CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM
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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
His invention relates generally to the field of sleeping assist devices, and in particular to a sleeping assist device to help passengers sleep while traveling in an airplane.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There have been some sleeping aid devices from prior art, but all of these have inherent problems which the present invention aims to solve. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 10,449,882 issued to Lev discloses a passenger sleeping aid device that includes an adjustable length arm that can either rest on the seat flip down tray or can attach to the top of the seat of the next passenger seat in front. U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,069 issued to Beroth et al discloses an aircraft sleeper seat that has a retractable mechanism that can unfold and allow the passenger to sleep flat and push their feet underneath the seat in front. U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,659 issued to Brauer discloses a fully reclinable pivotable airplane passenger seat that allows unused aisle space to be used to allow a passenger to sleep completely in a horizontal position.
The travel sleeping aid of Lev presents two inherent problems. First, when the device is used in the short arm mode resting on the tray table, turbulence from the plane will shake the legs and likely waken the passenger from sleep. Second, when the device is used in the long arm mode the legs themselves end over the top of the seat of the next forward passenger which surely will cause irritation if the other passenger's head rubs against a hard object.
The aircraft sleeper seat of Beroth also presents two inherent problems. First, the design appears to be mechanically cumbersome to remove and assumes the passenger has good mechanical skills which is often not the case. Beroth's device would require flight attendants to spend time around the plane setting up the device for sleeping. The other major flaw is that the device does not consider that many passengers store items underneath their seats and therefore would have no room for using the device which requires sufficient space for the feet to rest in.
The fully reclinable and pivotable airplane passenger sleeper seat of Brauer has several inherent problems. First, such as seat would not be well received by almost every airline in existence because it would cause the airline owners to lose substantial profits because employing such seats would substantially reduce the number of passengers onboard due to the extra space required to fully recline the seat for sleeping. Secondly, the patent discusses taking up aisle space which would present a huge safety problem during an aircraft emergency. Clearly, the need exists for a simple sleeping device that the average person can easily setup without help from flight attendants and would not interfere or cause irritation with adjacent passengers.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a sleeping assist device that is easily adjustable for both obese and non-obese passengers.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a sleeping assist device that is portable and compact and can be stowed underneath the seat when not in use.
It is a final object of the present invention to provide a sleeping assist device that provides security against being used as a weapon by a hostile passenger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a primary embodiment of the sleeping assist device.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the primary embodiment of the sleeping assist device.
FIG. 2(a) is a detailed view of the cushion tilt adjustment mechanism taken along circle A of FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the top tube height adjustment mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a non-obese passenger sleeping using the primary embodiment of the sleeping assist device.
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the primary embodiment of the sleeping assist device showing how the belt is secured to the passenger seat.
FIG. 6 is a left side rear perspective view of the secondary embodiment of the sleeping assist device.
FIG. 7 is a right-side rear perspective view of the secondary embodiment of the sleeping assist device.
FIG. 7(a) is a detailed view of the tilt adjustment mechanism taken along circle B of FIG. 7.
FIG. 7(b) is a detailed view of the translational adjustment mechanism taken along circle B of FIG. 7.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing an obese passenger sleeping using the secondary embodiment of the sleeping assist device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 & 2, the primary embodiment of the sleeping assist device according to the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 100. Sleeping assist device 100 includes a pair of hollow open ended aluminum tubes 40 and 50 which slidably engage with each other. A locking mechanism 45 is used to set the height of the device based on the passenger's height. The passenger first rests the transverse tube 60 against the top of their legs and then adjusts the height of top tube 40 until their face rests comfortably against the face cushion 10. Cushion 10 is removably attached to cushion support plate 15 using typical fastener methods such as Velcro strips. A first end cap 51 is rigidly attached to the bottom distal opening of lower tube 50 and has a centered threaded thru hole for use with a locking set screw 52 to rigidly fix the position of the transverse tube 60 to bottom tube 50 as shown in FIG. 1. A second end cap 41 is rigidly attached to the upper distal opening of upper tube 40 and has a centered threaded thru hole for use with a second locking set screw 52 (not shown) to rigidly fix the position of transverse tube 70 to upper tube 40 as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 & 2, the transverse tube 60 may be lengthened if needed for passengers with wider hips by using two extension tubes 65, one at each end of the transverse tube 60. Each extension tube 65 mates with an end cap 66 which is press fit into the distal opening as shown. The extension tubes are slidably engaged to the transverse tube by sliding along a slot 62 located on transverse tube 60. Two screws 67 are fastened to two tapped holes (not shown) on transverse tube 60 in order to prevent the extension tubes 65 from falling off the transverse tube. Lower tube 50 also contains a hole used to weld a securing ring 55 approximately as shown in FIG. 2. The purpose of the securing ring is to prevent a hostile passenger from using the sleeping assist device as a weapon against other people onboard the plane. The ring 55 must be welded to the tube 50 so that the ring cannot be detached from the sleeping assist device.
Referring next to FIG. 2(a), a detailed view of the tilt adjustment mechanism is shown. The tilt adjustment mechanism allows the passenger to adjust the proper tilt angle of the face cushion 10 when it is being used for sleeping. The mechanism consists of a mounting bracket 17 which is preferably diamond shaped and has a protrusion along its horizontal centerline. The bracket 17 is rigidly attached to the cushion support plate 15 using two screws 16. A top thru hole is located on bracket 17 and is used for a threaded rod 32 to be rigidly attached to each end of tilt tube 70. The distal end of threaded rod 32 has cuts to allow either a typical Phillips head or standard flat screwdriver to be used to attach the threaded rod into the tilt tube. A pin 31 is rigidly attached to rod 32 by a thru hole located at the center of pin 31. Pin 31 is concentrically attached to locking handle 30 and allows free rotation of the handle which is mated to a cam locking washer 33. Washer 33 is mated against the bracket 17 and creates a frictional locking fit once the handle is rotated such that the washer is slightly compressed.
Referring next to FIGS. 2 & 3, the tube locking mechanism is next shown. Once the passenger extends the top tube 40 to the proper height, then the locking thumb tab 48 is pressed into the main housing 45. Housing 45 contains a protrusion (not shown) at one distal end. The protrusion fits into a groove 46 (shown in both FIGS. 2 & 3) on upper tube 40 and prevents the upper tube from falling out of the lower tube. The protrusion in housing 45 also prevents a hostile passenger from detaching the cushion from the lower tube and using that as a weapon. A pin 47 is used to secure the thumb tab 48 into housing 45.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4 & 5, the use of the sleeping assist device 100 is shown with a non-obese passenger sitting in airplane seat 300. A seat securing frame 320 is rigidly attached to seat 300 and is modified by attaching a second securing ring 55 at the forward face of the frame using a hole. The second securing ring 55 is also welded to the aluminum frame 320 so that hostile passengers cannot use the sleeping device as a weapon. A steel wire cable 56 is rigidly attached to both securing rings 55 as shown. Thus, the device 100 can never be removed from the seat and used to harm other passengers. A belt 20 is secured to the sleeping device 100 by attaching to belt bracket 35 at both sides of the device as shown. The belt also passes behind the seat 300 and is secured to the seat using seat belt mounting brackets 310. Unlike other prior art sleeping devices, the present invention solves the problem of not interfering with the comfort of other adjacent passengers. Once the tilt of the cushion 10 has been adjusted using the tilt adjustment mechanisms, the passenger simply rests their face against the cushion and can sleep comfortably with the belt securing method.
Referring next to FIGS. 6 & 7, the secondary embodiment of the sleeping assist device is shown by device 200. The lower portion of device 200 is identical to device 100. Specifically, the lower tube 50, the height adjustment mechanism, the securing ring 55, the transverse tube 60 and extension tubes 65 as well as all associated fasteners used in the primary embodiment are the same in form and function. The top tube 40 from device 100 is replaced with a top tube 220. The tilt adjustment mechanism of device 100 is replaced by a new tilt and translational mechanism which shall next be explained. The cushion 10, cushion support plate 15, securing belt 20, belt mounting bracket 35 are also components in device 200 and share the same form and function as in the primary embodiment. The sole exception is bracket 17 which is no longer used as part of the cushion tilt adjustment. In the secondary embodiment, the bracket 17 is only used as an attachment point to the belt bracket 35 as shown.
Referring next to FIGS. 7 & 7(a), the tilt mechanism shall next be explained. Obese passengers are expected to have a difficult time sleeping using the primary device 100 due to their body shape, so the secondary embodiment (device 200) is the preferred device for obese passengers to use for sleeping. The tilting angle is adjusted by rotating 210 about pin 222 which is rigidly mounted to upper tube 220. Once the proper angle is found, the passenger turns thumb screw 230 which drives tube 210 against the adjacent flat surface on upper tube 220. This action creates a frictional lock between the tubes 210 and 220 once the screw is tightened sufficiently.
Referring next to FIGS. 7 & 7(b), the translational mechanism shall next be explained. When adjusting the position of the head cushion 10 away from the chest of the passenger, tube 210 is extended away from the passenger's chest until the cushion 10 rests comfortably on the passenger's face. Once the proper position of tube 210 is set, the handle 30 is pushed towards tube 220. This action causes the cam locking washer to press against the adjacent flat surface of tube 210 and creates a frictional lock between tubes 210 and 220. If the position needs further adjustment, then handle 30 is pulled away from tube 220 which removes the pressure of the locking cam washer 33 against tube 210 and allows tube 210 to freely slide again along pin 222.
Referring finally to FIGS. 7 & 8, the use of the sleeping assist device 200 is shown with an obese passenger sitting in airplane seat 300. A seat securing frame 320 is rigidly attached to seat 300 and is modified by attaching a second securing ring 55 at the forward face of the frame using a hole. The second securing ring 55 is also welded to the aluminum frame 320 so that hostile passengers cannot use the sleeping device as a weapon. A steel wire cable 56 is rigidly attached to both securing rings 55 as shown. Thus, device 200 can never be removed from the seat and used to harm other passengers. A belt 20 is secured to the sleeping device 200 by attaching to belt bracket 35 at both sides of the device as shown. Once the position of tube 210 has been set and locked in by the thumb screw 230 and handle 30, the passenger simply rests their face against the cushion and the device is held in place by belt 20 which is strapped to seat 300 using two belt brackets 310 one on each side of the passenger's seat.