WO2008029207A1

WO2008029207A1 - Portable headrest and sunshade

Info

Publication number: WO2008029207A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/002051
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anne-Marié SMITH
Original assignee: Smith Anne-Marie
Priority date: 2006-08-30
Filing date: 2007-07-20
Publication date: 2008-03-13
Also published as: ZA200607225B

Abstract

A portable headrest and sunshade assembly is provided in which a headrest (1) operatively supports a generally planar sunshade (2) by way of releasable support means (6). The sunshade is of an elongate shape and is in the form of a flexible sheet supported at its periphery by a resilient frame (5) that extends along at least two long sides and an operatively upper end of the sunshade and that preferably extends around the entire periphery of the sunshade. The sunshade is thus preferably able to be twisted and collapsed to a coiled condition for transport and storage purposes. The releasable support means are operative to support an operatively lower end region (3) of the sunshade in a generally upright orientation and tension members (8) hold the operatively upper end region (4) of the sunshade in a generally horizontal orientation above the headrest with the resilient frame members in a flexed condition.

Description

PORTABLE HEADREST AND SUNSHADE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a portable headrest and sunshade assembly suitable for use by a person reclining, typically lying, in the sun for recreational purposes and, particularly, whilst sunbathing.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The need for protecting the face from the sun whilst sunbathing has long been recognized and the patent literature that applicant has reviewed discloses a variety of different headrest and sunshade assemblies. Many of these have a headrest that may form or support a pillow, and a sunshade that is composed of a series of U-shaped frame members is pivotally attached to the headrest. In such an instance, a cover is supported by the frame members and the cover assembly is angularly adjustable and collapsible in the manner of a concertina very much along the lines of the traditional perambulator hood. The headrest may form a container for accommodating various items of paraphernalia. United States patents numbers 5,515,564 and 4,609,958 are illustrative of this type of headrest and sunshade combination. It is considered by applicant that this type of assembly does not collapse particularly neatly and is generally rather complex and accordingly costly. It also does not lend itself to applying or exhibiting promotional material, particularly on the sunshade.

The prior proposals also include a variety of sunshades in the form of a panel that is held in an elevated position relative to the headrest by an adjustable arm. United States patents numbers 4,100,633 and 6,668,407 are illustrative of this type of headrest and sunshade combination. This type of assembly is also considered by applicant to be relatively complex and costly, the arm may not hold the sunshade panel adequately securely, particularly in breezy conditions, and the construction affords little or no protection against the wind.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention provide a portable headrest and sunshade assembly that overcomes, at least to some extent, the drawbacks that applicant perceives of the prior art proposals identified above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a portable headrest and sunshade assembly comprising a headrest, a generally planar sunshade and releasable support means for supporting the sunshade relative to the headrest, the assembly being characterized in that the sunshade is of an elongate shape and is in the form of a flexible sheet supported at its periphery by a resilient frame that extends along at least two long sides and an operatively upper end of the sunshade and wherein the releasable support means are operative to support an operatively lower end region of the sunshade in a generally upright orientation and wherein tension members are provided for releasably holding the operatively upper end region of the sunshade in a generally horizontal orientation above the headrest with the resilient frame members in a flexed condition.

Further features of the invention provide for the resilient frame to be an endless frame extending around the entire periphery of the sunshade in which instance the frame assumes the form of a resiliently flexible hoop of elongate material, typically spring steel wire, that holds the flexible sheet of material taut in a generally flat panel defining condition when erected and that folds to a collapsed condition in which the hoop assumes a coiled configuration for storage and transport purposes; for the operatively lower end of the sunshade to be somewhat narrower than the operatively upper end thereof; for the support means to comprise an operatively upright rigid support plate received within a cooperating pocket formed in the operatively lower region of the sunshade in which instance the support plate is removable or foldable to an inoperative storage position; and for the tension members to be cords of adjustable effective length that attach an upper region of each side of the sunshade to either a lower region of the sunshade or to the headrest.

Still further features of the invention provide for the headrest to be hollow so as to form a storage chamber therein in which instance an access aperture is preferably provided with a closure member or door; and for the headrest itself to the rigid and to be provided with a cushion or pillow.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a headrest and sunshade assembly with the sunshade in an upright, unflexed and substantially inoperative condition;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same assembly but with the sunshade in a flexed and operative condition;

Figure 3 is a side view of the assembly in the condition illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the components illustrated in exploded relationship relative to each other;

Figure 5 is a partially exploded side view illustrating the support means;

Figure 6 is an underneath perspective view of the headrest with the other components stored therein and illustrating a carrying bag for the headrest; and,

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing an alternative arrangement of support panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, a portable headrest and sunshade assembly comprises basically a headrest (1) and a generally planar sunshade (2). The sunshade is of elongate shape with the operatively lower end region (3) being somewhat narrower than the operatively upper end region (4) thereof. In this embodiment of the invention the sunshade is in the form of a flexible, light weight fabric sheet supported at its periphery by an endless resilient spring steel wire frame (5) (see Figure 1) extending around the entire periphery of the sunshade. The frame may thus be considered to have two long sides extending operatively upwards; an upper end; and, a lower end.

The frame thus assumes the form of a resiliently flexible wire hoop that holds the flexible sheet of material taut in a generally flat panel defining condition (as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 5) when opened out for use and that folds, by twisting the two ends of the frame and moving them towards each other to a collapsed coiled condition for storage and transport purposes. In the latter coiled condition, in this embodiment of the invention, the collapsed sunshade is of smaller size than the headrest as will become more apparent from the following.

In this embodiment of the invention the releasable support means comprises an operatively upright rigid support plate (6) supported at its lower end by a socket arrangement (1a) at the rear of headrest. The upright rigid support plate is received within a cooperating pocket (7) stitched to the rear surface of the operatively lower region of the sunshade. The support plate is removable for transport and storage purposes and also has a maximum dimension that is less than that of the headrest. The support plate is thus operative to support the lower end region of the sunshade in a generally upright orientation.

A tension member in the form of a cord (8) of adjustable effective length has one end attached to each side of the upper region of the sunshade and the other end to the corresponding side of the lower region of the sunshade. The arrangement is such that by shortening the effective length of the two cords appropriately the operatively upper end region of the sunshade may be pulled into a generally horizontal orientation above the headrest (as illustrated clearly in Figures 2 and 3) with the resilient frame members in a flexed condition whilst the lower end region of the sunshade remains in an upright position by virtue of the support plate. Alternatively, the lower end regions of the cords could be releasably anchored to the headrest itself, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3.

The sunshade described above exhibits a number of advantages over the prior art referred to herein. In the first place, it provides an extremely simple and inexpensive sunshade for use in cooperation with a headrest for the purposes indicated above. Secondly, the exact positioning of the upper region of the sunshade can be adjusted according to requirements and personal preference by shortening or lengthening the tension cords. Thirdly, the upright lower portion of the sunshade affords at least limited protection against the wind, at least in instances in which the assembly is appropriately orientated. Also, the sunshade can be made of any suitable light weight fabric that can be easily coloured or decorated for promotional purposes and is extremely light in weight and conveniently small in its collapsed condition.

Turning now to the headrest itself, this is preferably made to a hollow generally rigid configuration so as to be capable of storing the other components (clearly with the sunshade in its collapsed condition) within it. As illustrated in Figure 6, an access opening (9) is provided in the bottom of the headrest with a closure in the form of a door (10) that has a resilient catch (not shown) for holding it in its closed position. Of course, with this arrangement and the headrest being generally rigid, a separate cushion or pillow (11) is provided that can also carry, either itself or by way of an outer cover, promotional material. Conveniently, the headrest is provided with a recess (12) (see Figure 4) suitably shaped to locate the cushion therein and the cushion could be held releasably in position by any suitable means such as hook and loop fasteners of the type sold under the trade name "VELCRO".

In order to complete this particular embodiment of the invention, there is also provided a light weight carrying bag (13) for storing and carrying the headrest with the other components stored inside it. The bag itself is also eminently suitable for displaying promotional material, as may be required.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. In particular, the support means for supporting the lower end region of the sunshade in an upright position may be varied widely.

One particular variation is illustrated schematically in Figure 7 wherein a support plate (14) is hingedly attached to the headrest itself so as to be hingedly movable between an upright operative position and an inoperative position in which it is flush with the bottom of the headrest or, it may indeed, form part of a closure to the access opening communicating with the interior of the headrest.

Numerous other variations to both the headrest and the sunshade are possible within the scope of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A portable headrest and sunshade assembly comprising a headrest (1), a generally planar sunshade (2) and releasable support means (6) for supporting the sunshade relative to the headrest, the assembly being characterized in that the sunshade is of an elongate shape and is in the form of a flexible sheet supported at its periphery by a resilient frame (5) that extends along at least two long sides and an operatively upper end of the sunshade and wherein the releasable support means are operative to support an operatively lower end region (3) of the sunshade in a generally upright orientation and wherein tension members (8) are provided for releasably holding the operatively upper end region (4) of the sunshade in a generally horizontal orientation above the headrest with the resilient frame members in a flexed condition.

2. A portable headrest and sunshade assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the resilient frame is an endless frame extending around the entire periphery of the sunshade in which instance the frame assumes the form of a resiliently flexible hoop of elongate material that holds the flexible sheet of material taut in a generally flat panel defining condition when erected and that folds to a collapsed condition in which the hoop assumes a coiled configuration for storage and transport purposes.

3. A portable headrest and sunshade assembly as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the operatively lower end of the sunshade is somewhat narrower than the operatively upper end thereof.

4. A portable headrest and sunshade assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support means comprises an operatively upright rigid support plate (6) received within a cooperating pocket (7) formed in the operatively lower region of the sunshade the support plate being removable or foldable to an inoperative storage position.

5. A portable headrest and sunshade assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tension members are cords (8) of adjustable effective length that attach an upper region of each side of the sunshade to either a lower region of the sunshade or to the headrest.

6. A portable headrest and sunshade assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the headrest is hollow so as to form a storage chamber therein in which instance an access aperture (9) is provided with a closure member or door (10).

7. A portable headrest and sunshade assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the storage chamber accommodates the sunshade in a collapsed condition for transport and storage purposes.

8. A portable headrest and sunshade assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the headrest itself is rigid and is provided with a separate cushion or pillow (4).