Abstract:
A head support apparatus for supporting a head of a person. The head support apparatus includes a tube and a rod configured to slidably and lockably couple to the tube. A cup and pad are coupled to an upper end of the rod. In use, a lower end of the tube bears on a support. A person&#39;s chin is rested on the pad whereby the weight of the person&#39;s head is supported by the head support apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a support for a body part of a resting person, and more specifically to a head support. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     While in a sitting position for an extended period of time, a person may become tired and benefit from a type of body support. Various types of body support devices are known in the art. Body support devices typically include a base portion which rests on a floor, a seat, or other surface such as a desk, and a support portion which supports a portion of the upper body. The upper body portion may one or more of a head, a chin, a neck, arms, and/or other upper body portion. The support portion may be contoured and/or padded to more comfortably receive the body portion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Several embodiments of the invention advantageously address the needs above as well as other needs by providing a head support apparatus for supporting a head of a person comprising: a tube having a tube upper end and a tube lower end configured to bear on a support; a rod with a rod lower end and a rod upper end, the rod lower end configured to slidably fit within the tube upper end; a cup rigidly coupled to the rod upper end and facing upwards; a disk-shaped pad wherein a perimeter of the pad is coupled to a rim of the cup; and a locking device for locking and releasing the rod with respect to the tube, wherein a length of the apparatus is adjusted and the head support apparatus in the locked position is configured to support the head of the person when the head support apparatus is bearing on the support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of several embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a head support apparatus in a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the head support apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the head support apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a person using the head support apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the head support apparatus in a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , a perspective view, an exploded view, and a sectional view, respectively, of a head support apparatus  100  in a first embodiment of the present invention are shown. Shown are a pad  102 , a cup  104 , a rod  106 , a collar  108 , a tube coupler  110 , a tube  112 , a tip  114 , a longitudinal axis  116 , and a bushing  200 . 
     The head support apparatus  100  comprises the cup  104  coupled to an upper end of the cylindrical rod  106 . A lower portion of the rod  106  is adjustably coupled to the tube  112  by a lower portion of the rod  106  slidably fit within an upper end of the tube  112 , providing for adjustment of a length of the head support apparatus  100  by sliding the rod  106  within the tube  112 . A diameter of the rod  106  and an inner diameter of the tube  112  are configured to permit the rod  106  to slide freely within the tube  112  when the rod  106  is unlocked with respect to the tube  112 , and simultaneously configured to allow for locking the rod  106  in place with respect to the tube  112  when a locking device (such as the collar  108  of the present embodiment) is operated. 
     In the present embodiment, the tubular collar  108  is a locking compression device operable to compress the tube  112  around the portion of the rod  106  located within the tube  112 , preventing movement of the rod  106  within the tube  112  and thus locking the length of the head support apparatus  100 . The collar  108  is removable from the tube  112  to permit repeated adjustment. At least a portion of an exterior surface of the collar  108  is knurled or otherwise textured to aid in gripping of the collar  108 . The collar  108  comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC), CPVC (Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride), another suitable plastic, or any other material suitable for performing the locking function as described herein. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the collar  108  is approximate 2 inches long and has an inner collar diameter of approximately ⅝ inches. The collar length is configured to include enough threads to lock the rod  106  in place longitudinally when the collar  108  is threaded onto the tube  112  (via the tube coupler  110 ). In the present embodiment the externally threaded tubular tube coupler  110  is rigidly coupled to the upper end of the tube  112  such that the upper end of the tube  112  is fit within the tube coupler  110 . The coupling of the tube coupler  110  to the tube  112  may be glue or other adhesive, or other suitably strong method of coupling. The collar  108  is then removably coupled to the tube  112  by threading/tightening the collar  108  onto the external threads of the tube coupler  110 . The tube coupler  110  is of sufficient length to fit enough external threads to couple the collar  108  to the tube coupler  110 . In the present embodiment, the outer tube coupler threads (or outer tube  112  threads in some embodiments) and the inner collar threads are tapered such that compression of the tube  112  is increased as the collar  108  is threaded more onto the tube  112  (in  FIG. 1 , via the tube coupler  110 ). In the present embodiment, the length of the tube coupler  110  is configured to ensure that flexing of the tube coupler  110  and the tube  112  during the locking and/or unlocking operation does not loosen the glue coupling between the tube coupler  110  and the tube  112 . 
     The rod  106  may be made of any suitably strong material that can be configured to couple to the tube  112  as described, such as PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, melamine, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyoxymethylene, fiberglass, nylon rod, aluminum, or steel. In one embodiment a rod length is approximately 16 inches, and a tube length is approximately 14 inches. This provides for the overall head support apparatus  100  length to be adjustable from about 16 inches to about 28 inches. The tube  112  may be made of any suitably strong material that is flexible enough to allow for the compression of the rod  106 . In the present embodiment using the compression locking device of the collar  108 , the tube material is such that in operation by a person the hand tightening of the coupler  110  or other compression device is able to compress the tube  112  sufficiently around the rod  106  to prevent movement of the rod  106  during use by a person. In the present embodiment, the upper end of the tube coupler  110  (or the tube  112  if the tube  112  is directly coupled to the collar  108 ) includes a plurality of longitudinal slots  202  as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment shown, four longitudinal slots  202  are included, and are evenly spaced around the tube perimeter. The longitudinal slots  202  allow the tube  112  to be compressed enough to lock the rod  106  in place using general hand strength, for cases where the tube  112  is stiff enough that hand strength alone would not be sufficient to compress the tube  112  enough to lock the rod  106  in place. At least a portion of an exterior surface of the tube  112  is knurled or otherwise textured to aid in gripping of the head support apparatus  100 . 
     The gripping tip  114  is coupled to a lower end of the tube  112  and in some embodiments is a crutch tip or walking cane tip as commonly known in the art. The tip  114  is configured to functionally grip a support surface such as a seat of a chair. 
     The cup  104  is generally circular bowl-shaped with straight sides, although a more conventional bowl-shape with convex sides may be used or any other generally open shape that is suitable for attaching the pad  102 . In some embodiments the cup  104  shape may be contoured to fit a specific facial contour. A base of the cup  104  is coupled to the upper end of the rod  106  with the open portion of the cup  104  facing upward. The disk-shaped pad  102  is coupled to a rim of the cup  104  such that the pad  102  covers the open portion and is the pad  102  is coupled and supported by the rim. In some embodiments, the cup  104  may be a solid frustoconical or hemispherical shape, and the pad  102  coupled to an upper flat surface of the cup  104 . In other embodiment the pad  102  instead of a circular disk-shape may have a square or other geometrical shape in plan, with the perimeter shape of the cup  104  modified to provide support to the pad  102 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the tubular stem  118  extends downward from the base of the cup  104  and includes a bore with internal threads. The stem  118  is rigidly and threadably coupled to the upper end of the rod  106 , the upper end of the rod  106  being externally threaded and screwed into the bore. Other alternative methods of coupling the cup  104  to the rod  106  may be used, such as gluing. In some embodiments multiple methods of joining may be used, such as a glued threaded connection. In the present embodiment, the intermediate tubular bushing  200  including both inner and outer threads is used to provide adjustment between a bore diameter of the stem  118  and the outer diameter of the rod  106 . The bushing  200  is sized to be threadably inserted in the bore of the stem  118 , and also threadably receive the rod  106 , whereby the cup  104  is rigidly coupled to the rod  106 . 
     The cup  104  comprises polypropylene or other suitably rigid plastic such as PVC. In the present embodiment a typical diameter of the cup  104  (and also the diameter of the pad  102 ) at the open end is approximately 2 inches. A range of diameters of the cup  104  open end and the pad  102  is approximately 1.5-4 inches. The pad  102  comprises closed-cell foam, although other suitable material may be used. In the present embodiment, the pad  102  includes a slight downward curvature. The thickness and the material of the pad  102  are configured to provide a comfortable, slightly yielding fit to a chin of a person when the chin is supported by the head support apparatus  100 . In the present embodiment, the thickness of the pad  102  is approximately ½ inch. In some embodiments, an upward exterior surface of the pad  102  may be concave to provide a more comfortable fit to the chin. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3 , the head support apparatus  100  is shown in a locked position, with the locking compression device of the collar  108  threaded onto the tube  112  via the tube coupler  110  such that the tube  112  is compressed around the rod  106  and the position of the rod  106  is locked in place under the force applied by the person during use. 
     To adjust the overall length of the apparatus  100 , the collar  108  is partially unscrewed (i.e. loosened) from the tube  112  until the rod  106  is enabled to slide freely within the tube. Generally, the collar  108  will not need to be removed from the tube  112  in order to adjust the rod  106 . The rod  106  is then moved to a new position with respect to the tube  112  and the collar  108  is re-screwed to the tube  112  until the rod position is again locked in place. 
     The cup  104  is removably coupled to the rod  106  with threads to allow for removal of the cup  104  to make the head support apparatus  100  more compact for travel or storage. 
     In the present embodiment, thread seal tape is applied to the external threads of the tube  112  (located on the tube coupler  110  in the present embodiment) in order to provide lubrication. Other embodiments may not require thread seal tape. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of an exemplary person  400  during use of the head support apparatus  100  in one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Shown are the head support apparatus  100 , the exemplary person  400 , and a chair  402 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the person  400  is shown seated in the chair  402 . The head support apparatus  100  is in a generally upright orientation, with the lower end of the head support apparatus  100  bearing on and supported by the seat of the chair  402 . The person  400  is supporting his head on the head support apparatus  100  by resting his chin on an upper end of the head support apparatus  100 , whereby body weight is transferred to the chair  402  through the head support apparatus  100 . It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that while the chair  402  is shown in the exemplary illustration, the support may be any type including a generally horizontal surface, such as an armrest, a counter, a table, etc. Additionally, the person  400  may be in a standing or other position. 
     In the present embodiment, the cup  104  and pad  102  are designed to comfortably support the chin of the person  400 . The pad  102  provides a soft and comfortably conforming surface while the cup  104  provides underlying support and transfers the load to the rod  106  below and ultimately to the chair  402  or other support. 
     The head support apparatus  100  is advantageous when a person is sitting or in another generally static position for a lengthy period of time, for example at a movie theater, during a church service, or during an airplane flight. Support of the head and neck vertebrae, and the muscles is located at the back of the neck. The major portion of the head and neck, and thereby the weight, is cantilevered over the chest. A support directly under the chin, such as the head support apparatus  100 , takes a large strain off the neck vertebrae and muscles. The head support apparatus  100  thereby relieves strain on neck and/or back muscles by allowing the person  400  to rest his head on the head support apparatus  100 . While the head support apparatus  100  is primarily configured to support the chin, it will be understood that use of the head support apparatus  100  to support other parts of the body (e.g. a cheek or jawbone of the person  400 ) may be desirable. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 5 , a sectional view of the head support apparatus  100  is shown in a second embodiment of the present invention. Shown are the pad  102 , the cup  104 , the rod  106 , the collar  108 , the tube  112 , and the tip  114 . 
     In the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the cup  104  has been formed integrally with the rod  106 . Additionally, in lieu of the tube coupler  110  previously shown, the tube  112  in this embodiment includes external threads on the outer perimeter of the upper end of the tube  112 , configured to receive the locking collar  108  as previously described. Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  includes modification to both the rod  106 /cup  104  and the tube  112 , it will be understood that other embodiments may include modification of either the rod  106 /cup  104  or the tube  112 . The function of the head support apparatus  100  in the embodiment of  FIG. 5  is the same as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, examples and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims. Other changes, substitutions or modifications, for example for economics of production volume and relative cost trade-offs, would not change the intended use and purpose of the head support apparatus  100 .