Head support device for vertical sleeping position

Abstract

A head support device for a person seeking to rest or sleep in an upright, seated position, primarily during travel or for medical related circumstances, comprising a support frame for the upright positioning of the head. The support frame includes a left side and right side with upper and lower arms, a rear portion, a front portion which includes support legs and chin supports, cushions for contact areas of the user, adjustable strap and fasteners. A method of using such a support is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head support device for allowing a user to sleep or comfortably rest while seated, the device comprising:
 (a) a left side support frame that is continuous, said left side support frame including:
 (i) an upper support arm adapted for positioning along a jawline area of the user, 
 (ii) a lower support arm adapted for positioning crosswise on a shoulder area of the user, 
 (iii) a rear portion having a curved region adapted for resting on a back neck portion of the user, and 
 (iv) a front portion having a rounded support leg adapted for resting on an upper chest area of the user, said left side front portion extending upward to form part of a chin rest support when in use; 
   (b) a right side support frame that is continuous, said right side support frame including:
 (i) an upper support arm adapted for positioning along the jawline area of the user, 
 (ii) a lower support arm adapted for positioning crosswise on the shoulder area of the user, 
 (iii) a rear portion having a curved region adapted for resting on the back neck portion of the user, and 
 (iv) a front portion having a rounded support leg adapted for resting on the upper chest area of the user, said left side front portion extending upward to form part of the chin rest support when in use; and 
   (c) a strap adapted for connecting the left side support frame to the right side support frame at a rear portion of the left side support frame and a rear portion of the right side support frame prior to use.   
     
     
         2 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said strap is a band for wrapping about the left side support frame and the right side support frame and connecting back to itself. 
     
     
         3 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein the left side support frame and the right side support frame are both formed of a suitable rigid material capable of providing support for a user's head weight, said rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal wire, plastic, composite and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The head support device of  claim 1 , which further includes a plurality of cushions for one or more of: the left side upper support arm, the right side upper support arm, the left side lower support arm, the right side lower support arm, the rounded support leg of the left side front portion, the rounded support leg of the right side front portion, the chin rest support of the left side front portion and the chin rest support of the right side front portion. 
     
     
         5 . The head support device of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of cushions are formed from a closed cell foam material. 
     
     
         6 . The head support device of  claim 4  wherein said cushion for the chin rest support of the left side front portion and said cushion for the chin rest support of the right side front portion include matching sections of hook and loop fastener tape for joining to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The head support device of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of cushions are removable for washing and reinstalling. 
     
     
         8 . The head support device of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of cushions are exchangeable with cushions of varying sizes for different user body sizes of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The head support device of  claim 2  wherein said strap includes matching sections of hook and loop fastener tape at opposed ends. 
     
     
         10 . The head support device of  claim 1  wherein said left side support frame and said right side support frame are relatively sized so as to allow one of the support frames to be inverted and seat within the other support frame for storage when not in use. 
     
     
         11 . The head support device of  claim 10  wherein said left side support frame and said right side support frame when joined together or un-joined are adapted for carrying in a transport case. 
     
     
         12 . The head support device of  claim 1 , which further includes a cover for fitting over said left side support frame and said right side support frame after assembly and prior to use. 
     
     
         13 . A method of supporting a person's head while seated upright, said method comprising the steps including:
 (a) providing a 360° head support device consisting of a left side support frame and a right side support frame, each of said left side support frame and said right side support frame including a chin rest support component, said head support device further including an adjustable strap for connecting the left side support frame to the right side support frame at a rear area of each frame;   (b) positioning the head support device about the person's neck and onto the person's shoulders, and   (c) making adjustments to the chin rest support components and the adjustable strap until the head support device rests on the person's chest area and the chin rest support components are positioned one above the other with the upper chin rest support component directly beneath the person's chin.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein step (c) includes adjusting the chin rest support components until the person's chin is pushed slightly upward. 
     
     
         15 . A head support system for allowing a person to comfortably rest or sleep while in an upright position when the support system is installed about the person's neck and beneath the person's chin, said system comprising:
 (a) a left side support frame with an upper support arm, a lower support arm, a rear portion, and a forward portion having a support leg and a chin support component;   (b) a right side support frame with an upper support arm, a lower support arm, a rear portion, and a forward portion having a support leg and a chin support component;   (c) an adjustable strap for connecting the left side support frame to the right side support frame;   (d) a plurality of cushions for covering all potential contact points of the left side support frame and the right side support frame with the person's body; and   (e) a fastener for connecting the left side chin support component to the right side chin support component.   
     
     
         16 . The head support system of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of cushions cover one or more of: the upper support arm, the lower support arm, the support leg, and the chin support component of the left side support frame, and the upper support arm, the lower support arm, the support leg, and the chin support component of the right side support frame. 
     
     
         17 . The head support system of  claim 15 , which prevents the person's head from falling laterally to either side or falling forward, said head support system;
 (a) allowing for the person's head to make contact with a seat headrest from behind; and   (b) allowing the person to use head phones while wearing the head support system.   
     
     
         18 . The head support system of  claim 15 , wherein the chin support components keep the person's chin pushed slightly upward. 
     
     
         19 . The head support system of  claim 15 , which has an open frame design allows for increased airflow and which decreases body heat when worn. 
     
     
         20 . The head support system of  claim 15  wherein the chin support components prevent the person's mouth from hanging open while not touching or constricting the person's throat area.