Combination travel pillow/pillow enhancer

Abstract

A pillow / pillow cover combination is transformable between a relatively compact folded configuration where it functions as a comfortable stand-alone pillow for travel situations where personal space may be limited, such as inside a car or plane, and an unfolded configuration where it functions as a padded pillow cover, able to accept a standard pillow inside an attached pouch, thereby making it suitable for use as a personal pillow enhancer for enhancing a pillow provided in a hotel room or other travel lodgings.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of prior co-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 835,459, filed Aug. 4, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a novel pillow / pillow cover combination that is transformable between two principal configurations that make it well suited and highly beneficial for travelers.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Many travelers desire the use of a personal pillow while en route and / or upon arriving at overnight lodgings. A personal travel pillow can, in general, enhance travel comfort in the many circumstances where a pillow is desired but not typically provided, such as while traveling in an automobile, or waiting for a flight in an airport terminal or for a train at the train station. In addition, the use of a personal pillow can address concerns with the potentially limited comfort and unsanitary conditions of the pillows sometimes made available to travelers, such as those offered on commercial airline flights...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention, exemplary embodiments of which are described herein, can afford the traveler a comfortable personal pillow for travel use, while avoiding much of the practical difficulty traditionally associated with traveling with one's own comfortable pillow.

[0006]In accordance with the invention, a pillow / pillow cover combination is transformable between a relatively compact folded configuration where it functions as a comfortable stand-alone pillow for travel situations where personal space may be limited, such as inside a car or plane, and an unfolded configuration where it functions as a padded pillow cover, able to accept a standard pillow inside an attached pouch, thereby making it suitable for use as a personal pillow enhancer for enhancing a pillow provided in a hotel room or other travel lodgings.

Problems solved by technology

Even in the case of clean and sanitary hotel bedding, the pillows may not provide the degree of comfort that the traveler desires.

The carriage of a personal pillow during travel presents practical difficulties, however.

A conventional bed pillow is not easily carried on one's person, and would take up a substantial amount of the very limited space typically available to the traveler in his / her luggage if carried that way.

On the other hand, small pillows and cushions of the type which might be easily carried during travel likely provide very limited additional comfort, and generally are not suitable or desirable for use as a bed pillow.

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