US20060250015A1

US20060250015A1 - Vehicle head and neck support

Info

Publication number: US20060250015A1
Application number: US11/124,731
Authority: US
Inventors: John Buck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-09
Filing date: 2005-05-09
Publication date: 2006-11-09

Abstract

The present disclosure provides support for a head and neck of a passenger of a vehicle.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a support for a head and neck of a passenger of a vehicle and, more particularly, to a support for a head and neck of a passenger of a vehicle that may be universally secured to vehicle seat backrests or headrests of various configurations.
2. Background of Related Art
Seats of a vehicle such as an automobile, bus, train, or airplane, typically provide insufficient support to a passenger's neck and head. Various devices have been proposed in the art for supporting a passenger's head for the purpose of sleeping, driving or other activities while in the vehicle. Although effective for their intended purposes, existing devices do not provide sufficient head and neck support to the passenger of a moving vehicle while relaxing or sleeping. Additionally, existing devices cannot be conveniently attached to the myriad of vehicle seat configurations, including backrests and headrests.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a head and neck rest which sufficiently supports the head and neck of a passenger of a moving vehicle. Further, it is desirable to have a head and neck rest having a securement device that may conveniently be configured to extend vertically or horizontally about a seat headrest, or at any other angle necessary to provide secure attachment.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a support for a head and neck of a passenger of a vehicle. The support comprises a back portion, side portions, a lower portion, and at least one recess. The back portion extends across the rear width of the support and defines the at least one recess. The side portions extend outwardly from the ends of the back portion. The lower portion extends outwardly from the back portion and is positioned between the side portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a support described in the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a support described in the present disclosure;
FIG.3 illustrates a back view of a support described in the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 schematically shows a support described in the present disclosure in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A support for a head and neck of a passenger according to the present disclosure will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-4 of the accompanying drawings. In one embodiment, the support is constructed of a soft and yieldably resilient material such as foam rubber, memory foam or other conventional pillow materials. The outside of the support may be covered with any durable, washable material that is, preferably, soft to the touch. The support, as a whole, includes a generally wide U-shaped configuration.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, support 10 includes back portion 12, at least one recess 14, side portions 16, and lower portion 18. Back portion 12 extends across the entire rear width of support 10 and defines the at least one recess 14. Side portions 16 extend outwardly from each end of the back portion 12. Lower portion 18 also extends outwardly from back portion 12 and is spaced between side portions 16.
In one embodiment, the at least one recess 14 may be of any shape, design or dimension and may be located anywhere on back portion 12. In a particularly useful embodiment, the at least one recess 14 is generally circular in shape and centrally located on back portion 12 between side portions 16 and above lower portion 18.
In another embodiment, side portions 16 of support 10 extend outwardly from back portion 12 a distance necessary to allow the passenger to turn their head to the side and rest the side of their head on side portions 16 of support 10. In a particularly useful embodiment, side portions 16 extend outwardly from back portion 12 of support 10 a distance approximately equal to or less than the distance between the back of a passenger's head and the passenger's temple area located on the side of the passengers head. Additionally, it is envisioned that side portions 16 extend outwardly from back portion 12 of the support 10 at an angle α ranging from about 80 to about 135 degrees.
Lower portion 18 of support 10 extends outwardly from back portion 12 of support 10 and extends between side portions 16 of support 10. Lower portion 18 of support 10 is positioned to provide support to the passenger's lower neck area. It is envisioned that lower portion 18 may extend outwardly from back portion 12 of support 10 at a downward angle β ranging from about 100 to about 170 degrees. It is further envisioned that lower portion 18 may extend outwardly from back portion 12 of support 10 at a downward angle β ranging from about 120 to about 150 degrees. In a particularly useful embodiment, lower portion 18 extends forwardly off back portion 12 of support 10 at a downward angle β ranging from about 130 to about 140 degrees.
In yet another embodiment, head and neck support 10 further includes at least one non-rigid securement device 25. Suitable non-rigid securement devices are within the purview of those skilled in the art and may include, for example, straps, bands, ropes, cables and the like. In a particularly useful embodiment, the at least one non-rigid securement device 25 is at least one strap.
It is envisioned that the at least one non-rigid securement device 25 is attached to support 10 for securing support 10 to a seat or vehicle headrest 42. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, non-rigid securement device 25 may be directly attached to support 10 along back portion 12 or side portions 16. As shown in FIG. 3, it is further envisioned that non-rigid securement device 25 may be attached to at least one plate 20 along rear side 40 of support 10.
In one preferred embodiment, at least one plate 20 is mounted to rear side 40 of support 10 with a fastener 22, e.g., a grommet, bolt, pin or other similar fasteners. Alternately, adhesives or the like may be used to secure plate 20 to support 10 (FIGS. 4). Plate 20 can be of any size, shape and dimension. In a useful embodiment, plate 20 is generally rectangular. Plate 20 also includes at least one slot 24 formed in plate 20 and may be adapted to pivot, swivel or rotate about fastener 22.
In another preferred embodiment, non-rigid securement device 25 includes at least a first and second strap 26 and 28, each strap 26 and 28 having first and second ends 26 c, 28 c, 26 d, 28 d, respectively. First ends 26 c and 28 c of first and second straps 26 and 28 are fixedly attached to plate 20. More particularly, first ends 26 c and 28 c are looped through slots 24 formed in plate 20. First and second straps 26 and 28 extend in opposed directions relative to slots 24.
Second ends 26 d and 28 d of first and second straps 26 and 28 may be secured together with at least two coupling members 30 and 32. More particularly, first coupling member 30 is connected to first strap 26 adjacent second end 26 d thereof and includes a male component. Similarly, second coupling member 32 is connected to second end 28 d of second strap 28 and includes a female component. Coupling members 30 and 32 are adapted to be releasably secured together. First coupling member 30 may further include strap take-up slots 34 such that the length of first strap 26 extending between first coupling member 30 and plate 20 may be adjusted by a user. It is contemplated that coupling members 30 and 32 may include, for example, hook and loop fasteners, buttons and slots, Velcro, snaps, buckles, and the like.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, in use, head and neck support 10 may be secured to any vehicle seat, such as the backrest of an automobile, bus, airplane, train or the like. To secure head and neck support 10 to a vehicle seat backrest 42, support 10 is positioned with rear side 40 thereof bearing against backrest 42 at a desired location. Support 10 may be positioned such that bottom side 44 rests partially on the shoulders of a user. First 26 and second 28 straps extend horizontally or vertically around backrest 42 and fasten together with coupling members 30 and 32. Similarly, head and neck support 10 may be secured to a headrest 42 of a vehicle seat such as the headrests that are common in automobiles. If vehicle headrest 42 is in a retracted configuration, rear side 40 of support 10 may be placed against the front side of headrest 42 and first 26 and second 28 straps may extended horizontally or vertically around headrest 42 and may be releasably coupled together. However, a user may desire headrest 42 to be extended upwardly so that support 10 may be positioned at a higher vertical location. With headrest 42 extended, rear side 40 of support 10 may be placed against the front side of headrest 42 and straps 26 and 28 may be extended either horizontally or vertically thereabout, or at any other angle, by rotating plate 20 about fastener 22.
In another aspect, it is contemplated that the present support may be dimensioned and configured to be secured to a child safety seat of the type adapted to be used in a car, bus, airplane or the like.
Various modifications and variations of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing detailed description. Such modifications and variations are intended to come within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A support for a head and neck of a passenger of a vehicle comprising:

a back portion extending across the rear width of the support and defining at least one recess, side portions extending outwardly from ends of the back portion and a lower portion extending outwardly from the back portion and between the side portions wherein the at least one recess is centrally located on the back portion, above the lower portion and between the side portions.

2. The support of claim 1 wherein the support is made from a soft, resilient material.

3. The support of claim 2 wherein the soft, resilient material is a foam material.

4. The support of claim 1 wherein the support is a generally wide U-shaped support.

5. The support of claim 1 wherein the lower portion extends outwardly from the back portion at a downward angle.

6. (canceled)

7. The support of claim 1 wherein the at least one recess is generally circular.

8. The support of claim 1 further comprising at least one non-rigid securement device.

9. The support of claim 8 wherein the at least one non-rigid securement device is at least one strap.

10. The support of claim 8 wherein the at least one non-rigid securement device is attached to at least one plate attached to the rear side of the back portion with a fastener.

11. The support of claim 10 wherein the at least one plate fastened to the rear side of the back portion is pivotally attached.

12. The support of claim 8 wherein the at least one non-rigid securement device comprises at least a first and second strap, each having a first end attached to the support and a second end attached to a first and second coupling member for releasably securing the second end of the first strap to the second end of the second strap.

13. The support of claim 12 wherein the first coupling member includes a male component and the second coupling member includes a female component, the male and female components being configured to be releasably attached together.

14. A support for a head and neck of a passenger of a vehicle comprising:

a back portion extending across the rear width of the support, the back portion having a front surface and lateral edges and defining at least one recess;

side portions extending outwardly directly from the lateral edges of the back portion, the side portions having a lower edge and an upper edge; and

a lower portion extending outwardly from front surface of the back portion and between the side portions at a location above the lower edge of the side portions and below the recess,

wherein the at least one recess is centrally located on the back portion above the lower portion and between the side portions at a location above the lower edge of the side portions and below the upper edge of the side portions.