ROTATABLE CERVICAL PILLOW FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND OTHER VEHICLES

• US 20130119716A1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles J Stronconi
• Original Assignee: Charles J Stronconi
• Inventors: Stronconi, Charles J
• Granted Patent: US 8,708,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/02 of detachable or loose type A47C20/04, A47C20/08 take precedence ; for chairs A47C7/00; pillows A47G9/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/383 Detachable or loose head- or neck-supports, e.g. horse-shoe shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/806 movable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/882 detachable

Abstract

A rotatable circular crossection cervical pillow is manually rotated in a continuous fashion as desired by a person whenever a fresh clean contact spot is sought, or a contact spot of variable support is sought, while the pillow is still attached to a seat back. The rotatable pillow is a cylinder of medium and/or firm high density polyurethane foam. An axial through-hole in the center permits the snug insertion of a rigid length of tubing to give the pillow axial rigidity. Swivel fixtures are attached at each end of the pillow by virtue of the central tube. A fabric cover with an opening closure covers the entire polyurethane cylinder snugly. Optionally the cover may carry therapeutic imparting elements therein. Straps with adjustable buckles are attached to each swivel fixture. Therefore, the cervical pillow rotates easily while still strap-attached to the seat back.

Claims

1. A therapeutic rotatable collar pillow comprising:

a horizontally deployed cylindrical cushion assembly;

said cushion assembly comprising a cylindrical cushion freely rotatable on a horizontal member along an axis of rotation of said cushion;

said cylindrical cushion having a central axis and an outer surface extending between respective circumferential edges of respective opposite circular end edge surface portions, said outer surface being radially spaced apart from said central axis at a constant distance with equal radial lengths extending from said central axis;

whereby said cushion has 360 degrees of rotation, said swivel assemblies having mechanisms to allow said rotation; and

,

means for mounting said cushion assembly on a seat back of a seat with said cushion positioned to contact and support a body region of a user in said seat, whereby said cushion rotates to rotate away a previously used segmented cushion surface portion of the cushion contacting the body region of the user away, so that a cooler, cleaner, dryer or segmented cushion surface portion of variable firmness of said cylindrical cushion, rotates about said horizontal member, to support the body region of the user on said cooler, cleaner and dryer cushion surface portion of said cylindrical cushion.

2. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 1 in which said mounting means comprises a cylindrical cushion enclosed in a fabric cover to permit replacement and/or cleaning of said cover.

3. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 2 in which said cylindrical cushion is mounted on a rigid, removable hollow tube, within said central axis of said cylindrical cushion,

a respective swivel assembly being attached to each respective end of said cushion, thereby holding said rigid hollow removable hollow tube therein;

and,

a strap assembly attached to said swivel assemblies for removably attaching said pillow to said seat back.

4. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 3 in which said swivel assembly is attached at each end of said hollow tube by press fitting into each end of said hollow tube.

5. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 4 in which said swivel assembly is attached at each end of said hollow tube by press fitting into a bushing located at each end of said hollow tube.

6. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 3 in which said swivel assembly is attached at each end of said hollow tube by threaded engagement into each end of said hollow tube.

7. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 6 in which said swivel assembly is attached at each end of said hollow tube by threaded engagement into a threaded bushing located at each end of said hollow tube.

8. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 1 in which said means for mounting said rotatable cushion is by a strap having a fastener at each end engageable with each said swivel assembly located at each end of said rotatable collar pillow, said strap engageable over a back rest of a seat, wherein said rotatable collar pillow rests in a cervical neck region of a person sitting in the seat.

9. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 3 in which said cylindrical cushion is enclosed in a removable fabric cover to permit replacement and/or cleaning of said cover.

10. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 3 in which said cover is a wrap around piece of fabric with engaging opposite ends provided with hook and loop fasteners to permit ready removal and replacement thereof.

11. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 10 in which said cover has an axially extending slit with at least one fastener extending along said axially extending slit for removal of said cylindrical cushion for cleaning of said cover.

12. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 11 in which said cover has partial slits in each end of said cover.

13. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 11 in which said cover has no partial slits in each end of said cover.

14. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 3 as in claim 3 further comprising an external massaging member attachable by a further strap having a fastener at each end engageable with each said swivel assembly located at each end of said rotatable collar pillow.

15. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 3 further comprising said pillow having at least one region portion accommodating at least one therapeutic imparting element selected from the group consisting of at least one elastomeric massage member, at least one electronic stimulator pad, a heat pack or a cold pack therein.

16. The therapeutic rotatable collar pillow of claim 3 wherein said cushion is made of a plurality of sections, with one of said sections being a firmer foam than said other section.

17. The combination of a cervical collar pillow and a seat back of a seat in heavy motorized equipment and other vehicles, comprising:

a seat with a seat back in a heavy motorized equipment or other vehicle subject to vigorous motion;

a horizontally deployed cylindrical cushion assembly removably mounted on said seat back adapted to be adjacent and in contact with the neck of a user in said seat;

said cushion assembly comprising a cylindrical cushion freely rotatable on a horizontal member along an axis of rotation of said cushion

whereby said cushion has 360 degrees of rotation, said swivel assemblies having mechanisms to allow said rotation.;

said cylindrical cushion being mounted on a rigid, removable hollow tube,

a respective swivel assembly attached to each respective end of said elastic cord, and,

a strap assembly attached to said respective swivel assemblies for removably attaching said pillow to said seat back, whereby said cushion rotates to rotate away a previously used segmented cushion surface portion of the cushion contacting the neck of the user away, so that a cooler, cleaner, dryer or segmented cushion surface portion of variable firmness, of said cylindrical cushion rotates about said horizontal member to support the neck of the user on said cooler, cleaner and dryer cushion surface portion of said cylindrical cushion.

18. The combination of claim 17 in which said cylindrical cushion is enclosed in a removable fabric cover to permit replacement and/or cleaning of said cover.

19. The combination of claim 18 in which said cover is a wrap around piece of fabric with engaging opposite ends provided with hook and loop fasteners to permit ready removal and replacement thereof.

20. A method of providing cervical support for a user sitting in a motorized vehicle comprising the steps of:

forming a cylindrical cushion assembly, said cushion assembly comprising a cylindrical cushion freely rotatable on a horizontal axis of rotation, said cylindrical cushion being mounted on a rigid, tube, and a pair of swivel assemblies, each respectively attached to each respective end of said rigid tube, said swivel assemblies abutting opposite ends of said rigid tube, whereby said cushion has 360°

of rotation allowed by said swivel assemblies;

attaching a proximate end of a strap to each opposite end of said swivel assemblies, each distal end of each strap having engageable/releasable latches;

placing said cushion assembly on a seat back of said vehicle with said cylindrical cushion deployed horizontally and in contact with the neck of the user so that said cylindrical cushion will roll behind the neck of the user; and

engaging with each other respective latches on the distal ends of said straps to secure said assembly in place on said seat back while said user is operating said vehicle.

said cylindrical cushion being enclosed in a removable fabric cover to permit replacement and/or cleaning of said cover, said cover being a wrap around piece of fabric with engaging opposite ends provided with hook and loop fasteners to permit ready removal and replacement thereof.