Head support device for use when lying in the prone position

Abstract

A head support device which enables a user to comfortably rest in the prone position. The head support device includes a padded member having a generally horse-shoe shape with a top, arcuate sides spaced apart ends, a first inner side wall and a second inner side wall, a first region for supporting the user's face in the frontal sinus area, a second region adjacent to the eye socket and cheek area for supporting the user's face area, and a third region for support along the sides of the user's mandible. The support device also includes a substantially rigid support member for supporting the padded member. The support member has a pair of upstanding splayed outwardly walls which define an air channel for the free exchange of air when the user inhales or exhales. The support member has a plurality of opposing, substantially parallel zones which provide support for the above described support regions of the padded member when the user is lying in the prone position. The padded member is secured to the support member using an attachment method that does not interfere with said padded member conforming to the facial configuration of the user.

1 . A device for supporting a user's head when lying in the prone position comprising: 
 a padded member having a generally horse-shoe shape with a top, arcuate sides spaced apart ends, a first inner side wall and a second inner side wall, said padded member having a plurality of support regions, a first region for supporting the user's face in the frontal sinus area; a second region adjacent to the eye socket and cheek area for supporting the face area; and a third region for support along the sides of the user's mandible;    a substantially rigid support member adapted to receive said padded member having a pair of upstanding outwardly splayed walls, said walls defining an air channel for the free exchange of air, said support member having a plurality of opposing, substantially parallel zones which provide support for said support regions when the user is lying in the prone position; and    means for attaching said padded member to said substantially rigid support member, wherein said attaching means does not interfere with said padded member conforming to the facial configuration of the user.    
   
   
       2 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said first region of said padded member has a width “d” of from about 5 cm to about 20 cm, wherein the width is determined at the widest point between said first inner side wall and said second inner side wall.  
   
   
       3 . The head support device of  claim 2  wherein said first region has a width “d” of from about 5 cm to about 15 cm.  
   
   
       4 . The head support device of  claim 2  wherein said first region has a width “d” of from about 6.25 cm to about 11 cm.  
   
   
       5 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said second region has a width “e” ranging from about 5 cm to about 30 cm, wherein the width is determined at the widest point between said first inner side wall and said second inner side wall.  
   
   
       6 . The head support device of  claim 5  wherein said second region has a width “e” ranging from about 5 cm to about 17 cm.  
   
   
       7 . The head support device of  claim 5  wherein said second region has a width “e” ranging from about 7.5 cm to about 17 cm.  
   
   
       8 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said third region has a width “f” ranging from about 1.4 cm to about 8 cm, wherein the width is determined at the widest point between said first inner side wall and said second inner side wall.  
   
   
       9 . The head support device of  claim 8  wherein said third region has a width “f” ranging from about 1.4 cm to about 8 cm.  
   
   
       10 . The head support device of  claim 8  wherein said third region has a width “f” ranging from about 2.5 cm to about 6 cm.  
   
   
       11 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said padded member further comprises an inner core and an outer covering encasing said inner core.  
   
   
       12 . The head support device of  claim 11  wherein said inner core is selected from the group consisting of foam rubber; rubber-latex foam; polyurethane foam; polyethylene foam; polyvinyl foam; bladders containing materials selected from the group consisting of air, liquids, air-gel, and polymeric beads; loosely compacted polymeric fibers; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The head support device of  claim 12  wherein said inner core has a degree of fluidity and will undergo a change in at least one attribute selected from density or volumetric displacement when a substantially vertical load of more than 100 grams is placed on said inner core.  
   
   
       14 . The head support device of  claim 12  wherein said inner core has an average thickness of from about 1 cm to about 12 cm.  
   
   
       15 . The head support device of  claim 14  wherein said inner core has an average thickness of from about 1 cm to about 8 cm.  
   
   
       16 . The head support device of  claim 14  wherein said inner core has an average thickness of from about 1.5 cm to about 5 cm.  
   
   
       17 . The head support device of  claim 14  wherein said inner core has a greater thickness at the top relative to the ends of the padded member.  
   
   
       18 . The head support device of  claim 11  wherein said covering is selected from the group consisting of vinyl, rubber, leather, cotton, nylon, rayon, polyester, polychloroprene, and combinations of two or more of these materials.  
   
   
       19 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said channel has a width of from about 1 cm to about 10 cm.  
   
   
       20 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said substantially rigid support member further comprises a first end, a distal second end and an upper surface adapted to receive the padded member, wherein there is a height differential from said first end to said second end to form an angle “θ” of from about 3° to 12°, as determined from a plane of said upper surface relative to a plane of the surface on which said support member rests.  
   
   
       21 . The head support device of  claim 20  wherein said angle “θ” is from about 5° to about 10°.  
   
   
       22 . The head support device of  claim 20  wherein said angle “θ” is about 7°.  
   
   
       23 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of zones comprises: 
 a top zone having a generally horizontal surface that is contoured for supporting the forehead of the user;    a middle zone having a slight concave curvature for comfortably supporting the lateral portion of the user's face adjacent to, but not on, the user's eye socket; and    an end zone that avoids placing direct frontal pressure on the user's chin having a generally horizontal surface that is contoured for comfortably supporting the lateral portion of the user's face from just below the maxillary bone.    
   
   
       24 . The head support device of  claim 23  wherein said top zone has a length of from about 3 cm to about 9 cm and a width of from about 1 cm to about 5 cm.  
   
   
       25 . The head support device of  claim 23  wherein said top zone has a length of from about 4 cm to about 8 cm and a width of from about 1.5 cm to about 3 cm.  
   
   
       26 . The head support device of  claim 23  wherein said middle zone has a length of from about 3 cm to about 20 cm and a width of from about 1 cm to about 9 cm.  
   
   
       27 . The head support device of  claim 23  wherein said middle zone has a length of from about 6 cm to about 10 cm and a width of from about 3 cm to about 6 cm.  
   
   
       28 . The head support device of  claim 23  wherein said end zone has a length of from about 3 cm to about 9 cm and a width of from about 1 cm to about 5 cm.  
   
   
       29 . The head support device of  claim 23  wherein said end zone has a length of from about 4 cm to about 8 cm and a width of from about 2 cm to about 4 cm.  
   
   
       30 . The head support device of  claim 19  wherein said channel has a width of from about 2 cm to about 8 cm.  
   
   
       31 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said support member is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of resin, heat moldable plastic, aluminum, wood products, and combinations thereof  
   
   
       32 . The head support device of  claim 31  wherein said support member is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of resin, heat moldable plastic and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       33 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said support member is constructed of a resin reinforced with at least one material selected from the group consisting of glass, graphite, polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate, and mixtures thereof, and wherein said reinforcing material is in the form selected from the group consisting of flakes, fibers, mats, webbing or mesh, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       34 . The head support device of  claim 33  wherein said support member is constructed of a glass web or mesh reinforced resin.  
   
   
       35 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said support member further comprises a lower surface and plurality of stabilizing members extending from said lower surface to the bottom of said channel.  
   
   
       36 . The head support device of  claim 35  wherein said support member further comprises a left and right perimeter and said stabilizing members extend transversely from said left perimeter to the right perimeter.  
   
   
       37 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said attaching means is selected from the group consisting of hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, double sided tapes, contact cohesives, screws, brads, rivets, tabs, snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, weakly bonded cohesives, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       38 . The head support device of  claim 37  wherein said attaching means is a double sided tape.  
   
   
       39 . A device for supporting a user's head when lying in the prone position comprising: 
 a padded member having a generally horse-shoe shape with a top, arcuate sides spaced apart ends, a first inner side wall and a second inner side wall, said padded member having a plurality of support regions, a first region for supporting the user's face in the frontal sinus area; a second region adjacent to the eye socket and cheek area for supporting the face area; and a third region for support along the sides of the user's mandible;    a substantially rigid support member adapted to receive said padded member having a pair of upstanding splayed outwardly walls, a first end, a distal second end and an upper surface adapted to receive said padded member and a plurality of opposing, substantially parallel zones, wherein said walls define an air channel for the free exchange of air and said zones provide support for said support regions when the user is lying in the prone position, and wherein there is a height differential from said first end to said second end of said support member to form an angle “0” of from about 3° to 12°, as determined from a plane of said upper surface relative to a plane of the surface on which said support member rests; and    means for attaching said padded member to said substantially rigid support member, wherein said attaching means does not interfere with said padded member conforming to the facial configuration of the user.    
   
   
       40 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said first region has a width “d” of from about 5 cm to about 15 cm.  
   
   
       41 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said second region has a width “e” ranging from about 5 cm to about 17 cm, wherein the width is determined at the widest point between said first inner side wall and said second inner side wall.  
   
   
       42 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said third region has a width “f” ranging from about 1.4 cm to about 8 cm, wherein the width is determined at the widest point between said first inner side wall and said second inner side wall.  
   
   
       43 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said padded member further comprises an inner core selected from the group consisting of foam rubber; rubber-latex foam; polyurethane foam; polyethylene foam; polyvinyl foam; bladders containing materials selected from the group consisting of air, liquids, air-gel, and polymeric beads; loosely compacted polymeric fibers; and combinations thereof and an outer covering encasing said inner core.  
   
   
       44 . The head support device of  claim 43  wherein said inner core has a degree of fluidity and will undergo a change in at least one attribute selected from density or volumetric displacement when a substantially vertical load of more than 100 grams is placed on said inner core.  
   
   
       45 . The head support device of  claim 43  wherein said inner core has an average thickness of from about 1.5 cm to about 5 cm.  
   
   
       46 . The head support device of  claim 43  wherein said inner core has a greater thickness at the top relative to the ends of the padded member.  
   
   
       47 . The head support device of  claim 43  wherein said covering is selected from the group consisting of vinyl, rubber, leather, cotton, nylon, rayon, polyester, polychloroprene, and combinations of two or more of these materials.  
   
   
       48 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said angle “θ” is from about 5° to about 10°.  
   
   
       49 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said plurality of zones comprises: 
 a top zone having a generally horizontal surface that is contoured for supporting the forehead of the user;    a middle zone having a slight concave curvature for comfortably supporting the lateral portion of the user's face adjacent to, but not on, the user's eye socket; and    an end zone that avoids placing direct frontal pressure on the user's chin having a generally horizontal surface that is contoured for comfortably supporting the lateral portion of the user's face from just below the maxillary bone.    
   
   
       50 . The head support device of  claim 49  wherein said top zone has a length of from about 4 cm to about 8 cm and a width of from about 1.5 cm to about 3 cm.  
   
   
       51 . The head support device of  claim 49  wherein said middle zone has a length of from about 6 cm to about 10 cm and a width of from about 3 cm to about 6 cm.  
   
   
       52 . The head support device of  claim 49  wherein said end zone has a length of from about 4 cm to about 8 cm and a width of from about 2 cm to about 4 cm.  
   
   
       53 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said channel has a width of from about 2 cm to about 8 cm.  
   
   
       54 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said support member is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of resin, heat moldable plastic and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       55 . The head support device of  claim 39  wherein said support member is constructed of a resin reinforced with at least one material selected from the group consisting of glass, graphite, polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate, and mixtures thereof, and wherein said reinforcing material is in the form selected from the group consisting of flakes, fibers, mats, webbing or mesh, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       56 . A device for supporting a user's head when lying in the prone position comprising: 
 a padded member having a generally horse-shoe shape with a top, arcuate sides spaced apart ends, a first inner side wall and a second inner side wall, said padded member having a plurality of support regions, a first region for supporting the user's face in the frontal sinus area; a second region adjacent to the eye socket and cheek area for supporting the face area; and a third region for support along the sides of the user's mandible;    a substantially rigid support member adapted to receive said padded member having a pair of upstanding splayed outwardly walls, a first end, a distal second end and an upper surface adapted to receive said padded member, a top zone having a generally horizontal surface that is contoured for supporting the forehead of the user, a middle zone having a slight concave curvature for comfortably supporting the lateral portion of the user's face adjacent to, but not on, the user's eye socket, and an end zone that avoids placing direct frontal pressure on the user's chin having a generally horizontal surface that is contoured for comfortably supporting the lateral portion of the user's face from just below the maxillary bone, wherein said walls define an air channel for the free exchange of air and said zones provide support for said support regions when the user is lying in the prone position, and wherein there is a height differential from said first end to said second end of said support member to form an angle “0” of about 7°, as determined from a plane of said upper surface relative to a plane of the surface on which said support member rests; and    means for attaching said padded member to said substantially rigid support member, wherein said attaching means does not interfere with said padded member conforming to the facial configuration of the user.    
   
   
       57 . The head support device of  claim 56  wherein said first region has a width “d” of from about 6.25 cm to about 11 cm, wherein the width is determined at the widest point between said first inner side wall and said second inner side wall.  
   
   
       58 . The head support device of  claim 56  wherein said second region has a width “e” ranging from about 7.5 cm to about 17 cm, wherein the width is determined at the widest point between said first inner side wall and said second inner side wall.  
   
   
       59 . The head support device of  claim 56  wherein said third region has a width “f” ranging from about 2.5 cm to about 6 cm, wherein the width is determined at the widest point between said first inner side wall and said second inner side wall.  
   
   
       60 . The head support device of  claim 56  wherein said padded member further comprises an inner core selected from the group consisting of foam rubber; rubber-latex foam; polyurethane foam; polyethylene foam; polyvinyl foam; bladders containing materials selected from the group consisting of air, liquids, air-gel, and polymeric beads; loosely compacted polymeric fibers; and combinations thereof, and an outer covering encasing said inner core.  
   
   
       61 . The head support device of  claim 56  wherein said support member is constructed of a resin reinforced with at least one material selected from the group consisting of glass, graphite, polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate, and mixtures thereof, and wherein said reinforcing material is in the form selected from the group consisting of flakes, fibers, mats, webbing or mesh, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       62 . The head support device of  claim 61  wherein said support member is constructed of a glass web or mesh reinforced resin.