Abstract:
A neck support device comprises a flat, portable device comprised of a central malleable but supportive inner core or endoskeleton covered by a comfortable padded shell. The device shapes into a structure, supporting a user&#39;s head by translating the weight of the user&#39; head to the user&#39;s shoulder, bypassing the neck, thus allowing relaxation of the supportive structures of the neck. The neck support device comprises a flexible and bendable inner core and an outer sheath material. Portions of the device may be bent into a support position by the user to support the user&#39;s head. The device may be bent into a substantially flat configuration for storage. The device may comprise contoured padding located for support or comfort and slip-resistant materials or surfaces. The device may translate the weight of the user&#39;s head from a head portion to a shoulder portion via a neck portion.

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    I. Field 
         [0003]    This invention relates to neck support devices. 
         [0004]    II. Co-Pending Applications 
         [0005]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/497,502, which is related to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/661,625, titled “Neck Support Device,” filed Mar. 19,  2010 , which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application titled “Neck Support Device,” filed Mar. 21, 2009, each having the same inventor as the present application and each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in full below. This application also claims priority to U.S. Design Pat. application Ser. No. 29/415,059 and U.S. Design Pat. application Ser. No. 29/415,060. 
         [0006]    III. Background 
         [0007]    The human spine comprises several regions. The cervical region corresponds to the neck and has a natural curvature. This curvature is lordotic, meaning that it is concave dorsally. The cervical lordotic curve is also known as a “C” curve. Positioning the head in a perpendicularly to the shoulders helps maintain a healthy C curve. Bending the cervical spine, especially for prolonged periods, is considered poor posture. Poor posture can lead to negative health and wellness effects, the more minor of which may include headaches, discomfort, muscle cramps, neck pain, and shoulder pain. Maintaining proper posture is often difficult during certain activities, such as, for example, resting, reading, watching television or movies, using a computer, traveling on an airplane or in a vehicle, or remaining in a static position for a prolonged period. Though muscles can help stabilize the cervical spine, they sometimes have a reduced capacity to do so, such as during sleep or rest, or as a result of muscular conditions (e.g., atrophy). As an example, an airplane traveler may wish to sleep or rest on a long flight, but may be restricted to the seated position. In this example, the traveler may experience difficulty finding a comfortable position or may experience negative effects as a result of improper neck positioning during sleep or rest. Thus, there is a need for a device that helps maintain proper neck posture. 
         [0008]    Currently, there are numerous neck support items available. The two primary types of neck-specific pillows include a neck collar shaped like a horseshoe and a cervical neck pillow. Each offers specific attention to the neck, while providing support in different ways. The horseshoe collar is intended for use while seated. The cervical neck pillow is intended for use while prone and provides a contoured pillow with a cradle for the head. Other neck support devices are found to be flimsy, insufficiently supportive, and uncomfortable. Thus, there is a need for a neck support device which is not flimsy, but is supportive and comfortable. 
         [0009]    None of these neck support items is adjustable and customizable for the user&#39;s comfort and support. Instead, the items provide a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, a horseshoe collar is not adjustable for the length of the user&#39;s neck or desired position of support. Neither is the point of support adjustable; the horseshoe collar provides support principally along the jaw and base of the skull. If the user prefers to choose the location of support, the existing devices are inadequate. Thus, there is a need for an adjustable, customizable, and supportive neck support item. 
         [0010]    Further, none of the neck support items available is easily collapsible or packable. Such a concern is especially relevant to those who use such devices while traveling. Contoured pillows often contain foams or stiff filling that resists compression. Horseshoe collars have similar problems. While some horseshoe collars comprise an inflatable bladder, such devices entail problems of their own. For example, users with a reduced lung capacity or reduced lung health may have difficulty inflating such devices. Further, the process of inflating and deflating the devices is an inconvenient step that reduces the collapsibility and packability of the device. Thus, there is a need for a portable, collapsible, or packable neck support item. 
         [0011]    Neither horseshoe collars nor cervical neck collars provide support in the forward direction. That is, neither type of neck support item prevents the user&#39;s head from tilting forward, which may happen naturally such as during sleep while seated. Similarly, the user&#39;s head is prone to wobbling. Thus, there is a need for a neck support item that prevents the user&#39;s head from unintentionally tilting forward or wobbling. 
         [0012]    The above problems, and others, are reduced by the invention as herein described and shown. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    The above problems, and others, are reduced, according to exemplary embodiments, by the neck support device. 
         [0014]    According to an exemplary embodiment, a neck supporting device comprises a bendable, padded disk lined on one side. Portions of the disk are incompletely separated from other portions of the disk by cuts in the material of the disk. Each portion is joined to one or more adjacent portions at edges. A user may bend the disk at the edges and may also bend the disk within each portion. The disk comprises three portions: a head portion, a neck portion, and a shoulder portion. The user bends the head portion until it is contoured to cradle the head. The user bends the shoulder portion until it is contoured to rest on the user&#39;s shoulder. The user will then position the neck portion against the side of the user&#39;s neck. The weight of the user&#39;s head will exert force upon the head portion, which weight will be translated via the neck portion to the shoulder portion, where it is in turn translated to the user&#39;s shoulder. Thus, the weight of the user&#39;s head is relieved from the user&#39;s neck, while the device facilitates proper positioning of the user&#39;s cervical spine. Multiple such neck supporting devices may be worn on opposing sides of the head, thereby translating the force exerted by the weight of the user&#39;s head to one or both of the user&#39;s shoulders. 
         [0015]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the head portion of the neck supporting device comprises padding such as foam or discrete pads. The padding may be homogenously distributed on the head portion, may be heterogeneously distributed, or may be contoured to provide added support in particular areas. For example, additional padding may be provided to support the distal aspects of the mandibular bodies and mentum (chin), referred to as the mental protuberance (hereinafter the “MEP”). A second comfort pad may be positioned on the head portion at a location configured to support the angles of the mandible (hereinafter the “MA”). A third comfort pad may be positioned on the head portion at a location configured to support the mastoid processes (hereinafter the “MAP”) posterior to the ear. A fourth comfort pad may be positioned on the head portion at a location configured to support the skull base and, specifically, the occipital protuberance (hereinafter the “OP”) at the posterior skull base of the wearer. 
         [0016]    An object of the invention is to provide a device to support the neck and head of a user while traveling. The device comprises an inner core which, when unbent, is flat and provides a thin profile for compact storage. When the user desires to use the device, the user can bend the inner core to a particular shape. The nature of the material of the inner core allows the user to bend the inner core with manual power alone, without the use of tools. However, it retains the shape once bent and is resistant to bending sufficiently to bear the weight of the user&#39;s head without unintentionally deforming. 
         [0017]    Other devices, methods, and/or products according to embodiments will be or will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and further description. It is intended that all such additional devices, methods, and/or products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The exemplary embodiments, objects, uses, advantages, and novel features are more clearly understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying figures wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. The neck support device  101  comprises a head portion  103 , a neck portion  105 , and a shoulder portion  107 . Head portion  103  and neck portion  105  join at top edge  109 . Neck portion  105  and shoulder portion  107  join at bottom edge  111 . The outer perimeter of the neck supporting device  101  may be roughly and irregularly circular or ovoid. The outer perimeter is made more irregular by cut lines  115 , which help define head portion  103 , neck portion  105 , and shoulder portion  107 . In some embodiments, the head portion  103  may directly or nearly contact the shoulder portion  107 . In other embodiments, cut lines  115  may be broad such that the head portion  103  cannot contact the shoulder portion  107  when the inner core  117  is unbent. However, the cut lines  115  transect the neck support device, but such transection is incomplete at least to the extent of the width of the neck portion  105 . 
         [0024]    The neck support device  101  comprises an inner core  117 . The inner core  117  comprises a bendable, pliable, or flexible material, such as, for example, a soft-temper metal. Such material may be, for example, steel, steel alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy that is of a stiffness that requires only moderate force to bend the core into a particular shape, yet preserves that shape once assumed. The core should bend easily enough for the user to be able to do so manually and without mechanical assistance, but resistant enough to avoid unintentional deformation, such as by the weight of the user&#39;s head on the head portion  103  when the device is in use. Within this range, the exact stiffness of the core or the exact amount of force required to shape it is immaterial. Further, the stiffness of the inner core  117  may be heterogeneous, particularly among the portions and edges. For example, the neck portion  105  may be stiffer than the head portion  103  or the shoulder portion  107 . As a further example, the inner core  117  may be more or less stiff at both of or either the top edge  109  or bottom edge  111  compared to elsewhere on the inner core  117 . The inner core is bendable, moldable, or shapeable, and those terms may be used interchangeably to describe the characteristics of the inner core. 
         [0025]    Further, mixed materials may be used throughout the inner core  117 . For example, some areas may be more frequently bent than others, in which case those frequently-bent areas may benefit more than the others from the use of material more resistant to metal fatigue. If top edge  109  or bottom edge  111  may be subject to more frequent bending than, e.g., the neck portion  105 . Other areas may benefit from stiffer, less flexible materials. Such variations in stiffness may be accomplished by variations in the type of material used, the treatment or preparation of the material used, or the thickness or amount of material used. 
         [0026]    Around and substantially encompassing the inner core  117  is the outer sheath material  119 . The outer sheath material  119  may completely encompass and enclose the inner core  117 . Conversely, the outer sheath material  119  may partially enclose the inner core  117 , for example by leaving the edges of the inner core  117  exposed as in  FIG. 1 . For an example of an embodiment with full enclosure, see  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and the accompanying discussion. 
         [0027]    The outer sheath material  119  may comprise any of various types of padding, foam, cloth, fabric, or other flexible material. The outer sheath material  119  encompasses the head portion  103 , neck portion  105 , and shoulder portion  107  of the neck support device  101 . In an embodiment, the portion of the outer sheath material  119  encompassing the shoulder portion  107  comprises a gripping surface  113 . The gripping surface  113  helps prevent the neck support device  101  from slipping from the shoulder of the user when the neck support device is bent into its support shape. (See  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and the related discussions.) 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an aspect of the present invention. In an embodiment, the invention includes a shoulder strap  201 . The shoulder strap  201  is configured to help retain the neck support device upon a user&#39;s shoulder. The shoulder strap  201  comprises a belt  205 , a paddle  211 , and a harness  213 . The belt  205  comprises a first belt portion  217  and a second belt portion  219  joined by a buckle  203 . The strap  205  is configured to encompass a user&#39;s body (not shown) with the belt  205  passing under an arm and the paddle  211  positioned upon the top of the opposite shoulder. The second belt portion  219  comprises an adjustment region  209 , which partially passes through the buckle  203  and folds back upon itself. The adjustment region  209  may be removably attachable to itself or to the second belt portion  219 . Such attachment may be accomplished by, for example, hook and loop fasteners. Varying the amount of the adjustment region  209  of the second portion  209  which is passed through the buckle  203  varies the effective overall length of the belt  205 . Different users may prefer the belt  205  to be of different lengths. For example, users with greater chest circumference measurements or greater heights may require or prefer a greater effective length for the belt  205 . Further, users may prefer a certain tightness of fit, so even users with identical body measurements may prefer different effective lengths for the belt  205 . The shoulder strap  201  is configurable to fit a variety of users dependent on the preferences and requirements of the user. 
         [0029]    The belt  205  comprises a first belt portion  217 . The first belt portion  217  partially passes through the buckle  203  and folds back upon itself at first belt portion attachment point  207 . The first belt portion  217 , at first belt portion attachment point  207 , is secured to itself by one or more of various methods such as, for example, hook-and-loop fasteners, sewing, adhesive, or similar methods. 
         [0030]    The harness  213  comprises a plurality of portions removably attached to one another by the use of, for example, hook and loop fasteners. The harness  213  is configured to retain a portion of the neck support device (not shown) against the paddle  211 . 
         [0031]    The shoulder strap  201  is utilized by positioning the paddle upon the user&#39;s shoulder, passing part of the adjustment portion  209  through the buckle  203  until the desired effective belt length is attained, ensuring the plurality of portions of the harness  213  are detached from one another, positioning the neck support device (not shown) against the paddle  211 , and attaching the plurality of portions of the harness  213  to each other, thereby removably securing the neck support device (not shown) within the harness  213 , which is positioned upon the user&#39;s shoulder. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of an aspect of the present invention. A neck support device  301  is shown in a support configuration. The neck support device  301  comprises a head portion  309 , a neck portion  307 , and a shoulder portion  311 . The head portion  309  is attached to the neck portion  307 , which, in turn, is attached to the shoulder portion  311 . Thus, the head portion  309  is connected to the shoulder portion  311  via the neck portion  307 . When in use, a user positions the neck portion  307  against the side of the user&#39;s neck and the shoulder portion  311  atop the user&#39;s shoulder, with the head portion  309  being positioned to provide support to the user&#39;s head when, for example, sleeping or resting. 
         [0033]    The neck support device  301  comprises an inner core (not shown). The inner core is of similar construction to that described in connection with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner core is not visibly depicted as it is entirely encompassed and enclosed within the outer sheath material  313 . The outer sheath may be removable from the inner core. A user may remove the outer sheath to facilitate cleaning the outer sheath or inner core, to substitute the outer sheath with a different outer sheath of different aesthetics, or to substitute the outer sheath with a different outer sheath of different material, structure, or padding distribution. Thus, the replacement outer sheath may provide additional customizability of the neck support device for the user&#39;s aesthetic preference, fit preference, comfort, or other functionality. 
         [0034]    The shoulder portion  311  includes shoulder projections  305 , each of which is foldable and bendable to the user&#39;s preference. The shoulder portion  311  is configured to rest atop the shoulder of the user. More specifically, the shoulder portion  311  may rest primarily upon the top of the user&#39;s shoulder area, while the shoulder projections  305  may rest against the front and back of the shoulder area. 
         [0035]    The head portion  309  includes head projections  303 , each of which is foldable and bendable to the user&#39;s preference. The head projections  303  and head portion  309  may be bent to the user&#39;s preference in order to provide sufficient support to the various areas of the user&#39;s head. Such various areas include areas such as, for example, the MEP, MA, MAP, and OP. The head projections  303  can be bent to provide additional support to prevent the user&#39;s head from drooping forward or backward, while the center of the head portion  309  prevent the user&#39;s head from drooping laterally to at least one side. 
         [0036]    The outer sheath material  313  may comprise padding to provide support to various areas of the user&#39;s head. Further, the outer sheath material  313  at the head portion  309  may comprise circumaural padding, meaning padding which is circular, ellipsoid, or horse-shoe shaped to provide support the area of the user&#39;s head surrounding the ear, thereby removing pressure from the user&#39;s ear when the user&#39;s head is positioned upon or against the head portion  309 . 
         [0037]    The outer sheath material  313  may comprise any of various types of padding, foam, cloth, fabric, or other flexible material. The outer sheath material  313  encompasses the head portion  309 , neck portion  307 , and shoulder portion  311  of the neck support device  301 . In an embodiment, the portion of the outer sheath material  313  encompassing the shoulder portion  311  comprises a gripping surface to help prevent the neck support device  301  from slipping from the shoulder of the user when the neck support device is bent into its support shape. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of an aspect of the present invention. A neck support device  401  is shown in its support configuration. The neck support device  401  comprises a neck portion  413  which connects a head portion  405  to a shoulder portion  407 . The head portion  405  comprises head projections  403 . The shoulder portion  407  comprises shoulder projections  409 . The neck portion  413  is positioned against the neck of the user at a neck contact surface  411 . 
         [0039]    The head portion  405  includes head projections  403 , each of which is foldable and bendable to the user&#39;s preference. The head projections  403  and head portion  405  may be bent to the user&#39;s preference in order to provide sufficient support to the various areas of the user&#39;s head. Such various areas include areas such as, for example, the MEP, MA, MAP, and OP. The outer sheath material  415  may comprise padding to provide support to various areas of the user&#39;s head. Further, the outer sheath material  415  at the head portion  405  may comprise circumaural padding, meaning padding which is circular, ellipsoid, or horse-shoe shaped to provide support the area of the user&#39;s head surrounding the ear, thereby removing pressure from the user&#39;s ear when the user&#39;s head is positioned upon or against the head portion  405 . 
         [0040]    The outer sheath material  415  may comprise any of various types of padding, foam, cloth, fabric, or other flexible material. The outer sheath material  415  encompasses the head portion  405 , neck portion  413 , and shoulder portion  407 of the neck support device  401 . In an embodiment, the portion of the outer sheath material  415  encompassing the shoulder portion  407  comprises a gripping surface to help prevent the neck support device  401  from slipping from the shoulder of the user when the neck support device is bent into its support shape. 
         [0041]    The neck support device  401  comprises an inner core (not shown). The inner core is of similar construction to that described in connection with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the inner core is not visibly depicted as it is entirely encompassed and enclosed within the outer sheath material. 
         [0042]    Multiple neck support devices may be worn. Each of these multiple neck support devices may be used in conjunction with a shoulder strap. In this case, the shoulder straps may cross the user&#39;s chest in a crisscross fashion. 
         [0043]    Other systems, methods, and/or products according to the above embodiments will be or will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the above description, the following drawings, and any further description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.