Patent Publication Number: US-5427436-A

Title: Adjustable headrest

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to headrests. In particular, the invention involves a headrest support assembly which allows adjustment around at least two axes, relative to a stationary table or chair, by manipulating a single clamp. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Headrests are commonly used on tables and chairs. Vehicle seats, dentist chairs, operating and massage tables are just a few examples of the many devices which are designed to permit adjustable orientation of a head-support structure relative to a table or chair. 
     There are many reasons why it is desirable to be able to adjust the position of a headrest structure relative to an associated body-supporting structure. Depending upon the physical size and shape of the user, as well as possibly the type of procedure being performed, it is often necessary to adjust both the angle as well as the height of the headrest relative to the table or chair. For this reason, many designers in the field have attempted to provide a dual-axis pivoting headrest. 
     Examples of such devices are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,177,823 to Riach, 3,477,761 to Krantz, 5,276,927 to Day, 5,233,713 to Murphy et al. and 3,761,128 to Schenk et al. There are at least two principal disadvantages, however, with dual-axis pivoting headrests in the prior art. First, they usually require manipulation of multiple clamps or switching mechanisms in order to adjust the headrest around plural axes. Second, coupling between the headrest and the table or chairs is typically accomplished with a single pair of coupling elements spanning between two axes of rotation, thus providing a limited amount of strength and support for the headrest structure. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide an adjustable headrest assembly which is capable of pivoting around at least two axes, whereby all adjustment is alternately locked and unlocked by manipulating a single clamp. 
     Another important objective of the invention is to provide an adjustable headrest support system which employs a reinforced coupling assembly between the headrest and the chair or table, thus providing a sturdier, more supportive headrest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objectives stated above as well as other important objectives are achieved with the adjustable headrest assembly of the present invention. The headrest includes a base which has a top side and a bottom side and an imaginary vertical plane perpendicularly bisecting the base into two lateral portions. A proximal junction structure and a distal junction structure are secured near the bottom side of the base. A short arm has a first end and second end. The proximal junction structure is pivotally connected to the short arm near its first end. A long arm has a first end and a second end. The distal junction structure is pivotally connected to the long arm near its first end. A rod, perpendicularly oriented relative to the plane, forms an axis of rotation and point of pivotal connection between the short and long arms near their second ends. A triangular support structure is defined by the two arms and the portion of the base which extends between the two junction structures. Each of the arms have an effective length relative to the triangular support structure. At least one of the arms&#39; effective length is adjustable. A clamp is associated with the rod and is capable of alternately locking and releasing all pivotal orientation and effective length adjustment of the arms relative to the rod. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a second triangular support structure like the first triangular support structure is used. Each lateral portion of the base has one of the triangular support structures attached to its bottom side. A pair of posts are also connected to the rod and function for anchoring the headrest to a table or chair. A pair of stationary discs, each of which is fixedly attached to one of the posts and has a serrated face around a hole through which the rod passes, so that when the posts are anchored to a chair or table, orientation of the serrated face remains rotationally stationary irrespective of base movement. Each of a pair of rotating discs is fixedly attached to one of the triangular support structures and has a serrated face juxtaposed with the serrated face of the corresponding stationary disc, and a central hole through which the rod passes. The clamp includes a cam lever movable between a lock-position and a release-position, so that when the cam lever is moved to the lock-position, the serrated face of each stationary disc is forced to engage the serrated face of the corresponding rotating disc, thereby locking all movement of the triangular support structure relative to the rod and posts. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are a series of side views of a headrest installed in a table, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The series of figures illustrate modified orientations of the headrest relative to the table. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the headrest shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top side of a headrest base. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of arm supports to the bottom side of a headrest base. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of a headrest base. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view of a clamp structure employed in a preferred headrest embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial exploded perspective view of a clamp structure, illustrating its assembly with a triangular support structure on the bottom side of a headrest base. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating further assembly steps of the clamp structure shown in FIG. 7. 
     FIG. 9 is a partial exploded perspective view of the support arms and clamp structure, assembled in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an end view of a headrest embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the clamp structures in their lock-positions. 
     FIG. 11 is an end view of a headrest embodiment of the present invention illustrating the clamp structures in their release-positions. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an adjustable headrest, illustrating attachment of a pad to a base. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an adjustable headrest prepared for installation on a table. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate a headrest, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in three different levels and angular orientations relative to a massage table. 
     In FIG. 1A, the headrest 20 includes a base plate 22 which supports a pad or cushion 24. It is not necessary for the base to be in a plate form. A satisfactory &#34;base&#34; may take many different forms, i.e., practically any rigid frame structure which is capable of supporting a person&#39;s head. The base plate 22 is supported on its bottom side by a triangular support structure 26a, also referred to as an arm assembly. The arm assembly 26a consists of a long arm 28a pivotally connected to a distal junction 30aand a short arm 32a pivotally connected to a proximal junction 34a. The distal and proximal junctions 30a and 34a are preferably along a line approximately parallel to the plane of the paper which the figure is drawn on. The proximal and distal junctions should be positioned in a fixed orientation near and relative to the bottom side of base plate 22. As shown in FIG. 1A, the distal and proximal junctions are defined by holes in an elongated flange 36a attached to the bottom side of base plate 22. Arms 28a and 32a are commonly and pivotally attached to a horizontal rod 38. Each of arms 28a and 32a have an effective length relative to the triangle formed by the two arms and the portion of the base plate between the junctions. At least one of the arms, for example, short arm 32a in FIG. 1A, has a slot 40a through which rod 38 passes. A clamp, operated by cam lever 42 is manipulable between a lock-position and a release-position. When the clamp is in the release-position, the arms are free to pivot around rod 38, and the effective length of short arm 32a is adjustable by moving slot 40a relative to rod 38. When cam lever 42 is moved so as to set the clamp in its lock-position, all pivotal movement of arms 28a and 32a about rod 38, and effective length adjustment of short arm 32a, is prevented. 
     Pivoting movement of the arms around rod 38 is alternately prevented then allowed by, respectively, engaging then disengaging corresponding serrated faces on opposing discs. The disc structures will be described in more detail below. In contrast, adjustment of the effective length of short arm 32a is controlled by alternating between two degrees of friction applied to arm 32a in the vicinity of slot 40a. When the clamp is in the lock-position, as more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, short arms 32a and 32b are frictionally sandwiched between washers, thereby preventing effective length adjustment of the short arm. When the clamp is in the release-position, the degree of friction exerted on the short arms by their respective pairs of washers, is lessened to an appropriate degree so that adjustment of the effective lengths of the short arms is permitted, however, a small degree of residual friction remains so that the headrest does not &#34;flop&#34;. In other words, even when the clamp is in the release-position, the geometry or the triangular support structure will not change unless manual pressure is exerted on the headrest by the user. 
     A post 44a is also connected to rod 38 and is free to pivot relative to rod 38 when the clamp is in the release-position. Table 46 has a hole 48a through which post 44a can be inserted, thereby securely attaching the headrest 20 to the table 46. 
     FIGS. 1B and 1C show the same parts as FIG. 1A, however, the relative positions of the parts have been altered in order to illustrate the adjustability of headrest 20. In FIG. 1A base plate 22 and pad 24 of headrest 20 are elevated and substantially parallel to table 46. In FIG. 1B the average height of headrest 20 is approximately the same as table 46, however, the angle of headrest 20 has been adjusted substantially. The geometry of triangular support structure 26a in FIGS. 1A and 1B is substantially unchanged, however, the orientation of triangular support structure 26a relative to table 46 has been rotated around rod 38. It is also apparent in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C that the height and angular orientation of headrest 20 directly tracks the orientation of a line including the proximal junction 34a and the distal junction 30a. FIG. 1C shows the orientation of headrest 20 when triangular support structure 26a is essentially collapsed. This allows headrest 20 to be placed in a substantially level and parallel orientation relative to table 46. 
     FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate an important structural feature of the invention, namely, the reinforced coupling arrangement of long arm 28a and short arm 32a between table 46 and headrest 20. By cooperatively employing two coupling arms in connection with proximal and distal junctions, respectively, particularly when tandem triangular support structures are used under opposing lateral portions of the headrest, a greater degree of strength and sturdiness of the headrest relative to the table is achieved in comparison to prior headrests. 
     FIG. 2 shows a view or the bottom side of headrest 20. For explanatory purposes, an imaginary vertical plane of symmetry Z, is perpendicular to the paper on which FIG. 2 is drawn, and perpendicularly bisects the platform 22 into two lateral portions 23a and 23b. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, includes two triangular support structures 26a and 26b. Each of the lateral portions 23a and 23b of base plate 22 have a triangular support structure fixedly attached to its bottom side. Triangular support structures 26a and 26b are practically the same. For the purpose of referring to elements of triangular support structure 26b, the same numbers as those used in reference to triangular support structure 26a are used, except that they are modified with the letter &#34;b&#34;. Unless otherwise indicated, everything discussed and illustrated in the application relative to one of the triangular support structures, applies to both triangular support structures. 
     Each triangular support structure has a clamp 50a or 50b, both of which are engaged and disengaged concertedly between lock-positions and release-positions, respectively, by movement of cam lever 42. Clamp 50a includes two discs 52a and 54a with serrated faces juxtaposed with each other. The rotational position of disc 52a relative to rod 38 (which is mostly hidden from view by sleeve 100 in FIG. 2) is at all times linked with the orientation of post 44a. The rotational position of disc 54a relative to rod 38 is at all times linked to the rotational position of triangular support structure 26a, so that when cam lever 42 is in the release-position, triangular support structure 26amay freely rotate relative to post 44a. However, when cam lever 42 is moved to the lock-position, the serrated faces of discs 52a and 54a engage, thereby preventing relative movement between the angular orientation of triangular support structure 26a and post 44a. All of the discussion concerning clamp 26a is equally descriptive of clamp 26b. 
     Sleeve 100 functions to conceal rod 38. More importantly, sleeve 100 is an important structural element of the clamping system because it allows the force applied by cam lever 42 to be transferred to clamp structure 50b, thereby causing engagement of both sets of discs, i.e., locking both clamps. 
     FIG. 3 shows the top side of base plate 22 before attaching triangular support structures 26a and 26b to the other side of base plate 22. Propel nuts 70 are placed through holes in the top side of base plate 22 for receiving screws which will attach triangular support structures 26a and 26b to the bottom side of base plate 22. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the step of attaching triangular support structures 26a and 26b to the bottom side of U-shaped base plate 22. The triangular support structures, or arm assemblies 26a and 26b are each typically supplied as three principal parts, namely short arm 32a and long arm 28a attached to proximal and distal junctions, respectively, along a cross-bar or flange member 36a. Screws 72 are inserted through washers 74 into propel nuts 70, thus securing triangular support structures 26a and 26b to the bottom side of base plate 22. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, on the top side of base plate 22, velcro patches 82, 84a and 84b are secured in positions corresponding to velcro pads 66 on the bottom side of pad 60, so that pad 60 can be easily attached and removed from base plate 22. Handles 86a and 86b permit the user to move base plate 22 relative to table 46 when the clamp is in the release-position. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of clamp 50a. Cam lever 42 is attached to one end of rod 38 which passes through, in series, washer 92, post 44a, stationary disc 52a, tapered coil spring 90a, and rotating disc 54a. It can be seen in FIG. 6 that the non-serrated face of stationary disc 52a has a pair of guide ridges 91a for flanking a rectangular portion 93 of post 44a, thereby effectively locking the rotational position of stationary disc 52a to the rotational position of post 44a. Also shown in FIG. 6 is pivot pin 93 which secures cam lever 42 on to rod 38, and serves as an axis of rotation for the lever. 
     Tapered coil spring 90a serves the important function of forcing discs 52a and 54b apart when the clamp is in the release-position. The tapered structure of the spring is advantageous because, when compressed, the spring has a minimum height, i.e., the thickness of one coil. Alternatively, it would also be possible to use another type of spring, for example, a straight coiled spring or a leaf spring, provided the region where the spring is seated is contoured so as to allow full engagement of the serrated teeth when the spring is fully compressed. 
     FIG. 7 shows the step of inserting rod 38 through apertures in the arms of triangular support structures 26a and 26b after assembly of clamp 50a. It can be noted in FIG. 7 that the apertures in both short arm 32a and long arm 28a of triangular support structure 26a have slots through which rod 38 passes. In a preferred embodiment, rod 38 is not allowed to move longitudinally relative to the slot of long arm 28a , regardless of whether the clamps are locked or unlocked. The mechanism for preventing such movement is described below. In contrast, slot 40a in short arm 32a is moveable relative to rod 38 when clamp 50a is in the release-position. Thus, the effective length of short arm 32a may be altered while the effective length of 28a remains fixed. However, it is also possible to produce a functioning headrest in accordance with the present invention, by allowing the effective length of both the short arm and long arm or a triangular support structure to be varied when the clamp is in the release-position. Further, it is also possible to make the effective length of the long arm adjustable while holding the effective length of the short arm constantly fixed. All that is necessary is that the effective length of at least one of the arms is adjustable when the clamp is in the release-position, and fixed when the clamp is in the lock-position. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates further assembly steps of the clamp and horizontal rod elements relative to the triangular support structures. After passing rod 38 through the apertures in the arms of triangular support structure 26a, the rod passes through large plastic washer 102 and steel washer 104, then cover sleeve 100 followed by two more washers. It is advantageous for washer 102 as well as spacers 106a and 106b, which directly contact length-adjustable short arm 32ato be made out of smooth plastic. This allows smooth movement of short arm 32a during the adjustment process, while also facilitating a strong friction engagement of short arm 32a when the clamp is in the lock-position. Rod 38 then passes through the apertures in the arms of triangular support structure 26b, then plastic spacer 106b. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, clamp 50b consisting of rotational disc 54b, spring 92b, stationary disc 52b, rod 44b, steel washer 110, and nuts 112 are attached in series to the end of rod 38 opposite from cam lever 42. The double nut arrangement at the end of rod 38 opposite from cam lever 42, allows the total clamping pressure to be adjusted by screwing the nuts along the rod, thus changing the distance between the nuts and the lever. The adjustment can be accomplished by rotating the lever around the axis defined by rod 38. The nuts should be adjusted to a point where the serrated discs are fully engaged when the lever is in the lock-position, and fully disengaged when the lever is in the release-position. 
     It can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 that rotating discs 54a and 54b each have a ridge-like protrusion 114a and 114b, respectively, which is dimensioned to fit into slots 115a and 115b (not shown) in the long arms 28a and 28b in each of the triangular support structures. Engagement of the rotating disc protrusions with their respective long arm slots, accomplishes both the purposes of, fixing the effective length of the long arms, and preventing the stationary discs from rotating relative to the triangular support structures. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate concerted engagement and disengagement of both clamps. In FIG. 10, cam lever 42 is in the lock-position. Because of the cam shape of lever 42, when it is in the lock-position, the distance between the lever and the nuts at the opposite end of rod 38, is decreased to a point where the serrated faces of the rotating discs 54a and 54b are forced to engage the serrated faces of stationary discs 52a and 52b, respectfully. As shown in FIG. 11, when cam lever 42 is in the release-position, the shape of cam lever 42 allows the distance between lever 42 and nuts 112 on the opposite end of rod 38 to be maximized, thereby allowing the disc pairs to disengage their respective serrated faces. When the disc faces are disengaged, rotation between base plate 22 relative to posts 44a and 44b, and effective length adjustment of arms 32a and 32b are allowed. 
     FIG. 12 shows that the pad can be simply attached to the top side of base plate 22 via velcro patches 82, 84a and 84b. 
     FIG. 13 shows how headrest 20 is attached to table 46 by inserting posts 44a and 44b into respective holes 48a and 48b provided in table 46. 
     Although a detailed description of the preferred embodiment has been set forth above, it is apparent that many modifications are possible without departing from the general principals of the present invention as claimed below. 
     For example, in the preferred embodiment, a base plate is used to support the pad. However, the present invention clearly contemplates other designs which would not employ a &#34;plate&#34;, but instead would use virtually any type of rigid structure, made of wood, metal, hard plastic, etc., which is capable of supporting a head as well as being fixedly orientated relative to proximal and distal junction structures. It is also apparent that, although the base plate illustrated and described above is symmetrical relative to its bisecting plane, such symmetry is not necessary and should not be read as a limitation of the claimed invention. 
     Another aspect of the invention which may be varied, is the orientation of the proximal and distal junctions relative to the base and its bisecting plane (Z in FIG. 2). In the preferred embodiment, the proximal and distal junctions, to which the long and short arms are pivotally attached, are practically co-planar with the base. However, it is apparent that the present invention may also be practiced with an adjustable headrest in which the junctions have been moved away from the plane which contains the base. It is also possible to alter the angle formed by the line connecting the junctions and the plane containing the base. It is also possible to substantially alter the location of the proximal and distal junctions relative to the bisecting plane. As described above, the proximal and distal junctions are connected by a line which is substantially parallel to the bisecting plane. However, it is possible to produce an adjustable headrest, according to the principles of the present invention, in which the proximal and distal junctions are separated along a direction or axis perpendicular to the bisecting plane, as long as the axis of rotation in each junction structure is substantially normal to the bisecting plane. In such a configuration, the concept of a &#34;triangular support structure&#34; is still present from a side perspective of the headrest. 
     It is also apparent that, although the described serrated-disc clamping assembly is preferred, many other types of clamps can be used without departing from the general scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.