The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, Singapore Patent Application No. 10202107385U, filed on Jul. 5, 2021.
The present invention relates broadly, but not exclusively, to a head support assembly and method of supporting a cushion on a headrest.
A typical seat head cushion or pillow is attached to a chair using an integrated elastic strap or Velcro strap and a user subsequently adjusts the head cushion/pillow to their desired position. However, the elastic strap may re-position the cushion/pillow to an unstretched position due to the nature of the strap's elasticity even after adjustment. Furthermore, the strap loses its elasticity after prolonged stretching and relaxing cycles, and thus the cushion/pillow may be loosely attached to the chair.
Current elastic straps also restrict the adjustability of the cushion/pillow. In addition, the use of elastic or Velcro straps may not look good aesthetically as the elasticity of the straps is lost after using for a period of time.
Accordingly, a need exists to provide a head support assembly that seeks to address some of the above problems.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head support assembly comprising: a headrest extending upwardly from a seatback, the headrest comprising one or more magnetizable plate members; a cushion adjustable between a first position and a second position relative to the headrest, the cushion comprising a plurality of magnets, wherein the one or more magnetizable plate members and the plurality of magnets are configured to magnetically attach the cushion to the headrest for supporting the cushion at the first or second position.
In an embodiment, the cushion comprises a deformable fore section and a substantially flat aft section, wherein the fore section is configured to support a head of a user and the aft section is configured to slidingly abut a substantially flat fore surface of the headrest.
In an embodiment, the cushion further comprises a carrier member removably attached to the aft section, the carrier member configured to securely retain the plurality of magnets such that the magnets are disposed at the aft section proximate to the one or more magnetizable plate members of the headrest.
In an embodiment, the one or more magnetizable plate members are embedded adjacent the fore surface of the headrest.
In an embodiment, each magnet of the plurality of magnets comprises a base and a protrusion extending from the base, the protrusion having a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of the base.
In an embodiment, the carrier member comprises a plurality of cavities corresponding to the plurality of magnets, each cavity comprising an opening sized based on the cross-section of the protrusion, and wherein the magnets are disposed in the cavities such that the protrusion of each magnet is snugly received by a respective opening.
In an embodiment, the carrier member comprises a resilient material.
In an embodiment, the cushion comprises a plurality of recesses corresponding to the plurality of cavities, each recess based on the cross-section of the base, and wherein the magnets are disposed in the recesses such that the base of each magnet is snugly received by a respective recess.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supporting a cushion on a headrest, the cushion being adjustable between a first position and a second position relative to the headrest, the method comprising:embedding one or more magnetizable plate members into the headrest, the headrest extending upwardly from a seatback; disposing a plurality of magnets in the cushion; and placing the cushion against the headrest such that the one or more magnetizable plate members and the plurality of magnets magnetically attach the cushion to the headrest for supporting the cushion at the first or second position.
In an embodiment, the cushion comprises a deformable fore section and a substantially flat aft section, the fore section configured to support a head of a user, and wherein placing the cushion against the headrest comprises slidingly abutting the aft section with a substantially flat fore surface of the headrest.
In an embodiment, the cushion further comprises a carrier member removably attached to the aft section, and wherein disposing the plurality of magnets in the cushion comprises securely retaining magnets in the carrier member at the aft section proximate to the one or more magnetizable plate members of the headrest.
In an embodiment, embedding the one or more magnetizable plate members into the headrest comprises positioning the one or more magnetizable plate members adjacent the fore surface of the headrest.
In an embodiment, disposing the plurality of magnets in the cushion comprises: forming in the carrier member a plurality of cavities corresponding to the plurality of magnets, each cavity comprising an opening sized based on the cross-section of the protrusion; and disposing the magnets in the cavities such that the protrusion of each magnet is snugly received by a respective opening.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises forming a plurality of recesses corresponding to the plurality of cavities, each recess based on the cross-section of the base, and disposing the magnets in the recesses such that the base of each magnet is snugly received by a respective recess.
In an embodiment, wherein disposing the plurality of magnets in the pillow further comprises positioning the magnets based on a position of the one or more plate member on the headrest.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises selecting a magnetic strength of the magnets based on a weight of the cushion.
Embodiments of the invention will be better understood and readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following written description, by way of example only, and in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description. Herein, a head support assembly is presented in accordance with present embodiments which may have the advantages of having a clean and neat cushion/pillow that can be securely attached to a chair while being able to be easily adjusted at the same time.
The cushion 108 includes a deformable fore section 112 and a substantially flat aft section 114, whereby the fore section 112 is configured to support a head of a user (not shown) and the aft section 114 is configured to slidingly abut a substantially flat fore surface 116 of the headrest 102. The one or more magnetizable plate members 106 are embedded adjacent the fore surface 116 of the headrest 102. Each of the plurality of magnets 110a, 110b includes a base 118a, 118b and a protrusion 120a, 120b extending from the base 118a, 118b, whereby the protrusion 120a, 120b has a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of the base 118a, 118b. A more detailed view of the base 118a, 118b and the protrusion 120a, 120b is shown in
In example embodiments, the magnets 110a, 110b magnetically attach the cushion 108 to the headrest 102 by having the magnet protrusions 120a, 120b adjacent to the one or more magnetizable plate members 106. The magnetic force of the magnets 110a, 110b can be sufficiently strong to ensure that the cushion 108 is attached to the headrest 102 without having any physical and mechanical interaction. At the same time, the plurality of magnets 110a, 110b are securely held in place by the cushion 108 and are not dislodged when the cushion 108 is magnetically attracted to the one or more magnetizable plate members 106.
The carrier member 202 may be a resilient material and includes a plurality of cavities 204a, 204b, corresponding to the plurality of magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d. Each cavity 204 includes an opening 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d sized based on the cross-section of the protrusion 120. In this way, the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d are disposed in the cavities 204a, 204b such that the protrusion 120 of each magnet is snugly received by a respective opening 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d.
The cushion 108 may also include a plurality of recesses 206a, 206b, 206c, 206d corresponding to the plurality of cavities 204a, 204b. Each recess 206 is sized based on the cross-section of the base 118 and a layer of resilient material forming the cavities 204a, 204b surrounding the base 118, whereby the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d together with the resilient material are disposed in the recesses 206a, 206b, 206c, 206d such that the base 118 of each magnet 110 together with the resilient material is snugly received by a respective recess 206.
In an alternative embodiment, the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d can be shaped with a uniform cross-section and fixedly mounted onto the plurality of recesses 206a, 206b, 206c, 206d so that the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d remain in position when the cushion 108 is magnetically attached to the headrest 102. Accordingly, the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d can have other shapes and sizes such that they are in proximity to the magnetizable plate members 106.
The carrier member 202 may be removably attached to the cushion 108 via attaching means 208. The attaching means 208 may be conventional attaching means, for example Velcro, but can include other types such as tape or pin-and-hole to securely attach the carrier member 202 to the cushion 108. In an example embodiment, the carrier member 202 can be designed with multiple undercuts and holes 210 to create sufficient mechanical bonding with the cushion 108. The carrier member 202 can also include apertures 214 which may reduce the presence of trapped air during over-molding to provide the user a softer feeling.
The carrier member 216 also includes a plurality of cavities 224 corresponding to the magnet assemblies 218a, 218b. Each cavity 224 includes an opening 226a, 226b sized based on the cross-section of the protrusion 222a, 222b. In this way, the magnet assemblies 218a, 218b are disposed in the cavities 224 such that the protrusion 222a, 222b of each magnet is snugly received by a respective opening 226a, 226b, as shown in
The plate members 106 may be embedded to the headrest 102 at a predetermined depth such that headrest 102 can be aesthetically appealing while maintaining the magnetic attractive force of the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d to the plate members 106 at the same time. The position and the dimension (such as length and width) of the plate members 106 may be predetermined to indicate a position and adjustable range of the cushion 108 when it is attached to the headrest 102. For example, the plate members 106 can be positioned at a predetermined specific depth and position using guides and spacers inside a foam tool during over-molding with the fore surface 116 of the headrest 102.
In alternate embodiments, the plate members 106 can be embedded into the fore surface 116 to provide a better experience so that users will not feel the existence of the plate members 106 in the headrest 102 when leaning against it in the absence of the cushion 108. The embedment depth of the plate members 106 can be controlled to provide sufficient magnetic force interaction with the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d. The plate members 106 can also be positioned in the headrest 102 such that they are not in direct contact with a user's head. The thickness of the plate members 106 can be optimized by considering the overall weight of the product and the strength of magnetic force interaction with the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d.
In another example embodiment, the plate members 106 may be embedded in the cushion 108 while the magnets 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d are embedded in the headrest 102 near the fore surface 116. Such an arrangement still allows the cushion 108 to be magnetically attached to the headrest 102 and yet adjustable between different position relative to the headrest 102.
In another embodiment, the magnets may be installed on a steel plate which is then embedded in the cushion 108. Such an arrangement allows small magnets to be used while still providing the cushion 108 with adjustability relative to the headrest 102, as the steel plate embedded in the cushion 108 is magnetized by the magnets and can interact with the plate members 106 embedded in the headrest 102 to magnetically attach the cushion 108 to the headrest 102.
The method of placing the cushion against the headrest may include slidingly abutting the aft section with a substantially flat fore surface of the headrest. Disposing the plurality of magnets in the cushion may include securely retaining magnets in the carrier member at the aft section proximate to the one or more magnetizable plate members of the headrest. Embedding the one or more magnetizable plate members into the headrest may include positioning the one or more magnetizable plate members adjacent the fore surface of the headrest.
Disposing the plurality of magnets in the cushion may include forming in the carrier member a plurality of cavities corresponding to the plurality of magnets, each cavity comprising an opening sized based on the cross-section of the protrusion; and disposing the magnets in the cavities such that the protrusion of each magnet is snugly received by a respective opening. Disposing the plurality of magnets in the pillow may further include positioning the magnets based on a position of the one or more plate member on the headrest.
The head support assembly 100 as described herein may provide a clean and neat device that can allow users to adjust to their desired position and held in place without the need for constant re-positioning. The head support assembly is durable and can also be used for prolonged a period of time as the magnetic strength is not easily lost. While exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist.
It should further be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, operation, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements and method of operation described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10202107385U | Jul 2021 | SG | national |