GB2179852A

GB2179852A - Improvements relating to head supports

Info

Publication number: GB2179852A
Application number: GB08621162A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Callistus Ethelre Alles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-09-04
Filing date: 1986-09-02
Publication date: 1987-03-18
Also published as: GB8621162D0; JPS6259463U; GB2179852B; GB8521963D0

Abstract

A head support for seated persons comprises an adjustable strap for fitting securely about the forehead of the person and fixing means attached to the strap for fixing it permanently or temporarily to the back support or headrest of the seat at head height. A preferred support is provided in the form of a strap 6 which can be fitted around the forehead of a person sitting on a seat 3. The strap has a releasable fastening 7 enabling its free ends to be interconnected. The strap 6 is adjustably attachable to a backing sheet 1 by suitable configurations on the rear face of a pad 5 (co-operating with complementary formations on a layer 4). The backing sheet 1 can be attached to the back of the seat 3 by hook-like rigid straps 2 and additional securing straps 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to head supports This invention relates to means for supporting the head of a person sitting in a seat. There is often a desire for a person to have a short or a long sleep in a seat, particularly on long journeys in cars, trains, boats, airplanes or seating of any form but a difficulty is that once sleep is achieved the head tends to fall forwards or sideways which is uncomfortable and can result in the sleep being disturbed or stiffness being createdl in the neck or shoulders.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for supporting the head of a seated person to assist him in achieving adequate rest.

Accordingly this invention provides a head support for persons comprising an adjustable strap for fitting securely about the forehead of the person and fixing means attached to the strap by which the strap may be fixed permanently or temporarily to the back support or headrest of the seat at head height.

The strap will hold the head of the seated person securely in position so that it will not tend to drop forward or sideways once sleep is achieved.

In one preferred arrangement the strap will be in the form of a loop or collar including circumferential adjustment means pivotally mounted on the fixing means so that it can be dropped down over the forehead. Alternatively the strap could, for example, be a two-part belt linked by adjusting means. Such adjusting means could comprise belt and buckle, popper stud, or Velcro fastenings or some form of strapping.

Ideally the height of the strap with respect to the fixing means will be adjustable. The head support can then be used by persons of varying height. The strap could be slidably attached to the fixing means or attached by popper stud or Velcro fastenings.

In one arrangement fixing means could comprise a strip of material for attaching securely to an existing back support or headrest of a seat. This would be suitable, for example, for permanent provision of a head support in trains, coaches and airplane seating. The head support could however be independent of the seat so that it may be carried by the user for his own use in various situations.

In this case the fixing means could comprise a rigid support member to be hooked over the top of a back support or headrest of a seat or be mounted onto the back support of a seat or a rigid upright support for the adjustable strap, projecting from a plate on which the user will sit.

The strap itself may be formed from flexible metal, natural or synthetic leather or fabric or plastics material.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of a seat with a head support according to the invention mounted thereon; Figure 2 illustrates a similar headrest mounted on a base; Figure 3 shows a support mounted on a car seat headrest; Figure 4 illustrates an adjustable head support; Figure 5 is an alternative form of head support with a padded forehead positioner; Figure 6 is a simpler form of support; and Figure 7 illustrates a head support for attachment to any upright elongate member.

The seat support shown in the drawing Fig.

1 comprises a backing sheet 1 having hooklike rigid straps 2 which can be fitted over the back of a seat 3.

Attached to the backing sheet is a layer of material 4 (rigid framed) carrying one half of a Velcro fastening and strapped to the seat via 8 to give further support if required. The other half of the fastening is carried on the rear surface of a pad 5 to which is secured a strap 6. The ends of the strap 6 also carry a Velcro fastening arrangement 7. In use the support will be mounted over the back of the seat 3 and the height of the pad 5 will be adjusted and fixed to the Velcro fastening 4 to suit the height of the upper part of the head of the user. He will then position himself comfortably and wrap the strap around his forehead and secure it in place with the Velcro fastening 7. If the user should fall asleep the strap 6 will hold his head securely in place and prevent it from falling forwards or sideways so that his sleep will not be disturbed.

An alternative form of head rest shown in Fig. 2 is one which can be placed on a seat (or, for example, on the ground against a tree). The strap 6A is attached to a fitting 9 which can be fixed at any desired position on a vertical rod 10 which is attached to a base plate 11.

Fig. 3 illustrates the type of seat having a fixed headrest 12. A strap 6B can be attached as required to the headrest by means of a Velcro fastening onto pads 13.

The head support shown in Fig. 4 has a strap 6A similar to that shown in Fig. 2 and mounted in the same way onto a vertical rod 10. At its base the rod 10 is attached to a mounting bar 14 having hoop-like members 15 which can be fitted over the top of the back of a low seat and fixed there by screw members 16.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 a strap 6C is attached by Velcro fastenings to suitable pads 17 at the sides of the seat 3. An additional stiffening padded member 18 is pro vided on the strap 6C to act as a rest for the forehead of the user. In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 6 a strap 6D is mounted by Velcro fastenings to pads 19 on the front face of the seat 3.

Fig. 7 illustrates a strap of the form 6A provided with a fixing member 20 which can be secured behind a tree, post or the like 21.

The user can then rest against the tree 21 and his head will be supported by the strap 6A.

The support may take many other forms within the scope of the invention and is not limited to those shown in the drawings. For example the head strap may be attached to a rigid mounting member by means of a flexible connector allowing for a degree of rotational movement of the head of the user. This modification would be of particular assistance to drivers (or passengers) in vehicles so as to provide a safety device whilst allowing some freedom of movement for viewing other than straight ahead. It will be appreciated that, with all arrangements, the support will provide protection against abrupt forward movements of the head of the user should the vehicle in which the user is travelling suffer a sudden impact.

Claims

1. A head support for seated persons comprising an adjustable strap for fitting securely about the forehead of the person and fixing means attached to the strap by which the strap may be fixed permanently or temporarily to the back support or headrest of the seat at head height.

2. A head support according to claim 1, wherein the strap is in the form of a loop or collar including circumferential adjustment means pivotally mounted on the fixing means so that it can be dropped down over the forehead.

3. A head support according to claim 1, wherein the strap is a two part belt linked by adjustment means.

4. A head support according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the adjustment means comprises belt and buckle, popper stud, Velcro fastenings, or some form of strapping.

5. A head support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the height of the strap with respect to the fixing means is adjustable.

6. A head support according to claim 5, wherein the strap is slidably attached to the fixing means or attached by a popper stud or Velcro fastenings.

7. A head support according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing means com prises a strip of material for attaching perma nently to an existing back support or headrest of a seat.

8. A head support according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing means com prises a rigid-support member to be hooked over the top of a back support or headrest of a seat or to be mounted onto the back support of a seat.

9. A head support according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing means comprises a rigid upright support for the adjustable strap, projecting from a plate on which the user will sit.

10. A head support according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the strap is formed from flexible metal, natural or synethetic leather or fabric or plastics material.

11. A head support substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.