Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MAGNETIZED RESTRAINT SYSTEMS AND PACKAGES FOR TRAVEL
AND REST
FIELD 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
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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.
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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.
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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. 1 A and 1B 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.
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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
5 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).
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[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. 2A 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. 2A, the affixation is external, and for FIG. 2B, the affixation is
internal. In
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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. 1B.
[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.
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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.
