Patent Application
20240423372
Examples of the present disclosure are related to systems and methods for a head and neck support. More particularly, embodiments relate to a system comprising a suction device and bracket configured to be selectively coupled.
Travel pillows are used by airplane travelers and others to provide support to a user's neck and head. While many prior art travel pillows provide lateral support for a user's head, they do not prevent the user's body or head from falling forward. Additionally, these conventional devices are required to be wrapped around the neck of the user.
To solve this problem, other conventional systems anchor a travel pillow to a headrest, such as the headrest of an airplane seat, via a system of cords with rigid hooks. However, such a system is inconveniently unwieldy for traveling, and further requires looping of the cords around the traveler's head in a manner that can be unstable, unsafe, and look silly.
Furthermore, travel pillows are notorious for forcing the head forward, causing neck strain. Finally, current travel pillows do not adequately support a front position due to the gap of the “U” shape.
Therefore, there is a need for a head support system that can provide adequate neck support for all head positions without causing undue strain, wherein a bracket of the neck support system is configured to be coupled with a user's existing headwear.
Embodiments of this disclosure are related to a neck and head support system comprising a bracket and suction device.
The bracket may be a device with a rear surface, front surface, and a ledge positioned between the rear surface and the front surface. The rear surface may be a planer surface that is configured to be coupled with the suction device. The bracket may include a curved front end that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the rear of the user's head. The ledge may be configured to receive a strap of the user's existing headwear. In specific embodiments, the bracket may be a plastic clip that is approximately four inches wide and one and a half inches tall.
The rear surface may include a base with multiple recesses. The base may be a planer surface with a first width and a first height. The planer rear surface may allow the rear surface of the bracket to be positioned flush with the suction cup. The recesses extend from a lower end to an upper end of the rear surface, wherein the recesses include an open lower end and a closed upper end. The recesses may be configured to receive protections on the front of the suction device, wherein the projections on the suction cup may slide along a vertical axis to be positioned between the inner surfaces of the rear surface and the front surface of the bracket, wherein the vertical axis extends in parallel to an axis extending from the lower surface to the upper surface. In embodiments, the recesses may include a first portion, a second portion, and projections. The projections are configured to reduce the length across the recesses, which can limit the movement of the projections of the suction device along a vertical axis.
The front surface may be positioned in the front of the bracket and may include a curved surface with a second width and a second height, wherein the second width is longer than the first width and the second height is shorter than the first height. The outer surface of the front surface may be configured to be positioned directly adjacent to a user's head or headgear. The curved surface may be countered similarly to the curvature of a user's head. In embodiments, the outer surface of the front surface may include a soft material, such as neoprene foam, to provide cushioning for the user's head.
The ledge may connect the front surface and the rear surface of the bracket, and form a groove between the two. The groove may be configured to receive a strap of a user's headgear by the user moving the strap downward along the vertical axis in the first direction to be positioned within the groove. To remove the strap from the groove, the strap may move along the vertical axis in the second direction. When the strap is positioned within the groove, the bracket may allow for slight movement of the headgear along a lateral axis while limiting movement of the user's headgear along a frontal axis. This slight movement may prevent the user from feeling strapped directly to the headrest, which could cause panic or anxiety. In embodiments, the ledge may be approximately three mm wide.
The suction device may be a suction cup that is configured to have a low profile to minimize the gap between a headrest surface and the user's head to maximize stability and support. In embodiments, the suction device may be approximately three and three-quarters inches wide by one and a half inches tall and have a half-inch depth, wherein the suction device may be formed of liquid silicone rubber (LSR). The suction device may have a front surface and a rear surface. The front surface may be a concave suction that operates as a suction cup. The concavity of the suction surface may allow for air displacement to apply a suction force between the suction device and the headrest. Responsive to the suction cup creating the suction force, the suction device may be temporarily coupled to the headrest.
In embodiments, the adhesive may be configured to be positioned on the front surface within the concave suction cup, wherein the adhesives may be medical grade adhesives, which may be sprayed on, rolled on, painted on, etc. The adhesive may be configured to provide tackiness for support to stick the suction cup to the headrest, and to create a seal between the suction cup and the headrest. In embodiments, the headrests may be formed of leather or pleather surfaces that are not smooth and possess bumps, textures, etc. that will not allow traditional suction cups to adhere to them with sufficient suction force. However, the adhesive applied to the suction cup creates and maintains the seal to ensure that the suction device is supported.
The front surface of the suction device may include projections, nubs, or tether points. Utilizing multiple projections may increase lateral support to the user's head at multiple locations along the lateral axis of the support device. The projections may include a shaft and a radial notch, wherein the radial notch decreases a diameter across the projections. In embodiments, the radial notches may be configured to slide within corresponding recesses within the bracket to couple the bracket and the suction device together. In embodiments, the upper surfaces of the projections may include dimples, and the upper surfaces may be angled inward to account for the curvature of the front surface of the bracket. In embodiments, the height of the projections may be sufficient enough to not extend across an entirety of the width of the groove, and allow the strap of the headgear to be positioned within the groove. After the groove is positioned in place, the upper surfaces of the projections may contact the strap, and push the strap to be adjacent and contact the inner surface of the front face of the bracket. This may increase friction, and therefore, stability between the dimples on the upper surface of the projections and the strap.
Further embodiments may include a preservation plate. The preservation plate may be a domed plate that is configured to receive the suction device when the suction device is not in place. Specifically, the suction cup may be positioned on the preservation plate to reduce degradation of the adhesives on the suction cup and maintain the concavity of the suction cup.
These, and other, aspects of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. The following description, while indicating various embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many substitutions, modifications, additions, or rearrangements may be made within the scope of the invention, and the invention includes all such substitutions, modifications, additions, or rearrangements.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described concerning the following figures, wherein reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.
In the following description, numerous specific details are outlined to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiments. It will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present embodiments. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the present embodiments.
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Curved front surface 610 may be positioned on a front surface of bracket 110 and may be curved with a second width and a second height. In embodiments, both the inner and outer surface of the curved front surface 610 may be curved. The outer surface of the front curved surface 610 may be configured to be positioned directly adjacent to a user's head and/or headgear. The curved front surface 610 may be contoured similarly to the curvature of a user's head. In embodiments, the outer surface of the curved front surface 610 may include a soft material, such as neoprene foam, to provide cushioning for the user's head.
Rear surface 620 may include a base 621 with multiple protrusions 622. The base 621 may have a first width and a first height, wherein the first width is shorter than the second width and the first height is longer than the second height. The base 621 may have a curvature that is substantially similar to that of the front surface 610.
Protrusions 622 may extend away from an outer surface of the rear surface 620 to create a planer rear surface along a lateral axis and vertical axis. The planer rear surface created by the protrusions 622 may allow rear surface 620 to be positioned flush against a flat exterior surface 130, such as a headrest of a chair. One skilled in the art may appreciate that in other embodiments, protrusions 622 may be curved. Each of the protrusions 611 may have a recess 624 that extends from ledge 630 upward, wherein the recesses 624 include an open lower end and a closed upper end.
Recesses 624 may be configured to receive protections on the rear of the suction device 130, wherein the projections on the suction cup may slide along a vertical axis. In embodiments, the projections may move along the vertical axis to be positioned between the inner surfaces of the back surface 620 and the front surface 610, wherein the vertical axis is in parallel to an axis extending from the lower surface of bracket 110 to the upper surface of bracket 110. The recesses 624 may include a first portion 625, a second portion 628, and bumps 626. Bumps 626 may be configured to reduce a length across the recesses 624, which can limit the movement of the projections of the suction device 130 along a vertical axis. Furthermore, the sidewalls created by the second portion 620 may limit the movement of the suction device 130 along a lateral axis when the projections of suction device 130 are positioned within recesses 624.
Ledge 630 may connect the front surface 610 and the rear surface 620 of the bracket 110, and form a groove, channel, passageway, etc. The groove formed between front surface 610 and rear surface 620 may be configured to receive a strap of a user's headgear by the user moving the strap downward along a vertical axis in the first direction to be positioned within the groove. To remove the strap from the groove, the strap may move along the vertical axis in the second direction. When the strap of the user's headgear is positioned within the groove, ledge 630 may limit the downward movement of the strap along the vertical axis, which may support the user's head substantially upright.
When the strap is positioned within the groove, ledge 630 may allow for slight movement of the headgear along the lateral axis while limiting movement of the user's headgear along a frontal axis. Specifically, if the user's head moved forward, the strap may contact the inner surface of the front surface 610, and if the user's head moved backward, the strap may contact the inner surface of the rear surface 610. By allowing slight movement along the lateral axis user may not feel strapped directly to the headrest, preventing could causing panic or anxiety. Furthermore, when the strap is positioned within the groove, bracket 110 may support the rear of the user's head above the neck, which may assist in reducing strain on the user's neck.
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Suction cup 1010 may be an oval or oblong concave suction cup that operates as a suction cup, which is positioned on the rear surface of suction device 120. The concavity of suction cup 1010 may allow for air displacement to apply the suction force between the suction device 120 and surface 130. Responsive to suction cup 1010 creating the suction force, the suction device 120 may be temporarily coupled to headrest 130. When bracket 110 is coupled to suction device 120 and suction cup 1010 has created the suction force against surface 130, suction device 120 may limit the frontal movement of bracket 110 to support the user's head along a frontal axis.
In embodiments, adhesives may be configured to be positioned on the front surface within the concave suction cup 1010, wherein the adhesives may be medical grade adhesives, which may be sprayed on, rolled on, painted on, etc. The adhesives may be configured to provide tackiness for support to stick suction cup 1010 to surface 130, and to create a seal between suction cup 1010 and surface 130. In embodiments, surfaces 130 may be formed of leather or pleather surfaces that are not smooth and possess bumps, textures, etc. that will not allow traditional suction cups to adhere to them with sufficient suction. However, the adhesives applied to suction cup 1010 create and maintain the seal to ensure that the suction device is supported.
Projections 1020 may be nubs, flanges, outcrops, or tether points positioned on the front surface of the suction device 120. Suction device 120 may include a plurality of projections 1020 to increase lateral support to the user's head when support system 100 is in use. In embodiments, each of the projections 1020 may be configured to slide in a first direction along a vertical axis within a corresponding recess 624 to temporarily couple suction device 120 and bracket 110, wherein the vertical axis is orthogonal to longitudinal axis of system 100. In embodiments, when projections 1020 are inserted into recesses 624, bracket 110 may not be able to move in a second direction along the vertical axis or a lateral axis due to being blocked by projections 1020.
Tabs 1030 may extend away from a suction cup 1010 along a lateral axis. Tabs 1030 may be configured to be pulled on to remove the suction force created by suction cup 1010. In embodiments, the outer surfaces of tabs 1030 may include contours, which may be configured to make tabs 1030 easier to grip.
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The projections 1020 may include a shaft 1120 and a radial notch 1130. The radial notch 1130 decreases the diameter across the projections 1020, such that the radial notches 1130 have a minimal diameter of projections 1020. In embodiments, radial notches 1130 may be configured to slide within corresponding recesses 624 within bracket 110 to couple bracket 110 and the suction device 120 together.
The outer surfaces of projections 1020 may have angled surfaces 1112 that decrease a length of the projections, wherein the minimum height of the projections 1020 may be closer to the center of the suction device 120. Further, the maximum height of projections may be positioned closer to tabs 1030. The angled surfaces 1112 may form a contour that corresponds to the inner surface of the front face 610 of bracket 110. In embodiments, the height of the projections 1020 may be sufficient enough to not extend across the entirety of the width of the groove between the inner surfaces of bracket 110, and allow the strap of the headgear to be positioned within the groove of the bracket 110. After the strap is positioned in place, angled surfaces 1112 may contact the strap, and push the strap to be adjacent and contact the inner surface of the front face 610 of the bracket 110. This may increase friction between the outer surfaces of projections 1020 and the strap. To further increase the friction between projections 1020 and the strap, the outer surface of projections may include dimples 1110, bumps, contours, etc.
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Strap 1630 maybe an adjustable strap associated with a baseball cap. In embodiments, strap 1630 may be formed of rigid plastic and be configured to adjust the circumference of headgear 1600.
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Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63525266 | Jul 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29895795 | Jun 2023 | US |
| Child | 18760298 | US | |
| Parent | 29895794 | Jun 2023 | US |
| Child | 18760298 | US |
