Neck support for shampoo bowls

Abstract

The neck support for use with shampoo bowls having a neck receiving notch has a back flap, a front flap, a neck receiving portion, and a filler portion. The back flap extends downwardly and supports the neck support along the inside edge of the shampoo bowl. The front flap extends downwardly and supports the neck support along the outside, front edge of the shampoo bowl. The neck receiving portion slopes downward from the top of the back flap to the top of the front flap such that user's head remains in a substantially upright position, keeping their neck aligned with the rest of their spine. The filler portion is located beneath the neck receiving portion and fills the neck receiving notch in the shampoo bowl, helping to ensure that the user's head remains in the correctly aligned position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/701,962, filed Jul. 25, 2005.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to head and neck supports, and more specifically to a neck support for use with a shampoo bowl or sink.

2. Description of the Related Art

Both men and women utilize the services of barbers and beauticians in order to have their hair styled, shampooed and rinsed, dyed, or to have a permanent performed. These professional hair stylists typically utilize a shampoo basin or bowl for shampooing the hair of their patrons. The patron reclines in a chair such that the head of the patron is within the basin with the neck resting against the rim of the basin. Most shampoo basins include a neck-receiving notch, which is either a U-shaped or V-shaped configuration, to receive the patron's neck during shampooing or other hair treatment.

This positioning of the individual is often awkward and uncomfortable in that the person's head is oftentimes positioned lower than the chest cavity, and that portion of the person's head having active hair follicles, must extend over the sink. This positioning of the head can often lead to discomfort or even injury of the neck and spine. Support therefore must be placed in the non-hair growing region of the neck.

Therefore, what is needed is a neck support for use with shampoo bowls that provides correct cervical support at the appropriate location when an individual is positioned in a chair over the bowl. Thus a neck support for shampoo bowls solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The neck support for use with a shampoo bowl having a neck receiving notch of the present invention includes a back flap, a front flap, a neck receiving portion, and a filler portion. The back flap extends downwardly and supports the neck support along the inside edge of the shampoo bowl. The front flap extends downwardly and supports the neck support along the outside, front edge of the shampoo bowl. The neck receiving portion of the neck support is for receiving the user's neck as they are reclined in a barber chair and their head is positioned over the bowl for shampooing.

The neck receiving portion slopes downward from the top of the back flap to the top of the front flap such that user's head remains in a substantially upright position, keeping their neck aligned with the rest of their spine. The filler portion is located beneath the neck receiving portion and fills the neck receiving notch in the shampoo bowl, helping to ensure that the user's head remains in the correctly aligned position. Each flap may be equipped with a securement in order to help firmly attach the entire neck support device to the shampoo bowl.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a neck support for use with a shampoo bowl according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a neck support for use with a shampoo bowl according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of a neck support for use with a shampoo bowl according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a neck support for use with a shampoo bowl according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is neck support for use with a shampoo bowl having a neck receiving notch, designated generally in the drawings as 10.

FIG. 1 shows neck support 10 as it is placed over the front wall of a shampoo bowl A, to be used on a person sitting in the reclining barbers chair B. Neck support 10 is supported over the front wall of shampoo bowl A with the downwardly extending back flap 14 and downwardly extending front flap 12. As the user is reclined in chair B, their neck is supported along neck receiving portion 18 of neck support 10 over shampoo bowl A.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-4, neck support 10 is shown with front flap 12, back flap 14, filler portion 16, and neck receiving portion 18. Neck receiving portion 18 slopes downwardly from the top of back flap 14 to the top of front flap 12. This slope of neck receiving portion 18 is intended to correspond with the angle of the back portion of a user's chair, as it is reclined, such that the user's neck remains aligned with their spine while they are over the shampoo bowl. Neck receiving portion 18 may be further sunken in from each side of neck support 10 in order to create a cradle for the user's neck, adding extra comfort and ease of use.

Filler portion 16 of neck support 10 is designed to fill the neck receiving notch found in most conventional shampoo bowls. Filler portion 16 is located between back flap 14 and front flap 12, and under neck receiving portion 18 such that it fills the neck receiving notch, allowing neck receiving portion 18 to be located at the proper height for correct use. Included with neck support 10 can be a securement for releasably attaching neck support 10 to the shampoo bowl for added support. In a preferred embodiment, the securement includes the use of a least one suction cup 20 placed on each of the back flap 14 and front flap 12.

In a preferred embodiment, neck support 10 is constructed from a cushioned, pliable material and is provided with an outer layer that is waterproof and chemical-proof.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A neck support for use with a shampoo bowl having a neck receiving notch, the neck support comprising:

a back flap extending downwardly into the shampoo bowl;

a front flap extending downwardly along the outside of the sink;

a neck receiving portion sloping downwardly from the top of the back flap to the top of the front flap;

a filler portion located between the back flap and the front flap for resting in the neck receiving notch of the shampoo bowl; and

a securement for releasably attaching the neck support to the shampoo bowl.

2. The neck support for shampoo bowls according to claim 1, wherein the securement comprises at least one suction cup attached to the back flap, and another suction cup attached to the front flap.

3. The neck support for shampoo bowls according to claim 1, wherein said front flap, said back flap, said neck receiving portion and said filler portion are made as a monolithic, unitary structure.

4. The neck support for shampoo bowls according to claim 1, wherein said neck receiving portion is sloped at a predetermined angle differently from the shampoo bowl neck support so as to provide a correct cervical support for the user.

5. The neck support for shampoo bowls according to claim 1, wherein the width of the neck support is greater than that of the shampoo bowl neck support, such that said neck support has portions extending beyond said filler and contacting and resting on shampoo bowl portions to either side of the shampoo bowl neck support, so as to further enhance the stability of said neck support.

6. The neck support for shampoo bowls according to claim 1, wherein said front flap, said back flap and said neck receiving portion are made as a monolithic, unitary structure.