Vehicle seat protection device

Abstract

A vehicle seat neck protection device ( 8 ) that protects and supports the nape of the neck ( 4 ) of a user wherein the device ( 8 ) has a body ( 27 ) of a predetermined size and shape and a convex surface ( 6 ) for positioning the device ( 8 ) behind the nape of a neck ( 4 ), a rear wall ( 10 ) located on the body ( 27 ) and at least one securing means ( 7 ) located on the rear wall ( 10 ) for securing the vehicle neck protection device ( 8 ) to at least one post ( 3 ) of a vehicle headrest ( 1 ). The body ( 27 ) may include a cushion area ( 12 ) that forms the convex surface ( 6 ) and a dense area ( 11 ) located between the cushion area ( 12 ) and the rear wall ( 10 ). In the alternative, an inflatable bladder ( 17 ) may form the convex surface ( 6 ) wherein a user may selectively adjust the degree of inflation of the bladder ( 17 ). The bladder ( 17 ) may also be automatically inflated upon strong impact against the vehicle itself. The device ( 8 ) may be retroactively fit onto an existing vehicle headrest ( 1 ) or may built-into a vehicle headrest ( 1 ).

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A vehicle neck protection device for protecting and supporting a nape of a neck of a user comprising:
 a head rest attachable to a seat via at least one post wherein the height of the headrest in relation to the seat may be adjusted to a higher or lower position to accommodate the height of a user;   said head rest having a substantially flat upper front surface which is preferably positioned behind the head of a user;   said headrest having a lower front surface that curves outward and downward away from a lower edge of the substantially flat upper front surface to an apex and then curves inward and downward toward a front surface of the seat, thereby creating a lower convex surface that projects forward away from the flat upper front surface and is contoured to the nape of a user's neck;   a flat rear surface located on the rear of the lower convex surface, said flat rear surface rests against a front surface of the seat while the head rest is in a downward position, in which a bottom surface of the head rest is resting against a top surface of the seat.