Patent Description:
For purposes of illustration, most references made herein are to the use of headrest covers on airline carriers, but the invention applies to all forms of transportation, public conveyances, and facilities in both commercial and residential settings, i.e., buses, trains, boats, automobiles, medical/dental facilities, entertainment venues, offices, homes and the likes.

Ever since the introduction of the headrest portion of a seat on transportation vehicle seats, and more recently on cinema theaters, the issue of the headrest becoming soiled and potentially contaminated by constant contact with multiple occupants has been a concern to respective industries, health agencies, and the informed general public. This concern is especially acute on long transit transportation and cinema theaters where the seat occupants constantly rub their scalps against the headrest while assuming a more relaxed position. Such continuous contact with the headrest results in it quickly becoming soiled, creating a potentially unsanitary surface, which may act as a conduit to transfer contaminants to subsequent occupants.

High traffic surfaces harbor microorganisms that can contaminate a multitude of people. The present invention is designed not only to prevent possible soiling of the head-rest portion of a seat, but also the possibility of transmission of scalp, skin, parasitic and other diseases from any of the many previous users of the seat to another user. This possibility of transmission increases due to the fact that most people, in many high traffic and crowded settings, use the headrest portion of seats as handle bars. They are used as leverage to get in, out and up from seats, as balancing tools while moving down the isle or simply as a place to set ones hands while standing, chatting, or waiting to disembark.

Throughout the useful life of commercial airplanes and cinema theaters, seats can often be occupied by thousands of different individuals of various degrees of cleanliness and health conditions before seats are ever cleaned, replaced, or reupholstered. In many cases, the cleaning process might not sufficiently sanitize the headrest. Most health agencies cite international travel as a major factor in the global spread of contagious diseases. If headrest surfaces are not consistently cleaned after each occupant, the seats can potentially expose a multitude of future occupants to serious health hazards which could later be transferred and spread across entire communities.

Resting one's head on the headrest of an unprotected public seat could be the equivalent of resting ones head on a hotel pillow that has been used by multiple individuals, without changing the pillow casing. No one well informed of the potential risk and consequences would willingly rub their head against a stranger's scalp, much less with that of the hundreds of individuals with different degrees of hygiene and unknown health conditions that have used the seat before them. For these reasons alone, it might be concluded that in an effort to reduce or control the effects of a potential pandemic, public conveyances and entertainment venues might appropriately be required to provide sanitized covers after each leg of travel and prior to every show-time, respectively. If such a mandate were to be imposed today, many public carriers would be under prepared to comply with such a directive. Many transportation carriers would not be able to absorb the time and financial burden required in complying with such a legal requirement, and those industries that did, would likely pass the incremental cost directly onto the customers.

The airline industry and other agencies have long sought alternative means for efficiently addressing said problems without imposing further stress on an industry already under economic pressures. One reason airlines do not provide protective covers to passengers is the fact that most, if not all presently available headrest covers, are too costly to provide. They require extensive handling and are considered invasive to the seat, often requiring attachment elements to be previously and/or permanently embedded onto the seats.

An even more deterrent factor materializes with the use of presently available reusable headrest covers. The reusable versions of headrest covers are primarily made of cloth, leather, or towel like material. The laundering of such covers is an expensive operation, requiring additional handling for packaging and transporting it to and from the processing locations. The life time replacement cycle for reusable covers primarily depends on how often they are cleaned, as the laundering process deteriorates the fabric, its texture, and its colors.

In summary, a number of issues presently face carriers when using any of the currently available headrest covers and it becomes apparent that these issues are major deterrents to the consistent use of headrest covers. These issues include: the cost to purchase; the cost to incorporate required engagement elements onto existing and new seats; the labor cost required to implement a one cover per passenger cycle; the cost of replacing all covers after each individual use; the cost of discarding fresh covers, not being able to distinguish the used from the new covers; the cost of shipping, laundering, storing and handling of reusable covers; the cost associated with potential delays to flight schedules contribute an unnecessary burden on industries already in distress.

The above harmful impact to use frequency for headrest covers therefore obscures a cover's ultimate function: to protect individuals and communities from potential contamination. In addition to protection, the use of headrest covers provides the concerned public with an added advantage; namely, user peace of mind. Once again in summary, all reusable and disposable replaceable headrest covers previously developed, suffer from a number of critical disadvantages that hinder the consistent use of said covers.

Research indicates that one convenient solution for such a critical and global dilemma would be to make available to applicable industries and the general public, an economical, replaceable, compact, disposable headrest cover that can be installed and removed easily and disposed of by the seat occupants themselves. If the travel community and general public have not yet publicly raised concerns, it is mainly because they are uninformed about such facts.

To minimize the potential for transmission of any virus, skin condition, or communicable diseases, the headrest cover should be available on a consistent basis. International carriers can be a major factor in the spread of a disease globally. Getting ill while aboard an airplane is a serious matter. From the common cold to more serious infections, air passengers are more exposed to germs and viruses than ever before. High traffic surfaces harbor microorganisms that can contaminate a multitude of people. The present invention is designed not only to protect against soiling of the head-rest portion of the seat, but also the possibility of transmission of scalp, skin and other diseases from any prior user of the seat to others.

Representative prior art in patents is reflected in <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a seat cover for covering a backrest of a seat, the seat cover comprising: a front panel; a rear panel; a first side panel and a second side panel; a top opening and a bottom opening; and headrest covering element; wherein the seat cover resembles a jersey of a sports team. <CIT> relates to a headrest cover for covering the headrest of an automobile passenger seat, wherein a highly elastic string is sewn to the entire periphery of the cover opening that wraps around the bottom underside. <CIT> relates to an antimicrobial disposable seat cover that is made of a waterproof and breathable material. <CIT> relates to a car seat cover designed to be soft, antimicrobial, water repellant, highly durable, highly stretchable, and lightweight.

The invention herein provides a stretchable antimicrobial hygienic cover, for utilization with an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest, as disclosed in appended claim <NUM>. Particular embodiments of the stretchable antimicrobial hygienic cover according to the invention are disclosed in dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

The invention also provides for a hygienic kit for a headrest as disclosed in appended claim <NUM>, comprising a stretchable antimicrobial hygienic cover according to claim <NUM>.

The invention also provides a method for providing a hygienic kit for a headrest as recited in appended claim <NUM>.

It is an object of the invention to provide for proper sanitation of otherwise unprotected headrests of public seats and seats in public carriers.

It is another object to reduce the transmissibility of skin and other medical conditions that can be transmitted by human contact.

The invention addresses a long standing need that all prior efforts have failed to adequately resolve, including the impact a cover's cost per unit, the need to make covers easy and quick to install and remove, the need to reduce the amount of handling by service personnel, the need to make covers available to individual seat occupants, the need for covers in all public seating; the need to make covers widely available; and the need for making covers available in compact and convenient packaging.

An outstanding aspect of the present invention is that the general public only be provided with an alternative for protecting themselves from potential contamination without relying on commercial carriers, cinema theaters or others to do so for them.

The invention, shown primarily in <FIG>, is a headrest cover for use with the headrest portion of a vehicle seat as shown in <FIG>. As noted, vehicles of all different types come with headrests. In particular, airplanes may have a protruding headrest, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. As passengers travel in the seats, the headrest becomes soiled with microbial and particulate matter from previous passengers. The invention seeks to mitigate the risk of contacting a soiled headrest by providing a protective barrier between the scalp of a passenger and the surface of the headrest.

The invention is constructed to allow stretchability by using a form-fitting fabric, such as nylon or lycra. However, other materials may be used too, such as neoprene. The headrest cover is constructed into a unitary piece that does not require straps or clips, as most of the prior art does. Instead, the headrest cover envelops the headrest and clings to the sides, thereby taking the shape of the underlying headrest, as shown in <FIG>. This also benefits the production of the headrest to simplify and expedite the process.

The material of the headrest should also be an anti-microbial, hypoallergenic, moisture wicking material. Further, the material should not be made of mesh, or any material that may expose a user's scalp to the surface of the headrest, either directly or indirectly. The material should form a protective barrier between the scalp and headrest. In some embodiments, a plastic or silicone liner may be implemented to add a further barrier between the headrest and the user's scalp. Other embodiments may use water-proofing treatments that can be sprayed on and form a water-tight barrier, as well as use of pre-treated water-proof fabrics and materials. However, treatments and liners should also be directed toward the inside area of the headrest cover to allow a user's scalp to contact a breathable material.

The instant invention ideally uses a breathable, stretchable, moisture absorbable fabric, such as a Terry or Jersey-knit fabric having therein a percent of lycra-spandex to give the fabric form-fitting properties. A polyester or polypropylene fabric may be employed at a lower cost, if breathability or skin irritation is a lesser concern. However, cotton-based fabrics lend themselves to comfort and the use of printing of more complex fonts and pleasing patterns on the surface thereof without the use of potentially irritating inks. The material of the headrest cover itself should be configured for use as either disposable or readably washable.

The headrest comes with an opening on the backside, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, where a user will be able to stretch the opening large enough to maneuver the headrest in to the interior of the headrest cover, as shown in <FIG>. Upon a user's release of the opening, the opening will contract back to a smaller diameter, fitting snug against the front, sides, and rear of the headrest. In an ideal embodiment, the opening contains an elastic material to actuate the closure of the opening in such a way that it will also engage the back of the headrest, shown in <FIG> (and as may be appreciated by viewing he opening shown in <FIG>), which no prior art has disclosed. That is, the opening will contract and create a form-fitting surface on the rear of the headrest for better securement of the cover. This creates a tight-fit cling to a headrest's top, bottom, front, back, and left and right sides. Because the material clings to the headrest's dimensions, it does not require additional adjustment of the headrest cushion, or the use of clips, straps, or strings. Prior art requires that the cushion is positioned or manipulated to allow engagement of a cover of the prior art. However, with headrests such as on airplanes, the headrests are still fixed to the seat and cannot be moved such as an automobile's seat. Therefore, the present invention provides a universal ability to engage with more rear-mounted headrests than the prior art.

As may be seen in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, it may be advantageous to include a hem <NUM> that encloses a closure means <NUM> - such as an elastic band, drawstring, or chord - near the periphery of the opening <NUM> to assure that the cover <NUM> is initially positioned completely over the headrest, as shown in <FIG>.

In an ideal embodiment, an elastic band as a closure means <NUM> exists inside the circumferential pocket <NUM> created by the hem <NUM>. The closure means allows a user to place the headrest cover <NUM> around the headrest <NUM>, and secure the cover <NUM> to the rear side of the headrest (shown in <FIG>). The elastic band as a closure means <NUM> will allow a user to stretch the opening over the headrest, and once engaged, the elastic band will contract offering a snug fit. Further, an elastic material may be heat bonded to the opening <NUM> of the headrest cover, thus negating the need for a hem <NUM> and pocket <NUM>.

In addition to a headrest cover, a user should also disinfect the headrest as well as the entire seating area prior to use. Before engaging the present headrest cover, the uncovered headrest <NUM> and entire seat <NUM> should be swathed with an antibacterial product such as Wet Wipes. If a tray table is included in the seating area, that should be disinfected with said antibacterial product as well.

<FIG> includes a kit that will employ a folded hygienic cover <NUM>, and a sanitary wet wipe <NUM> inside a container <NUM>. The container can be reusable hardened plastic, or disposable plastic packaging. The headrest cover may also be either reusable or disposable. In other embodiments, the kit may also include a cover for a tray table in a material such as plastic or silicone.

In essence, the invention herein can be seen in <FIG>. The invention herein provides a stretchable antimicrobial hygienic cover <NUM>, for utilization with an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>, having an ability to conform itself to dimensions of the existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM> underlying the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM> when engaged. The stretchable hygienic cover comprises a stretchable, antimicrobial, breathable moisture-absorbent non-mesh fabric, wherein the breathable moisture-absorbent fabric comprising a form-fitting fabric, and the stretchable form-fitting fabric allows for configurability to geometries of various headrests larger than that of the dimensions of an unstretched hygienic cover.

The form-fitting fabric also includes elastic materials providing the ability to cling to the existing variable geometry vehicle headrest, thereby negating the necessity for straps and clips. This form-fitting fabric defines a front side <NUM>, back side <NUM>, top side <NUM>, bottom side <NUM>, left side 17A, and right side 17B, and thereby creating an interior surface <NUM>, surrounding a cavity, wherein an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM> may occupy the space therein.

The invention also provides an elastic opening <NUM> defined by a periphery <NUM> in the back surface <NUM> allowing the fabric to stretchily fit over an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>, wherein the elastic opening <NUM> may stretch and retract in size to grip on to an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>. The elastic opening <NUM> is defined by a hem <NUM> around a rim of the opening <NUM> creating a concentric pocket <NUM> surrounding means for closure <NUM> that secure the opening <NUM> of the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM> to a back-portion of the existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>. The elastic opening <NUM> may also include a concentric closure means <NUM> within the pocket <NUM> around the rim <NUM> of the opening <NUM> comprising a concentric elastic band <NUM> with a higher modulus of elasticity than the stretchable moisture-absorbent fabric.

In some embodiments, the elastic opening <NUM> includes a concentric closure means <NUM> around a rim <NUM> of the opening <NUM> comprises a heat-bonded elastic material with a higher modulus of elasticity than the stretchable moisture-absorbent fabric.

According to the invention, the stretchable antimicrobial hygienic cover <NUM> further includes an internal lining on the interior surface <NUM> of the antimicrobial headrest cover to form an impermeable physical barrier between the headrest <NUM> of a vehicle seat <NUM> and the breathable fabric. This interior lining can be a silicone material, a plastic material. The interior lining can also be a waterproofing liquid-repellant sprayed on to the fabric to treat the interior surface <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the form-fitting fabric of the antimicrobial hygienic headrest cover <NUM> is constructed of a unitary fabric.

The invention also provides for a hygienic kit for a headrest, comprising a stretchable antimicrobial hygienic cover <NUM>, for utilization with an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>, having an ability to conform itself to dimensions of the existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM> underlying the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM> when engaged, wherein the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM> comprises a stretchable, antimicrobial, breathable moisture-absorbent non-mesh fabric, an elastic opening <NUM> in the back surface <NUM> allowing the fabric to stretchily fit over an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>, wherein the elastic opening <NUM> may stretch and retract in size to grip on to an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>. The kit further includes a pre-packaged sanitizing wipe and a container to encapsulate the pre-packaged sanitizing wipe <NUM> and the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM>, wherein the stretchable hygienic cover is compressed. In some embodiments, the hygienic kit for a headrest further includes a tray table cover, which a person of ordinary skill may employ from any number of tray table covers in commerce.

The breathable moisture-absorbent fabric disclosed in the kit further defines a form-fitting fabric, wherein the stretchable form-fitting fabric allows for configurability to geometries of various headrests <NUM> larger than that of the dimensions of an unstretched hygienic cover <NUM> and the form-fitting fabric includes elastic materials providing the ability to cling to the existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>, thereby negating the necessity for straps and clips.

Further, the form-fitting fabric defines a front side <NUM>, back side <NUM>, top side <NUM>, bottom side <NUM>, left side 17A, and right side 17B, and thereby creating an interior surface <NUM> surrounding a cavity, wherein an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM> may occupy the space therein.

According to the invention, an internal lining on the interior surface <NUM> of the antimicrobial headrest cover <NUM> forms an impermeable physical barrier between the headrest of a vehicle <NUM> and the breathable fabric.

Lastly, the invention provides a method for a hygienic kit for a headrest, comprising the steps of providing a stretchable antimicrobial hygienic cover <NUM>, for utilization with an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>, having an ability to conform itself to dimensions of the existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM> underlying the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM> when engaged, wherein the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM> comprises a stretchable, antimicrobial, breathable moisture-absorbent fabric, an elastic opening <NUM> in the back surface <NUM> allowing the fabric to stretchily fit over an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>, wherein the elastic opening <NUM> may stretch and retract in size to grip on to an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>. The method further discloses using a non-mesh fabric to act as a physical barrier between a variable geometry headrest <NUM> and a user's scalp. Next, the method discloses providing a pre-packaged sanitizing wipe <NUM>, and providing a container <NUM> to encapsulate the pre-packaged sanitizing wipe <NUM> and the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM>, wherein the stretchable hygienic cover <NUM> is compressed. Further embodiments may also include providing a tray table cover.

In addition to the steps listed above, the method further includes providing a form-fitting fabric as the breathable moisture-absorbent fabric, wherein the stretchable form-fitting fabric allows for configurability to geometries of various headrests <NUM> larger than that of the dimensions of an unstretched hygienic cover <NUM>. In addition, the method includes the steps of including elastic materials in the form-fitting fabric for providing the ability to cling to the existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM>, thereby negating the necessity for straps and clips. The form-fitting fabric thereby defining a front side <NUM>, back side <NUM>, top side <NUM>, bottom side <NUM>, left side 17A, and right side 17B, and thereby creating an interior surface <NUM> surrounding a cavity, wherein an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest <NUM> may occupy the space therein.

Lastly, according to the invention, the method includes providing an internal lining on the interior surface <NUM> of the antimicrobial headrest cover <NUM> to form an impermeable physical barrier between the headrest of a vehicle and the breathable fabric.

Claim 1:
A stretchable antimicrobial hygienic cover (<NUM>), for utilization with an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest (<NUM>), having an ability to conform itself to dimensions of the existing variable geometry vehicle headrest underlying the stretchable hygienic cover when engaged, the stretchable hygienic cover comprising:
a stretchable, antimicrobial, breathable moisture-absorbent non-mesh fabric;
said breathable moisture-absorbent fabric comprising a form-fitting fabric, wherein said stretchable form-fitting fabric allows for configurability to geometries of various headrests larger than that of the dimensions of an unstretched hygienic cover;
said form-fitting fabric including elastic materials providing the ability to cling to said existing variable geometry vehicle headrest, wherein said elastic materials allow said headrest cover to fit said existing variable geometry headrest without the use of straps and clips;
said form-fitting fabric defining a front side (<NUM>), back side (<NUM>), top side (<NUM>), bottom side (<NUM>), left side (17A), and right side (17B), and thereby creating an interior surface (<NUM>) surrounding a cavity, wherein an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest (<NUM>) may occupy the space therein;
an elastic opening (<NUM>) in said back side (<NUM>) allowing said fabric to stretchily fit over an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest, wherein said elastic opening may stretch and retract in size to grip on to an existing variable geometry vehicle headrest; and
an internal lining on the interior surface (<NUM>) of the antimicrobial headrest cover to form an impermeable physical barrier between the headrest of a vehicle and the breathable fabric.