Seat back headrest

Abstract

A headrest includes at least one seat back mounting member and a connector coupling a cushion to the mounting member. A hinge may be coupled to the connector to movably deploy a cushion between a first use position for supporting a portion of a user's head and second substantially vertically extending non-use position. Alternately, the headrest may be mounted in the conventional seat headrest top edge bores. Further, the headrest may have a shape complimentary to the shape of the outer edge of a seat head restraint. The headrest is pivotally coupled to the head restraint for movement from a nonuse position overlaying the outer edge of the head restraint to one or more use positions angularly disposed in a forward facing direction relative to the front face of the head restraint.

1 . A headrest engageable with a seat back comprising:
 a seat back mounting member attachable to a seatback;   a cushion adapted to support the weight of a portion of a user's head; and   a cushion connector coupling the cushion to the mounting member;   the cushion connector being movable between a first use position and a vertically extending and a non-use second position.   
     
     
         2 . The headrest of  claim 1  wherein:
 the mounting member is a single mounting member; and 
 the at least one cushion is a single cushion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The headrest of  claim 2  wherein:
 the cushion defines a substantially J-shape. 
 
     
     
         4 . The headrest of  claim 1  wherein:
 the mounting member includes a pair of mounting members spacedly mountable across the top edge of a seat back. 
 
     
     
         5 . The headrest of  claim 4  wherein:
 the at least one cushion comprises a first cushion extending between a first cushion connector coupled to the one of the pair of mounting members and a second cushion connector coupled to the other of the pair of mounting members. 
 
     
     
         6 . The headrest of  claim 5  wherein:
 the cushion has a generally U-shape. 
 
     
     
         7 . The headrest of  claim 1  wherein the cushion connector comprises:
 a hinge having first and second pivotally connected hinge portions, the first hinge portion fixedly coupled to the mounting member; and 
 the second hinge portion being pivotally movable from a first position relative to the first hinge member and a second position relative to the first hinge portion to deploy the cushion in one of two angular positions relative to the seat back. 
 
     
     
         8 . The headrest of  claim 7  wherein:
 the mounting member includes a pair of mounting members spacedly mounted across the top of a seat back; and 
 the cushion connector comprises a pair of hinges, each coupled to one of the mounting members and the cushion. 
 
     
     
         9 . The headrest of  claim 7  wherein:
 the hinge has a horizontally extending pivot axis between the first and second hinge portions. 
 
     
     
         10 . The headrest of  claim 1  wherein:
 the seatback mounting member is removably mountable over a top edge of a seatback. 
 
     
     
         11 . The headrest of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one bore extending into the seat back from an open end in the seat back; 
 a portable headrest having a connector mountable in the bore in the seat back; and 
 a cushion carried by the connector for weight bearing support of a seat user's head. 
 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein:
 the cushion has a substantially J-shape for supporting a side of a user's head. 
 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein:
 the J-shape cushion extends to a free end adapted to be positioned in front of a portion of a seat user's head. 
 
     
     
         14 . The headrest of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a hinge having first and second pivotally connected hinge portions, the first hinge portion fixedly coupled to the connector; and 
 the second hinge portion coupled to the cushion and pivotally movable from a first position relative to the first hinge member and a second position relative to the first hinge portion to deploy the cushion in one of two angular positions relative to the seat back. 
 
     
     
         15 . The headrest of  claim 11  wherein:
 the at least one bore extends into the seatback from an open end at the front surface of the seatback. 
 
     
     
         16 . The headrest of  claim 11  wherein:
 the at least one bore extends into the seatback from an open end in a top edge of the seatback. 
 
     
     
         17 . The headrest of  claim 11  wherein:
 the at least one bore includes two vertically extending bores formed in the seatback, each extending from an open end at the top edge of the seatback; 
 another connector removably mountable in one of the bores in the seatback; 
 a cushion carried by either connector for weight bearing support of a seat user's head. 
 
     
     
         18 . The headrest of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a cross member fixedly coupled to and spacing the pair of connectors apart. 
 
     
     
         19 . The headrest of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the cushion having a shape substantially complimentary to the shape of an outer edge of a head restraint mounted in a top end of a seatback, the head restraint having a front face and rear face joined by the outer edge; 
 the cushion defining a generally U-shape having side legs and a central end portion complimentary to the shape of the outer edge of the head restraint; and 
 the cushion pivotally coupled to the head restraint for movement of the cushion between a retracted position overlaying the outer edge of the head restraint and at least one forward extending use position in which the side legs and the central end portion of the cushion extend forward of the front face of the head restraint for supporting a portion of a seat user's head. 
 
     
     
         20 . The headrest of  claim 19  further comprising:
 pivots mounted between the side legs of the cushion and side portions of the outer edge of the head restraint. 
 
     
     
         21 . The headrest of  claim 20  wherein:
 the pivots are mounted adjacent lower ends of the side legs of the cushion and opposed lower edges of the head restraint. 
 
     
     
         22 . The headrest of  claim 19  wherein:
 the cushion is pivotal to any of a plurality of stationary angular positions relative to the front face of the head restraint. 
 
     
     
         23 . The headrest of  claim 19  wherein:
 the headrest is pivotal to a stationary position disposed at an obtuse angle relative to the front face of the head restraint.