Abstract:
Improved face cradles, more properly called head cradles, provide increased comfort for clients. Various embodiments of novel frontal and temporal skull support pads eliminate the discomforts of existing face cradles. The head cradle embodiments remove the pressure caused by conventional horseshoe face cradles. These pressures can cause facial discomfort, congestion, and restricted breathing, all of which can adversely affect the ability of the user to maximize relaxation. In addition to novel pad embodiments, the head cradles features embodiments whereby the support bars that attach to the support pads, as well as the support pads, can provide a variety of possible adjustments (e.g. lowered, raised, widened, narrowed, lengthened, and angled) to accommodate individual users. Some embodiments mimic fingers of human hands.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to replacements for face cradles used on massage tables, or medical procedure tables, in particular the invention related to improved adjustable, lightweight, portable, low cost head cradles, providing greater client comfort. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0004]    For many years, face cradles have been used on both tables and chairs that hold the face of clients receiving therapy, examination or procedures. For example massage tables have a face cradle, which is attached to the table and comprises a horseshoe shaped board and pad (see  FIGS. 1-3 ). The problem with existing face cradles is that they are not comfortable for the client. They don&#39;t adjust for the size of the client&#39;s head and face. They put uncomfortable pressure on the cheeks (zygomatic bones) rather than the forehead and sides of the skull. Some face cradles have a metal bar in the tilt mechanism, which hits the client&#39;s chin. The pressure on the client&#39;s cheeks causes sinus congestion for most clients. 
         [0005]    What is needed is an improved face cradle that provides greater comfort and avoids the problems associated with conventional face cradles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Our improved face cradle, more properly called a head cradle, is shaped more like a bowl and supports the head on the frontal and temporal bones to support the head while avoiding contact with the cheeks, sinuses and jaw. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a head cradle which eliminates the discomforts of existing face cradles attached to tables and chairs used for client therapy, examination, or procedures. The various embodiments include novel shaped facial support pads and bars and novel bar and pad adjustment options to increase the comfort of the individual user. 
       Objects and Advantages  
       [0008]    Accordingly, the present invention includes the following advantages:
       a) To provide increased comfort by supporting the frontal (forehead) portion of the skull.   b) To provide increased comfort by supporting the temporal portion (sides) of the skull.   c) To provide increased comfort by reducing sinus congestion by avoiding pressure on the sinuses, front of the cheeks, and the mandible.   d) To provide increased breathing comfort.   e) To provide increased individual comfort with adjustable width and length and angle of the bars of a head cradle.   f) To provide increased individual comfort with adjustable positioning of pads on a head cradle.   g) To provide increased individual comfort and support of the individual&#39;s head with variously shaped pad embodiments.   h) To provide increased individual comfort and support of the individual&#39;s head with various pad material embodiments.   i) To provide increased ability to relax for the individual.   j) To provide an adjustable head cradle.   k) To provide an inexpensive head cradle.   l) To provide a simpler way of making a head cradle.   m) To provide a collapsible head cradle.   n) To provide an easy to store a head cradle.   o) To provide an easy to transport head cradle.   p) To provide a lightweight head cradle.   q) To provide a simple way to manufacture head cradles.   r) To provide an inexpensive way to manufacture head cradles.   s) To provide a simple way to ship head cradle components.   t) To provide a head cradle made of parts with consistent sizes to minimize manufacturing and make it easier to assemble.       
 
     
    
     
       DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a client on a typical massage table set up with horseshoe face cradle. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show a conventional horseshoe face cradle with table attachment. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a head cradle with separate frontal and temporal pads. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a head cradle with a single curved pad. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a head cradle with multi-fingered pads. 
           [0034]      FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  show embodiments of a head cradle with pads curved to match the top and sides of a head. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  shows position of human hands cradling a human head. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  show embodiments of shaped rigid bases covered by various pads. 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  show the operation of various embodiments. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  shows an alternate embodiment of a head cradle with the table attachment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  shows an embodiment of a head cradle with outward curved support bars. 
           [0040]      FIG. 15  through  FIG. 17  show embodiments of a head cradle with adjustable, support bars. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                     
                    2 
                   client 
                 
                 
                     
                    4 
                   massage table 
                 
                 
                     
                    5 
                   receiving socket 
                 
                 
                     
                    6 
                   face cradle 
                 
                 
                     
                    8 
                   horseshoe pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   10 
                   horseshoe board 
                 
                 
                     
                   12 
                   table attachment 
                 
                 
                     
                   13 
                   inserting member 
                 
                 
                     
                   14 
                   tilt mechanism 
                 
                 
                     
                   15 
                   attachment chassis 
                 
                 
                     
                   16 
                   head 
                 
                 
                     
                   17 
                   temporal pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   18 
                   frontal pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   19 
                   pad connector 
                 
                 
                     
                   20 
                   horseshoe support 
                 
                 
                     
                   21 
                   support bar 
                 
                 
                     
                   22 
                   single curved pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   24 (a-b) 
                   multi-fingered pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   25 (a-e) 
                   finger 
                 
                 
                     
                   26 (a-b) 
                   frontal curved pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   28 (a-b) 
                   temporal curved pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   30 (a-b) 
                   cradling hand 
                 
                 
                     
                   32 
                   rigid shaped base 
                 
                 
                     
                   34 
                   pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   36 
                   sectioned pad 
                 
                 
                     
                   38 (a-b) 
                   outward curved support bar 
                 
                 
                     
                   40 
                   adjustable support bar 
                 
                 
                     
                   42 
                   roll clamp 
                 
                 
                     
                   44 
                   slide clamp 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    Conventional Table with Horseshoe Face Cradle 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a client on a conventional massage table set up with a horseshoe face cradle. The face cradle  6  (shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ) is connected to massage table  4  by table attachment  12 , which is inserted into the receiving socket  5 . The client  2  lays face down on the massage table  4 . The client&#39;s head  16  is placed inside the horseshoe pad  8  of the face cradle  6 , supporting the head. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show the horseshoe face cradle  6  with table attachment.  FIG. 2  shows the top view while  FIG. 3  shows the side view. The face cradle  6  is comprised of a horseshoe pad  8  attached to a horseshoe board  10 , which is connected to table attachment  12  via horseshow supports  20 . The embodiment shown includes an optional tilt mechanism  14 . The horseshow supports  20  are connected to attachment chassis  15 . The face cradle  6  is inserted into the receiving socket  5  of massage table  4  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) via industry standard inserting members  13 . The inserting members  13  are fully inserted when the attachment chassis  15  engages edge of the table  4  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The tilt mechanism  14  allows the face cradle  6  to release and swivel to raise or lower the horseshoe board  10 , and then lock it into place at a desired level. 
       Embodiments of Head 
       [0044]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a head cradle having a plurality of pads that are positioned to support a head  16  via the frontal and temporal bones. This side view shows a support bar  21  connected between a table attachment  12 , which is connected to massage table  4  (not shown), and a frontal pad  18  via an optional slide clamp  44 . The frontal pad  18  is also connected to temporal pad  17  via the pad connector  19 . The temporal pad  17 , frontal pads  18 , pad connector  19 , support bar  21  and slide clamp  44  are duplicated symmetrically on the other side (not visualized). The head  16  is placed between the support bars  21  and onto each temporal pad  17  and each frontal pad  18  which are configured match the shape of the human skull and which are individually adjustable to match the width and angle of respective heads  16 , of a plurality of clients. In one embodiment, the frontal pads  18  and the connected temporal pads  17  may be adjusted by rotating, or sliding horizontally, on the support bars  21  with the slide clamps  44 . The slide clamps  44  may be locked in any desired position or rotation along the support bar  21 . In another embodiment (not shown) the pads are individually adjusted where they each attach to the pad connector  19 . 
         [0045]    An advantage of the head cradles of the present invention is improved comfort by supporting the skull at the frontal and temporal bone rather than compressing the checks (zygomatic bones), as does the conventional horseshoe face cradle  6 . Another advantage is that the head cradles are more open providing better breathing and less confinement. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a head cradle with a single curved pad. The single curved pad  22  is curved to match the shape of the skull. The curved pad  22  may be adjusted by sliding horizontally on the support bars  21 , using slide clamps  44  (not visible). The support bars  21  are connected to table attachment  12 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a head cradle with multi-fingered pads  24 . The multi-fingered pads  24 ( a - b ) are placed in a position of a person cradling their own forehead (for example, see  FIG. 8 ) and may be adjusted by rotating or sliding horizontally on the support bars  21  using the slide clamps  44  (not visible). The support bars  21  are connected to table attachment  12 . Each finger  25 ( a - e ) of the multi-fingered pads  24 ( a - b ) could be supported by an internal metal or plastic structure. In one embodiment the structure of the multi-fingered pads  24 ( a - b ) are adjustable so each finger  25 ( a - e ) is adjusted to fit the individual head  16 . In yet another embodiment each finger  25  has one or more flexible joints, allowing more precise placement of the tip of each finger  25 .  FIG. 12  shows the operation of this embodiment. The fingers are positioned so the weight of the held is supported by the fingers while making contact with the surface of the head associated with the frontal bones, temporal bones, and if desired the parietal bones. 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 6 , each multi-fingered pad  24  is shown looking like realistic human hands, having a thumb and four other fingers. While this may be soothing to some clients, other clients may prefer more mechanical looking fingers  25 . In such embodiments (not shown), a plurality of fingers  25  is each comprised of at least one adjustable joint, at pad connector  19 , and a finger tip pad. The plurality of such fingers  25  maybe connected via adjustable connectors at a common point (e.g. a mechanical wrist), which is then connected to the support bar  21 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  show embodiments of a head cradle with a plurality of pads each curved to match the top and sides of the skull. 
         [0050]      FIG. 7A  shows two frontal curved pads  26 ( a - b ). They may be adjusted by rotating or sliding horizontally on the support bars  21  using the slide clamps  44  (not visible). The support bars  21  are connected to table attachment  12 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 7B  shows an embodiment of a head cradle with a plurality of frontal-temporal curved pads  28 ( a - b ) which are placed in a position of a person cradling their own forehead ( FIG. 8 ). The frontal-temporal curved pads  28 ( a - b ) may be adjusted by rotating or sliding horizontally on the support bars  21  using the slide clamps  44  (not visible). The support bars  21  are connected to table attachment  12 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 7B  offers a more comfortable version of the frontal curved pads  26  (shown in  FIG. 7A ) by allowing the frontal-temporal curved pads  28 ( a - b ) to further take some pressure from the sides of the skull. 
       Human Hands Cradling the Human Head 
       [0052]      FIG. 8  shows position of human hands cradling a human head  16 . The cradling hands  30 ( a - b ), right and left, respectively, are placed over the face of the head  16  and are positioned in such a way both that pinky fingers touch in the middle of the forehead just above the eyebrows. The hands remain relaxed and curved slightly inward in a natural, unengaged position. The thumbs naturally come to touch the sides of the face and head, just under the temples. The other finger tips touch the head near the frontal, temporal, and, optionally, parietal bones. 
         [0053]    Like the human hands shown in  FIG. 8 , each of these novel structures disclosed here allows the weight of the head to be born by the top and sides of the skull and avoids pressure on the front of the cheeks, on the mandible, or the sinuses. These novel head cradles are more comfortable for the client, reduce sinus congestion, and allow for better airflow for breathing and relaxation. 
       Shaped Rigid Supports 
       [0054]      FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  show embodiments of pads on shaped rigid support pieces made of metal or plastic and covered by a foam or gel pad. The foam could be conventional foam or memory foam.  FIG. 9  illustrates a pad  34  on a shaped rigid structure  32 .  FIG. 10  illustrates an alternate embodiment where the pad could be comprised of multiple small sections, (sectioned pad  36 ). Each of the single curved pad  22 , multi-fingered pad  24 , frontal curved pad  26 , and frontal-temporal curved pad  28  can be manufacture using either method. 
       Positioning of the Human Head 
       [0055]      FIGS. 11  and  FIG. 12  show the operation of the head  16  with various pad embodiments.  FIG. 11  shows the head  16  resting on the frontal-temporal curved pad  28  embodiment where the pads are curved to match the top and sides of the skull (e.g. see  FIG. 7B ).  FIG. 12  shows the head  16  resting on the multi-fingered pad  24  embodiment where the pads are shaped like human hands (e.g. see  FIG. 6 ). In both embodiments, the pads ( 28  and  24 , respectively) are adjustably attached onto support bars  21  using slide clamps  44 . 
       Support Bars Forming Inserting Members 
       [0056]      FIG. 13  shows an embodiment of a head cradle. In this embodiment, exemplary frontal-temporal curved pads  28 ( a - b ) are attached to support bars  21  using slide clamps  44  (not visible), and the support bars  21  pass through an attachment chassis  15  and act as inserting members  13 . In this embodiment, the support bars  21  are at the same distance apart as the industry standard inserting members  13  (and corresponding receiving sockets  5 ( a - b ), see  FIG. 1 ). In this novel embodiment, manufacturing costs are reduced because there are fewer parts, and the head cradle may be more solidly and securely mounted to the table  4  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
       Outward Curved Support Bars 
       [0057]      FIG. 14  shows an embodiment of a head cradle having outward curved support bars  38 . The outward curved support bars  38  have an outward curve providing more room for the jaw, mouth, and nose, and provide improved breathing. Similar to the embodiment shown if  FIG. 13 , the outward curved support bars  38  pass through an attachment chassis  15  and act as inserting members  13 . In this novel embodiment, manufacturing costs are reduced because there are fewer parts, and the head cradle may be more solidly and securely mounted to the table  4  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
       Adjustable Support Bars 
       [0058]      FIG. 15  through  FIG. 17  show aspects of head cradles with adjustable support bars  40 . While inserting members  13  must be straight, the support bars on the face side of an attachment chassis  15  do not have to be straight, allowing for novel rotating, adjustable support bars  40  a plurality of bends. 
         [0059]      FIG. 15  shows a perspective view and  FIG. 16  shows a side view of adjustable support bars  40 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , each adjustable support bar  40  may be individually rotated to allow the various embodiments of pads (e.g. like those in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 A,  7 B,  11 ,  12 , and  13 ) to be lowered, raised, widened or narrowed for the most comfort.  FIG. 16  shows that the rotation can be temporarily held using a roll clamp  42 . Further,  FIG. 16  shows that an exemplary frontal-temporal curved pad  28  can be adjusted by rotating or sliding horizontally on the adjustable support bar  40  using the slide clamps  44 . In these embodiments, the adjustable support bar  40  continues though an attachment chassis  15  forming the industry standard inserting members  13 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 17  shows an alternate embodiment where an adjustable support bar  40  is inserted directly into the receiving sockets  5  (see  FIG. 1 ) up to the roll clamps  42 , which act as stoppers, eliminating the need for the attachment chassis  15  (e.g. of  FIG. 16 ). In this embodiment the roll clamps  42  provide friction against the table  4  and receiving sockets  5  (both shown in  FIG. 1 ) to hold the desired rotation of the adjustable support bar  40 . 
         [0061]    In some embodiments, a pad, such as exemplary frontal-temporal curved pad  28 , could rotate as well and be held temporarily by the same slide clamp  44  (as shown). In yet another embodiment (not shown), the two bars could be synchronized with a belt or gear system so that they provide the same height. 
       Advantages  
     Adjustable 
       [0062]    The preferred embodiments of these head cradles are adjustable to provide greater comfort for a wide variety of head sizes and shapes. 
       Increased Comfort 
       [0063]    The configurability and adjustability of the embodiments provides increased comfort through supporting the frontal and temporal portions of the skull, reducing sinus congestion by avoiding pressure on the sinuses, front of the cheeks, and the mandible and ultimately providing for better breathing and increased relaxation. 
       Lightweight 
       [0064]    These head cradles are lightweight. 
       Low Cost 
       [0065]    These head cradles are low cost. They can be made with less material than the conventional face cradles. 
       Simple to Make and Manufacture 
       [0066]    These head cradles are easy to make or to manufacture, having a simpler set of parts and configuration. 
       Collapsible 
       [0067]    These head cradles are collapsible for easier handing. 
       Easy to Store 
       [0068]    These head cradles are easy to store. 
       Easy to Transport 
       [0069]    These head cradles are easy to transport. 
       Easy to Ship 
       [0070]    The modular, molded parts can be shipped easily, compared to having to ship the entire face cradle of convention face cradles. 
       Easy to Use 
       [0071]    These head cradles are easy to use. 
       Easy to Manufacture 
       [0072]    These head cradles made of parts with consistent sizes, which minimize manufacturing and make assembly and disassembly easier. 
       Conclusion, Ramification, and Scope 
       [0073]    Accordingly, the reader will see that the improved adjustable, lightweight, portable, low cost head cradles are easy to use and transport, and importantly provide greater comfort and relaxation. 
         [0074]    While the above descriptions contain several specifics these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of some of the preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the pads can be manufactured in different ways and/or in different shapes to increase comfort, reduce material, and simplify manufacturing. Removal pads could be custom molded for each client, using their own head and/or hands. Further, the pads could also tilt to change the angle of the client&#39;s neck, for example, the multi-fingered pads could tilt at the wrist. The variations could be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the novel features of the present invention. 
         [0075]    Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the illustrated embodiments, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.