US2172797A - Adjustable head support - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 12, 1939. 7 LEWALLEN ZJTRJQY ADJUSTABLE HEAD SUPPORT Filed Feb. 3, 1956 Wtor y M v A fl'orney Sept. 12, 1939. A. M. LEWALLEN 2,172,797 ADJUSTABLE HEAD SUPPORT Filed Feb. 3, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I) Val/l1,

y l r 4 'a'ii Hi i A ltorneu Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE HEAD SUPPORT Alvis M. Lewallen, Fort Worth, Tex., assignor of one-fourth to Dorothy E. Jones, and one-fourth to George D. Wright, both of Fort Worth, Tex.

Application February 3, 1936, Serial No. 62,174

2 Claims.

This invention relates to chair attachments and head supports for beauty shops and like enterprises, and it has particular reference to apparatus adapted to be attached to a conventional chair, or a chair of special design, to support the head while certain operations are performed thereon and its principal object resides in the provision of equipment suitable for adjustably supporting the head in such manner as to at once afford comfort to the person upon whom the operations are being performed and convenience for the operator.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel assembly of elements wherein is embodied certain practical and salient features especially adapting the apparatus to use in beauty salons where certain operations are performed on the hair, such as waving, curling, and the like, and particularly in the art of permanent waving which operation usually requires considerable time and is sometimes tedious and tiresome to both the subject and the operator due to the use of heavy curling and heating equipment, and the device affords a restful support for the head of the subject and greatly expedites the handling of the operation by the operator due to the adjustable features of the assembly.

A further object of the invention is manifest in the provision of a head support capable of affording an adjustable rest for the head, relieving the subject of the burden of supporting the weight of the numerous heating units, and other paraphernalia necessary in administering a permanent wave, and holding the head in the proper position for the convenient access of the operator.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of an inexpensive and practical adjustable support for the head, attachable to a chair back, and conveniently provided with attachments for receiving articles used by the operator in performing the work required on the head of the subject.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the invention, in perspective, as the device is used showing the same attached to a chair back and applied to a subject.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention, showing a portion cut away to illustrate certain adjustments.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary portion of a chair back showing one form of supporting bracket attached thereto.

Figure 4 is a perspective fragmentary view of an upholstered chair back illustrating another form of the supporting bracket.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary portion of one end of one of the yoke members illustrating the manner in which the ends of the chin straps are adjustably secured.

Figure 6 is the preferred form of detachable supporting bracket, or clamp, shown attached to a fragmentary portion of a chair.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the invention shown attached to a conventional chair and illustrating, in detail, the convenient tray.

Figure 8 is a perspective illustration of the preferred form of tray.

Figure 9 is a modified form of tray clamp shown secured to a fragmentary portion of a table.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable securing mediums for the yoke and the neck bracket.

Figure 11 is the same as Figure 10 except the adjustments are shown fixed.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary front view of the yoke and neck bracket, showing portions cut away to illustrate the adjustable securing mediums for the yoke and neck bracket and illustrating, in dotted lines, the variable positions of the neck bracket, and

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the main body of the invention which bears the yoke and neck bracket and illustrating, in dotted lines, the relative positions of these members.

The invention consists primarily of a clamp or bracket l which, in its preferred form, as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, is substantially of an inverted U-shape in lateral cross-section and is adapted to be positioned over the back of a conventional chair 2. The bracket I is provided with an integral portion 3 extending rearwardly thereof and provided with a socket 4 for a vertical standard 5 which supports the assembly hereinafter described. The integral portion 3 is also provided with a socket 6 pivotally receiving a pintle l of a convenient tray 8, as shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8. The clamp or bracket I is adjustably secured to the back of a chair 2 by means of knurled headed clamp screws 9.

The standard 5 is slidably disposed through the socket t which is provided with a preferably rectangular passage It allowing the standard to be vertically adjusted therethrough and secured by a set screw ll. Fixed to the uppermost end of the standard 5 is a substantially T-shaped member 82 having a horizontally arranged passage !3 therethrough which slidably receives a horizontal bar M which is adjustably secured within the member i2 by a set screw 52 threaded into the top or side thereof, als exemplified in Figures 1 and '7.

Integral with the forward end of the bar I4 is a body member l5 whose sides project laterally of the bar 84 and form clevises a in which are pivoted at b a pair of opposingly curved yoke members It, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 7, 12 and 13, and whose curvature extends outwardly from the body [5 and upwardly and assumes a slightly downward turn at their outer ends 0, as shown in Figures 1 and 7.

As previously stated, the bar It is preferably hollow and its integral connection with the body l5 afiords a substantially rectangular passage I! through the latter to accommodate the horizontally disposed supporting arms 18 of a neck bracket E9. The arms l8 are arranged parallel and are substantially L-shaped, their upturned outer ends (2 being apertured to receive a bolt and thumb nut 20 which extends through the slot e of the integral support 2! which is adjustably positioned between the upturned ends d of the arms It, as illustrated in Figures 1, 7 and 13. Thus the bracket I9 can be adjusted longitudinally of the passage I! through the body l5.

The undersides of the clevises a of the body 45 are provided with rectangular apertures 1 which receive the upwardly extending beveled ends 22 of a substantially G-shaped clamp 23 having a threaded stem 24 secured therein, as shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, and on whose upper end is threaded a knurled nut 25 whose downwardly directed integral boss 26 bears against the top of a slidably mounted sleeve 21 having its lowermost end tapered or beveled to provide a wedge which bearls downwardly between the arms l8 and retains these members by frictional engagement therewith. The beveled ends 22 of the C-clamp 23 engage the inner sides of the yoke members It at h when the nut 25 is threaded downwardly upon the stem 24 drawing the clamp 23 upwardly.

Obviously this movement of the clamp 23, by reason of the beveled upturned ends 22 thereof, will urge the yoke members it outwardly unless some means are. provided to retain the latter against the beveled surfacefs of the ends 22 of the clamp 23 at h when the latter is drawn upwardly. The outer ends 0, therefore, of the yoke members l6 are connected together by a strip 28 of soft material, such as linen, or the like, whose ends are inserted upwardly between the outer ends 0 of the yoke members It and a relatively small rod or pin 29 whose ends are embedded in the members I6, as exemplified in Figures 5 and 7, and turned outwardly and over the ends 0 and adjulsted to the proper tautness, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Thus, in operation, the device is adjusted on a chair back 2, in the manner shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, and the standard 5 is vertically adjusted in the socket 4 to position the. yoke members It at the desired height. The subject is seated in the chair so that the head and neck are encircled by the curved yoke members l6, a|s illustrated in Figure l, and the strip 28 is adjusted across the space between the outer ends 0 of the members 56, in the manner previously describe-d, in order that the chin of the subject can repose thereon. The pressure thus applied to the strip 28 will urge the members l6 inwardly and more closely engage the bevel surfaces of the ends 22 of the clamp 23.

When the subject is properly seated in the chair and the device is positioned and adjusted, as stated, the neck bracket I9 is adjusted to the back of the neck, as shown in Figure 1, by loosening the nut 28 and moving the bracket IQ forwardly or backwardly as desired, firmly fixing the same against the neck at a point slightly below the hair line and retaining the subject in this position, while the chin i|s supported by the strip 28, so that the operator can have free acess to the subjects hair and apply the necessary instruments thereto down to the lowermost edge thereof on the back of the neck, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Palpably, the device can be adjusted to persons of various sizes and ageis by raising or lowering the assembly, as provided for in the vertical adjustments, and by varying the distance between the ends 0 of the members l6 as required. When the proper adjustment is accomplished on the neck bracket H] the strip 28 is adjusted to retain the yoke members It and prevent their spreading apart and relieving the pressure applied at h on the beveled faceis of the upturned ends 22 of the clamp 23, as previously described.

There is no independent holding means for the neck bracket IS since the nut 25, threaded upon the stem 24, and the clamp 23 constitute the securing medium for both the neck bracket 19 and the yoke members 16. In other words, all of these elements must be adjusted and secured at the same time thereby minimizing the component parts of the aslsembly.

The handy tray 8, illustrated in detail in Figure 8, and shown attached to the device in Figures l and '7, serves as a receptacle for various instruments used by the operator in accomplishing the desired work on the subject. The tray 8 may also be used independently of the assembly by pivoting the same in the table clamp 30 illustrated in Figure 9. The clamp 30 can also be attached to a conventional chair arm or any similar object. The pintle l of the tray 8 will permit the latter to freely swing from side to side or operate in a complete circle.

Although the invention has been described with great particularity, certain changes and modifications may be resorted to from time to time, and such changes and modifications as may be considered as coming within the spirit and intent of the invention may also be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a head support having a vertically adjustable standard and a horizontally adjustable bar mounted on the vertical bar, a pair of opposingly arranged yoke members, each of which is pivoted to a bracket member mounted on the outer end of said horizontal bar, an adjustable neck rest slidably engaging said bracket and a single means for holding the said yoke members and the said neck rest in adjusted position.

2. In combination with a head support having a vertically adjustable standard and a horizontally adjustable bar mounted on the said vertical bar, a pair of opposingly arranged yoke members, each of which is pivoted to a bracket member mounted on the outer end of the said bar, an adjustable neck rest slidably engaging the said bracket, a C-shaped clamp having bevelled ends and means threadedly engaged with a member engaging meanls within the said bracket member and bearing on the neck rest adapted to engage the inner ends of the said yoke members.

ALVIS M. LEWALLEN.

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