Pillow

Abstract

A pillow includes an outer pillow cover and a plurality of inserts. The outer pillow cover has a first face panel, a second face panel, and a resiliently compressible layer. The inserts are configured to be disposed within the outer pillow cover. At least two of the inserts having at least one of different thicknesses and firmness. Each of the inserts has a cutout formed between a first side portion and a second side portions. The cutouts of the inserts define an upper body receiving area. The upper body receiving area together with the adjustable height of the pillow allows the pillow to essentially nestle a side-sleeper's neck and shoulder, front and back of their upper torso. With this pillow, the user essentially lies “in” the pillow rather than merely “on” the pillow.

1 . A pillow comprising:
 an outer pillow cover having
 a first face panel defining a first side of the outer pillow cover, 
 a second face panel defining a second side of the outer pillow cover that is opposite of the first side, 
 a side panel interconnecting the first and second face panels, and 
 a compressible layer fixedly attached to an inside surface of the first face panel that is an inside surface of the outer pillow cover, 
 an outer seam attaching the first face panel, the side panel and the compressible layer to each other; and 
   a plurality of inserts being configured to be disposed within the outer pillow cover, at least two of the inserts having different thicknesses, each of the inserts having a cutout formed between a first side portion and a second side portions, the cutouts of the inserts defining an upper body receiving area that is dimensioned to nestle a side-sleeper's neck, shoulder and front and back of the side-sleeper's upper torso.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the outer pillow cover has rounded peripheral edges curving in a depthwise direction while the inserts are disposed inside of the outer pillow cover.   
     
     
         4 . The pillow according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the side panel further includes boxing that defines the rounded peripheral edges.   
     
     
         5 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the compressible layer is made of a porous foam material that is configured for specific heat transfer properties.   
     
     
         6 . The pillow according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the compressible layer includes a polyethylene terephthalate material.   
     
     
         7 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the outer pillow cover is made of stretchable material.   
     
     
         8 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area is configured to receive a user's upper body such that the first and second side portions nestles the upper body portion that is received therein.   
     
     
         9 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 an inner pillow cover configured to enclose the inserts and be enclosed by the outer pillow cover when the pillow is in an assembled state.   
     
     
         10 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area has a substantially U-shaped periphery.   
     
     
         11 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area becomes wider as the upper body receiving area approaches an outermost periphery of the pillow with the upper body receiving area ranging from 7 to 13 centimeters in a widthwise direction of the pillow at an inside section of the upper body receiving area and ranging from 22 to 32 centimeters at an outside section of the upper body receiving area in the widthwise direction of the pillow.   
     
     
         12 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area has a cutout dimension ranging from 10 centimeters to 15 centimeters in a widthwise direction of the pillow such that upper body receiving area is configured to provide a cradling effect for a user during use.   
     
     
         13 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area has a maximum cutout dimension ranging from 22 to 32 centimeters as measured in a lengthwise direction of the pillow.   
     
     
         14 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area is dimensioned with respect to an overall length of the pillow as measured in a lengthwise direction of the pillow such that a ratio of the overall length of the pillow to a maximum cutout dimension as measured in a widthwise direction of the pillow is approximately 2.07.   
     
     
         15 . The pillow according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area is dimensioned in the lengthwise direction of the pillow such that the upper body receiving area becomes wider as the upper body receiving area approaches an outermost periphery of the pillow.   
     
     
         16 . The pillow according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area is dimensioned in the lengthwise direction of the pillow such that a ratio of an outside cutout dimension as measured in the lengthwise direction of the pillow to an inside cutout dimension as measured in the lengthwise direction of the pillow is approximately 1.65.   
     
     
         17 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of the inserts includes indicia indicative of a physical property thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the indicia include color to indicate of the physical property.   
     
     
         19 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a maximum thickness of each of the insert has a range from 19 millimeters to 39 millimeters.   
     
     
         20 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of the inserts includes a plurality of pores.   
     
     
         21 . The pillow according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the pores are sized up to approximately 26 millimeters wide.   
     
     
         22 . An outer pillow cover for a pillow comprising:
 a first face panel;   a second face panel; and   a closure mechanism disposed between the first and second face panels,   the first and second face panels being shaped to define an upper body receiving area that is dimensioned to nestle a side-sleeper's neck, shoulder and front and back of the side-sleeper's upper torso.   
     
     
         23 . A pillow comprising:
 a first wing portion;   a second wing portion; and   a center portion interconnecting the first and second wing portions,   the first and second wing portions and the center portion defining an upper body receiving area that is dimensioned with respect to an overall length of the pillow as measured in a lengthwise direction of the pillow such that a ratio of the overall length of the pillow to a maximum cutout dimension as measured in a widthwise direction of the pillow is approximately 2.07.   
     
     
         24 . The pillow according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area is dimensioned in the lengthwise direction of the pillow such that the upper body receiving area becomes wider as the upper body receiving area approaches an outermost periphery of the pillow.   
     
     
         25 . The pillow according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the upper body receiving area is dimensioned in the lengthwise direction of the pillow such that a ratio of an outside cutout dimension as measured in the lengthwise direction of the pillow to an inside cutout dimension as measured in the lengthwise direction of the pillow is approximately 1.65.   
     
     
         26 . The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the outer pillow cover further includes an inner panel that is fixedly attached to the compressible layer and the first face panel by the outer seam such that the compressible layer is sandwiched between the inner panel and the first face panel.