Compact travel nursing pillow

Abstract

A compact nursing pillow having a variable width and thickness over a length of the curved body of the compact nursing pillow. The compact nursing pillow includes a body having the variable width and thickness and a curved shape to fit against a body of a user. The compact nursing pillow also includes a securing device to securing the pillow to a user as well as securing the pillow in a compact storage configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compact nursing pillow, comprising:
 a pillow body comprising two end regions, and an outer region and an inner region that extend between the two end regions, wherein a first end region of the two end regions has a first width and a second end region of the two end regions has a second width, the first width greater than the second width, the inner region and outer region are each curved to define a comma shape having a head at the first end region and a tail at the second end region, the inner region is curved with a first curvature and first apex of curvature and the outer region is curved with a second curvature and a second apex of curvature, with the second curvature greater than the first curvature and the first apex of curvature positioned nearer the second end region than the second apex of curvature, and wherein a thickness of the pillow body increases from the second end region to the first end region;   a first securing member attached to the first end region at a first location; and   a second securing member attached to the second end region at a second location.   
     
     
         2 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 1  wherein the second end region has a thickness in a range of one to three inches and a width in a range of one to three inches. 
     
     
         3 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the first end region has a thickness in a range of three to seven inches. 
     
     
         4 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the inner region is configured to fit around an arm of a user. 
     
     
         5 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the first securing member and the second securing member each comprises a tie, the first securing member and the second securing member securable together to maintain a shape and position of the pillow body relative to a user. 
     
     
         6 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 5 , wherein the first apex of curvature is offset from the construction line at a first distance in a range of 3 inches to 8 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 5 , wherein the second apex of curvature is offset from the construction line at a second distance in a range of 6 inches to 10 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 7 , wherein the first location is offset from the intersection of the construction line and the first end region and the second location is offset from the intersection of the construction line and the second end region. 
     
     
         9 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the pillow body comprises a storage pocket. 
     
     
         10 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the pillow body comprises a cover and a removable cushion that fits within the cover. 
     
     
         11 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the pillow body has a first configuration with the first end region and the second end region not in contact with each other when the first securing member and the second securing member are free and a second configuration with the first end region and the second end region in contact with each other when the first securing member and the second securing member are coupled together. 
     
     
         12 . A compact nursing pillow, comprising:
 a body having a curved shape, the body comprising:
 two surface panels, each having a comma shape with a first end region tapering to a second end region with a curved inner edge and a curved outer edge connecting the first end region to the second end region, the curved inner edge and the curved outer edge curved in a first direction with the curved outer edge having a radius of curvature greater than a radius of curvature of the curved inner edge, each surface panel defining a surface of the curved shape, the curved shape configured to fit partially around a user and also configured to curve into a compact configuration when the first end region and the second end region are brought in contact; and 
 a side panel coupled to each of the two surface panels to enclose a volume within the body, the side panel having a first width at a first end adjacent the first end region of the two surface panels and a second width at a second end adjacent the second end region of the two surface panels, the first width greater than the second width; 
   a first securing member connected to the side panel adjacent the first end region at a first location offset from a tip of the first end region; and   a second securing member connected to the side panel adjacent the second end region at a second location offset from a tip of the second end region.   
     
     
         13 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 12 , wherein the first securing member and the second securing member each comprise a tie formed of a four-way stretch material. 
     
     
         14 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 12 , wherein the first securing member and the second securing member each comprise a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         15 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 12 , wherein the first securing member being connected to the side panel adjacent the first end region at the first location offset from the tip of the first end region comprises the first location being offset from a construction line tangent to the tip of the first end region and to the tip of the second end region. 
     
     
         16 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 12 , wherein the second securing member being connected to the side panel adjacent the second end region at the second location offset from the tip of the second end region comprises the first location being offset from a construction line tangent to the tip of the first end region and to the tip of the second end region. 
     
     
         17 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 16 , wherein the second securing member couples to the body at a second location offset from the construction line by at least 1 inch. 
     
     
         18 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 15 , wherein the first securing member couples to the body at a first location offset from the construction line by at least 1 inch. 
     
     
         19 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises a jersey knit fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The compact nursing pillow of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises a storage pocket configured to receive the first and second securing members when not in use.