Head control

• US 6,593,910 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert George Hester
• Original Assignee: Robert George Hester
• Inventors: Hester, Robert George
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Application Number:
  US09/570,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345/161, 307/116, 180/65.1, 180/77, 248/694
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/18 by patient's head, eyes, facial muscles or voice
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/14 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot

Abstract

A head control comprises a control plate (13) operable by a user with his head and biasing means (9, 11) for biasing the control plate to a predetermined orientation. A joystick control (19) is operably connected to the control plate (13) such that movement of the control plate by the user is communicated to the joystick control (19).

Claims

1. A head control comprising a support for mounting the head control, a control plate having a plane and being pivotable about a point substantially coincident with the plane of the control plate such that the control plate is operable by a user with his head, a biasing member for biasing the control plate to a predetermined orientation relative to the support, a joystick control mounted relative to the support, and a connecting member offset relative to the pivot point of the control plate and operably connected between the control plate and the joystick control such that movement of the control plate relative to the support by the user is communicated to the joystick control.

2. A head control as claimed in claim 1 and including a cover incorporating a layer of foam material for cushioning the head of the user.

3. A head control as claimed in claim 2, wherein the foam material comprises a substantially continuous layer.

4. A head control as claimed in claim 2, wherein the foam material is provided with a fabric or like external covering.

5. A head control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control plate is pivotable by way of a ball-and-socket type device.

6. A head control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member is fixed to the control plate.

7. A head control as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connecting member is fixed substantially at right angles to the control plate.

8. A head control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member is hinged relative to the control plate.

9. A head control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member communicates movement of the control plate to the joystick control in a manner which permits a certain amount of relative motion between the connecting member and the joystick control.

10. A head control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control plate is mounted intermediate a pair of side plates, the biasing means extending between the control plate and each of the side plates.

11. A head control as claimed in claim 10, wherein the biasing means comprises at least one resilient band.

12. A head control as claimed in claim 1, wherein switch means is provided laterally of the control plate.

13. A head control as claimed in claim 12, wherein the switch means is mounted in a recess in a plate member, the recess being covered by a resilient membrane in such a manner that the switch is normally spaced from the membrane.