Arm protector head rest

The present invention relates to devices on which a person's head, such as a cushion, can be based. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bolster that protects the user's arm when placed under the headrest and allows the user to sleep or relax with the arm under their head without interfering with the blood circulation through the arm.

[0002] Currently, various devices are used, on which the user can lay his head during sleep or other types of rest. The most common one is a traditional pillow consisting of a suitable insert or a closed filling in a non-woven cover. When sleeping or resting on the stomach or side, it is more convenient to place one or both arms under the head or pillow. The problem associated with this position, however, is the loss of blood circulation in the arms due to the weight of the head resulting in numbness, which in turn causes sleep interruption.

[0003] Many different cushions are known to eliminate the abovementioned atrophy of the blood circulation in the arm during sleep or other activities, but such cushions are often oddly shaped and do not allow the user to sleep comfortably.

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide an improved type headrest that allows the arm to be placed under the wearer's head in such a way that it is not required to support the weight of the head over the arm.

[0005] US2003135927 A1 discloses a headrest according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention therefore provides a headrest including a spine member with an upper surface, a bottom surface, a front end and a rear end, the top surface comprising a generally forward facing portion and a substantially rearwardly directed portion, with the portion facing substantially forward comprises a first concave portion intended to receive a user's head thereon, and the first and rear ends are configured to contact directly or indirectly at the rest surface, and the bottom surface forms a channel between the front and rear ends of the dimensions adapted to receive at least one end therein. one user's arm, where the spinal member has sufficient stiffness to hold the user's head on this member,the user's arm may have been positioned in the channel in such a way that it does not require the head to be supported by the arm and which headrest characterized in that the front end of the spinal member is gently curved upward towards the channel and the rear end of the spinal member also it is curved towards the top towards the channel, but at a larger angle than the front end.

[0007] The headrest according to the present invention enables the user to sleep or relax on the stomach or side with one or both arms in the natural position under the headrest, without interruption due to pressure on the user's arms or lack of circulation in the user's arms.

[0008] The headrest according to the present invention is particularly suitable for persons prone to snoring, because it enables the user to sleep comfortably on the stomach or on the side, while maintaining the correct position of the head and neck relative to one another, which ensures elimination, at least reducing snoring. It therefore provides an improvement in the quality of the user's sleep and health.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the headrest according to the present invention, the front end of the spine member extends forward in the same plane as the resting surface. Preferably, the rear end of the spinal member also extends backward in the same plane as the resting surface.

[0010] In one embodiment of the headrest of the present invention, a second concave portion is provided that is located in the head portion of the headrest facing substantially rearward. The radius of curvature of the first concave portion of the upwardly directed headrest is preferably greater than the radius of curvature of the second concave portion of the headrest directed generally to the rear. The first and / or the second concave portion are preferably elastically deformable and configured to bend when the user's head is positioned on a portion of the headrest pointing substantially forward.

[0011] The front end of the spinal member is gently curved upward towards the channel. The initial angle of inclination of the spine member from the front end towards the channel reaches about 30 degrees, preferably from about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. The rear end of the spinal member is also curved upward towards the duct, but preferably at a greater angle than the front end. The initial angle of inclination of the spine member from the rear end towards the channel reaches about 40 degrees, and is preferably from about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees in relation to the horizontal direction. These curved portions of the spinal member are resiliently deformable and configured to bend down after the user's head is positioned on the spinal column.

[0012] After the user's head is placed on the headrest, the upwardly inclined front and / or rear end portions bend down until they contact the rest surface or extend with the rest surface. In addition to increasing comfort and stability, this feature ensures that the load acting on the surface of the substrate is spread over a relatively large area, which limits the wear of the resting surface.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the headrest of the present invention, the spine member is configured such that the user's head resting on the first concave portion in the forward facing part is not directly above the user's arm in the channel. Thus, the center of gravity of the wearer's head and the center of gravity of the wearer's forearm can thus be located in different vertical planes, the user's arm being closer to the rear end of the headrest, and the user's head being closer to the front end of the headrest.

[0014] The dimensions of the channel are preferably selected so as to provide a certain degree of freedom of movement of the arm therein. In an ideal solution, the dimensions of the channel are preferably selected so that it can accommodate two arms at the same time.

[0015] The spine member may be made of any suitable material that is relatively stiff and elastic. The spinal member is preferably made of one piece of material. Even more preferably, the spinal member is made of molded plastic.

[0016] The material thickness of the vertebral body varies of course depending on the material used. The material thickness of the spinal member preferably reaches about 50 mm, more preferably from about 2 mm to about 40 mm, and even more preferably from about 10 mm to about 20 mm.

[0017] The headliner of the present invention may further comprise a covering of cushioning material placed on the spinal member. The cushioning material is preferably a foam material such as a urethane foam with sufficient compression density to softly support the head of the person using the headrest.

[0018] A cushioning material, e.g. a foam, covers at least the uppermost surface of the material of the spinal member. In a preferred embodiment, the cushioning material is covered with the entire upper surface of the spinal member. The cushioning material is preferably thicker on the upper face of the headrest than at other places, this being in particular the case of the first concave part. The lower surface of the spinal member can also be covered with a suitable material. The thickness of the material covering the upper surface of the material of the spinal column is preferably from about 20 mm to about 90 mm in the region where the head is placed, and from about 1 mm to less than about 20 mm in other places.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the foam material is covered with both the upper and lower surfaces of the spinal member. The foam material on the upper surface preferably has a lower density than the foam material on the bottom surface, which is intended to provide a more damping surface. The foam material is attached to the spinal column by any convenient method, usually by gluing.

[0020] The headrest may further comprise a removable non-woven covering that generally surrounds the headrest. The headrest is preferably designed to be adapted to the standard pillowcase. Alternatively, the cover is adapted to be attached to the headrest.

[0021] The width and length of the headrest according to the present invention are preferably similar to that of a standard cushion. The length of the headrest, measured from the front edge to the rear edge, is preferably from about 350 mm to about 800 mm, more preferably from about 420 mm to about 700 mm, even more preferably from about 460 mm to about 550 mm, and its width is preferably from about 350 mm to about 800 mm, more preferably from about 400 mm to about 650 mm, and even more preferably from about 420 mm to about 500 mm.

The upper surface of the spine member extends over the rest surface at a height of preferably from about 80 mm to about 200 mm, more preferably from about 90 mm to about 150 mm. The height of the channel is at least 80 mm, preferably it reaches about 190 mm, and more preferably is from about 100 mm to about 140 mm above the surface of the substrate. The length of the channel extends from one edge to the other edge of the headrest and thus corresponds to the width of the headrest. The width of the channel itself is preferably at least sufficient to accommodate two user arms arranged side by side.

[0023] The headrest of the present invention enables the user to sleep or rest on a stomach or side with one or two arms under his head, reducing the pressure on the user's arms and the disappearance of circulation in the wearer's arms. Allowing the user to sleep comfortably on the stomach or side ensures elimination, and at least the reduction of snoring.

[0024] The headrest of the present invention further allows the user to change the position of the arm or shoulders under the wearer's lying head without having to change the lying position of the head.

[0025] Furthermore, the headrest of the present invention provides for proper alignment of the head and neck positions of the wearer during sleep or rest on the stomach or side and keeping the airways of the user always open in a stable manner, which facilitates breathing preventing snoring.

[0026] The invention will be described below with the help of an example relating to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is perspective view of a headrest with an arm protector according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the headrest shown in Fig. 1, wherein the positions of the head A and the user's arm B are shown; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are side views of the headrest shown in Fig. 1, wherein the forces exerted during its use and the areas that are elastically deformable are evident.

[0027] As used herein, the term "arm" should be considered to include at least a hand and / or a forearm.

[0028] As used herein, the term "about" should be taken to mean plus / minus 20%, more preferably plus / minus 10%, and even more preferably plus / minus 5%.

With reference to the drawing figures depicting one particular embodiment of a headrest with an arm protector according to the invention, the headrest is designated as a whole with a reference numeral 10. The headstock 10 comprises a spine member 12 formed from one piece of material sheet and having substantially parallel side edges 22, 24, edge a semi-circular front and substantially straight rear edge 46 with curved ends 46A and 46B. Materials suitable for making the spinal member 12 include semi-rigid or rigid flexible plastics such as acrylic polymer, metals, rubber, etc. The spinal member 12 has a substantially curved cross-sectional shape and comprises an upper surface 14, a bottom surface 16, a front and a rear end 18, 20 and substantially parallel side edges 22, 24. The upper surface 14 of the spinal column 12 includes a forward portion 26 and a backward facing portion 28 that converge at the top 30 of the concave portion 32. The upper surface 14 of the spinal column 12 is formed so as to include a first slightly concave portion 34 which is located in the portion 26 directed substantially forward and forming the head support portion. This first concave portion 34 is resiliently deformable and bends slightly into the channel 36 under the influence of the user's weight on it (see Fig. 3). In the backward portion 28 there is a second concave portion 50. The spinal member 12 is thus curved upwardly from the front and rear end 18, 20 towards the channel 36, which ensures that the first and second concave portions are formed in the upper surface 14, respectively 34 , 50.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the width of the spinal member 12 measured from one side edge 22 to the second side edge 24 is 432 mm and its thickness is 4 mm.

[0031] The length of the headrest 10 measured from the front edge to the rear edge is 480 mm, or in an alternative embodiment, the length is 530 mm.

[0032] From one side edge 22 of the headrest 10 to the second side edge 24 extends a passage 36 of a height sufficient to fit two user arms arranged side by side conveniently, without affecting the blood circulation in either of the arms. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the channel 36 extends to a height of 105 mm above the rest surface 38. The length of the channel 36 corresponds to the width of the headrest 10 and is 432 mm. The width of the duct 36 is 412 mm and is reduced to about 232 mm after the user's head is positioned on the headrest 10, which is related to the bending down of the curved parts of the front and rear ends 44, 48 (see Fig. 4). The reduced width of the channel 36 remains large enough to accommodate one or both of the user's arms.

[0033] The first layer of foam material 40 covers the upper surface 14 of the spinal body 12, the second layer of foam material 42 covers the lower surface 16 of the spinal member 12 to form a three-layer structure. The first layer of foam material 40 has a lower density than the second layer of foam material 42 to achieve a soft feel on the upper surface 14 and the sensation of greater hardness of the bottom surface 16. The thickness of the foam material 40 on the upper surface 14 of the spinal column 12 is 58 mm in the thickest place corresponding to the head support or concave portion 34 and is reduced to 13 mm in the thinnest place. The thickness of the foam material on the lower surface 16 of the spinal body 12 is 13 mm.

Various known types of polymer foam may be used to cover the spinal member 12, which, for example, but not limited to, include polyurethane foam, so-called synthetic foam rubber, latex foam and viscoelastic foam, which is commonly referred to as a "shape memory" foam. .

[0035] In Fig. 2, the oval shape designated & quot; A & quot; represents the user's head resting on the headrest 10 in a sideways position, and the oval shape designated & quot; B & quot; represents the user's forearm translated by the passage 36. In Fig. 2 it is clearly seen, that the headrest 10 is shaped such that the user's arm B can be placed in the channel 36 in a position similar to the user's head A or away from the user's head A. Regardless of this position, the user's head is raised relative to the user's arms and is not directly above the user's shoulder. The special shape of the spinal member 12 thus provides separate parts for supporting the head and placing the arms.

With respect to Figs. 3 and 4, the areas of the headrest marked with dashed lines are configured to bend under the weight of the wearer's head. The shape and the material of the spinal member 12 ensure that the load exerted on the headrest during its use is spread over a relatively large area, in order to evenly distribute the stresses.

[0037] Figs. 2 to 4 clearly show that the unique shape of the spinal member 12 provides a number of functions. The spinal member 12 thus allows the user's head to be positioned in a raised position over the user's arms, while providing the user with a place for placing the arms in a position remote from the head; provides the structural integrity of the head support system and separates the two different foam densities, the upper foam layer providing comfort and the lower foam layer providing strength; allows for slight bending under the weight of the user's head and even distribution of stresses; and makes the contact surface with the rest surface 38, which is usually in the form of a mattress covered with a sheet, is large and flat,

With reference to Fig. 2, the headrest 10 of the present invention provides support to the wearer's head and protection of the user's arm, allowing the neck to relax. The user's head may rest on the headrest 10 in a sideways position while the user's arm is in the inner channel 36 of the headrest 10 or in its vicinity. Alternatively, the user may lie on the abdomen with the head resting on the headrest 10 in a sideways position, while his arms are translated through the opposite open ends of the channel 36.

Furthermore, the shape of the headrest according to the present invention prompts the users to place the head centrally on the headrest 26 of the headrest 10, because the concave shape 34 of this headrest 10 makes the non-central position of the head on the headrest 10 palpable. This results in the correct positioning of the head and proper alignment of the head and neck positions.

The above description of a particular embodiment of the present invention is provided for illustrative and explanatory purposes. It is not intended to exhaust or limit the present invention exactly to the form disclosed, and in the light of the above-mentioned suggestions it is possible to make changes and modifications to it. The present invention therefore covers all variations and modifications included within the scope of the appended claims.

[0041] In this context, it is evident to a person skilled in the art that a headrest can be manufactured in a range of dimensions adapted to children, adolescents and adults of various sizes.

[0042] Furthermore, it should be noted that the canal can be enlarged to accommodate certain persons, for example, patients with a broken arm in a cast or body builders with a more elongated arm musculature. The actual shape and size of the channel are therefore not a critical factor, as long as they allow a comfortable room for one or two user arms.