Portable Neck Support

Abstract

A portable neck support which includes height and side adjustments which is removably attached to a seat or other support apparatus.

Claims

1. A neck support comprising a rear support panel; a left and right side panel secured to the rear support panel; a cushion secured to the inner surfaces of the rear support panel and left/right side panels; a strap connecting one side of the cushion to the other side along the front of a person's neck; a head support panel; and a means to attach the neck support to a seat or other supporting apparatus.

2. The neck support of claim 1 wherein the connection between the left/right side panels and rear support panels is flexible.

3. The neck support of claim 1 wherein the connection between the left/right side panels and the rear support panel is a hinge.

4. The neck support of claim 1 wherein the seat attachment means are hooks which fit along the top of a seat of other supporting apparatus.

5. A neck support comprising a rear support panel; a left and right side panel flexibly secured to the rear support panel using a hinge; a cushion secured to the inner surfaces of the rear support panel and left/right side panels; a strap connecting one side of the cushion to the other side along the front of a person's neck; a head support panel; and hooks used to attach the neck support to a seat or other supporting apparatus.

6. The neck support of claim 6 wherein a height adjustment panel is movably attached to the rear support panel.

7. The neck support of claim 6 wherein a height adjustment panel is attached to the rear support panel using interconnected channels secured through by a pin.

8. The neck support of claim 6 wherein a height adjustment means is attached to the rear support panel using interconnected channels secured by a pin which can be tightened to hold the height adjustment panel in place.

9. The neck support of claim 6 wherein the hooks can be folded against the back of the rear support panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is an illustration of the neck support in use, attached to a seat.

[0007] FIG. 2 depicts the neck support adjusted fully upward.

[0008] FIG. 2A illustrates the neck support adjusted fully downward.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a front and rear view of the neck support with side panels collapsed.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a front, rear and side view of the neck support with side panels opened.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

[0012] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the neck support comprises a rear support panel [1] which in general fits against the seat and extends forward around a person's neck; a side panel [2]; seat attachment means [3]; a cushion [4] attached to the back support [1] and side panel [2]; and a strap [5] which attaches around the front of the neck of a user. The cushion [4] can be made of any material such as that type of material used to fill a pillow. Although FIG. 1 depicts only the left side panel however, an identical right panel is also included in the neck support. While other means such as straps could be used for the seat attachment means [3], FIG. 1 depicts the use of hooks [3] which extend from the front to the rear of a seat. While any number of hooks could be used, FIG. 1 depicts the use of two hooks [3]. While not necessary for functionality of the neck support, the seat attachment means [3] can be foldably attached to the rear support panel [1] which will allow ease of storage when the neck support is not is use.

[0013] FIG. 2 depicts both the left [2] and right side panel [2A], as well as the rear support panel [1] and the seat attachment means [3]. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the side panels [2] and [2A] are flexibly attached to a height adjustment panel [8] which includes a head support panel [7]. Although any flexible attachment between the side panels [2] and the height adjustment panel [1] can be used so long as such attachment allows side panels to fold inward or outward for custom neck adjustment, FIG. 1 depicts a two hinge approach [6]. The height adjustment panel [8] is movably attached to the rear support panel [1] to permit movement up or down. FIG. 2A illustrates the height adjustment panel [8] adjusted to a fully down position while FIG. 2B depicts the height adjustment panel [8] in the up position. While any conventional means can be utilized to allow the height adjustment panel [8] to move up or down along the rear support panel [1], FIG. 2 depicts use of interconnecting channels [9] and [10] within the rear support panel [1] and height adjustment panel [8] secured together through use of pin [11].

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates the rear side panels [2] and [2A] folded inward for ease of storage. FIG. 3 also illustrates the height adjustment panel [8] tightening apparatus [12]. Once the height adjustment panel [8] is adjusted up or down as seen in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the tightening apparatus [12] is rotated clockwise to secure the adjusted position. To allow movement of the height adjustment panel [8], the tightening apparatus [12] is rotated counter-clockwise. Also seen in FIG. 3 is the seat attachment means [3] folded inward, again for ease of storage. FIG. 4 depicts the neck support with side panels [2] and [2A] and seat attachment means [3] folded outward for actual used of the neck support by a person.

[0015] While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.