Head and neck rest device

Abstract

A head and neck rest device includes two pillow bodies and two head support blocks. The two pillow bodies each have a first end portion and a second end portion. A neck support strap is connected between two opposing sides of the two pillow bodies. The two head support blocks are coupled to the first end portions of the two pillow bodies. The two head support blocks gradually extend downward from the two opposing sides, respectively. The two pillow bodies and the two head support blocks can fully surround the user's head, and do not abut against the two sides of the user's cheek, so as to avoid the occurrence of temporomandibular arthritis. The head and neck rest device can achieve the purpose of relaxation and rest.

Claims

1. A head and neck rest device, comprising: two pillow bodies, each of the two pillow bodies having a first end portion and a second end portion, each of the two pillow bodies having opposing inner and outer sidewalls, a neck support strap connected between the inner sidewalls of the two pillow bodies, wherein the neck support strap is located intermediate the first and second end portions of the two pillow bodies; two head support blocks coupled to the first end portions of the two pillow bodies, the two head support blocks gradually extending downward from the inner sidewalls of the two pillow bodies, respectively; a non-slip layer connected between the first end portions of the two pillow bodies and between the two head support blocks, the non-slip layer being made of a material with a high non-slip coefficient, the non-slip layer having a length greater than that of the neck support strap.

2. The head and neck rest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two pillow bodies are filled with an elastic filler selected from one of foam, air, cotton, and silicone.

3. The head and neck rest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two pillow bodies are elongate arc-shaped blocks or elongate straight blocks.

4. The head and neck rest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two head support blocks are arc-shaped concave blocks.

5. The head and neck rest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two head support blocks are integrally formed with the two pillow bodies.

6. The head and neck rest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two head support blocks are filled with an elastic filler selected from one of foam, air, cotton, and silicone.

7. The head and neck rest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end portions of the two pillow bodies extend beyond the neck support strap, and a fastener, a fastening strap, or a hook-and-loop fastener is connected between the outer sidewalls of the two pillow bodies adjacent the second end portions of the two pillow bodies.

8. The head and neck rest device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fastener includes a male fastening member and a female fastening member, the male fastening member and the female fastening member are thereby fastened to each other.

9. The head and neck rest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end portions of the two pillow bodies extend beyond the neck support strap, and are configured to rest against a shoulder portion of a user, each of the two pillow bodies having a fastener element for releasably joining one to the other and are thereby being configured for abutting a user's neck to maintain head and neck alignment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is another perspective view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a front view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a top view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a bottom view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention when in use;

(7) FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the pressure and force generated by the pillow bodies against the user's head according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the gap formed between the neck support strap and the seat back according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the non-slip layer attached to the seat back according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective showing the two pillow bodies in the form of an elongate straight block according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

(11) FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing that the user's head and neck rest on a conventional travel pillow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a head and neck rest device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises two pillow bodies (1), two head support blocks (2), and a non-slip layer (3).

(14) The two pillow bodies (1) are filled with an elastic filler, such as foam, air, cotton, and silicone. The two pillow bodies (1) each have a first end portion (11) and a second end portion (12). The second end portion (12) is an elongate arc-shaped block. A neck support strap (14), as shown in FIG. 3, is connected between two opposing sides (13) of the two pillow bodies (1). The neck support strap (14) is partially connected to the two opposing sides (13) of the two pillow bodies (1), as shown in FIG. 4, that is to say, the neck support strap (14) is partially separated from the two opposing sides (13) of the two pillow bodies (1). A fastener (15), a fastening strap or a hook-and-loop fastener is connected between the second end portions (12) of the two pillow bodies (1). The fastener (15) includes a male fastening member (151) and a female fastening member (152), so that the male fastening member (151) and the female fastening member (152) are fastened to each other.

(15) The two head support blocks (2) are arc-shaped concave blocks, and are coupled to the first end portions (11) of the two pillow bodies (1). The two head support blocks (2) gradually extend downward from the two opposing sides (13), respectively. The two head support blocks (2) may be integrally formed with the two pillow bodies (1), or may be additionally coupled to the two pillow bodies (1). The two head support blocks (2) are filled with an elastic filler, such as foam, air, cotton, and silicone.

(16) The non-slip layer (3) is connected between the first end portions (11) of the two pillow bodies (1) and between the two head support blocks (2), as shown in FIG. 3. The non-slip layer (3) may be made of a material with a high non-slip coefficient. In addition, the length of the non-slip layer (3) is greater than that of the neck support strap (14), so that the two first end portions (11) can be widened to a relatively large degree, so as to accommodate the heads of different users.

(17) In use, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the two first end portions (11) of the two pillow bodies (1) lean against the back of the user's head (A), and the user's neck (A1) rests on the neck support strap (14), and the two pillow bodies (1) are placed on a seat back (C). Because the two first end portions (11) are subjected to the downward pressure (P) when the head (A) abuts against the two first end portions (11), the two second end portions (12) tilts upward to be curved against the shoulder of the user. The two first end portions (11) of the two pillow bodies (1) and the two head support blocks (2) correspond to the outline of the head (A). The two second end portions (12) are elongate arc-shaped blocks, corresponding to the outline of the user's neck. The male fastening member (151) and the female fastening member (152) are fastened to each other, so that the two second end portions (12) can be tightly fitted to the user's neck. The neck support strap (14) can generate a supporting balanced force (P1) on the user's neck (A1). The seat back (C) bears the weight of the head (A) through the two pillow bodies (1). The user's head (A) and neck (A1) exert the downward pressure (P) on the neck support strap (14), so that the two pillow bodies (1) support the user's neck (A1) and the occipital bone through the reaction force generated by the two pillow bodies (1) due to the elastic deformation. The two first end portions (11) of the two pillow bodies (1) and the two head support blocks (2) can be used to support the center of gravity of the head (A), so that the head (A) and the neck (A1) are kept in a straight line without being offset arbitrarily. The head (A) can be completely surrounded, and the two pillow bodies (1) do not abut against the two sides of the user's cheek. Thus, the head (A) will not skew or lean forward due to muscle relaxation, or the muscles of the neck (A1), the spine and the temporomandibular joint will not be injured by compression, stretching and malocclusion. Therefore, the present invention can achieve the purpose of relaxation and rest.

(18) As shown in FIG. 8, when the two pillow bodies (1) are placed on the seat back (C), the two second end portions (12) will be curved against the shoulder of the user, and a gap (C1) will be formed between the neck support strap (14) and the seat back (C). Through the gap (C1), air can be circulated and ventilated to dissipate heat, so as to prevent the two pillow bodies (1) from being stuffy when the user's head (A) is rested on the pillow bodies (1). The two first end portions (11), the two head support blocks (2) and the neck support strap (14) can be used to support the user's head (A) and neck (A1). Therefore, a large-area space is formed among the head (A), the neck (A1) and the seat back (C), which is beneficial to ventilate and dissipate heat, so as to achieve a comfortable and cool effect. In particular, the two pillow bodies (1) will not abut against the two sides of the user's cheek to affect the makeup on the user's face, so as to maintain the user's look.

(19) As shown in FIG. 9, when the non-slip layer (3) connected between the two first end portions (11) of the two pillow bodies (1) and between the two head support blocks (2) is attached to the seat back (C), the non-slip layer (3) made of a material with a high non-slip coefficient can generate a large frictional force, thereby preventing the two pillow bodies (1) from sliding relative to the seat back (C). It can be more comfortable and stable during sleep, and it is not easy to shake.

(20) In general, there are two causes of temporomandibular arthritis (Data Source: Dr. Ke Zhengyu-temporomandibular arthritis):

(21) 1. Derived from muscle: Most of the symptoms comes from abnormal tooth occlusion, a small part comes from that a person grinds his/her teeth in sleep or gnashes his/her teeth in anger or psychological stress, resulting in muscle spasms around the joints. If a person uses an improper pillow for a long time, it may also cause temporomandibular arthritis.

(22) 2. Derived from arthrosis: this is relatively rare and comes from the joint degeneration, inflammation, tumor or autoimmune disease. Because the pain innervation of the outer sac and muscle of the temporomandibular joint is the same as that of the ear, it comes from the fifth pair of brain nerves—the trigeminal nerve. Moreover, the temporomandibular joint is close to and in front of the ear. When the temporomandibular joint is painful, the brain will think that the ear innervated by the trigeminal nerve is also painful, so the patient feels ear pain (referred pain). 75% of adults have at least one symptom of a temporomandibular joint on examination epidemiologically, but only 5% of patients need treatments. The male-to-female ratio is 1:4, most in ages of 20-40.

(23) Therefore, the present invention uses the overall structure of the two pillow bodies (1) combined with the neck support strap (14) and the two head support blocks (2) to support the user's head (A) and neck (A1) effectively and stably, without touching the two sides of the user's cheek, so it can effectively prevent the temporomandibular arthritis to ensure the user's health.

(24) When a person rests his/her chin in the hand, the upper cervical vertebrae feels quite strong pressure, and the neck muscles actually contract rather than relax. Therefore, when a person rests his/her chin in the hand, the muscles does not relax, which results in more muscle contraction. When the force to rest one's chin increases, neck muscle contraction increases, and pressure rises. When an improper head rest device is used to rest the chin, the weight of the head is not completely applied to the head rest device. In fact, the reaction force is applied to the chin, which causes the tendency that the head turns to two sides. In order to avoid the tendency that the head turns to the two sides for keeping the head in a neutral position, the muscles of the neck need to resist this reaction force. Therefore, when the weight of the whole body is supported in this posture, the muscles of the neck need to resist with might and main. This will lead to improper use of the body and muscle stiffness. (Data Source: Zhang Guangzu Physical Therapist's Freehand Therapy World) (https://blog.xuite.net/xpung/spine/480531549-%E6%84%88%E6%89%98%E6%84%88%E7%B4%AF%E7%9A%84%E7%BE%8E%E4%BA%BA%E6%89%98%E8%85%AE)

(25) In the present invention, the two first end portions (11) of the two pillow bodies (1) and the two head support blocks (2) correspond to the outline of the head (A), and the neck support strap (14) can generate a supporting balanced force on the user's neck (A1) to counteract the reaction force and support the center of gravity of the head (A), so that the neck (A1) and the head (A) can be kept in a straight line without any offset.

(26) In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the two second end portions (42) of the two pillow bodies (4) are elongate straight blocks, so that the two pillow bodies (4) and the head support blocks (2) can fully surround the user's head, without touching both sides of the cheek, so as to avoid the occurrence of temporomandibular arthritis. Therefore, the present invention can achieve the purpose of relaxation and rest.

(27) Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.