Pillow with variable cushioning characteristics
A pillow with variable cushioning characteristics includes two halves, with each half including a first surface, a first cushioning material adjacent to the first surface, a second surface opposite from the first surface, and a second cushioning material adjacent to the second surface. The halves may be associated with one another in such a way that an individual may select which cushioning material is to be oriented adjacent to an outside of the pillow and which cushioning material is to be oriented within an interior of the pillow. Methods of arranging a pillow with such variable cushioning characteristics are also disclosed.
1 . A pillow, comprising:
a first half including:
a first surface;
a second surface;
a first half interior defined between the first surface of the first half and the second surface of the first half;
a first cushioning material positioned within the first half interior, adjacent to the first surface of the first half; and
a second cushioning material positioned within the first half interior, adjacent to the second surface of the first half;
a second half including:
a first surface;
a second surface;
a second half interior defined between the first surface of the second half and the second surface of the second half;
a first cushioning material positioned within the second half interior, adjacent to the first surface of the second half;
a second cushioning material positioned within the second half interior, adjacent to the second surface of the second half; and
a center defined between the first half and the second half upon superimposing the first half and the second half with respect to one another,
the pillow having:
a first assembled arrangement in which the first half and the second half are superimposed with one another, the first surface of the first half and the first surface of the second half facing one another and defining the center of the pillow, and the pillow has a first loft; and
a second assembled arrangement in which the first half and the second half are superimposed with one another, the second surface of the first half and the second surface of the second half facing one another and defining the center of the pillow, and the pillow has a second loft different from the first loft.
2 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein the first half includes a first peripheral edge and a second peripheral edge, the second half includes a first peripheral edge and a second peripheral edge.
3 . The pillow of claim 2 , further comprising:
a flexible connector between first peripheral edge of the first half and the first peripheral edge of the second half; and
a coupler that selectively couples the second peripheral edge of the first half to the second peripheral edge of the second half.
4 . The pillow of claim 3 , wherein the coupler selectively maintains the pillow in one of the first assembled arrangement and the second assembled arrangement.
5 . The pillow of claim 3 , having:
a partially disassembled arrangement in which the first half and the second half are positionable in a side-by-side arrangement.
6 . The pillow of claim 5 , wherein the first half and the second half have sufficient flexibility to enable the first and the second half to be pulled through the center to move the pillow between the first assembled arrangement and the second assembled arrangement.
7 . The pillow of claim 2 , wherein the first half and the second half have a completely disassembled relationship in which:
the first peripheral edge of the first half and the first peripheral edge of the second half are uncoupled and
the second peripheral edge of the first half and the second peripheral edge of the second half are uncoupled.
8 . The pillow of claim 7 , wherein:
the first peripheral edge of the first half can be coupled to the second peripheral edge of the second half and
the second peripheral edge of the first half can be coupled to the first peripheral edge of the second half to place the pillow in:
a first alternative assembled arrangement in which the first surface of the first half faces the second surface of the second half or
a second alternative assembled arrangement in which the second surface of the first half faces the first surface of the second half.
9 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein the first cushioning material is softer than the second cushioning material.
10 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first cushioning material and the second cushioning material comprises a fill material.
11 . The pillow of claim 1 , wherein the first half comprises an intermediate layer between the first surface of the first half and the second surface of the first half, the intermediate layer defining a first interior portion between the intermediate layer and the first surface of the first half and a second interior portion between the intermediate layer and the second surface of the first half, and separating the first cushioning material within the first interior portion from the second cushioning material within the second interior portion.
12 . The pillow of claim 11 , wherein the intermediate layer includes at least one pleat to enable adjustment of volumes of the first interior portion and the second interior portion.
13 . A pillow, comprising:
a first half including:
a first surface;
a second surface;
a first half interior defined between the first surface of the first half and the second surface of the first half; and
a first cushioning material positioned within the first half interior;
a second half including:
a first surface;
a second surface;
a second half interior defined between the first surface of the second half and the second surface of the second half; and
a second cushioning material positioned within the second half interior; and
a center defined between the first half and the second half upon superimposing the first half and the second half with respect to one another,
the pillow having:
a first assembled arrangement in which the pillow has a first loft and the first half and the second half are superimposed with one another, the first surface of the first half and the first surface of the second half facing one another and defining the center of the pillow; and
a second assembled arrangement in which the pillow has a second loft that differs from the first loft and the first half and the second half are superimposed with one another, the second surface of the first half and the second surface of the second half facing one another and defining the center of the pillow.
14 . The pillow of claim 13 , wherein the first cushioning material and the second cushioning material are the same.
15 . The pillow of claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the first cushioning material and the second cushioning material comprises a fill material.
16 . The pillow of claim 13 , further comprising:
a flexible connector between a first peripheral edge of the first half and a first peripheral edge of the second half; and
a coupler that selectively couples and uncouples a second peripheral edge of the first half and a second peripheral edge of the second half.
17 . The pillow of claim 16 , wherein:
the flexible connector is secured to the first peripheral edge of the first half at a location closer to the second surface of the first half than to the first surface of the first half;
the flexible connector is secured to the first peripheral edge of the second half at a location closer to the second surface of the second half than to the first surface of the second half;
the coupler is secured to the second peripheral edge of the first half at a location closer to the second surface of the first half than to the first surface of the first half; and
the coupler is secured to the second peripheral edge of the second half at a location closer to the second surface of the second half than to the first surface of the second half.