Resting aids for vehicles

Abstract

A resting aid device for vehicles, consisting of: i) an H-shaped body 101 designed to be positioned over the torso of a user seated in a vehicle, the body 101 being secured by a U-shaped strap 103 to engage the body with the headrest of the seat and to enclose the user between the seat and the body 101; ii) several pressure sensors attached to the body 101 and the straps 103 to detect the pressure exerted by the body or the straps 103 on the headrest of the seat, wherein an integrated microcontroller, based on the detected pressure, actuates a pair of motorized rollers 104 wound with the strap 103 to rotate about their axis so that the body 101 and the straps 103 fit properly around the headrest of the vehicle; iii) an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is installed on the body 101 and paired with a processor to capture and process multiple images of the environment and / or to determine the user's body dimensions, the microcontroller then operating an air compressor installed on the body 101 to inflate an inflatable element manufactured around the body 101 to create a comfortable seating experience and also to protect the user from sudden jolts during travel; and iv) a humidity sensor installed on the body 101 to monitor the presence of sweat while the user is seated in the vehicle, wherein, in the event of detecting the presence of sweat, the microcontroller activates a variety of Peltier units configured on the body 101 to maintain an optimal temperature level in the vehicle to create a comfortable seating experience and to dry the sweat from the user's body.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a rest assist device for vehicles capable of providing rest to the user during travel in an effective manner that increases the user's comfort during travel. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are many problems that make long journeys in a vehicle uncomfortable. Vehicles have limited seating options. Users feel uncomfortable maintaining the same seating position while driving, or they need a comfortable position to rest in the vehicle. People who travel long distances also need a break in the vehicle.

[0003] People generally carry travel pillows with them to support them during their rest time in the vehicle. However, these devices are not able to effectively support the user during their rest time in the vehicle. These pillows are unreliable because they are susceptible to damage if mishandled. These pillows support the user's neck during their rest time in the vehicle, but do not provide neck support in the left, front, or right positions.

[0004] US6230349B1 discloses an invention providing a travel pillow with a compact size and a U-shape for cradling a user's head and neck while resting in a high-backed chair or seat. The travel pillow includes a cover filled with a filling material and an opening in the cover that allows the user to add or remove filling material to adjust the firmness of the pillow. The filling material is biologically inert, and the travel pillow is fully washable. The cover of the pillow consists of two similarly sized fabric pieces, one of which contains the opening. When inflated, the travel pillow has a substantially uniform cross-section across most of the U-shape of the pillow. US'349 does disclose an invention providing a travel pillow that can assist the user while resting in a vehicle.However, this device cannot be adjusted to the user's measured body measurements to accommodate both the user's head and neck area.

[0005] US20150082546A1 discloses an invention providing a U-shaped travel pillow with a base pillow and a raised pillow attached to the top of the base pillow. The inner peripheral walls of the base pillow and the raised pillow are flush with each other, while the back walls are flush with each other and substantially flat to allow better contact with flat surfaces, such as a headrest, seat, or chair. Furthermore, the back wall of the raised pillow is thinner than the sides, allowing the head position to be more easily adjusted to the shape of the headrest, seat, or chair. A removable cover serves to cover the base and raised pillows, while a drawstring with an adjustable drawstring mechanism can be used to adjust the travel pillow around the neck.While US'546 discloses an invention providing a U-shaped travel pillow capable of providing support to the user during rest in the vehicle, this device fails to maintain the optimal temperature level in the vehicle to improve the user's seating comfort.

[0006] Conventionally, many devices have been developed that are capable of supporting the user during their rest time in the vehicle. However, these devices are not capable of adapting to the user's detected body measurements to provide greater comfort. Furthermore, the proposed device is capable of maintaining an optimal temperature level in the vehicle.

[0007] To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, there is a need in the art to develop a device capable of effectively supporting the user during their rest time in the vehicle. Furthermore, the proposed device is capable of maintaining an optimal temperature level in the vehicle. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The main object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of assisting a user by providing a way to rest properly while traveling in the vehicle.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of increasing or decreasing its width according to the determined body measurements of the user in order to adequately serve the user.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of maintaining an optimal temperature inside the vehicle by detecting the perspiration on the user's body, thus increasing the user's comfort.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon closer examination of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a resting aid device for vehicles capable of assisting the user in resting in the vehicle while driving, thereby increasing the user's comfort. Furthermore, the proposed device is capable of adapting to the user's measured body measurements to provide appropriate support.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a rest assist device for vehicles comprises an H-shaped body designed to be positioned over the torso of a user seated in a vehicle, the body being connected to a U-shaped strap for engaging the body with the headrest of the seat to sandwich the user between the seat or the body, a plurality of pressure sensors arranged on the body or the straps for detecting the pressure exerted by the body or the straps on the headrest of the seat, a plurality of pressure sensors arranged on the body or the straps for detecting the pressure exerted by the body or the straps on the headrest of the seat,the belts on the headrest of the seat, a pair of motorized rollers wound with the belt to rotate on their axis to properly wrap the body or the belts around the headrest of the vehicle based on the sensed pressure, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit arranged on the body and paired with a processor to capture and process multiple images of the surroundings to capture the user's body measurements, and an air compressor arranged on the body to inflate the inflatable element made around the body to create a comfortable seating experience and protect the user from sudden shocks while driving.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises a humidity sensor arranged on the body to monitor the presence of perspiration above the user sitting in the vehicle, a plurality of Peltier units installed on the body to maintain an optimal temperature level in the vehicle to create a comfortable seating experience and to dry the perspiration from the user's body, a motorized drawer assembly is integrated into the body to increase the width of the body according to the detected body dimension to properly enclose the user with the body, and a battery is connected to the device which is used to power electrically or electronically operated components connected to the device.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations are possible which would fall within the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings: Fig. shows an isometric view of a rest aid device for vehicles in the extended position; and Fig. shows an isometric view of the proposed device for vehicles in stowed condition. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description contains the preferred best mode for carrying out an embodiment of the present invention. From this description of the invention, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms “comprising,” “comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with “including,” “with,” and “characterized by”) may be replaced by the respective partially closed terms “consists essentially of,” “consists essentially of,” and the like, or the respective closed terms “consists of,” “consists of,” and the like.

[0020] The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” used here refer to both the singular and the plural, unless expressly intended to refer to only the singular.

[0021] The present invention relates to a resting aid device for vehicles capable of assisting the user in resting in the vehicle while driving, thereby improving the user's comfort within the vehicle. Furthermore, the proposed device is capable of properly accommodating the user by adapting to the user's measured body measurements and maintaining the optimal temperature within the vehicle around the user.

[0022] Referring to Fig.1 is an isometric view of a vehicle rest aid device in an extended and a stowed state, comprising an H-shaped body 101 designed to be positioned over the torso of a user seated in a vehicle, a motorized drawer assembly 102 integrated into the body 101, a U-shaped belt 103 attached to the body 101, motorized reels 104 wound with the belt 103, and an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 installed on the body 101.

[0023] The proposed device consists of an H-shaped body 101 designed to be positioned over the torso of a user seated in a vehicle. The body 101 is connected to a U-shaped strap 103 to engage the body 101 with the seat headrest, thus enclosing the user between the seat and the body 101. Both the strap 103 and the body 101 are equipped with several pressure sensors, numbered between 4 and 5, to detect the pressure exerted by the body 101 or the strap 103 on the seat headrest, respectively. The pressure sensor generally consists of a diaphragm and a transducer. When the body 101 or the strap 103 exerts pressure on the seat headrest, the diaphragm deforms under this pressure, and the transducer converts this into an electrical signal, which is then sent to a microcontroller for processing.After receiving and processing the signal, the microcontroller determines the pressure exerted by the body 101 or the belt 103 on the seat headrest. Based on the determined pressure, the microcontroller actuates a pair of motorized rollers 104 wound with the belt 103 to rotate around their axes and properly wrap the body 101 and the belt 103 around the vehicle's headrest.

[0024] The motorized roller consists of a motor and a roller. The motor is actuated by the microcontroller, which rotates the rollers 104 counterclockwise around their axis to properly position the body 101 and the belt 103 around the vehicle's headrest. The rollers 104, which are wound with the belt 103, are hollow cylindrical rods connected to the housing 101 and the motor.

[0025] The body 101 is equipped with an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 for capturing the user's body measurements. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 consists of a camera lens and a light-sensitive element. The camera lens focuses the visible light spectrum reflected by the user onto a light-sensitive element that captures the user's image. The artificial intelligence unit is equipped with a processor that processes the captured image to extract the data. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is integrated with artificial intelligence protocols that use this data to determine the user's body measurements. The microcontroller controls an air compressor based on the determined user's body measurements. The air compressor is arranged on the body 101.

[0026] The air compressor consists of a motor, a pump, and a tank. The motor is activated by the microcontroller upon detecting the user's body measurements, which drives the pump to compress the air. The air is then stored in the tank, which is then released into the inflatable element to inflate the element. The inflatable element is fabricated around the body 101 to provide a comfortable seating experience and also protect the user from sudden impacts during riding. The user's torso is housed in the body 101.

[0027] The body 101 is equipped with a motorized drawer assembly 102 to increase the width of the body 101 based on the determined user height and properly enclose the user with the body 101. The motorized drawer assembly 102 consists of a rail, a drive mechanism, and a slider. The drive mechanism is actuated by the microcontroller to move the slider, which is arranged with the body 101 above the rail, to increase the width of the body 101 and properly enclose the user with the body 101.

[0028] The body 101 is equipped with a moisture sensor that monitors the presence of perspiration on the user seated in the vehicle. The moisture sensor consists of an IR transmitter and an IR receiver. The IR transmitter emits infrared light toward the user's body. The moisture in the form of sweat on the user's body partially absorbs and partially reflects the light. The reflected light is received by the receiver, which detects the change in the intensity of the reflected light and sends this data to the microcontroller for processing to determine the presence of perspiration on the user.

[0029] When humidity is detected, the microcontroller activates a Peltier device configured on the body 101 to maintain an optimal temperature level within the vehicle, creating a comfortable seating experience and drying sweat from the user's body. The Peltier devices consist of two different p- and n-type semiconductors sandwiched between a copper substrate. When the Peltier device is powered by a battery connected to the device, the electrons flow from n-type to n-type. The n-type electrons flow to p-type at the junction. At the cold junction, the electrons absorb heat energy from the environment surrounding the body 101, thereby cooling the environment.

[0030] The device is associated with a battery that supplies power to the electrical or electronically operated components connected to the device. The battery consists of a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte solution in which electrons flow from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit. The electric current is generated by the flow of electrons.

[0031] The proposed device works best in the following manner, which includes an H-shaped body 101 designed to be positioned over the torso of a user seated in a vehicle. The body 101 and the belt 103 are equipped with multiple pressure sensors to detect the pressure exerted by the body 101 and the belt 103 on the seat's headrest. Upon detecting the pressure, the microcontroller actuates a pair of motorized rollers wound with the belt 103 to rotate about their axes to ensure that the body and belt 103 fit properly around the vehicle's headrest.The body 101 is equipped with an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 to capture the user's body measurements. Based on this, the microcontroller operates a motorized drawer assembly 102 integrated into the body 101 to increase the width of the body 101 and properly enclose the user within the body 101. The air compressor installed on the body 101 is operated by the microcontroller based on the captured body measurements to inflate the inflatable element fabricated around the body 101 to provide a comfortable seating experience.The body 101 is equipped with a humidity sensor that monitors the presence of sweat on the body of the user sitting in the vehicle. Upon detection of sweat on the body, it activates the Peltier unit's microcontroller to maintain an optimal temperature in the vehicle, thus creating a comfortable seating experience and drying sweat from the user's body. The housing 101 is equipped with a battery that powers all of the device's electrical components.

[0032] Although the scope of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not intended to be limiting. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the invention. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 6230349B1

[0004] US 20150082546A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] A rest aid device for vehicles, consisting of: i) an H-shaped body 101 designed to be positioned over the torso of a user seated in a vehicle, the body 101 being secured with a U-shaped strap 103 to engage the body with the headrest of the seat and enclose the user between the seat and the body 101; ii) a plurality of pressure sensors mounted on the body 101 and the straps 103 to detect the pressure exerted by the body and the straps 103, respectively, on the headrest of the seat, wherein a built-in microcontroller, based on the detected pressure, actuates a pair of motorized rollers 104 wound with the strap 103 to rotate about their axis to ensure that the body 101 and the straps 103 fit properly around the headrest of the vehicle; iii) an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is installed on the body 101 and paired with a processor to capture and process multiple images of the environment or to determine the user's body measurements, respectively, whereby the microcontroller actuates an air compressor installed on the body 101 to inflate an inflatable element made around the body 101 to create a comfortable seating experience and also to protect the user from sudden shocks during travel; and iv) a humidity sensor installed on the body 101 to monitor the presence of perspiration while the user is sitting in the vehicle, wherein, upon detecting the presence of perspiration, the microcontroller activates a plurality of Peltier units configured on the body 101 to maintain an optimal temperature level in the vehicle to provide a comfortable seating experience and to dry the perspiration from the user's body. [2] The device of claim 1, wherein a motorized drawer assembly 102 is integrated into the body 101, which is actuated by the microcontroller based on the detected body dimensions of the user to increase the width of the body 101 and properly enclose the user with the body 101. [3] The device of claim 1, wherein the device is associated with a battery used to power electrical and electronically operated components associated with the device.

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