The present invention relates to devices to provide comfort to a traveler. More specifically, the invention relates to devices that provide support to one's head while sitting in a high-backed seat, such as an airplane seat.
Airplane travelers must sometimes remain seated during their flights for extended periods of time. Airplane seats, especially those in coach class, are notorious for providing cramped and confined space in which a person must sit. Except for those individuals that are able to physically contort their bodies into unnatural positions, most people are limited to maintaining a relatively upright sitting position in the chair. Apart from the ability to partially recline the seat back, airplane seats do not offer the passenger adequate space that is conducive to napping.
If one does happen to nap while sitting upright in an airplane seat, there is no structure presently available on the seat that provides adequate head support. Accordingly, a napper's head may loll about, which completely interferes with any kind of relaxing sleep. A pillow provides some support to the rear of the head, and the side of the head to a degree, but provides inadequate support to prevent the head from nodding or jerking forward.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a support for a person's head to gently hold the head in place from lolling about when sitting upright in an airplane seat. It would be further desirable to provide such a support that can be easily and temporarily attached to an airplane seat. It would be further desirable to provide such a support that is simple in structure such that it can be attached to an airplane seat without the need for any separate connecting elements. It would be further desirable to provide such a support that provides a mask element that can keep one's eyes shielded from light to help induce sleep.
The present invention comprises a head support device that permits a person to keep his/her head in a relatively upright position as he sits in an airplane seat. The device comprises a strap member of sufficient length to slip over and encircle an upper portion of the seat. The length of the strap should be long enough to permit one's head to be placed within the strap while it is engaged with the seat. The strap can be made adjustable to accommodate the size of the person's head and to provide an appropriate level of snugness. The strap can be made stretchable so that the user's head is not restricted from necessary movement.
An embodiment of the head support device may comprise a portion of the strap having a sleep mask element that the user can position over his eyes.
These and other features of the present invention are described in greater detail below in the section titled DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.
The present invention is described herein with reference to the following drawing figures, with greater emphasis being placed on clarity rather than scale:
With reference to the drawings figures, an embodiment of the present invention is herein described, shown, and otherwise disclosed.
The head support device 10 of the present invention is generally shown in
It comprises a flexible band or strap member 12. Strap member 12 preferably has a degree of elasticity so that it may stretch slightly. Head support device 10 is employed by a passenger 14 while sitting in a high-backed seat 16 as shown in
Strap member 12 can be made adjustable to provide a tighter or looser fit. Portions of opposing exterior edges of separate ends of strap member 12 may comprise hook-and-loop fastener elements 20 as shown in
An embodiment of the invention incorporates an eye mask 26. Eye mask 26 can be integrated directly into strap member 12. Another embodiment of the invention can adapted so that a front portion of the strap member that opposes the wearer's forehead be provided with an attachment element (such as hook-and-loop fasteners) so that a separate sleep mask may be attached.
Another embodiment of the invention provides for a forehead pad positioned similarly to element 26 as shown in
The head support device of the invention is very simple to deploy and need only be placed over and around the seat back. No extra attachment elements are required and when not in use, can simply be lifted off the seat back. The strap can be easily and compactly folded up for ready storage in one's traveling bag or purse.
Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to various particular embodiments, it is understood that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention.
The present non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit of an earlier-filed provisional patent application of the same title, Serial No. 62/357,538, filed Jul. 1, 2016. The identified earlier-filed application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62357538 | Jul 2016 | US |