Sleep products having adjustable firmness levels and adjustable heights

Abstract

An expandable pillow includes an upper pillow section having a first perimeter with a first perimeter edge, a lower pillow section having a second perimeter with a second perimeter edge, and a center layer having an outer perimeter disposed between the upper and lower pillow sections. The pillow includes a zipper extending around the outer perimeter of the center layer, the zipper having a first row of teeth secured to the first perimeter edge of the upper pillow section, a second row of teeth secured to the second perimeter edge of the lower pillow section, and a slider that moves along the first and second rows of teeth for opening and closing the zipper. The pillow is softer, expanded, and has a greater height when the zipper is opened and firmer, compressed, and has a smaller height when the zipper is closed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable pillow comprising:
 an upper pillow section having a first perimeter with a first perimeter edge;   a lower pillow section having a second perimeter with a second perimeter edge;   a center layer having an outer perimeter disposed between said upper and lower pillow sections;   a zipper extending around said outer perimeter of said center layer, said zipper having a first row of teeth secured to said first perimeter edge of said upper pillow section, a second row of teeth secured to said second perimeter edge of said lower pillow section, and a slider that moves along said first and second rows of teeth for opening and closing said zipper, wherein said pillow has an expanded configuration when said zipper is opened and a compressed configuration when said zipper is closed.   
     
     
         2 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pillow has a greater height and is softer when said zipper is opened and a smaller height and is firmer when said zipper is closed. 
     
     
         3 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second perimeters of said upper and lower pillow sections have a greater dimension than said outer perimeter of said center layer so that said first and second perimeters of said upper and lower pillow sections surround said outer perimeter of said center layer when said zipper is closed. 
     
     
         4 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said center layer is selected from a group consisting of foam layers, memory foam layers, and pouches containing a filler material. 
     
     
         5 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper pillow section has an interior face that is secured to a top surface of said center layer, and said lower pillow section has an interior face that is secured to a bottom surface of said center layer. 
     
     
         6 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper pillow comprises:
 a first fabric layer that covers said upper pillow section; and   a first filler material disposed within said first fabric layer.   
     
     
         7 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said lower pillow comprises:
 a second fabric layer that covers said lower pillow section; and   a second filler material disposed within said second fabric layer.   
     
     
         8 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said first and second fabric layers is treated with a cooling gel material or a phase change material. 
     
     
         9 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said first and second filler material is selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, polyester fibers, shredded foam, chopped foam, shredded latex, chopped latex, foam, memory foam, down, feathers, rice, and buckwheat. 
     
     
         10 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said first and second filler material is treated with a cooling gel material or a phase change material. 
     
     
         11 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pillow is substantially rectangular and said center layer defines a gusset region of said pillow that is about 1.5 inches high. 
     
     
         12 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said zipper terminates adjacent a corner of said pillow. 
     
     
         13 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower pillow sections have similar respective lengths and widths, wherein said center layer has a length that is less than the lengths of said upper and lower pillow sections, and wherein said center layer has a width that is less than the widths of said upper and lower pillow sections. 
     
     
         14 . An expandable pillow comprising:
 an upper pillow section having a first fabric layer and a first filler material disposed within said first fabric layer, said upper pillow section having a first perimeter with a first perimeter edge;   a lower pillow section having a second fabric layer and a second filler material disposed within said second fabric layer, said lower pillow section having a second perimeter with a second perimeter edge;   a center layer disposed between said upper and lower pillow sections, said center layer having an upper surface secured to said upper pillow section, and a lower surface secured to said lower pillow section;   a zipper extending around an outer perimeter of said center layer, said zipper having a first row of teeth secured to said first perimeter edge of said upper pillow section, a second row of teeth secured to said second perimeter edge of said lower pillow section, and a slider that moves along said first and second rows of teeth for opening and closing said zipper, wherein said pillow is expanded and has a greater height when said zipper is opened and said pillow is compressed and has a smaller height when said zipper is closed.   
     
     
         15 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said first and second perimeters of said upper and lower pillow sections have a greater dimension than said outer perimeter of said center layer so that said first and second perimeters of said upper and lower pillow sections surround said outer perimeter of said center layer when said zipper is closed. 
     
     
         16 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said upper pillow section has an interior face that is secured to said top surface of said center layer, and said lower pillow section has an interior face that is secured to said bottom surface of said center layer. 
     
     
         17 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first and second fabric layers is treated with a cooling gel material or a phase change material. 
     
     
         18 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said first and second filler material is selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, polyester fibers, shredded foam, chopped foam, shredded latex, chopped latex, foam, memory foam, down, feathers, rice, and buckwheat. 
     
     
         19 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first and second filler material is treated with a cooling gel material or a phase change material. 
     
     
         20 . The pillow as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said pillow is substantially rectangular and said center layer defines a gusset region of said pillow that is about 1.0-2.0 inches high.