WO2009108823A1

WO2009108823A1 - Magnetized restraint systems and packages for travel and rest

Info

Publication number: WO2009108823A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/035364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Staci Koehler
Original assignee: Staci Koehler
Priority date: 2008-02-27
Filing date: 2009-02-27
Publication date: 2009-09-03
Also published as: US20110204696A1; CA2717047A1

Abstract

A magnetized head restraint system employs a magnetic head restraint (40) and a magnetic seat assembly (50). In use, the magnetic head restraint (40) is affixed to a person relative to a head of the person and the magnetic seat assembly (50) supports the person in a sitting position whereby the magnetic head restraint (40) and the magnetic seat assembly (50) can magnetically interact to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area relative to the magnetic seat assembly (50) in response to the magnetic head restraint (40) being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat assembly (50) supporting the person in the sitting position. The magnetic head restraint (40) may include an elastic member (42) and a magnetic component (43). The magnetic seat assembly (50) includes a seat assembly (53) incorporating a magnetic component on a permanent basis and/or a magnetic seat restraint (51/52) removably attachable to the seat assembly (53).

Description

MAGNETIZED RESTRAINT SYSTEMS AND PACKAGES FOR TRAVEL

AND REST

HELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention generally relates to systems and packages for restraining a head of a person while the person is traveling and/or resting. The present invention specifically relates to magnetic based systems and packages for restraining a head of a person while the person is traveling and/or resting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] An individual's head may drop or otherwise tilt when that individual falls asleep in a sitting position, particularly when traveling. The head may fall forward or to the side thereby causing the individual to wake up. In a situation with a child in a booster type car set wearing the automobile's seat belt, the child may fall forward or to the side resulting in a pulling on the seat belt that compromises the safety of the seat belt and reduces the quality of the child's sleep. In a similar situation with a smaller child in a traditional car seat, the child's head drops and the child's body slumps to a very uncomfortable position, which also results in a poor quality of sleep. For an adult, teen or adolescent, the head may fall to the side, as on an airplane, bus or train and into the individual seated to ones side. Older children and adults napping in a passenger seat are unable to get comfortable enough to even fall asleep or awakened quickly when their head starts to droop. This "head dropping" during sleep has been a problem since the beginning of travel and the enforcement of seat belts and car seats.

[0003] Often, people use various types of pillows to lesson this problem.

However, not only is it not practical to travel with pillows for everyone, it is still difficult to obtain comfortable sleep in a tight space and pillows just do not keep the head up when the individual is in an upright position. There is a known one piece device using a hat and a series of attached Velcro straps to secure the head to the headrest of said passenger vehicle or airplane. This is not practical in installation or use. It does not allow for movement, and the engagement and disengagement is cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides new and unique magnetized restraining systems and packages for traveling and/or resting.

[0005] In a first form of the present invention, a magnetized restraining system comprises a magnetic head restraint and a magnetic seat assembly. In use, the magnetic head restraint is affixed to a person relative to a head of the person and the magnetic seat assembly supports the person in a sitting position, whereby the magnetic head restraint and the magnetic seat assembly can magnetically interact to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area relative to the magnetic seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat assembly supporting the person in the sitting position.

[0006] In a second form of the present invention, a magnetized restraining package comprises a magnetic head restraint and a magnetic seat restraint. In use, the magnetic head restraint is affixed to a person relative to a head of the person, and the magnetic seat restraint is removably attachable to a seat assembly for supporting the person in a sitting position, whereby the magnetic head restraint and the magnetic seat restraint can magnetically interact to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area relative to the seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat restraint being removably attached to the seat assembly.

[0007] The aforementioned forms and other forms as well as objects and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments of the present invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings of the various embodiments of the present invention are merely illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting, the scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIGS. IA and IB illustrate a generic embodiment of a magnetized head restraint system in accordance with the present invention;

[00010] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a generic embodiment of a magnetized restraint in accordance with the present invention;

[00011] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a magnetized headband in accordance with the present invention;

[00012] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a person wearing the magnetized headband illustrated in FIG. 3;

[00013] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrates exemplary operational modes of the magnetized headband illustrated in FIG. 3;

[00014] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a magnetized head/neck support in accordance with the present invention; and

[00015] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a magnetized hat in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[00016] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present invention, reference will now be made to various exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present invention is thereby intended, and alterations and modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein are herein contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

[00017] The present invention relates to a magnetized head restraint worn by individuals of all sexes and ages traveling or resting to keep their head up-right comfortably and safely when sleeping (e.g., a passenger of a vehicle, a bus, a train or an airplane, or a patient in a wheel chair, lying in a hospital bed or lying on a gurney).

[00018] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a generic a magnetic head restraint 10 and a generic magnetic seat assembly 20 of the present invention. For purposes of the present invention, the term "magnetic head restraint" is broadly defined herein as any article of manufacture (1) having the properties of a magnet, or is capable being magnetized or attracted by a magnet, and (2) that can be affixed to a person relative to a head of that person. Examples of magnetic head restraint 10 include, but are not limited too, a headband incorporating a magnetic component (e.g., a magnet or a metal piece), a hat incorporating a magnetic component (e.g., a magnet or a metal piece), a hair accessory incorporating a magnetic component (e.g., a magnet or a metal piece), and a head/neck support incorporating a magnetic component (e.g., a magnet or a metal piece). [00019] For purposes of the present invention, the term "magnetic seat assembly" is broadly defined herein as any seat assembly for supporting a person in a sitting position including a magnetic seat restraint. Examples of a seat assembly include, but are not limited to, a chair, a kids' car seat, a wheel chair, a bed and a gurney. Furthermore, the term "magnetic seat restraint" is broadly defined herein as any article of manufacture having the properties of a magnet, or is capable being magnetized or attracted by a magnet, and can be attached, removably or permanently, from a seat assembly. Examples of a magnetic seat restraint include, but are not limited to, a magnet or metal piece being integrated into a seat assembly or adhered to a seat assembly elative to a head level of a person, a strap having a magnetic component (e.g., a magnet or a metal piece) affixed thereto and capable of being affixed to a seat assembly, a seat cover having a magnetic component (e.g., a magnet or a metal piece) affixed thereto and capable of being disposed over a seat assembly, and

[00020] FIG. 1 illustrates a magnetic attraction B between magnetic head restraint 10 and magnetic seat assembly 20 whereby, when magnetic head restraint 10 is affixed to the person the magnetic seat assembly 20 is supporting the person in the sitting position as shown in FIG. 2, a magnetic interaction between magnetic head restraint 10 and magnetic seat assembly 20 restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area A relative to magnetic seat assembly 20. The advantage of this magnetic interaction is the ability of the person to keep their head up-right comfortably and safely when sleeping.

[00021] In practice, the present invention does not impose any restriction or any limitation to the structural configuration (e.g., components, size and the shape) and the material composition of a magnetic head restraint and a magnetic seat restraint. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2B, a magnetic restraint of the present invention (e.g., head or seat) employs a magnetic component 31 affixed, removably or permanently to an elastic member 30. For FIG. 2 A, the affixation is external, and for FIG. 2B, the affixation is internal. In this example, magnetic component 31 and elastic member 30 are elongated in a horizontal direction to facilitate restrained movement of the head of the person to a spatial area as shown in FIG. IB.

[00022] Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the various and numerous possible implementations of a magnetic head restraint and magnet seat restraint of the present invention. FIGS. 3-9 show exemplary embodiments of a magnetic head restraint and magnet seat restraint of the present invention to further facilitate an understanding of the present invention.

[00023] Specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates a magnetic headband 40 employing a circular elastic member 42 and a magnet 43, both elongated in a horizontal direction. A decorative cover 41 encircles elastic member 42 and magnet 43 whereby a person can comfortably wear magnetic headband 40 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 6 illustrates a magnetic seat assembly 50 employing a seat assembly 53 having a magnetic head restraint consisting of a strap 51 and a metal bracket 52 affixed to strap 51. Metal bracket 52 is also elongated in a horizontal direction. A magnetic attraction between magnet 43 and metal bracket 52 is shown whereby a magnetic interaction between magnet 43 and metal bracket 52 enables elastic member 42 to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area A relative to seat assembly 50. The advantage of this magnetic interaction is the ability of the person to keep their head up-right comfortably and safely when sleeping.

[00024] By further example, FIG. 7 illustrates a magnetic seat assembly 60 employing a bed 63 having a magnetic head restraint consisting of a strap 61 and a metal bracket (not shown) affixed to strap 61. The metal bracket is elongated in a horizontal direction. A magnetic interaction between magnet 43 (not shown) of magnetic headband 40 and the metal bracket enables elastic member 42 to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area A relative to bed 63. Again, the advantage of this magnetic interaction is the ability of the person to keep their head up-right comfortably and safely when sleeping.

[00025] FIG. 8 illustrates a magnetic head/neck support 70 employing an elastic member (not shown) externally affixed to a rear surface of support 70 and a magnetic component (not shown) for magnetically interacting with the metal bracket of the magnetic head restraint affixed around the seat assembly as shown.

[00026] Referring again to FIG. 4, magnetic headband 40 is also representative of a magnetic hair accessory of the present invention. Specifically, at smaller overall dimension, headband 40 becomes a hair accessory that can be wrapped around a person's hair in the back of the person's head. As such, a magnetic interaction between magnet 43 and metal bracket 52 as shown in FIG. 6 enables elastic member 42 to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area A relative to seat assembly 50.

[00027] FIG. 9 illustrates a magnetic hat 80 employing elastic member 81 and a magnet 82, both elongated in a horizontal direction. A magnetic interaction between magnet 82 and a magnetic seat restraint (e.g., metal bracket 52 as shown in FIG. 6) enables elastic member 81 to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area A relative to a seat assembly. Again, the advantage of this magnetic interaction is the ability of the person to keep their head up-right comfortably and safely when sleeping.

[00028] While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A magnetized restraining system, comprising: a magnetic head restraint operable to be affixed to a person relative to a head of the person; a magnetic seat assembly operable to support the person in a sitting position; and wherein the magnetic head restraint and the magnetic seat assembly are further operable to magnetically interact to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area relative to the magnetic seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat assembly supporting the person in the sitting position.

2. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic head restraint includes: a magnetic component including the at least one magnetic component; and an elastic member coupled to the magnetic component, the elastic member operable to facilitate any movement of the head of the person within the spatial area relative to the magnetic seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat assembly supporting the person in the sitting position.

3. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 2, wherein the magnetic head restraint further includes: a headband incorporating the magnetic component and the elastic member.

4. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 2, wherein the magnetic head restraint further includes: a hat incorporating the magnetic component and the elastic member.

5. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 2, wherein the magnetic head restraint further includes: a hair accessory incorporating the magnetic component and the elastic member.

6. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 2, wherein the magnetic head restraint further includes: a head/neck support incorporating the magnetic component and the elastic member.

7. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic seat assembly includes: a seat including at least one magnetic component.

8. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic seat assembly includes: a seat; and a magnetic seat restraint removably attached to at least a portion of the seat, the magnetic seat restraint includes at least one magnetic component.

9. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 8, wherein the magnetic seat restraint further includes a strap removably fastened around the at least a portion of the seat.

10. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 8, wherein the magnetic seat restraint further includes a seat cover removably disposed over the at least a portion of the seat.

11. The magnetized head restraint system of claim 1 , wherein: the magnetic head restraint includes a first magnetic component; the magnetic seat assembly includes a second magnetic component; and at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is elongated in a horizontal direction to facilitate any movement of the head of the person within the spatial area relative to the magnetic seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat assembly supporting the person in the sitting position.

12. A magnetized restraining package, comprising: a magnetic head restraint operable to be affixed to a person relative to the head of the person; a magnetic seat restraint operable to be removably attached to a seat assembly for supporting the person in a sitting position; and wherein the magnetic head restraint and the magnetic seat restraint are further operable to magnetically interact to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area relative to the seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat restraint being removably attached to the seat assembly.

13. The magnetized restraining package of claim 12, wherein magnetic head restraint includes: a magnetic component including the at least one magnetic component; and an elastic member coupled to the magnetic component, the elastic member operable to facilitate any movement of the head of the person within the spatial area relative to the seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat restraint being removably attached to the seat assembly.

14. The magnetized restraining package of claim 13, wherein the magnetic head restraint further includes: a headband incorporating the magnetic component and the elastic member.

15. The magnetized restraining package of claim 13, wherein the magnetic head restraint further includes: a hat incorporating the magnetic component and the elastic member.

16. The magnetized restraining package of claim 13, wherein the magnetic head restraint further includes: a hair accessory incorporating the magnetic component and the elastic member.

17. The magnetized restraining package of claim 13, wherein the magnetic head restraint further includes: a head/neck support incorporating the magnetic component and the elastic member.

18. The magnetized restraining package of claim 12, wherein the magnetic seat restraint includes: at least one magnetic component; and a strap removably fastened around the at least a portion of the seat.

19. The magnetized restraining package of claim 12, wherein the magnetic seat restraint includes: at least one magnetic component; and a seat cover removably disposed over the at least a portion of the seat.

20. The magnetized restraining package of claim 12, wherein: the magnetic head restraint includes a first magnetic component; the magnetic seat restraint includes a second magnetic component; and at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is elongated in a horizontal direction to facilitate any movement of the head of the person within the spatial area relative to the seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the seat assembly supporting the person in the sitting position.

21. The magnetized restraining package of claim 12, further comprising: a travel case for storing and transporting at least one of the magnetic head restraint and the magnetic seat restraint.

22. A magnetized restraining system, comprising: a magnetic head restraint operable to be affixed to a person relative to a head of the person; a magnetic seat assembly operable to support the person in a sitting position; and wherein the magnetic head restraint and the magnetic seat assembly include means for magnetically interacting to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area relative to the magnetic seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat assembly supporting the person in the sitting position.

23. A magnetized restraining package, comprising: a magnetic head restraint operable to be affixed to a person relative to a head of the person; a magnetic seat restraint operable to be removably attached to a seat for supporting the person in a sitting position; and wherein the magnetic head restraint and the magnetic seat restraint include means for magnetically interacting to restrain any movement of the head of the person to a spatial area relative to the seat assembly in response to the magnetic head restraint being affixed to the person and in response to the magnetic seat restraint being removably attached to the seat assembly.