Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/043,338 entitled HEAD SUPPORT SLEEP AID, filed Aug. 28, 2014 in the name of Joseph Michael Adams, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to sleep aids and particularly to head rests. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Most people within the United States of America and other similar industrialized nations sleep with one or more pillows upon a supportive but generally soft and hopefully comfortable mattress. While the fabrication of pillows varies substantially, many provide a closed cloth fabric envelope within which a soft and sometimes resilient material such as foam material is confined. Still other types of pillows utilize material such as feathers or shredded resilient foam to provide the desired sleeping comfort. Still other pillows comprise a solid generally rectangular unitary block of resilient foam material utilizing plastic or rubber foam. 
         [0004]    While the preferred sleeping position varies substantially, a great majority people tend to sleep on one side or the other rather than face down or face up. Typically, sleepers prefer to lie on one side or the other with one or more pillows positioned beneath the head and neck. The sleeper usually rests their head and side face upon the pillow surface. The general overall objective among sleepers in this sleeping posture is to compensate for the difference in elevation from the bed surface between the sleepers shoulder and neck. Simply stated, the centered positioned of a person&#39;s neck raises the person&#39;s neck and head away from the bed surface when the person is lying upon their side. One or more pillows are positioned beneath the neck and head to fill the difference of elevation between the neck and head and shoulder. Thus, the pillow is intended to support the weight of the user&#39;s head and neck and provide a general alignment between the user&#39;s neck and the user&#39;s spine. 
         [0005]    During the sleep cycle, people naturally move and change positions from time to time even while remaining asleep. This movement is to some extent a natural process and is probably intended to minimize the overall stress upon muscles and joints which would otherwise occur if the sleeper remained in a single fixed position all night. While the movement and change of positions is a natural part of the sleep cycle, there are unfortunate consequences which arise. When using conventional pillows, the user is likely to move upon the pillows and thus change the elevation of the user&#39;s head and thereby the alignment of neck and spine. In addition, the use of more than one pillow provides an undesired change in neck and spine alignment as the pillows tend to slide upon each other thereby changing neck and spine alignment. Thus, the use of one or more conventional pillows often leads to sleeping in an awkward position in which neck and spine alignment is less than desirable. 
         [0006]    In addition to the potential misalignment of neck and spine resulting from the use of conventional pillows for persons tending to sleep on their sides, the interaction between the skin of the sleepers face and the surface of the pillow or pillows imposes a further problem upon the sleeper. It has been shown that sleeping upon a pillow in a side rest position places the skin of the sleepers face against the pillows surface in a manner which tends to stress, stretch and often wrinkle the sleeper&#39;s skin. The undesired wrinkling of skin on the side of the user&#39;s face, particularly in the skin portion proximate to the eye has been shown to increase and accelerate the establishment of permanent skin wrinkling, particularly around the eye. The familiar aging effect produced by wrinkles upon the face and eye region is a well-known effect as a person ages. Unfortunately, the skin wrinkling resulting from sleeping upon the typical pillow or pillows used today has been found to accelerate and exacerbate this condition. Within modern society, excessive eye wrinkling is seen as advanced age. Thus, skin wrinkling about the face and eye gives the person an appearance of advanced age. For the most part, this is undesirable and in some instance unacceptable. 
         [0007]    Thus, for most people careful attention to body and head positioning prior to going to sleep is not effective due to the natural movement and motion mentioned above. Persons may pay attention to the position selected for sleeping as they wait to fall asleep. However, during the sleep cycle, substantial movement can result in skin wrinkling and loss of neck and spine alignment. One of the most important phases of the sleep cycle during a typical night sleep is referred to as REM (rapid eye movement). Studies directed toward the sleep cycle have determined that the phase of sleep during which the sleeping persons eyes are found to move rapidly to and fro is believed to be the most important and restorative phase of a night sleep. Characteristically, it has been found that individuals do not move significantly during the majority of REM sleep. Ironically, while the REM sleep and its lack of movement maximize the benefits of the sleep cycle, the lack of movement may also exacerbate the skin wrinkling and maintenance of a poorly designed neck and spine for a long period of time. As a result, the user may awake with some neck stiffness and muscle soreness and a skin wrinkling effect. 
         [0008]    In response to the problems and limitations characteristic of conventional pillows, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide pillows which enhance neck and spine alignment and which reduce skin wrinkling effects. Unfortunately, while such attempts are well intentioned, they have thus is far proven to be ineffective. Sleepers utilizing such devices continue to move and disturb the desired position. Practitioners have employed pillows of various contours which have been found ineffective and often exacerbate the problem due to the effect of the various contours upon the user&#39;s head and neck and facial skin as the user moves during the night. Thus, despite substantial efforts by practitioners in the art, their continues to exist an unresolved need for a more effective, efficient, low-cost and comfortable sleep aid which maintains neck and spine alignment and which avoids undue wrinkling or stressing of the sleepers skin. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide and improved head support sleep aid. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved head support sleep aid which maintains correct alignment of the user&#39;s neck and spine. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved head support sleep aid which supports the user&#39;s head in a manner which avoids undue wrinkling of the user&#39;s face particularly in the skin areas proximate the user&#39;s eye. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved head support sleep aid which maintains the appropriate head support during movement as the user sleeps. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a plurality of interlocking stackable foam pillow segments together with a head and neck support and an elongated generally cylindrical resilient neck support member. The pillow segments are generally rectangular defining interlocking members which facilitate the stacking and interlock of the pillow segments in a vertical stack. The head and neck support defines a pillow resting surface and a head resting surface. The head resting surface further defines an ear clearance cavity surrounded by a face support surface. The head and neck support further includes a flexible mesh fabric ear coupling having an outer edge joined to and surrounding the face support surface and encircling the ear-receiving cavity. The ear-receiving cavity is sized to receive the user&#39;s ear into the ear coupling and is elastically constricted to close upon the user&#39;s ear between the ear and head surface to captivate the ear. 
         [0011]    In operation, the user selects the number of interlocking stackable pillow segments to suit the pillow thickness desired. The user then positions the head and neck support upon the upper surface of the upper most pillow segment. The user then lies upon the bed resting the user&#39;s head upon the head and neck support while inserting the user&#39;s ear within the mesh ear coupling and positioning such that the user&#39;s ear extends into the ear clearance cavity. The elastic constriction about the ear maintains the position of the head and neck support against the user&#39;s head and maintains the desired position such that the user&#39;s head is supported such that the facial skin particularly in and around the eye region is free of contact with the head and neck support. During sleep, the head position is maintained due to the captivity of the user&#39;s ear which maintains proper positioning of the head supporting surface between the user&#39;s ear and facial skin. As a result, neck and spine alignment is maintained while wrinkling or stress of facial skin in and around the user&#39;s eye region is avoided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  sets forth a perspective view of the present invention head support sleep aid illustrating the position of a user; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  sets forth a perspective view of the present invention head support sleep aid; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  sets forth a perspective exploded view of the stackable interlocking pillow segments of the present invention head support sleep aid; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  sets forth a perspective assembly view of the head and neck support portion of the present invention head support sleep aid; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  sets forth a top view of the head and neck support section shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  sets forth a section view of the head and neck support taken along section lines  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  sets forth a side elevation view of the head and neck support of the present invention head support sleep aid; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  sets forth a top view of an alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  sets forth a top view of a further alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  sets forth a top view of a still further alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  sets forth a perspective view of a still further alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12A  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 A- 12 A therein; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12B  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 B- 12 B therein; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12C  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 C- 12 C therein; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12D  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 D- 12 D therein; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12E  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 E- 12 E therein; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  sets forth a top view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid shown in  FIG. 11  fitted to a user&#39;s ear; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  sets forth a side view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    By way of overview, the present invention provides an improved head support sleep aid. The improved head support sleep aid maintains correct alignment of the user&#39;s neck and spine. The improved head support sleep aid supports the user&#39;s head in a manner which avoids undue wrinkling of the user&#39;s face particularly in the skin areas proximate the user&#39;s eye. The improved head support sleep aid maintains the appropriate head support during movement as the user sleeps. 
         [0032]    More specifically,  FIG. 1  sets forth a perspective view of a head support and sleep aid constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Head support and sleep aid  10  is shown being utilized by a sleeping person generally referenced by numeral  15  in a typical anticipated use of the invention. Head support sleep aid  10  includes a generally rectangular segment  11  preferably fabricated of a resilient foam material such as rubber or plastic. Head support sleep aid  10  further includes a head and neck support  12  having a generally rectangular resilient foam body  20 . As is described below in greater detail, head and neck support  12  further includes a flexible mesh ear coupling  24  which, in the manner described below, is secured to foam body  20 . In further accordance with the fabrication of ear coupling  24 , sleeping person  15  is resting upon foam body  20  and has a lower ear extending into and received within ear coupling  24 . An elongated cylindrical preferably resilient foam material neck support  13  is positioned upon pillow segment  11  beneath the neck portion of sleeping person  15 . 
         [0033]    In accordance with the anticipated use of the present invention head support sleep aid, sleeping person  15  is resting upon the combined structures provided by pillow segment  11  and head and neck support  12 . Both of these structures are preferably formed of a resilient foam material and thus provide a cushioning support. In further accordance with the anticipated use of the present invention head support and sleep aid, sleeping person  15  is resting the side portion of the users head upon ear coupling  24  and head resting surface  21  of foam body  20 . Thus, the weight of the head and neck portion of sleeping person  15  is resting upon and “crumples” ear coupling  24 . With temporary reference to  FIG. 4 , it will be noted that foam body  20  of head and neck support  12  defines an ear clearance cavity  22  which extends downwardly from head resting surface  21 . Thus, the user in the posture shown in  FIG. 1  has inserted the user&#39;s ear through ear aperture  26  of ear coupling  24 . As a result, the user in resting the user&#39;s head upon surface  21  of foam body  20  collapses or crumples ear coupling  24  allowing the user&#39;s ear to extend downwardly into ear clearance cavity  22 . In this manner, the surrounding portion of head resting surface  21  supports the head of sleeping person  15  without imposing stress or pressure or wrinkling upon the facial portions of sleeping person  15  in the eye and surrounding regions. As a result, person  15  is able to sleep resting upon head support and sleep aid  10  while ear coupling  24  maintains the correct position between the sleeping persons head and foam body  20 . Neck support  13  provides additional foam support for the neck portion of the user. As a result, as sleeping person  15  shifts and moves during the sleep cycle, the captivity of user&#39;s ear within ear coupling  24  is maintained which in turn maintains the correct position of head and neck support  12 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  sets forth a perspective assembly of head support sleep aid  10  in its entirety. In accordance with the preferred fabrication of the present invention, head support sleep aid  10  includes a plurality of interlocking stackable pillow segments  11 ,  16  and  17 . In further accordance with the preferred fabrication of the present invention, pillow segments  11 ,  16  and  17  form generally rectangular resilient foam plastic or rubber bodies which define different thicknesses or heights. Thus, in the illustration of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 , pillow segment  11  is the thickest pillow segment while pillow segment  17  forms the thinnest pillow segment and pillow segment  16  defines an intermediate or medium thickness or height. Pillow segment  11  defines a top surface  18  and further defines an interlock receptacle  31 . Pillow segment  16  defines an interlock receptacle  33  together with an upwardly extending interlock  30 . Finally, pillow segment  17  defines an interlock receptacle  35  and an interlock  32 . In the stack configuration shown in  FIG. 2 , pillow segment  11  is resting upon pillow segment  16  and is maintained in attachment by the insertion of interlock  30  of pillow segment  16  into interlock receptacle  31 . Similarly, pillow segment  16  is resting upon pillow segment  17  and is maintained in position by the insertion of interlock  32  of pillow segment  17  into interlock receptacle  33  of pillow segment  16 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that different pillow thickness may be obtained by utilizing different combinations of pillow segments. For example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the combined thickness of head support sleep aid  10  may be altered by removing pillow segment  16  and securing pillow segment  17  directly to pillow segment  11 . Similarly, as set forth above in  FIG. 1 , the thickness of the resulting pillow may be further altered by simply using pillow segment  11  alone. Finally, pillow segments  16  and  11  may be utilized while omitting pillow segment  17  and so on. It will be equally apparent to those skilled in the art that while three pillow segments are shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a different number of pillow segments with different thickness relationships may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The important aspect of the illustration shown in  FIG. 2  is the provision of a selected pillow thickness which is maintained despite movement on the part of the user by the interlocking feature. 
         [0035]    As described above, head support and sleep aid  10  also includes head and neck support  12  which includes a generally rectangular foam body  20  having a head resting surface  21 . As is also described above, head and neck support  12  includes a flexible mesh material ear coupling  24  secured to surface  21  and having an elastically constricted ear-receiving aperture  26 . While the embodiment show utilizes an elastic constricture, such as an elastic band, for aperture  26 , other closures may be used. For example, aperture  26  may be closed using a sliding bead drawstring, a rubber band, a snap attachment, a button attachment or a hook and loop fabric attachment. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that foam body  20  may be formed of other materials such as cotton, pressed fabric or the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Similarly, the shape of foam body  20  may be formed in a variety of different shapes, including but not limited to circular, oval, pear, horse shoe, kidney bean or heart- shaped. By way of further variation, ear coupler  24  may be formed of various materials, such as cotton, molded plastic or woven fabric without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  sets forth a perspective assembly view of the interlocking pillow segments utilized in the present invention head support sleep aid. As described above, pillow segment  11  defines an interlock receptacle  31  and an upper surface  18 . As is also described, pillow segment  16  defines an interlock receptacle  33  and an upwardly extending interlock  30 . Finally, pillow segment  17  defines an interlock receptacle  35  and an upwardly extending interlock  32 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the configurations of interlocks  30  and  32  as well as interlock receptacles  31 ,  33  and  35  facilitate mutual intercoupling and attachment. Thus, it will be apparent that interlock  30  may be received within interlock receptacle  31  while interlock  32  may be received within either interlock receptacle  31  or interlock receptacle  33 . In this manner, the combined height may be selectively determined by utilizing either a single pillow segment or a plurality of pillow segments which have been stacked and interlocked. The interlock feature facilitates the use of multiple pillow segments in a fixed stacked arrangement despite movement of the user during sleep. In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, pillow segments  11 ,  16  and  17  are fabricated of a resilient somewhat firm material such as foam plastic or foam rubber or the like. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  sets forth a perspective assembly view of head and neck support  12  which, as is described above, includes a generally rectangular foam body  20  defining a head resting surface  21  and a pillow resting surface  28 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  above, pillow resting surface  28  generally conforms to the planar upper surface of pillow segments such as pillow segment  11  allowing foam body  20  to rest upon the underlying pillow segment. Head resting surface  21  further defines a downwardly extending ear clearance cavity  22  together with a further downwardly extending clearance aperture  23 . Head and neck support  12  further includes a flexible mesh material ear coupling  24 . Ear coupling  24  defines a bottom edge  25  which is positioned upon head resting surface  21  of foam body  20  so as to enclose ear clearance cavity  22  and as is indicated by dashed line  27 . Edge  25  may be joined to head resting surface  21  using virtually any conventional fabrication technique such as adhesive attachment or chemical or sonic welding as desired. Ear coupling  24  further includes an ear receiving aperture  26  which is sufficient in size to allow a typical users ear to be passed there through. In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, ear-receiving aperture  26  is elastically constricted by an elastic material which draws ear-receiving aperture  26  to a semi-closed configuration. In this manner, an ear passed through aperture  26  is gripped loosely within the interior of ear coupling  24  and maintained by the constrictor of aperture  26 . This maintains the position of head and neck support against the user&#39;s face and avoids resting the user&#39;s facial skin against foam body  20  in the portions thereof surrounding the user&#39;s eye. The constricting character of aperture  26  maintains the user&#39;s ear in a loose attachment to ear coupling  24  and thus maintains the appropriate head positioning for the user. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  sets forth a top view of foam body  20  utilized in head and neck support  12 . Foam body  20  defines a head resting surface  21  and an ear clearance cavity  22 . Within cavity  22 , a clearance aperture  23  extends downwardly through the remainder of foam body  20 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  sets forth a section view of foam body  20  taken along section lines  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . As described above, foam body  20  defines a head rest surface  21  together with a clearance cavity  22  and a clearance aperture  23 . Foam body  20  further defines a surface  28  which, in the anticipated use of the present invention, is rested upon an underlying pillow segment in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  sets forth a side elevation view of head and neck support  12 . As described above, head and neck support  12  includes a generally rectangular foam body  20  defining a head rest surface  21  and a pillow rest surface  28 . As is also described above, a flexible mesh material ear coupling  24  extends upwardly from surface  21  and terminates an elastically constricted aperture  26 . In accordance with the preferred fabrication of the present invention, the generally rectangular shape of foam body  20  is altered slightly by a front to back taper of surface  28 . Thus, surface  28  is angled slightly with respect to surface  21  producing a dimensional difference  29  at the rear portion of foam body  20 . This front-to-back taper aids in maintaining the correct position of head and neck support  12 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  sets forth a top view of an alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid generally referenced by numeral  50 . Earpiece  50  is formed of a resilient soft material such as foam plastic or foam rubber. As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , earpiece  50  defines a generally round shaped body  51  which, in turn, defines an aperture  52 . Aperture  52  also defines an edge  53  along its frontal end. In accordance with the present invention, earpiece  50  is show in position upon a typical ear  55 . In operation, the user places earpiece  50  upon ear  55  as shown to couple the earpiece to the user&#39;s hear (not shown).During sleep, earpiece  50  bears a portion of the user&#39;s weight and avoids wrinkling of the user&#39;s facial skin. 
         [0042]      FIG. 9  sets forth a top view of a further alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid generally referenced by numeral  60 . Earpiece  60  is similar to earpiece  50 , described above in that it includes a soft resilient body  61  defining an aperture  62  and an edge  63 . Earpiece  60  operates in the same manner as earpiece  50 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  sets forth a top view of a still further alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid generally referenced by numeral  70 . Earpiece  70  is similar to earpiece  50 , described above in that it includes a soft resilient body  71  defining an aperture  72  and an edge  73 . Earpiece  70  operates in the same manner as earpiece  50 . 
         [0044]    Earpieces  50 ,  60  and  70  are shown to provide alternative earpiece shapes, all functioning in the same manner. Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that earpieces having further alternate shapes may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be further apparent that a plurality of soft flexible ties (not shown) may be added to the above earpieces to tie them to the user&#39;s head as desired. 
         [0045]      FIG. 11  sets forth a perspective view of a still further alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid generally referenced by numeral  80 . Earpiece  80  is preferably formed of a soft resilient material, such as molded foam rubber or molded foam plastic. Earpiece  80  includes an elongated, generally planar frontal pad  81  joined to a curved bridge  82 , Bridge  82  curves downwardly to an end  84 . Bridge  82  also fines an edge  85  and an edge  86  together with a concave curved surface  87 . Frontal pad  81  further defines a flexible tie  88  extending from end  83  to end  84 . A clasp, such as a hook and loop fabric attachment pad  89  allows tie  88  to be separatable. In operation, the user places earpiece  80  upon the user&#39;s ear  55  as shown below in  FIG. 13 . To couple the earpiece to the user&#39;s hear (not shown), clasp  89  is released and earpiece  80  is placed upon user&#39;s ear  55  (shown in  FIG. 13 ). Thereafter, tie  88  is drawn and clasp  89  secures earpiece  80  in place. A malleable reinforcing wire  95  is molded into earpiece  80  to aid in forming the earpiece to the user&#39;s ear and head for greater comfort. During sleep, earpiece  80  bears a portion of the user&#39;s weight and avoids wrinkling of the user&#39;s facial skin. 
         [0046]      FIG. 12A  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 A- 12 A therein. 
         [0047]      FIG. 12B  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 B- 12 B therein. 
         [0048]      FIG. 12C  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 C- 12 C therein. 
         [0049]      FIG. 12D  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 D- 12 D therein. 
         [0050]      FIG. 12E  sets forth a section view of the alternate embodiment earpiece of the present invention head support sleep aid set forth in  FIG. 11  taken along section line  12 E- 12 E therein; 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  sets forth a top view of earpiece  80  fitted to a user&#39;s ear  55 . As described above, earpiece  80  is preferably formed of a soft resilient material, such as molded foam rubber or molded foam plastic. Earpiece  80  includes an elongated, generally planar frontal pad  81  joined to a curved bridge  82 , Bridge  82  curves downwardly to an end  84 . Bridge  82  also fines an edge  85  and an edge  86  together with a concave curved surface  87 . Frontal pad  81  further defines a flexible tie  88  extending from end  83  to end  84 . A clasp, such as a hook and loop fabric attachment pad  89  allows tie  88  to be separatable. In operation, the user places earpiece  80  upon the user&#39;s ear  55 . To couple the earpiece to the user&#39;s head (not shown), clasp  89  (seen in  FIG. 11 ) is released and earpiece  80  is placed upon user&#39;s ear  55  as is shown in  FIG. 13 . Thereafter, tie  88  is drawn and clasp  89  secures earpiece  80  in place. During sleep, earpiece  80  bears a portion of the user&#39;s weight and avoids wrinkling of the user&#39;s facial skin. In phantom like depiction, the adjustable position of end  84  to be either closer to end  83  or farther from end  83  is also shown in the figure. 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  sets forth a side view of earpiece  80 . As described above, earpiece  80  is preferably formed of a soft resilient material, such as molded foam rubber or molded foam plastic. Earpiece  80  includes an elongated, generally planar frontal pad  81  joined to a curved bridge  82 , Bridge  82  curves downwardly to an end  84 . Bridge  82  also fines an edge  86  together with a concave curved surface  87 . Frontal pad  81  further defines a flexible tie  88  extending from end  83  to end  84 . A clasp, such as a hook and loop fabric attachment pad  89  allows tie  88  to be separatable. earpiece  80  also defines a bottom surface  90  which is tapered to define a reduced thickness away from frontal pad  81 . Thus a small taper angle  91  is formed to aid in positioning the user&#39;s head during sleep. 
         [0053]    What has been shown is a head support sleep aid which provides a plurality of interlocking pillow segments together with a head and neck support which couples to the user&#39;s ear. The resulting head support sleep aid avoids applying wrinkles and stress to the facial skin area of the user in an about the user&#39;s eye. 
         [0054]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: a