A child's headrest for a child's seat as used in a vehicle

Abstract

A child's vehicle seat headrest 2 has a rear portion 6 which extends from a top front 8 of the seat 4, curved headrest portions 10,12 which extend forwardly from the rear portion 6, cheekrests 14,16 o

Description

A CHILD'S HEADREST FOR A CHILD'S SEAT AS USED IN A VEHICLE This invention relates to a child's headrest and, more especially, this invention relates to a child's headrest for a child's seat as used in a vehicle. Children under a certain age are required to sit in a child's seat in a vehicle. Typically the vehicle is a car but other types of vehicle may be provided with a child's seat. During a journey, the child will often fall asleep in the seat. A problem then arises in that child seats do not have headrests or the headrests are poorly designed. The result is that as the child falls asleep, its head may tilt awkwardly backwards causing the child to choke, or its head may slump forward causing the child to breath heavily with consequent unattractive breathing sounds. Sometimes the child may slip forward out of the headrest and bang their head on the inside of the car, for example on the interior of the car door adjacent the child. The above problems are not confined to the child. More especially, if a parent or guardian is driving the vehicle alone, then they are constantly having to watch the child whilst at the same time having to drive. Often as the child will move to an uncomfortable or unsafe position on the child's seat, the parent or guardian will involuntarily try and lean backwards to help the child. The result is a lack of attention to driving which may cause an accident. It is an aim of the present invention to avoid or reduce the above mentioned problems. Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a child's headrest for a child's seat as used in a vehicle, which child's headrest comprises: (i) a rear portion which extends from a top front portion of the child's seat: (ii) a first headrest portion which extends forwardly from the rear portion; (ii) a second headrest portion which extends forwardly from the rear portion; (iv) a first cheekrest portion on an inside of the first headrest portion; (v) a second cheekrest portion on an inside of the second headrest portion; (vi) a neck-receiving aperture which is defined by the first and second headrest portions, and wherein: (vii) the first cheekrest portion is thinner than the adjacent part of the first headrest portion, whereby the first cheekrest portion defines with the first headrest portion a first wall portion for helping comfortably to stabilise the child's head on the child's headrest; (viii) the second cheekrest portion is thinner than the adjacent part of the second headrest portion, whereby the second cheekrest portion defines with the second headrest portion a second wall portion for helping comfortably to stabilise the child's head on the child’s headrest; (ix) the first and second headrest portions are configured to prevent the child's head from falling sideways and forwards out of the child's headrest; and (x) the first and second headrest portions are configured such that the child is able to extend its head above the first and second headrest portions, whereby the child has freedom of movement of its head and the child does not feel that its head is being uncomfortably restrained. The child's headrest of the present invention is thus advantageous in that the child’s head is adequately and comfortably supported whilst the child is asleep. However, whilst the child is awake, the child has a good degree of freedom of movement of its head and thus the child does not feel that its head is being uncomfortably restrained. Also, a parent or guardian driving a vehicle does not have to pay constant attention to the child and is thus able to drive more safely than would otherwise be the case. The child's headrest may be one in which the first and second portions are strip members which enable in use the child to lean its head sideways over the upper face of each of the first and second headrest portions. The child's headrest may be one in which the rear portion is a strip member which enables in use the child to lean its head backwards over the rear portion. Preferably, the child's headrest is one in which the first headrest portion has a first free end which is farthest from the rear portion, in which the second headrest portion has a second free end which is farthest from the rear portion, and in which there is a gap between the first and second free ends. The gap may form a comfort gap for the child so that the child does not think that it is in a restricting collar. The gap may be of any size providing that it is not so large that the child's neck would fall out through the gap. The first and the second wall portions are preferably continuously curved and thereby comfortable for the child's head. The first and second headrest portions may be curved arms which curve towards each other. Other configurations for the first and second headrest portions may be employed so that, for example, the first and second headrest portions may be straight arms with right angled straight ends. Preferably, the child's headrest is made from a memory foam material. The memory foam material may be advantageous in conforming to a shape which suits the particular child using the headrest. If desired, the child's headrest may be made of other materials. Generally the chosen materials should be as comfortable as possible for the child. The basic material from which the child’s headrest is made may be provided with a cover for washing purposes. Alternatively the material from which the child's headrest is made may be provided with a wipe clean surface. The child's headrest may be one which is for attachment to an existing child's seat, and wherein the child's headrest includes attachment means for attaching the child's headrest to the top front portion of the child's seat. The attachment means may comprise a first attachment device for attaching to a first side of the top front portion of the child's seat, and a second attachment device for attaching to a second side of the top front portion of the child's seat. Other types of attachment means may be employed so that the attachment means may be a single attachment means rather than one that comprises several attachment devices. The attachment means may enable the child's headrest to be height-adjustable on the child's seat. When the attachment means comprises the first and second attachment devices, then the first attachment device may be a strap device, and / or the second attachment device may be a strap device. The first strap device may comprise a first tightening device and / or the second strap device may comprise a second tightening device. The first and second tightening devices may be first and second buckle tightening devices. Tightening devices other than buckles may be employed. Generally any attachment means may be employed which provides the required safety and security. Alternatively, the child's headrest may form an integral part of an existing child's seat. The present invention also extents to a child's seat when provided with the child's headrest of the present invention. The child's seat may be one in which the child's headrest is separately formed and attached to the child's seat, or is integrally formed with the child's seat. Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view from the rear and above of a child’s headrest. Figure 2 is a view from the side, front and above of the child's headrest as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from the front and above of the child’s headrest as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows the child's headrest of Figures 1 — 3 secured to a child's seat for use in a vehicle; and Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 but shows the child's seat in part of a vehicle and without the child’s headrest. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a child’s headrest 2 for a child's seat 4 as used in a vehicle. The child's headrest 2 comprises a rear portion 6 which extends from a top front portion 8 of the child's seat 4. The child's headrest 2 further comprises a first headrest portion 10 which extends forwardly from the rear portion 6. There is also a second headrest portion 12 which extends forwardly from the rear portion 6. A first cheek rest portion 14 is on an inside of the first headrest portion 10. A second cheek rest portion 16 is on an inside of the second headrest portion 12. A neck-receiving aperture 18 is defined by the first and second headrest portions 10, 12. The first check rest portion 14 is thinner than the adjacent part 20 of the first headrest portion 10. Thus the first cheek rest portion 14 defines with the first headrest portion 10, a first wall portion 22 for helping comfortably to stabilise the child's head on the child's headrest 2. The second cheek rest portion 16 is thinner that the adjacent part 24 of the second headrest portion 12. Thus the second cheek rest portion 16 defines with the second headrest portion 12, a second wall portion 26 for helping comfortably to stabilise the child's head on the child’s headrest 2. The first and second headrest portions 10, 12 are configured to prevent the child's head from falling sideways and forwards out of the child's headrest 2. The first and second headrest portions 10, 12 are also configured such that the child is able to extend its head above the first and second headrest portions 10, 12. Thus the child has freedom of movement of its head and the child does not feel that its head is being uncomfortably restrained. As can best be appreciated from Figure 2, the first and second headrest portions 10, 12 are strip members which enable in use the child to lean its head sideways over the upper faces 28, 30 of the first and second headrest portions 10, 12 respectively. The rear portion 6 is a strip member which enables in use the child to lean its head backwards over the rear portion 6. The first headrest portion 10 has a first free end 32 which is farthest from the rear portion 6. The second headrest portion 12 has a second free end 34 which is farthest from the rear portion 6. There is a gap 36 between the first and second free ends 32, 34. The gap 36 is advantageous in that it gives the child peace of mind that its neck is not completely surrounded by a closed collar. Thus the gap 36 helps to avoid the child having undesired feelings of claustrophobia. The first and second wall portions 22, 26 are curved as shown. They are thus comfortable for the child's head if the child is resting its cheeks on the first and second wall portions 22, 26. The first and second headrest portions 10, 12 are curved arms which curve towards each other. Such a construction enables the child's headrest 2 to be of a small size. In addition, the curved arms enable the child's headrest 2 to be made of a minimum amount of material which facilitates manufacture of the child's headrest 2 at a commercially acceptable price. Preferably the child's headrest 2 is made of a memory foam material. Any suitable known memory foam material may be employed. The child's headrest 2 is for attachment to the child's seat 4 which is an existing child's seat. The child's headrest 2 thus includes attachment means 38 for attaching the child's headrest 2 to the top front portion 8 of the child's seat 4. The attachment means 38 comprises a first attachment device 40 for attaching to a first side of the top front portion 8 of the child's seat 4. The attachment means 38 also comprises a second attachment device 42 for attaching to a second side of the top front portion 8 of the child's seat 4. As can be seen from Figure 1, the first and second attachment devices 40, 42 are of the same construction. The first attachment device 40 is a strap device, and the second attachment device 42 is a strap device. The first strap device comprises a first tightening device in the form of a buckle arrangement 44. The second strap device comprises a second tightening device in the form of a buckle arrangement 46. The first and second attachment devices 40, 42 enable the child’s headrest 2 to be height-adjustable on the child's seat 4. Figure 4 shows the child's headrest 2 attached to the top front portion 8 of the child's seat 4 via the attachment means 38. Figure 5 shows the child's seat 4 without the child's headrest 2. The child's headrest 2 could if desired be made as an integral part of the child's seat 4. In this case, the attachment means 38 would normally not be required because the child's headrest 2 would be constructed at the time of manufacture of the child's seat 4. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the first and second headrest portions 10, 12 may be of shapes other than those shown. Similarly the rear portion 6 may be of a shape other than that shown. Other types of attachment means 38 may be employed. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. The invention also extends to the individual components mentioned shown above, taken singly or in any combination.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A child's headrest for a child's seat as used in a vehicle, which child's headrest comprises: [0] a rear portion which extends from a top front portion of the child's seat; (ii) a first headrest portion which extends forwardly from the rear portion; (ii) a second headrest portion which extends forwardly from the rear portion; (iv) a first cheekrest portion on an inside of the first headrest portion; (v) a second cheekrest portion on an inside of the second headrest portion; (vi) a neck-receiving aperture which is defined by the first and second headrest portions, and wherein: (vii) the first cheekrest portion is thinner than the adjacent part of the first headrest portion, whereby the first cheekrest portion defines with the first headrest portion a first wall portion for helping comfortably to stabilise the child's head on the child's headrest; (viii) the second cheekrest portion is thinner than the adjacent part of the second headrest portion, whereby the second cheekrest portion defines with the second headrest portion a second wall portion for helping comfortably to stabilise the child's head on the child's headrest: (ix) the first and second headrest portions are configured to prevent the child's head from falling sideways and forwards out of the child's headrest: and (x) the first and second headrest portions are configured such that the child is able to extend its head above the first and second headrest portions, whereby the child has freedom of movement of its head and the child does not feel that its head is being uncomfortably restrained.

2. A child's headrest according to claim 1 in which the first and second headrest portions are strip members which enable in use the child to lean its head sideways over the upper faces of each of the first and second headrest portions.

3. A child's headrest according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the rear portion is a strip member which enables in use the child to lean its head backwards over the rear portion.

4. A child's headrest according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first headrest portion has a first free end which is farthest from the rear portion, in which the second headrest portion has a second free end which is farthest form the rear portion, and in which there is a gap between the first and second free ends. 3S. A child's headrest according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and second wall portions are continuously curved and thereby comfortable for the child's head.

6. A child's headrest according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and second headrest portions are curved arms which curve towards each other.

7. A child's headrest according to any: one of the preceding claims and which is made from a memory foam material.

8. A child's headrest according to any one of the preceding claim and which is for attachment to an existing child's seat, and wherein the child's headrest includes attachment means for attaching the child's headrest to the top front portion of the child's seat.

9. A child's headrest according to claim 8 in which the attachment means comprises a first attachment device for attaching to a first side of the top front portion of the child's seat, and a second attachment device for attaching to a second side of the top front portion of the child's seat.

10. A child's headrest according to claim 9 in which the first attachment device is a strap device, and in which the second attachment device is a strap device.

11. A child's headrest according to claim 10 in which the first strap device comprises a first tightening device, and in which the second strap device comprises a second tightening device.

12. A child's headrest according to claim 11 in which the first and second tightening devices are first and second buckle tightening devices.

13. A child's headrest according to any one of claim 1 — 7 and which forms an integral part of an existing child's seat.

14. A child's seat when provided with a child's headrest according to any one of the preceding claims.

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