Head rest cover having facial features

Abstract

A head rest cover is provided with a plush head having facial features and a movement mechanism supported within the plush head for moving at least one of the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, ears, mouth and eyebrows.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a head rest cover, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2-4 are front, rear and side views of the head rest cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the head rest cover of FIG. 1, illustrating movement of the ears and eyes of the plush head, in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a front section view of the movement mechanism, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT DEPICTED IN THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawing figures, in which like references numerals identify identical or corresponding elements, one embodiment of the presently disclosed head rest cover will now be described in detail.

With initial reference to FIGS. 1-4, a head rest cover having facial features in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated and is designated generally as head rest cover 10. Head rest cover 10 for exemplary purposes is shown by the figures as having feline facial features, however, other facial features are envisioned, such as human, canine, etc.

Head rest cover 10 is adapted for use to cover the portion of a chair or bed adapted for receiving and supporting a head of a person. Head rest cover 10 is configured for having movable facial features, such as the ears, nose, mouth, eyebrows, and eyes. In addition, head rest cover 10 may embody other themes, such as sports head rest cover having moveable features, such as moveable balls and sports players.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1, head rest cover 10 has the facial features of a cat and is positioned on the head rest of a vehicle seat 200, illustrated by the broken lines. Head rest cover 10 is formed as a plush figure having a soft padded plush head 12 having the facial features provided thereon. As shown by the various FIGs., plush head 12 includes a pair of ears 14, 15, a pair of eyes 16, 17, a nose 18, and a plurality of whiskers 20.

With reference to FIGS. 5-6, in accordance with the present disclosure, a movement mechanism 22 is supported within plush head 12 and includes a housing 24 and a drive mechanism 26 positioned within a cavity 25 defined by housing 24 and configured for receiving the internal components of movement mechanism 22. Housing 24 is formed of a molded plastic material or the like. A reversible motor 28 is positioned within cavity 25 of housing 24 and is operably coupled to drive mechanism 26 in a manner described in detail herein below.

Movement mechanism 22 further includes ear paddles 30, 31 supported on hinges 32, 33 for moving ears 14, 15 respectively. Hinges 32, 33 may further include springs 34, 35 for providing protection for movement mechanism 22 against misuse e.g. excessive force to ears 14, 15. In addition, movement mechanism 22 includes a pair of eye moving device 36 for moving eyes 16, 17, and a facial movement device 38 for moving the plurality of whiskers 20. Ear paddles 30, 31, eye moving device 36, and facial movement device 38 are all operably connected to drive mechanism 36 in a manner described in detail hereinbelow.

With particular reference to FIG. 5, ear paddles 30, 31 are movable in the direction indicated by arrows 40, 41. Similarly, eye moving device is movable in the direction indicated by arrows 42, 43. Facial movement device 38 is adapted for facial movement of plush head 12, such as, for example, the plurality of whiskers 20. Accordingly, whiskers 20 are moveable in the direction indicated by arrows 44, 45.

In operation, and by means set forth hereinbelow, head rest cover 10 responds to actuation of a switch 46. Switch 46 may be, for example, a pressure switch positioned on a top portion of plush head 12 and is actuated when a user presses the top of plush head 12 to energize a motor drive within reversible motor 28. It is envisioned that the movement of ear paddles 30, 31, eye moving device 36 and facial movement device 38 is synchronized. Therefore, in use, as the user squeezes the top portion of plush head 12, reversible motor 28 is actuated and ears 14, 15 are moved in the direction of arrows 40, 41; eyes 16, 17 move in the direction of arrows 42, 43, and the plurality of whiskers 20 move up and down in the direction of arrows 44, 45. This movement continues for a predetermined time after which the movement terminates.

Moreover, movement mechanism 22 may supports a sound and control circuit 50. Accordingly, the activation of drive motor 28 is accompanied by an audible message or series of messages produced by sound and control circuit 50. Thus as head rest cover 10 is activated, the user is provided with an amusing and interesting animation and sound play pattern. Sound and control circuit 50 is fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and utilizes an internal memory having stored audio data and a microprocessor having a stored instruction set to provide sound signal output. This sound signal output is applied to speaker 52 supported by plush head 12. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art, that virtually any standard speech or sound circuit may be utilized in place of sound and control circuit 50.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, drive mechanism 26 will now be discussed in detail. Reversible motor 28 includes an output pulley 52 having an endless belt 53 coupled therethrough. Pulley 54, also coupled to belt 53, supports a gear 56, which in turn is coupled to gear 58. A shaft 60 is rotatably supported within cavity 35 and is joined to gear 58 for supporting facial movement device 38. Facial movement device 38 is freely rotatable thereon. Shaft 60 is further joined to a gear 62. As a result, the rotation of gear 56 causes the combination of gear 58, shaft 60 and gear 62 to rotate. The rotation of gear 62 further rotates gear 64. Gear 64 supports eye moving device 36 via shaft 65. The rotation of gear 64 further produces a corresponding rotational movement of sector gear 66. Sector gear 66 is joined to a shaft 68 which is rotatably supported within cavity 25 of housing 24. Thus pivotal movement of sector gear 66 produces a corresponding rotation of shaft 68 for pivotal movement of ear paddles 30, 31.

Reversible motor 28 is operably connected to a power supply, such as for example a plurality of conventional batteries 70, which may be positioned within cavity 25 of housing 24. Alternatively, the power supply may include an external source, such as, for example the electrical system of a vehicle, when the hear rest cover 10 is used in a vehicle. Moreover, reversible motor 28 is operably connected to a communication device adapted for transmitting and receiving data to and from a remote location via at least one network, such as, for example, the internet, wireless communication, etc. The communication device may be positioned within cavity 25 of housing 24. The communication device may transmit data via a communication medium such as, for example, internet connection.

It will be understood that numerous modifications and changes in form and detail may be made to the embodiments of the present disclosure. It is contemplated that numerous other configuration of the head rest cover 10 may be used, and the material of the gear and/or housing may be selected from numerous materials other than those specifically disclosed. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting the invention but merely as exemplifications of embodiments thereof.

Those skilled in the art will envision numerous modifications within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims appended hereto. In short, it is the Applicant's intention that the scope of the patent issuing herefrom will be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A head rest cover comprising:

a plush head having facial features; and

a movement mechanism supported within the plush head, the movement mechanism comprising: a housing having a cavity; at least one motor positioned within said housing and being operably connected to at least one power supply; and a drive mechanism operably connected to the at least one motor.

2. The head rest cover as recited in claim 1, further comprising a switch for actuating the at least one motor.

3. The head rest cover as recited in claim 2, wherein the switch member is a pressure responsive switch.

4. The head rest cover as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for providing audible sound in response to actuation of the switch.

5. The head rest cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one power supply includes at least one battery.

6. The head rest cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one power supply includes a vehicle's electrical system.

7. The head rest cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the facial features include ears, and wherein the movement mechanism further comprises a pair of ear paddles for moving the ears.

8. The head rest cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the facial features include eyes, and wherein the movement mechanism further comprises an eye moving device for moving the eyes.

9. The head rest cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the facial features protrude from the plush head.

10. A head rest cover comprising:

a plush head having facial features and defining a cavity configured for fitting said plush head over a portion of a vehicle seat; and

a movement mechanism supported within the plush head, the movement mechanism comprising an electrical system for causing movement of at least one facial feature.

11. The head rest cover as recited in claim 10, further comprising a switch for actuating at least one motor of the movement mechanism.

12. The head rest cover as recited in claim 11, wherein the switch member is a pressure responsive switch.

13. The head rest cover as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for providing audible sound in response to actuation of the switch.

14. The head rest cover as recited in claim 10, wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one power supply for operating the electrical system.

15. The head rest cover as recited in claim 10, wherein the facial features include ears, and wherein the movement mechanism comprises a pair of ear paddles for moving the ears.

16. The head rest cover as recited in claim 10, wherein the facial features include eyes, and wherein the movement mechanism comprises an eye moving device for moving the eyes.

17. A head rest cover comprising:

a housing defining a cavity configured for fitting said head rest cover over a portion of a seat; and

a movement mechanism supported within the housing and in operative communication with at least one moveable feature outside of said housing for moving said moveable feature upon activation of said movement mechanism.

18. The head rest cover as recited in claim 18, further comprising means for providing audible sound in response to actuation of a switch in operative communication with said movement mechanism.

19. The head rest cover as recited in claim 17, wherein the at least one moveable feature includes ears, and wherein the movement mechanism comprises a pair of ear paddles in operative communication with the ears for moving the ears.

20. The head rest cover as recited in claim 17, wherein the at least one moveable feature includes eyes, and wherein the movement mechanism comprises an eye moving device in operative communication with the eyes for moving the eyes.