Travel neck support pillow

Abstract

A substantially U-shaped travel pillow includes: a first side portion comprising a first base side portion of a first base surface, a first top surface, a first inside surface and an outside surface. A second side portion with a second base side portion has a second base surface, a second top surface, a second inside surface opposed to the first inside surface and a second outside surface. A neck cushion portion is between the first side portion and the second side portion. The two side portions and the neck cushion portion are a single compressible elastic foam insert. At least the first side portion and the second side portion having at least two air passage through holes passing through the first side portion and the second side portion, the holes having average diameters of less than 5.5 cm, and sides of the holes completely between the respective inside surface and the outside surface of both the first side portion and the second side portion have foam densities similar to foam densities throughout the single compressible elastic foam insert.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A substantially U-shaped travel pillow, comprising:
 a first side portion comprising a first base side portion comprising a first base surface, a first top surface, a first inside surface and an outside surface;   a second side portion comprising a second base side portion comprising a second base surface, a second top surface, a second inside surface opposed to the first inside surface and a second outside surface;   a neck cushion portion between the first side portion and the second side portion;   the first side portion, the second side portion and the neck cushion portion comprising a single compressible elastic foam insert; and   at least the first side portion and the second side portion each having at least two air passage through holes passing through the first side portion and the second side portion, the holes having average diameters of less than 5.5 cm, and sides of the holes completely between the respective inside surface and the outside surface of both the first side portion and the second side portion have foam densities substantially identical to foam densities throughout the single compressible elastic foam insert.   
     
     
         2 . The travel pillow of  claim 1  having no stiffening elements attached to the single compressible foam that stiffen the foam between the respective inside surface and the outside surface of both the first side portion and the second side portion, or stiffen the foam between the respective top surface and base surface of both the first side portion and the second side portion. 
     
     
         3 . The travel pillow of  claim 1  wherein there is an air passage passing through the neck cushion portion. 
     
     
         4 . The travel pillow of  claim 1  wherein the single compressible elastic foam insert comprises a reticulated foam, that, when compressed, expels air from open cells within the single compressible elastic foam insert. 
     
     
         5 . The travel pillow of  claim 2  wherein the single compressible elastic foam insert comprises a reticulated foam, that, when compressed, expels air from open cells within the single compressible elastic foam insert. 
     
     
         6 . The travel pillow of  claim 1  wherein the neck portion has an air through hole with a vertical dimension of the hole being less than 5.5 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The travel pillow of  claim 1  wherein the first side portion and second side portion each have an air through hole passing from a forward end of the respective first side portion and second side portion to a rearward end of the respective first side portion and second side portion. 
     
     
         8 . The travel pillow of  claim 7  wherein each air through hole of the first side portion and second side portion intersects a respective air passage through hole passing through the first side portion and the second side portion so that air may connectedly flow in two orthogonal directions through the travel pillow. 
     
     
         9 . The travel pillow of  claim 7  wherein each air through hole of the first side portion and second side portion does not intersect a respective air passage through hole passing through the first side portion and the second side portion so that air may separately flow in two orthogonal directions through the travel pillow. first raised top surface, said first raised top surface comprising a first raised outer edge and a first raised inner edge that are the same height; a second side portion comprising a second base side portion and a second raised side portion, an inner surface of said second side portion facing an inner surface of said first side portion, said second raised side portion comprising a second raised top surface, said second raised top surface comprising a second raised outer edge and a second raised inner edge that are the same height; a rear portion between said first and second side portions, said rear portion comprising a base rear portion and a raised rear portion, said raised rear portion considerably thinner than each of said first raised side portion and said second raised side portion; and a cover over said first side portion, said second side portion, and said rear portion; wherein said first side portion and said second side portion extend substantially horizontally from said rear portion; wherein said base rear portion comprises a base rear inner wall and a base rear outer wall; wherein said raised rear portion comprises a raised rear inner wall and a raised rear outer wall, said raised rear inner wall and said raised rear outer wall being the same height, said raised rear outer wall continuous with said base rear outer wall; wherein the combination of said base rear outer wall and said raised rear outer wall comprises a substantially planar and substantially vertical surface that is substantially flat from left to right; wherein a memory foam material forms the core of each of said first side portion, said second side portion, and said rear portion; and wherein said travel pillow is configured to be supported primarily by a user's shoulders on a bottom side of each of said first side portion and said second side portion. 
     
     
         10 . The travel pillow of  claim 1  wherein the first side portion and the second side portion have a hook-and-loop fabric closure element which can temporarily lock the first side portion and the second side portion about a neck of a user. 
     
     
         11 . The travel pillow of  claim 7  wherein the first side portion and the second side portion have a hook-and-loop fabric closure element which can temporarily lock the first side portion and the second side portion about a neck of a user. 
     
     
         12 . The travel pillow of  claim 9  wherein the first side portion and the second side portion have a hook-and-loop fabric closure element which can temporarily lock the first side portion and the second side portion about a neck of a user.