Headrest assembly for a massage device

• US 7,640,609 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos; Robert G
• Application Number:
  US11/452,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 562/2, 562/1, 563/2, 5636-638, 564/0, 5643-645, 572/5
• US Class Current: 5/622
• 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 (11). The resilient assembly (220) includes a first resilient subassembly (256) that is coupled to the support frame (226), and a second resilient subassembly (258) that engages the first resilient subassembly (256). The first resilient subassembly (256) and the second resilient subassembly (258) cooperate and act in parallel to support the face of the user (16). The first resilient subassembly (256) can include a plurality of spaced apart resilient members (360).

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, the support frame defining a frame opening; and

a resilient assembly including a first resilient subassembly that is coupled to the support frame, and a second resilient subassembly that is stacked on top of the first resilient subassembly and that engages the first resilient subassembly, the first resilient subassembly and the second resilient subassembly cooperating to support the face of the user, the first resilient subassembly having a generally horse shoe shape with a first side face region, a second side face region and an upper face region, wherein the upper face region includes a resilient member having a resilient first beam that cantilevers inward from the support frame into the frame opening.

2. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the first resilient subassembly and the second resilient subassembly cooperate to define a face opening for receiving a portion of the face of the user.

3. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the first resilient subassembly engages a resilient member.

4. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the resilient first beam includes a first end that cantilevers away from the support frame, and wherein the resilient member includes a resilient second beam that is attached to the first end of the first beam and cantilevers away from the first beam.

5. The headrest assembly of claim 4 wherein the second beam is curved and cantilevers away from the first beam back towards the support frame.

6. The headrest assembly of claim 5 further comprising a resilient first cover that covers a portion of the first beam and the second beam.

7. The headrest assembly of claim 6 further comprising a resilient second cover that covers a portion of the first cover, the second cover being softer than the first cover.

8. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the resilient member engages the support frame to inhibit over travel of the first beam.

9. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the first resilient subassembly includes a plurality of spaced apart resilient members arranged in the generally horse shoe shape that extend away from the support frame and the second resilient subassembly engages the resilient members.

10. The headrest assembly of claim 9 wherein the second resilient subassembly includes a resilient foam.

11. A massage device for providing a massage, the massage device comprising a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 1 coupled to the massage base.

12. 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, the support frame defining a frame opening;

a first resilient subassembly including at least three resilient members that are coupled to and cantilever inward from the support frame into the frame opening to provide support to the face of the user; and

a second resilient subassembly that is stacked on top of the first resilient subassembly and that engages the resilient members.

13. The headrest assembly of claim 12 wherein the resilient subassemblies cooperate to define a face opening for receiving a portion of the face of the user.

14. The headrest assembly of claim 13 wherein the second resilient subassembly includes a resilient foam.

15. The headrest assembly of claim 12 wherein each of the resilient members includes a resilient first beam that cantilevers away from the support frame.

16. The headrest assembly of claim 15 wherein for each of the resilient members, the resilient first beam includes a first end that cantilevers away from the support frame, and wherein each of the resilient members includes a resilient second beam that is attached to the first end of the first beam and cantilevers away from the first beam.

17. The headrest assembly of claim 16 wherein for each of the resilient members, the second beam is curved and cantilevers away from the first beam back towards the support frame.

18. The headrest assembly of claim 16 wherein each of the resilient members includes a resilient first cover that covers a portion of the first beam and the second beam.

19. The headrest assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the resilient members includes a resilient second cover that covers a portion of the first cover, the second cover being softer than the first cover.

20. The headrest assembly of claim 12 wherein at least one of the resilient members can engage the support frame to inhibit over travel of the at least one resilient members.

21. A massage device for providing a massage, the massage device comprising a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 12 coupled to the massage base.

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

coupling a support frame to the massage device, the support frame defining a frame opening;

coupling a first resilient subassembly to the support frame, the first resilient subassembly having a generally horse shoe shape with a first side face region, a second side face region and an upper face region, wherein the upper face region includes a resilient member having a resilient first beam that cantilevers inward from the support frame into the frame opening; and

coupling a second resilient subassembly to the first resilient subassembly, the second resilient subassembly being stacked on top of the first resilient subassembly and cooperating with the first resilient subassembly to support the face of the user.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of coupling the first resilient subassembly includes the step of securing a plurality of spaced apart resilient members to the support frame.

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

coupling a support frame to the massage device, the support frame defining a frame opening;

coupling at least three resilient members to the support frame with the resilient members cantilevering inward from the support frame into the frame opening to provide support to the face of the user; and

coupling a resilient subassembly to the resilient members, the resilient subassembly being stacked on top of the resilient members.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the resilient subassembly cooperates with the resilient members to define a face opening for receiving a portion of the face of the user.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of coupling a plurality of resilient members includes coupling a plurality of spaced apart resilient beams to the support frame.

27. 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 including a first resilient subassembly that is coupled to the support frame, and a second resilient subassembly that engages and that is supported by the first resilient subassembly, the first resilient subassembly and the second resilient subassembly cooperating to support the face of the user of the massage device, the first resilient subassembly having a generally horse shoe shape with a first side face region, a second side face region and an upper face region, wherein a portion of the first side face region bends downward and a portion of the first side face region pivots relative to the second side face region when the resilient subassemblies are supporting the face so that the resilient assembly cradles and conforms to the face, wherein the first resilient subassembly includes a resilient member having a resilient first beam with a first end that cantilevers away from the support frame and a resilient second beam that is attached to the first end of the first beam and cantilevers away from the first beam.

28. The headrest assembly of claim 27 wherein a portion of the second side face region bends downward and a portion of the second side face region pivots relative to the first side face region when the resilient subassemblies are supporting the face so that the resilient assembly cradles and conforms to the face.

29. The headrest assembly of claim 27 wherein a portion of the upper face region bends downward when the resilient subassemblies are supporting the face so that the resilient assembly cradles and conforms to the face.

30. The headrest assembly of claim 27 wherein the second resilient subassembly is stacked on top of the first resilient subassembly.

31. The headrest assembly of claim 27 wherein the second resilient subassembly engages the resilient member.

32. The headrest assembly of claim 27 wherein the first resilient subassembly includes a plurality of spaced apart resilient members that extend away from the support frame and the second resilient subassembly engages the resilient members.

33. A massage device for providing a massage, the massage device comprising a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 27 coupled to the massage base.

34. 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 including a first resilient subassembly that is coupled to the support frame, and a second resilient subassembly that is stacked on top of the first resilient subassembly and that engages the first resilient subassembly, the first resilient subassembly and the second resilient subassembly cooperating to support the face of the user, wherein the first resilient subassembly includes a resilient member having a resilient first beam with a first end that cantilevers away from the support frame and a resilient second beam that is attached to the first end of the first beam and cantilevers away from the first beam.

35. The headrest assembly of claim 34 wherein the second beam is curved and cantilevers away from the first beam back towards the support frame.

36. The headrest assembly of claim 35 further comprising a resilient first cover that covers a portion of the first beam and the second beam.

37. The headrest assembly of claim 36 further comprising a resilient second cover that covers a portion of the first cover, the second cover being softer than the first cover.

38. A massage device for providing a massage, the massage device comprising a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 34 coupled to the massage base.

39. A headrest assembly for supporting a face of a user of a massage table or massage chair, the headrest assembly comprising:

a support frame that is coupled to the massage table or massage chair, the support frame defining a frame opening; and

a resilient assembly including a first resilient subassembly that is coupled to the support frame, the first resilient subassembly having a generally horse shoe shape and including a resilient member that cantilevers inward from the support frame into the frame opening to provide support to the face of the user.

40. The headrest assembly of claim 39 wherein the resilient member has a resilient first beam that cantilevers inward from the support frame into the frame opening.

41. The headrest assembly of claim 40 wherein the resilient first beam includes a first end that cantilevers inward from the support frame into the frame opening, and wherein the resilient member includes a resilient second beam that is attached to the first end of the first beam and cantilevers away from the first beam back towards the support frame.

42. The headrest assembly of claim 41 further comprising a resilient first cover that covers a portion of the first beam and the second beam.

43. The headrest assembly of claim 39 wherein the resilient assembly further includes a second resilient subassembly that is stacked on top of the first resilient subassembly and that engages the first resilient subassembly, the first resilient subassembly and the second resilient subassembly cooperating to support the face of the user.

44. The headrest assembly of claim 43 wherein the second resilient subassembly includes a resilient foam.