Air-activated heated travel pillows and travel blankets

Abstract

Heat packs are incorporated into various travel and comfort items, such as pillows, blankets, and the like, in a designated pocket and/or pouch within the items to provide a user with soothing, targeted, and controlled heat in a consistent, convenient, and comfortable application. A disposable heat pack may comprise a soft, lightweight, air-permeable pouch. One side of the heat pack is air-permeable to optimally direct the targeted heat to a user. The contents of the heat pack may include a mixture of iron powder, sawdust, activated carbon, salt, water, cellulose, and vermiculite. The pocket into which the heat pack is inserted is comprised of a spandex material or the like that is lightweight, permeable, breathable, flexible, and stretchable, providing superior contact while allowing for an optimal amount of heat to permeate from the pocket to the user.

1 . A pillow comprising:
 a U-shaped pillow body comprising two legs and a base therebetween, configured to receive and support a neck of a user;   a pocket formed on an inner radial portion of the base of the U-shaped pillow body, wherein the pocket is adjacent to a back portion of the neck of the user when in use;   wherein the pocket is at least partially formed by a lightweight, permeable, breathable, flexible, stretchable material; and   a heat pack contained in the pocket for a sustained, targeted, and controlled heat transfer to the user, wherein the heat pack is a disposable, air-activated heat pack comprising an air-permeable pouch to facilitate airflow into the heat pack and direct heat to the user via the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped pillow body comprises one or more of foam, visco-elastic memory foam, polyurethane foam, cotton, polyester, polyester plush, spandex, micro-beads, and Polystyrene foam beads. 
     
     
         3 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is comprised of one or more of spandex, cotton, and polyester. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pack comprises one or more of iron powder, sawdust, activated carbon, salt, water, and vermiculite to generate heat via an oxidation reaction. 
     
     
         6 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket comprises one or more open ends for removably receiving and containing the heat pack. 
     
     
         7 . The pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the pocket further comprises a fastener at the one or more open ends for securing the heat pack therein, the fastener comprising one or more of a flap, spandex, Velcro, a snap, a button, and a zipper. 
     
     
         8 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is configured to simultaneously and removably receive and contain a plurality of heat packs. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A support pillow comprising:
 a pillow body configured to provide support to a user; and   one or more pockets formed on a contact portion of the pillow body, wherein the contact portion is a portion at least partially adjacent to the user when in use;   wherein each of the one or more pockets are configured to contain a respective heat pack for a sustained, targeted, and controlled heat transfer to the user.   
     
     
         11 . The pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the pillow body comprises one or more of foam, visco-elastic memory foam, polyurethane foam, cotton, polyester, polyester plush, spandex, micro-beads, and Polystyrene foam beads. 
     
     
         12 . The pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more pockets are comprised of one or more of spandex, cotton, and polyester. 
     
     
         13 . The pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the heat pack comprises an air-activated, disposable heat pack. 
     
     
         14 . The pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the heat pack comprises one or more of iron powder, sawdust, activated carbon, salt, water, and vermiculite to generate heat via an oxidation reaction. 
     
     
         15 . The pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more pockets comprise one or more open ends for removably receiving and containing the respective heat pack. 
     
     
         16 . The pillow of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pockets further comprise a fastener at the one or more open ends for securing the respective heat pack therein, the fastener comprising one or more of a flap, spandex, Velcro, a snap, a button, and a zipper. 
     
     
         17 . The pillow of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the one or more pockets are configured to simultaneously and removably receive and contain a plurality of heat packs. 
     
     
         18 . The pillow of  claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more pockets are comprised of one or more of a lightweight, permeable, breathable, flexible, and stretchable material. 
     
     
         19 . The pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the pillow body is configured to provide lumbar support in a lumbar region of the user's back. 
     
     
         20 . A blanket comprising:
 a body portion comprising a front portion and a back portion; and   one or more pockets formed on one or more of the front portion and the back portion of the body portion;   wherein the one or more pockets are configured to contain a respective heat pack for a sustained, targeted, and controlled heat transfer to a user.   
     
     
         21 . The blanket of  claim 20 , wherein the body portion further comprises at least one foldable portion, each foldable portion configured to fold over an area of the body portion containing one or more pockets. 
     
     
         22 . The blanket of  claim 20 , wherein the body portion comprises one or more of polyester and spandex. 
     
     
         23 . The blanket of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more pockets are comprised of one or more of spandex, cotton, and polyester. 
     
     
         24 . The blanket of  claim 20 , wherein the heat pack comprises an air-activated, disposable heat pack. 
     
     
         25 . The blanket of  claim 20 , wherein the heat pack comprises one or more of iron powder, sawdust, activated carbon, salt, water, and vermiculite to generate heat via an oxidation reaction. 
     
     
         26 . The blanket of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more pockets comprise one or more open ends for removably receiving and containing the respective heat pack. 
     
     
         27 . The blanket of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more pockets further comprise a fastener at the one or more open ends for securing the respective heat pack therein, the fastener comprising one or more of a flap, spandex, Velcro, a snap, a button, and a zipper. 
     
     
         28 . The blanket of  claim 20 , wherein one or more of the one or more pockets are configured to simultaneously and removably receive and contain a plurality of heat packs. 
     
     
         29 . The blanket of  claim 20 , wherein each of the one or more pockets are comprised of one or more of a lightweight, permeable, breathable, flexible, and stretchable material. 
     
     
         30 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is sized and shaped to provide air flow to and from the heat pack contained therein. 
     
     
         31 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket further comprises ribbing on at least one internal portion of the pocket, for enhancing air flow of the heat pack within the pocket. 
     
     
         32 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped pillow body comprises:
 an outer covering comprising (i) a flexible spandex bottom portion substantially adjacent to shoulders of the user, and (ii) a plush material on side and top portions of the U-shaped pillow body; and   a plurality of micro-beads internal to the outer covering, wherein the micro-beads conform to and support the neck of the user.   
     
     
         33 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped pillow body comprises:
 an outer covering comprising a plush material; and   a supportive memory foam core internal to the outer covering.   
     
     
         34 . The pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more supplemental pockets formed on the inner radial portion of the U-shaped pillow body, wherein the one or more supplemental pockets are adjacent to a portion of the neck of the user; and   one or more supplemental heat packs contained in respective ones of the one or more supplemental pockets for a sustained, targeted, and controlled heat transfer to the user.   
     
     
         35 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pack is formulated to reach a targeted temperature and maintain the targeted temperature for approximately eight hours.