Head-restraint assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a head-restraint assembly (1) for securing to a headrest (2) of a backrest of a vehicle seat, comprising - a vertical strap (3) which can be reversibly secured to the headrest, wherein the vertical strap (3) is aligned substantially along the mirror axis of the backrest of the passenger seat, in particular vertically, when the head-restraint assembly is being used, and the vertical strap (3) can be guided through a gap formed between the backrest and the headrest and can be wrapped around the headrest, and - a horizontal strap (4), which can be reversibly connected to the vertical strap (3) in a connection region, for wrapping around the head, in particular the forehead, of a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat. The horizontal strap (4) is oriented substantially transversely to the vertical strap (3) at least in the connection region.

Description

[0001] Headrest arrangement

[0002] The invention relates to a headrest arrangement for attachment to a headrest of a passenger seat.

[0003] On longer journeys, such as car trips, passengers often use the travel time to sleep. However, while sleeping, the head typically slumps forward, and braking, accelerating, and steering expose passengers to numerous forces that cannot be absorbed due to the reduced body tension during sleep. Sleep is therefore not very restful, and pain often results from poor posture.

[0004] In the event of an accident, more serious injuries can also occur because the body of a sleeping passenger is often not adequately protected due to the slumped position, for example if the head leans against a vehicle pillar or falls sideways into the airbag.

[0005] To avoid this, various devices are known from the state of the art.

[0006] US 6435617 B1 shows a neck support that can be attached to a headrest with horizontal or vertical straps. This provides sideways support for the head from behind. However, it is not protected against the forward tilt typical of sleep.

[0007] US 2008036253 and DE 102018009266 show pillows that can be attached to a car headrest.

[0008] WO 0038946 shows a headrest assembly for a car headrest, wherein a vertical strap can be attached to the headrest and a horizontal strap can be placed around the head. In most embodiments, the horizontal strap and the vertical strap are firmly connected. According to the fourth embodiment, the horizontal strap can be reversibly connected to the vertical strap on the back of the headrest using a hook-and-loop fastener. However, the head cannot come loose in the event of an impact. WO 2014 / 203055 A1 shows a sleep mask that is pulled over the headrest and held there by a horizontal strap. In this arrangement, however, it is necessary for the horizontal strap to be pulled very tightly to prevent the strap from slipping due to the movement and weight of the head. Tightening the strap also creates strong pressure on the passenger's head, which in turn causes pain.

[0009] US 2009 271904 A1 also shows a sleep mask. This can be attached to a passenger seat with a hook-and-loop fastener. The passenger seat has a short hook-and-loop fastener aligned parallel to the seat surface, which is glued to the headrest and removed after use. This has the disadvantage that the headrest can be damaged by the adhesive, and the adhesive surface becomes worn and unusable.

[0010] To overcome these disadvantages, the invention therefore aims to provide a flexibly deployable device that enables restful and safe sleep while traveling. In particular, the object is to protect the head of a sleeping passenger from sinking or wobbling during a journey, while the necessary device can be quickly and easily installed for multiple uses and carried at any time.

[0011] This object is achieved in a headrest assembly for fastening to a headrest of a backrest of a passenger seat, comprising a vertical band which can be reversibly fastened to the headrest, wherein the vertical band is aligned, in particular vertically, substantially along a mirror axis through the backrest of the passenger seat when the headrest assembly is in use, and wherein the vertical band can be passed through a gap formed between the backrest and the headrest and folded around the headrest, as well as a horizontal band for folding around the head, in particular the forehead, of a passenger sitting on the passenger seat, wherein the horizontal band is aligned, at least in the connecting region, substantially transversely to the vertical band, in that the horizontal band can be reversibly connected to the vertical band in a connecting region by means of press studs.

[0012] This arrangement holds the head securely in the headrest, preventing wobbling or sagging. A stable connection that can be released and reconnected as often as required is achieved because the vertical and horizontal straps are connected by snap fasteners. Snap fasteners have the advantage that the connection is stable and secure under the stresses typically encountered during use, yet can still be easily released. Snap fasteners are very flat and do not restrict comfort even when positioned near the head. At the same time, the headrest assembly can be carried at all times and can be attached and removed quickly and easily as needed.

[0013] Advantageous designs result from the following features:

[0014] To ensure restful sleep during the day, an eye mask can be attached to the horizontal band or can be reversibly fastened. To allow for a customized fit, the eye mask can be moved along the horizontal band and fixed or positioned at the desired location.

[0015] A headrest assembly is particularly comfortable yet secure when the horizontal strap is made of an elastically stretchable material. This allows for slight, active movements, allowing a comfortable sleeping position without having to readjust the entire headrest assembly. The width and elasticity of the horizontal strap can be designed to securely hold the head against movements or decelerations typical of car travel caused by braking and steering.

[0016] To limit unwanted head movement, the vertical strap can be made of a material that is particularly stable in length, particularly under the stresses and strains encountered during use. This allows the vertical strap to be attached firmly and snugly to the headrest. To limit the range of motion, the vertical strap can be designed with high transverse torsional rigidity.

[0017] Particularly high stability can be achieved if the vertical belt has a belt width of 5 cm to 15 cm, in particular a belt width of 6 cm to 10 cm.

[0018] During use, the back of the passenger's head rests partially over the connection area. A particularly comfortable headrest arrangement is therefore provided when, during use, the vertical strap and the horizontal strap are arranged flat on top of one another in the connection area and are connected via corresponding connecting elements. In order to be able to individually adjust the headrest arrangement, a loop element can be attached to the vertical strap, wherein the loop element runs transversely to the vertical strap while resting against the vertical strap and is displaceable along the longitudinal extent of the vertical strap, wherein at least one connecting element is arranged on the loop element. The loop element rests against the vertical strap and is nevertheless displaceable along the vertical strap, enabling a stable connection between the vertical strap and horizontal strap to be achieved which is nevertheless individually adjustable.

[0019] A comfortable support surface for the head and at the same time a particularly stable connection is provided if the loop element is formed from two flat, superimposed material strips which are connected to one another in their end regions or the end regions of the loop element and which form a central passage recess for the passage of the vertical band, wherein the passage recess extends transversely to the longitudinal extent of the material strips, i.e. along the longitudinal extent of the vertical band.

[0020] A particularly comfortable headrest arrangement that provides particularly good support is achieved when the loop element extends beyond the vertical band on both sides. It is particularly advantageous if at least one connecting element is arranged in each of the end regions of the loop element that extend beyond the vertical band.

[0021] To improve stability, the loop element can have high transverse torsional rigidity and / or be more torsional rigid than the vertical band. To this end, the loop element can be made of a more torsional rigid or thicker material than the vertical band.

[0022] To create a stable and easily adjustable connection between the vertical belt and the horizontal belt, a sleeve element can be attached to the horizontal belt. The sleeve element extends along the horizontal belt, resting against the horizontal belt, and is displaceable along the longitudinal extent of the horizontal belt. At least one connecting element is arranged on the sleeve element. The head can be held particularly stably if the sleeve element is more torsionally rigid than the horizontal belt. For this purpose, the sleeve element can be made of a more torsionally rigid or thicker material than the horizontal belt.

[0023] In order to achieve a comfortable support surface and a stable connection between the vertical belt and the horizontal belt, the sleeve element can be formed from two flat, superimposed material strips which are connected to one another in their side areas and form a central passage recess extending along the longitudinal extent of the material strips for the passage of the horizontal belt.

[0024] The head is held particularly securely if the cuff element has a length of 10 cm to 20 cm.

[0025] A particularly stable and comfortable headrest arrangement is provided when the loop element and the cuff element, in particular the material strips of the loop element and the cuff element, have the same dimensions in terms of their length and width. It is particularly advantageous if the loop element and the cuff element have corresponding connecting elements.

[0026] In order to achieve the most even distribution of the load on the headrest assembly, the loop element and the cuff element can be made of the same material and / or have the same torsional stiffness.

[0027] A particularly stable, comfortable head support arrangement which can be quickly and easily adjusted individually is provided if the connecting area is designed in such a way that the loop element and the cuff element are arranged in a flat manner against one another and can be reversibly connected to one another by means of corresponding connecting elements.

[0028] To allow for quick and easy replacement of the horizontal strap, and especially an eye mask or the vertical strap, the loop element and / or the cuff element can be designed to open. The headrest arrangement is particularly stable yet individually adjustable if both the vertical strap and the horizontal strap can be closed to form an endless loop with a variable and adjustable circumference.

[0029] The invention also relates to a passenger seat comprising a seat surface, a backrest, and a headrest, wherein the headrest comprises a previously described headrest assembly, wherein the vertical band of the headrest assembly is attached to the headrest in extension of a mirror axis through the backrest of the passenger seat. Such a passenger seat can be used for sleeping in an upright position at any time. The vertical band allows the horizontal band, when not needed, to be moved into a position in which it is not located in the headrest area. Thus, such a passenger seat is comfortable for both sleeping and awake passengers.

[0030] An advantageous embodiment is illustrated by way of example in the figure.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a head support arrangement according to the invention.

[0032] The headrest assembly 1 is shown attached to a headrest 2. The headrest assembly has a vertical band 3 and a horizontal band 4, which are reversibly connectable in a connecting region, wherein the vertical band 3 and the horizontal band 4 are shown separately from one another. In the connecting region, the vertical band 3 and the horizontal band 4 can be connected by connecting elements 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, wherein the corresponding connecting elements 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are not connected to one another in the illustration. The connecting region is designed such that, in the connected state, the horizontal band 4 is aligned transversely to the vertical band 3 in the connecting region. In the embodiment shown, the vertical band 3 and the horizontal band 4 lie flat on top of one another in the connected state.

[0033] The vertical band 3 is arranged such that it is aligned along the mirror axis of the headrest 2. Therefore, when the headrest 2 is attached to a passenger seat with a seat surface and backrest, the vertical band 3 is aligned in extension of a mirror axis through the backrest. During use, the vertical band 3 of the headrest arrangement 1 is therefore usually aligned substantially vertically. For attachment to a passenger seat, the vertical band 3 can, for example, be guided through a gap formed between the backrest and headrest 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical band 3 is made of a longitudinally stable material that also has high transverse torsional rigidity. Therefore, the vertical band 3 does not significantly change its shape under the loads caused by the weight of the head and travel movements.The length of the vertical strap 3 is adjustable and can be adapted to the headrest 2 to ensure a secure fit. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical strap 3 has a width of 6 cm.

[0034] A loop element 7 is attached to the vertical band 3. The loop element 7 consists of two flat, superimposed material strips that are sewn together at their lateral end regions. A central through-hole 8 is provided transversely to the longitudinal extent of the material strips or to the longitudinal extent of the loop element 7. The loop element 7 is attached to the vertical band 3 via this through-hole 8, with the vertical band 3 running through the through-hole 8. The loop element 7 is therefore displaceable along the vertical band 3. The loop element 7 has a high transverse torsional rigidity. In the embodiment shown, the loop element 7 projects laterally beyond the vertical band 3. A connecting element 6a, 6c is arranged in each of the two projecting end regions of the loop element 7.

[0035] The connecting elements 6a, 6c, together with corresponding connecting elements 6b, 6d, enable the connection between the vertical band 3 and the horizontal band 4 to be established. In the illustrated embodiment, these connecting elements 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are designed as snap fasteners.

[0036] The horizontal band 4 can be connected to the vertical band 3 via the snap fasteners. For this purpose, a cuff element 9 is attached to the horizontal band 4, on which the snap fasteners are arranged. The cuff element 9 also consists of two flat material strips lying one above the other. In the cuff element 9, the material strips are sewn together in their side areas and have a feed-through recess 10 that extends centrally along the longitudinal extent of the material strips. The horizontal band 4 is guided through this feed-through recess 10 so that the cuff element 9 rests against the horizontal band 4 and can be moved along the horizontal band 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the cuff element 9 has a length of 12 cm. In the illustrated embodiment, the loop element 7 and the cuff element 9 have the same dimensions in terms of their length and width.Furthermore, the cuff element 9 and the loop element 7 are made of the same material. The cuff element 9 and the loop element 7 therefore have the same transverse torsional rigidity. In the connected state, the cuff element 9 and the loop element 7 lie flat against one another, so that the vertical band 3 and the horizontal band 4 are also arranged flat on top of one another. To connect the vertical band 3 and the horizontal band 4, the loop element 7 and the cuff element 9 have the corresponding connecting elements 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting area is therefore defined by the loop element 7 and the cuff element 9.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the cuff element 9 is more torsionally rigid than the horizontal band 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the horizontal band 4 is made of an elastically stretchable material, and its width and elasticity are designed to securely hold the head against movements or decelerations typical of car travel caused by braking and steering. For this purpose, the horizontal band is 2 cm wide in the illustrated embodiment. An eye mask 5 is attached to the horizontal band 4.

[0038] The embodiment shown therefore enables restful and safe sleep when traveling, especially as a passenger in a car.

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Headrest arrangement (1) for attachment to a headrest (2) of a backrest of a car seat, comprising - a vertical band (3) which can be reversibly fastened to the headrest, wherein the vertical band (3) is aligned substantially along the mirror axis of the backrest of the passenger seat, in particular vertically, when the headrest arrangement is in use, and wherein the vertical band (3) can be passed through a gap formed between the backrest and the headrest and can be folded around the headrest, - and a horizontal band (4) which can be reversibly connected to the vertical band (3) in a connecting region and is intended to be placed around the head, in particular the forehead, of a passenger sitting on the car seat, wherein the horizontal band (4) is aligned substantially transversely to the vertical band (3) at least in the connecting region.

2. Head support arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an eye cover mask (5) is attached or reversibly attachable to the horizontal band (4), wherein it is provided in particular that the eye cover mask (5) is displaceable along the horizontal band (4) and can be fixed at the desired location.

3. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the horizontal band (4) consists of an elastically stretchable material and / or is designed in its width and elasticity to hold the head stably against movements or decelerations due to braking and steering typical when driving a car.

4. Headrest arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vertical band (3) is formed from a material which is length-stable, in particular under the loads occurring during use, and / or has a high transverse torsional rigidity and / or has a band width of 5 cm to 15 cm, in particular of 6 cm to 10 cm.

5. Headrest arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, during use in the connecting region, the vertical band (3) and the horizontal band (4) are arranged flat one above the other and are connected via mutually corresponding connecting elements (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).

6. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vertical band (3) and the horizontal band (4) are connected via snap fasteners.

7. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a loop element (7) is attached to the vertical band (3), wherein the loop element (7) extends transversely to the vertical band (3) in contact with the vertical band (3) and is displaceable along the longitudinal extent of the vertical band (3), wherein at least one connecting element (6a, 6c) is arranged on the loop element (7).

8. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the loop element (7) is formed from two flat superimposed material strips which are connected to one another in their end regions or the end regions of the loop element (7), and which form a central passage recess (8) extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the material strips for the passage of the vertical band (3).

9. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the loop element (7) projects beyond the vertical band (3) on both sides, wherein it is provided in particular that at least one connecting element (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is arranged in the end regions of the loop element (7) projecting beyond the vertical band (3).

10. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the loop element (7) has a high transverse torsional rigidity, and / or wherein the loop element (7) is more torsional rigid than the vertical band (3), and in particular consists of a more torsional rigid or thicker material than the vertical band (3).

11. Headrest arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein on the Horizontal band (4) a cuff element (9) is attached, wherein the Cuff element (9) adjacent to the horizontal band (4) along the Horizontal belt (4) runs and is displaceable along the longitudinal extent of the horizontal belt (4), wherein at least one connecting element (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is arranged on the sleeve element (9).

12. Headrest arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the cuff element (9) is more torsionally rigid than the horizontal band (4), and in particular made of a more torsionally rigid or thicker material than the horizontal band (4).

13. Headrest arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the cuff element (9) is formed from two flat superimposed material strips which are connected to one another in their side regions and form a central passage recess (10) extending along the longitudinal extent of the cuff element (9) for the passage of the horizontal band (4).

14. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the Cuff element (9) has a length of 10 cm to 20 cm.

15. Headrest arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the Loop element (7) and the cuff element (9), in particular the material strips of the loop element (7) and the cuff element (9), have the same dimensions with regard to their length and width, wherein it is provided in particular that the loop element (7) and the cuff element (9) have corresponding connecting elements (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).

16. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the loop element (7) and the cuff element (9) consist of the same material and / or have the same torsional rigidity.

17. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein in the connecting region the loop element (7) and the cuff element (9) are arranged so as to lie flat against one another and can be reversibly connected to one another by connecting elements (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).

18. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the loop element (7) and / or the cuff element (9) are designed to be opened in order to reversibly insert the vertical band (3) or horizontal band (4).

19. Head support arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that both the vertical band (3) and the horizontal band (4) can each be closed to form an endless band loop with a variable and fixable circumference.

20. A passenger seat comprising a seat surface, a backrest and a headrest, wherein the headrest (2) comprises a headrest arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the vertical band (3) of the headrest arrangement (1) is attached to the headrest (2) in extension of a mirror axis through the backrest of the passenger seat.

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