Head stabilizing travel pillow

Abstract

A pillow for supporting a user's head having comprising framing portions made of a soft material that conforms to applied pressure while providing support when a user's head leans against the framing portions. A connecting portion extends between the framing portions to form a pillow body with the framing portions. The pillow body is configured to surround a user's head and to position the framing portions in front of and on opposing sides of the user's head. A pair of shells are attached to corresponding framing portions. The pair of shells are made of a strong flexible material. At least one strap extends from at least one of the pair of shells. The at least one strap is configured to connect one of the framing portions to the other framing portion thereby stabilizing the user's head within the pillow.

1 . A pillow comprising:
 a pair of framing portions made of a compressible material that conforms to applied pressure while providing support when a user's head leans against the framing portions;   a connecting portion extending between the pair of framing portions to form a pillow body with the framing portions where the pillow body is configured to surround a user's head and to position the framing portions in front of and on opposing sides of the user's head;   a pair of shells configured to fit in corresponding framing portions, the pair of shells made of a strong flexible material; and   at least one strap extending from at least one of the pair of shells, where the at least one strap is configured to connect one of the framing portions to the other framing portion thereby stabilizing the user's head within the pillow.   
     
     
         2 . The pillow of  claim 1  further comprising a flexible extending portion between the two framing portions. 
     
     
         3 . The pillow of  claim 2  where the extending portion between the framing portions includes a vent to permit air to flow through for a cooling effect. 
     
     
         4 . The pillow of  claim 1  where the pair of shells have a substantially arrowhead shape with a slight wedge-like contour and a slight fold such that the shells are configured to cup the user's cheek and jaw area when the user wears the pillow. 
     
     
         5 . The pillow of  claim 4  where the shells are mounted on an outer surface of the framing portions, the pillow further comprising an outer fabric to cover the outer surface of the framing portions and the shells mounted therein. 
     
     
         6 . The pillow of  claim 4  further comprising an inner fabric covering an inner surface of the framing portions thereby providing a soft surface to contact the user's face. 
     
     
         7 . The pillow of  claim 4  where the at least one strap includes a pair of strap ends extending from corresponding shells and extending towards a front edge of each framing portion, the pair of straps configured to attach in front of the framing portions. 
     
     
         8 . The pillow of  claim 7  comprising a strap-connecting member of low elasticity connecting each of the pair of straps around a rear of the pillow to provide a tension in the pillow. 
     
     
         9 . The pillow of  claim 1  where the pair of shells each have a substantially rectangular shape with a slight curve aligned with the pillow when positioned around the user's neck. 
     
     
         10 . The pillow of  claim 9  where the pair of shells each comprise a hollow cup-like structure extending inward into a corresponding section of the framing portions. 
     
     
         11 . The pillow of  claim 10  where the cup-like structure includes vent openings. 
     
     
         12 . The pillow of  claim 1  where the pair of framing portions are made of memory foam. 
     
     
         13 . The pillow of  claim 12  further comprising an integrated extending portion made of memory foam such that the framing portions and the integrated extending portion form an integrated pillow body. 
     
     
         14 . The pillow of  claim 13  where:
 the pair of shells each comprise a hollow cup-like structure extending inward into a corresponding section of the framing portions, each shell having a slot formed in a rear part of the shell; 
 the at least one strap is a single strap having a first end attached to a first one of the shells and extending from the first end around the integrated extended portion of the pillow body to run through the slot in the shell opposite the first one of the shells to extend beyond a front edge of the framing portion a sufficient amount to mate via a hook and loop mechanism with an outer surface of the first end of the strap. 
 
     
     
         15 . The pillow of  claim 14  where the at least one strap is made of a material with low elasticity to provide an adjustable tension around the pillow. 
     
     
         16 . The pillow of  claim 13  further comprising a fabric to cover a surface of the pillow body and the shells. 
     
     
         17 . The pillow of  claim 16  where the fabric is a first fabric, the pillow further comprising a second and third fabric to cover each of the shells, the second and third fabrics being combined with the first fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The pillow of  claim 16  where the fabric is made of a soft material selected from a group consisting of a jersey material, nylon, lycra, polyester, cotton polyester blend. 
     
     
         19 . The pillow of  claim 17  where the fabric is made of a material selected from a group consisting of a jersey material, nylon, lycra, polyester, cotton polyester blend, and a mesh material. 
     
     
         20 . The pillow of  claim 10  where each one of the pair of shells is an outer shell, the pillow further comprising a pair of inner shells inserted in the framing portions, the inner shells configured to receive the corresponding ones of the pair of outer shells. 
     
     
         21 . The pillow of  claim 13  where the inner shells are insert molded into a foam material that forms the framing portions.