Adjustable Pillow

Abstract

An adjustable pillow includes a pillow cover having a plurality of removable pillow layer inserts. The pillow layer inserts can be of various thicknesses and firmnesses to permit adjustment for overall pillow height, overall firmness, and surface firmness upon insertion into the pillow cover. The total height of the pillow depends on the total height of the various inserts being used, the overall firmness depends on whether the inserts are soft, medium, or hard, and the surface firmness depends on the firmness of the topmost inside layer. To avoid movement of the inserts relative to each other while sleeping, at least one portion of each of the inserts is removably attachable to a corresponding portion of at least one other insert.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable pillow, comprising:
 an openable pillow cover; and   a plurality of removable pillow inserts each comprising:
 a pillow insert cover; 
 a stuffing material disposed within the pillow insert cover; and 
 a means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other, formed in an exterior portion of the pillow insert cover. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other comprises:
 an opening formed in the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover;   a fastener configured for insertion through the opening.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 2 , wherein the means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other comprises:
 a button attached to the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover and configured for engagement with a corresponding opening formed in an exterior portion of another pillow insert of the plurality of removable pillow inserts.   
     
     
         4 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the opening is cut through a top surface and a bottom surface of the pillow insert cover, providing a path from inside the pillow insert cover to outside the pillow insert cover,   further comprising stitching to prevent migration of the stuffing material through the opening.   
     
     
         5 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the opening is cut through a top surface and a bottom surface of the pillow insert cover, and   wherein a perimeter of the opening is sewn closed to prevent migration of the stuffing material from inside the pillow insert cover to outside the pillow insert cover.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener comprises:
 a link; and   a first fastener end element and a second fastener end element disposed at each end of the link,   wherein the first fastener end element is configured to fit through the opening formed in the exterior portion of the pillow insert covers of the plurality of removable pillow inserts, holding the plurality of removable pillow inserts together.   
     
     
         7 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 6 , wherein the first fastener end element is movable relative to the link. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other comprises:
 a male snap fastener formed in a first surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and   a female snap fastener formed in a second surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover,   wherein the male snap fastener is configured to engage with a female snap fastener formed in a second pillow insert cover, and   wherein the female snap fastener is configured to engage with a male snap fastener formed in a third pillow insert cover.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the means for removably attaching two or more of the plurality of removable pillow inserts to each other comprises:
 a hook-and-loop hook portion attached to a first surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and   a hook-and-loop loop portion attached to a second surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover,   wherein the hook-and-loop hook portion is configured to engage with a loop portion attached to a second pillow insert cover, and   wherein the hook-and-loop loop portion is configured to engage with a hook portion attached to a third pillow insert cover.   
     
     
         10 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover is a corner of the pillow insert cover. 
     
     
         11 . A pillow insert for an adjustable pillow, comprising:
 a pillow insert cover;   a stuffing material disposed within the pillow insert cover; and   a means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other, formed in an exterior portion of the pillow insert cover.   
     
     
         12 . The pillow insert of  claim 11 , wherein the means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other comprises:
 an opening formed in the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and   a fastener configured for insertion through the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The adjustable pillow of  claim 12 , wherein the means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other comprises:
 a button attached to the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover and configured for engagement with a corresponding opening formed in an exterior portion of another pillow insert.   
     
     
         14 . The pillow insert of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the opening is cut through a top surface and a bottom surface of the pillow insert cover, providing a path from inside the pillow insert cover to outside the pillow insert cover,   further comprising stitching to prevent migration of the stuffing material through the opening.   
     
     
         15 . The pillow insert of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the opening is cut through a top surface and a bottom surface of the pillow insert cover, and   wherein a perimeter of the opening is sewn closed to prevent migration of the stuffing material from inside the pillow insert cover to outside the pillow insert cover.   
     
     
         16 . The pillow insert of  claim 12 , wherein the fastener comprises:
 a link; and   a first fastener end element and a second fastener end element disposed at each end of the link,   wherein the first fastener end element is configured to fit through the opening formed in the exterior portion of a pillow insert covers of a plurality of pillow inserts, holding the plurality of pillow inserts together.   
     
     
         17 . The pillow insert of  claim 16 , wherein the first fastener end element is movable relative to the link. 
     
     
         18 . The pillow insert of  claim 11 , wherein the means for removably attaching two or pillow inserts to each other comprises:
 a male snap fastener formed in a first surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and   a female snap fastener formed in a second surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover,   wherein the male snap fastener is configured to engage with a female snap fastener formed in a second pillow insert cover, and   wherein the female snap fastener is configured to engage with a male snap fastener formed in a third pillow insert cover.   
     
     
         19 . The pillow insert of  claim 11 , wherein the means for removably attaching two or more pillow inserts to each other comprises:
 a hook-and-loop hook portion attached to a first surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover; and   a hook-and-look loop portion attached to a second surface of the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover,   wherein the hook-and-loop hook portion is configured to engage with a loop portion attached to a second pillow insert cover, and   wherein the hook-and-loop loop portion is configured to engage with a hook portion attached to a third pillow insert cover.   
     
     
         20 . The pillow insert of  claim 11 , wherein the exterior portion of the pillow insert cover is a corner of the pillow insert cover.