Headrest assembly for a massage device with timed support arms and arm connector near the forehead

• US 7,979,934 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• 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): Cuomo; Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLEHER, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/452,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 562/2, 563/7, 563/6, 563/8, 572/5, 297/406, 297/397, 297/405
• 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 resilient assembly (220) and a support arm assembly (222). The resilient assembly (220) supports the face (13) of the user. The support arm assembly (222) couples the resilient assembly (220) to the massage device (10). The support arm assembly (222) can include a first support arm (228) that selectively engages a headrest receiver assembly (15) of the massage device (10), a spaced apart second support arm (230) that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly (15), and an arm connector (232) that couples the support arms (228) (230) together. The arm connector (232) can inhibit relative pivoting of the support arms (228) (230) when the support arms (228) (230) are not engaging the headrest receiver assembly (15).

Claims

1. A headrest assembly for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the massage device including a headrest receiver assembly, the headrest assembly comprising:

a support frame;

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user, the resilient assembly being coupled to the support frame; and

a support arm assembly that couples the support frame to the massage device, the support arm assembly including a first support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, a spaced apart second support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, and an arm connector that couples the support arms together, the arm connector including a connector shaft having an axis along its length, the arm connector including a latch that is attached to the connector shaft, the latch being selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein relative rotation between the support arms and the connector shaft about the axis is inhibited when the support arms are not engaging the headrest receiver assembly regardless of whether the latch is in the locked position or the unlocked position;

wherein in the locked position, the support arms and the connector shaft are inhibited from pivoting relative to the support frame; and

wherein in the unlocked position, the support arms and the connector shaft are free to pivot concurrently relative to the support frame.

2. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the resilient assembly includes a upper face region that engages an upper portion of the face of the user and a lower face region that engages a lower portion of the face of the user, and wherein the connector shaft and the latch are positioned away from the lower face region.

3. The headrest assembly of claim 2 wherein the connector shaft and the latch are positioned closer to the upper face region than the lower face region.

4. The headrest assembly of claim 2 wherein the connector shaft and the latch are positioned near the upper face region.

5. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the support arms includes an arm aperture and wherein the connector shaft extends through the arm aperture of each support arm.

6. The headrest assembly of claim 5 wherein the arm apertures and the connector shaft are sized and shaped so that the connector shaft engages the support arms at the arm apertures to inhibit the support arms from rotating relative to the connector shaft about the axis.

7. The headrest assembly of claim 1 further comprising an adjuster assembly that couples the support frame to the support arm assembly, wherein at least a portion of the adjuster assembly is free to pivot about the axis when the latch is in the unlocked position and wherein the adjuster assembly is inhibited from pivoting about the axis when the latch is in the locked position.

8. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the support arms includes a first arm section and a second arm section that can be selectively moved between an assembled position in which the arm sections are attached together to form a rigid structure, and a downsized position in which the arm sections can be moved relative to each other.

9. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the support arms includes (i) a first arm section, (ii) a second arm section that can be selectively moved between an assembled position in which the arm sections are attached together to form a rigid structure, and a downsized position in which the arm sections can be moved relative to each other, and (iii) a section connector that couples the arm sections together and allows to arm sections to be moved between the assembled position and the downsized position.

10. The headrest assembly of claim 9 wherein the section connector is a flexible member that is attached to each of the arm sections.

11. A massage device including a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 1 coupled to the massage base.

20. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the support frame supports the resilient assembly, wherein the height and tilt of the support frame can be adjusted relative to the support arms when the connector latch is in the unlocked position, and wherein movement of the support frame relative to the support arms is inhibited when the connector latch is in the locked position.

12. A headrest assembly for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the massage device including a headrest receiver assembly, the headrest assembly comprising:

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user, the resilient assembly includes a upper face region that engages an upper portion of the face of the user and a lower face region that engages a lower portion of the face of the user; and

a support arm assembly that couples the resilient assembly to the massage device with the lower face region closer to the massage device than the upper face region, the support arm assembly including a first support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, a spaced apart second support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, and an arm connector that extends between the first support arm and the second support arm and that couples the support arms together, the arm connector including a connector shaft that extends between the support arms and a latch that is selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

wherein the connector shaft and latch are positioned closer to the upper face region than the lower face region of the resilient assembly when the support arms are engaging the headrest receiver assembly.

13. The headrest assembly of claim 12 wherein the connector shaft and latch are positioned near the upper face region of the resilient assembly.

14. The headrest assembly of claim 12 wherein each of the support arms includes an arm aperture and the connector shaft extends through the arm aperture of each support arm, wherein the connector shaft has an axis along its length, and wherein the arm apertures and the connector shaft are sized and shaped so that the support arms are inhibited from rotating relative to the connector shaft about the axis.

15. The headrest assembly of claim 12 wherein at least one of the support arms includes a first arm section and a second arm section that can be selectively moved between an assembled position in which the arm sections are attached together to form a rigid structure, and a downsized position in which the arm sections can be moved relative to each other.

16. A massage device including a massage base and the headrest assembly of claim 12 coupled to the massage base.

17. A method for supporting a face of a user of a massage device that includes a headrest receiver assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a support frame;

supporting the face of the user with a resilient assembly, the resilient assembly being coupled to the support frame; and

coupling the support frame to the massage device with a support arm assembly, the support arm assembly including a first support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, a spaced apart second support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, and an arm connector that couples the support arms together, the arm connector including a connector shaft having an axis along its length, the arm connector including a latch that is attached to the connector shaft, the latch being selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein relative rotation between the support arms and the connector shaft about the axis is inhibited when the support arms are not engaging the headrest receiver assembly regardless of whether the latch is in the locked position or the unlocked position;

wherein in the locked position, the support arms and the connector shaft are inhibited from pivoting relative to the support frame; and

wherein in the unlocked position, the support arms and the connector shaft are free to pivot concurrently relative to the support frame.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the resilient assembly includes a upper face region that engages an upper portion of the face of the user and a lower face region that engages a lower portion of the face of the user, and wherein the step of coupling includes the step of positioning the connector shaft and the latch closer to the upper face region than the lower face region of the resilient assembly.

19. A method for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the massage device including a headrest receiver assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

supporting the face of the user with a resilient assembly, the resilient assembly including a upper face region that engages an upper portion of the face of the user and a lower face region that engages a lower portion of the face of the user; and

coupling the resilient assembly to the massage device with a support arm assembly with the lower face region closer to the massage device than the upper face region, the support arm assembly including a first support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, a spaced apart second support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, and an arm connector that extends between the first support arm and the second support arm and that couples the support arms together, the arm connector including a connector shaft that extends between the support arms and a latch that is selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

wherein the connector shaft and latch are positioned closer to the upper face region than the lower face region of the resilient assembly when the support arms are engaging the headrest receiver assembly.

21. A headrest assembly for supporting a face of a user of a massage device, the massage device including a headrest receiver assembly, the headrest assembly comprising:

a support frame;

a resilient assembly that supports the face of the user, the resilient assembly being coupled to the support frame; and

a support arm assembly that couples the support frame to the massage device, the support arm assembly including (i) a first support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly;

(ii) a spaced apart second support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, wherein each of the support arms includes an arm aperture; and

(iii) an arm connector that couples the support arms together, the arm connector including a connector shaft having an axis along its length, the connector shaft extending through the arm aperture of each support arm, the arm connector including a latch that is attached to the connector shaft, the latch being selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

wherein the arm apertures and the connector shaft are sized and shaped so that the support arms are inhibited from rotating relative to the connector shaft regardless of whether the latch is in the locked position or the unlocked position;

wherein in the locked position, the support arms and the connector shaft are inhibited from pivoting relative to the support frame; and

wherein in the unlocked position, the support arms and the connector shaft are free to pivot concurrently relative to the support frame.

22. The headrest assembly of claim 21 wherein the connector shaft engages the support arms at the arm apertures to inhibit the support arms from rotating relative to the connector shaft about the axis.

23. The headrest assembly of claim 21 wherein relative rotation between the support arms and the connector shaft about the axis is inhibited when the support arms are not engaging the headrest receiver assembly regardless of whether the latch is in the locked position or the unlocked position.

24. The headrest assembly of claim 21 wherein the resilient assembly includes a upper face region that engages an upper portion of the face of the user and a lower face region that engages a lower portion of the face of the user, and wherein the connector shaft and the latch are positioned away from the lower face region.

25. The headrest assembly of claim 24 wherein the connector shaft and the latch are positioned closer to the upper face region than the lower face region.

26. The headrest assembly of claim 24 wherein the connector shaft and the latch are positioned near the upper face region.

27. A method for supporting a face of a user of a massage device that includes a headrest receiver assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a support frame;

supporting the face of the user with a resilient assembly, the resilient assembly being coupled to the support frame; and

coupling the support frame to the massage device with a support arm assembly, the support arm assembly including (i) a first support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly;

(ii) a spaced apart second support arm that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly, wherein each of the support arms includes an arm aperture; and

(iii) an arm connector that couples the support arms together, the arm connector including a connector shaft having an axis along its length, the connector shaft extending through the arm aperture of each support arm, the arm connector including a latch that is attached to the connector shaft, the latch being selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the arm apertures and the connector shaft are sized and shaped so that the support arms are inhibited from rotating relative to the connector shaft regardless of whether the latch is in the locked position or the unlocked position;

wherein in the locked position, the support arms and the connector shaft are inhibited from pivoting relative to the support frame; and

wherein in the unlocked position, the support arms and the connector shaft are free to pivot concurrently relative to the support frame.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of coupling includes the connector shaft engaging the support arms at the arm apertures to inhibit the support arms from rotating relative to the connector shaft about the axis.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of coupling includes relative rotation between the support arms and the connector shaft about the axis being inhibited when the support arms are not engaging the headrest receiver assembly regardless of whether the latch is in the locked position or the unlocked position.