Assisting passengers to sleep while sitting

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for helping a user rest and sleep while in an upright sitting position on a seat by providing vertical and horizontal support to the user's upper body and head. The method consists of providing a seat add-on and fitting an adjustable vest ( 1 - 6 ) that can cling to the seat add-on at varying heights and relieve the load on the lower part of the spine, putting some of it on the armpits and some on the back ribs, and of providing a head support cushion ( 18 - 21 ) that enables the neck to relax while sustaining the head and neck in a vertical position. The seat add-on, the vest and the cushion in combination continuously support the seated user's upper body and head vertically and horizontally, to assist the user to rest and sleep in the vertical position.

1 . A method for securing a passenger to and releasing from a seat, comprising:
 (a) fixing a backrest to the seat;   (b) wearing a vest having a back surface adapted for adhesion to a surface on said backrest;   (c) securing said surface to the backrest by sitting down; and   (d) detaching said surface from the backrest by getting up.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein wearing the vest comprises adjusting it to the passenger's body. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein securing comprises mounting the vest back on an adjustable position on the seat. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein sitting down comprises adjusting the passenger back height relative to the backrest. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein sitting down comprises adjusting the body posture relative to the seat. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising providing posture support while said passenger is sleeping. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein securing said surface to the seat comprises hook and loop attaching of said surface to a backrest vertically secured to said seat at least at a bottom thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein securing said surface to the seat comprises hook and loop attaching of said surface to a backrest including an attachment area therefore and further comprising covering a portion of said attachment area prior to said securing. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 changing a posture of sitting by the passenger, by repeatedly detaching said surface from the backrest and securing said surface to the backrest.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said passenger repeatedly detaches and secures during sitting. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 choosing a preferred posture of sitting by the passenger.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said (c) and (d) are performed by the passenger. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the passenger is able to attach and detach himself from the seat without a need to handle said vest or seat. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein wearing a vest comprises wearing a vest by said passenger. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein removably fixing a backrest to the seat comprising diagonally fastening a strap of the backrest across a corner of the seat. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein removably fixing a backrest to the seat comprises removably fixing a backrest to a passenger seat. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein removably fixing a backrest to the seat comprises removably fixing to a commercial airplane seat, a train seat or a child safety seat. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: accessing pockets of said passenger by said passenger after (c) and before (d). 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein securing said surface to the backrest by sitting down comprises securing said surface to the backrest by pressing the surface to the backrest. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein wearing a vest further comprises adjusting the vest to the body by using straps of the vest. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein fixing comprises removably fixing. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus for use by a subject, comprising:
 a vest worn by the subject, said vest having a first loop and hook connector surface on its rear side, and attachments for attaching said vest to the upper body of the subject; and   a seat having a back rest having a second loop and hook connector surface associated with its front surface, wherein said backrest is fixed to the seat without interfering with equipment attached to the back of the seat,   wherein said first and said second loop and hook connector surfaces interlock when said subject sits in said seat.   
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said attachments comprises attachments easily connected by the subject. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , and which enables the subject to attach and detach himself from said seat without any handling of said vest or seat. 
     
     
         25 . A method of assisting a sedentary subject to sleep, comprising the steps of:
 providing a vest having a first loop and hook connector surface on its rear side, and attachments for attaching said vest to the upper body of the subject;   providing a seat having a back rest having a second loop and hook connector surface associated with its front surface;   fitting said vest closely onto the upper body of the subject, such that said vest provides support to the upper body of a sedentary subject;   determining that the subject wants to sleep; and   interlocking said first and said second loop and hook connector surfaces, such that said vest stabilizes the upper body of said subject against vertical and horizontal forces.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25  and wherein said subject is able to attach and detach himself from said seat without a need to handle said vest or said seat. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25  and wherein said subject is able to adjust his seating position to determine a most comfortable position without a need to handle said vest or said seat.