Articulating headrest

Abstract

A headrest for a passenger seat comprises a support structure, wherein the support structure is for connection to the passenger seat; a cushion plate, wherein the cushion plate is connected to the support structure by a mounting mechanism that enables the cushion plate to be articulated in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction parallel to the support structure; and a cushion, connected to the cushion plate, on which at least one of a user's head or neck is supported during use. The mounting mechanism is configured such that horizontal movement of the user's head or neck when supported by the cushion causes the cushion plate to articulate horizontally in unison with the movement of the user's head or neck.

Description

ARTICULATING HEADREST1. FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The present technology generally relates to a headrest for passenger seats which can be vehicle seats, and high back seats in general. The present technology may find particular application in aircraft, trains, buses, cars, gaming, offices, mobility, furniture, passenger vessels, and other passenger vehicles.2. BACKGROUND TO THE TECHNOLOGY

[0002] Passenger vehicles and aircraft often have passenger seats with very basic headrests, with limited functionality, that provide a standardized and relatively low level of comfortable head support for the average of the population; however, this often places people who desire or need a higher level of support and comfort to encourage relaxation and sleep, in a difficult scenario. Commonly, headrests on aircraft offer some vertical movement of the headrest relative to the seatback and perhaps wing flaps on the headrest that can be bent inward and against which users can lean their head. Although such manual adjustments may provide some level of comfort, they generally do not support the head in the most comfortable of positions for resting and sleeping without some manual intervention with pillows or cushions, nor cater for the needs of the broader population.

[0003] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved headrest.3. SUMMARY OF THE TECHNOLOGY

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present technology, there is provided a headrest for a passenger seat comprising a support structure, wherein the support structure is for connection to the passenger seat; a cushion plate, wherein the cushion plate is connected to the support structure by a mounting mechanism that enables the cushion plate to be articulated in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction parallel to the support structure; a cushion, connected to the cushion plate, on which at least one of a user's head or neck is supported during use; and wherein the mounting mechanism is configured such that horizontal movement of the user's head or neck when supportedby the cushion causes the cushion plate to articulate horizontally in unison with the movement of the user's head or neck.

[0005] According to another embodiment of the technology, the mounting mechanism is configured such that vertical movement of the user's head when supported by the cushion causes the cushion plate to articulate vertically in unison with the movement of the user's head.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the technology, the mounting mechanism is configured to allow the cushion plate to tilt parallel to the support structure so that it supports tilting of a person's head. The horizontal direction is substantially an arc parallel to the surface of the support structure.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the technology, the mounting mechanism comprises elastic means of articulation which causes the headrest to return to a centred at rest position upon release of the headrest from an active position to which the headrest has been moved by the user.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the technology, the mounting mechanism comprises at least one vertical guide slot that enables vertical articulation of the cushion plate relative to the support structure.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the technology, the at least one vertical guide slot comprises first and second vertical guide slots provided in a vertical mounting plate.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the technology, the mounting mechanism comprises at least one horizontal guide slot that enables horizontal articulation of the cushion plate relative to the support structure.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the technology, the at least one horizontal guide slot comprises first and second horizontal guide slots provided in a horizontal mounting plate.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the technology, first and second vertical guide connectors are provided in the first and second vertical guide slots, and first and second horizontal guide connectors are provided in the first and second horizontal guide slots, and the first vertical and first horizontal guide connectors, second vertical and second horizontal guide connectors, are connected so that the cushion plate and support structure are held together.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the technology, each guide connector is shaped so that it allows the sliding of the connector within the guide slot.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the technology, upper and lower vertical springs are attached to respective upper and lower ends of each of the first and second vertical guide slots of the vertical mounting plate, wherein the vertical guide connectors are located between the upper and lower springs, which causes the vertical guide connectors to elastically return to a centred at rest position relative to the support structure.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the technology, wherein first and second horizontal springs are attached to at least one end of the first and second horizontal guide slots of the horizontal mounting plate, which causes the horizontal guide connectors to elastically return to a centred at rest position relative to the support structure.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the technology, wherein a cover cushion holding plate is attached to the vertical mounting plate to cover the vertical guide slots and a horizontal mounting backing plate attaches to the horizontal mounting plate to cover the horizontal guide slots, so that the springs and guide connectors of each of the guide slots are trapped within respective guide slots.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the technology, the cushion plate further comprises an extension mechanism, wherein the extension mechanism provides additional vertical movement of the cushion plate.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the technology, wherein the extension mechanism comprises elastic means of articulation which causes the headrest to return to a centred at rest position upon release of the headrest from an active position to which the headrest has been moved by the user.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the technology, the extension mechanism comprises an vertical extension plate in which at least one guide slot is provided, that enables vertical movement of the vertical extension plate relative to the vertical mounting plate.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the technology, the guide slot of the vertical extension plate comprises a vertical extension guide connector that connects and fastens to an extension backing plate, wherein the extension backing plate is connected and fastened to the verticalmounting plate, holding both plates together and serving as a fixed post to guide the vertical movement of the vertical extension plate relative to the vertical mounting plate.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the technology, an upper and lower spring are attached respectively to the upper and lower end of the guide slot of the extension plate which causes the vertical extension guide connector to elastically return to a centred at rest position upon release of the headrest from an active position to which the headrest has been moved by the user.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the technology, the cushion holding plate attaches to or is formed in conjunction with the extension plate and covers the vertical extension guide slots so that the upper and lower springs and vertical extension guide connector are trapped within the vertical extension guide slot.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the technology, the vertical extension plate further comprises vertical guide rails that interface with vertical mounting guide members on the vertical mounting plate, holding both plates together and providing the vertical extension plate further support when moving vertically relative to the vertical mounting plate.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the technology, the cushion plate further comprises first and second wings that cover the sides of the cushion so that horizontal force exerted on one of the first and second wings is exerted on the cushion plate.4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] One or more embodiments of the technology will be described below by way of example only, and without intending to be limiting, with reference to the following drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a headrest of a first embodiment in a centred at a rest position on a passenger seat;Figure 2 is a side view of a person sitting on a passenger seat with their head on the headrest of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the headrest of Figure 1 in a centred at rest position;Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the headrest of Figure 1 in a centred at rest position;Figure 5 is an exploded view of the headrest of Figure 1;Figure 6 is a front view of the headrest of Figure 1 in a down position on a passenger seat;Figure 7 is a front view of the headrest of Figure 1 in a right position on a passenger seat;Figure 8 is a front view of the headrest of Figure lin a up and left position on a passenger seat;Figure 9 is a perspective view of the front of a headrest of a second embodiment;Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of the headrest of Figure 9;Figure 11 is an exploded view of the headrest of Figure 9;Figure 12 is a front view of the headrest of Figure 9 in an extended-up position; andFigure 13 is a front view of the headrest of Figure 9 in an extended-down and right position.5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY FORMS OF THE TECHNOLOGYArticulating Headrest

[0026] Embodiments of the technology relate to an articulating headrest for a passenger seat which can be a vehicle seat that allows the headrest to fully articulate in unison with both vertical and horizontal movement of the head, or any oblique angle to the side, whilst cradling the nape of the neck and providing full head support. The technology takes into consideration the need to cater for variations in head height and subsequent changes in head position whilst being supported by the headrest. While depending on the height of the user, the headrest may initially require manual adjustment in order to adjust the height of the headrest. Once the user's head and / or neck is placed so as to be supported by the headrest, the headrest adjusts vertically to a comfortable height and then changes its position automatically in unison with any subsequent up or down movement of the head. In some examples, the head may move when other adjustments are made to the seatback or backrest of the seat to which the headrest is attached, such as tilting the seatback forwards or backwards.

[0027] The technology also takes into consideration that when tilting the head to the side, the back of the head moves in an arc relative to the vertical spine. The technology allows the headrest to automatically move horizontally and follow that arc in unison with the head movement, repositioning the headrest fluidly upon the head being tilted either to the left or right whilst the user's head and / or neck is resting on the headrest. Existing headrests cannot offer this degree of flexibility without manual intervention, nor provide the level of comfort that this headrest then provides. When not supporting the head, the headrest centres to an at rest position. This avoids preparation time and cost when at the terminal; for example, existing aircraft headrests often have wings that must be manually reset after use by either the user or by airline staff. The articulating headrest may be applied to new seating or retrofitted to existing seating.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a headrest 100 of a first embodiment mounted on a passenger seat 110. Fig.2 is a side view of a person 120 sitting on a passenger seat 110 with their back on a backrest 116 supported by the seatback 114 and with their head 125 on the headrest 100 of Figure 1. In Fig. 1, the headrest 100 is shown in a centred at rest position from which it can be moved by a user as explained below. Fig. 3 is a perspective front view of the headrest 100 and illustrates that the headrest 100 comprises a cushion 220 attached to a cushion plate 200 and that the cushion plate 200 is connected to a support structure 240 by a mounting mechanism described below. Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the headrest 100 of Figure 1 in a centred at rest position.

[0029] In the following description, components are labelled relative to the perspective of a user sitting on the passenger seat 110. That is, components on the left side of the user when seated are labelled as being on the left side of the headrest 100.Mounting Mechanism - Vertical Movement

[0030] The mounting mechanism is located between a cushion plate 200 and a support structure 240 and allows the cushion plate 200 and a cushion 220 to move vertically and horizontally. The components of the mounting mechanism and how it is connected to the cushion plate 200 are best seen in Fig.5. The mounting mechanism includes a vertical mounting plate 204, vertical guide connectors 212, upper vertical springs 213, lower vertical springs 214, a horizontal mounting plate 242, horizontal guide connectors 246, and horizontal springs 247. The vertical guide connectors 212 and horizontal guide connectors 246 are fastened together, for example by a nut and bolt, and hold the vertical mounting plate 204 and horizontal mounting plate 242 together. The vertical mounting plate 204 and the horizontal mounting plate 242 include guide slots 206,243 that enable vertical movement and horizontal movement along an arc, namely vertical guide slots 206 and horizontal guide slots 243. Each connector 212,246 is generally rectangular and sized to be just smaller than the corresponding guide slot 206, 243 so that it will slide within the relevant slot.

[0031] The vertical guide slots 206 of the vertical mounting plate 204 receive the vertical guide connectors 212 and the respective vertical upper springs 213 and vertical lower springs 214. This construction allows the vertical guide connectors 212 to slide within the vertical guide slots 206, whilst the upper springs 213 and lower springs 214 provide elastic force to restore the vertical guide connectors 212 to a centred position at rest. The upper vertical springs 213 and lower vertical springs 214 are attached to the top and bottom of their respective vertical guide slots 206. For example, the top of the left upper vertical spring 213A is attached to the top of the left vertical guide slot 206A and the left lower vertical spring 214A is attached to the bottom of the left vertical guide slot 206A. Theleft (or first) vertical guide connector 212A can slide within the left vertical guide slot 206A and the right (or second) vertical guide connector 212B can slide within the right vertical guide slot 206B. In an example, the vertical guide connector 212A is not attached to the upper or lower vertical springs 213,214 but as the springs are trapped within the vertical guide slots 206 by a cushion holding plate 202, the vertical guide connectors 212 will compress one of the springs when moved up or down.

[0032] Fig.6 depicts the headrest 100 in an active position where it has been moved downwards by the user. In this case, when the headrest 100 is pushed downwards the cushion plate 200 is slid downwards relative to the support structure 240. The cushion plate 200 being pushed downwards results in the vertical mounting plate 204 sliding downwards relative to the support structure 240, whereby the vertical guide connectors 212 are now at the top of the vertical guide slots 206, thereby compressing the upper vertical springs 213 and leaving the lower vertical springs 214 uncompressed. Once the user releases their head 125 from the cushion 220, the cushion plate 200 will return to the vertical centre position at rest as the upper vertical springs 213 apply elastic force to the top of the vertical guide slots 206 which thereby moves the vertical mounting plate 204 upwards together with the cushion plate 200 and cushion 220, until the upper vertical springs 213 are at rest, or are balanced by the elastic force of the lower vertical springs 214. Similar actions are reflected upon the headrest 100 being moved upwards.Mounting Mechanism - Horizontal Movement

[0033] The horizontal mounting plate 242 comprises horizontal guide slots 243 which receive the horizontal guide connectors 246. As seen in Fig.5, the vertical guide connectors 212 connect to the horizontal guide connectors 246 which are held within the horizontal guide slots 243 in a similar manner to the vertical guide slots 206 by the horizontal mounting backing plate 248. The horizontal mounting plate 242 and the horizontal mounting backing plate 248 are fastened together with the support mounting plate 249, wherein the support mounting plate 249 is attached to the passenger seat 110. The horizontal guide connectors 246 may slide within the horizontal guide slots 243, whilst the horizontal springs 247 provide elastic force to restore the horizontal guide connectors 246 to a centred position at rest. The horizontal springs 243 are attached to the centre of the horizontal mounting plate 242 at the ends of their respective horizontal guide slots 247 that are closest to the centre of the horizontal mounting plate. It will be noted that the horizontal guide slots 243A and 243B are not connected and as such, left (or first) and right (or second) horizontal springs 247A and 247B do not touch each other as they are separated into their own horizontal guide slots 243A and 243B respectively.

[0034] The horizontal guide slots 243 have curved outer end portions 244 that promote an arcuate motion such that when the cushion plate 200 is moved left or right the headrest 100 follows an arc, providing fluid repositioning with just the movement of the head 125 in either direction, wherein the arc is relative to the vertical spine of a user. The horizontal guide slots 243 provide a horizontal arc movement due to the presence of the curved outer end portions 244 that lower the respective horizontal guide connectors 246 when they approach the end of the curved outer end portions 244, in that the vertical mounting plate 204 is tilted to the respective horizontal direction it was moved. For example, when the headrest 100 is moved left, the cushion plate 200 is moved left, resulting in the right horizontal guide connector 246B approaching the centre of the right horizontal guide slot 246 whilst the left (or first) horizontal guide connector 246A approaches the left curved outer end portion 244A of the horizontal guide slot 243A. As the left curved outer end portion 244A arcs downwards, the left horizontal guide connector 246A drops lower than the right (or second) horizontal guide connector 246B, thereby causing vertical mounting plate 204 to tilt to the left to follow the angle established by left and right horizontal guide connectors 246.

[0035] Fig. 7 depicts the headrest 100 in an active position where it has been moved to the right of the user. That is pressure by the user's head 125 or neck moves the cushion plate 200 to the right which causes the horizontal guide connectors 246 to be moved right such that the right horizontal guide slot 243B is away from the centre of the horizontal mounting plate 242 and the left horizontal guide slot 243A approaches the centre. In this configuration, the right horizontal spring 246B is uncompressed, whilst the left horizontal spring 246A is compressed. Therefore, once the user removes their head 125 from the headrest 100, the left horizontal spring 247A will elastically uncompress itself such that the left horizontal guide connector 246B is returned to a position where the left horizontal spring 247A is elastically at rest or balanced by the elastic force of the right horizontal spring 247B. As the horizontal guide connectors 246 return to a centred at rest position, the cushion plate 200 is also returned to a centred at rest position since the horizontal guide connectors 246 are connected to vertical guide connectors 212 which are housed within the vertical guide slots 206 of the vertical mounting plate 204.Mounting Mechanism - Combined Vertical and Horizontal Movement

[0036] As explained above, the vertical and horizontal movements can occur separately of each other, however they can also operate together such that even when the cushion plate 200 is raised up or lowered down it can be moved left or right as well. Therefore, there are many possible positions which can be achieved by the headrest 100 enabling a user to find a position or positions which are comfortable for them. For example, the headrest 100 can be located in up, down (Fig. 6),left, right (Fig. 7), up-left (Fig.8), up-right, down-left, and down-right positions as well as in intermediate positions between these positions.

[0037] For example, Fig.8 depicts the headrest 100 in an active up-left position. In this position, the cushion plate 200 is moved upwards and left which causes the vertical mounting plate 204 to move upwards resulting in the vertical guide connectors 212 to move to the bottom of the vertical guide slots 206, additionally as the vertical mounting plate 204 moves left it causes the horizontal guide connectors 243 to move left. In the up-left position, the up position causes the lower vertical springs 214 to be compressed whilst the left position causes right horizontal spring 247B to be compressed. Upon release of the headrest 100, the compressed springs return to an uncompressed state or are balanced by their opposing respective springs.

[0038] It will be appreciated that the headrest 100 is able to achieve oblique angles due to the separate vertical guide slots 206 which comprises the left vertical guide slot and right vertical guide slot 206A,206B. Therefore, the vertical guide connectors 212A and 212B may be at different vertical positions relative to their respective vertical guide slots 206. For example, the cushion plate 200 may be horizontally centred but the cushion plate 200 may be tilted up to 28 degrees to the left, such that the left vertical guide connector 212A is at the top of the left vertical guide slot 206A, and the right vertical guide connector 212B is at the bottom of the right vertical guide slot 206B.Elastic Centring and Alternative Articulation

[0039] In the preferred embodiments, the headrest 100 uses upper and low vertical springs 213 / 214 respectively, and horizontal springs 247 to return the headrest 100 to a centred at rest position. Although compression springs are utilized in the preferred embodiments, it should be recognised that other mechanisms will be able to elastically return the vertical guide connectors 206 and horizontal guide connectors 247 to a centred at rest position, for example: elastic fibres, foam springs, gas springs and compliant spring like mechanisms. In other examples, there may not be any elastic component to centre the headrest 100 using the vertical guide connectors 212 and horizontal guide connectors 246, instead, the headrest 100 may move freely along the vertical guide slots 206 and horizontal guide slots 243. It will also be appreciated that the user may move the headrest 100 manually initially before resting their head onto the headrest 100 to move it in unison with the head 125. For example, the user may initially adjust the headrest 100 vertically by hand, by raising the headrest 100 to their preferred height, before sitting on the passenger seat 110 and resting their head 125 onto the headrest 100 and having the headrest 100 articulate to adjust to the position of their head 125.

[0040] In this embodiment, the vertical mounting plate 204 is shaped such that there are wings 205 on the side to cover the side of the cushion 220 and allow more horizontal force to be applied onto the headrest 100 by the user to tilt the headrest 100, however in alternative embodiments the wings 205 may be placed onto a different plate such as the cushion holding plate 202. In another example, there may be no wings or the cushion 220 may comprise wings 205 at each of its ends instead.Extension Mechanism

[0041] In a second embodiment, a headrest 900 enables additional vertical articulation of the headrest 900. Many of the components of the headrest 900 of the second embodiment are the same as the headrest 100 of the first embodiment and, where this is the case, the same reference numbers are used. As seen in the front and rear perspective views of Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 respectively, headrest 900 comprises the support structure 240, the cushion 220 and a modified cushion plate 200E that contains an extension mechanism.

[0042] The extension mechanism allows additional vertical articulation to be incorporated into the headrest 900 when combined with the mounting mechanism described above which is desirable in implementations where additional vertical articulation is desired. The differences between the headrests 100, 900 of the first and second embodiments are best seen in the exploded view of the second embodiment of the headrest 900 in Fig.ll when compared to the exploded view of the first embodiment of the headrest 100 in Fig.5. It will be observed that in this headrest 900, a modified vertical mounting plate 204E is used with the modification being that the wings 205 have been removed and are instead provided on a vertical extension plate 1100. Additionally, the vertical mounting plate 204E further comprises vertical mounting guide members 208A, 208B, that slide into the vertical extension guide rails 207 A, 207B of the vertical extension plate 1100 respectively, thereby providing the vertical extension plate 1100 further support when moving vertically relative to the vertical mounting plate 204E whilst holding together the vertical mounting plate 204E and vertical extension plate 1100.

[0043] The extension mechanism comprises the vertical extension plate 1100, vertical extension guide connector 1112, upper vertical extension spring 1113, lower vertical extension spring 1114, an extension backing plate 1106. Vertical extension plate 1104 has wings 205 and a vertical extension guide slot 1104 that receives the vertical extension guide connector and springs 1113,1114. Vertical extension guide connector 1112 connects and fastens to an extension backing plate mounting hole 1107 in the extension backing plate 1106, wherein the extension backing plate 1106 is connected and fastened to the vertical mounting plate 204E, holding both plates together and serving as a fixed postto guide the vertical movement of the vertical extension plate 1100 relative to the vertical mounting plate 204E. The vertical extension plate 1100 is then able to articulate in a manner substantially identical to the vertical mounting plate 204 whereby the vertical extension guide connector 1112 may slide within the vertical extension guide slot 1104, and the upper and lower vertical extension springs 1113,1114 apply elastic force to return the vertical extension plate 1104 to a centred at rest position.

[0044] Fig.12 is a front view of the headrest 900 in an extended-up active position, wherein the user has moved the headrest 900 upwards. In the extended-up position, the mounting mechanism of headrest 900 provides vertical articulation in the same way as headrest 100, however the extension mechanism also provides additional vertical articulation. In this example, as the headrest 900 is articulated upwards, the mounting mechanism articulates vertically as described above for headrest 100. Similarly, the vertical extension plate 1100 articulates in the same manner as the vertical mounting plate 204 of headrest 100, thereby providing additional vertical articulation.

[0045] Fig.13 is a front view of the headrest 900 in an extended-down, right active position, wherein the user has tilted right and has moved the headrest 900 downwards. In the extended-down, right position, the mounting mechanism of headrest 900 provides horizontal articulation in the same way as headrest 100, but has the additional vertical articulation provided by the extension mechanism.

[0046] It will be appreciated that the articulation of the headrest 900 includes the articulation capabilities of headrest 100 but also include the additional vertical articulation provided by the extension mechanism. It will also be noted that the mounting mechanism and extension mechanism can provide vertical articulation independent of the state of the other mechanism, and as such, there is no requirement that the mounting mechanism be fully articulated before the extension mechanism may be articulated or vice versa.Passenger Seats

[0047] It will be appreciated that the technology may be applicable in passenger seats which can be vehicle seats, and high back seats in general. This technology may find application in seats such as those for aircraft, trains, cars, buses, gaming, offices, mobility, furniture, passenger vessels, and other passenger vehicles. The technology is advantageous in applications wherein the user will have to sit for long periods of time as the range of articulation provides more comfortable resting and sleeping positions based on the user's needs. The elastic articulation of the technology also provides users the convenience of a self-centring headrest that returns the headrest to a centred at rest position whennot in use, therefore eliminating time spent resetting other headrests that may require manual intervention to reset them to a default state.Other Remarks

[0048] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

[0049] The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.

[0050] Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.

[0051] The technology may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

[0052] Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

[0053] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the technology and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present technology.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A headrest for a passenger seat comprising: a support structure, wherein the support structure is for connection to the passenger seat; a cushion plate, wherein the cushion plate is connected to the support structure by a mounting mechanism that enables the cushion plate to be articulated in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction parallel to the support structure; a cushion, connected to the cushion plate, on which at least one of a user's head or neck is supported during use; and wherein the mounting mechanism is configured such that horizontal movement of the user's head or neck when supported by the cushion causes the cushion plate to articulate horizontally in unison with the movement of the user's head or neck.

2. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism is configured such that vertical movement of the user's head when supported by the cushion causes the cushion plate to articulate vertically in unison with the movement of the user's head.

3. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism is configured to allow the cushion plate to tilt parallel to the support structure so that it supports tilting of a person's head.

4. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal direction is substantially an arc parallel to the surface of the support structure.

5. The headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises elastic means of articulation which causes the headrest to return to a centred at rest position upon release of the headrest from an active position to which the headrest has been moved by the user.

6. The headrest system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises at least one vertical guide slot that enables vertical articulation of the cushion plate relative to the support structure.

7. The headrest system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one vertical guide slot comprises first and second vertical guide slots provided in a vertical mounting plate.

8. The headrest system according to claim 6 or claim 7 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises at least one horizontal guide slot that enables horizontal articulation of the cushion plate relative to the support structure.

9. The headrest system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one horizontal guide slot comprises first and second horizontal guide slots provided in a horizontal mounting plate.

10. The headrest system according to 9, wherein first and second vertical guide connectors are provided in the first and second vertical guide slots, and first and second horizontal guide connectors are provided in the first and second horizontal guide slots, and the first vertical and first horizontal guide connectors, second vertical and second horizontal guide connectors, are connected so that the cushion plate and support structure are held together.

11. The headrest system according to claim 10 wherein each guide connector is shaped so that it allows the sliding of the connector within the guide slot.

12. The headrest according to claim 11, wherein upper and lower vertical springs are attached to respective upper and lower ends of each of the first and second vertical guide slots of the vertical mounting plate, wherein the vertical guide connectors are located between the upper and lower springs, which causes the vertical guide connectors to elastically return to a centred at rest position relative to the support structure.

13. The headrest according to claim 12, wherein first and second horizontal springs are attached to at least one end of the first and second horizontal guide slots of the horizontal mounting plate, which causes the horizontal guide connectors to elastically return to a centred at rest position relative to the support structure.

14. The headrest according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein a cushion holding plate is attached to the vertical mounting plate to cover the vertical guide slots and a horizontal mounting backing plate attaches to the horizontal mounting plate to cover the horizontal guide slots, so that the springs and guide connectors of each of the guide slots are trapped within respective guide slots.

15. The headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cushion plate further comprises an extension mechanism, wherein the extension mechanism provides additional vertical movement of the cushion plate.

16. The headrest according to claim 15, wherein the extension mechanism comprises elastic means of articulation which causes the headrest to return to a centred at rest position upon release of the headrest from an active position to which the headrest has been moved by the user.

17. The headrest according to claim 16, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a vertical extension plate in which at least one guide slot is provided, that enables vertical movement of the vertical extension plate relative to the vertical mounting plate.

18. The headrest according to claim 17, wherein the guide slot of the vertical extension plate comprises a vertical extension guide connector that connects and fastens to an extension backing plate, wherein the extension backing plate is connected and fastened to the vertical mounting plate, holding both plates together and serving as a fixed post to guide the vertical movement of the vertical extension plate relative to the vertical mounting plate.

19. The headrest according to claim 18, wherein an upper and lower spring are attached respectively to the upper and lower end of the guide slot of the extension plate which causes the vertical extension guide connector to elastically return to a centred at rest position upon release of the headrest from an active position to which the headrest has been moved by the user.

20. The headrest according to claim 19, wherein the cushion holding plate attaches to or is formed in conjunction with the extension plate and covers the vertical extension guide slots so that the upper and lower springs and vertical extension guide connector are trapped within the vertical extension guide slot.

21. The headrest according to any one of the claims 17 to 20, wherein the vertical extension plate further comprises vertical guide rails that interface with vertical mounting guide members on the vertical mounting plate, holding both plates together and providing the vertical extension plate further support when moving vertically relative to the vertical mounting plate.

2. The headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cushion plate further comprises first and second wings that cover the sides of the cushion so that horizontal force exerted on one of the first and second wings is exerted on the cushion plate.

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