Patent Abstract:
An accessory device for use in conjunction with seats on airplanes, trains, buses, cars, or other moving vehicles that gently restrains a person&#39;s forehead to prevent his or her head from bobbing when he or she falls asleep in their seat. The device may have a head retention piece, which may also serve as a sleep mask, in addition to various configurations for securing the head retention piece to seats or the headrest portions of seats having various dimensions. In one embodiment, a base portion is secured to the seat and the head restraint piece secured to the base.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates to a forehead restraint accessory for use while traveling on airplanes, trains, buses, cars and/or other moving vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    When a person falls asleep in an upright seated position, particularly while sitting in the passenger seats of a moving vehicle, their head tends to bob forward or to the side. Such positions are uncomfortable and can often lead to frequent sleep interruption and sore muscles, particularly in the neck, shoulders and head. Accordingly, need exists for an apparatus or device which may be used with the passenger seats of commercial carriers which will prevent a person&#39;s head and neck from gravitating to one or more uncomfortable positions when asleep. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus or device which may be used with the passenger seats of commercial carriers, such as airplane seats, train seats, bus seats, and car seats (“transportation seat”) which will prevent a person&#39;s head and neck from gravitating to one or more uncomfortable positions when an occupant is asleep in his seat. 
         [0004]    In addition, many of these transportation seats vary in size, width, perimeter profile and upholstery. Others contain television or computer screens built into the back side thereof. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a further need exists for an apparatus or device which may be used with transportation seat which vary in size, width, perimeter profile, surface material upholstery and configuration, which will prevent a person&#39;s head and neck from gravitating to one or more uncomfortable positions when an occupant is asleep in his seat. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Disclosed is an apparatus, herein referred to as the “NoBob”, for use in conjunction with seats on airplanes, trains, buses, cars, or other moving vehicles that gently restrains a person&#39;s forehead to prevent his or her head from bobbing when he or she falls asleep in their seat. As an additional benefit, the portion of the restraining device contacting the wearer&#39;s head may also serve as a darkening shade to enable the wearer to fall asleep more easily. 
         [0007]    According to one aspect of the invention, the accessory device comprises a head retention piece and means for securing the head retention piece securely to the person&#39;s seat. In one embodiment, the accessory device comprises a head retention piece, portion of which is in contact with the wearer&#39;s head, and a pair of width adjustable clasps configurable for attaching to a transportation seat having any number of different width and profile configurations. One or more straps attaches the head retention piece to the clasps in a manner which retains the position of the retention piece on the wearer&#39;s head even during positional adjustments of the seat angle or slight movements by the wearer. 
         [0008]    Since many of these transportation seats vary in size, width, and upholstery, the removable elastic strap is slip resistant and as such is securable to most seats in order to retain the accessory securely thereto. The head retention piece rests adjacent to the person&#39;s forehead and may optionally be decorated with a graphic, such as a sports team logo, or other graphic to increase the attractiveness of the accessory to of potential users of NoBob. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, a removable elastic strap is selectively engageable and disengagable at either side band of the head retention piece to form a loop. In some cases, seats have TV screens on the backs of these seats, and an elastic strap would disturb the occupant of the seat directly behind the occupant in the seat with the NoBob. As such the elastic strap needs to be removable and replaceable with two separate attaching mechanisms that attach securely to the sides of the occupant&#39;s seat without interfering with the occupant behind. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the front retention cover is disposed at least partially about the front band and may be made to conform to the forehead and top of the head. This cover may also be disposed over at least a portion of the side bands. In one embodiment, the retention piece cover may be made of fleece and lining materials which are soft and comfortable against the person&#39;s forehead and scalp. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, a head restraint apparatus comprises a head retention piece, and a pair of width adjustable clasps secured to the head retention piece, each of the clasps being expandable to a width for temporarily secure the clasp about a surface having a thickness. 
         [0012]    According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, a kit comprising an accessory device for use with transportation seats, comprises a head retention piece, a portion of which is in contact with the wearer&#39;s head, and at least one stretchable strap removably securable to the head retention piece and about a transportation seat. 
         [0013]    According to still another aspect of the disclosure, a head restraint kit for use with transportation seats comprises a head retention piece, and a base portion adjustably securable to about a surface having a thickness and further temporarily securable to the head retention piece. 
         [0014]    According to get another aspect of the disclosure, a method for securing a head restraint apparatus to a transportation seat, comprises providing a head restraint apparatus comprising a head retention piece having a pair of straps extending outward there from and a base portion adjustably securable about a surface having a thickness; removably securing the base portion to the surface; and removably securing the head restraint apparatus to the base portion. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates conceptually a perspective view of an accessory device in accordance with the disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates conceptually a rear plan view of the accessory device  FIG. 1  in accordance with the disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3A-B  illustrate conceptually a plan views of the clasp component of the accessory device in an expanded and expanded configurations, respectively, in accordance with the disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 4  illustrates conceptually a perspective view of the clasp component of  FIGS. 3A-B  in accordance with the disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5A-B  illustrate conceptually a perspective view of another embodiment of the accessory device in accordance with the disclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6A-B  illustrate conceptually a plan views of accessory sleep mask and headrest seat attachment device in accordance with the disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates conceptually a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 6A-B  as attached to the headrest of a seat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The NoBob is an accessory device that gently restrains a person&#39;s forehead to prevent his or her head from bobbing and rolling when falling asleep in a transportation seat. Referring to the  FIGS. 1-2 , an accessory device  10  comprises a head retention piece  12  having a pair of side bands  14  and  15  with one end secured thereto and extending in opposite directions outwardly therefrom. In one embodiment, side bands  14  and  15  extend along a common axis  13 , illustrated in phantom in  FIG. 2 . Accessory device  10  further comprises a pair of expendable U-shaped brackets  16  and  17  attached to the other ends of side bands  14  and  15 , respectively, through respective loops  18 . 
         [0023]    The head retention piece  12  may be made of fabric and shaped to accommodate the curvature of the forehead. In one embodiment, the head retention piece  12  may be made of fleece and/or lining materials which are soft and comfortable against the person&#39;s forehead and scalp. In one embodiment, head retention piece  12  may have a generally blindfold shape, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , that is made of light blocking material to enable the wearer to more readily fall asleep. In one embodiment, the blindfold may have a partition  11  in the form of a seam extending at least partially across the width thereof to enable the wearer to flip the bottom portion of the blindfold up to see without having to remove the retention piece  12  completely. 
         [0024]    A first end of each of side bands  14  and  15  may be either permanently or removably secured to head retention piece  12  by any of stitching, buckles, hook and pile connectors, snaps, Velcro, etc. In one embodiment, side bands  14  and  15  may be implemented with elastic, webbing or other durable fabric. In one embodiment, the other ends of side bands  14  and  15  may be movably or removably secured to U-shaped brackets  16  and  17 , respectively, through the loop  18  or other mechanism to allow for angular movement of straps  14  and  15  relative to U-shaped brackets  16  and  17  one secured to a seat  19 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 3A-B  illustrate conceptually a plan views of the clasp component of the accessory device in an expanded and expanded configurations. Clasp  16  comprises a pair of substantially L-shaped rigid frames  16 A and  166  expandably coupled to a center clasp mechanism  16 C. Each of frames  16 A and  16 B may be formed of a substantially rigid material such plastic or other as natural or synthetic resins and may define along an interior surface there of a channel or groove (not shown). The back surface of each frames  16 A and  16 B may be covered with a soft fabric, padding, or nonslip material which has a high coefficient of friction, which will rest against seat  19 . Disposed intermediate an interior portion of frames  16 A and  16 B are substantially ridged or ratcheted belts  16 D and  16 E which may be slidably extended outside of its respective. Belts  16 D and  16 E may define complementary mating, but oppositely oriented, teeth which may slide easily over each other when slightly separated therefrom, resulting in one or more adjacent engaged teeth as in a fully collapsed configuration, and, which when separated by a divider, such as a spring-loaded pin are separated wide enough to allow for movement in opposing directions to enable expansion of the ratcheted belts  16 D and  16 E so that only one set of teeth are engaged in an expanded position. Clasp mechanism  16 C may define a frame through which ratcheted belts  16 D and  16 E may pass and a button  16 F for selectively and pivotally introducing a dividing pin intermediate belts  16 D and  16 E to enable movement in opposite directions there to during expansion and collapsing thereof. Alternatively, any number of commercially available ratcheted locking devices, similar to those used in ski bindings and wire binding devices may be implemented in clasp mechanism  16  to achieve the same result. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 4  illustrates conceptually a perspective view of one of the clasp component  16  relative to the seat  19 . In one embodiment, one of frames  16 A and  16 B may be longer than the other so that its respective point of attachment to strap  14  is closer to the interior of seat  19  thereby providing a more snug fit for retention piece  12  against the wearer&#39;s head and better light blockage. The construction and function of clasp  17  may be the same or different than clasp  16  as described herein. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, retention piece  12  may have a single continuous strap  22  which extends across the back of the wearer&#39;s head and is connectable to a loop strap  20  extending between loops  18  of clasps  16  and  17  via a loop through which loop strap  20  may be secured. In such a configuration, a single point of attachment may allow for slight head movement while continuing to restrain the wearer&#39;s close to seat  19 . 
         [0028]    All bands may comprise of a fabric band or a band having elastomeric characteristics such as elastic. The front band may comprise of a strap that extends from one side of the transportation seat, across the person&#39;s forehead, to the other side of the person&#39;s transportation seat and may be provided with adjustable clip buckles or Velcro at both ends. Side bands  14  and  15  may be connected to clasps  16  and  17 , respectively, with loops  18 , as illustrated, or any other attachment mechanism described herein. In addition, loops  18  may be at multiple different locations on either of frames  16 A and  16 B. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-B , the back band is easily replaced by another set of bands that include or are attached to a mechanism that firmly attaches to the upper sides of the transportation seat. One form of this mechanism may be a clamp made out of plastic, metal, or other sturdy yet light material that has  3  sides, whereas one connecting side runs perpendicular to the other two sides with one side gripping the front seat and the other side gripping the back of the seat. Since transportation seats vary in width, the connecting side has a release mechanism for adjusting the length of the connecting side and locking into place once the clamp is snug against the front and back of the seat. In order to lessen the risk of slippage, the inside of the front and back sides of the mechanism may have a slip resistant material such as rubber or maybe ridged to ensure the clamps stay in place. This mechanism can take other forms as long as it can slide over the sides of the transportation seats locking into place and hold the side bands in place without interfering with either a TV or tray that is attached to the back of the occupant&#39;s seat. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the side bands  14  and  15  may be removably secured to a single continuous band  22  having a selectively adjustable length and which is securable directly about seat  19 . Alternatively, accessory device  10  may be provided as a kit with multiple bands  22  of various diameters which may be used to selectively fit around various seat configurations into which side bands  14  and  15  may be secured. In one embodiment, the side bands  14  and  15  may be replaced by the single continuous band  22  having a selectively extendable length and is securable directly to retention piece  12  about the back of seat  19 . In embodiments, any configuration of continuous band  22  may be either stretchable or nonstretchable. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 6A-B  and  7  illustrate another embodiment of an accessory sleep mask device  10  in combination with a headrest seat attachment base  30  for securing about the headrest portion  37  of a seat  39 . Referring to the  FIG. 6A , an accessory device  10  comprises a head retention piece  12  having a pair of side bands  14  and  15  with one end secured thereto and extending in opposite directions outwardly therefrom, which may be similar to or different from the construction and function of head retention piece  12  described with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . At least a portion of a retention piece  12  is intended for contact with the head of the wearer. The free ends of bands  14  and  15  have secured thereto one portion of a hook and pile type connector system, as illustrated in phantom. 
         [0032]    Referring to the  FIG. 6B , headrest seat attachment base  30  comprises a piece of fabric and having attached thereto attachment flaps  34  and  35 , each of which has attached thereto the other of the section of the hook and pile type connector system not connected to the free ends of bands  14  and  15 , respectively. The top and bottom ends of base  30  are folded back onto the base fabric on the rearward facing surface thereof to form passages  30 A-B, as illustrated in phantom, and are configured to receive therein an elastic cord  38  and allow passage freely therethrough. Cord  38  may be threaded through a cord lock  37  which enables the cord  38  to be sized to form a loop. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, accessory device  10  in accordance with embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-B  and  7  may be provided as a kit with multiple cords  38  of various lengths which may be threaded through cord lock  37  and used to selectively secure base  30  to various headrest  37  of various configurations and dimensions. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates conceptually a perspective view of the accessory device  10  embodiment of  FIGS. 6A-B  as attached to the headrest  37  of a seat  39 . The portions of cord  38  extending outward from base  30  are stretched to fit around the side supports of a head headrest  37  of seat  39  and the size of the loop formed by cord  38  extending through base  30  adjusted accordingly utilizing cord lock  37 , as necessary. With the head retention piece  12  at least partially worn by the subject (not shown), straps  14  and  15  are connected to attachment flaps  34  and  35 , respectively, so that the complementary mating sections of the hook and pile type connector systems are secured to one another thereby securing head retention piece  12  to base  30 . In embodiments, the length of straps  14  and  15  may vary first of 
         [0035]    In all the foregoing embodiments, any known means may be used to secure the side band components of the accessory device to head retention piece including, but not limited to, hook and pile type connectors, snaps, buttons, buckles, loops, etc. 
         [0036]    Further, the accessory retention device described herein may be packaged as a kit of the component parts, as described herein, which may be assembled by the user, or in conjunction with other items, such as a travel pillow to provide additional comfort for the occupant of the transportation seat. 
         [0037]    In the contemplated embodiments, the side bands may be of variable length with adjustment mechanisms for selectively adjusting the appropriate length thereof for maximum user comfort. In addition, the side bands may be securable to the clasp mechanisms using any known mechanism such as buckles, clips, snaps, loops, Velcro, etc. 
         [0038]    It will be obvious to those recently skilled in the art that modifications to the apparatus and process disclosed here in may occur, including substitution of various component values or nodes of connection, without parting from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0