Abstract:
Apparatus, devices, systems, and methods for clamping a portable headrest with chin support on top a back of a seat, which is both adjustable and foldable to be portable for ease in transport. The horizontal chin rest pivotally attached to the bottom of a vertical member allows a sitting person&#39;s head to be supported in an upright position, while restricting movement both forward and side to side.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]    This invention relates to attachable and detachable head supports, and in particular to apparatus, devices, systems, and methods for clamping a portable headrest with chin support on top a back of a seat, that is both adjustable and foldable for portability. 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART  
       [0002]    Passengers and travelers that travel over long distances with or without stop-over&#39;s typically have difficulty relaxing and falling asleep while sitting in upright positions. Most seats on aircraft, busses, trains and the like, have limited capability of allowing the seat to be fully reclined to a horizontal position. Most seats cannot fully recline since a reclined seat would hit against a passenger sitting behind. As such, the passenger/traveler has to try to relax and sleep in a generally upright position. 
         [0003]    A problem with sitting upright is that the head of the seated passenger/traveler will tend to fall sideways and foreword over time. Using one&#39;s hand to support one&#39;s head is difficult since there is nothing for the bent elbow to rest on, and is also uncomfortable. 
         [0004]    Seat belt harnesses and cross-chest straps may keep the passenger/traveler in a vertical position, but do not prevent their head from bending side to side or bending forward. 
         [0005]    A popular type of travel aid is the ergonomic pillow generally formed from foam with a side cut-out so that the pillow can wrap about one&#39;s neck. See for example, U.S. Des. D444,980 to Mowat et al. However, these types of pillows are best used by persons in generally horizontal sleeping positions, which do not have the problem of the passenger/traveler being in an upright sitting position where they can tend to fall forward. Additionally, these types of foam pillows can be quite bulky and are not easily collapsible. 
         [0006]    Attempts have been made of the years to attach headrests on seats. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 42,084 to Hambujer; U.S. Pat. No. 104,473 to Lyon et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 162,784 to White; U.S. Pat. No. 221,752 to Taylor; U.S. Pat. No. 379,987 to Ryan; U.S. Pat. No. 426,069 to Rogers; U.S. Pat. No. 2,55,814 to Pulsifer; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,057 to Fraser. 
         [0007]    However, these headrest supports are generally limited to single pads, curved bars, which rest against the side or back of the head, and do not prevent the passenger/traveler from falling forward. Additionally, these devices are generally bulky, and do not fold up when not being used. 
         [0008]    Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    A primary objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus, devices, systems, and methods for clamping a portable headrest with chin support on top a seat backing, with a clamp portion being adjustable for different size seat backs. 
         [0010]    A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus, devices, systems, and methods for clamping a portable headrest with chin support on top a seat backing, having an adjustable chin support for supporting one&#39;s head at different heights depending on the size of the seated passenger. 
         [0011]    A third objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus, devices, systems, and methods for clamping a portable headrest with chin support on top a seat backing, having a height adjustable chin support for supporting a seated passenger&#39;s head at different heights depending on the size of the seated passenger. 
         [0012]    A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus, devices, systems, and methods for clamping a portable headrest with chin support on top a seat backing, having a padded chin support for comfortably supporting the chin of the seated passenger. 
         [0013]    A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus, devices, systems, and methods for clamping a portable headrest with chin support on top a seat backing, that is foldable for ease in transport, when not being used. 
         [0014]    Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a rear top perspective view of the novel headrest in a deployed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front bottom perspective view of the headrest of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a rear bottom perspective view of the headrest of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is another view of the headrest of  FIG. 3  folded for storage. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the headrest of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a left side view of the headrest of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the headrest of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a right side view of the headrest of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the headrest of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the headrest of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a rear view of the folded headrest of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a left side view of the folded headrest of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the folded headrest of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a right side view of the folded headrest of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a top view of the folded headrest of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a bottom view of the folded headrest of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the headrest of the preceding figures. 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of the hook base and hook slide of the headrest of the preceding figures. 
           [0033]      FIG. 19A  is a cross-sectional view of the hook base and slide of the headrest of  FIG. 18  along arrows  19 X showing the release button and lock screw/bolt with the lock screw/bolt nested under spring pressure by spring into one of several detents in the base (a locked clamp position). 
           [0034]      FIG. 19B  is another cross-sectional view of the hook base and hook slide of  FIG. 18  along arrows  19 X with the release button being pressed and the lock screw/bolt released from the detent in the base(an unlocked clamp position). 
           [0035]      FIG. 20  is a partial cut-away detail of the clamp base of the headrest showing the head of the lock screw/bolt nested in the first base detent. 
           [0036]      FIG. 21  is another view of  FIG. 20  showing the head of the lock screw/bolt pushed out of the detent (the release button  40  on the opposite of the view is being pressed). 
           [0037]      FIG. 22  is another view of  FIG. 21  showing the hook slide adjusted and lock screw/bolt head nested in another detent. 
           [0038]      FIG. 23  is a side view of the headrest of the preceding figures clamped to a seat back. 
           [0039]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the headrest of the preceding figures showing chin rest being rotatable about the bottom tube for best location. 
           [0040]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the headrest of  FIG. 24  showing that the top and bottom tubes telescoping with one another and locked to a different overall length with the spring pin. 
           [0041]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the headrest of the preceding figures showing a person resting their chin on an installed and adjusted headrest. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]    Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
         [0043]    In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
         [0044]    In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
         [0045]    A list of components will now be described. 
         [0046]      10  Portable seat back headrest. 
         [0047]      20  Hook base. 
         [0048]      30  Hook slide. 
         [0049]      40  Hook release button. 
         [0050]      50  Hook lock screw/bolt with enlarged head. 
         [0051]      60  Lock screw slot in base. 
         [0052]      70  Lock detents in base. 
         [0053]      80  Release spring. 
         [0054]      90  Top tube. 
         [0055]      100  Holes in top tube for length adjustment. 
         [0056]      110  Spring pin in bottom tube for length adjustment. 
         [0057]      120  Bottom tube. 
         [0058]      130  Rotating chin rest hinge allows chin rest to rotate about bottom tube. 
         [0059]      140  Chin rest hinge pin. 
         [0060]      150  Bottom tube cap. 
         [0061]      160  Chin rest. 
         [0062]      170  Chin rest foam cushion tube fits over chin rest. 
         [0063]      180  Seat back. 
         [0064]      190  Chin rest user. 
         [0065]      FIG. 1  is a rear top perspective view of the novel headrest  10  in a deployed position.  FIG. 2  is a front bottom perspective view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 1 . FIG.  3  is a rear bottom perspective view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 4  is another view of the headrest of  FIG. 3  folded for storage. 
         [0067]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is a left side view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a front view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is a right side view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 9  is a top view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 10 , the novel head rest  10  includes a hook base  20  attached to the upper end of a top tube  90 . A hook slide  30  with hook release button  40  can slide relative to a lock screw slot  60  in base  20  having lock detents  70  in the base  20 . The top tube  90  can telescopingly slide about a bottom tube  120 . An outwardly extending spring biased pin  110  in bottom tube  120  can pop in and out of through holes  100  in the top tube  90  that allow for different height adjustment of the top tube  90  relative to bottom tube  120 . 
         [0069]    A rotating chin rest hinge  130  held in place by bottom tube cap  150  allows for horizontally attached chin rest  160  to pivot horizontally relative to the lower end of the bottom tube  120 . A chin rest hinge pin  140  attached to the rest hinge  130  and the horizontal chin rest  160 , allows for the chin rest  160  to pivot up relative to the pivot pin  140 . A cushion sleeve  170  such as a foam sleeve can wrap about the chin rest  160 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 11  is a rear view of the folded headrest  10  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 12  is a left side view of the folded headrest  10  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 13  is a front view of the folded headrest  10  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 14  is a right side view of the folded headrest  10  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 15  is a top view of the folded headrest  10  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 16  is a bottom view of the folded headrest  10  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0071]    Referring to FIGS.  4  and  11 - 16 , the novel headrest  10  can collapsed into a folded position with the hook slide  30  slid inwardly along lock screw slot  60  of the hook base. The top tube  90  can be slid down over bottom tube  120  to be substantially concentric and overlying with one another. The chin rest  160  can be pivoted about chin rest hinge pin  140 , and folded upward by hinge pin  140 , so that the chin rest  160  is parallel to overlying tubes  90 ,  120 , and hook base  20  is parallel to rest hinge  130 . 
         [0072]    The folded headrest  10  can be sized in order to fit in a user&#39;s pocket, a backpack, a briefcase, handbag, and the like. Additionally, the headrest can be made from lightweight materials, and the like. 
         [0073]      FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the headrest  10  of the preceding figures. The detail of the hook lock screw  50  with release spring  80  which can overlay the threaded end of the screw  50  and a hook release button  40 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of the hook base  20  and hook slide  30  of the headrest  10  of the preceding figures. 
         [0075]      FIG. 19A  is a cross-sectional view of the hook base  20  and slide  30  of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 18  along arrows  19 X showing the release button  40  and lock screw/bolt  50  with the lock screw/bolt  50  nested under spring pressure by spring  80  into one of several detents  70  in the base  20 . In this view, the hook slide  30  (clamp) is locked in a fixed horizontal position. 
         [0076]      FIG. 19B  is another cross-sectional view of the hook base  20  and hook slide  30  of  FIG. 18  along arrows  19 X with the release button  40  being pressed and the lock screw/bolt  50  released from the detent  70  in the base  20 . In this view, the hook slide  30  (clamp) is unlocked and is adjustable for different thickness widths of the back of the seat. 
         [0077]      FIG. 20  is a partial cut-away detail of the clamp base  20  of the headrest showing the head of the lock screw/bolt  50  nested in the first base detent  70 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 21  is another view of  FIG. 20  showing the head of the lock screw/bolt  50  pushed out of the detent  70  (the release button  40  on the opposite of the view is being pressed). The hook slide  30  can then be adjusted slide relative to the hook base  20 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 22  is another view of  FIG. 21  showing the hook slide  30  adjusted and the lock screw/bolt  50  head nested in an alternate detent  70 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 23  is a side view of the headrest  10  of the preceding figures with the hook slide  30  having an outer hook end clamped to a rear surface edges of the seat back  160 , with the top tube  90  on the front side of seat back  160   
         [0081]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the headrest  10  of the preceding figures showing chin rest  160  with cushion sleeve  170  being rotatable in a horizontal direction about the bottom vertical tube  190  for best location. 
         [0082]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the headrest  10  of  FIG. 24  showing that the top tube  90  and bottom tube  120  telescoping with one another and locked to a different overall length by the outwardly spring biased pin  110 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the headrest  10  of the preceding figures showing a person  190  resting their chin on the chin rest  160  with cushioned sleeve  170  of the installed and adjusted headrest  10 . 
         [0084]    The novel headrest  10  can be made from components, such as but not limited to metal, such as aluminum, galvanized metal, and the like, or plastic, or combinations thereof. 
         [0085]    Another alternative version of the headrest is to have the clamp member, vertical member, and chin rest, to be formed from a pliable material. For example, another headrest can have a possible Z shape formed from a one piece of pliable material, such as aluminum, with a cushion overlayer. The pliable under support can be bent into shape, so that the clamp portion can bend about the top of a backrest, and the chin rest bent into a desired configuration. The pliable material can have a memory when manipulated into a selected shape. Additionally, parts of the headrest can have pliable parts, such as the chin rest, and/or the vertical member and/or the clamp member. 
         [0086]    Although the preferred embodiment shows the chin rest portion having a cushion thereon, the novel headrest can also have a cushion about the vertical member. Additionally, the clamp member(s) can also have a cushion. 
         [0087]    The invention can have additional shapes as needed. For example, the vertical member can have a pad or blinder shape, having a cushion surface with sufficient space for resting a user&#39;s face against. The pad and/or blinder can also be bendable. For example, there can be an underlying material, such as but not limited to aluminum, with a cushion face, with the underlying material having a memory when bent into a selected configuration. 
         [0088]    The novel headrest  10  can be configured so that the vertical member is on the left side of the user&#39;s face or on the right side of their face. Additionally, two headrests  10  can be used so that the vertical members are on both the left side and right side of the user&#39;s face. Still another version can be headrest having both a left vertical member and a right vertical member. 
         [0089]    While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.