Headrest assembly with improved flexibility for a massage device

• US 20060290193A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Earthlite, LLC
• Original Assignee: Earthlite Massage Tables, Inc.
• Inventors: Chow, William W., Roleder, Jon W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/397
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/026 Supports for lying in a prone position A47C20/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/10 Pillows pillow holders A47C21/00, A47C21/026; specially adapted for preventing snoring A61F5/56
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/1054 for lying face downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/009 Physiotherapeutic tables, beds or platforms; Chiropractic or osteopathic tables with incorporated massage means A61H2201/0138
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/12 Rests specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of patient-supporting surfaces rests for the surgeon A61B90/60; restraining devices A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/121 Head or neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/325 prone
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/072 for the head only
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/022 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 37/00 Accessories for massage

Abstract

A headrest assembly (212) for supporting a face of a user (16) of a massage device (10) includes a support frame (226) that is coupled to the massage device (10), and a resilient assembly (220) that supports the face of the user (15) and that is coupled to the support frame (226). The resilient assembly (220) includes an interior resilient region (472) and an outer covering (474) that surrounds and protects the interior resilient region (472). The interior resilient region (472) includes a first layer (472A) and a second layer (472B), with the first layer (472A) being stacked on top of the second layer (472B). The first layer (472A) can have a first stiffness that is different than a second stiffness of the second layer (472B). Further, the first layer (472A) can have a first thickness (472C) that is different than a second thickness (472D) of the second layer (472B). Additionally, the second layer (472B) can include a plurality of cut-outs (472BC) that decrease the lateral stiffness of the second layer (472B).

Claims

1. A headrest assembly for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the headrest assembly comprising:

a support frame that is coupled to the massage device; and

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user and that is coupled to the support frame, the resilient assembly having an interior resilient region and an outer covering that surrounds and protects the interior resilient region, the interior resilient region including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being stacked on top of the second layer, the first layer having a first stiffness that is different than a second stiffness of the second layer.

2. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the first stiffness is less than the second stiffness.

3. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the first stiffness is at least approximately 50 percent less than the second stiffness.

4. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein each of layers is made of foam.

5. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the first layer has a first thickness that is different than a second thickness of the second layer.

6. The headrest assembly of claim 5 wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

7. The headrest assembly of claim 6 wherein the first thickness is at least approximately two times greater than the second thickness.

8. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the second layer includes a plurality of spaced apart cut-outs that reduce the lateral stiffness of the second layer.

9. A massage device comprising a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 1 coupled to the massage base.

10. A headrest assembly for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the headrest assembly comprising:

a support frame that is coupled to the massage device; and

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user and that is coupled to the support frame, the resilient assembly having an interior resilient region and an outer covering that surrounds and protects the interior resilient region, the interior resilient region including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being stacked on top of the second layer, the first layer having a first thickness that is different than a second thickness of the second layer.

11. The headrest assembly of claim 10 wherein the first layer has a first stiffness is less than a second stiffness of the second layer.

12. The headrest assembly of claim 10 wherein each of layers is made of foam.

13. The headrest assembly of claim 10 wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

14. The headrest assembly of claim 13 wherein the first thickness is at least approximately two times greater than the second thickness.

15. The headrest assembly of claim 10 wherein the second layer includes a plurality of spaced apart cut-outs that reduce the lateral stiffness of the second layer.

16. A massage device comprising a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 10 coupled to the massage base.

17. A headrest assembly for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the headrest assembly comprising:

a support frame that is coupled to the massage device; and

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user and that is coupled to the support frame, the resilient assembly having an interior resilient region and an outer covering that surrounds and protects the interior resilient region, the interior resilient region including a foam layer having a plurality of spaced apart cut-outs that reduce the lateral stiffness of the foam layer.

18. The headrest assembly of claim 17 wherein the interior resilient region includes a stacked layer that is stacked on top of the foam layer, the stacked layer having a stacked layer stiffness is less than a foam layer stiffness of the foam layer.

19. The headrest assembly of claim 17 wherein the interior resilient region includes a stacked layer that is stacked on top of the foam layer, the stacked layer having a stacked layer thickness that is greater than a foam layer thickness of the foam layer.

20. A headrest assembly for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the headrest assembly comprising:

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user; and

a support frame that is coupled to the massage device, the support frame supporting the resilient assembly, wherein a width of the support frame can be selectively adjusted to suit a width of a face of the user.