Cooling pillow with shaped foam elements

Abstract

An example pillow includes a case defining an inner cavity and a closeable opening providing access to the inner cavity and a filler material disposed within the inner cavity. The filler material includes a predefined amount of microfibers intermixed with a plurality of defined geometric shaped foam elements that define open spaces for an increased airflow through the pillow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pillow comprising:
 a case defining an inner cavity; and   a filler material disposed within the inner cavity, wherein the filling material includes a plurality of defined geometric shaped foam elements that create open spaces therebetween for enhancing airflow through a predefined amount of the filler material, wherein an airflow through the case and the predefined amount of the filling material disposed within the case is within a range 5.00 and 8.00 CFM (ft 3 /minute).   
     
     
         2 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an airflow through the case and the predefined amount of the filling material disposed within the case is within a 6.00 and 7.50 CFM (ft 3 /minute). 
     
     
         3 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an airflow through the case and the predefined amount of the filling material disposed within the case is about 7.25 CFM (ft 3 /minute). 
     
     
         4 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the predefined amount of the filling material comprises a density of between 3.4 (lb/ft 3 ) and 6.0 (lb/ft 3 ). 
     
     
         5 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the predefined amount of the filling material comprises a density of between 4.0 (lb/ft 3 ) and 5.3 (lb/ft 3 ). 
     
     
         6 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of geometric shaped foam elements comprises skewed cube elements. 
     
     
         7 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of geometric shaped foam elements comprises cross-shaped elements. 
     
     
         8 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of geometric shaped foam elements comprises both cross-shaped foam elements and skewed cube elements. 
     
     
         9 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the filler material further includes a predefined amount of microfibers intermixed with the plurality of defined geometric shaped foam elements. 
     
     
         10 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the case includes a closeable opening providing access to the inner cavity to provide for adjustment to the predefined amount of filling material within the inner cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the case is configured to enable airflow through the case alone at a flow rate greater than the airflow through the predefined amount of the filling material. 
     
     
         12 . A pillow comprising:
 a case defining an inner cavity and a closeable opening providing access to the inner cavity; and   a filler material disposed within the inner cavity, the filler material including a predefined amount of microfibers intermixed with the plurality of defined geometric shaped foam elements that define open spaces for an airflow.   
     
     
         13 . The pillow as recited in  claim 12 , wherein an airflow through the case and the predefined amount of the filling material disposed within the case is within a range 5.00 and 8.00 CFM (ft 3 /minute). 
     
     
         14 . The pillow as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the predefined amount of the filling material comprises a density of between 3.4 (lb/ft 3 ) and 6.0 (lb/ft 3 ). 
     
     
         15 . The pillow as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of geometric shaped foam elements comprises one of a plurality of skewed cube elements or a plurality of cross-shaped elements. 
     
     
         16 . The pillow as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of geometric shaped foam elements comprises both cross-shaped foam elements and skewed cube elements. 
     
     
         17 . The pillow as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the case is configured to enable airflow through the case alone at a flow rate greater than the airflow through the predefined amount of the filling material. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a pillow comprising:
 forming a filler material including a predefined amount of microfibers intermixed with the plurality of defined geometric shaped foam elements that define open spaces for an airflow;   preparing a case with a closeable opening providing access to an inner cavity for the filling material;   filling the inner cavity with a predefined amount of the filling material; and   providing an additional amount of filling material outside of the case to enable adjustment to an amount of filling material disposed within the cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of geometric shaped foam elements comprises at least one of a plurality of skewed cube elements and a plurality of cross-shaped elements. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , including preparing the filling material to provide an airflow through the case and the predefined amount of the filling material disposed within the case is within a range 6.00 and 7.50 CFM (ft 3 /minute).