrangement of top side, the bottom side, the front side, the back side, the first end, and the second end, the shape retaining features configured to resist deformation of a body support when a body support is at least partially received within the interior of the carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape retaining features comprise:
 a first seam between the top side and the first end;   a second seam between the first end and the bottom side;   a third seam between the bottom side and the second end;   a fourth seam between the second end and the top side; and   a central seam extending at least partially along the first end, the second end, and the bottom side, the central seam intersecting the first seam, the second seam, and the third seam.   
     
     
         3 . The carrier according to  claim 2 , wherein the first seam, the second seam, the third seam, the fourth seam, and the central seam at least partially maintain a generally rectangular arrangement of the top side, the bottom side, the front side, the back side, the first end, and the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier according to  claim 2 , wherein the first end and the top side intersect to form a first edge with the first seam therebetween, the first end and the bottom side intersect to form a second edge with the second seam therebetween, the second end and the top side intersect to form a third edge with the third seam therebetween, and the second end and the bottom side intersect to form a fourth edge with the fourth seam therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement of the top side, the bottom side, the front side, the back side, the first end, and the second end is generally rectangular. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure is a zipper. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first handle attached to the front side and second handle attached to the back side for being grasped by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pocket attached to the front side, the back side, the first end, or the second end, the pocket for at least partially receiving an accessory separate from the interior of the carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier according to  claim 1 , further comprising a panel attached to the front side or the back side to form a sleeve therebetween for at least partially receiving a portion of a travel container therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . A carrier system for a body support, the carrier system comprising:
 a carrier according to  claim 1 ; and   a body support disposed within in the carrier.   
     
     
         11 . The carrier system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a travel container. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier system according to  claim 11 , wherein the carrier further comprises a panel attached to the front side or the back side to form a sleeve therebetween, the sleeve configured to receive a portion of the travel container therethrough such that the carrier is secured to the travel container. 
     
     
         13 . A carrier for at least partially receiving a body support, the carrier comprising:
 a body including a plurality of sides extending at least partially around an interior configured to receive at least a portion of a body support therein, the body having an open configuration in which the interior is accessible through at least one side of the plurality of sides and a closed configuration in which the carrier interior is enclosed by the plurality of sides;   a closure interrupting at least one side of the plurality of sides for transitioning the body between the open configuration and the closed configuration; and   shape retaining features at least partially maintaining the arrangement of the plurality of sides relative to each other, the shape retaining features configured to maintain a profile of a body support when a body support is at least partially received within the interior of the carrier.   
     
     
         14 . The carrier according to  claim 13 , wherein in the shape retaining features comprise a plurality of seams joining the plurality of sides to each other, the plurality of seams joining the plurality of sides to each other such that the plurality of seams at least partially maintain the arrangement of the plurality of sides relative to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The carrier according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of seams join the plurality of sides to each other to form a plurality of edges between respective sides of the plurality of sides, a seam of the plurality of seams corresponding to each edge of the plurality of edges formed by joining of the plurality of sides to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The carrier according to the  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of seams comprise a central seam extending at least partially along the plurality of sides such that the central seam intersects each seam corresponding to an edge of the plurality of edges. 
     
     
         17 . The carrier according to  claim 13 , wherein the shape retaining features are configured to maintain a generally rectangular arrangement of the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         18 . The carrier according to  claim 13 , wherein the closure is configured to maintain a hygienic condition of a body support disposed within the interior when the carrier is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a carrier for a body support comprising:
 placing the carrier in an open configuration thereof such that an interior of the carrier is accessible;   inserting a body support into the carrier interior such that shape retaining features of the carrier are positioned to resist deformation of a body support by external forces acting on the carrier and to support a profile of a body support; and   placing the carrier in a closed configuration thereof such that the interior of the carrier is enclosed with a body support therein.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising inserting a portion of a travel container through a sleeve of the carrier to attach the carrier to the travel container.