HEADREST ASSEMBLY FOR A BATHTUB AND BATHTUB DEVICE

Abstract

A headrest assembly includes a suction cup including an assembling shaft sleeve and a headrest including a headrest convex portion and a headrest concave portion. The headrest concave portion and the headrest convex portion are positioned on a same side of the headrest. The headrest is pivotably connected with the assembling shaft sleeve. The headrest is operable at a first state and a second state and configured to transition between the first state and the second state. The headrest concave portion is located obliquely above the headrest convex portion at the first state and the headrest concave portion is located obliquely below the headrest convex portion at the second state.

Claims

1. A headrest assembly for a bathtub, comprising: a suction cup including an assembling shaft sleeve; and a headrest including a headrest convex portion and a headrest concave portion, the headrest concave portion and the headrest convex portion positioned on a same side of the headrest; wherein the headrest is pivotably connected with the assembling shaft sleeve; and wherein the headrest is operable in a first state and in a second state and configured to transition between the first state and the second state, the headrest concave portion located obliquely above the headrest convex portion in the first state and the headrest concave portion located obliquely below the headrest convex portion in the second state.

2. The headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the headrest concave portion is positioned adjacent to the headrest concave portion.

3. The headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein: a side of the headrest adjacent the suction cup includes a fixing sleeve; and the assembling shaft sleeve is coupled to a rotating shaft sleeve, the rotating shaft sleeve connected with the fixing sleeve.

4. The headrest assembly of claim 3, wherein a sealing ring is provided between the fixing sleeve and the rotating shaft sleeve.

5. The headrest assembly of claim 4, wherein the rotating shaft sleeve includes an annular recess, the sealing ring mounted in the annular recess.

6. The headrest assembly of claim 3, wherein the rotating shaft sleeve is sleeved onto the assembling shaft sleeve.

7. The headrest assembly of claim 3, wherein the rotating shaft sleeve is threadedly connected with the assembling shaft sleeve.

8. The headrest assembly of claim 3, wherein a side of the headrest facing the suction cup includes a headrest recess, the fixing sleeve fixedly connected into the headrest recess.

9. The headrest assembly of claim 3, wherein a connecting shaft is connected between the assembling shaft sleeve and the fixing sleeve, the fixing sleeve pivotably connected with the connecting shaft.

10. The headrest assembly of claim 9, wherein the fixing sleeve includes an inner sleeve, one end of the rotating shaft sleeve connected between the inner sleeve and the fixing sleeve and one end of the connecting shaft pivotably connected into the inner sleeve.

11. The headrest assembly of claim 10, wherein one end of the connecting shaft is threadedly connected with the inner sleeve.

12. The headrest assembly of claim 9, wherein: an end of the connecting shaft connected with the suction cup includes a flange; the suction cup is provided with a mounting groove in communication with a central hole of the assembling shaft sleeve, the flange assembled in the mounting groove; and the connecting shaft passes through the assembling shaft sleeve and is connected with the fixing sleeve.

13. A bathtub device, comprising: a bathtub; and a headrest assembly, comprising: a suction cup, the suction cup attached to a wall surface of the bathtub; and a headrest including a headrest convex portion and a headrest concave portion, the headrest concave portion and the headrest convex portion positioned on a same side of the headrest; wherein the headrest is operable at a first state and a second state and configured to transition between the first state and the second state, the headrest concave portion located obliquely above the headrest convex portion at the first state and the headrest concave portion located obliquely below the headrest convex portion at the second state.

14. The bathtub device of claim 13, wherein the suction cup includes an assembling shaft sleeve, the headrest pivotably connected with the assembling shaft sleeve.

15. The bathtub device of claim 13, wherein: a side of the headrest facing the suction cup is provided with a fixing sleeve; and the assembling shaft sleeve is coupled to a rotating shaft sleeve, the rotating shaft sleeve connected into the fixing sleeve.

16. The bathtub device of claim 15, wherein a sealing ring is provided between the fixing sleeve and the rotating shaft sleeve.

17. The bathtub device of claim 13, wherein a side of the headrest facing the suction cup includes a headrest recess, a fixing sleeve of the suction cup fixedly connected into the headrest recess.

18. The bathtub device of claim 13, wherein: at the first state, the headrest concave portion is configured to support a back of a head of a user and the headrest convex portion is configured to support a neck of the user; and at the second state, the headrest convex portion is configured to support the back of the head of the user.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] By reference to the drawings, the contents disclosed by the present application will be more easily understood. It should be understood that: these drawings are merely used for illustration, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application. In the drawings:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a headrest assembly wherein a headrest is in a first state, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the headrest assembly of FIG. 1 wherein the headrest is in a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a headrest assembly in a first state, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of part A of FIG. 3;

[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a headrest assembly, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a suction cup, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the headrest, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fixing sleeve, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rotating shaft sleeve, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bathtub device wherein a headrest is in a first state, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of FIG. 10, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the bathtub device of FIG. 10 wherein the headrest is in a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0019] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of FIG. 12, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The specific embodiments of the present application will be further described with reference to the drawings hereinafter. Same parts are denoted by the same reference signs. It should be noted that the terms front, rear, left, right, up and down used in the following description refer to the directions in the drawings, and the terms inner and outer refer to the directions toward or away from the geometric centers of specific parts, respectively.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1-5 and FIGS. 10-13, a headrest assembly for a bathtub, according to an example embodiment is shown. The headrest assembly may be mounted to a bathtub 7. The headrest assembly includes a suction cup 1 and a headrest 2. The suction cup 1 includes an assembling shaft sleeve 11 to connect the suction cup 1 to the headrest 2. The headrest 2 is pivotably coupled with the assembling shaft sleeve 11. The headrest 2 includes a headrest convex portion 21 and a headrest concave portion 22. The headrest concave portion 22 is located on a side of the headrest convex portion 21.

[0022] The headrest 2 has a first state and a second state and is capable of transitioning between the first state and the second state, as described herein. When the headrest 2 is in the first state, as shown in FIG. 1, the headrest concave portion 22 is located obliquely above the headrest convex portion 21. When the headrest 2 is in the second state, as shown in FIG. 2, the headrest concave portion 22 is located obliquely below the headrest convex portion 21.

[0023] The suction cup 1 is a rubber suction cup or a silicone suction cup, and the back side of the suction cup 1 is provided with the assembling shaft sleeve 11, which may be a rubber member or a plastic member, and has a certain structural strength, and is used for assembling with the headrest 2. The assembling shaft sleeve 11 may be a solid shaft or a sleeve with a central hole. The assembling shaft sleeve 11 may be provided integrally with the suction cup 1 or may be molded by vulcanization.

[0024] The headrest 2 is a flexible headrest. In various embodiments, the headrest 2 is made of sponge, rubber, or the like. The front side of the headrest 2 has the headrest convex portion 21 and the headrest concave portion 22, the headrest concave portion 22 is located on one side of the headrest convex portion 21. The headrest concave portion 22 is used to place the back of the user's head, and the headrest convex portion 21 may be used to support the user's neck and the back of the head. The bottom side of the headrest 2 is pivotally connected with the assembling shaft sleeve 11, and the headrest 2 may rotate relative to the assembling shaft sleeve 11, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the direction of the headrest 2 to meet the requirements of different lying postures of the user, which improves the user experience.

[0025] In one example embodiment, the bottom side of the headrest 2 includes a connecting hole, and one end of the assembling shaft sleeve 11 is connected to the connecting hole by an adapter. The adapter may be a bearing, a swivel sleeve, a swivel ring or the like. In another example, the bottom side of the headrest 2 includes a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is connected with the assembling shaft sleeve 11.

[0026] When the user uses the bathtub 7 to take a bath and needs to rest in a lower lying posture, the user holds the headrest 2 and rotates the headrest 2 to the first state. In the first state, as shown in FIG. 1, the headrest concave portion 22 is located obliquely above the headrest convex portion 21. The headrest concave portion 22 is used to support the back of the user's head, and the headrest convex portion 21 is used to support the user's neck, providing a more comfortable lying posture. When the user moves to a higher lying posture (e.g., to operate a mobile phone, tablet or the like, to watch a movie or a TV series, etc.), the user holds the headrest 2 and rotates the headrest 2 to the second state, as shown in FIG. 2. In the second state, the headrest concave portion 22 is located obliquely below the headrest convex portion 21. At this state, the headrest convex portion 21 is used to support the back of the user's head, thereby raising the user's head and providing a higher lying position. In such state, the user may watch a movie or a TV series while taking a bath for example.

[0027] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the headrest concave portion 22 is arranged next to the headrest concave portion 21. In various embodiments, as described herein, there is no spacing between the headrest concave portion 22 and the headrest convex portion 21, and the convex surface of the headrest convex portion 21 and the concave surface of the headrest concave portion 22 are connected. In such embodiments, when the user rotates the headrest 2 to the first state, the bottom side of the headrest concave portion 22 and the top side of the headrest convex portion 21 support the user's neck, thereby improving the user experience.

[0028] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, one side of the headrest 2 facing the suction cup 1 includes a fixing sleeve 3, and the assembling shaft sleeve 11 is connected to a rotating shaft sleeve 4. The rotating shaft sleeve 4 is connected to the fixing sleeve 3. In such embodiments, the bottom side of the headrest 2 is coupled to the fixing sleeve 3. The fixing sleeve 3 may be a plastic sleeve. The assembling shaft sleeve 11 is sleeved with the rotating shaft sleeve 4, and the rotating shaft sleeve 4 is rotatable relative to the assembling shaft sleeve 11. The rotating shaft sleeve 4 is fixedly connected in the fixing sleeve 3. When the user rotates the headrest 2, the fixing sleeve 3 and the rotating shaft sleeve 4 rotate as a whole relative to the assembling shaft sleeve 11. Such an arrangement facilitates the pivotable connection between the headrest 2 and the assembling shaft sleeve 11, which prevents the assembling shaft sleeve 11 from wearing down the headrest 2 when the headrest 2 is rotated and improves the assembly stability.

[0029] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, a sealing ring 5 is between the fixing sleeve 3 and the rotating shaft sleeve 4. When water is splashed into the fixing sleeve 3, the fixing sleeve 3 is prone to mold and may produce an unpleasant odor in a humid environment. In the embodiments described herein, molding of the fixing sleeve 3 is avoided by arranging the sealing ring 5 between the fixing sleeve 3 and the rotating shaft sleeve 4 to prevent water from splashing into the fixing sleeve 3. As needed, a plurality of sealing rings 5 can be arranged between the fixing sleeve 3 and the rotating shaft sleeve 4 to improve the sealing effect.

[0030] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the rotating shaft sleeve 4 includes an annular recess 41. The sealing ring 5 is mounted in the annular recess 41, which improves the mounting reliability of the sealing ring 5.

[0031] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-6 and 9, the rotating shaft sleeve 4 is sleeved on the assembling shaft sleeve 11. In such embodiments, the rotating shaft sleeve 4 is threadedly connected with the assembling shaft sleeve 11. An outer surface of the assembling shaft sleeve 11 includes an external thread and an inner surface of the rotating shaft sleeve 4 includes an internal thread. During assembly, the rotating shaft sleeve 4 is sleeved onto the assembling shaft sleeve 11 with engagement of the internal thread to the external thread. With this arrangement, the rotating shaft sleeve 4 may rotate relative to the assembling shaft sleeve 11, and the rotating shaft sleeve 4 may be prevented from separating from the assembling shaft sleeve 11, thereby further improving the assembly stability of the rotating shaft sleeve 4 and the assembling shaft sleeve 11. When the user operates the headrest 2 to switch between the first state and the second state, the headrest 2 is rotated half a turn in the forward direction and then rotated half a turn in the reverse direction, so that the rotating shaft sleeve 4 will not disengage from the assembling shaft sleeve 11.

[0032] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-4 and 7, one side of the headrest 2 facing the suction cup 1 includes a headrest recess 23 and the fixing sleeve 3 is fixedly connected into the headrest recess 23. The fixing sleeve 3 does not protrude from the bottom side of the headrest 2, thereby shortening the distance between the suction cup 1 and the headrest 2. When the suction cup 1 is attached to the wall surface of the bathtub 7, the headrest 2 may be closer to the wall surface of the bathtub 7.

[0033] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, a connecting shaft 6 is positioned between the assembling shaft sleeve 11 and the fixing sleeve 3. The fixing sleeve 3 may be pivotably connected with the connecting shaft 6. One end of the connecting shaft 6 is fixedly connected with the assembling shaft sleeve 11, and the other end thereof is pivotably connected with the fixing sleeve 3.

[0034] The connecting shaft 6 and the fixing sleeve 3 may be connected in two ways, as described herein. In a first way, one end of the connecting shaft 6 is inserted into the fixing sleeve 3 to function as a guide and centering role during mounting. In a second way, one end of the connecting shaft 6 includes a convex ring. In the second way, the inner surface of the fixing sleeve 3 is provided with an annular groove and the convex ring is in clearance fit with the annular groove. Such configuration improves the connection stability between the fixing sleeve 3 and the assembling shaft sleeve 11 and prevents the fixing sleeve 3 from disengaging along the axial direction.

[0035] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 8, the fixing sleeve 3 has an inner sleeve 31. In such embodiments, one end of the rotating shaft sleeve 4 is connected between the inner sleeve 31 and an outer body of the fixing sleeve 3 and one end of the connecting shaft 6 is pivotably connected into the inner sleeve 31. In such embodiments, the inner sleeve 31 concentrically provided and a length of the inner sleeve 31 is shorter than a length of the fixing sleeve 3 along the axial direction. The inner sleeve 31 is integrally connected with a top plate of the fixing sleeve 3. During assembly, one end of the rotating shaft sleeve 4 is connected between the inner sleeve 31 and the outer body of the fixing sleeve 3, and the cylinder wall of the inner sleeve 31 and the cylinder wall of the fixing sleeve 3 play a limiting role on the rotating shaft sleeve 4 to reduce radial shaking of the rotating shaft sleeve 4. The connecting shaft 6 passes through the assembling shaft sleeve 11 and the rotating shaft sleeve 4. One end of the connecting shaft 6 is pivotably connected into the inner sleeve 31 and the connection of the connecting shaft 6 does not affect the assembly of the rotating shaft sleeve 4.

[0036] One end of the connecting shaft 6 may be only inserted into the inner sleeve 31 or one end of the connecting shaft 6 may include the convex ring. The inner surface of the inner sleeve 31 is provided with the annular groove and the convex ring is in clearance fit with the annular groove, which improves the connection stability between the inner sleeve 31 and the assembling shaft sleeve 11 and may prevent the fixing sleeve 3 from disengaging along the axial direction.

[0037] In various embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, one end of the connecting shaft 6 is threadedly connected with the inner sleeve 31. In such embodiments, one end of the connecting shaft 6 includes an external thread and the inner surface of the inner sleeve 31 includes an internal thread. During assembly, one end of the connecting shaft 6 is connected into the inner sleeve 31 through engagement of the external thread with the internal thread. When the user operates the headrest 2 to switch between the first state and the second state, the headrest 2 is rotated half a turn in the forward direction and then rotated half a turn in the reverse direction, so that the inner sleeve 31 will not disengage from the connecting shaft 6. Such an arrangement not only facilitates the connection of the connecting shaft 6 and the inner sleeve 31 but also prevents the fixing sleeve 3 from being separated from the assembling shaft sleeve 11 along the axial direction. The external thread of the connecting shaft 6 has the same rotation direction as the external thread of the assembling shaft sleeve 11, and the internal thread of the rotating shaft sleeve 4 has the same rotation direction as the internal thread of the inner sleeve 31.

[0038] In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, one end of the connecting shaft 6 connected with the suction cup 1 includes a flange 61. The suction cup 1 is provided with a mounting groove 12 in communication with a central hole of the assembling shaft sleeve 11. The mounting groove 12 is configured to aid in mounting of the flange 61. The flange 61 is assembled in the mounting groove 12, and the connecting shaft 6 passes through the assembling shaft sleeve 11 and is connected with the fixing sleeve 3. The mounting groove 12 is arranged coaxially with the assembling shaft sleeve 11. A radius of the mounting groove 12 is larger than a radius of the central hole of the assembling shaft sleeve 11, therefore forming a stopping surface for stopping the flange 61 in order to achieve axial positioning of the connecting shaft 6.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 10-13, a bathtub device, according to various embodiments, includes a bathtub 7 and the headrest assembly for the bathtub 7, as described herein according to any embodiment. The suction cup 1 of the headrest assembly is attached to a wall surface of the bathtub 7. The bathtub is a body having a bathtub sink 71. In various embodiments, the body is ceramic. For the structure, construction and working principle of the headrest assembly, please refer to the previous description section of the headrest assembly and will not be repeated herein.

[0040] The headrest assembly is mounted on one end of the bathtub sink 71 of the bathtub 7 through attachment of the suction cup 1 to the wall surface of the bathtub 7. The assembling shaft sleeve 11 of the suction cup 1 is preferably perpendicular to the wall surface of the connection to allow the headrest 2 to be arranged obliquely upward, thereby supporting the user's head, neck, or the like.

[0041] The above technical solutions may be combined as required to achieve the best technical effect. The above are merely the principle and the preferred embodiments of the present application. It should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skills in the art, several other variations may be made on the basis of the principle of the present application, which should also be regarded as falling in the protection scope of the present application.

[0042] As utilized herein, the terms approximately, about, substantially, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

[0043] The terms coupled, connected, and the like, as used herein, mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members, or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. For example, such joining may be achieved with clamps, pressing pins, etc.

[0044] References to or may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using or may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. References to at least one of a conjunctive list of terms may be construed as an inclusive OR to indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. For example, a reference to at least one of A and B can include only A, only B, as well as both A and B. Such references used in conjunction with comprising or other open terminology can include additional items.

[0045] References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., top, bottom, above, below, etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

[0046] The construction and arrangement of the elements of the assembly as shown in the exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements maybe reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied.

[0047] Additionally, the word exemplary is used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples). Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[0048] Where technical features in the drawings, detailed description or any claim are followed by reference signs, the reference signs have been included to increase the intelligibility of the drawings, detailed description, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence have any limiting effect on the scope of any claim elements.

[0049] Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Also, for example, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating configuration, and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.