Abstract:
A headrest for supporting a person&#39;s head includes a back panel adapted to abuttingly engage a person&#39;s head that includes a first hinge-forming groove at each end, and two side wing members pivotally and foldably attached to the back member at or near its ends with the side wing members including an offset portion with an axle rotatable in the first hinge-forming groove.

Description:
This invention relates to a portable headrest that includes foldable, pivoting side wing members, and a back panel for supporting the back and sides of a person&#39;s head. Preferably, the headrest is sufficiently small/compact to fit into a briefcase, purse, backpack, or glove compartment. Preferred embodiments of the portable headrest readily attach to, and are readily detached from existing seat backs and from existing vehicle seat headrests, such as those in automobiles, trains and planes. Preferred embodiments include a slidable strap attached to the back side of the headrest, permitting slidable attachment to such existing seats and headrests. 
     In preferred embodiments, the two pivoting side wing members are foldably attached to the back panel near the ends of the back panel. The side wing (or side panel) members pivot to an open position at an angle to the back panel, to form supporting surfaces for the sides of a person&#39;s head, and pivot to fold substantially flat against the front side of the back panel to form another support surface for the back of a person&#39;s head. Preferably, the internal angle between the back panel and each side wing member, with the side wing members fully opened, is in the range of about 90° to about 100°, most preferably about 95°. 
     Preferably, the side wing members include a two-sided support panel, and are padded on one or both sides of the two-sided panel so that, when folded substantially flat against the front side of the back panel, the side wing members form a flat padded rest or support surface. Each two-sided panel preferably has a rounded contour. Padding, e.g. foam pads, is preferably attached to one or both sides of the two-sided support panel to provide one or more cushioned surfaces for a person&#39;s head. If the panel is cushioned on both sides, the side wings form a padded surface for the back of a person&#39;s head when the panel is closed, i.e. folded flat against the back panel, and a padded surface for the sides of a person&#39;s head when the side wings are open, i.e. pivoted to form an angle with respect to the front surface of the back panel. Preferred embodiments are made of ABS plastic, are no more than about 1.5 inches thick in the closed position, no more than 12 inches long, weigh less than a pound, and are easy to attach to and remove from a seat or headrest. In some embodiments, the padding for the side wing panels and, optionally, a pad for said back panel, comprise a unit that fits over the side wing members and is held in place (for example, by an elastic seam) at the back of the side wing members near the axle. 
     On the back side of the back panel are one or more straps to secure the headrest to a seat back or to a headrest on a seat. The straps are preferably attached on one end to bars which are attached to, and spaced apart from one another, on the back side of the back panel. So attached, the straps preferably slide upwardly and downwardly on the bars to adjust the position of the headrest on a seat back or seat headrest. 
     At the end of each of the side wing members is an L-shaped, V-shaped or C-shaped offset that includes an axle. Preferably, this axle extends between flanges that attach to the two-sided panel at an angle in the range of about 85° to about 95°. In general, the offset is of sufficient size and shape to accommodate the thickness of the side wing members, whether padded or not, so that the side wing members can fold substantially flat against the front surface of the back panel. The side wing members, including the axle, offset portion, and the two-sided panel are preferably integrally formed or molded. 
     The headrest also includes, in preferred embodiments, one or two retainer members. Each retainer member holds one or two side wing members to the back side of the back panel, pivotably and foldably, with their axles positioned in hinge-forming grooves on the back side of the back panel. A counterpart, complementary hinge-forming groove (or two such grooves) on the surface of each retainer member (or on a single retainer member) holds the axle(s) in the hinge(s) formed by and between these two grooves. The axle on each side-wing member is free to pivot within such a hinge, thus permitting the side wing member to which the axle is joined to pivot from the open position to the closed, folded flat position. In preferred embodiments, each retainer member includes a hook or other flange that fits removably into a slot or other opening near the end of the back panel. When inserted into this slot or opening, the hook or flange holds the retainer member to the back side of the back panel, and holds the side wing member in the hinge groove. The retainer members also include one or more, preferably two, through holes to permit one or more screws to pass through, and thread into holes on the back side of the back panel, thus securing the retainer member to the back side of the back panel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The headrest of this invention can better be understood by reference to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred of the headrest. In the drawings, 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the headrest of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the headrest shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded detailed view of a side wing member, retainer member and back panel that form part of the headrest shown in FIGS. 1-2; 
     FIG. 4 is a detail of the perspective view of the headrest shown in FIGS. 1-3, with the side wing member, back panel and retainer member from FIG. 3 interconnected; 
     FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of a side wing member of the headrest shown in FIGS. 1-4 with padding on each side of the side wing member separated from the panel to show the assembly of side wing member parts; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a side wing member, taken on lines  6 — 6  in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative buckle for use with the strap attached to the headrest of FIGS.  1 - 6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows headrest  10  including back panel  11  with contoured front surface  17  for support of the back of a person&#39;s head. Pivotably and foldably joined to back panel  11  are side wing members  12  and  13 , each including a two-sided, substantially flat-surfaced panel. Side wing members  12  and  13  are identical to one another in size, shape, structure and function. Side wing member  12  includes padded inner surface  16  and rounded, contoured edge  18 . FIG. 5 shows side wing member  13  with foam pads  33  and  15  separated from the two side member  13 . Side wing member  13  includes rounded, contoured edge  20  and padded surface panel  15 . Attached to, and integrally formed with side wing member  12  is offset  19 , joined to side wing member  12  at an angle of about 90°. Offset member  19  includes flanges  21  and  22  with axle member  23  (see FIG. 3) integrally formed between them. Attached to the back side  31  of back panel  11  is adjustable strap  14 . 
     FIG. 2 shows back side  31  of back panel  11 . Retainer members  25  and  26  are attached to back side  31  by screws  27 ,  28  and screws  29 ,  30 , respectively. Screws  27 , 28 , 29  and  30  pass through openings in retainer members  25  and  26  and thread into mating openings in the surface of back side  31 . Retainer members  25  and  26  include integrally formed bar members  39  and  40 . Strap  14  is attached to bars  39  and  40  by strap loops  38  and  37 , respectively, which are free to slide upwardly and downwardly on bars  39  and  40 . This movement permits upward and downward adjustment of headrest  10  to a desired position of attachment to a seat back or seat headrest. 
     FIG. 2 shows side wing members  12  and  13  in the open position, i.e. with side wing members  12  and  13  pivoted to form an internal angle between the front surface  17  of back panel  11 , and the inside surfaces of side wing members  12  and  13 , in the range of about 90° to about 100°, most preferably about 94°. 
     Each of side wing members  12  and  13  includes L-shaped offset portions  19  and  42 . Offset portion  19  includes flanges  21  and  22  with axle member  23  extending between them (see FIG.  3 ). Likewise, side wing member  13  includes flanges  23 A and  24  with an axle of the same size and shape as axle  23  integrally formed between them. These axles are free to rotate in hinges  43  and  44  formed by complementary mating grooves in retainer members  25  and grooves  26 , and on the back side  31  of back panel  11  (see FIG.  3 ). 
     Back panel  11  includes angled end portions  41  and  42 . Each forms an internal angle with respect to the back side  31  of panel  11  of about 170°. Front surface  45  on flange  41  forms a surface against which the L-shaped offset  19  of side wing member  12  rests in the opened position. 
     FIG. 2 also shows that strap  14  includes strap members  34  and  36 . Strap portion  34  fits through buckle  46 ; strap member  36  fits through buckle  47 . Buckles  46  and  47  join through bayonet clasp  48  of conventional design. Buckles such as the ladder type buckle shown in FIG. 7 can be used instead of the buckle shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3 shows side wing member  13 , back panel  11  and retainer member  26  positioned for attachment to one another. Axle member  23  fits into groove  52  formed in its back side  31  of back panel  11 . Retainer member  26  is then positioned with its complementary groove  53  over groove  52  to form a hinge for axle  23  between grooves  52  and  53 . FIG. 6, taken on line  6 — 6  of FIG. 4, shows, in cross-section, axle  23  in the hinge formed between grooves  52  and  53 . Retainer hook or flange  54  on retainer member  26  fits through slot  55  in back panel  11  to assist in holding retainer member  26  to the back surface  31  and back panel  11 . See also FIG.  4 . Openings  56  and  57  in retainer member  26  receive screws  29  and  30  which thread into complementary openings  58  and  59  (not shown) on the back side  31  of panel  11 . These screws assist in holding retainer member  26  against the back side  31  and back panel  11 . Side wing member  12  is attached to the opposite end of back panel  11  by retainer member  25 , which has the same size, shape and function as retainer member  26 . 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.