Pillow closure

Abstract

A pillow closure shell having an opening leading into an internal cavity, the opening having a closure mechanism, the closure mechanism adapted to operate in only a first direction. Also disclosed is a pillow closure comprising a first panel having a first boundary and a second panel having a second boundary, the second panel opposed to the first panel. Additionally, there may be at least one intermediate panel having at least one or more additional boundaries, the at least one intermediate panel connectively fastened to the first panel and the second panel to create a cavity between the first panel, the second panel, and the at least one intermediate panel. A fill material may be disposed within the cavity and the cavity may have a closure mechanism associated with the first panel, the second panel, and/or the at least one intermediate panel, the closure mechanism adapted to operate in a first direction.

1 . A pillow closure comprising: 
 a first panel;    a second panel;    at least one intermediate panel, the at least one intermediate panel connectively fastened to the first panel and the second panel to create a cavity formed by the first panel, the second panel, and at least one intermediate panel; and    a closure mechanism associated with at least one of the first panel, the second panel, and the at least one intermediate panel, the closure mechanism adapted to operate only in a first direction for closing the cavity.    
     
     
         2 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , further comprising a fill material disposed within the cavity.  
     
     
         3 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism is associated only with the at least one intermediate panel.  
     
     
         4 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism is associated with the at least one intermediate panel and the first panel.  
     
     
         5 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism includes a ratcheting mechanism to permit operation in the first direction and an override feature to permit operation in a second direction to open the cavity.  
     
     
         6 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism is a zipper.  
     
     
         7 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a pull tab operating a slide, the slide including a ratchet mechanism adapted to permit the closure mechanism to operate only in the first direction.  
     
     
         8 . The pillow closure of  claim 7 , wherein the closure mechanism further comprises teeth, the ratchet mechanism adapted to interact with the teeth to permit operation only in the first direction.  
     
     
         9 . The pillow closure of  claim 7 , wherein the pull tab is separable from the slide.  
     
     
         10 . The pillow closure of  claim 7 , wherein the pull tab is secured with one of a staple, a pull tie, or a safety pin.  
     
     
         11 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein cord is used in the connections between the first panel, the second panel, and the at least one intermediate panel.  
     
     
         12 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate panel is comprised of two intermediate panels, each having at least one boundary.  
     
     
         13 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein said closure mechanism may operate in a second direction to open the cavity upon manipulation of an override feature.  
     
     
         14 . The pillow closure of  claim 1 , wherein the pillow closure is a shape selected from the group consisting of cubical, rectilinear, circular, oval, star shaped, or cylindrical.  
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a pillow closure from three or more panels each having at least one boundary, the method comprising: 
 connecting a first panel and an at least one intermediate panel together along one or more boundaries;    connecting a second panel and the at least one intermediate panel together along one or more boundaries to form a cavity within the first panel, the second panel, and the at least one intermediate panel, the cavity having an entrance;    filling the cavity with fill material through the entrance; and    closing the entrance with a closure mechanism configured to operate only in a first direction.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the closure mechanism is associated only with the at least one intermediate panel.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the closure mechanism is associated with the at least one intermediate panel and the first panel.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising manipulating an override feature of the closure mechanism to permit operation of the closure mechanism in a second direction to open the cavity.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the closure mechanism is a zipper.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a pull tab operating a slide, the slide including a ratchet mechanism adapted to permit the closure mechanism to operate only in the first direction.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the closure mechanism further comprises teeth, the ratchet mechanism adapted to interact with the teeth to permit operation only in the first direction.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pull tab is separable from the slide.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pull tab is secured with one of a staple, a pull tie, or a safety pin.  
     
     
         24 . A pillow closure comprising: 
 a first panel having a first boundary formed continuously along the edge of the first panel;    a second panel having a second boundary formed continuously along the edge of the second panel, the second panel being opposed to the first panel such that the first boundary aligns with the second boundary, the panels being connectively fastened along all but an unfastened portion of the first boundary and the second boundary to form a cavity between the first panel and the second panel; and    a closure mechanism spanning the unfastened portion, the closure mechanism operable only in a first direction.    
     
     
         25 . The pillow closure of  claim 24 , further comprising a fill material disposed within the cavity.  
     
     
         26 . A pillow closure comprising: 
 a first panel having a boundary;    a second panel having a boundary, said second panel opposed to said first panel;    at least one intermediate panel having a boundary, wherein at least a portion of the boundary of the at least one intermediate panel is connectively fastened to the boundary of the first panel and at least another portion of the boundary of the at least one intermediate panel is connectively fasten to the boundary of the second panel to create a cavity formed by the first panel, the second panel, and the at least one intermediate panel; and    a closure mechanism associated with at least one of the first panel, the second panel, and the at least one intermediate panel, the closure mechanism adapted to operate freely only in a first direction for closing the cavity.    
     
     
         27 . The pillow closure of  claim 26 , further comprising a fill material disposed within the cavity.  
     
     
         28 . The pillow closure of  claim 26 , wherein said closure mechanism may operate in a second direction to open the cavity upon manipulation of an override feature.  
     
     
         29 . The pillow closure of  claim 28 , wherein said closure mechanism is a ratchet.