Headrest

• US 4,440,443 A
• Filed: 04/10/1981
• Issued: 04/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Nordskog
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Nordskog
• Inventors: Nordskog, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US06/252,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 297/397, 297/396, 297/391, 297/220, 297/284, 297/188, 297/191, 5/464
• US Class Current: 297/397
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/38 for the head adjustable coupled to reclining or easy chairs A47C1/036
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/386 Detachable covers for headrests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/882 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00154 Loudspeakers mounted in the seat back
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0606 with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like class dividers B64D11/0023
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0642 Adjustable headrests
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

The improved resilient flexible headrest of the present invention is inflated with air or fluid, or is filled with foamed plastic material, preferably of various resiliencies. The headrest can be formed of plastic, cloth or the like, and has a cavity within which the upper end of the backrest of a chair, couch or the like is receivable. The headrest includes means for securing the headrest in place to the backrest, preferably releasably. The body of the headrest may be structurally reinforced with stiffining elements and preferably has forwardly extending privacy wings which may be hinged and which include sound system speakers or the like. Alternately, the wings may be bridged by a privacy roof. The roof may have an eye shield such as a cloth or the like attached thereto and lowerable from the front thereof. A pocket with a transparent outer facing may be disposed on the outer surface of the body of the headrest to releasably receive a ticket, advertising indicia or the like. In one embodiment, the headrest may be U-shaped in plan view and include one or more straps and cinch means to releasably hold the headrest in place around the top of a backrest. The wing can be contoured to provide a lower, inwardly extending portion to better support the head and/or retain a pillow in place.

Claims

1. A headrest adapted to be secured to the upper portion of an airplane seat backrest, comprising:

(a) a resilient body filled with an air-filled, flexible, foam material;

(b) said body, including a cavity therein disposed at the bottom and back thereof and adapted to be slipped over the top of a seat backrest;

(c) said body being so designed as to extend a minimal distance above said seat backrest when in its operative position;

(d) a pair of privacy wings secured to said body at the respective sides thereof;

(e) said privacy wings extending forwardly from and substantially perpendicular to said body to form a resting area for a person'"'"'s head;

(f) said wings extending forwardly a sufficient distance to block off the side views of a person resting his head therebetween;

(g) said body having its central portion made of a relatively soft, resilient material and its end portions being made of a relatively rigid, resilient material;

(h) said wings being made of a relatively rigid, resilient material;

(i) a pair of speakers located in each of said wings and directed inwards to said resting area; and

(j) wherein said wings are pivotally secured to said body at the opposed ends thereof.

2. The headrest of claim 1, wherein said body has a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing ribs therein, and wherein said body is contoured to comfortably receive a person'"'"'s head thereon.

3. The headrest of claim 2 wherein the wings are secured to said body by a plurality of hinge members, one of which is embedded within each side of said body and the other of which is embedded within each wing, said hinge members allowing rotation of said wings outwardly from said body when the headrest is in an operative position, yet allowing movement of said wings towards one another, against said body, to an inoperative, stored position.

4. The headrest of claim 3 and further including a pocket in said body adapted to receive and retain advertising matter.

5. The headrest of claim 4 wherein said wings and body both have horizontally extending reinforcing ribs, and wherein said body and wings are contoured by having a relatively thin top portion and relatively thick bottom portion, thereby forming a cavity to hold and retain a person'"'"'s head or pillow therein.