Folding Headrest Stand

Abstract

A compact headrest stand designed to be selectively unfolded and used to support a user's head or hold a book or device diagonally over a support surface. The stand includes a lower member pivotally attached to an upper member. Formed on the opposite edge of the lower member is a downward extending lip configured to capture the edge of a support surface. The upper member includes a center void and two support arms each with a saddle clip. Attached to the saddle clips is a headrest assembly configured to support the user's forehead and facial bones. During use, the upper member is diagonally aligned over the lower member and the headrest assembly which is elevated position above said lower member, may swivel freely between the two arms. Attached to the lower member is rotating stop leaf that presses against and holds the upper member diagonally over the lower member. In a second embodiment, an intermediate member is disposed between the lower plate and the upper member.

Claims

1. A headrest stand, comprising, a. a lower member that includes a proximal edge and a distal edge, attached or formed on said proximal edge is at least one downward extending lipt; b. an upper member that includes a lower edge pivotally attached to said distal edge on said lower member, said upper member includes two opposite side arms and a center cutout located between the two side arms, each said side arm includes a saddle clip; c. a headrest assembly configured to support a user's forehead, said headrest assembly includes two outward extending hubs configured to be inserted into said saddle clips formed on said side arms, said hubs and said saddle clips configured to enable said headrest assembly to swivel freely back and forth between said two side arms; and d. a stop leaf pivotally attached to said lower member, said stop leaf configured to pivot upward from said lower member and sufficient in length to support said upper member aligned diagonally over said lower member.

2. The headrest stand as recited in claim 1, further including a cutout formed on said lower planar member in which said stop leaf member may rest to axially align said stop leaf with said lower member.

3. The headrest stand as recited in claim 1, further including a slot or detent formed on said upper member that engages said stop leaf.

4. The headrest stand as recited in claim 1, further including a ledge attached to said upper member near said proximal end.

5. The headrest stand as recited in claim 2, further including a ledge attached to said lower member.

6. The headrest stand as recited in claim 3, further including a ledge attached to said upper member near said proximal end.

7. The headrest stand as recited in claim 1, further including an intermediate member located between said lower member and said upper member, said intermediate member being pivotally attached to said lower member and pivotally attached to said upper member.

8. The headrest stand as recited in claim 7, further including a lower ledge attached to said intermediate member.

9. The headrest stand as recited in claim 8, further including an upper ledge.

10. The headrest stand as recited in claim 9, wherein said upper ledge is formed or attached to said upper member.

11. The headrest stand as recited in claim 9, wherein said intermediate member includes an upper void area configured to receive said upper ledge formed on said upper member when said upper member is rotated and folded over said intermediate member.

12. The headrest stand as recited in claim 9, further including an extension leaf formed on said upper member that allows said upper member to rotate forward and prevents said upper member from rotating excessively beyond an axially aligned position with said intermediate member.

13. The headrest stand as recited in claim 7, wherein said center void formed on said upper member is configured so that said lower edge formed on said intermediate member extends into said center void enabling said upper member to fold over said intermediate member.

14. The headrest stand as recited in claim 1, further including a stop surface formed said first ledge configured to limit rotation of said upper member on said lower member.

15. The headrest stand as recited in claim 7, further including a stop surface formed said first ledge configured to limit rotation of said intermediate member on said lower member.

16. The headrest stand as recited in claim 8, further including an extension lip formed on said upper member configured to limit rotation of said upper member over said intermediate member.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the folding headrest stand in an extended configuration.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a left-side elevational view of the folding headrest stand shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the folding headrest stand in an extended configuration with the headrest assembly removed.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a left-side elevational view of the folding headrest stand shown in FIG. 3.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the headrest assembly.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the folding headrest stand in a folded configuration with the headrest removed.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view of the folding headrest stand shown in FIG. 6.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the headrest stand that includes an intermediate member between the lower member and the upper member.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the headrest stand shown in FIG. 8.

[0024] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the intermediate member and upper member folded over the lower member.

[0025] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view showing the intermediate member and upper member axially aligned and extended diagonally over the lower member.

[0026] FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view showing the intermediate member and upper member axially aligned and extended diagonally over the lower member.

[0027] FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the intermediate member and upper member folded into a compact configuration over the lower member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0028] A compact, folding headrest stand 10 designed to be stored in a compact, folded configuration and then selectively unfolded and used to support a user's head over a support surface 90.

[0029] The headrest stand 10 includes a lower member 12 pivotally attached along its distal edge to an upper member 30. In the Figs, the lower member 12 and the upper member 30 are flat, planer structures. It should be understood, however, they may be other shapes. Formed on the proximal edge of the lower member 12 is at least one downward extending lip 14 (two lips 14, 14′ shown) that captures the edge 92 on the support surface 90. Formed on the distal end of the lower member 12 is a first hinge 16 that pivotally attaches the upper member 30 to the lower member 12. Also formed on the distal end of the lower member 12 is a first ledge configured to hold a book or device over the outside surface of the upper member 30. In the embodiment shown in the Figs, the first ledge 19 is u-shaped with an inside leg 19A that presses against the outside surface of upper member 30 to prevent excessive forward movement of the upper member 30 over the lower member 12.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, the upper member 30 includes a large center void 50 and two support arms 60, 60′ on opposite sides of the center void 50. Each support arm 60, 60′ includes a saddle clip 64, 64′, respectively.

[0031] Suspended between and attached to the saddle clips 64, 64′ is a headrest assembly 70 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The headrest assembly 70 includes a curved, thin u-shaped body 71 with a concave, upper transverse member 72 and two downward extending two side arms 73, 73′. Extending outward from each side arm 73, 73′ is an outward extending hub 74, 74′. Each hub 74, 74′ are sufficiently spaced apart and designed to be captured by the saddles clip 64, 64′. During use, the headrest assembly 70 is placed over the upper member 30 so that the hubs 74, 74′, respectively, fit into the saddle clips 64, 64′ to support the headrest assembly 70 in an elevated position over the lower member 12. The ends of the two side arms 73, 73′ are spaced apart and detached thereby creating a nose relief slot 77 that receives the user's nose when the user's head is placed over the body 71. The inside surface of the headrest assembly 70 may be covered by a complimentary-shaped cushion cover 75 for greater comfort. The headrest assembly 70 is configured to evenly distribute the weight of the user's head over the user's forehead and zygomas. In the preferred embodiment, the headrest assembly 70 is sufficient wide and long to accommodate glasses worn by the user.

[0032] Pivotally attached to the inside surface of the lower member 12 along one edge is rotating stop leaf 80. In the embodiment shown herein, the stop leaf 80 is stored in a complimentary-shaped cutout 84 formed on the lower member 12. For compact storage, the stop leaf 80 is folded into the cutout 84, enabling the upper member 30 to be rotated and stacked directly above the lower member 12 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0033] Formed on the inside surface of the upper member 30 are optional stop detents 83. When the stop leaf 80 is diagonally aligned, the distal end of the stop leaf 80 engages the detents 83 to prevent movement of the stop leaf 80 on the upper member 30. The upper member 30 is rotated upward during use, and the stop leaf 80 is rotated upward from lower member 12 to the desired position to support the upper member 30 in the diagonal position to support the upper member 30.

[0034] FIGS. 8-13 show a second embodiment of the headrest stand 110, which includes an intermediate member 120 disposed between the lower member 112 and the upper member 130. When the headrest assembly 70 is attached to the upper member 130, the intermediate member 120 positions the headrest assembly 70 at a higher, elevated position above the support surface 90.

[0035] The lower member 112 is similar to the lower member 112 used with the headrest standing 10. The lower member 110 includes at least one downward extending lip 114 (two lips 114, 114′ shown) that captures the edge 92 on the support surface 90. Formed on the distal end of the lower member 112 is a first hinge 116 that pivotally attaches the intermediate member 120 to the lower member 110. As shown in FIG. 9, formed or attached to the distal end of the lower member 112 is an optional extension lip 115 that prevents excessive forward rotation of the intermediate member 120 on the lower member 110.

[0036] The intermediate member 120 is a planar structure pivotally attached to the lower member 112 via the first hinge 116. Formed or attached to the immediate member 120 is an outward extending lower ledge 122. The lower ledge 122 is configured to hold a book or tablet computer diagonally. The distal edge of the intermediate member 120 connects to the upper member 130 via a second hinge 135. Formed on the inside surface of the intermediate member 120 is an optional, transversely aligned slot 124 that receives the distal edge of the stop member 80.

[0037] The upper member 130 used in headrest stand 110 is similar to the upper member 30 used in the headrest stand 10. The upper member 130 includes two support arms 132, 132′ separated by a large center void 134. Each support arm 132, 132′ includes a saddle clip 144, 144″, respectively.

[0038] Suspended between and attached to the saddle clips 144, 144′ is the headrest assembly 70 used in the headrest stand 10.

[0039] Formed or attached to the proximal end of the upper member 130 is an optional, forward extending upper ledge 140. When the upper member 130 is rotated around the second hinge 135, the upper ledge 140 travels through a slot opening 129 formed along the distal end of the intermediate member 120.

[0040] As shown more clearly in FIGS. 11 and 13, the lateral edges of the intermediate member 120 and the upper member 130 are curved and form two continuous arcs when the headrest stand 110 is extended. When folded for compact storage, the lower ledge 122 partially extends through the large center void 132 forming a planar, compact, folded structure.

[0041] Also formed on the intermediate member 120 are two slots 125, 126 that aligned with the hinge knuckles 113 (one shown only) on the lower member 112 used with hinge used to attach the stop leat 80 to the lower member 112 pivotally. During use, the hinge knuckles 113 partially extend through the slots 125, 126, which allow the intermediate member 120 to stack directly over the lower member 112.

[0042] In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.