Flexible headrest assembly with non-skid contact for a massage device

• US 20060290194A1
• 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 7,636,968 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) and a resilient assembly (220). The support frame (226) is coupled to the massage device (10). The resilient assembly (220) supports the face of the user (16). The resilient assembly including a resilient subassembly (258) having an interior resilient region (472) and an outer covering (474) that surrounds and protects the interior resilient region (472). The outer covering (474) can include a bottom section (474C) that is made of a stretchable material. The bottom section (474C) can couple the resilient subassembly (258) to the rest of the headrest assembly (12) in a nonskid fashion.

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;

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user, the resilient assembly including a resilient subassembly having an interior resilient region and an outer covering that surrounds and protects the interior resilient region, the outer covering including a bottom section that is made of a stretchable material.

2. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the stretchable material is rib knit fabric.

3. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the stretchable material is stretchable along two axes.

4. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer covering includes a top section and a side section that are made of a material that is different than the stretchable material.

5. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the material for the top section and the side section is not very stretchable.

6. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the bottom section couples the resilient subassembly to the rest of the headrest assembly in a nonskid fashion.

7. The headrest assembly of claim 1 further comprising a resilient subassembly that couples the resilient assembly to the support frame, the resilient subassembly including an engagement surface that engages the bottom section in a nonskid fashion.

8. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement surface is sufficiently textured to engage the bottom section in a nonskid fashion.

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;

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user, the resilient assembly including a resilient subassembly having an interior resilient region and an outer covering that surrounds and protects the interior resilient region, the outer covering including a bottom section that couples the resilient subassembly to the rest of the headrest assembly in a nonskid fashion.

11. The headrest assembly of claim 10 wherein the bottom section is made of a stretchable material.

12. The headrest assembly of claim 11 wherein the stretchable material is rib knit fabric.

13. The headrest assembly of claim 11 wherein the outer covering includes a top section and a side section that are made of a material that is different than the stretchable material.

14. The headrest assembly of claim 11 further comprising a resilient subassembly that couples the resilient assembly to the support frame, the resilient subassembly including an engagement surface that engages the bottom section in a nonskid fashion.

15. The headrest assembly of claim 14 wherein the engagement surface is sufficiently textured to engage the bottom section in a nonskid fashion.

16. A massage device comprising a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 11 coupled to the massage base.

17. A method for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling a support frame to the massage device;

supporting the face of the user with a resilient assembly, the resilient assembly including a resilient subassembly having an interior resilient region and an outer covering that surrounds and protects the interior resilient region, the outer covering including a bottom section that is made of a stretchable material.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the stretchable material is rib knit fabric.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of coupling the bottom section to the rest of the headrest assembly in a nonskid fashion.