A HEAD RESTRAINT

A head restraint has a flexible tension strap, a forehead band and a shaped cushioning wedge member connected between the strap and the forehead band. The tension strap anchors the lower edge of the wedge member which acts as a fulcrum and the wedge member comprises structural integrity to be sufficiently rigid to act as a load arm to apply rearward load force on the forehead band against effort force applied against the front of the wedge member by the user's neck.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a head restraint for use in a seated position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Proper body positioning in a seated position is especially challenging, especially for that of the head.

Various devices have been developed to facilitate sleeping in a seated position including U-shaped stuffed or inflated pillows which go behind the neck. Whereas these pillows may prevent the head from lolling sideways somewhat, they are generally deficient in holding the head back. Furthermore, airline safety regulations may prevent attachment of head restraints to headrests of airline seats.

As such, various other prior art devices have been devised to specifically hold the head back without attachment to the headrest including those which use rigid support frames which anchor between the users back and the seat including U.S. Pat. No. 9,833,025 B2 (KNAPP) 5 Dec. 2017 which uses a rigid frame comprising a pair of rods, U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,545 B2 (MILLER) 28 Feb. 2006 which employs a rigid support holding back securing means for the head, U.S. Pat. No. 9,283,878 B2 (IPNOS TECHNOLOGIES LLC) 15 Mar. 2016 which has a rigid member which secures a head using support apparatus105and U.S. Ser. No. 10/343,572 B2 (KNAPP) 9 Jul. 2019 which uses a locking up brace and forehead support.

However, these rigid frames are cumbersome and hinder portability.

Other apparatus avoids rigid frames including US D670035 S (MIETH et al.) 30 Oct. 2012 which uses a flexible tension strap connecting to a head attachment going over and in front of the head, US 2015/0042143 A1 (MCCARTER et al.) 12 Feb. 2015 which uses a harness which is sat upon and which applies tension to a headpiece, U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,201 A (SCOTT) 24 Dec. 1985 which uses a similar arrangement as that of MCCARTER et al. but which may be wound around the forearm, U.S. Pat. No. 8,820,838 B1 (PALMER) 2 Sep. 2014 which discloses a similar arrangement which attaches to a baseball cap and US 2011/0054372 A1 (MURNAGHAN) 3 Mar. 2011 which uses a sheet connected to a cap.

However, these tension strap only head restraints may not sufficiently hold the head back and apply undesirous compressive force to the cervical spine when under tension.

The present invention seeks to provide a head restraint, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

There is provided herein a head restraint which is devoid of the cumbersome rigid frames of the prior art arrangements and furthermore improves head restraint ability as compared to the nonrigid arrangements of the prior art.

The present head restraint comprises a flexible tension strap and a forehead band which holds the head back in a natural balanced position to enable rest whilst seated. The head restraint further comprises a shaped cushioning wedge member connected between the strap and the forehead band.

The wedge member has a generally planar rear continuing from the strap and a front being convex in vertical cross section. The front transitions rearwardly to a lower edge thereof to meet the strap and transitions rearwardly to an upper region thereof from where the forehead band is connected.

The convex front surface extends forwardly between the lower edge and the upper region such that, in use, when the tension strap is frictionally anchored between the users back and a seat, the tension strap anchors the lower edge of the wedge member which thereby acts as a fulcrum.

Furthermore, the wedge member comprises structural integrity to be sufficiently rigid to act as a load arm to apply a rearward load force to the forehead band against force applied against the front of the wedge member by the user's neck.

As such, as compared to the rigid frame arrangements of the prior art, the present apparatus is devoid of a rigid frame and can therefore be more easily handled and stowed, including by rolling up to compact form as is disclosed herein.

Furthermore, as compared to the nonrigid frame arrangements of the prior art which employ tension straps going up close in behind the head, the present structurally integral wedge member can apply greater rearward head restraining force higher up the head and at more of a horizontal angle as compared to the above prior art arrangements.

The wedge member may transition rearwardly at a lower region thereof to define an undersurface which bears downwardly on shoulders of the user in use.

The undersurface may be 45° or more with respect to a plane defined by the seat.

The wedge member may comprise structural sides either side of a core.

The structural sides may comprise semi-resilient foam pieces.

The structural sides may be shaped to define convex curvature of the wedge member.

Structural sides may be shaped to extend more forwardly at lower regions thereof.

The core may comprise less dense material as compared to the structural sides.

The structural sides and core may be covered with a material covering.

When the user's neck presses against the front in use, the material covering may presses inwardly into the core to pull the structural sides close in to wedge against sides of the neck for lateral stability.

The wedge member further may comprise a structural backboard at the rear thereof.

The structural backboard may comprise longitudinal formations along a vertical axis to enhance bending resilience thereof with respect to the vertical axis.

The forehead band may comprise relatively thin, stretchable and breathable material.

The forehead band may comprise material thinner than that of the strap.

The forehead band may widen towards a front thereof.

The head restraint may further comprise a flap which folds over an upper edge of the wedge member to secure the forehead band thereunderneath.

The flap may be secured along a front edge across the front of the wedge member and attachable to a rear of the wedge member at a rear edge thereof.

The rear edge may attach using hook and loop fasteners along a vertical length of the rear of the wedge member.

A head restraint may be provided with a plurality of forehead bands of differing diameters, each of which may be selected according to a head size.

The flap may comprise an interior concealed pocket within which the plurality of forehead bands may be stored.

A lower edge of the strap may comprise a widthwise fastener which attaches to a widthwise fastener strip along the strap and on an opposite side of the strap when the head restraint may be rolled up.

The widthwise fastener of the lower edge may be on a rear surface of the strap and the widthwise fastener along the strap may be on a front surface of the strap.

The strap further may comprise a widthwise carry strap between the widthwise fasteners.

The strap may comprise neoprene.

The strap may comprise sufficient length to extend to a lumbar region.

The strap may comprise in sufficient length to avoid being sat upon in use.

The strap may comprise a length from the wedge member of approximately 50 centimetres.

In use, the restraint may allow for hands-free adjustment wherein a user can adjust the tension applied by the strap by leaning forward to free the strap to tilt the head forwards or backwards before lying back again to reengage the strap to apply user adjustable tension.

The strap may be approximately 18 centimetres wide.

The strap may comprise an upper narrowed thoracic region section and a lower widened lumbar region section.

The widened lumbar region may comprise substantially the same width of that of the wedge member.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A head restraint100comprises a flexible material tension strap101, a retaining forehead band102and a shaped cushioning wedge member103connected between the strap101and the forehead band102.

As best shown inFIG. 5, the wedge member103has a generally planar rear106continuing from the strap101at a lower edge107thereof.

The wedge member103comprises a front108being generally convex in side view vertical cross section which transitions rearwardly to the lower edge107to meet the strap101and transitions rearwardly to an upper region109from where the forehead band102is connected.

As shown inFIG. 5, and with further reference toFIG. 9, when the tension strap101is frictionally anchored between the spine of a user and a seat110, the lower edge107acts as a fulcrum113. The wedge member103comprises structural integrity to be sufficiently rigid to act as a load arm114to apply rearward load force111on the forehead band102against effort force112applied against the front108by the user's neck119.

As is further illustrated inFIG. 5, the wedge member103may transition rearwardly at relatively steep angle at a lower region thereof to define an undersurface115of 45° or more with respect to a plane defined by the seat which may bear downwardly on the shoulders on the user in use, thereby additionally pivoting the wedge member103rearwardly about the lower edge107/fulcrum113to apply additional rearward load force111to the forehead band102to hold the head back.

The wedge member103may comprise interior structural members to provide the sufficient resilience to act as the load arm114. The interior structural members may comprise foam pieces.

With reference toFIG. 3, the wedge member103may comprise structural sides116either side of a core117. The structural sides116may comprise semi-resilient foam pieces which may be shaped to define the convex shape illustrated inFIG. 5. The structural sides116may be shaped to extend more forwardly at lower regions thereof so as to conform forwardly around the neck region as compared to an upper head region.

The core117may comprise less dense foam or non-integral pieces, such as stuffing, shredded foam pieces and or the like. The core117may comprise memory foam.

The wedge member103may be covered at the front within a material covering118. The rear of the wedge member103may comprise the same material as that of the strap101, such as of neoprene.

In embodiments, the core117may allow a gap between a front surface thereof and the material covering118.

As is illustrated inFIG. 4, when the user's neck119presses against the front108, the material covering118may be pressed inwardly into the core117to pull in the structural sides112close in as is illustrated to wedge in against the sides of the neck119, thereby providing lateral support to prevent the head lolling sideways.

The wedge member103may further comprise a structural backboard129such as of card or plastic. The structural backboard129may comprise longitudinal formations (such as corrugations or fluting) along a vertical axis to enhance the bending resilience thereof with respect to the vertical axis.

Whereas in embodiments the forehead band102may be adjustable, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, forehead band102is of fixed length. The forehead band102may be of relatively thin, slightly stretchable and breathable material to comfortably engage across the forehead without inducing sweat buildup. As shown inFIG. 5, the forehead band102may widen towards a front thereof.

In embodiments, the forehead band may comprise a pair of lateral buttons or similar attachments such as approximately collocating to the position of the ears to which a facemask may be attached, rather than around the ears.

As is shown inFIGS. 1, 6 and 7, a flap120may fold over an upper edge of the wedge member103to secure the forehead band102thereunderneath. The flap120may be secured along a front edge121thereof across the front108of the wedge member103are shown inFIG. 6and attached to a rear of the wedge member103at a rear edge122thereof. The rear edge122may attach using hooks and loop fasteners. Specifically, the rear edge122may comprise a hook strap which attaches anywhere along the length of a loop backing123.

The head restraint102may be provided with a plurality of forehead bands102, each of which may be selected depending on the size of one's head. The flap120may comprise an interior concealed pocket there underneath (not shown) within which a plurality of these forehead bands may be stored, along with other accessories, such as headphones, eye patches and the like. Alternatively, the flap120may allow the user to use another forehead band102of one's own choice.

The head restraint100may be rolled up in the manner illustrated inFIG. 8. The head restraint100may attach to itself using hook and loop fasteners. Specifically, with reference toFIG. 1, a rear lower edge of the strap101may comprise a rear widthwise fastener strip124which attaches to a front widthwise fastener strip125along the strap101.

To roll up the head restraint101, the wedge member103may be rolled along a rear surface of the strap101until the rear fastener strip104can attach to the front fastener strip125. The strap101may comprise a front widthwise carry strap126between the rear fastener strip124and the front fastener strip125.

The strap101preferably comprises neoprene which was found to provide sufficient resilience yet slight stretchability, comfort and frictional engagement ability to wedge behind the back of the user. The neoprene may be approximately 4 mm thick. In embodiments, the neoprene may comprise perforations for breathability and to reduce sweating, especially such as towards the upper back, neck region. Such perforations may further reduce the overall weight of the restraint100by approximately 5%.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the strap101may have sufficient length to extend along a thoracic region127of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the strap101has sufficient length to extend additionally along a lumbar region128. The strap101however is preferably not too long to avoid being sat upon in use.

In this regard, the strap101comprise a length from the wedge member103of approximately 50 centimetres.

In embodiments, the strap101may be length adjustable by folding the strap101back on itself. For example, with reference toFIG. 7, the rear widthwise fastener strip124may comprise hook fasteners. Furthermore, the entire or substantially entire rear surface of the strap101may comprise loop fasteners. As such, the user may fold the bottom end of the strap101back on itself such that the rear widthwise fastener strip engages and holds along the strap101. In this way, for example for example, the user may adjust the length of the strap to between approximately 20 cm-50 cm.

The length of the strap101allows the user to adjust the tension applied thereby by leaning forward to free the strap101wherein the head can be tilted forwards or backwards before lying back again to reengage the strap101to apply user adjustable tension.

The strap101may be sufficiently wide to provide sufficient frictional engagement and prevent slippage in use. The strap101may be approximately 18 centimetres wide. The strap101may comprise an upper narrowed section104at the thoracic region127which widens to a lower wider section105at the lumbar region108to gain most frictional purchase at the lower wider section105which extends further rearwardly against the seat. Furthermore, the wider section105may encapsulate the wedge member103when the restraint100is rolled in the manner shown inFIG. 8. The narrowed section may reduce the overall weight of the restraint100. The wider section105may comprise substantially the same width of that of the wedge member103.

In embodiments, smaller versions of the restraint100may be produced for use by children.

The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.