Closeable Pillow, Tote Bag and the Like

Applicant had a preliminary investigation run to find whether such a pillow or casing had been employed heretofore in the art. The search uncovered U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,420 which disclosed a flexible container having a closure element of Velcro. Applicant found nothing in this patent which would anticipate the use of a pillow or casing having Velcro strips closing the open end throughout the width thereof with side stitching joining the ends of the facing strips. While other patents were disclosed in the search, none of them were pertinent to the structure which is disclosed and claimed.

The invention pertains to the construction of a casing in the nature of a pillow case made from a long piece of material which is folded at the center and stitched at the side edges. Two Velcro strips are first stitched to the folded material at the open end of the casing with the locking faces facing downwardly from the underside of the material. When the side edges are stitched, the stitching stops at the pair of Velcro strips since they do not face each other. The casing is then turned inside out to reverse the stitching and the strips which are in locked relation when stitched together at the ends. The casing or pillow can be used for many things. Sand can be placed in the casing if a pillow is to be employed on the beach or feathers may be employed if a pillow is to be used in a baby carriage, crib or the like. The end of the casing can be opened to remove material therefrom and permit it to be folded into a small unit or rolled about the Velcro strips at the open end.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pillow or casing with the two side edges stitched and with the open end employing a pair of Velcro lockable strips;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 2--2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 3--3 thereof, and

FIG. 4 is a broken view of the open end of the casing with a carrying handle secured between the Velcro strips.

The pillow or casing 11 is made from various types of material depending on the particular use for which the pillow or casing is intended. If the casing or pillow is to be stuffed with feathers and used for a baby carriage or the like, the material will be light, similar to a standard type of pillow casing. If, however, the casing is to be used to form a pillow on the beach, a much heavier material, even a light canvas could be employed to hold the sand which is sealed therein by the Velcro end strips at the open end. The piece of material 12 is of substantial length which is folded on its center along the line 13 with the side edges 14 in parallel relation. The side edges of the material overlap at 15, and at the open end 16 it is folded under at 17. A strip of Velcro or other locking material 18 is placed under the material 12 and is stitched at 19 along a top edge and also stitched at 21 along the bottom edge to firmly retain the strips 18 secured to the cloth.

The strips 18 may be of different form but the one which has been successfully employed is a Velcro strip having plastic hooks and loops which interengage each other when in faced relation and securely close the end opening 16 of the pillow or casing. After the side edges of the material 12 are stitched at 22 up to the Velcro strips, the casing is turned inside out to have the locking faces of the Velcro strips 18 facing each other. The stitching 22 is continued through the edges of the Velcro strips at 20 to prevent loss of material thereat. Thus, the stitching 20 and 22 extends through and beyond the engaged ends of the Velcro strip 18 for locking the ends and further strengthening the securement of the strips to the edge material at the open end. The material is not limited to cloth but may be a plastic material, oilcloth-like material and the like. An advertisement may be applied to one or both sides of the pillow or casing to disclose an article, company or the like. When using the pillow, the open end of the casing has the Velcro strips 18 pulled apart and filled with a desired material. The locking surfaces of the strips are cleaned and forced into locking engagement so as to completely close the open end of the casing or pillow. A handle 25 is shown in FIG. 4 having a fine wire 26 extended through a central aperture 27. The wire 26 extends down at the ends and is secured to a rod, channel element or the like 28. The wires are sealed by the Velcro strips which have the element 28 abutted therealong in carrying engagement therewith.