US3159426A

US3159426A - Head rest

Info

Publication number: US3159426A
Application number: US172389A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth C Kerr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-02-12
Filing date: 1962-02-12
Publication date: 1964-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-01

Description

Dec. 1, 1964 c KERR 3,159,426

HEAD REST Filed Feb. 12 1962 ill INVBVTOR. KENNETH C. KERR I syia w w ATTORNEY United States Patent on ice 3,159,426 Patented Dec. 1, 1964 3,159,426 HEAD REST Kenneth C. Kerr, 1222 5. Riverside, Medford, Oreg. Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,389 6 Claims. (Cl. 297-408) This invention relates to new and novel improvements in head rests and is exemplified herein for use as a dental chair head rest, although it is to be understood that the device may serve as well for other applications.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a head rest of improved contour, and more particularly one which has a transverse curvature for firmly supporting the head and neck, which has side openings for receiving the ears, and which has lower, side projections capable of providing a firm support for a persons aw.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a head rest having novel support means therefor wherein the head rest is adjustably pivotal on a horizontal axis and furthermore is movable on a laterally disposed arcuate track for positioning a persons head in straight forward or turned positions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a head rest pivotally supported on a horizontal axis and the axis is disposed in a plane substantially horizontal with the neck pivot of a person supporting his head in the rest.

It is a further object to provide an improved track structure for a head rest allowing the head rest to be moved on the track to various turned positions.

It is still another object to provide a head rest having novel means for turning the same from side to side and incorporating structure facilitating a power drive therefor.

Still another object is to proivde a laterally movable head rest having means for locking the head rest in desired positions of lateral adjustment.

Yet another object is to proivde a head rest which by a novel construction facilitates the application of speaker means therein for entertaining the person using it.

Briefly stated, the present device employs a head rest member, bracket support means, and means interconnecting the head rest member and the bracket support means whereby the head rest member is pivotal on a horizontal axis and also is turnable from side to side. The head rest member has a design providing for positive support for the head as Well as the neck, it has a side contour forming ear openings, and it has lower, side projections which are adapted for engagement by the jaw. The device also employs locking means for positioning the head rest in a selected turned position and also has means facilitating power drive for moving said head rest in its laterally turning movement.

The invention will be better understood and the manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present head rest and showing in phantom lines a persons head supported therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view looking clownwardly, taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of supporting and track means for the head rest, taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2 and showing the track means laid out in a fiat condition;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and showing in particular locking means for anchoring the head rest in selected turned positions of the head;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of head rest supporting structure incorporating power drive means therein.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the present invention employs a head rest 10 which, as apparent in FIGURE 2, is laterally arcuate for receiving comfortably the back side of a person's head. This member is constructed of a suitably contoured rear frame element 14 and front padding or cushioning 16 and is suitably upholstered to present a pleasing appearance.

As apparent in FIGURE 1, the upright dimension of the head rest member is such as to support the back of the head as Well as the neck of a person. The terminal forwardly directed edges of the head rest are curved at 18, FIGURE 1, so as to be disposed behind the persons ear whereby the ear does not engage head rest structure. The curvatures 18 lead into lower, forwardly directed projections 20 which are sulficiently elongated to provide lateral support throughout a substantial length of the jaw.

Securely fixed to the frame member 14 of the head rest, as by screws 24, is an arcuate roller mounting base 26. Secured to the base 26 are upper and lower pins 28 on which are mounted flanged support rollers 30. Bushings 32 are carried on the pins 28 intermediate the rollers 30 and the base 26 for positioning said rollers in selective spaced position from the base. As best apparent in FIG- URE 3 there are a pair of upper rollers and a pair of lower rollers.

Also supported on the base 26 is a pair of vertically disposed backing rollers 34, these rollers being mounted between suitable ears 36 secured to the base.

Flanged rollers 30 engage an arcuate track 40 for supporting the head rest thereon, the track being engaged within the flanged portion of the rollers and the rollers 34 engaging the back surface of the track. Thus it is apparent that the head rest member is movable on the track and capable of positioning the head rest straight forward or in various laterally turned positions to each side thereof, the rollers 30 supporting the head rest on the track and providing turning movement thereof on the track, and the rollers 34 hearing the backward leaning weight of the persons head.

Track 40 is supported by an arcuate frame member 42 having a standard 44 adapted for connection to a chair frame. In the case of dental chairs, clamp means 46 are provided on the chair and engageable with the standard 44 to accommodate vertical adjustment of the latter.

Securement of the track 40 to the arcuate frame member 42 is accomplished through the intermediary of V- shaped brackets 50 having one leg thereof secured to the track 40, as by means of screws 52 disposed through slots 54 in the bracket and threaded in tapped bores in the track 40. The slots 54 are elongated to provide for suitable positioning in mounting, and the screws 52 are of minimum length so as not to extend through the track 4!] whereby rollers 34 have free rolling engagement on the track in the plane of the screws.

The other legs of the V-shaped brackets 50 are attached to the frame member 42 by means of screws 56. More particularly, the screws 56, in a preferred arrangement, pass freely through apertures in brackets 50 and are threaded in tapped bores in the frame member 42 to pivotally support the brackets 50. Disposed between the head of screws 56 and brackets 50 are spring means such as coil springs 58 and upon tightening the screws a selected amount to compress the springs the head rest is anchored rather firmly but yet capable of pivotal adjustment on said screws.

Brackets 50 are narrower than the track 40, FIGURE 3, so that the flanged rollers 30 are movable into the plane thereof. Thus, these rollers may move along the track to substantially the ends thereof if necessary. Resilient stops 59 are mounted at the ends of track 40 for abutment by rollers 30, these stops being sufficiently wide to be engaged by said rollers.

It will be apparent that the present head rest is pivotal on a horizontal axis, i.e. on the screws 56, and also is movable on the track 40 to provide straight forward positioning thereof as well as laterally turned positions. Thus when the head rest is used on a dental chair the dentist can achieve any head position of the patient desired. When it is desired that the jaw be supported firmly as when extracting a tooth, the head is turned in the head rest whereby to bring the jaw into abutment with the jaw supports 20. The back of the head, the neck, and the jaw are securely supported so that the dentist need not be concerned with causing injuries to a patient from lack of jaw support.

For the purpose of locking the head rest against movement on the track 40, a friction locking roller 60, shown in delail in FIGURES 4 and 5, is mounted on a bent or curved shaft 62 rotatably supported in vertically spaced ears 64 secured suitably to base 26. Shaft 62 has an integral turning handle 66 at its upper end. Roller is disposed intermediate the base 26 and the track 40 and is positioned and dimensioned such that when rotated to a position wherein the bent portion of the shaft is directed toward the track the roller securely engages the track to lock the head rest in a stationary position. When the locking roller is rotated to a position with the bent portion of the shaft parallel to the track or toward the head rest the roller is disengaged from the track 40 and the head rest is movable freely on the track.

It is also within the purview of the present invention to provide power drive means for moving the head rest relative to the track. For this purpose, and with reference to FIGURE 6, a drive friction roller 70 is integrally secured to a flexible shaft 72 journaled in ears 74 secured to base 26. Flexible shaft 72 leads to suitable power means such as an electric motor and the friction roller 70 is mounted so as to be in firm abutting relation with strap 40. Thus upon powered rotation of such friction roller the head rest is driven along the track 40.

The present invention also employs sound speakers in the head rest. For this purpose, head rest frame 14 has apertures 78 preferably in the jaw supports 20, and mounted over these apertures on the outer surface of frame 14 are speakers 80. Outer caps 82 are provided to protect the speakers.

Padding 16 has an opening 84 for the direct transmission of sound from the speaker to the inner area of the curved head rest, and any upholstery material which covers the head rest is suitably apertured adjacent the inner end of the opening 84 or turned in to define the opening in the padding as shown in FIGURE 2. Also, a protective mesh material 86 is provided over the inner end of openings 78 to protect the speakers on the inner side of the head rest.

Lead wires 88 from the speakers are directed along the inner surface of the frame 14 to a plug-in assembly 90 whereby a convenient attachment to amplifier and sound apparatus, not shown, is achieved.

Thus, music may be broadcast to a person using the head rest. In the case of a dental chair head rest, the patient through the medium of music, instructive programs, or other types of entertainment is caused to relax. This reduces the anxiety usually existing in dental patients and obviously improves working conditions for the dentist. Such sound apparatus may also be employed for accomplishing hypnosis.

The particular structure of the head rest as incorporating the speaker means in the jaw support facilitates entertainment of the user without covering the ears. The users head is free for movement in the rest and since his ears are not covered, communication with the person using all) the rest can readily be accomplished. Also, the use of two speakers, one on each side of the head facilitates the application of stereophonic sound to the head rest.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A head rest comprising a laterally arcuate portion for supporting the back of a persons head and having terminal forwardly directed edges, at least one of the terminal edges having a projecting portion leading forwardly at a point adjacent the lower end thereof to project in an area below and forwardly of the ear of a person Whose head is supported in the head rest, thereby forming a lateral jaw support.

2. The head rest of claim 1 including rearwardly recessed portions in the said terminal edges above the jaw supports to form car openings.

3. The head rest of claim 1 wherein a jaw support is provided on each side of the head rest and said jaw supports comprise a fixed and integral extension of the head rest, said head rest including support means therefor, and means connecting said head rest to said support means for rotatable adjustment on a horizontal axis.

4. The head rest of claim 3 including means connecting said head rest to said support means for lateral movement on an arcuate path to vary the forward facing direction of the head rest.

5. A head rest comprising a laterally arcuate portion for supporting the back of a persons head and having terminal forwardly directed edges, at least one of the terminal edges having a projecting portion leading forwardly at a point adjacent the lower end thereof to project in an area below and forwardly of the ear of a person whose head is supported in the head rest, thereby forming a lateral jaw support, said head rest including support means therefor, an arcuate track pivotally connected to said support means on a horizontal axis, roller means on said head rest rotatable on a horizontal axis and engaged with said track to support the head rest on the track for adjusting movement to vary the forward facing direction of the head rest, and releasable lock means between said head rest and said track for releasably locking said head rest.

6. A head rest comprising a laterally arcuate portion for supporting the back of a persons head and having terminal forwardly directed edges, at least one of the terminal edges having a projecting portion leading forwardly at a point adjacent the lower end thereof to project in an area below and forwardly of the ear of a person whose head is supported in the head rest, thereby forming a lateral jaw support, said head rest including support means therefor, an arcuate track pivotally connected to said support means on a horizontal axis, first roller means on said head rest rotatable on a horizontal axis and engaged with said track to support the head rest on the track for adjusting movement to vary the forward facing direction of the head rest, second roller means rotatable on a vertical axis and interengaged between said head rest and said track to bear rearward forces imparted on said head rest and thereby provide substantially a friction free adjusting movement of said head rest on said track, and releasable lock means between said head rest and said track for releasably locking said head rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 937,343 Wallace Oct. 19, 1909 1,257,427 Underwood Feb. 26, 1918 2,629,023 La Fitte Feb. 17, 1953

Claims

1. A HEAD REST COMPRISING A LATERALLY ARCUATE PORTION FOR SUPPORTING THE BACK OF A PERSON''S HEAD AND HAVING TERMINAL FORWARDLY DIRECTED EDGES, AT LEAST ONE OF THE TERMINAL EDGES HAVING A PROJECTING PORTION LEADING FORWARDLY AT A POINT ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF TO PROJECT IN AN AREA BELOW AND FORWARDLY OF THE EAR OF A PERSON WHOSE HEAD IS SUPPORTED IN THE HEAD REST, THEREBY FORMING A LATERAL JAW SUPPORT.