Head support

A head support for use on airplanes, buses and the like comprises a pair of pillows and an interconnecting member connecting the pillows with a spacing therebetween. Two interconnecting members may be provided. The interconnecting member is preferably releasably connected to the pillows and may be elastic or non-elastic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a head support, and more particularly to a head 
support which is particularly useful for travelers in airplanes, trains, 
buses, etc. 
Seats in airplanes, trains, buses and the like generally have high backs 
for supporting the head of a traveler. However, there is no lateral or 
side-to-side support and if the traveler falls asleep, his head generally 
falls over to one side, causing neck pains. 
The object of this invention is to provide a head support arrangement which 
is particularly adaptable for use in airplanes, buses, trains or the like. 
A further object is to provide a head support arrangement which can utilize 
the standard-type pillows generally provided on airlines, trains, etc. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, a head support arrangement 
comprises a pair of pillows or the like and an interconnecting member 
connecting the pillows with a spacing therebetween. In a preferred 
arrangement, the spacing is on the order of only a few inches. The 
interconnecting member may be elastic or non-elastic, and the 
interconnecting member is preferably connected to the pillows by means of 
releasable clasps, or the like. 
In a further arrangement, two of the interconnecting devices are provided 
at spaced positions along the length of the pillows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a head support arrangement of the present invention 
comprises a pair of pillows 1,2 with at least one interconnecting means 3 
coupling the pillows together with a spacing therebetween. The pillows may 
be a standard type of stuffed pillow found, for example on airlines, or 
may be an inflatable pillow or any other suitably shaped cushioning 
device. The head support arrangement comprises at least one 
interconnecting device 3. However, two interconnecting devices 3 may be 
provided at spaced positions along the length of the pillows, for example 
as illustrated in FIG. 1. It has been found that it is preferable to have 
the interconnecting devices located adjacent the upper end and adjacent 
the lower end of the pillows to insure that the interconnecting device 
does not interfere with the head of the user. If only one interconnecting 
device is used, it may be placed any where along the length of the pillow. 
It has been found in use that even if a single interconnecting device is 
connected to the pillows at the upper end or even at the lower end, 
satisfactory lateral or side support of a head is obtained. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the connecting device 3 in greater detail. The 
connecting device 3 comprises a strap member 4 which may be resilient or 
non-resilient, but which is preferably flexible. In a preferred 
embodiment, the strap member 4 is made of an elastic-type material. At the 
opposite ends of the strap member 4 are releasable clasps 5 of the type 
generally used, for example, in suspenders. The clasps 5 are made of 
springy metal (or plastic), elements 7, 8 thereof being normally sprung 
away from each other. Elements 7, 8 are closed by L-shaped clamp member 9 
as shown on the left side of FIG. 3. The strap member 4 has an adjustment 
mechanism 6 to adjust the length thereof, thereby adjusting the spacing 
between the pillows for maximum comfort. 
In use, the head support arrangemet is located just above the shoulders of 
the user, so that the head of the user may be placed in the vicinity of 
the spacing between the pillows. The pillows accordingly lie laterally of 
the head of the user and provide lateral or side support to prevent the 
user's head from falling off to the side, as is common in conventional 
airplane, train and bus seats. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a modified arrangement of the present invention 
comprising a pillow-like member 11 which is inflatable by means of a 
conventional value 12, the details of which are not discussed herein. The 
pillow-like member 11 has tabs 13 extending therefrom which may be, for 
example, flat members extending from an edge of the pillow 11. The 
interconnecting members 3 are connectable to the tabs 13, as generally 
illustrated in FIG. 4. The interconnecting members 3 may be as shown in 
FIGS. 2 and 3, or any other suitable equivalent device. In a modified 
arrangement, as shown in FIG. 5, the tabs 13' have apertures 14 therein to 
receive a hook-like member at the end of the interconnecting member. A 
typical interconnecting member with hook-like members 15 at the ends 
thereof is shown in FIG. 6. The interconnecting member shown in FIG. 6 
comprises an adjusting means 6 similar to that shown in FIG. 3. The 
portion 4 is preferably a flexible web-like member, as shown in FIG. 2, 
and is preferably a resilient elastic material. 
FIG. 7 illustrates a pillow 21 with a button-like member 22 connected 
thereto. The connecting member 23 has a buttonhole 24 therein for 
connection to the button-like member 22. Only one pillow 21 is shown in 
FIG. 7 for convenience, but it is clear that the head support arrangement 
comprises two pillows, as shown in FIG. 1. The pillow 21 has a second 
button-like member 25 for connection with a second connecting member 23, 
if desired. 
FIG. 8 illustrates a modified connecting member 26 having loops 27 at the 
opposite ends thereof for connection to the button-like members 22 of the 
arrangement of FIG. 7. The connecting member 26 of FIG. 8 may be made of 
strand-type material and may be of fixed length, elastic or of adjustable 
length, as may be the web-like adjusting member 23 of FIG. 7. The loops 27 
may be integral with the connecting member 26 and may be made of flexible 
material, or they may comprise rigid ring-like devices connected with the 
flexible member 26.