Modular support pillow assembly

Abstract

A support pillow assembly that has particular utility for nursing mothers includes a support platform that is adapted to bear against and conform to a user's anterior torso, a back support member that is adapted to bear against and conform to a user's posterior torso and releasable securing structure for firmly securing the support platform and the back support member about the user's torso. A washable pillow is removably secured to an upper surface of the support platform by attachment structure such as a zipper. The pillow may be used to support an infant either when it is attached to the support platform or on its own when it is disattached from the support platform. Both the support platform and the back support member are preferably constructed so as to be well-ventilated for the comfort of the user.

1 . A support pillow assembly, comprising: 
 a support platform;    securing means for securing said support platform to a user's torso; and    a removable pillow member releasably attached to said support platform.    
     
     
         2 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said support platform is fabricated from a resiliently compressible material.  
     
     
         3 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said securing means comprises a back support member that is adapted to contact a posterior portion of a user's torso.  
     
     
         4 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said back support member is fabricated from a resiliently compressible material.  
     
     
         5 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said support platform is adapted to contact an anterior portion of a user's torso, and wherein said securing means is adapted to fit about the periphery of the user's torso so as to secure said support platform to the torso of the user.  
     
     
         6 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said securing means is releasable.  
     
     
         7 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said removable pillow member is fabricated from materials that will not be damaged by washing.  
     
     
         8 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said removable pillow member comprises a fabric cover material and a resiliently compressible fill material.  
     
     
         9 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said fabric cover material is air permeable, thereby minimizing suffocation risks to infants and small children.  
     
     
         10 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said resiliently compressible fill material is air permeable, thereby minimizing suffocation risks to infants and small children.  
     
     
         11 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said resiliently compressible fill material comprises a fibrous fill material.  
     
     
         12 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising releasable attachment means for releasably attaching said removable pillow to said support platform.  
     
     
         13 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said releasable attachment means comprises a zipper.  
     
     
         14 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said support platform has a recess defined in an upper surface thereof for receiving said removable pillow member.  
     
     
         15 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said support platform comprises ventilation structure for permitting air to flow through said support platform.  
     
     
         16 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said back support member comprises ventilation structure for permitting air to flow through said back support member.  
     
     
         17 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a storage space defined on said support platform for storing small articles.  
     
     
         18 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said support platform comprises a fabric outer cover, and wherein said storage space comprises at least one pocket defined in said outer cover.  
     
     
         19 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said removable pillow member is crescent shaped.  
     
     
         20 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said recess is crescent shaped.  
     
     
         21 . A support pillow assembly, comprising: 
 a support platform that is adapted to bear against an anterior portion of a user's torso;    a back support member that is adapted to bear against a posterior portion of the user's torso;    releasable securing means for securing said support platform and said back support member firmly about the torso of a user; and    a removable pillow member releasably attached to an upper surface of said support platform.    
     
     
         22 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said removable pillow member is fabricated from materials that will not be damaged by washing.  
     
     
         23 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said removable pillow member comprises a fabric cover material and a resiliently compressible fill material.  
     
     
         24 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said fabric cover material is air permeable, thereby minimizing suffocation risks to infants and small children.  
     
     
         25 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said resiliently compressible fill material is air permeable, thereby minimizing suffocation risks to infants and small children.  
     
     
         26 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 21 , further comprising releasable attachment means for releasably attaching said removable pillow to said support platform.  
     
     
         27 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said releasable attachment means comprises a zipper.  
     
     
         28 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said support platform has a recess defined in said upper surface for receiving said removable pillow member.  
     
     
         29 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said support platform comprises ventilation structure for permitting air to flow through said support platform.  
     
     
         30 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said back support member comprises ventilation structure for permitting air to flow through said back support member.  
     
     
         31 . A replacement pillow for a support pillow assembly, comprising: 
 a fabric cover, said fabric cover defining an interior space and being fabricated from an air permeable material;    resiliently compressible fill material positioned in said interior space, said resiliently compressible fill material being air permeable; and    releasable attaching means for releasably attaching said replacement pillow to a support platform of a support pillow assembly that is adapted to bear against an anterior portion of a user's torso.    
     
     
         32 . A replacement pillow according to  claim 31 , wherein said releasable attaching means comprises a zipper.  
     
     
         33 . A replacement pillow according to  claim 31 , wherein said fabric cover and said resiliently compressible fill material are fabricated from materials that will not be damaged by washing.  
     
     
         34 . A replacement pillow according to  claim 31 , wherein said resiliently compressible fill material comprises a fibrous fill material.  
     
     
         35 . A replacement pillow according to  claim 31 , wherein said replacement pillow is crescent shaped.  
     
     
         36 . A support pillow assembly, comprising: 
 a support platform that is adapted to bear against a frontal portion of a user's torso;    a back support member that is adapted to bear against a posterior portion of the user's torso;    releasable securing means for securing said support platform and said back support member firmly about the torso of a user; and    ventilating means for permitting air circulation through at least one of said support platform and said back support member.    
     
     
         37 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein said ventilating means is configured to permit air circulation through said support platform.  
     
     
         38 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 37 , wherein said ventilating means is configured to permit air circulation from a top surface of said support platform to a bottom surface of said support platform.  
     
     
         39 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein said ventilating means comprises a plurality of ventilation holes extending from said top surface of said support platform to said bottom surface of said support platform.  
     
     
         40 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 39 , wherein said support platform comprises a resilient elastomeric foam material, and wherein said ventilation holes are defined in said foam material.  
     
     
         41 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein said ventilating means is configured to permit air circulation through said back support member.  
     
     
         42 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 41 , wherein said ventilating means comprises a plurality of ventilation holes extending from a front surface of said back support member to a rear surface of said back support member.  
     
     
         43 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 42 , wherein said back support member comprises a resilient elastomeric foam material, and wherein said ventilation holes are defined in said foam material.  
     
     
         44 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 43 , wherein said front surface of said back support member further comprises a cover, and wherein said cover is fabricated from an air permeable mesh material.  
     
     
         45 . A support pillow assembly according to  claim 37 , wherein said ventilating means is further configured to permit air circulation through said back support member.  
     
     
         46 . A method of using a support pillow assembly of the type that includes a support platform that is adapted to be secured so as to bear against an anterior portion of a user's torso and a removable pillow member that is releasably attachable to the support platform, comprising steps of: 
 disattaching a first pillow member from the support platform of the support pillow assembly; and    attaching a second, replacement pillow member to said support platform.    
     
     
         47 . A method of using a support pillow assembly of the type that includes a support platform that is adapted to be secured so as to bear against an anterior portion of a user's torso and a removable pillow member that is releasably attachable to the support platform, comprising steps of: 
 disattaching the pillow member from the support platform of the support pillow assembly;    washing the pillow member; and    reattaching the pillow member to the support platform.    
     
     
         48 . A method of using a support pillow assembly of the type that includes a support platform that is adapted to be secured so as to bear against an anterior portion of a user's torso and a removable pillow member that is releasably attachable to the support platform, comprising steps of: 
 disattaching the pillow member from the support platform of the support pillow assembly;    using the pillow member separately from the support platform to support an infant or small child; and    reattaching the pillow member to the support platform.