FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] Embodiments of the present invention(s) related generally to a pillow providing a play mat after the play mat is folded from the pillow or cushion.

SUMMARY

[002] An example apparatus may comprise, in a storage configuration, a pillow with a length and a width, and in an unfolded configuration, the pillow unfolds and comprises a first panel, the first panel including a first side and a second side, the first side of the first panel the second side of the first panel including a first coverlet and a second coverlet, the first coverlet enveloping at least half of the length of the pillow, the second coverlet enveloping at least a portion of the pillow not enveloped by the first coverlet, and a second panel, the second panel including a first side and a second side, the first side of the second panel including graphics depicting a scene.

[003] In various embodiments, the example apparatus further comprising a third panel, the third panel including a first side and a second side, the first side of the third panel depicting the scene. In some embodiments, the example apparatus further comprising at least one interactive pocket, each of the at least one interactive pocket physically coupled to one of the first panel or the second panel. In one embodiment, the example apparatus further comprising a plurality of play objects, each of the plurality of play objects associated with at least one of the interactive pockets. In various embodiments, the example apparatus further comprising a plurality of interactive object, each of the plurality of interactive objects physically coupled to one of the first panel or the second panel. In some embodiments, the plurality of interactive objects are physically coupled to one of the first panel or the second panel with glue, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, button. The example apparatus may have a length of 18 inches and a width of 18 inches, in other example apparatus may have a length of 12 inches and a width of 18 inches. In some embodiments, the width of second coverlet is greater than the width of the pillow. In various embodiments, the scene depicts in the example apparatus may be one of a kitchen, a doctor’s office, a doll house, a picnic, and a tool box. In one embodiment, the first panel is filled with a first amount polyester filling or filled with synthetic foam cut to approximate the dimensions of the pillow. In some embodiments, the second panel is filled with a second amount of polyester filling, wherein the first amount of polyester filling is greater than the second amount of polyester filling. In one embodiment, the first amount of polyester filling is substantially the same as the second amount of polyester filling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[004] FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of a pillow playset which comprises graphics of a kitchen stove according to some embodiments.

[005] FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of the pillow front and pillow back of the pillow playset according to some embodiments.

[006] FIG. 3 depicts multiple steps showing how to unfold the pillow playset according to some embodiments.

[007] FIG. 4 depicts the pillow playset in a folded and unfolded configuration according to some embodiments.

[008] FIG. 5 depicts three example pillow playset according to some embodiments.

[009] FIG. 6 depicts an example doctor’s office graphical representation on the pillow playset according to some embodiments.

[0010] FIG. 7 depicts an example doll house graphical representation on the pillow playset according to some embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 8 depicts dimensions of the pillow playset according to some embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 9 depicts dimensions of accessories of the pillow playset and the outer dimensions of the pillow playset according to some embodiments.

DET AILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Children’s toys occupy a lot of space and include many pieces and are easily lost. Some toys, such as a pretend doctor’s kit may be stored in a container such as a pretend medical bag. Other toys, such as a pretend kitchen may include shelves or cabinets to store pretend accessories such as play food, pots, and pans. However, these toys may not provide a compact, decorative addition to a home.

[0014] A pillow playset may be both a toy and a house decoration. In a storage

configuration, the pillow playset may be a pillow. For example, FIG. 2 depicts a decorative pillow outer front 210 and a decorative pillow outer back 220. Each pillow playset may unpack from a pillow to form a multi-piece playset suitable for children’s play. In some embodiments, the pillow playset may unpack into a kitchen playset, a medical playset, or a doll playset.

While the pillow playset may be depicted as various playsets described herein, it will be appreciated that there may be many different playsets of different styles and themes.

[0015] The example pillow playset 100 of FIG. 1 includes graphics of a play kitchen according to some embodiments. The pillow playset 100 depicted in FIG. 1 may represent the pillow playset when it is unfolded from a storage configuration of the pillow of FIG. 2. The pillow playset 100 may include three panels, such as panels 110, 120, and 130 as shown in FIG. 1. In various embodiments, the pillow playset 100 includes fewer or more panels.

[0016] Each of the panels 110, 120, and 130 includes two surfaces, including inner play surfaces 112, 122, and 132 of panels 110, 120, and 130 respectively. Inner play surfaces 112, 122, and 132 may include graphics which represent a pretend kitchen. In various embodiments, the inner play surfaces 112, 122, and 132 includes graphics which represent a doctor’s office, a doll house, a picnic, car, or tool box. The panels 110, 120, and 130 may each include outer play surfaces 113, 123, and 133. The inner play surfaces 112, 122, and 132 may be on the opposite side of the outer play surfaces 113, 123, and 133 respectively.

[0017] In this example, the inner play surface of panel 110 includes graphics which represents a play kitchen countertop. The inner play surface 112 of the panel 110 may also include graphics of a clock 114, a plant, a blender 118, a toaster 119, or any other images or pockets indicating items that may be found in the context of a kitchen. [0018] In some embodiments, the blender 118 may include an interactive pocket for storing a play object 148. In various embodiments, the pocket of the blender 118 may store one or more of play objects 142, 144, 146, or 148. Play objects 142, 144, 146, or 148 may be separate objects that may be used and engaged with the inner play surfaces of the pillow play set 100. In this example, play objects may include a plan 142, an egg 144, a slice of bread 146, and a banana 148. Any number of the same or different play objects may be used in conjunction with the pillow.

[0019] In some embodiments, the blender 118 includes a quadrilateral shaped mesh fabric (or any shaped fabric made of any material), the quadrilateral shaped mesh fabric may be physically coupled to the inner play surface of panel 110. In various embodiments, the mesh fabric is stitched onto the blender 118 of the panel 110. In some embodiments, the mesh fabric is physically coupled to the panel 110 with glue, a zipper, hook and loop fastener, clasp, button or some other attaching implement. In one embodiment, a piece of plastic, or a different type of fabric is physically coupled to the blender 118 of the panel 110.

[0020] The banana play object 148 may be placed into the blender 118 to pretend to make a smoothie. Each of the play objects 142, 144, 146, and 148 may be have a cotton covering with polyester filling. In some embodiments, the play objects 142, 144, 146, and 148 may have a covering that is polyester, silk, a fabric with elasticity or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, the play objects 142, 144, 146, and 148 may have a synthetic foam cut to the shape of the play objects 142, 144, 146, and 148.

[0021] The outer play surface of side 113 of the panel 110 may be the pillow front of 210 of FIG. 2. The outer play surface of side 113 of the panel 110 may also include two coverlets, the coverlets may enable enveloping the pillow to hold the panels and the play objects together in a decorative fashion. In this example, a first coverlet may envelop at least half of the pillow, while the second coverlet envelops at least the portion of the pillow not covered by the one coverlet. The two coverlets may overlap each other when enveloping different parts of the pillow.

[0022] The panel 110 may be filled with polyester filling (or any other filling or combination of fillings), the polyester filling may be placed between one side 112 and other side 113. In some embodiments, synthetic foam cut to approximate the dimensions of the pillow play set 100 may be placed between the one side 112 and the other side 113 of panel 110. In some embodiments, the panel 110 is the only panel with filling. In various

embodiments, the panel 120 and 130 may be filled with polyester filling or synthetic foam. In some embodiments, the amount of filling in the panel 110 is greater than the amount of filling in the panel 120 or the panel 130. In various embodiments, the panels 110, 120, and 130 may contain substantially the same amount of filling. In some embodiments, a thickness of the synthetic foam in the first panel 110 is greater than a thickness of the synthetic foam in the panels 120 and 130. In various embodiments, the thickness of the synthetic foam in the panels 120 and 130 are substantially the same. In one embodiment, the thickness of the synthetic foam in the panels 110, 120, and 130 are substantially the same.

[0023] The inner play panel 120 may include graphics which represents a play stovetop 124 and/or other items or appliances associated with a kitchen. The play objects 142 and 144 may interact with the play stovetop 124. For example, the fried egg 144 may be placed on the frying pan 142 and placed on the play stovetop 124. In various embodiments, the inner play panel 120 may include physical knobs, dials, or the like that may be either pictured or may be moveable objects for a child to turn.

[0024] The panel 130 may include graphics which represents a play oven 136 and/or any other appliance, and may include an interactive pocket. In some embodiments, the play oven 136 is a piece of rectangular shaped fabric attached to the panel 130 to provide storage for play objects such as play objects 142, 144, 146, and/or 148. In various embodiments, the play oven 136 is in a different shape such as square, triangle, or circle. In some embodiments, the play oven 136 is made of polyester or cotton fabric or a fabric of some combination thereof. In various embodiments, the play oven 136 is made up of fabric with elasticity.

[0025] The play oven 136 is physically coupled to the panel 130, in contrast to the play objects 142, 144, 146, and 148 which are not physically coupled to the panel 130, the panel 110, or 120. The play objects 142, 144, 146, and 148 represent a frying pan, a fried egg, a toast and a banana, respectively. In some embodiments, the play object 142 may have a length of 10 inches and a width of 6.7 inches, the play object 144 may have a length of 4.4 inches and a width of 4.625 inches, the play object 146 may have a length of 4.3 inches and a width of 4.3 inches, the play object 148 may have a length of 6 inches and a width of 3 inches as shown in FIG. 9. The dimensions listed may have a tolerance of 15%. [0026] The play object 140 may interact with the toaster 119. In some embodiments, the toaster includes an interactive pocket for storing or holding the play object 146. In various embodiments, the packet of the toaster 119 may store one or more of play objects 142, 144, 146, or 148. In the illustrated embodiment, the toaster 119 is a piece of rectangular shaped fabric, the rectangular shaped fabric may be physically coupled to the panel 110. In various embodiments, the rectangular shaped fabric is stitched onto the toaster 119. In some embodiments, the rectangular shaped fabric is physically coupled to the panel 110 with glue, a zipper, hook and loop fastener, clasp, button or some other attaching implement. In various embodiments, the toaster 119 is in a different shape such as square, triangle, or circle. In some embodiments, the toaster 119 is made of polyester or cotton fabric or a fabric of some combination thereof. In various embodiments, the toaster 119 is made up of fabric with elasticity.

[0027] Any of one or more objects 142, 144, 146, and 148 may interact with any one the panels 110, 120, and 130 or the interactive pockets thereof.

[0028] It will be appreciated that the pillow play set 100 (or any of the pillow play sets described herein) may include elements of lights and sounds consistent with the playset theme. For example, sounds and/or lights may be integrated into play with the oven, toaster, mixer, and/or the like. In some embodiments, one or more pillow playsets do not have any sound or lights.

[0029] The pillow playset 100 may be self-contained and stored in its own container. For example, the pillow playset 100, as seen in FIG. 1 may be folded up and stored in its own self- contained container (e.g., a pillow enveloped by the two coverlets). Once stored, the pillow playset 100 may be in a storage configuration such as pillow of FIG. 2.

[0030] In the storage configuration, the pillow 210 may have a front side with a graphic 212. The graphic 212 may give a representation of the contents of the pillow playset 100. For example, the pillow playset 100 of FIG. 1 includes graphics of the play kitchen stove, so the graphics 212 on the pillow front 210 may include a blender, a toaster and other images which represent a kitchen. In some embodiments, the pillow playset 100 includes graphics of a doctor’s office or doll house, in such embodiments, the graphics 212 of the pillow front may include images associated with the doctor’s office or the doll house. In some embodiments, the pillow 210 is machine washable. [0031] A pillow back 220 includes coverlets 222 and 224. The coverlet 222 envelops at least a top portion of the pillow playset 100. The coverlet 224 envelops at least a bottom portion of the pillow playset 100. In some embodiments, the coverlet 224 has a width that is greater than a width 226 of the pillow playset 100. There may be a dip in the coverlet 224 that exposes an edge portion of the coverlet 222 (e.g., see FIG. 8) which may improve ease of unpacking the pillow playset from the coverlets (particularly for children). In some embodiments, the coverlet 222 may include one or more graphics.

[0032] FIG. 3 depicts multiple steps showing how to unfold the pillow playset 100 according to some embodiments. Step 310 depicts the pillow playset 100 in a storage configuration. In some embodiments, the coverlet 224 has the width 226 that is similar or greater than the width of the pillow playset 100. The coverlet 224 may be slightly larger than the panel dimensions of the pillow playset 100 to create excess fabric for ease of unpacking. In some embodiments, a dip may be used to expose the top portion 228 of coverlet 222. The coverlet 224 may be turned inside out, to cover at least a portion of the pillow front 210 (e.g., a portion equal to half or more) of the pillow playset 100. For example, a folded pillow playset 410 placed on a sofa 420 depicts dimensions of the pillow relative to typical household furniture.

[0033] In one embodiment, the pillow playset is in the shape of a square, and may have dimensions of 18 inch by 18 inches, each of the coverlets 222 and 224 may have a length of 11 inch as seen in FIG. 8. In various embodiments, the folded pillow playset 410 may be in the shape of a square with dimensions larger or smaller than the dimensions seen in FIG. 9. In some embodiments, the pillow playset may be in the shape of a rectangle, and have dimensions of 18 inches by 12 inches. In various embodiments, the pillow playset may be in the shape of a rectangle with different dimensions.

[0034] The coverlet 224 may cover a portion (e.g., a portion equal to half or more) of the pillow. In step 320, the turning of coverlet 224 to the pillow front 210 exposes a portion of outer play panel 120. The coverlet 222 is turned inside out, and over to the pillow front 210 and covers the graphics on the pillow front 210, as seen in FIG. 2.

[0035] In step 330, the panel 120 may be unfolded to reveal panel 110 and 130.

[0036] In step 340, the pillow playset is unfolded and the inner play surfaces 112, 122 and

132 of panels 110, 120, and 130, respectively are revealed. In various embodiments, the separate play objects (e.g., play objects 142, 144, 146, and 148) may be stored in pockets or within the folds of the inner play surfaces 112, 122 and 132 of panels 110, 120, and 130. The coverlets 222 and 224 may be used to envelope the folded panels 110, 120, and 130 as well as the separate play objects stored within the folds of the panels 110, 120, and/or 130 and/or within pockets or other interactive elements of the pillow playset.

[0037] As discussed herein, the pillow playset may include graphics which represents a play kitchen, a doctor’s office or doll house. An example of the unfolded pillow playset, such as pillow playset 430 of FIG. 4 illustrates the dimensions of the pillow playset relative to the sofa 420. In one embodiment, each of the panels of the pillow playset is in the shape of a square and may have dimensions of 18 inches by 18 inches. In various embodiments, each of the panels of the pillow playset is in the shape of a rectangle and may have dimensions of 18 inches by 12 inches.

[0038] In various embodiments, one panel of the pillow playset may be laid along the back of a couch or chair, a second panel (e.g., middle panel) of the pillow playset may be laid at the seat of a couch or chair, and the third panel of the pillow playset may extend over the edge of a seat of the couch or chair. In various embodiments, there may be weighting elements in the back of a panel (e.g., panel 110) to weight the panel to lay back against the top portion of a seat (e.g., to prevent the top panel from folding forward onto the middle panel). In some embodiments, there may be weighting elements (e.g., in addition to the weighting elements in the top panel) in the bottom panel (e.g., panel 130) to assist with hanging the panel down over the edge of the seat or couch (e.g., located at the bottom edge of the panel directed to the floor).

[0039] FIG. 5 depicts three example pillow playset 510, 540, and 570 according to some embodiments. The pillow playset 510 includes panels 512, 522 and 532 and includes graphics that represents a play kitchen. The play kitchen includes interactive pockets 518, 519, and 536 which represents a blender, a toaster, and an oven respectively. The interactive pockets 518, 519, and 536 may be physically coupled to their respective panel of the pillow playset 510, and comprise mesh fabric, polyester, cotton or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the interactive pockets 518, 519, and 536 may be stitched into their respective panel. In various embodiments, the interactive pockets 518, 519, and 536 may physically coupled to their respective panel with glue, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, button or some combinations thereof. The pillow playset 510 also includes play objects 538 which are not physically coupled to any one of panels 512, 522, or 532 but may be placed in the interactive pockets 518, 519, and 536. The play objects 538 may be placed in any one of the interactive pockets of the pillow play set 510 before the pillow play set 510 is folded away into the storage configuration such as pillow 210 of FIG. 2.

[0040] The pillow playset 540 includes panels 542, 552, and 562 with inner play areas that include graphics which represents a doctor’s office. The doctor’s office includes interactive pockets 554 and 556 which represents a clipboard and a desk drawer respectively. The doctor’s office also includes interactive objects 544 and 546 which represents blood pressure pump and cuff respectively. The interactive pockets 554 and 556 may be physically coupled to their respective panels 552 and 562 of the pillow playset 540. The interactive pockets 554 and 556 may comprise plastic, mesh fabric, polyester, cotton or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the interactive pockets 554 and 556 and the may be coupled (e.g., stitched) into their respective panel. In various embodiments, the interactive elements 554 and 556 may physically coupled to their respective panel with glue, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, button or some combinations thereof.

[0041] The interactive elements 544 and 546 may be physically coupled to the panel 542 of the pillow playset 540 and comprise plastic, polyester, cotton or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the interactive objects 544 and 546 may be stitched into their respective panel. In various embodiments, the interactive objects 544 and 546 may physically coupled to their respective panel with zippers, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, button or some combinations thereof. Interactive element 544 may represent a ball or inflatable object for squeezing to take blood pressure. The interactive element 546 may represent a cuff that may be placed around a child’s or a doll’s arm to pretend that blood pressure is taken.

[0042] The pillow playset 540 also includes play objects 568 which are not physically coupled to any one of panels 542, 552, and 562 but may be placed in the interactive pockets 554 and 566. The play objects 568 may be placed in any one of the interactive pockets of the pillow playset 540 before the pillow playset 540 is folded away into the storage configuration such as pillow 210 of FIG. 2. Separate play objects may include a stethoscope, reflex hammer, syringe, and thermometer. It will be appreciated that there may be any number of different play objects. [0043] The pillow playset 570 includes panels 572, 582, and 592 and includes graphics which represents a doll house. The doll house includes interactive pockets 574, 584, and 594 which represents a dresser, a bed, and a bath tub respectively. The doll house also includes interactive objects 586 and 596 which represents shoe laces and a shower curtain respectively. The interactive pockets 574, 584, and 594 and the interactive objects 586 and 596 may be physically coupled to their respective panels of the pillow playset 570, and comprise mesh fabric, polyester, cotton, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the interactive pockets 574, 584, and 594 and the interactive objects 586 and 596 may be stitched into their respective panel. In various embodiments, the interactive pockets 574, 584, and 594 and the interactive objects 586 and 596 may physically coupled to their respective panel with glue, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, button or some combinations thereof. The pillow playset 570 also includes play objects 598 which are not physically coupled to any one of panels 572, 582, and 592 but may be placed in the interactive pockets 574, 584, and 594. The play objects may include a doll, vacuum, book, and a toothbrush. It will be appreciated that there may be any number of different play objects.

[0044] The play objects 598 may be placed in any one of the interactive pockets of the pillow playset 570 before the pillow playset 570 is folded away into the storage configuration such as pillow 210 of FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the play objects 598 are machine washable.

[0045] FIG. 6 depicts an example pillow playset 600 includes panels 610, 620, and 630 which includes graphics that represents a doctor’s office. The pillow playset 600 includes panels 610, 620, and 630. In the illustrated embodiment, the pillow playset 600 includes three panels. In various embodiments, the pillow playset 600 includes fewer or more panels.

[0046] Each of the panels 610, 620, and 630 includes two surfaces, including inner play surfaces 612, 622, and 632 of panels 610, 620, and 630 respectively. Inner play surfaces 612, 622, and 632 may include graphics which represent a doctor’s office. The panels 610, 620, and 630 may each include outer play surfaces surface 613, 623, and 633. The outer play surfaces 612, 622, and 632 may be on the opposite side of the inner play surfaces surface 613, 623, and 633, respectively.

[0047] The panel 610 may include graphics 614 that depicts a scale and graphics 616 that depicts an eye chart. Interactive objects 618 that depicts a blood pressure pump and cuff, which are physically coupled to the panel 610 with a piece of fabric. In some embodiments, the piece of fabric is cotton, polyester or some combination thereof.

[0048] The panel 620 may include graphic 626 that depicts a patient bed. The panel 620 may also include interactive pocket 624 that depicts a clipboard and may provide an interactive pocket or flap to hold one or more play objects 640, 642, 644, and 646.

[0049] The panel 630 may include graphic 636 that depicts a doctor. The panel 630 may also include interactive pocket 634 that depicts a desk drawer and may hold one or more play objects 640, 642, 644, and 646.

[0050] The interactive objects 618 may be physically coupled to the panel 610 and comprise plastic, polyester, cotton or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the interactive objects 618 may be stitched into their respective panel. The interactive pockets 624 and 634 may physically coupled to their respective panel with zippers, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, button or some combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the interactive pockets 624 and 634 may comprise mesh fabric, polyester, cotton or some combination thereof.

[0051] The play objects 640, 642, 644, and 646 may represent a stethoscope, a reflex hammer, a syringe, and a thermometer.

[0052] FIG. 7 depicts an example pillow playset 700 includes panels 710, 720, and 730 which includes graphics that represent a doll house. The pillow playset 700 includes panels 710, 720, and 730. In the illustrated embodiment, the pillow playset 700 includes three panels. In various embodiments, the pillow playset 700 includes fewer or more panels. In some embodiments, the example pillow playset 700 is machine washable.

[0053] Each of the panels 710, 720, and 730 includes two surfaces, including inner play surfaces 712, 722, and 732 of panels 710, 720, and 730 respectively. Inner play surfaces 712, 722, and 732 may include graphics which represent a doctor’s office. The panels 710, 720, and 730 may each include outer play surfaces 713, 723, and 733. The outer play surfaces 712, 722, and 732 may be on the opposite side of the other surface 713, 723, and 733 respectively.

[0054] The panel 710 includes graphic 714 that depicts a roof of the doll house and the bedroom of the doll house. Interactive pocket 716 depicts a dresser and may hold one or more play objects 740, 742, 744, and 746. [0055] The panel 720 includes graphic 724 that depicts children’s toys. The panel 720 may also include interactive object 728 and interactive pocket 726 which represents shoe laces and a bed respectively. The interactive pocket 726 may hold one or more play objects 740, 742,

744, and 746.

[0056] The panel 730 includes graphic 734 that depicts a portion of a bathroom. The panel 730 may also include interactive pocket 736 which depicts a bath tub, and may hold one or more play objects 740, 742, 744, and 746. Interactive object 738 which depicts a shower curtain may be physically coupled to the panel 730.

[0057] In some embodiments, a strap or a sling may be physically coupled to the pillow playset to allow for ease of transport. In various embodiments, the pillow playset may have dimensions that are smaller than the example dimensions seen in FIG. 9.

[0058] The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the claimed invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.