Pillowcase

Abstract

A pillowcase for adjusting the firmness of a pillow is disclosed. The pillowcase includes a case and a plurality of flaps foldably attached to the case. A first flap may extend along a width of the case and a second flap may extend along a length of the case. Attachment features disposed on a first face of the case form at least one attachment region to which the flaps may be selectively attached to adjust the firmness of the pillow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pillowcase for adjusting a firmness of a pillow, comprising:
 a. a flexible case configured to receive the pillow;   b. at least one attachment region on a first face of the flexible case; and   c. flaps foldably attached to the flexible case, wherein each of the flaps has a free end selectively attachable to the at least one attachment region via attachment features disposed respectively on each of the flaps.   
     
     
         2 . The pillowcase of  claim 1 , wherein a first flap forms a first joint that extends along a width of the flexible case and a second flap forms a second joint that extends along a length of the flexible case. 
     
     
         3 . The pillowcase of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one attachment region is at least partially located on a portion of the first face of the flexible case at a first distance apart from the second joint that exceeds a second distance from the second joint at which the at least one attachment feature is located on the second flap. 
     
     
         4 . The pillowcase of  claim 2 , wherein the first joint extends along the width of a lower portion of the second face of the flexible case, adjacent to an opening defined by the flexible case, and the second joint extends along the length of one of a right portion and a left portion of the second face of the flexible case. 
     
     
         5 . The pillowcase of  claim 2 , wherein each of the flaps is removably attached to the flexible case. 
     
     
         6 . The pillowcase of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one attachment region comprises a first attachment region extending across a width of a lower portion of the first face of the flexible case and a second attachment region constituted by separate regions of attachment features provided on the first face of the flexible case at spaced-apart distances in a direction generally opposite of the second joint. 
     
     
         7 . The pillowcase of  claim 6  wherein the at least one attachment region further comprises a third attachment region provided on a top side of the first flap. 
     
     
         8 . The pillowcase of  claim 6 , wherein the second joint extends substantially the length of the second face of the flexible case and adjacent to a right edge of the flexible case. 
     
     
         9 . The pillowcase of  claim 8 , wherein the first flap is formed of a rectangular panel about 20 inches in width and about 8 inches in length, and the second flap is formed of a rectangular panel about 20 inches in width and about 30 inches in length. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using the pillowcase of  claim 6  to adjust the firmness of a conventional bed pillow, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a. inserting the conventional bed pillow into an inner cavity of the flexible case; 
 b. attaching the first flap to the first attachment region on the flexible case to compact a fill of the conventional bed pillow; 
 c. by compacting the fill of the pillow by attaching the first flap to the first attachment region, increasing the firmness of the conventional bed pillow; 
 d. attaching the second flap to a first location of the second attachment region on the flexible case; and 
 e. by compacting the fill of the conventional bed pillow by attaching the second flap to the first location of the second attachment region, increasing the firmness of the pillow. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 a. detaching the second flap from the first location of the second attachment region;   b. attaching the second flap to a different location of the second attachment region on the flexible case to affect the fill of the conventional bed pillow according to a user preference; and   c. by affecting the fill of the pillow by attaching the second flap to the different location of the second attachment region, affecting the firmness of the conventional bed pillow according to the user preference.