US3148386A - Beauty device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1964 R. 4. SHEBIB BEAUTY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1961 INVENTOR. 190/420 I 5 /55/19 BY p 15, 1954 R. J. SHEBIB 3,148,386

BEAUTY DEVICE Filed June 2, 1961. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' 20/420 J 5/55/19 BY ATTOI/VE/S' United States Patent 3,143,386 BEAUTY DEVICE Richard J. Shebib, 16911 San Juan, Detroit 38, Mich. Filed June 2, 1961, Ser. No. 114,43 3 Claims. (Cl. 327) The present invention relates to an upper body supporting device and, more particularly, a device for supporting a persons head when in a reclining position. The subject head supporting device is particularly intended for use in supporting a persons head in an elevated position relative to a horizontal surface such as a bed.

The present device has general therapeutic utility where it is required that a person sleep with his head elevated and further where it is desired that there be relatively little movement between the head and torso while the persons head is'thus supported.

The subject head rest is of particular utility as a beauty aid device for the protection of a womans hairdo while she is sleeping, or otherwise in a reclining position.

It is a particular problem with women having recently arranged hairdos or coiifures to find a way to sleep or recline without destroying much of the beauty that attends freshly done hair. Presently there is no known device whereby such hairdos may remain protected while at the same time permitting the wearer to experience a comfortable nights sleep.

The present device is uniquely constructed to support a persons head primarily below the hairline and, at any rate, to support the head with minimum disarrangement of a hairdo.

More specifically, one form of the present device includes the lightly-constructed inclined framework including a flexible or webbed surface adapted to engage and support a person approximately across the shoulders in combination with a relatively freely supported head piece adapted to engage and support the neck and including a pair of finger-like members extending upwardly therefrom to engage and support the skull in the region behind a persons ear. The small and accurately contoured headpiece provides a comfortable support for the head and yet permits the hair to flow therearound without being disarranged or compacted.

, Another form of the invention is slightly more compact and while still utilizing the relatively freely supported head piece eliminates the shoulder supporting surface. In this arrangement merely the head is supported upon the framework with the shoulders resting on the bed or other horizontal surface.

A still further modification represents a completely integral design in which the head piece and framework are molded or otherwise formed of a single sheet of material. In this case, the head piece is not freely supported on the framework. However, the adjustability of the head piece is achieved, in effect, when the framework is set on a soft surface such as a bed.

The details as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a perusal of the detailed description which follows.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation generally illustrating the subject invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view along line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the headpiece used in the subject invention;

FIGURE 6 is a view along line 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a modification of the invention eliminating the shoulder supporting surface;

FIGURE 8 is a view along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a third modification of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a front elevational view of the third modification; and

FIGURE 11 is a view along line 11-41 of FIGURE 10.

A headpiece supporting frame is indicated generally at It) and is of a lightweight construction such as may be realized by utilizing aluminum or plastic tubing. Frame 10 is fabricated from a single length of tube and includes a horizontal section 12 extending across the bottom at the back of the frame, a pair of vertically extending sections 14 the upper ends of which curve forwardly and downwardly to provide inclined sections 15. Sections 16 curve downwardly and rearwardly to terminate in horizontal sections 18. The various frame sections are connected by gently curving radii to normally insure that the tube will not be kinked in forming and also to provide smoothly curved surfaces which will not be uncomfortable if engaged by the user.

The opened ends of the tubular frame may be closed by plugs 21? or may be interconnected by a separate crossrepiece, not shown, if additional rigidity of the frame is required.

A flexible fabric material, indicated generally at 22, is secured to frame It) and is adapted to support a person in the vicinity of the shoulder blades and up to the area just below the neck. Material 22 may be made of any suitable natural or synthetic fibre or sheet compatible with the comfort of the user. Material 22 may also be of any desired configuration such as the loose basket weave arrangement, as shown, and which is commonly used in body-supporting environments in furniture. In the woven construction, as illustrated, the horizontal strands 24 may be suitably secured between the inclined frame sections 16 and interlaced with right angularly disposed strands 2s. Strands 25 may be suitably secured, e.g. stitched or bonded, to the horizontal strands if desired.

A headpiece assembly includes a contoured member 39 formed from a relatively stiff material such as plastic or resinous materials capable of being molded and contoured. As best seen in FIGURE 4, headpiece member 39 is of a generally arcuate cross-section and includes a base portion 32 adapted to engage and support the users neck. A pair of finger-like members 34 extend upwardly from base portion 32 and are adapted to embrace and support the head through that portion of the skull immediately behind the ear. It has been found that the head may be comfortably supported over a considerable period of time, and certainly overnight, by engaging the neck and head as indicated.

The contoured cross-section of headpiece member including the inclined or tapered surface 36 forming finger-like members 34 is such as to permit various head sizes to be accommodated by the same headpiece. As head sizes vary, the neck and skull will be engaged at slightly different points along the headpiece, but generally all heads will be supported in the same areas.

In order to insure maximum comfort for the user, headpiece member 39 is intended to be covered by a cloth, leather or foam material 33.

To further insure the comfort of the user, headpiece member 39 is relatively freely supported upon frame member It through straps 4t) and 42. Member 30 is suitably slotted or otherwise formed at 44 to permit horizontal strap 49 to be secured thereto. At the same time, any suitable means, such as a plastic clip or snap, may be utilized to secure the free ends of strap 4%) to the side sections 15 of frame 19. As an alternative, a buckle arrangement, not shown, may be combined with strap 49 which would permit adjusting the supporting tension of the strap and headpiece. Strap 42 is merely for stabilizing purposes so as to maintain the headpiece in a generally flat attitude when not in use. Strap 42 is secured at one end to a slot 46 in member 30 and anchored at the other end'to material 22 or to a reinforcing cross piece if used.

It is apparent that through the use of straps 4i and 42 the headpiece is relatively loosely supported upon frame 10 so that it may further adjust to the particular physical requirements of the user. At the same time, a limited amount of head movement relative to the torso is possible with this manner of mounting the headpiece.

Since the users head is supported by headpiece neck portion 32 and the relatively thin fingers 34, the hair may flow around the headpiece in such a manner as to be in varying limited engagement with the headpiece thereby permitting a hairdo to persist substantially unruffied as the user rests.

With respect to the modifications of FIGURES 78 and 9-11, it is found that the shoulder supporting surface of the first modification may be eliminated particularly where the device is to be mounted on a soft surface such as a bed.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8, a foreshortened tubular frame member 5% is utilized. Side sections 52 of the frame are of shorter length and more sharply inclined than in the first form of the invention. Otherwise, the configuration of the padded headpiece 54 is the same and is rather freely supported to side sections 52 through strap member 56.

It is also to be appreciated that since the shoulders are not supported on frame member 50, the width of the latter may be significantly reduced. By thus shortening side sections 52, cross piece 58 and eliminating the shoulder supporting surface, an appreciable cost saving is realized.

Reference is now made to the modification of FIG- URES 9-11. In this form of the invention, an integral construction is achieved in which the headpiece 60 and frame 62 are fabricated from a continuous piece of material. While any suitable material may be utilized, it is contemplated that a plastic substance is best adapted for the purpose due to its low cost, flexibility, ease of formation and susceptibility to color variations.

It is further apparent that the device of FIGURES 9l1 may be fabricated in various ways including casting, extruding and stamping or forming first from flat strip and thereafter molding to the final three-dimensional form.

It is to be noted that frame 62 is generally of a trapezoidal shape including base portion 64 and upwardly extending, slightly inwardly inclined side legs or portions 66. The upper ends of legs 66 extend transversely to form contoured headpiece 60.

Once again, headpiece at is of the same general configuration as in the earlier modifications. Further, while not shown, it is contempalted that the headpiece will be covered with suitable padding, such as foam rubber, for added user comfort. The padding would normally be added after the formation of the headpiece and frame.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present device also protects the hair when set with pins and curlers while permitting the used to recline comfortably.

Further, while illustrated for use on a bed, the present device may, of course, be used in any environment, such as at the beach, where the user is in a reclining position.

It is apparent that various structural modifications may be made in the subject invention within the intended scope as set forth in the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A head supporting apparatus comprising an inclined frame structure, including a base portion and inclined side portion extending upwardly from the base portion and a headpiece member supported by said side portions, said headpiece including a transversely curved neck-engaging portion and a pair of transversely skull engaging finger-like members extending from said neck-engaging portion, said headpiece being supported between said inclined side portions by flexible strap means, said strap means being secured to said frame side portion and said headpiece.

2. A head supporting apparatus comprising an inclined frame structure, a flexible shoulder supporting surface mounted on and disposed generally toward the lower portion of said structure, said frame structure being generally open above the shoulder supporting surface, said frame structure including side portions extending along the sides of said open portion, a headpiece flexibly supported within the open portion of said frame structure, said headpiece including a transversely curved neck engaging portion and a pair of skull engaging finger-like members extending from said neck engaging portion, flexible means secured to the neck engaging portion of said headpiece, said flexible means extending transversely of said open portion and secured to the side portions of the frame structure.

3. A head supporting apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said flexible means comprises a first strap member, and further in which a second strap member is secured at one end to said headpiece and the other end to said shoulder supporting surface to limit the movement of said headpiece relative to said first strap member.-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,035,279 Stead May 22, 1962

Claims (1)

1. A HEAD SUPPORTING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN INCLINED FRAME STRUCTURE, INCLUDING A BASE PORTION AND INCLINED SIDE PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BASE PORTION AND A HEADPIECE MEMBER SUPPORTED BY SAID SIDE PORTIONS, SAID HEADPIECE INCLUDING A TRANSVERSELY CURVED NECK-ENGAGING PORTION AND A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SKULL ENGAGING FINGER-LIKE MEMBERS EXTENDING FROM SAID NECK-ENGAGING PORTION, SAID HEADPIECE BEING SUPPORTED BETWEEN SAID INCLINED SIDE PORTIONS BY FLEXIBLE STRAP MEANS, SAID STRAP MEANS BEING SECURED TO SAID FRAME SIDE PORTION AND SAID HEADPIECE.

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