Abstract:
The invention as presently conceived discloses a padded neck support for beauty salon washing sinks. The invention is an apparatus to aid in the support of a user&#39;s head during the hair washing process at a sink in a beauty salon. The head and neck support pad is configured as a conformable pad to be removably attached to the head receiving portion of a conventional hair salon sink. If necessary, means exist to removably attach multiple support pads thereon each other for vertical adjustment due to the physical characteristics of the individual user. The apparatus is covered with a waterproof cover for ease in washing after use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document No. 589,626 filed on Nov. 10, 2005. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus that aids in supporting a client&#39;s head at a sink during the hair washing or rinsing process while they are in a beauty salon, thus reducing the pain and pressure that often results from being seated at a conventional hair salon sink. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Those who patronize beauty salons are familiar with the sink used to wash and rinse clients&#39; hair. The client, seated in a chair with their back to the sink, leans backward and rests their head and neck on an unpadded cutout in the sink during the hair washing and rinsing process. While such a position does work, it puts the client at an uncomfortable angle and places a great deal of pressure on the head and neck area, which sometimes results in pain and tension that last even after the client has left the salon. Should a padded towel be placed as a pillow, it quickly becomes soaked and does not easily adjust for various client sizes. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which beauticians can provide their client with comfortable, customized support of their heads and necks while they are seated at the sink without the disadvantages described above. 
     Several attempts have been made in the past to assist beauticians providing for the comfort of their clients while they are having their hair washed and/or rinsed at a sink. U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,303 issued in the name of Smithers provides for a “U”-shaped head support for a salon basin with a perforated headrest plate for permitting the passage of water. The Smithers device supports the entire head during the act of washing a user&#39;s hair and extends into the bowl of the sink and therefore does not fall under the scope of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,711 issued in the name of Tafur describes a headrest for shampoo bowls and sinks comprising a flexible elongate strip of open-mesh netting supported on opposing side walls of a hair salon sink. The present invention differs from the Tarfur device in that it is shaped to effectively drape over the head rest area of a sink and conforms to the user&#39;s head and neck region. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,239 issued in the name of Eckelbarger discloses a head and neck-supporting device for salon basins. The Eckelbarger patent merely: props the neck up so that the hair can be substantially accessible for hair washing and does not provide a comfortable means for a user to rest their head and neck within the head receiving portion of a conventional hair salon sink. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,145 issued in the name of Najar describes an anatomically correct neck and head support for utilization in conjunction with hair treatment. The Najar device does not provide for interconnecting multiple units together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,980 issued in the name of Flora describes a neck-cushioning device. The Flora device suffers from the same setbacks as the Najar patents in that there are no means to interconnect multiple pads together. Also, the present invention covers the entire head and neck receiving area to prevent unintended injury if the user moves during the act of washing hair. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,338 issued in the name of Kirsch refers to a neck pad for beauticians&#39; sinks. The Kirsch invention comprises a single neck pad unit for the hair salon sink and does not provide means to interconnect multiple units to provide vertical adjustment and is not sufficiently thick enough to provide a comfortable support for one&#39;s head and neck. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,507 issued in the name of Watson discloses a head cradle for use in hair salons comprising a neck brace that is pivotally mounted to the hair wash basin. The present invention is a conformable and comfortable padded head and neck support that is releasably attachable to the sink and therefore differs from the Watson invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,176 issued in the name of Najar provides for a neck support cushion for use in treating hair. The Najar device comprises a light weight foam or other resilient material which is washable and sanitizable, but does not provide means to interconnect multiple units together to provide a vertical adjustment. 
     Accordingly, one of the prior art particularly describes a comfortable means and method for supporting a user&#39;s head and neck during the act of washing the user&#39;s hair in a conventional hair salon sink. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is need of a head and neck supporting pad for use when washing a user&#39;s hair in a conventional hair salon sink to protect the user from unintended muscular, skeletal, or internal injuries as well as provide comfort. 
     It has further been observed that there is a need for a device that is easily attachable to a head receiving portion of a conventional hair salon sink. 
     A further observation shows a need for the means to vertically adjust a head and neck supporting pad according to the different physical characteristics of various users of a hair salon sink. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide at least one comfortable and conformable head and neck supporting device. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a means to releasably attach the head and neck supporting device to a head receiving portion of a hair salon sink. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means to releasably attach multiple supporting devices thereon each other in order to provide a vertical adjustment. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a head and neck supporting device that conforms to the general shape of a head receiving portion of a hair salon sink and is contoured to extend laterally to rest on the periphery of the sink, inwardly into the basin of the sink, and outwardly to protect the user&#39;s head and neck. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof cover for the head and neck supporting device. 
     To achieve the above and other objectives, the method to utilize the present invention involves the steps of: acquiring a base head and neck supporting device; draping said base head and neck supporting device thereon a head receiving portion of a conventional hair salon sink; ensuring that said base head and neck supporting device extends laterally about the periphery of the sink to provide additional stability, inwardly to the basin of the sink to assist in directing water to the basin of the sink, and outwardly to protect the neck of the user, and subsequently attaching and affixing via a fastener on the underside of the base head and neck supporting device to a corresponding fastener on the head receiving portion of the sink; affixing additional supporting devices thereon each other in a similar fashion as the base head and neck supporting device; resting a user&#39;s head and neck thereon said base or additional head and neck supporting devices such that the hair of the user rests within the basin of the sink; and, commencing with washing said user&#39;s hair within the basin of the sink. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols; and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of an improved neck support system for hair salon sinks  10  thereon an arcuate longitudinal indentation  51  along the rim of a conventional hair salon sink  50 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 2  is a front close-up view of a supplementary neck pad unit  12 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a cut-away side close-up view of a supplementary neck pad unit  12 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a top close-up view of a supplementary neck pad unit  12  with a hook fastener  30 , part of a hook-and-loop fastener assembly, adhered thereon along the partial span of the top surface, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom close-up view of a supplementary neck pad unit  12  with a loop fastener  31 , part of a hook-and-loop fastener assembly, adhered thereon along the entire span of the bottom surface, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6  is a pictorial representation of the operation of adding supplementary neck pad units  12  thereon other neck pad units  11 ,  12 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 improved neck support system for hair salon sinks 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 base neck pad unit 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 supplementary neck pad unit 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 apex neck pad unit 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 exterior extending member 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 interior extending member 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 center member 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 junction line 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 hook fastener 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 loop fastener 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 foam 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 elastic waterproof envelope 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 hair salon sink 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 indentation 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an apparatus and method that discloses a padded neck support for beauty salon washing sinks  10 . The improved neck support system for hair salon sinks (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10  comprises deformable elastomeric foam  40  pads covered in a waterproof protective fabric envelope  41 , and a coupling assembly, having a downwardly extending exterior member  20  and a downwardly extending interior member  21 . Although the following descriptions of the figures are based on a supplementary neck pad unit  12 , it is appreciated that the base neck pad unit  11  and apex neck pad unit  13  are similarly configured. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an environmental perspective view of the apparatus  10  thereon an arcuate longitudinal indentation  51  along the rim of head receiving portion of a conventional hair salon sink  50  and a side close-up view of one of a plurality of auxiliary pads  12  (otherwise known as a supplementary neck pad unit) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The removably secured base pad  11  comprises a coupling assembly having outwardly extending flaps, herein described as a downwardly extending exterior member  20  and a downwardly extending interior member  21  therefrom a central portion, known as the center member  22  of said base neck pad unit  11  adapted to provide position stabilization of the apparatus  10  on the indentation  51  preventing slippage and sliding from movement of user&#39;s head and neck while providing easy removal of apparatus  10  for cleaning, sanitization, and/or other purposes as desired. Once the base neck pad unit  11  is placed within the indentation  51  of the hair salon sink  50 , the coupling assembly extends tangentially downward with the interior member  21  within the hair salon sink  50  and the exterior member  20  outside of the hair salon sink  50  when the central member of base neck pad unit  11  is placed thereon the indentation  51  of said hair salon sink  50 . Preferably, but not essentially, the interior extending and the exterior extending members  20 ,  21  are of substantially equal maximum size thereby balancing the weight of the apparatus  10  on both sides of the hair salon sink  50 . For further attachment securement of apparatus  10  thereon indentation  51  of sink  50 , a hook-and-loop fastener assembly is utilized. A loop fastener  31  is adhered thereon the bottom surface of the base neck pad unit  11  to correspondingly attach thereto a hook fastener  30  which is adhered to the cited sink  50  indentation&#39;s upper surface  51  (not pictured). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a cut-away side close-up view of a supplementary neck pad unit  12  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  is envisioned to comprise a series of supplementary neck pad units  12 , a base neck pad unit  11 , and a top pad, herein disclosed as an apex neck pad unit  13 , each being waterproof, chemical resistant, and capable of withstanding continual washing and sanitizing. The neck pad units  11 ,  12 ,  13  comprise a lightweight foam  40  or resilient material comprising deformable elastomeric properties with a waterproof envelope  41  thereover to help contain water and direct it back into the sink  50 . In accordance with the apparatus  10 , the deformable elastomeric foam  40  is a flexible, resilient, durable material envisioned to be a flat member capable of concaving to retrofit an indentation  51  of a hair salon sink  50  while fitting the contour of a user&#39;s neck. The size of the neck pad units  11 ,  12 ,  13  vary in length with the largest of the neck pad units, a base neck pad unit  11 , resting on the indentation  51  of the hair salon&#39;s sink  50  with the length of the neck pad units  12 ,  13  decreasing as each neck pad unit  12 ,  13  is added thereon previous neck pad unit  11 ,  12 . The interior extending and the exterior extending members  20 ,  21  are defined to extend downwardly therefrom the center member  22  having termination lines  23  delineated defining junctions between said extending members and center member  22 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , top and bottom close-up views of a supplementary neck pad unit  12 , a base neck pad unit  11 , or an apex neck pad unit  13  with a hook-and-loop fastener assembly adhered thereon each surface according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Like the base neck pad unit  11 , the removably attachable supplementary neck pad units  12  comprise a central member with a coupling assembly having downwardly extending exterior and interior members  20 ,  21  fabricated of the same lightweight foam  40  or resilient material comprising deformable elastomeric properties with a waterproof envelope  41  thereover. The central member permits the central member to fit within the indentation  51  of the sink rim  50 . A hook-and-loop fastener assembly is envisioned to be utilized for the attachment of supplementary neck pad units  12  placed thereon the base neck pad unit  11  and each other respectively. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the top of the supplementary neck pad unit  12  and base neck pad unit  11  comprise a hook fastener strip  30  adhered thereon centrally extending along the partial lateral span of the neck pad unit  11 ,  12 . The hook fastener strip  30  does not extend entirely along the span of the top surface of a neck pad unit  11 ,  12  for prevention of projection beyond the lateral span of the smaller supplementary neck pad unit  12  to be added thereon thus preventing skin agitation, chafing, and the like. The apex neck pad unit  13 , having a second fastening mechanism, such as a hook fastener  31  on the bottom surface without a first fastening mechanism, such as a loop fastener  30  on the top surface, is defined as being the upper-most neck pad unit  13 , or the actual neck pad unit  13  to which the user rests his/her neck and head thereon. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the bottom of the supplementary neck pad unit  12 , base neck pad unit  11 , and apex pad unit  13  comprises a loop fastener strip  31  adhered thereon centrally extending along the complete lateral span of the neck pad unit  11 ,  12 ,  13 . The loop fastener strip  31  does extend entirely along the span of the bottom surface of a neck pad unit  11 ,  12 ,  13  to completely obscure the hook fastener strip  30  while correspondingly attaching thereto. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a pictorial representation of the operation of adding supplementary neck pad units  12  thereon other neck pad units  11 ,  12  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. A series of neck pad units  12 ,  13 , preferably fabricated of the same deformable elastomeric foam  40  enclosed within a waterproof envelope  41 , is amassed thereon the base neck pad unit  11 . The supplementary neck pad units  12  are envisioned to decrease laterally in length as each neck pad unit  12  is added. For example, a supplementary neck pad unit  12 , neck pad unit “A”  12 , is placed thereon the base neck pad unit  11  spanning across the longitudinal indentation  51  of the hair salon sink  50  and a secondary supplementary neck pad unit  12 , neck pad unit “B”  12 , is placed on neck pad unit “A”  12 ; the base neck pad unit  11  is laterally longer than neck pad unit “A”  12  which in turn is laterally longer than neck pad unit “B”  12  and so on. The removably attachable supplementary neck pad units  12  are attached thereto the base neck pad unit  11  and each other respectively utilizing the hook-and-loop fastener assembly described previously. The hook fastener  30  adhered thereon a bottom surface of a neck pad unit  11 ,  12 ,  13  is homogeneously attached thereto the loop fastener  31  of a top surface of a neck pad unit  11 ,  12  thereby providing even further stabilization against sliding forces so that the apparatus  10  does not easily slide or move out of position. The very top neck pad unit, the apex neck pad unit  13 , is envisioned to comprise of a hook fastener  30  adhered thereon the bottom surface without a loop fastener  31  adhered thereon the top surface thereby providing a central member cushioning user&#39;s head and contouring user&#39;s neck providing increased comfort and health. 
     An alternate embodiment of the present apparatus  10  may include weighted objects such as, but not limited to, metallic or plastic bars, weights, or other weighted objects inserted inside the coupling assembly in each of the downwardly extending members, interior  21  and exterior  20 , of the base neck pad unit  11  and/or the added neck pad units  12 ,  13  for further stabilization of the apparatus  10  thereby decreasing sliding forces applied by a user. The base neck pad unit  11  may have the weighted extension members in combination with or instead of comprising attachable loop fastener  31  on bottom surface correspondingly attaching to the hook fastener  30  adhered thereon the indentation  51  of the hair salon sink  50 ; although, other attachable means are envisioned. 
     Another alternate embodiment of the apparatus  10  may include other temporary or permanent applicable attachable means adhered thereon the top and bottom surface of the respectable neck pad units  11 ,  12 ,  13  such as, but not limited to, magnets, snap buttons, belt and buckle, and adhesives, with special attention to the aspect the base neck pad unit  11  will have said applicable attachment means on the top and/or bottom surface and the apex neck pad unit  13  will have said applicable attachment means on the bottom surface thereof. 
     Yet another alternate embodiment involving the application of the apparatus  10  can be practical. The apparatus  10  may be utilized on hair salon, barber, and/or other sinks  50 , which may not comprise a contoured indentation  51 , meaning the rim of the sink  50  would be completely or partially parallel with the floor. The base neck pad unit  11  would simply be placed thereon said upper rim with supplementary neck pad units  12  placed thereon the base neck pad unit  11  and each other, utilizing the coupling assembly to stabilize the apparatus  10 . This application of the apparatus  10  would still be compliant and capable of fitting the contour of a user&#39;s neck complimentary with the normal cervical curve of the user&#39;s spine and neck providing planar and lateral support. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. The apparatus  10  is envisioned to be fabricated of a lightweight foam  40  comprising deformable elastomeric properties with a waterproof envelope  41  thereover to help contain water and direct it back into the sink  50 . In accordance with the apparatus  10 , the deformable elastomeric foam  40  is a flexible, resilient, durable material envisioned to be a flat member capable of concaving to retrofit an indentation  51  of a hair salon sink  50  while fitting the contour of a user&#39;s neck. The users and hair stylists alike can find this invention to greatly aid them in hair washing while providing spinal health. 
     The method of utilizing the device may be achieved by performing the following steps: selecting a desired hair salon sink  50  surface to removably fasten the apparatus  10  thereto; attaching the loop fastener strip  31  to the desired indentation  51 , rim surface, or other desired surface of said hair salon sink  50 ; laying the base neck pad unit  11  with the lateral span of said neck pad unit  11  straddling the indentation  51  with the interior extending member  21  extending within the sink  50  and the exterior extending member  20  extending outwardly outside of the sink  50 ; correspondingly attaching the base neck pad unit  11  thereto said indentation  51  by utilizing the hook-and-loop fastener assembly; laying a supplementary neck pad unit  12  thereon the base neck pad unit  11  with the lateral span of the supplementary neck pad unit  12  straddling the lateral span of the base neck pad unit  11  with the coupling assembly tangentially extending downward with the interior extending member  21  laying within the sink  50  thereon the inner side of the base neck pad unit  11  and the exterior extending member  20  outwardly laying outside of the sink  50  thereon the outer side of the base pad unit  11 ; attaching said supplementary neck pad unit  12  on the base neck pad unit  11  utilizing the loop fastener  31  adhered on the upper surface of base neck pad unit  11  to correspondingly attach to a hook fastener strip  30  adhered on the top surface of a supplementary neck pad unit  12 ; following the previous two (2) steps to removably attach a plurality of supplementary neck pad units  12  and an apex neck pad unit  13 ; and, removing some or all of neck pad units, as desired, for cleaning, sanitization, and/or other purposes as needed. 
     Although the figures depict the apparatus  10  having four (4) neck pad units  11 ,  12 ,  13 , it is envisioned to be introduced comprising a plurality of supplementary neck pad units  12  with one (1) base neck pad unit  11  and one (1) apex neck pad unit  13 . The apparatus  10  is designed to be removably attachable to a conventional hair salon sink  50  for the purpose of comfortably accommodating the back of the neck and bottom of the head of a user with his/her hair occupying the sink  50 . The central member incorporates cushioning foam  40  deforming to receive a user&#39;s neck complimentary with the normal cervical lordotic curve of the spine and neck while providing planar and lateral support to the neck area. Further, the neck pad units  11 ,  12 ,  13  are envisioned to be angled toward the interior of the sink  50  so the water flow of the apparatus  10  will progress toward the sink  50 , and consequently the drain. The downwardly extending members are adapted to removably position the apparatus  10  in a proper orientation with respect to the indentation  51  of a hair salon sink  50 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.