Vehicle seat neck protection device

• US 8,033,603 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clifford Bruce Meert
• Original Assignee: Clifford Bruce Meert
• Inventors: Meert, Clifford Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANMER, LAURIE K
• Application Number:
  US11/848,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 297/220, 297/397, 297/399, 297/400, 297/401, 297/402, 297/216.12, 297/391, 297/284.5
• US Class Current: 297/220
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/882 detachable

Abstract

A vehicle seat neck protection device (8) that protects and supports the nape of the neck (4) of a user wherein the device (8) has a body (27) of a predetermined size and shape and a convex surface (6) for positioning the device (8) behind the nape of a neck (4), a rear wall (10) located on the body (27) and at least one securing means (7) located on the rear wall (10) for securing the vehicle neck protection device (8) to at least one post (3) of a vehicle headrest (1). The body (27) may include a cushion area (12) that forms the convex surface (6) and a dense area (11) located between the cushion area (12) and the rear wall (10). In the alternative, an inflatable bladder (17) may form the convex surface (6) wherein a user may selectively adjust the degree of inflation of the bladder (17). The bladder (17) may also be automatically inflated upon strong impact against the vehicle itself. The device (8) may be retroactively fit onto an existing vehicle headrest (1) or may built-into a vehicle headrest (1).

Claims

1. A vehicle neck protection device for protecting and supporting a nape of a neck of a user wherein said vehicle neck protection device is securable to at least one post of a vehicle headrest, said vehicle neck protection device comprising:

a body having a front surface, back surface and a predetermined size and shape;

said body having a convex surface curving outward from top to bottom across the entire front surface of the body for positioning behind the nape of a neck of the user;

a rear wall located on said body;

at least one securing means located on said rear wall for securing said vehicle neck protection device to at least one post of a vehicle headrest;

said at least one securing means having a

a first bracket moveably attached to a second bracket;

at least one aperture located on said rear wall for removable insertion of said at least one securing means; and

said at least one aperture extending from the rear wall towards the front surface a predetermined distance.

2. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a cushion area located within said body wherein said cushion area forms said convex surface.

3. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 2 further comprising:

an area of dense foam located between said cushion area and said rear wall.

4. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 1 wherein said at least one securing means further comprises:

a clamp located on the second bracket.

5. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 1 wherein said at least one securing means further comprises:

a U-shaped member located on the second bracket.

6. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 1 wherein said at least one securing means further comprises:

at least one screw located on the first bracket for securing the first bracket to the at least one aperture by inserting the at least one screw into the at least one aperture.

7. A vehicle neck protection device for protecting and supporting a nape of a neck of a user wherein said vehicle neck protection device is securable to at least one post of a vehicle headrest, said vehicle neck protection device comprising:

a body having a front surface, back surface and a predetermined size and shape;

said body having a convex surface curving outward from top to bottom across the entire front surface of the body for positioning behind the nape of a neck of the user;

a rear wall located on said body;

at least one securing means located on said rear wall for securing said vehicle neck protection device to at least one post of a vehicle headrest;

said at least one securing means having a second bracket and a clamp located on the second bracket that secures the second bracket to the least one post of the vehicle headrest;

said at least one securing means further having a first bracket attached to the rear wall and slideably attached to the second bracket to allow a user to adjust the distance between the rear wall and the at least one post of the vehicle headrest;

at least one aperture located on said rear wall for removable insertion of said at least one securing means; and

said at least one aperture extending from the rear wall towards the front surface a predetermined distance.

8. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 7 further comprising:

a cushion area located within said body wherein said cushion area forms said convex surface.

9. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 8 further comprising:

an area of dense foam located between said cushion area and said rear wall.

10. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 7 wherein said at least one securing means further comprises:

a clamp located on the second bracket.

11. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 7 wherein said at least one securing means further comprises:

a U-shaped member located on the second bracket.

12. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 7 wherein said at least one securing means further comprises:

at least one screw located on the first bracket for securing the first bracket to the at least one aperture by inserting the at least one screw into the at least one aperture.

13. A vehicle neck protection device for protecting and supporting a nape of a neck of a user wherein said vehicle neck protection device is securable to at least one post of a vehicle headrest, said vehicle neck protection device comprising:

a body having a front surface, back surface and a predetermined size and shape;

said body having a convex surface curving outward from top to bottom across the entire front surface of the body for positioning behind the nape of a neck of the user;

a rear wall located on said body;

at least one securing means located on said rear wall for securing said vehicle neck protection device to at least one post of a vehicle headrest;

said at least one securing means having a second bracket and a clamp located on the second bracket that secures the second bracket to the least one post of the vehicle headrest;

said at least one securing means further having a first bracket attached to the rear wall and slideably attached to the second bracket to allow a user to adjust the distance between the rear wall and the at least one post of the vehicle headrest;

at least one lower row of apertures located on said rear wall for removable insertion of said at least one securing means;

at least one upper row of apertures located on said rear wall above said at least one lower row of apertures for removable insertion of said at least one securing means;

each aperture in said at least one lower row of apertures extending from the rear wall towards the front surface a predetermined distance; and

each aperture in said at least one upper row of apertures extending from the rear wall towards the front surface a predetermined distance.

14. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 13 further comprising:

a cushion area located within said body wherein said cushion area forms said convex surface.

15. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 14 further comprising:

an area of dense foam located between said cushion area and said rear wall.

16. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 14 wherein said clamp is a U-shaped member located on the second bracket.

17. The vehicle neck protection device of claim 14 wherein said at least one securing means further comprises:

at least one screw located on the first bracket for securing the first bracket to the at least one aperture by inserting the at least one screw into the at least one aperture.