 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed towards a support assembly designed to be
mounted on a lounge chair or the like to supportingly engage the face of a
user such that he may assume a face-down reclined position on the lounge
chair while allowing the face, including the mouth, nose, eyes, etc., to
be substantially unobstructed such as when the user is taking a sunbath or
the like without hypertension of the neck.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Sunbathing has been a popular form of recreation for many years. Typically,
sunbathing comprises one positioning himself in a reclined position both
on his back and front side particularly when it is desirous to allow the
sun's rays to be exposed to nearly all portions of the body. Certain
difficulties or disadvantages are normally encountered when the sunbather
wishes to "tan" his backside. Such difficulties are generally associated
with the structure of a lounge chair or the like when such is used and
involves the general discomfort associated with such a position. Whether
the sunbather is supported on a beach towel on the ground or on a lounge
chair, there is a problem with the location of the face and head in a
desired normal position, comfortable orientation which does not obstruct
the breathing of the sunbather. The general, recognized structure of a
lounge chair is such that the head cannot be properly oriented in a
comfortable position for a prolonged period of time without obstructing
the breathing passages or otherwise putting undue pressure on the neck
area so as to render the sunbather uncomfortable.
The prior art recognizes problems as set forth above as evidenced in the
following U.S. patents.
Backhouse, U.S. No. 2,717,399 discloses an underwater viewing device which,
while not specifically directed to a sunbather, does show the ability of a
user of the Backhouse device to be supported on a raft in a face-down
position and provide a general support area as well as a combined viewing
area for the face. This does not address the specific structural problem
in lounge chairs, especially relating to the pressure on the neck.
The patent to Grahl, U.S. No. 4,535,878 discloses a pillow-tote bag device
for use with a lounge chair or like supporting structure as disclosed in
FIGS. 4 and 5 thereof. The device of Grahl provides for an opening by a
separation in the structure for the placement of the facial portion of the
user when in a face-down, reclined position on a lounge chair or like
support structure.
The patent to Jones, U.S. No. 2,239,003 discloses a headrest which is
constructed to afford the maximum degree of comfort and ease in supporting
the head while a person is resting upon the stomach and supporting the
head at the proper height while the body rests upon pillows or other
support. The headrest structure of Jones is not specifically adaptable or
intended for use in combination with a lounge chair structure or
particularly when the user thereof is sunbathing.
Accordingly, in view of the prior art attempts as set forth above, there is
still a need for a support assembly designed to facilitate the "face-down"
support and inclination of a user, when sunbathing, which will support the
head and face area but not obstruct the breathing passages and which will
make the user much more comfortable when maintaining such position for
prolonged periods. Also, there is a need for a structure, which allows a
normal posture without undue strain on the muscles, joints and bones of
the neck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a support assembly designed to be
removably attached to or mounted in permanent fashion on a lounge chair or
like structure and used in combination therewith so as to comfortably and
efficiently support a person's body when in a "face-down" reclining
position such as when sunbathing. This structure could be a permanent
fixture for future productivity of lounge chairs to permit better posture
alignment for the user. More specifically, the support assembly of the
present invention includes a base generally formed of a flexible material
and attached to the frame of the lounge chair or like supporting structure
in a somewhat transverse orientation to the position of a user's body when
reclining thereon. More specifically, the base of the subject support
assembly is mounted generally along an upper end of the backrest in
substantial registry with the head when the user of the lounge chair
assumes a normal reclining or angular position.
Naturally, when the user intends to recline in a substantially face-down
position, the backrest and remainder of the lounge chair are substantially
aligned in a somewhat horizontal orientation. In order to facilitate
comfort and breathing, etc. of the user when in the aforementioned
face-down position, the base includes an opening integrally formed
therein. The opening is further structured to include a substantially
continuous periphery formed of a somewhat cushioning or soft, flexible
material in order to add comfort to the confronting engagement between the
periphery of the opening and the face of the user. In addition, the
opening is generally large enough so that the eyes, nose and mouth pass
therethrough substantially out of confronting engagement with the
surrounding periphery of the opening. Accordingly, both comfort and
breathing, viewing, talking, etc. of the user is facilitated even when he
maintains the face-down position for prolonged periods. This face-down
position is of course assumed so that the back skin surface area is
exposed to the rays of the sun for tanning or the like.
Dependent upon the embodiment of the subject support assembly utilized, the
base may be attached at each of its opposite ends to correspondingly
disposed portions of the frame of the lounge chair. Alternately, the base
may be permanently attached to the lounge chair.
Yet another embodiment would include the base being structure in the form
of a sleeve-like structure having one closed end and one open end. In the
sleeve-like embodiment, the base effectively slides or telescopes over the
upper or outer end of the backrest. The base and aperture are respectively
disposed and dimensioned to pass down a sufficient distance over the
outer, free end of the backrest to a point where the aperture is in
registry with the face of the user when the user is in the aforementioned
face-down, reclined position.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention contemplates that the base
be removably attached to the lounge chair and portable to the extent that
it is carried or transported with the user and adapted to be appropriately
mounted on any number of lounge chairs dependent upon their various design
characteristics.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,
combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified
in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention
will be indicated in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front plan view in partial cutaway of the support assembly the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 a front plan view in partial cutaway of yet another embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a front plan view in partial cutaway of another embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 sectional view along line 6--6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 sectional view in partial cutaway along line 7--7 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 a sectional view in partial cutaway along line 8--8 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view in partial cutaway of details of the of FIG. 11.
FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 along
line 10--10.
FIG. 11 is another embodiment of the present invention shown in partial
cutaway and phantom.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view in partial cutaway of the embodiment of FIG.
11.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of
the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention is directed to a
support assembly generally indicated as 10, 12, 14, 16, which includes a
base portion serving to attach or mount a receiving opening 20 in registry
with the face and/or head of a user disposed in a reclined, overlying
position relative to supporting structure 22 of a lounge chair generally
indicated as 24 and more particularly a backrest portion thereof. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the supporting portion of the respective
lounge chair structure comprises a plurality of vinyl or like flexible
material straps extending transversely along appropriately positioned
frame portions indicated in phantom lines as 26 for support of the user's
body. Naturally, in the conventional fashion the user's body lies
generally along the length of the lounge chair structure 24 wherein the
backrest may or may not pivot or be angularly adjustable relative to the
remainder of the lounge chair.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the base 18 comprises a flexible material
panel secured at opposite ends 27 and 28 to the frame preferably in a
manner which is fixed thereto. Alternately, the flexible material base or
panel 18 may be removably attached by any number of conventional
structures. In any event, the vinyl straps as at 22 which would normally
be positioned where the base 18 is shown in FIG. 1 are either removed or
spread apart by appropriately positioned hooks attached to the base
generally at opposite ends of the opening 20. Depending upon the
embodiment, the opening 20 preferably has a peripheral portion as at 30
formed of a supportive, cushioning material which may be soft, flexible,
etc. so as to add comfort to the portions of the face which the periphery
30 confronts.
As shown in FIG. 8, another embodiment of the present invention relating to
the overall support assembly 14 as shown in FIG. 3 comprises the opening
20 having a periphery 30' with a downwardly sloping receiving surface
designed to confront the facial portion in substantially surrounding
relation to the nose, mouth, eyes, etc. In addition, the opening 20 has an
under, outwardly slanting surface portion 37 wherein the overall
configuration is designed to provide maximum comfort to the user, when the
face is placed within the aperture 20 to allow breathing when in a
face-down reclining position.
The embodiment of FIG. 2 discloses the backrest portion only wherein the
base of the support assembly may be indicated as at 38 and be an integral
portion of the support frame defining the backrest portion. The periphery
of the backrest portion as well as the base 38 are secured by mounting
means including a plurality of spring members 40. As best shown in FIG. 7,
the spring members 40 have one end attached to the periphery of the
backrest support member also the defining the base 38 as at 39. The
opposite end of the spring members 40 are attached to the appropriately
positioned frame portion 26'. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the
base 46 comprises a transverse sleeve-like member having a closed end 48
and an open end as at 50 wherein the open end serves to slide over the
upper free end of the frame as indicated as 26". Similar to certain
embodiments such as that of FIG. 3, the opening 20 is in registry with a
fixed integrally formed aperture as at 29 formed in an undersurface
portion of the base 46 as best shown in FIG. 6.
With regard to the embodiments of FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, the support
assembly 50 includes an aperture 52 surrounded by a cushioned or upwardly
raised periphery 54 which confronts the face of the user when in a
face-down reclined position. A support or retraining structure as at 58 is
integrally or otherwise fixed to the frame and may include as a portion
thereof, cross brace bars 60. The undersurface of the periphery rests on
and may be fixedly or removably affixed to the confronting surface of the
members 58 as best shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12. Such confronting
attachment may be accomplished by a hook and loop-type fastener as at 64
so as to position the periphery 54 in registry with the general location
of the face when the user is in the aforementioned face-down position.
The base portion associated with the periphery 54 may be considered an
integral part of the backrest portion as at 70 which effectively underlies
the periphery 54 of the opening 52. The base 70 can be attached to the
frame 26, 26' either by the sleeve-like configuration similar to that of
FIGS. 5 and 6, or the elongated end attachments of the flexible panel 18
as shown in FIG. 1.
Now that the invention has been described,
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
