(12) United States Patent
`Burton et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,760,935 B1
`Jul. 13, 2004
`
`US006760935B1
`
`(54) GUSSETED PILLOW WITH PLEATED TOP
`AND BOTTOM SECTIONS
`
`3,175,230 A * 3/1965 Herdal ........................ .. 5/491
`3,443,267 A * 5/1969 Meyers ........................ .. 5/645
`
`(75) Inventors: Robert D. Burton, Shoreline, WA
`(US); Ralph W. Saterlee, Seattle, WA
`(US); Shelley A. DiGirolamo,
`Bellevue, WA (US)
`
`4,513,462 A * 4/1985 Thomas ....................... .. 5/645
`
`_
`_
`* elted by eXammer
`
`(73) Assignee: Paci?c Coast Feather C0., Seattle, WA Primary EX?min€r—MiChae1 Trettel
`(Us)
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jensen & Puntigam, P.S.
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U-S-C- 154(k)) by 0 days-
`
`(21) Appl' N05 10/402,605
`(22) Filed:
`Mar. 28, 2003
`(51) Int. cl.7 ................................................ .. A47G 9/10
`(52) US. Cl. .............................................. .. 5/645; 5/636
`(58) Field Of Search ........................... .. 5/636—645, 490,
`5/491
`
`(56)
`
`Ct d
`R f
`e erences l e
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The gusseted pillow includes a top fabric section, a bottom
`fabric section and an intermediate gusset portion, Wherein
`the peripheries of the top and bottom fabric sections are each
`longer than a total length of the gusset portion. The periph
`“a1 edges of the top and bottom fabric Sections are attached>
`respectivelfh ‘0 the Opposing edges of the gusset P°r?°n>
`With pleats at the eerhers ef the pillow The pillow is ?lled
`to produce a high loft (puffy) appearance, With the portion
`of the pilloW on opposing sides of the gusset portion being
`elevated from the gusset portion.
`
`2,805,428 A * 9/1957 Buchman ..................... .. 5/645
`
`8 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 13, 2004
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`Sheet 1 013
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`US 6,760,935 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 13, 2004
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`Sheet 2 0f3
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`US 6,760,935 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 13, 2004
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`Sheet 3 0f3
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`US 6,760,935 B1
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`US 6,760,935 B1
`
`1
`GUSSETED PILLOW WITH PLEATED TOP
`AND BOTTOM SECTIONS
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This invention relates generally to pillow construction,
`and more speci?cally concerns a gusseted pilloW being a
`particular top and bottom section arrangement and an inter
`mediate gusset portion.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Gusseted pilloWs are in general Well knoWn, as shoWn for
`instance in US. Pat. No. 5,729,851 to Hollander and US.
`Pat. No. 3,109,182 to Doak, each of Which generally teach
`a pilloW having a narroW gusset betWeen top and bottom
`sections. HoWever, the total length of the gusset in those
`patents is approximately the same as the total length of the
`peripheral edge of the top and bottom sections, so that When
`the pilloW is seWn together and ?lled, the top and bottom
`sections of the pilloW tend to curve inWardly toWard the
`center of the pilloW in de?ning the upper and loWer surfaces
`of the pilloW.
`In general, comfort and appearance are both important
`aspects of a pilloW. Conventional gusseted pilloWs are
`generally quite ordinary in comfort, depending to some
`extent on the ?ll, and also in appearance. The present
`invention results in a high loft gusseted pilloW, Which adds
`to the overall comfort and appearance of otherWise conven
`tional gusseted pilloWs.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, the present invention is a gusseted pilloW
`With a pleated portion, comprising: a top fabric section; a
`bottom fabric section; a center gusset portion having a
`selected length, Wherein the top fabric section is attached
`along its peripheral edge to an upper edge of the gusset
`portion, and the bottom fabric section is attached along its
`peripheral edge to an opposing loWer edge of the gusset
`portion, Wherein the periphery of at least one of the top and
`bottom fabric sections is larger from the length of the gusset
`portion, and Wherein said at least one fabric section has a
`plurality of pleats at spaced intervals around the periphery
`thereof Where it is attached to said gusset portion; and
`sufficient ?lling Within the pilloW that the pilloW puffs up
`from the gusset portion.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of one embodiment of the
`pilloW of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram shoWing the con?guration of the top
`and bottom sections of the pilloW of FIG. 1 and the con
`?guration of the gusset portion.
`FIGS. 3—5 shoW a second pilloW arrangement using the
`principles of the present invention.
`FIGS. 6—8 shoW another pilloW arrangement using the
`principles of the present invention.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`In general, the present invention is a high loft pilloW
`Which has a “puffy” appearance, comprising top and bottom
`fabric sections With a particular con?guration and an inter
`mediate gusset portion. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the high
`loft pilloW shoWn generally at 10 includes identical top and
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`2
`bottom fabric sections 12 and 14 and an intermediate gusset
`portion 16. The peripheral edges 13, 15 of the top and
`bottom fabric sections 12, 14 are longer than the correspond
`ing upper (top) and loWer (bottom) edges 17, 19 of gusset
`portion 16. In the embodiment shoWn, although not
`necessarily, the top and bottom fabric sections are made of
`cotton or similar fabric, With a 260 thread count, although
`this can certainly be varied.
`In the embodiment shoWn, the top and bottom fabric
`sections are rectangular in con?guration, With a length of
`approximately 23.5 inches (With a 0.5 inch seam alloWance)
`and a Width of approximately 16 inches (With a 0.5 inch
`seam alloWance). The gusset portion 16 is also made from
`cotton or similar material, also With a thread count of 260,
`although again this can be varied. FIG. 2 also shoWs the
`length and Width of the gusset portion. Typically, the gusset
`portion 16 is a continuous strip; it is shoWn in individual
`parts in FIG. 2 to match the four sides of the top and bottom
`sections. In the embodiment shoWn, the pilloW length parts
`21 of the gusset are approximately 22 inches (With a 0.5 inch
`seam alloWance) and the pilloW Width parts 23 of the gusset
`are 16 inches (With a 0.5 inch seam alloWance), for a total
`gusset length of 76 inches. In the embodiment shoWn, the
`Width of gusset 16 is approximately tWo inches.
`In FIG. 1, the peripheral edges of the top and bottom
`fabric sections are seWn, respectively, to the upper (top) and
`loWer (bottom) edges 17 and 19 of gusset portion 16,
`although one end 25 of the pilloW is left open initially to
`permit ?lling of the pilloW. The top and bottom sections
`include pleats 20-20 at each corner 22-22 of the top and
`bottom fabric sections, or at other spaced points along the
`periphery thereof. Alternatively, a dart could be used or any
`similar “bunched” arrangement. Hereinafter, the Word
`“pleat” is intended to cover all such arrangements. In the
`embodiment shoWn, With the dimensions of the fabric sec
`tions and the gusset as set forth above, each pleat is %
`inches, as shoWn in FIG. 2. The siZe of the pleat can vary
`Within the concept of the present invention, depending upon
`the difference in length betWeen the peripheral edge of the
`top and bottom fabric sections 12, 14 and the length of
`gusset portion 16. When the seWn pilloW 10 is ?lled, the top
`and bottom fabric sections Will typically extend upWardly
`and slightly outWardly from the gusset portion of the pilloW,
`giving a lofted, i.e. puffy, appearance to the pilloW, as shoWn
`in FIG. 1. The above-described arrangement adds both to the
`appearance and the comfort of a conventional gusseted
`pilloW.
`The seWn pilloW can be stuffed in conventional Ways,
`either With feathers or doWn or a combination thereof or by
`synthetic products, such as foam or ?ber material, either a
`single block or smaller portions thereof. After ?lling, the
`open end 25 of the pilloW is seWn shut to complete the
`construction of the pilloW.
`As an alternative to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, one
`of the top and bottom fabric sections in FIG. 1 could have
`smaller dimensions than the other, for instance the bottom
`section could be smaller, resulting in the bottom portion of
`the pilloW being less lofted or puffy. Further, one fabric
`section could have approximately the same peripheral edge
`length as the length of the gusset portion, Which results in
`that portion (half) of the pilloW having a conventional pilloW
`appearance, While the other half has a high loft or puffy
`appearance. In such a case, the loWer part of the pilloW could
`be ?lled With foam or ?ber material, While the upper portion
`could be ?lled With feathers or doWn.
`FIGS. 3—5 shoW a variation of the arrangement of FIGS.
`1 and 2. In this arrangement, the top and bottom fabric
`
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`US 6,760,935 B1
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`3
`sections 30 and 32 and the gusset portion 34 of pillow 36 are
`basically the same as in the ?rst embodiment shoWn in
`FIGS. 1 and 2, and are secured to each other in the same Way,
`providing the same desired high loft, puffy appearance. This
`embodiment, hoWever, includes upper and loWer interme
`diate fabric sections 38, 40, Which are secured internally of
`the pilloW 36 to the upper and loWer edges of gusset portion
`34. The edge dimensions (length) of the intermediate fabric
`sections 38, 40 are substantially identical to the edge dimen
`sions (total length) of gusset portion 34.
`The intermediate fabric sections 38 and 40 form a middle
`chamber 42, Which is typically ?lled With feathers, While the
`portions of the pilloW betWeen the upper intermediate and
`top fabric sections and the loWer intermediate and bottom
`fabric sections are ?lled With doWn. The middle chamber 42
`could also be ?lled With doWn. The top and bottom fabric
`sections include pleats 40-40 (or darts or similar
`arrangements) at their respective corners, or alternatively at
`selected spaced points along the periphery thereof. The siZe
`of the pleats, as With the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, can
`vary, depending upon the relative dimensions of the top and
`bottom fabric sections and the overall length of gusset
`portion 34.
`FIGS. 6—8 shoW another internal construction for a pilloW
`48 using the structure of the present invention. PilloW 48
`includes top and bottom fabric sections 50 and 52 and an
`intermediate gusset portion 54, similar to that of the other
`embodiments. FIG. 7 shoWs gusset portion 54 in four
`sections, although it is actually a single length of fabric.
`Again, as in the other embodiments, the peripheral edges of
`the top and bottom fabric sections 50 and 52 are longer than
`the total length of gusset portion 54. Further, pleats 56-56
`are provided at the corners of the top and bottom sections
`Where they meet gusset 54, or at other spaced points along
`the periphery, such that the pilloW of FIGS. 5—8 has the same
`high loft or “puffy” appearance as the other tWo embodi
`ments.
`The internal construction of pilloW 48 is a variation of that
`of FIGS. 3—5. PilloW 48 includes upper intermediate and
`loWer intermediate fabric sections 57 and 58 Within the
`pilloW. HoWever, instead of the upper and loWer intermedi
`ate fabric sections extending separately from each other
`across the entire Width of the pilloW, at least one line of
`stitching extends longitudinally of the pilloW, connecting the
`upper and loWer intermediate sections, thereby de?ning tWo
`internal chambers 64 and 66 Within the pilloW. More
`speci?cally, as shoWn in FIG. 6, tWo parallel lines of
`stitching 68, 69 connect the upper and loWer intermediate
`fabric sections longitudinally of the pilloW, With a Width of
`approximately one inch betWeen them. The internal cham
`bers 64 and 66 extend from the lines of stitching 68, 69
`outWardly to the longitudinal edges of the pilloW, speci?
`cally the upper and loWer edges of the longitudinal portions
`of the gusset portion.
`Typically, chambers 64, 66 Will be ?lled With feathers,
`While the remaining portions of the pilloW betWeen the
`upper and loWer intermediate sheets 57 and 58 and the top
`and bottom fabric sections 50 and 52 Will be doWn.
`HoWever, this can be varied; for instance, the entire pilloW
`can be ?lled With doWn, or in some cases, the entire pilloW
`can be ?lled With feathers, although typically this is less
`desirable. Also, the ?lling could be synthetic material, such
`as ?ber.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`4
`It should be understood that other internal structures for
`the basic pilloW of the present invention are possible. The
`pilloW of the present invention comprises top and bottom
`fabric sections and an intermediate gusset portion, With the
`three sections having a con?guration and arrangement such
`that the pilloW has a high loft or puffy appearance When
`?lled.
`
`Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has
`been described for purposes of illustration, it should be
`understood that various changes, modi?cation and substitu
`tions may be incorporated in the embodiment Without
`departing from the spirit of the invention Which is de?ned in
`the claims Which folloW.
`What is claimed:
`1. A gusseted pilloW With pleated portion, comprising:
`
`a top fabric section;
`a bottom fabric section;
`a center gusset portion having a selected length, Wherein
`the top fabric section is attached along its peripheral
`edge to an upper edge of the gusset portion and the
`bottom fabric section is attached along its peripheral
`edge to an opposing loWer edge of the gusset portion,
`Wherein the periphery of at least one of the top and
`bottom fabric sections is longer than the length of the
`gusset portion, and Wherein said at least one fabric
`section has a plurality of pleats at spaced intervals
`around the periphery thereof Where it is attached to said
`gusset portion; and
`suf?cient ?lling Within the pilloW that the pilloW puffs up
`from the gusset portion.
`2. The pilloW of claim 1, Wherein the top and bottom
`fabric sections are substantially identical, and both include
`pleats at a plurality of spaced intervals around the periph
`eries thereof Where they are attached to the gusset portion.
`3. The pilloW of claim 2, Wherein the peripheral edge of
`the top and bottom fabric sections is at least tWo inches
`longer than the length of the gusset portion.
`4. The pilloW of claim 1, Wherein the pleats are located
`approximately at the corners of the pilloW.
`5. The pilloW of claim 4, Wherein the pleats are approxi
`mately % inch.
`6. The pilloW of claim 2, including upper and loWer
`intermediate sheet sections located internally of the pilloW
`and attached along their peripheral edges to the gusset
`portion, Wherein the upper and loWer intermediate sheets
`have a peripheral edge length substantially identical to the
`length of the gusset portion.
`7. The pilloW of claim 6, Wherein the ?lling includes
`feathers betWeen the upper and loWer intermediate sheets,
`and doWn betWeen the top fabric section and the upper
`intermediate sheet and betWeen the bottom fabric section
`and the loWer intermediate sheet.
`8. The pilloW of claim 6, including at least one line of
`stitching longitudinally of the pilloW connecting the upper
`and loWer intermediate sheets, thereby de?ning ?rst and
`second internal chambers for the pilloW betWeen the upper
`and loWer intermediate sheets and third and fourth internal
`chambers betWeen the upper and loWer intermediate sheets,
`respectively, and the top and bottom fabric sections.
`
`*
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