US2553385A - Headrest for chairs - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1951 v. RUTH HEADRE'ST FOR CHAIRS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1948 Patented May 15, 1951 HEADREST FOR CHAIRS Vincent Ruth, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 5, 1948, Serial No. 13,267

4 Claims.

1 r The present invention relates to upholstered furniture or the like for permitting individuals to relax in comfort and it relates more particularly to separate, detachable and adjustable head-rests for chairs, sofas and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved head-rest which can be removably and adjustably positioned upon a chair or sofa or the like so as to provide maximum comfort and relaxation for the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a head-rest construction which is simple and inexpensive and which can be quickly and easily adjusted to fit individual chairs or sofas or the like, as well as to fit the requirements of the individual user, and which is so constructed that it can be easily laundered or cleaned so as to keep it neat and sanitary.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

It is common knowledge that most upholstered chairs, sofas and the like, are so constructed that their backs are incapable of affording proper support for the head of the user. Thus, many upholstered chairs and sofas, etc. have relatively short backs terminating at approximately shoulder level so that the user cannot rest his head against the back except in an awkward and uncomfortable backwardly-tilted position. Other chairs, sofas and the like, while having sufficiently high backs, are so constructed that the head of the user must, again, be tilted backward too far for comfortthe most comfortable and relaxing position of the head being at a somewhat forward angle from the rearwardly-tilted body position which is usual in most upholstered chairs or sofas or the like.

While it has been suggested in the past to provide detachable upholstered head-rests for chairs or benches, these have not proven satisfactory or commercially acceptable due to their impractical and. relatively expensive construction and due to the fact that they were not constructed so as to provide the proper head-support relative to the body position of the user.

- According to the present invention, I have developed, for the first time, a simple and inexpensive construction for an upholstered head-rest which, when used on a chair or sofa or the like, and particularly an upholstered chair or sofa, will support the head of the user in the proper angular relationship to the body of the user and which can be quickly and easily adjusted to fit not only different shaped chairs and sofas, etc., but also the different dimensional requirements of individual users, and which is constructed of a minimum number of simple and inexpensive parts which can be quickly and easily disassembled to permit laundering or cleaning whenever desired. I 7

Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates a head-rest construction consisting of a metal frame, preferably, though not necessarily one-piece, which has an uppermost clamping portion adapted adjustably to fit over the upper edge of an upholstered chair or sofa or the like and which has a lowermost portion adapted to extend downward within a cloth casing member so as to make it somewhat form-retainingthe casing member having a slide fastener or similar closure along its upper edge to permit insertion and removal of a separate over-stuffed pillow.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumen talities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational View showing one embodiment of the present invention as it appears when installed on an upholstered chair having a relatively low back.

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary front elevational view showing the head-rest and the back of the chair-a lowered position of the head-rest being shown in dash-dot lines.

Figure 3 represents a side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Figure 4 represents a front elevational view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, showing the headrest of Figure 2-parts being broken away better to reveal the construction thereof.

Figure 5 represents a vertical cross-sectional view generally along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 represents a rear elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 4 as it appears in fully assembled position.

v Figure 7 represents a front elevational view of the head-rest of Figures 1-6 but showing the frame in straightened-out positionthe casing member beingbroken away better to show the relationship of the frame to the pillow therewithin.

Figure 8 represents an exploded or disassembled view on generally the same scale as that of Figure '7, showing the three component parts of the head-rest of the present invention.

Figure 9 represents a view taken generally along the line of 9-9 of Figure '7 but showing the slide fastener of the casing member in open position.

Figure 10 represents a fragmentary perspective view showing the head-rest as it appears when installed on a higher backed chair or sofa or the like. a

Figure 11 represents a perspective view of a. modified form of frame which is still differently bent.

In one embodiment of the present invention shown generally in Figures 1-9, I may provide a head-rest consisting of a metal frame 20, a pillew 2!. and a fabric pillow cover or case 22-.-the three members being shown in disassembled poit on n F ure 8..

The frame may consist of a single length of wire er the like which is sufiicien-tly flexible t9 permit it to be bent in the manner indicated in Figures 5 and 6 but which is sufficiently stiff so asv to be form-retaining, when bent, so that it can be manually formed into different shapes depending on the furniture upon which the headt 1 2Q b .6 1-

The frame 20 may be formed of a single length of solid copper wire (or other suitable relatively flexible metal or alloy) appropriately bent so as to provide a continuous vertical arm 23 and a discgntinuous vertical arm 24, and top, bottom and intermediate horizontal arms 25, 21 and 26 respectively. One end of the length of wire may be looped as at 28 to form part of the discontinuous vertical arm 24 encircling the bent end of the intermediate horizontal arm 26. The other end of. the length of wire may be looped as at 29, at the free end of the intermediate horizontal arm 26 encircling the continuous vertical arm 23.

It is obvious, of course, that the frame. 20 could be formed in many other ways either from a single length of wire or the like or from a plurality of strips appropriately soldered or welded or otherwise interconnected.

Instead ofbeing formed from a strip of solid wire, the frame may also be formedof hollow tubing.

Thus, in Figure 11, there is shown a frame 20-12, which, as will be described more fully hereinbelow, is formed of flexible spirally-wound tubing of the type employed for goose-neck lamps, armored cables or the like.

'Thepillow case or cover 22 may be formed ofany appropriate washable woven or knitted fabric, as for example cotton, linen, nylon, and other natural or synthetic fabrics or mixtures thereof.

The case 22. may be generally rectangular in 0 3 .11}? and may have a horizontal dimension slightly greater than that of the frame 20 so that, as indicated particularly in Figure '7, theframe can fit inside. the case.

The case 22 is provided with an open mouth 30 along its upper edge-the mouth 30 being constructed and arranged to be opened and closed by a slide fastener 3| which is of generally conventional construction-of the'completely-sepa'rabletype used on mens sport jackets, etc.

Thus, the slide fastener includes cloth tapes. 3; and 33 whieh extend algng the entire length of the mouth 30. The tape 32 has a female stop member 34 mounted thereon at a point spaced slightly inwardly from one end thereof While the tape 33 has a male stop member 35 correspondingly positioned thereon. Interlocking fastener elements 36 of conventional construction are mounted on the edges of the tapes 32 and 33 in usual manner with individual conventional stop members 31 mounted on said tapes 32 and 33 at a. point spaced slightly inwardly from the other end of the mouth 30. A conventional slider 38 is permanently mounted on the tape 32the male member 35 being insertible through the slider and into the female stop member 34, in conventional manner, after which the slider can be moved along the fastener elements 36 until it strikes the stop members 31, so as to interconnect the fastener elements 36 and close the mouth 30 with the exception of the small openings 39 and 40 which lie at the extreme ends of the month knarrm .v t st p members 3 3 an 31:3

As indicat d pa ti ular y in ur s 6 and the o n n s 9- and 1! p r t e arms 23 and 24 to emerge from the case 22- when the mouth 3%} is otherwise closed by the slide fastener 3 l.

The pillow 21 is of conventional construction and may be filled with feltin Or down or the ke to give it. he n essary o e s an sil ence to. provide a comfortable head-rest.

The pillow 2|; n ra lyco respo ds in shape to h pillow case 2 except h ssl ghtly ma le in dimension. s hat it an inserted into the case through the Open mouth '30.

The method of assembly is obvious from Fig.- ures. 7-9. Thus, with the mouth 30 open, the Pil 21 sfirs-t inser ed the c s 2, after which the lower part of the frame 26 is also nserte h n rme t hor zontal arm 26 being; so dimensioned relative to the bottem horiz n al. arm 21 that it fit just b l w the m uth 30, with the vertical arms 23 and 24 passin upward through tliejopenv mouth 3.0. at. the very ends; thereof. Thereafter, the slider 38 is positioned. adjacent, the stop member 34, as indicated in Figure 9, and the stop member 35 is inserted throu h the slider 38 and into. stop. member 34, after which the slider is moved along the. tapes 32-and 33 until it strikes the stop member 31, so as to. close the. mouth 30, excepting for end openings 33 and 49 through which the vertical arms 23 and 24 of the frame 2-il emerge from the case 22. In installing the head-rest of the present. invention upon an upholstered chair or sofa or the like, the protruding portions of the arms 23. and 24 are bent. manually to conform generally to the. contour of the topv edge of the back of the chair or sofa. Where the headrest is to be positioned at the very top of the chair back, the portions of the arms 23 and 24 which are enclosed within the pillow case 22 may also be bent, as indicated particularly in Figures Mind 4 so that thepillow caseisgiven a generally convex configuration.

In Figures le3, the head-restof the-present inv vention is. shown installed on an upholstered chair C whose back B terminates at about-shoula der height. so. that it, would not: ordinarily provide any support for the. head of' the user (ex-. c pt; When the head is tilted backward intoan uncomfortable. and impractical position).

ln rd rto provide adequate and. comfortable support for thehead of the; user, the head=rest of the. present, invention is positioned at the upper forward edge of the back B in a manner indicated particularly in Figures 13, so as to extend upward and forward of the back B. In this way, the head of the user is supported in a slightly forwardly inclined position relative to the body, as shown particularly in Figure 1. This head-position affords the greatest comfort and relaxation and also maintains the eyes in the proper reading position.

As can be seen particularly in Figures 1 and 3-6, the arms 23 and 24 are bent so that they extend'over the top of the back B, with the horizontal arm 25 in clamping-relationship on the rear seat of the back B so as to maintain the head-rest in position.

Where the head-rest is to be used by a shorter person, the arms 23 and 24 are bent slightly nearer the arm 25 so as to position the pillow and pillow case slightly farther down along the front side of the back B, as indicated in dashdot lines in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure the head-rest of the present invention is shown installed on a chair whose back B1 is somewhat higher so that it is desirable to position the pillow case appreciably below the uppermost edge of the back B1. In this case,

the enclosed portions of the vertical arms 23 and 24 are left straight (so that the pillow case is relatively fiat instead of being concavely curved in cross-section, as in Figure 5)--the bend being formed only adjacent the upper ends of the protruding portions of the arms 23 and 24.

It is apparent that the shape of the arm (or 20-11) can be quickly and easily changed by manual pressure to enable it to be used on chairs having different size andshape.

Thus, for example, where the head-rest is to be used on a barrel chair having a transversely curved back, the horizontal arms of the frame can be correspondingly bent, to give the pillow case a, transversely concave contour.

In Figure 11 there is shown a frame 2Il--a, referred to hereinabove, which is constructed of spirally-wound flexible tubing which can be bent into any desired configuration.

The frame 2ila, generally resembles the frame 20 in configuration except that T-shaped connecting collars 29a are used in place of the loops 28 and 29 to hold the free ends of the length of tubing in position.

The frame 20-a is shown with its horizontal arms a and 2la in transversely-curved position to fit a concave-backed barrel chair, as described hereinabove; the upper protruding portions of the vertical arms 23a and 24-a also being bent to fit over the top of the chair back.

It is obvious, of course, that the frame 20-a. could be given the configurations shown in Figures 5 and 10 (wherein the horizontal arms are not bent) and that the frame 20 could be given the configuration of Figure 11 (wherein the horizontal arms 25, 26 and 21 could be transversely bent).

It is apparent that the novel head-rest of the present invention can be quickly and easily disassembled to permit frequent laundering of the pillow case 22 so as to keep it fresh and clean, without the need for frequent cleaning of the pillows 2| (which is protected by the pillow case when in use).

In other words, the case 22 can be laundered or cleaned by itself, free of the pillow and free of the metal frame.

While I prefer to employ a slide fastener of the type described hereinabove, it is also possible to use other closure means for the mouth 30, including, for example, snap fasteners, buttons-and-buttonholes, hooks-and-eyes, etc.

While the novel head-rest of the present invention has been shown in the drawings as used with an upholstered armchair, it can be used equally well with other types of chairs, both upholstered and unupholstered, with sofas, with benches, with train, bus and automobile seats (both continuous seats of the type used in 4-door sedans and single seats of the type used in Z-door sedans, etc.)

My novel headrest is particularly useful in providing head-support for the driver of an automobile. Thus, it is the common experience among automobile drivers that, even with the adjustments provided by the manufacturer, the drivers seat is very seldom properly fitted to support the head of the driver in proper relationship to the windshield so as to permit him to operate the car with some degree of comfort.

Especially with Women drivers, it is frequently necessary to sit in a strained position with the head tilted forward in order to drive properly.

With my head-rest, this discomfort is eliminated and the drivers head is supported in the proper inwardly inclined position relative to the body so as to give maximum comfort with a clear angle of vision.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing-description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent,

1. A head-rest for an upholstered chair or sofa or the like for supporting the head of the user at a slightly forwardly inclined position relative to the body position, said head-rest comprising a relatively flexible metal frame adapted to be bent so as to fit the frame upon the upper edge of the back of the chair or sofa or the like in clamping relationship thereto, a pillow case having an open mouth extending along its upper edge through-which a portion of said frame is removably inserted, said frame having spaced vertical side-portions passing through the extreme ends of the mouth and extending upwardly therefrom, a separate pillow in said pillow case and removably insertable in said pillow case through said mouth, and closure means formed at the mouth of said pillow case and constructed and arranged to close all but the extreme ends of said mouth so as to lock said pillow and the inserted portion of said frame within said pillow case and constructed and arranged upon opening said closure means to permit removal of both said frame and said pillow.

2. A head-rest for an upholstered chair or sofa or the like for supporting the head of the user at a slightly forwardly inclined position relative to the body portion, said head-rest comprising a relatively flexible metal frame adapted to be bent so as to fit the frame upon the upper edge of the back of the chair or sofa or the like in clamping relationship thereto, a pillow case having an open mouth extending along its upper edge through which a portion of said frame is removably inserted, said frame having a lowermost horizontal transversely extending portion positioned at the lower edge of said pillow case 7, and having spaced vertical siderportions posie, tioned along theside edges of said pillow case and passing through the extreme ends of the mouth and extending upwardly therefrom, a separate pillow in said pillow case and removably insertable through said mouth, and closure means formed at the mouth of said pillow case for closing the major portion of said mouth so. as. to lock said pillow and the inserted portion of said frame within said pillow case, said closure. means comprising a slide fastener extending along all but the extreme ends of said mouthand constructed and arranged to be separable along the entire length of the slide fastener, thereby to provide small end-openings through which said frame emerges from the closed pillowcase and to open the closed portion of the mouth when said slide fastener is separated, thereby to permit removal of both said frame and said pillow.

3. A head-rest for an upholstered chair or sofa orthe like for supporting the headof the user at a slightly forwardly inclined position relative to the body portion, said head-rest comprising a relatively flexible metal frame adapted to be bent so as to fit the frame upon the upper edge of the back of the chair or sofa or the like in clamping relationship thereto, a pillow case having an open mouth extending along its upper edge through which a portion of said frame is removably inserted, a separate pillow in said pillow case and removably insertable through said month, said frame being generally rectangular with vertical side arms extending along the sides of the pillow case and passing upwardly through the extreme ends of the mouth and having top, intermediate and bottom horizontal arms with the intermediate horizontal arm positioned slightly below the mouth of the pillow case when the frame is inserted, and a closure means formed at the mouth of said pillow case and constructed and arranged to close all but. the ex treme ends of said mouth so as to lock said pilelow and the inserted portion of said frame within said pillow case and constructed and arranged upon opening said closure means to permit re-. moval of both said frame and said pillow.

-' 4. A head-rest for an upholstered chair or-sofa or the like for supporting the head of theusen at a slightly forwardly inclined position relative to the bodyportion, said head-rest comprising a relatively flexible metal frame adapted to be bent so as to fit the frame upon the upper edge of the back of the chair or sofa or the like in clamping relationship thereto, a pillow case have ing an open mouth extending along its upper edge through which a portion of said frame is, removably inserted, va separatepillow in said pile low case and removably insertable through said mouth, said frame being generally rectangular. with vertical side arms extending along the sides of the pillow case passing upwardly through the extreme ends of the mouth and having top, in: termediate and bottom horizontal arms with the intermediate horizontalarm positioned slightly below the mouth of the pillow case when the. frame is inserted, and a separable slide fastener extending along all but thelextreme ends of said mouth, and constructed and arranged to be separable along the entire length of the slide fastener, thereby to provide small end openingshrou h which the side-portions of said frame emerge whenv the mouthis closed, and. to open the. closed portion of the mouth when, said slide fastener is separated, thereby to pe it removal f both said frame and s id pillow.

VINCENT BE EB NQE CHE! The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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