US20140317851A1

US20140317851A1 - Adjustable Pillow

Info

Publication number: US20140317851A1
Application number: US14/106,404
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Hammack; Jerry Hammack
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-04-30
Filing date: 2013-12-13
Publication date: 2014-10-30

Abstract

An adjustable pillow comprises several stacked layers of synthetic foam cut to approximately the same dimension and perimeter and may be enclosed within a fabric cover. The top layer includes a cutout extending inward from one edge of the layer for approximately four to six inches to provide a relieved volume for a user's ear when laying on his or her side to improve comfort without impairing hearing or while the user is wearing eyeglasses.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

The present patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/817,559 filed Apr. 30, 2013 by one of the present inventors, Daniel Hammack, and entitled ADJUSTABLE PILLOW.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to pillow furnishings, and more particularly to an adjustable pillow for supporting one's head while wearing eyeglasses and without blocking one's ear.
2. Background of the Invention and Review of the Prior Art
When laying on one's side on a couch with the head on a pillow, for example as when watching TV or listening to a stereo sound system or lying in bed while reading a book, the pillow unavoidably exerts pressure upon and blocks one's ear. This condition results in reduced hearing in the blocked ear, or discomfort if one is wearing eyeglasses or an external hearing aid. What is needed is a pillow that may be used in such situations that eliminates these disadvantages.
The prior art includes numerous pillow designs variously configured for improving a person's comfort when lying on his or her side and providing for reduced pressure on the person's ears. For example, the pillow of U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,947 provides an adjustable cervical “beautification” pillow for supporting a person's head and neck using a system of removable shims under the user's neck or head, or using additional shims to adjust the height of the entire pillow. The shims must be placed in a designated receptacle. This design requires careful manipulation of and experimentation with numerous separate pieces of cushion material to achieve the desired shape and cushion configuration. The pillow also includes simple cavities on either side of the central portion of the pillow to receive the user's ears when lying on his or her side, but makes no allowance for users wearing eyeglasses.
U.S. Design Patent No. Des. 309,070 depicts an Inflatable Orthopedic Pillow having a topside circular relieved area that slopes downward toward a shallow channel, presumably for supporting a user's neck. A smaller circular relief is provided within the central relief, possibly for reducing pressure on a user's ear when lying on his or her side. This design also does not provide allowance for person's wearing eyeglasses. A disadvantage of inflatable pillows is that the inflating fluid, whether gas or liquid, shifts toward the portions of the pillow not in contact with the user's head, causing the pillow to deform in a way that surrounds the user's head to a greater degree, thus merely shifting the pressure from one area to another.
U.S. Design Patent No. Des. 214,302 appears to depict a one-piece block of resilient material having a rectangular region cut out of the top side and open toward a first edge, and a rounded chamfer along an edge opposite the first edge. The pillow does not appear to be adjustable nor provide any feature to reduce discomfort of a user wearing eyeglasses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,231 discloses a one-piece Neck Guard Pillow contoured for a user in either a supine (face upward) or side position. A central, topside elliptical depression provides support for a user's head, a curved ridge along one edge provides support for the neck, and shallow grooves extending laterally from the head depression provides reduced pressure on the user's ear when lying on one's side. While provision for a person wearing eyeglasses is apparent, the configuration of the pillow is not adjustable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,325 discloses a Facial Fatigue Reducing Pillow for reducing pressure against a user's face, eye socket, or cheek bone by providing “facial relief” areas aligned along a longitudinal axis in the top surface of the pillow. A central, oblong head relief portion is positioned at each end of the pillow between a facial relief portion formed into the top surface. The pillow is designed to be used while face down, with the user's head turned to the right or left. The pillow is not adjustable, the facial relief areas appear unsuited to a person wearing eyeglasses, and this pillow would probably not be used by a person watching TV or reading a book.
U.S. Design Patent No. D668,092 depicts a non-adjustable pillow similar to the '325 patent discussed above. It appears to be a one-piece pillow that lacks adjustability.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,365 describes a therapeutic pillow formed of upper and lower layers. The upper layer is more resilient than the lower one. A semicircular cutout for a user's shoulder is provided in the central portion of at least one of the longer sides. This design is said to provide comfort and enable freer breathing for the user. There is, however, no provision for relieving pressure on the user's ear or allowance for wearing eyeglasses while watching TV or reading a book, for example, nor is there any provision for adjusting the pillow to the user's preference.
U.S. Design Patent No. Des. 256,728 depicts the ornamental appearance of a “Reversible Orthopedic Pillow Having Ear and Eye Relief Areas.” A one-piece rectangular block of apparently resilient material having a narrow passage formed through one edge that connects to an oblong cavity extending partway toward the center of the block, is enclosed in a removable, conforming cover. The passage and cavity extend through the thickness of the rectangular block from top to bottom.
Most of the above mentioned prior art provide little or no adjustability for different person's anatomy, for different orientations of the user with respect to the bed or couch surface on which a person may be lying while in a supine or side position, or for adjusting the pillow to adapt its support of the user's head while enabling the user to wear eyeglasses comfortably when laying on one's side. What is needed is an improved pillow that solves these and other problems, and provides enhanced comfort beyond that available with conventional pillows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing problems are solved by an adjustable pillow comprising an assembly of a first or top layer of synthetic foam having a rectangular or rounded perimeter stacked on top of at least one second layer of synthetic foam; wherein the first layer includes a generally U-shaped cutout in a first edge thereof; and the at least one second layer is formed to the same rectangular or rounded perimeter and without the U-shaped cutout. Several layers of the foam material may be provided so that the shape and height of the pillow may be adjusted. The foam layers may be somewhat loosely enclosed in a removable fabric cover to increase comfort and retain the positioned layers in an adjusted configuration. The layers may be shifted laterally with respect to one another within the fabric cover to adjust the pillow for best comfort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a pillow according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of internal components of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the internal structure of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adjustable pillow according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 without an envelope or cover;

FIG. 6 illustrates one example of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 in use;

FIG. 7 illustrates an inverted view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8A illustrates a plan view of one aspect of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 8B illustrates an edgewise view of the aspect shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A illustrates a first example of the relative positions of the layers of the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6;

FIG. 9B illustrates a second example of the relative positions of the layers of the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6;

FIG. 9C illustrates a third example of the relative positions of the layers of the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6; and

FIG. 9D illustrates a fourth example of the relative positions of the layers of the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An adjustable pillow according to a first embodiment is described in conjunction with FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 appended hereto. FIG. 1 illustrates the adjustable pillow 10 enclosed in a fabric cover 12 and a generally rectangular-shaped or U-shaped cutout 14 formed in an upper portion of the pillow at one edge of the pillow 10. A rectangular-shaped cutout may have its inner end rounded in some fashion such as shown in FIG. 1. For example, the top layer of resilient material in the pillow includes a cutout extending inward from one edge of the layer for approximately four to six inches to provide a relieved volume for a user's ear when laying on his or her side to improve comfort without impairing hearing or while the user is wearing eyeglasses. The cover 12 of the pillow 10 may be formed to conform to the shape of the cutout 14.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the internal components of the pillow 10 without the cover 12. Included are the first layer 20 and second layers 22, 24, and 26. The first layer 20 includes a U-shaped cutout 28 in one edge. All of the layers 20-26 may be formed of a synthetic foam material such as polyurethane foam or latex foam, for example. Persons skilled in the art understand that these names polyurethane and latex are general terms in that they refer to various chemistries of the polyurethane or latex family. Thus in the description which follows, these terms refer to any suitable synthetic foam material within these two groups. The suitable materials may be selected primarily on the basis of their density and resiliency or hardness as will be described herein. Synthetic foam classified as Mil-P-26514G, Type I, Class 2, Grade C or its equivalent is suitable. In a preferred embodiment, the first layer 20 may have a density of approximately 2.0 lb/CF (2.0 pounds per cubic foot), the second layer 22 a density of approximately 1.35 lb/CF, and the third and subsequent layers 24, 26 for this example, a density of approximately 1.25 lb/CF.
FIG. 3 illustrates an assembled view of the internal components 20-26 of the pillow 10, showing that they all have approximately the same thickness, perimeter, and area, except for the first (top) layer 20, which has U-shaped opening or cutout 28 formed in one edge of the top or uppermost layer. The layers may generally be in contact with each other at the junctions 30.
The approximate dimensions of one preferred embodiment of the adjustable pillow 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 may be about ten×ten inches×five inches high. The U-shaped cutout 28 may be approximately 2½×5 inches. Each first and second layers 20-26 may be approximately 1¼ inch thick. Other dimensions may be used for certain applications. In fact, the principle of shaping one portion of a pillow to provide for a relieved area, or to provide a specific shape to support one's head or other body part in a comfortable position is also contemplated herein. Further, the novel features of the invention disclosed herein are not limited by the overall size of the pillow. Segments of the synthetic (e.g., polyurethane) foam or other suitable material such as latex foam may be shaped to provide the relief or support needed in specific circumstances. The segments provided may vary in shape from the flat layers depicted in the drawings, or combined in other combinations to meet specific requirements.
The open cell polyurethane foam material is recommended because it is readily conformable, it may be selected to have a density appropriate for a pillow, and it is readily available in appropriate degrees of hardness or resilience. Moreover, polyurethane foam has a surface finish or texture that is essentially non-skid, which is useful in this application because it maintains the layers 20-26 in a non-skid relationship with each other to maintain the adjusted shape of the pillow 10. Thus, the layers 20-26 are not otherwise secured to each other so that they may be adjusted in their relationship with each other to provide maximum comfort to the user. In general, the properties of the foam material that enable selection of a suitable material are its density, its hardness, and the type of material. While open cell synthetic foam material is preferred, closed cell foam may be suitable for some applications, as long as the density, resilience, etc. combine to provide a comfortable result.
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adjustable pillow according to the present invention. The embodiment, adjustable pillow 38 is shown enclosed within a fabric envelope 60. The envelope 60 is intentionally oversized to enable it to be adjusted to accommodate variations in the positions of the layers 40, 42, 44 of the pillow 38 with respect to each other. This would occur, for example, when a user desires to shape the pillow 38 to suit a particular orientation of the user to the pillow 38 by shifting the internal foam layers with respect to each other. The envelope 60, which may preferably be fabricated of a soft fabric, includes sufficient excess size such that a portion of the envelope 60 may be tucked into the relief opening 50 cut into the top layer 40 or segment of the pillow 38 structure, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
The envelope 60 may be fabricated of any fabric that preferably has a soft nap finish or texture, ranging from a low nap such as a cotton flannel material, a medium nap such as a fleece material, or a material having a deep nap, such as a deep pile or shag texture. For example, the low nap may be preferred for warm to cool ambient temperatures; the medium nap may be suited for use with moderate to cool ambient temperatures, and the deep nap preferred for cool to cold ambient temperatures. The choice of nap may also be made on other basis, as preferred by the user. Fabrics may be formed of natural fibers such as cotton, wool, silk, or synthetic fibers having the requisite finish and softness. Synthetic fabrics may be woven or spun bonded or manufactured by other suitable processes.
Continuing with FIG. 4, in this view the foam layers are shown in phantom as enclosed within the envelope 60. The layers 40, 42, 44 give form to the pillow, and may be positioned in various lateral arrangements, a few of which are illustrated in FIGS. 9A through 9D. One of the properties of the synthetic foam material is that the surface of the foam has a non-skid characteristic such that two layers of the foam material placed together resist sliding of one against the other. This characteristic enables the layers 40, 42, 44 to remain in the position in which they are arranged before they are enclosed as an assembly within the envelope 60. Once inside the envelope 60 the overall shape of the pillow is retained, unless some effort is made to reposition or re-orient one or more of the layers with respect to the others. This adjustability is an important feature of the invention that is not taught by the prior art, and one which makes a substantial contribution to the utility of the invention. Further, as will be described, the oversize configuration of the envelope 60 permits a wide range of arrangements of the various layers to accommodate a variety of pillow shapes to suit any application of use.
Another feature of the novel combination of the invention is the provision of the shaped opening 50 in the upper-most foam layer 40. This relief or cut-out opening 50 is adapted to provide clearance for a user's ear, and, if worn, eyeglasses and/or a hearing aid when the side of the user's head is placed on the pillow as shown in FIG. 6. Suitable shapes for this opening include a U-shape, a keyhole shape, a combination such as an ovoid and a connecting passage, a generally rectangular shape, with or without a rounded inner end, and a cul-de-sac. The user's head is supported by the resilient foam layers 40, 42, 44 without exerting pressure on the portion of the user's head occupied by his or her ears, eyeglasses, or hearing aid. The resiliency of the foam material may preferably be selected to provide the necessary support while remaining resilient enough for comfortable use. The resiliency for purposes of the present embodiment may be provided by selecting a foam material having as principal specifications the density and hardness of the material. In a preferred embodiment, the first layer 40 may have a density of approximately 1.8 lb/CF (1.8 pounds per cubic foot), the second layer 42 a density of approximately 1.35 lb/CF, and the third and subsequent layers 44, for this example, a density of approximately 1.25 lb/CF. These figures are illustrative and not intended to be limiting. All of the layers 40, 42, 44 may be formed of polyurethane foam such as Mil-P-26514G, Type I, Class 2, Grade C or its equivalent.
The “hardness” of the foam material may be expressed by a percentage “Indentation Force Deflection” or IFD, expressed as a percentage (%) deflection upon application of a specified force in X lbs./Y sq. in. In the present exemplary embodiment the foam material may preferably be a polyurethane foam, preferably an open cell type, having an IFD of 25% at 10 to 13 lbs./50 sq. in. for the uppermost or first layer 40, and respectively an IFD of 25% at 12+/−3 lbs./50 sq. in. for the second layer 42, and an IFD of 25% at 28+/−3 lbs./50 sq. in. for the remaining layers 44. Closed cell foam may be suitable for some applications, as long as the density, resilience, etc. combine to provide a comfortable result. These figures are also illustrative and not intended to be limiting, and variations from this preferred specification may of course be used to suit particular tastes or applications. Alternate materials for the foam layers may include latex rubber foam, or other resilient materials suitable as stuffing for pillows or upholstery cushions and the like. An alternate method of specifying the “hardness” of the foam material may be the durometer of the material such as expressed by the widely known “Shore A Scale” measurement. By using appropriate conversion relationships, equivalent substitutes for the IFD specification may be employed.
In general, the density and hardness of the synthetic foam material may be described as follows. As to density, the synthetic foam material generally may have a density in the range of 0.75 to 3.0 lbs. per cubic foot, and it will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the density may vary from one layer to another in the pillow. Similarly, as to hardness, the synthetic foam material generally may have an indentation force deflection (IFD) characteristic in the range of 20% to 35% in the presence of a force of 10 to 30 lbs. applied to an area of approximately 50 sq. inches; and this characteristic may vary from one layer to another in the pillow.
Other features depicted in FIG. 4 include the side wall portions of the relief or cut-out opening 50. The narrow portion of the opening 50 is identified by reference number 52, and the side wall portion of the central, rounded portion of the opening 50 is indicated by the reference number 48. The overall outline 54 illustrates the general shape of the relief or opening 50. The outline 54 of the opening 50 may preferably include shapes selected from the group consisting of a U-shape, a keyhole shape, a combination such as an ovoid and a connecting passage, a rectangular shape, and a cul-de-sac. Tucked into the opening 50 is some excess portion 62 of the envelope 60. This feature provides a finished appearance to the pillow and also permits air to circulate within the space of the opening 50 to enhance the comfort of the user.
In use, either pillow 10, 38 enables the user to lay on his or her side with the pillow 10, 38 under the user's head, with the cutout or opening 28, 50 positioned around the user's ear as shown in FIG. 6 to be described. Thus, the cutout or opening 28, 50 is provided as a relief in the edge of the top or uppermost side of the pillow 10, 38 for the user's ear, thereby relieving the pressure of the pillow 10, 38 on the person's ear. This feature has several distinct advantages. It preserves an unobstructed path for sound to reach one's ear on the side of the head next to the pillow. It relieves pressure against the ear and the discomfort that can result when wearing eyeglasses or an external hearing aid. It enables air to circulate around the user's ear. The number of layers of the polyurethane foam permits adjusting the pillow height to fit the user—small persons require fewer layers than larger persons. Further, the layers may be placed partially out of vertical alignment with each other to make minor changes to the shape of the pillow to adjust for comfort.
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in all of its aspects except that the internal structure of the adjustable pillow 38 is shown without an envelope or cover 60. The reference numbers identifying structural features refer to the same features as in FIG. 4; thus, the same description applies to both FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 6 illustrates one example of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 in use, showing how a user's head would be positioned above the adjustable pillow 38 just before resting his or her head on the pillow 38. Note how, in this example, the user's head is oriented with respect to the pillow 38 so that the user's right side ear (not shown—the user or any portion thereof is not a part of the invention) is above the central portion of the opening 50, and the right side temple portion of the user's eyeglasses is above the narrower portion of the opening 50. Similarly, a user could place his or her head on the pillow so that the left ear is above the central portion of the opening 50, and the left side temple portion of the user's eyeglasses is above the narrower portion of the opening 50. This exemplary view is intended to be illustrative and not limiting as to the uses of the adjustable pillow 10, 38 described and depicted herein.
FIG. 7 illustrates an inverted view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 to show the access flap 64 that enables the layers of the resilient foam to be enclosed within the envelope 60. In this illustrative embodiment the envelope 60 has an opening 70 formed by the overlapping parts 66 and 68 of the fabric envelope 60. The parts 66 and 68 represent the exterior and interior edges of the overlapping portion 64 of the envelope 60. The part 68, as indicated by the dashed line, is disposed within the opening 70. In the illustrative embodiment, the edges 66 and 68 may be separated by approximately 6 inches. This dimension may be varied to suit a particular construction of the invention. Thus, layers of the foam material selected for the pillow may be inserted together into the opening 70. The loose flexibility of the fabric used to form the envelope 60 enable the envelope to be slipped over the layers and the layers positioned relative to each other as described elsewhere (See, e.g., the views A through D of FIG. 9).
FIG. 8, in separate views 8A and 8B, illustrates detail views of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 8A is a plan or top outline view of a preferred, but not limiting shape of the opening 50 in the uppermost or top layer 40 of the adjustable pillow 10, 38. Similarly, FIG. 8B is an elevation or edge outline view of the same opening 50 in the uppermost or top layer 40. The plan view outline of FIG. 8A includes some typical dimensions that, while not intended to be limiting, are suggested for this example because they were experimentally determined for this embodiment and found to provide the comfort to the user as expected. The narrow portion of the opening 50 includes side walls 52, and the central, larger portion of the opening 50 includes the respective side wall 48. The radius 55 of the side wall 48 at both ends of the central portion of the opening may be approximately 1.25″ from the first and second centers 57 as shown. The centers in the view of FIG. 8A may be approximately 2.0″ apart as shown. The dimension of the opening from the rearward boundary of the opening 50 to the opening at the edge of the layer may be approximately 5½″. Note that both views include an optional feature—the rounded edge 56 along the upper edge 54 of the opening 50. This rounded edge 56 may have a radius of approximately ¾″ although the actual value of the radius is not critical and may vary substantially from the illustrative value described.
FIG. 9, in the separate views 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, illustrates without limitation several examples of how the layers of the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 may be adjusted laterally for a particular situation of use. The layers 40, 42, and 44 are all shown in all four views of FIG. 9, which depicts the same structural elements in differing juxtaposition, so that the adjustability of the present invention may be appreciated. The opening 50 is identified to reference the orientation of the pillow for use. Due to the non-skid characteristic of the synthetic foam material forming the layers 40, 42, 44, the layers will tend to remain in their orientations with respect to each other, even when enclosed in the loose fitting envelope 60 as shown in FIG. 4, according to one of the important features of the present invention. The first arrangement 72 shown in FIG. 9A depicts the three layers stacked in full alignment of their perimeters. The second arrangement 74 shown in FIG. 9B depicts the three layers in a uniform offset in the same direction, in the manner of a descending staircase. The amount of offset may be varied to suit the needed adjustment. The third arrangement 76 depicted in FIG. 9C shows the three layers offset by differing amounts in a sideways direction. Similarly, the fourth arrangement 78 that appears in FIG. 9D shows the second layer offset to the rearward edge and the third or bottommost layer offset to the near side of the pillow assembly. It will be noted that different numbers of layers may be used, and layers of differing thicknesses and/or sizes may be used to achieve the desired height, resiliency, and form factor for a particular use.
While the invention has been shown in only two of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. Persons skilled in the art may readily see that the numbers of foam layers, the dimensions and characteristics of the layers and the envelope may vary substantially from the exemplary embodiments described herein without departing from the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The shape of the cutout portion in the top or upper layer of the foam (or other material) material may vary widely from the examples depicted and discussed in the foregoing detailed description. The general concept is to provide an opening in one edge of the top or upper layer of the two or three or more layers of the cushioning material employed in the adjustable pillow, wherein the opening extends from the edge of the pillow approximately four to 6 inches corresponding to the distance from the front of a person's face to an ear. As described, this opening may be a U-shape, a keyhole shape, a combination such as an ovoid and a connecting passage, a generally rectangular shape (rounded or not at the inner end), and a cul-de-sac. Other examples include horseshoe shape, “C” shape, etc. Further, while open cell foam is preferred for the reasons discussed, other embodiments may be suitable with closed cell foam used as the resilient cushion material. Of course, substitutes for the synthetic foam material may be used, either in form or material, with similar results. For example, down feathers or other pillow stuffing materials enclosed in individual envelopes may be used in some embodiments in place of the individual foam layers.

Claims

1. An adjustable pillow for eyeglass wearers, comprising:

an assembly of a first layer of a synthetic foam having a rectangular or rounded perimeter disposed on top of at least one second layer of said synthetic foam such that said first and at least one second layers are positionable in various lateral relationships with one another to allow adjustment of the shape of said pillow; wherein

said first layer includes a first opening in a first edge thereof connected via an elongated passage to a second rounded central opening in said first layer, the first and second openings in combination configured to provide space for an ear and eyeglasses of a user wearing eyeglasses;

said at least one second layer is formed to approximately the same rectangular or rounded perimeter as said first layer and without said opening; and

an envelope enclosing said assembly, said envelope having an interior volume substantially greater than the volume of said assembly to permit the various positions of said first and second layers.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein said first and second openings in combination is selected from the group consisting of a U-shape, a keyhole shape, a combination of an ovoid and a connecting passage, a generally rectangular shape, and a cul-de-sac.

3. The pillow of claim 1, wherein:

said synthetic foam material is selected from the family groups consisting of polyurethane foam and latex foam.

4. The pillow of claim 2, wherein:

said synthetic foam material generally has a density in the range of 0.75 to 3.0 lbs. per cubic foot; and

said density may vary from one layer to another in said pillow.

5. The pillow of claim 2, wherein:

said synthetic foam material generally has an indentation force deflection (IFD) characteristic in the range of 20% to 35% in the presence of a force of 10 to 30 lbs. applied to an area of approximately 50 sq. inches; and

said characteristic may vary from one layer to another in said pillow.

6. (canceled)

7. The pillow of claim 1, wherein:

said assembly includes a stack of at least two but not more than three said second layers in addition to said first layer.

8. The pillow of claim 1, wherein:

said assembly includes a stack of at least two but not more than ten said second layers in addition to said first layer.

9. (canceled)

10. The pillow of claim 1, wherein:

said envelope is a fabric bag having an access flap disposed on one side thereof for removal or installation of said first and second layers.

11. The pillow of claim 1, wherein:

said envelope has sufficient excess upper area that said excess area may be tucked into said first and second openings as a partially conforming lining of said opening.

12. The pillow of claim 1, wherein:

said first layer is more resilient than said at least one second layer.