1. Technical Field
This invention relates to pillows and, more particularly, to a combined alarm pillow and associated method for providing a discrete notifying signal to a user during sleeping conditions.
2. Prior Art
Alarm clocks are a necessary part of almost everyone's daily lives, from schoolchildren to working parents. As such, alarm clocks are available in a wide variety of styles to meet the tastes of an individual. Most alarm clocks are of a tabletop variety that rests on a nightstand next to a user bed. Such alarm clocks are separated from a user pillow and distanced from the user during operation. Such separation means that a user must remember both the pillow and the alarm clock, when traveling, to ensure being awakened at the proper time. If a user forgets to bring the alarm clock, the user must purchase another or rely on an internal clock, the sun, or some other method to awaken at a desired time. However, some alarm clocks are integrally attached to a user pillow and provide both an audible alarm, as well as a vibrating function to awaken a user.
One prior art example shows an under-pillow vibrating assembly that resists relative displacement between itself and a pillow, and reliably transmits vibrations through the pillow to wake a sleeper. The assembly includes a housing containing a vibrator as well as a planar vibratory plate connected to, and extending past, opposite ends outwardly of, the housing. Unfortunately, this prior art example is a device that is separate from a pillow and has the same drawbacks as a traditional alarm clock. In addition, such an under-pillow can become lost, thereby preventing use of same with an existing pillow, and also does not provide an audible alert as well as a vibrating alert.
Another prior art example shows a pillow alarm device for waking up a user. The device includes a pillow having a compartment therein with an alarm clock provided in the compartment. A vibrating device is also provided in the compartment. The vibrating device is adapted for vibrating the pillow to wake a user resting on the pillow when activated. The vibrating device is electrically connected to the alarm clock so that the alarm clock activates the vibrating device when an alarm of the alarm device is activated. Unfortunately, this prior art example has a compartment for housing the alarm clock partially disposed on an outside surface of the pillow, thereby possibly causing user discomfort when a user body part contacts the compartment during operating conditions.
Accordingly, a need remains for an alarm pillow and associated method in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a device that is convenient and easy to use, is lightweight yet durable in design, and provides a discrete notifying signal to a user during sleeping conditions. Such a device rouses a sleeper with a gentle vibration, without disturbing a bed partner or anyone else in the house, thereby allowing others to remain sleeping. Such a device can be utilized in every room of a house where sleeping takes place, and can effectively remove the need for an alarm clock in those areas. The device also provides a traditional audible alarm if a user desires. The present invention is simple to use, inexpensive, and designed for many years of repeated use.