US2719577A - Headrests - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 4, 1955 F. EYMAN 2,719,577

HEADRESTS Filed Aug. 31, 1951 INVENTOR lg. 5'-

A? d 2 BY 4g/7% ATTORNEY 2,719,577 nnAnnns'rs' Frederick Eyman, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application August 31, 1951, Serial No. 244,515

2 Claims. (Cl. 155--174) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in headrests and, more particularly, to a headrest that is to be used by people travelling on buses or railroad coaches, especially at night where the traveller has to sit up straight or lean back in a reclining chair.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a relatively small headrest that is in no way connected to the seat or chair but, on the other hand, is simply placed in back of the head of the traveller and bears on the back of the chair, to thus keep the head in a comfortable position and prevent it from even jarring or rolling from side to side when the traveller is asleep.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small headrest that may be collapsed or folded so that it will take up but little room in the traveller's suitcase or bag when the headrest is not in use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a small, portable headrest, comprising two adjacent angularly positioned pads which may have cushions of foam rubber or other resilient material therein, over which will be a small leather or imitation leather covering, so as to provide a smooth surface for the head, and also prevent wear of the rubber pad.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a small headrest where the back portion against the back of the chair is roughened and lies practically within the same vertical plane throughout its width, so that the weight of the head against the headrest will provide a relatively large frictional surface, to thus keep the headrest in position when it is in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In my headrest I employ a supporting means made from relatively stiff non-bendable material. On the front surface of this supporting means I place two back members complementary to each other. Each of these back members has its front face disposed angularly relative to the front surface of the supporting means.

Referring now to the drawings, showing a preferred and one modified form,

Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved headrest,

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the headrest,

Fig. 5 is a view of the headrest in its collapsed position for carrying.

Referring now more particularly to the preferred form, there is shown the headrest 1, having two similar pads or back members 2 and 3. These pads 2 and 3 are complementary to each other and similar, so a description of one is a description of the other.

Referring to Fig. 4, for the moment, it will be seen that the pad 2 consists of a rigid back portion 4, which may be made of wood or plastic, and which has a slightly cupped or arcuate front face 5 throughout its width. Glued or otherwise secured to the face of this back por- United States Patent 2,719,577 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 2 tion 4 is a facing 'of soft rubber 6, over which is glued a leather covering). facing of soft rubber '6 "and the leather covering 7 form a cushion on the pad 2.

The other pad 3 is made in an identical manner, but is set at an angle to the pad 2, as may be seen in the several views.

Now, referring to Figs. 3 and 4 for the moment, there will be seen a back plate or supporting means 8, which is hinged as at 9 to a similar backv plate 10;, and, :here again, a description of the one is a description of the other.

This plate 8 has a roughened rear surface 11, as may be seen in Fig. 2, to provide a non-slipping contact with the back of a chair (not shown). This plate 8 may be made of wood, metal, or plastic, or other desirable material; and its lower end 12 extends inwardly to centrally of the two pads 2 and 3; and then the plates 8 and 10 are hinged to each other by the aforementioned hinge 9.

The pad 2 is hinged to the back plate 8 by the hinge 13, and the pad 3 has a similar hinge 14 hinging it to the back plate 10. Also hinged to the inner face of the back plate 8 is the brace 15 by the hinge 16, so that this brace 15 may be swung upwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and also as shown in the collapsed position of the headrest, as shown in Fig. 5.

In like manner, the pad 3 has the brace 17 that is hinged as at 18 to the inner face of the back plate 10.

In Fig. 5, I have shown the headrest in its collapsed position; and this is the way it will be carried in the suit-case or bag of the owner.

To open the headrest, it is simply necessary to pull the pads 2 and 3 from their hinged position, so that they will appear as in Fig. 1; and then the braces 15 and 17 will be pushed downwardly into the position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the weight of the head can not force them back from their set position. The headrest is then placed right at the base of the head and the user leans back, so that the pressure of the head will bear against the pads 2 and 3 and against the back'plates 8 and 10; and the roughened surface 11 contacting with the back of the chair will prevent the headrest 1 from slipping or moving. The head will then be held in a comfortable position, and, if the user sleeps, the headrest will prevent his head from sagging from side to side.

It will be seen that the headrest can be folded to occupy but little space in the suit-case or bag of the owner; and when the braces 15 and 17 are in their folded position and the pads 2 and 3 folded back, the small headrest will not be over two inches in height (Fig. 5) and several inches in width and length.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a headrest that is relatively simple in construction, of few parts, relatively cheap to manufacture, and may be either collapsed or dis-assembled to occupy but little space, and at the same time, will enhance the rest of the user.

Many slight changes might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patents is:

1. A portable headrest comprising supporting means made from relatively stiff non-bendable plate material and hinged centrally thereof, said supporting means having its rear surface roughened, two back members being complementary to each other and being disposed in spaced relationship to each other on the front surface of said supporting means, each of said back members having pivoted means adapted to support said back members angularly relative to the front surface of said supporting means.

2. A portable headrest comprising supporting means made from relatively stiif non-bendable plate material and hinged centrally thereof, two back members being complementary to each other and being disposed in 'means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,090 Watkins Jan. 17, 1893 4 4 Leahy Sept. 7, 1909 Weber Dec. 20, 1921 Ireland Dec. 23, 1941 Pulsifer June 5, 1951 Morecraft Feb. 26, 1952 Smith Mar. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 5, 1922 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1934

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