US20060016011A1

US20060016011A1 - Sleeping pillow with a depression

Info

Publication number: US20060016011A1
Application number: US10/896,530
Authority: US
Inventors: Allan Berg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-22
Filing date: 2004-07-22
Publication date: 2006-01-26

Abstract

According to the present invention, there is provided a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person and a plurality of methods for making the sleeping pillow. The sleeping pillow comprises a pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface. The sleeping pillow further comprises a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing. The depression is about centrally located or offset. The depression is formed securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another. The innermost portion of the depression may be a point shape, a circular shape, or a shape having a length and a width (such as square or rectangle), or yet another geometric shape. The sleeping pillow may further comprise two interior sections.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to sleeping pillows. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a sleeping pillow having a depression to facilitate comfortable, restful and therapeutic sleeping position for a person, while mitigating the production costs associated with specifically contoured pillows.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Invariably, rest and sleep are among the body's numerous mechanisms to heal itself from the postural, physical and nervous assaults throughout the previous day. Conventional pillows, each comprising a pillow casing and fill material, are known in the art and they have not undergone many changes in the many years of pillow making. However, specifically contoured pillows have been deigned in recent years to improve the quality of rest and repair, thereby permitting an individual to wake up more relaxed, rested and ready to face another day.
A variety of specifically contoured pillows are available on the market. These pillows are molded from materials, such as a variety of foam materials, designed to improve the body's position during sleep, thereby providing more restful and therapeutic sleep. A variety of pillows have been designed for use between a person's knees, providing spinal support to keep the lower spine in a neutral position. Furthermore, a variety of pillows have been designed for use below a person's head, providing upper back, neck and head support to keep the upper spine and neck in neural positions. The foregoing pillows provide for comfort and support, and may make a difference in alleviating and/or avoiding back pain, neck pain and getting a restful and therapeutic night's sleep.
Regarding the contoured pillows designed specifically for use below a person's head to support the upper back, neck and head, there have been a number of different pillows produced, including concave pillows or doughnut-shaped pillows having a portion touching the neck that is high and a portion touching the head that is low. However, the foregoing specifically contoured pillows are expensive to manufacture as compared to conventional pillows.
Notwithstanding the various improvements in the foregoing contoured sleeping pillows, there is a need in the art to provide a sleeping pillow with a depression to facilitate a comfortable, restful and therapeutic sleeping position for a person, while mitigating production costs associated with the specifically contoured pillows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping pillow to support the neck and head of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising: a pillow casing filled with a fill material, the pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing, the depression formed securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising: a pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a gusset having an approximately elliptical figure eight shape located at a predetermined position in the interior of the pillow casing, the gusset securing the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing along the length thereof, the gusset forming a first section and a second section in the interior of the pillow casing and a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another, wherein the first section and the second section are filled with different quantities of a fill material, different fill materials, or different quantities of different fill materials, respectively.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising: a pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing, the depression formed securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another; and a first section and a second section in the interior of the pillow casing filled with different quantities of a fill material, different fill materials, or different quantities of different fill materials, respectively
According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising: sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one open side; securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined position of one or more of the top support surface and the bottom support surface, where the top surface is at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface; filling the pillow casing with a predetermined amount of fill material via the at least one open side; and closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side, wherein a depression at the predetermined position of the one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface is formed.
According to yet a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising: sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one open side; filling the pillow casing with a predetermined amount of fill material via the at least one open side; closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side; and compressing and securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface and at a predetermined distance form one another, wherein a depression at the predetermined position of the one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface is formed.
According to a still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising: sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a piece of fabric of an elliptical figure eight shape sewn therein at a predetermined position, a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one open side, the piece of fabric forming a first section and a second section; filling the first section and the second section of the pillow casing with predetermined amounts of fill material via the at least one open side; and closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description in combination with the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary top perspective view of a sleeping pillow with a depression according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow depicted in FIG. 1 according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary top perspective view of the unfilled pillow casing according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary exploded lateral cross-sectional view of the stitching depicted in FIG. 3 that forms the depression depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow casing depicted in FIG. 3 being filled with fill material according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary top perspective view of the unfilled pillow casing made according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow casing depicted in FIG. 6 being filled with fill material according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary top perspective view of the pillow casing depicted FIGS. 6-7 filled with fill material and sealed according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary formation of a depression in the filled and sealed pillow casing depicted in FIG. 8 according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary top perspective view of a sleeping pillow assembly comprising a top fabric portion, a bottom fabric portion and a gusset according to the present invention;
FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary top perspective view of the sleeping pillow assembly depicted in FIG. 10 being sewn together and filled according to the present invention;
FIG. 12 depicts is an exemplary top perspective view of a finished sleeping pillow made in accordance with FIGS. 10 and 11, according to the present invention; and
FIGS. 13 and 14 depict exemplary uses of the pillow according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a sleeping pillow with a depression to facilitate a comfortable, restful and therapeutic sleeping position for a person, while mitigating production costs associated with the specifically contoured pillows.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary top perspective view of a sleeping pillow 100 according to the present invention. The pillow 100 comprises a pillow casing 102, fill material 104 and a depression 106. The pillow 102 has a dimension including a length and a width, depicted herein in FIG. 3. It is preferable that the pillow dimension is 15 inches by 22 inches or 20 inches by 26 inches. However, the pillow may be of any conventional dimension, or otherwise. The fill material 104 may be a slick fill, e.g., silicon-coated material, or a dry fill, e.g., a garneted fill material. Alternatively, the pillow 100 may be blow-filled. Although fill materials are not described herein for brevity and clarity of the present invention, they are nonetheless considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The pillow casing 102 is preferably made of cotton or a combination of cotton and another material.
Further with reference to FIG. 1, the depression 106 is located at a predetermined position on the pillow casing 102. It is preferable that the depression is located about centrally along the length and width dimension of the pillow 100. It is further preferable that the shape of the innermost or bottom portion of the depression 106 is generally circular. However, the depression also may be offset from about the center depending on the particular requirements. If offset, it is preferable that the depression is located at about one third of the width of the pillow casing 102 plus one half of the diameter of the innermost portion of the depression. It is noted that bottom portion of the depression 106 is lower than the outer portion 108 of the sleeping pillow 100 outside the depression. It is preferable that the innermost diameter of the depression 106 is from about ⅝ of an inch to about 3 and ⅞ of an inch. However, the shape and size of the bottom portion of the depression may vary and such variation is considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape of the innermost portion of the depression may be a point or have a length and a width, such as a square or a rectangle or other geometrical shape of a different dimension. Although other shapes are not depicted for brevity and clarity of the present invention, they are nonetheless considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The advantage of the point or circular shape of the preferred size is that the depression 106 is of an approximately conically sloped shape, having approximately outwardly sloped walls, which approximates the size of the head of a person. That is, the person's head is cradled in the depression 106 and supported laterally by the outwardly sloping walls, while the higher portion 108 of the sleeping pillow 100 supports the neck and a part of the upper back of the person. Therefore, the sleeping pillow 100, having the depression 106, facilities a person's comfortable, restful and therapeutic sleeping position.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the sleeping pillow 100 depicted in FIG. 1 according to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sleeping pillow 100 has a top support surface 206 and a bottom support surface 210. The top support surface 206 and the bottom support 210 surface are similar and may be interchanged by turning the sleeping pillow 100 over. The cross-section of the sleeping pillow 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 depicts the depression 106 formed on the pillow casing 102 of the top support surface 206 and a similar depression 106 on the bottom support surface 210. The depression 106 has an approximately conical shape with outwardly sloping walls 202. The angle of the sloping walls is preferably from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. The slope of the walls 202 is a function of the quantity of fill material 104 in the sleeping pillow 100 and the distance between the bottom portion 204 of each depression 106 (i.e., on the top support surface 206 and the bottom support surface 210). As is further illustrated in FIG. 2, the depression 106 has a depth of 208, which generally represents the difference between the top support surface 206 and the bottom of the depression 204. The depth 208 of the depression 106 is further a function of the quantity of fill material 104 in the sleeping pillow 100 and the distance between the bottom portion 204 of each depression 106.
FIGS. 3-5 depict perspective views for making the sleeping pillow 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary top perspective view of the unfilled pillow casing 102 according to the present invention. The pillow casing 102 of the sleeping pillow 100 is made conventionally. More specifically, two portions of fabric 308, 310 (preferably of cotton or a combination of cotton and another material) having a length 302 and a width 304 are sewn together along the edges thereof. That is, the two portions of fabric are sewn along three of the four edges, thereby forming the pillow casing 102 having one edge open. Preferably, the edge along the width of the pillow casing 102 is left open. The pillow casing 102 is then inverted to hide the stitching along the three edges on the inside of the pillow casing 102. In accordance with the present invention, a generally circular stitching 306 having a predetermined diameter (depicted and described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4) is sewn at a predetermined location along the length and width of the pillow casing 102, thereby securing the two portions of fabric around the predetermined location. The predetermined location of the stitching 306 may be about the center of the pillow casing 102 or may be offset from the center depending on the particular requirements. If offset, it is preferable that the stitching 306 is located at about one third of the width of the pillow casing 102 plus one half of the predetermined diameter. After the pillow 100 is filled with fill material 104, the circular stitching 306 will define the bottom portion 204 of the depression 106 and the outwardly sloping walls of the depression 202 will terminate at the top support surface 206 (as well as the bottom support surface 210).
FIG. 4 is an exemplary exploded lateral cross-sectional view of the stitching 306 depicted in FIG. 3 that forms the depression 106 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow casing 102 depicted in FIG. 3 being filled with fill material 104. As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top fabric portion 310 and the bottom fabric portion 308 are sewn along three of four edges, including the exemplary edge 502, with one edge 504 left open. The top fabric portion 310 and the bottom fabric portion 308 are secured at a predetermined location via circular stitching 306 having a diameter 406, at a predetermined distance 408 from one another. As described hereinbefore, it is preferable that the diameter 406 is from about ⅝ of an inch to about 3 and ⅞ of an inch. Furthermore, it is preferable that the distance 408 between the top fabric portion 310 and the bottom fabric portion 308 at the circular stitching 306 is from about zero inches to about 0.5 of an inch. The distance 408 may be achieved by adding fill material 104 to achieve the necessary distance and stitching the top fabric portion 310 and the bottom fabric portion 308 to secure them. As depicted in FIG. 5, the pillow casing 102 is thereafter filled through the open edge 504 with a desired amount and type of fill material 104 described with reference to FIG. 1. Thereafter, the open edge 504 is stitched to seal the pillow casing 102 and complete the sleeping pillow 100 according to the present invention. The complete sleeping pillow 100 is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIGS. 6-9 depict perspective views for making the sleeping pillow 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an exemplary top perspective view of the unfilled pillow casing 102 made according to the present invention. The pillow casing 102 of the sleeping pillow 100 is made conventionally. More specifically, two portions of fabric (preferably of cotton or a combination of cotton and another material), a top fabric portion 602 and a bottom fabric portion 604, having a length 606 and a width 608 are sewn together along the edges thereof. That is, the two portions of fabric are sewn along three of the four edges, thereby forming the pillow casing 102 having one edge open. Preferably, the edge along the width of the pillow casing 102 is left open. The pillow casing 102 is then inverted to hide the stitching along the three edges on the inside of the pillow casing 102. The pillow casing is thereafter filled with fill material 204 and stitched along the open edge.
FIG. 7 is an exemplary lateral cross-sectional view of the pillow casing 102 depicted in FIG. 6 being filled with fill material 104 according to the present invention. It is noted that no depression is formed on the pillow at this stage. As described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 6, the top fabric portion 602 and the bottom fabric portion 604 are sewn along three of four edges, including edge 702, with one edge 704 left open. After the pillow casing 102 is inverted, it is filled with a desired amount and type of fill material 104 through the open edge 704. The pillow casing expands as the desired quantity of fill material 104 fills the pillow casing 102.
FIG. 8 is an exemplary pillow casing 102 that has been filled with fill material 104 and stitched at all edges to seal the contents of the pillow casing 102 in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 9 depicts in exemplary fashion the formation of a depression 106 in the filled pillow casing 102 of FIG. 8 according to the present invention. More specifically, the depression 106 is formed using a compression tack machine 902, which compresses the filled pillow casing 102 at the predetermined position along the length 606 and width 608 thereof, and secures the top surface 602 to the bottom surface 604 at a predetermined distance from one another, as similarly depicted in FIG. 4 hereinabove. The compression tack machine 902 may be used to form the foregoing shape alternatives of the depression 106, i.e., point, square, rectangle and the like. It is noted, there are other alternative means that can form the depression 106 as described herein, and thus they are considered within the scope of the present invention. The sleeping pillow that results from the teachings of FIGS. 6-9 is similar to the sleeping pillow 100 depicted in FIGS. 1-2.
FIGS. 10-12 depict perspective views for making the sleeping pillow 100 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an exemplary top perspective view of a sleeping pillow assembly 1002 comprising a top fabric portion 602, a bottom fabric portion 604 and a gusset 1000, according to the present invention. The assembly is sewn together and filled to generate the sleeping pillow as depicted in and described with reference to FIG. 12 hereinbelow. The gusset 1000 provides a barrier to mitigate the movement of fill material 104 from one part of a pillow to another part of a pillow, facilitates different quantities of fill material in the different parts of the pillow, as well as providing a depression in accordance with the present invention. The gusset 1000 is a piece of fabric made preferably of cotton or a combination of cotton and another material, and has a shape of an elongated figure eight. The gusset 1000 has a length that is approximately the length of the pillow 100 and a height from its lowest edge 1010 to its highest edge 1008 that is approximately the height of the pillow casing 102 when filled with fill material 104, as particularly depicted in and described with reference to FIG. 2. It is preferable that the height from the lowest longitudinal edge 1010 to the highest longitudinal edge 1008 is greater than the height of the filled pillow casing 102. This creates a flexible barrier that does not form a ridge centrally along the length of the pillow when the pillow casing 102 is filled with fill material 104. The gusset 1000 also has a middle thinnest part 1004 and slopping edges 1002 that connect the highest edges 1008 and the thinnest part 1004. The middle thinnest part 1004 has a predetermined height that facilitates the provision of a distance (similar to the distance 408 depicted in FIG. 4) between the top fabric portion 602 and the bottom fabric portion 604 when the assembly 1002 is sewn together.
FIG. 11 is an exemplary top perspective view of the sleeping pillow assembly 1002 depicted in FIG. 10 being sewn together and filled according to the present invention. The gusset 1000 provides a barrier to mitigate the movement of fill material 104 from one part of the pillow 100 to another part of the pillow, as well as providing a depression in accordance with the present invention. More specifically, the gusset 1000 is sewn along its longitudinal bottom edge 1010 to a bottom fabric portion 604 (or alternatively the top fabric portion 602). The positioning of the gusset 1000 is preferably central along the width of the top and bottom fabric portions 602, 604. It is noted that the gusset can be positioned easily at another location along the width of the fabric portions 602, 604. Thereafter, the top fabric portion 602 (or alternatively the bottom fabric portion 604) is sewn to the gusset 1000 along its longitudinal top edge 1008. In this way, the gusset 1000 is sewn to a top fabric portion 602 and a bottom fabric portion 604 along edges 1008 and 1010, respectively. Thereafter, the edges of the top fabric portion 602 and bottom fabric portion 602 are preferably sewn together along three of four edges as described in reference to FIG. 6, forming the pillow casing 102 having sewn therein the gusset 1000. The gusset 1000 subdivides the one open edge into two openings 1106 and 1108 along the width of the pillow casing 102. Furthermore, the gusset 1000 also subdivides the inside of the pillow casing 102 into two sections, a first section 1102 and a second section 1104. The first section 1102 of the pillow casing 102 is filled via opening 1108 along the open edge and the second section 1104 is filled via opening 1106 along the open edge. Once filled, the open edge (i.e., openings 1106, 1108) are sealed.
FIG. 12 is an exemplary top perspective view of a finished sleeping pillow 100 made in accordance with FIGS. 10 and 11, according to the present invention. As depicted in FIG. 12, the first section 1102 includes a greater amount of fill material 1202 than does the second section 1104 that includes an amount of fill material 1204. The different amounts of fill material 104 provide for different densities in the respectively filled sections 1102, 1104. More specifically, the gusset 1000 facilitates the provision of different amounts of fill material 104 in the respective sections 1102, 1104, or alternatively different fill materials in the sections 1102, 1104, to thereby provide for firmer or softer density in the respectively filled sections. In this way it is possible for one section to be of a firmer density to support the neck and upper back and the other section to be of a softer density to support the head.
FIGS. 13 and 14 depict the exemplary uses of the pillow according to the present invention. In operation, a person will preferably use the pillow by sleeping in a generally supine position, i.e., lying on the back or having the face upward, as particularly depicted in FIG. 13. More specifically, the person's head will be cradled in the depression 106 and supported laterally by the outwardly sloping walls 202, while the higher portion 108 of the sleeping pillow 100 will support the neck and a part of the upper back of the person. The provision of a firmer density under the neck and back in accordance with FIG. 12 may be beneficial in this use of the pillow. Alternatively, a person may use he pillow by sleeping on one's side, with the person's ear fitting the depression 106, as particularly depicted in FIG. 14. Alternative sleeping positions are possible and comprise further uses of the pillow 100 according to the present invention. In these alternate positions, the depression 106 will likewise cradle and support a part of the person's head, and the higher portion 108 will further support the person's neck and upper back.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising:

a pillow casing filled with a fill material, the pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; and

a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing, the depression formed securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another.

2. The sleeping pillow according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position of the depression is about the center of the pillow casing.

3. The sleeping pillow according to claim 1, wherein the depression has a conically sloped shape.

4. The sleeping pillow according to claim 1, wherein the pillow has a dimension including a length and a width.

5. The sleeping pillow according to claim 4, wherein the dimension is one selected form the group consisting of: 15 inches by 22 inches; and 20 inches by 26 inches.

6. The sleeping pillow according to claim 4, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are secured in a circle at about the predetermined position on the pillow casing having a diameter from about ⅝ of an inch to about 3 and ⅞ of an inch.

7. The sleeping pillow according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined position of the depression is at about half of the width plus half of the diameter.

8. The sleeping pillow according to claim 1, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are secured in shape selected from a group consisting of: a point, circle, square and a rectangle.

9. The sleeping pillow according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance between the top surface and the bottom surface is from about zero inches to about 0.5 of an inch.

10. The sleeping pillow according to claim 1, wherein the fill material by weight is from about 1 pound to about 2 pounds.

11. The sleeping pillow according to claim 1, wherein the fill material is one selected from the group consisting of: slick fill material; and dry fill material.

12. The sleeping pillow according to claim 1, wherein a gusset having an approximately elliptical figure eight shape and located at a predetermined position in the interior of the pillow casing secures the top surface and the bottom surface along the length thereof.

12. The sleeping pillow according to claim 12, wherein the gusset forms a first section and a second section.

13. The sleeping pillow according to claim 12, wherein the first section is filled with more fill material than the second section.

14. A sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising:

a pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; and

a gusset having an approximately elliptical figure eight shape located at a predetermined position in the interior of the pillow casing, the gusset securing the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing along the length thereof, the gusset forming a first section and a second section in the interior of the pillow casing and a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another,

wherein the first section and the second section are filled with different quantities of a fill material, different fill materials, or different quantities of different fill materials, respectively.

15. A sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the sleeping pillow comprising:

a pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface; and

a depression at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface of the pillow casing, the depression formed securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined distance from one another; and

a first section and a second section in the interior of the pillow casing filled with different quantities of a fill material, different fill materials, or different quantities of different fill materials, respectively.

16. A method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising:

(a) sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one open side;

(b) securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined position of one or more of the top support surface and the bottom support surface, where the top surface is at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface;

(c) filling the pillow casing with a predetermined amount of fill material via the at least one open side; and

(d) closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side, wherein a depression at the predetermined position of the one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface is formed.

17. A method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising:

(a) sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one open side;

(b) filling the pillow casing with a predetermined amount of fill material via the at least one open side;

(c) closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side; and

(d) compressing and securing the top surface and the bottom surface at a predetermined position of one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface and at a predetermined distance form one another, wherein a depression at the predetermined position of the one or more of the top surface and the bottom surface is formed.

18. A method for making a sleeping pillow to support head and neck of a person, the method comprising:

(a) sewing a pillow casing, the pillow casing having a gusset of an elliptical figure eight shape sewn therein at a predetermined position, a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one open side, the piece of fabric forming a first section and a second section;

(b) filling the first section and the second section of the pillow casing with predetermined amounts of fill material via the at least one open side; and

(c) closing the pillow casing along the at least one open side.