Support pillow

Abstract

A support pillow includes a stiff but resilient elongated core portion within an elongated exterior cushion portion. The core portion may include a plurality of channels and flanges which may receive interstitial inserts to adjust stiffness and resiliency. The core portion may be removable to select cores of differing stiffness and resiliency or may be bonded into or embedded in and/or formed into the cushion portion.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A support pillow comprising:
 an elongated core portion and an elongated cushion portion,   the cushion portion extending longitudinally from a cushion portion first end to a cushion portion second end and defining a cushion portion length, the cushion portion length greater than the core portion length, the cushion portion defining a cylinder with an outer surface and an interior cavity with an interior wall surface having cross-section adapted to receive the core portion therein, the distance from the cushion portion outer surface to the cushion portion interior cavity interior wall surface defining the cushion portion thickness;   the core portion extending longitudinally from a core portion first end to a core portion second end and defining a core portion length, the core portion further including an outer surface and a longitudinal centerline;   wherein the core portion is insertable into the cushion portion within the cushion portion interior cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The support pillow as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein each of the core portion first and second ends are rounded.   
     
     
         3 . The support pillow as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the cushion portion is comprised of memory foam.   
     
     
         4 . The support pillow as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the core portion material is selected from the group of: PVC, PE, fiberglass and wood.   
     
     
         5 . The support pillow as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the core portion made from a resilient flexible material.   
     
     
         6 . The support pillow as in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 wherein the core portion material is selected from the group of: urethane and hardened latex.   
     
     
         7 . The support pillow as in  claim 1 , the core portion further comprising:
 a longitudinal centerline portion extending from the core portion first end to the core portion second end and a plurality of flange arms extending longitudinally from the core portion first end to the core portion second end, each of the plurality of flange arms connected along the core portion centerline portion and extending symmetrically radially outward to a respective flange arm head, each flange arm head including first and second flange wings extending circumferentially in opposite directions to respective flange wing terminal edges and each further including a flange arm head outer surface, the flange arm head outer surfaces together defining the core portion outer surface, the separation between adjacent flange arms defining corresponding core portion interstitial cavities extending longitudinally from the core portion first end to the core portion second end.   
     
     
         8 . The support pillow as in  claim 7 , further comprising: (needs to be removable)
 a plurality of elongated interstitial inserts corresponding to the respective core portion interstitial cavities, each of the interstitial inserts having cross sections complimentary to the respective interstitial cavities and insertable into the respective interstitial cavities, the material for the interstitial inserts selected to achieve a desired level of longitudinal stiffness and radial resilience.   
     
     
         9 . The support pillow as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the core portion diameter is in the range 1.5 cm to 3 cm, and the cushion portion thickness is in the range 3 cm to 4.5 cm.   
     
     
         10 . The support pillow as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the cushion portion is formed around the core portion by injection molding.   
     
     
         11 . The support pillow as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the core portion exterior surface is bonded to the cushion portion interior cavity interior wall surface.   
     
     
         12 . The support pillow as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 wherein the core portion exterior surface is bonded to the cushion portion interior cavity interior wall surface.   
     
     
         13 . A support pillow comprising:
 an elongated core portion extending from a core portion first end to a core portion second and having a core portion outer surface and core portion diameter;   a cushion portion, the cushion portion further comprising a cushion portion sheet and first and second cushion end pieces, each of the first and second end pieces having respective first and second end piece lengths and respective first and second end piece diameters, each of the end piece diameters being equal to the core portion diameter;   the cushion portion sheet including opposite first and second surfaces, opposite parallel first and second edges and opposite parallel third and fourth edges, and having a cushion sheet thickness;   wherein, the cushion portion sheet is wrapped around the core portion such that the cushion portion sheet first surface engages against the core portion outer surface and the cushion portion sheet first and second edges connect to each other, thereby defining first and second cushion portion end cavities to receive first and second cushion portion end pieces, and further wherein the first and second cushion portion end pieces are positioned within the cushion portion first and second end cavities, respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The support pillow as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the cushion portion sheet first and second edges include complimentary dovetail edging.   
     
     
         15 . The support pillow as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 wherein the cushion portion sheet first surface is bonded to the core portion outer surface, and the cushion portion sheet first edge is bonded to the cushion portion sheet second edge, and wherein the cushion portion first and second end pieces are bonded to the cushion portion first surface within the respective cushion portion first and second end cavities.   
     
     
         16 . The support pillow as in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 wherein the cushion portion sheet first surface is bonded to the core portion outer surface, and the cushion portion sheet first edge is bonded to the cushion portion sheet second edge, and wherein the cushion portion first and second end pieces are bonded to the cushion portion first surface within the respective cushion portion first and second end cavities.   
     
     
         17 . The support pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the support pillow diameter is approximately 12 cm.