Travel support structure

Abstract

A support structure for at least partially supporting a user's head is described. The support structure comprises a frame having a head engaging portion and a shoulder engaging portion, the shoulder engaging portion adapted to spread the load of the user's head over a user's shoulder, the frame being shaped to the contour of the user's body from the head engaging portion to the shoulder engaging portion.

Claims

1. A travel accessory configured to be wrapped around a user's neck, the travel accessory comprising: a scarf element comprising an elongated length of fabric material including a pocket at a first end and a fastener at a second end; and a support frame including a head engaging portion, a shoulder engaging portion, and a neck engaging portion, the neck engaging portion including a curved profile to emulate a shape of the user's neck, the head engaging portion and the shoulder engaging portion each comprising a first limb and a second limb, the neck engaging portion connecting one end of the first limb of the head engaging portion to one end of the first limb of the shoulder engaging portion and one end of the second limb of the head engaging portion to one end of the second limb of the shoulder engaging portion thereby defining a substantially H-shaped support frame, the H-shaped support frame insertable into the pocket such that the first and second limbs of the head engaging portion and the shoulder engaging portion are arranged normal to an axis of the scarf, wherein, when in use, the pocket containing the support frame is pressed against the user's neck such that the neck engaging portion engages the user's neck, the head engaging portion is located adjacent a user's jaw line, the shoulder engaging portion is located adjacent a user's shoulder, the support frame is secured against the user's neck by passing the second end of the scarf around the user's neck, thereby wrapping the user's neck within the elongated length of fabric material and the second end of the elongated length of fabric material is secured to an external surface of the scarf thereby securing the neck engaging portion against the user's neck such that H-shaped support frame is positioned for the head engaging portion to provide a rest for a user's head when the user's head is tilted towards the frame support.

2. The travel accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when in use opposite edges of the pocket provide a bridge between open ends of the first limb and second limb of the head engaging portion and a bridge between open ends of the first limb and second limb of the shoulder engaging portion.

3. The travel accessory as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a web configured to receive the H-shaped support frame; the H-shaped support frame insertable into the web such that the web provides a bridge between open ends of the first limb and the second limb of the head engaging portion and a bridge between open ends of the first limb and the second limb of the shoulder engaging portion.

4. The travel accessory as claimed in claim 3, wherein the web containing the H-shaped support frame is insertable in the pocket such that the first limb and the second limb of the head engaging portion and the first limb and the second limb of the shoulder engaging portion are arranged normal to an axis of the scarf.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which;

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support structure for at least partially supporting a user's head, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of part of the support structure frame of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the support structure frame of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the support structure frame of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is an end view of the support structure frame of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6, comprising FIGS. 6A to 6D, is a sequential series of views showing support structure of FIG. 1 being used by a user; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a close-up of the support structure frame of FIG. 6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(9) Referring firstly to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a support structure, generally indicated by reference numeral 10 for at least partially supporting a user's head (not shown) according to a first embodiment of the present Invention.

(10) The support structure 10 comprises a frame 12 and an anchoring means 14 in the form of a scarf 16. The frame 12 is contained within a pocket 18 located at a first end 20 of the scarf 16.

(11) The frame 12 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, perspective, top, side and then views of the support structure frame 12 of FIG. 1.

(12) The frame 12 comprises a single piece of resilient polymeric material and defines a head engaging portion 30 and a shoulder engaging portion 40. As will be shown, the shoulder engaging portion 40 is adapted to spread the load of the user's head over a user's shoulder. The frame 12 is shaped to the contour of the user's body from the head engaging portion 30 the shoulder engaging portion 40.

(13) The head engaging portion 30 comprises a first head engaging limb 32 and a second head engaging limb 34, the first and second head engaging limbs 32, 34, being connected by a head engaging portion connecting member 36.

(14) The shoulder engaging portion 40 comprises a first shoulder engaging limb 42 and a second shoulder engaging limb 44, the first and second shoulder engaging limbs 42, 44 being connected by a shoulder engaging portion connecting member 46.

(15) The head engaging portion limbs 32, 34 have respective head engaging surfaces 52, 54 which are angled towards each other to cup, in use, a part of user's jaw. Similarly, the shoulder engaging portion limbs 42, 44 have respective shoulder engaging surfaces 62, 64 which also angled towards each other to cup between them two portions of the convex surface of a user's shoulder when in use.

(16) It will be noted, the limbs 32, 34, 42, 44 are paddle shaped in that they are wider at their free ends, 58, 58, 68, 68 than at their connecting ends 57, 59, 67, 69 where they join their respective connecting members 36, 46

(17) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2-FIG. 5, the frame 12 is in an uncompressed configuration. That is, the configuration shown on these Figures is a not in use configuration, the frame 12 being adapted to be compressed under the weight of the user's head. In this uncompressed configuration, the head engaging portion connecting member 36 and the shoulder engaging portion connecting member 46 are in contact at their respective midpoint's 38, 48. This will be discussed further in due course

(18) In use, the frame 12 is fitted into the pocket 18 of the scarf 16. Referring to FIG. 1, the sides of the pocket 80, 82 maintain a substantially constant spacing between the head engaging portion limbs 32, 34 and a substantially constant spacing between the shoulder engaging portion limbs 42, 44. The scarf surface 84 providing a bridging means 86 to provide a comfortable contact surface for the user.

(19) Operation of the support structure 10 will now be described with reference to FIG. 6 comprising FIGS. 6A-6D, a sequential series showing fitting of the support structure 10 to a user 100.

(20) The user 100 places the first end of the scarf 20 containing the frame 12 inside the scarf pocket 18 against their neck 102 such that the frame head engaging portion 30 rests against the underside of the user's jaw 104 and the frame shoulder engaging portion 40 lies across the user's shoulder 106.

(21) The user 100 takes a scarf second end 108 and passes it around their neck 102, until the scarf encircles their neck 102.

(22) The scarf first and second ends 20, 108 are provided with hook and loop fastener portions 110, 112 which are brought together to secure the support structure to the user 100, thereby providing structure 10 adapted to at least partially support the user's head 114 permitting them to sleep comfortably in an upright position.

(23) Referring to FIG. 7, a close-up of the frame 10 shown in FIG. 6B in which the frame 12 is partially compressed, it will be noted that the head engaging portion connecting member 36 and a shoulder engaging portion connecting member 46 for much of the length of the respective portions. This provides extra rigidity to the support structure 10, allowing for an initial give when the user 100 puts the weight of their head 114 on the support structure 10 by providing more resistance as the user applied weight increases and the size of the contact area between the connecting members 36, 46 increases.

(24) Various modifications and improvements may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the bridging means may include an elasticated strap between the free ends of the limbs.