Apparel – Guard or protector – Neck protector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-06
2001-10-30
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Neck protector
C002S467000, C602S016000, C602S017000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308345
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to headrest devices and the like which are used by workmen and belayers when working in a position in which they must hold their heads in a backward tilted position for extended periods, or by physically impaired persons lacking motor skills controlling head position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a person is looking forward, the center of gravity of the person's head is above and approximately in vertical alignment with the person's spine. With the person's head in this forward looking position, the weight of the person's head is supported by the spine, much like a column supports the weight of a building roof. However, when the person is looking upwards, the person's head will tilt backwardly and move the person's head out of vertical alignment with the spine. When the head is tilted backwards, the center of gravity of the head moves rearwardly of the spine and the person's neck muscles must support the weight of the head. Supporting the head in this backward tilted position requires more energy and effort from the neck muscles than is normally required when holding the head in an upright, forward looking position. If the person is looking upward for extended periods, the additional energy and effort expended by the neck muscles will soon result in discomfort and fatigue as the neck muscles begin to tire.
Headrests have been developed and used by people who must look upwardly for extended periods. These prior art headrests have been used by plasters, travelers, and mechanics who must hold their heads in a backward tilted position for extended periods. The primary purpose of these prior art headrests has been to provide the necessary head support to reduce neck fatigue. These prior art headrests usually rest on and derive support from the person's shoulders, or, are attached to the person's belt. Prior art headrests attaching to the person's belt may not be comfortable if the belt is pulled upwards and purchases itself under the person's ribs restricting the diaphragm, or if the person's pants are elevated until the pants crotch finds purchase on the body.
Recreational sporting activities can require the participant to look upward for extend periods. For example, when rock or mountain climbing or mountaineering, a belayer is responsible for the climbers safety by feeding the proper amount of rope to the climber through a friction creating device attached to the belayers harness. Maintaining the proper amount of rope tension requires that the belayer keep the climber in eye contact whenever possible. Since the climber moves upward from the belayers position, the belayer is required to keep the head tilted backward at a sever angle for extended periods of time.
Some individuals have difficulty or require assistance in holding their heads in a vertical position. For example, individuals with physical disabilities, people recovering from neck or head injury, or people suffering from chronic muscle spasms may require neck and/or head support.
Several key features have been lacking in these prior art headrests. One lacking feature is the construction of a headrest which provides adequate support to the back of the neck and the head, and which can be securely and comfortably mounted to the person. Another feature lacking in some prior art headrests is a simple construction of only one or two pieces, thereby minimizing the cost of production and simplifying the assembly process. Another lacking feature is a headrest which provides support at a selectable angle, or over a continuous angle range of backwardly tilted head positions. Also, many of the prior art head supports do not provide a back mounted support plate which is contoured or shaped to the person's shoulder blades, nor do the prior art back mounted support plates provide a space for the person's spinal cord, which would minimize discomfort to the person, reduce movement of the head support, and increase stability of the back mounted support plate when attached to the person's back.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a headrest used by a person who must hold their head in a backwardly tilted position for extended periods. Such a person could be a workman who works with their head tilted backwardly, or a belayer who looks upwardly while attending the ropes used by a climber, or an individual with a physical disability or injury. The headrest provides support to the person's head, thereby relieving neck fatigue and other various discomforts.
Generally, a one-piece embodiment of the headrest is comprised of a back mounted support plate adapted to fit to the person's upper back and shoulders, a head support portion adapted to support the person's head, and a means for attaching the back mounted support plate to the person's upper back, such as a strap attachment system. In one embodiment, the headrest is unitarily formed from a moldable polymeric material so as to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture. The central body portion of the back mounted support plate has a concave surface which straddles the person's spine to increase comfort, to reduce movement of the head rest, and to increase stability of the back mounted support plate when attached to the person's upper back. Support to the person's head is provided by the head support portion which extends outwardly from the back mounted support plate. A head cushion may be affixed to the head support portion for extra comfort.
In a second embodiment, the headrest is comprised of a separate head support portion and a separate, back mounted support plate. The head support portion is pivotally connected to the back mounted support plate and a coil torsion spring functions as a biasing means to urge the head support portion toward the person's head so that contact can be maintained with the person's head over a continuous angle range of backwardly tilted head positions. A locking mechanism is provided which enables the person to fix the angular position of the head support portion.
The described headrest embodiments utilize a system of straps, threaded through strap slots in the wing portions of the back mounted support plate, to attach the headrest to the person's upper back and shoulders. Stability of the headrest is improved when the strap slots on the right wing portion are separated by at least six inches from the strap slots on the left wing portion. Three strap configurations have been developed for use by individuals using the headrest for different applications; belayers wearing a belayer's climbing harness, workmen wearing a tool belt attached to the waist, workers not wearing a tool belt, and physically impaired persons lacking motor skills controlling head position. These three embodiments rely on one of two means to offset the force exerted on the headrest when the weight of the head is supported by the headrest. One of these two means of support is a counter weight and more specifically the tool belt already worn by the worker and loaded with tools of his trade. The second means of support is the attachment of the primary straps to leg straps.
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Calvert John J.
Patel Tejash
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley
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