Field of the Invention

[001] The present invention relates to a head support.

Background to the Invention

[002] Sun lounges are often provided in poolside areas where people may want to lay outside and read. These lounges generally comprise an extended base and an adjustable back. It is not uncommon for people using such lounges to wish to lay on their stomach. However, such a position creates discomfort for the neck and also difficulties for activities such as reading.

[003] Some lounge type chairs have been designed having an opening such that the face is placed through the opening when laying on the stomach. Such a position however may not be ideal for reading as it can be difficult to reach around under the lounge to hold a book. Also, this facility will of course only be available in locations that choose to provide such a lounge chair.

[004] The present invention relates to a portable headrest device aimed at allowing a user to comfortably lay on their stomach on a flat surface, such as a sun lounge, in a position in which they may still read a book.

Summary of the Invention

[005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a heard support comprising:

a main shaft;

a headrest portion secured to an upper end of the main shaft, the main shaft being secured to a first side of the headrest portion such that the headrest portion extends horizontally on a first side of the shaft; a base secured to a lower end of the main shaft, the main shaft being secured to a first side of the base such that the base extends outwardly from the first side of the main shaft below the headrest portion; and

an armrest portion secured to the main shaft between the upper and lower ends thereof;

wherein the headrest portion includes an opening therein for receiving the face of a person resting their head on the headrest portion.

[006] Preferably the headrest portion comprises a disc member extending horizontally and having a cushion securable to a first side surface thereof around a portion of the periphery of the aperture.

[007] Preferably the cushion arcuate in shape such that ends of the cushion define a gap located adjacent the main shaft.

[008] In a preferred embodiment, the armrest portion comprises a pair of arms pivotally connected to the main shaft such that the arms can pivot between an extended position in which the arms extend perpendicular to the main shaft from opposite sides thereof and a collapsed position in which the arms are parallel and adjacent the main shaft.

[009] Preferably the arms are collinear in the extended position and extend along a horizontal axis being perpendicular to a horizontal axis running from the main shaft through the centre of the opening in the headrest portion.

[010] In a preferred embodiment the arms each include a pad adjacent a distal end thereof oriented to provide an upper surface oriented generally horizontally when the arms are in the extended position.

[01 1] In a preferred embodiment, the main shaft is length adjustable such that the distance between the headrest portion and the base can be varied.

[012] In one embodiment, the disc member includes a first aperture in a second side surface thereof and the base includes a second aperture in the upper surface thereof such that the upper and lower ends of the main shaft are received in the first and second apertures respectively. [013] In a preferred embodiment, the base comprises an arcuate member and the main shaft is secured to the base adjacent a midpoint of the arcuate member.

[014] Preferably the radius of curvature of an inner edge of the arcuate member is greater than the outer diameter of the disc member such that the disc member may be placed inside the arcuate member when the base and disc member are disconnected from the main shaft for packing and transport.

[015] In one embodiment, the arms are connected to a bracket member slidably mounted to the main shaft.

[016] In one embodiment, the bracket comprises a tube slidably mounted to the main shaft provided with a first locking pin to pass through a hole in the tube and one of a plurality of holes provided in the main shaft.

[017] Preferably the first locking pin is spring biased and includes a handle on an outer end thereof such that the handle can be grasped to pull the first locking pin outwardly, thereby compressing the spring.

[018] In a preferred embodiment, the main shaft comprises first and second portions slidable relative to each other and wherein a second locking pin is provided to extend through aligned holes in the first and second shaft portions to secure the first and second shaft portions relative to each other.

[019] In one embodiment, the second locking pin is spring biased and includes a handle on an outer end thereof such that the handle can be grasped to pull the second locking pin outwardly, thereby compressing the spring.

[020] Preferably, a cushion cover and armrest covers are provided to be removably securable to the upper surfaces of the cushion and pads on the arms respectively. Brief Description of the Drawings

[021] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[022] Figure 1 a is an upper perspective view of a head support in accordance with the present invention;

[023] Figure 1 b is a top view of the head support of Figure 1a;

[024] Figure 2a is a side view of the head support of Figure 1 ;

[025] Figure 2b is a front view of the head support of Figure 1 ;

[026] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the head support of Figure 1 ;

[027] Figure 4a is a top view of the head support of Figure 1 ;

[028] Figure 4b is a side view of the head support of Figure 1 ;

[029] Figure 5a is a close up view of Detail C of Figure 4b;

[030] Figure 5b is a close up view of Detail B of Figure 4b;

[031] Figure 6a is a front view of the head support of Figure 1 ;

[032] Figure 6b is a top cross sectional view of the head support of Figure 6a through the line D-D;

[033] Figure 7 is a close up view of Detail E of Figure 6b;

[034] Figure 8a is an upper perspective view of the head support of Figure 1 showing folding of the arms;

[035] Figure 8b is an upper perspective view of the head support of Figure 1 disassembled;

[036] Figure 9 is an upper perspective view of the head support stacked for transport;

[037] Figure 10 is a side view of the person laying on a sun lounge using the head support; and

[038] Figure 1 1 is an upper perspective view of the person laying on the sun lounge.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[039] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a head support 10 provided to support the head of a person laying on their stomach. The head support 10 comprises generally a main shaft 12, a headrest portion 14, a base 16 and an armrest portion 18. The main shaft 12 in the embodiment shown comprises a cylindrical member securable at an upper end thereof to the headrest portion 14 and at a lower end thereof to the base 16.

[040] The headrest portion 14 comprises a disc member 20 having a central opening 22 therein. The main shaft 12 is securable to the disc member 20 adjacent a first side thereof such that the disc member 20 is supported in a horizontal position. The disc member 20 extends away from the main shaft 12 on a first side thereof such that a first side surface thereof, being the side surface oriented uppermost in use is generally horizontal.

[041] A cushion 24 is provided to be securable to the first side surface of the disc member 20. The cushion 24 is arcuate in shape such that the cushion 24 extends around a portion of the periphery of the opening 22 in the disc member 20. Ends of the arcuate cushion 24 define a gap 28 located adjacent the main shaft 12.

[042] The disc member 20 includes a raised portion 26 extending around a portion of the periphery thereof. The raised portion 26 corresponds to the portion of the first side surface of the disc member 20 around which the cushion 24 extends. The cushion 24 includes a corresponding recessed portion in a lower surface thereof into which the raised portion 26 fits. Also provided is a cushion cover 25. The cushion cover 25 comprises a material cover having a corresponding shape to that of the cushion 24 such that the cushion cover 25 may be received over the cushion 24 to cover the upper surface thereof.

[043] In use, a person using the head support 10 positions their face downwardly onto the cushion 24 such that their chin is located adjacent the gap 28, as can be seen in Figures 1 1 and 12.

[044] An opposed second side surface of the disc member 20 includes a first aperture 30 (as best seen in Figure 8b) adjacent a first side of the disc member 20 under the gap 28. An upper end of the main shaft 12 is received into the first aperture 30 in order to secure the disc member 20 to the main shaft 12. [045] The base 16 is provided to rest on the ground in use and includes a second aperture 32 in an upper side thereof for receiving the lower end of the main shaft 12. The second aperture 32 in the base 16 is located adjacent a first side of the base 16 such that, when the main shaft 12 is received in the second aperture 32, the base extends away from the main shaft 12 on the first side thereof. That is, the base 16 extends away from the main shaft 12 on the same side of the main shaft 12 as the headrest portion 14.

[046] The base 16 comprises an arcuate member 34 and the second aperture 32 is provided on the upper surface of the arcuate member 34 generally midway between opposed ends thereof. In use, the headrest portion 14 is supported generally above the arcuate member 34 as shown in Figure 1 such that the head support 10 is stable when the downward force of the user's head is applied to the headrest portion 14.

[047] The base 16 is provided with a locking member 64 to secure the lower end of the main shaft 12 to the base 16. The locking member 64 comprises a wheel 68 having a threaded shaft 70 extending therefrom. The locking member 42 is received in a recessed portion 66 in the base 16. When received in the recessed portion 66 of the base 16, the threaded shaft 70 extends into the second aperture 32 where it can be engaged with a corresponding threaded hole in the lower end of the main shaft 12 by rotation of the wheel 68.

[048] The main shaft 12 is length adjustable such that the distance between the headrest portion 14 and the base 16 can be varied. In the embodiment shown, the main shaft 12 comprises a first shaft portion 36 received into the base 16 and a second shaft portion 37 engaged with the headrest portion 14. A lower end of the second shaft portion 37 is received into an upper end of the first shaft portion 36. An engagement mechanism is provided to lock the second shaft portion 37 relative to the first shaft portion 36 such that the length of the main shaft 12 can be set as desired. The length is set such that height of the headrest portion 14 above the ground is suited to the surface on which the user is lying. [049] The armrest portion 18 comprises a bracket member 38 which receives the main shaft 12 such that the bracket member 38 can be slid relative to the main shaft 12. The bracket member 38 comprises a tube 39 into which the main shaft 12 slides. The armrest portion 18 includes also a pair of arms 40, first ends of which are pivotally connected to the bracket member 38 on opposed sides thereof. The arms 40 pivot relative to the bracket member 38 such that the arms can pivot between an extended position (as shown in Figure 1 ) and a collapsed position (as shown in Figure 8b). In the extended position, the arms 40 are collinear and extend outwardly from opposite sides of the shaft 12, perpendicular thereto. In the collapsed position, the arms 40 are parallel and located adjacent the main shaft 12.

[050] Opposed sides of the bracket member 38 are provided with a pair of tabs 44. Ends of the arms 40 are received between the tabs 44 and pivot pins 46 are passed through alignable holes in both the tabs 44 and the arms 40 to allow the arms 40 to move between the extended and collapsed positions.

[051] Each of the arms 40 includes a pad 42 secured to a widened end portion provided adjacent the end of the arm 40. The pads 42 are oriented to provide an upper surface oriented generally horizontally when the arms 40 are in the extended positions.

[052] In the extended position, the arms 40 extend along a horizontal axis being perpendicular to a horizontal axis running from the main shaft through the centre of the opening 22 in the headrest portion 14. In this position, when a person is lying with their face downwardly on the headrest portion 14, their forearms may be rested on the pads 42 of the arms 40, as shown in Figures 10 and 1 1. Their hands will be free in this position to manipulate a book located in the free space defined below the headrest portion 14 and above the base 16.

[053] The pads 42 of the arms 40 are provided also with corresponding armrest covers 43. The armrest covers 43 comprise covers of a suitable material provided to extend over the upper surfaces of the pads 42 in use. The armrest covers 43 and the cushion cover 25 may be removed and washed as required.

[054] The position of the tube 39 on the main shaft 12 can be adjusted to adjust the height of the arms 40. The tube 39 is provided with a first locking pin 48 passing through hole in the tube 39. The first locking pin 48 is spring biased and includes a handle 50 on an outer end thereof such that the handle 50 can be grasped to pull the first locking pin 48 outwardly, thereby compressing the spring. Releasing the handle 50 allows the locking pin 48 to move back inwardly where the end thereof can pass through holes 51 provided in the first shaft portion 36.

[055] A second locking pin 58 is provided having also a handle 60 on an outer end thereof. The second locking pin 58 is also spring biased and located adjacent the upper end of the first shaft portion 36. The second locking pin 58 is provided to extend through a holes 51 in the first shaft portion 3 and through one of a plurality of holes 52 in the second shaft portion 37 to secure the first and second shaft portions 36 and 37 relative to each other and thereby fix the length of the main shaft 12.

[056] The headrest portion 14 and the base 16 can be disengaged from the main shaft 12 so that the device may be packed for transport. As shown in Figure 8b, the main shaft 12 is disengaged from the first and second apertures 30 and 32 in the headrest portion 14 and the base 16 respectively and the arms 40 folded to the collapsed position. The radius of curvature of an inner edge 54 of the arcuate member 34 is greater than the outer diameter of the disc member 20 such that the disc member 20 may be placed inside the arcuate member 34, as shown in Figure 9, for packing and transport.

[057] The disc member 20 includes also a resilient strap 62 on the second side surface thereof. Ends of the strap 62 are secured to the second side surface to define a loop such that the main shaft 12 and the arms 40 in the collapsed position may be secured to the second side surface of the disc member 20 as shown in Figure 9. [058] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.