HEADBAND FOR TRAVEL COMFORT
A headband for travel comfort comprises a compressible, resilient material, such as a memory foam insert. Optionally one or more pads are affixed to the headband. A method of obtaining rest and a method of providing a comfortable environment to a passenger in a vehicle are also provided.
This application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/775,504 filed on Mar. 9, 2013, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDEmbodiments of the present invention relate to a headband for travel comfort, and more particularly, a headband comprising a compressible, resilient material, such as a memory foam insert. An aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of using such a headband.
Passengers often attempt to sleep during transit, such as travel by automobile, train, airplane and the like. However, the confines of the vehicle typically make sleeping difficult, especially if the passenger is unable to comfortably position the head and/or have a darkened environment. Therefore, devices and methods that provide comfort during travel, and thereby decrease the difficulty of sleeping, are desirable and advantageous.
As used herein, “memory foam” means a visco-elastic polyurethane foam, also known as low-resilience polyurethane foam.
As used herein, “inner” and “outer” are in reference to the wearer of the headband.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Before the present invention is described in further detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, because the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the resilient portion 12 is positioned in only a portion of the covering 11. For example, the wearer can wear the headband 10 so that the resilient portion 12 is located over the forehead only, and the remainder of the headband 10 is located about the rest of the circumference of the head without any of the resilient portion 12. As another example, the wearer can wear the headband 10 so that the resilient portion 12 is located over one side of the head only, and the remainder of the headband 10 is located about the rest of the circumference of the head without any of the resilient portion 12. As yet another example, the wearer can wear the headband 10 so that the resilient portion 12 is located over the back of the head only, and the remainder of the headband 10 is located about the rest of the circumference of the head without any of the resilient portion 12. The wearer can rotate the headband 10 between these positions so that the resilient portion 12 is located over a desired portion of the head. As a result, the wearer can adjust the headband 10 to accommodate different resting positions of the head.
The covering 11 can be made of one or more pieces of material. In a preferred embodiment, the covering 11 is made of at least one of polyester, viscose rayon or spandex. In an embodiment, the covering 11 consists of at least one of polyester, viscose rayon or spandex. The neoprene material can maintain a position of the headband 10 relative to the wearer's head and/or the surface on which the head is rested. For example, the neoprene inner surface 21 can provide friction that resists movement of the headband 11 relative to the wearer's head, and/or the neoprene outer surface 22 can provide friction that resists movement of the headband 11 relative the surface on which the head is rested.
Additionally or alternatively, the covering 11 includes cotton. Preferably the covering 11 is stretchable and/or flexible such that headband 10 can accommodate various head sizes. The covering 11 is not limited to a specific material, and the covering 11 can be made of any material known to the skilled artisan.
In an embodiment, the headband 10 may be one of a plurality of headbands, and the plurality of headbands may include two or more sizes. For example, the plurality of headbands may include headbands having a different radius. The plurality of headbands can have a headband sized appropriately for an adult and a headband sized appropriately for a child; Small, Medium, and Large sizes; or any other combination of different sizes known to the skilled artisan.
The compressible, resilient portion 12 can be a component contained within the covering 11. Alternatively or additionally, the compressible, resilient portion 12 can be affixed to the inner surface 21 and/or the outer surface 22 of the covering 11. In a preferred embodiment, the compressible, resilient portion 12 comprises a memory foam insert. In an embodiment, the compressible, resilient portion 12 consists of a memory foam insert. However, the compressible, resilient portion 12 can be made of any material that at least partially compresses under pressure and regains at least partially its original shape in response to removal of the pressure.
In embodiments, the compressible, resilient portion 12 is made of a material having an IFD rating of 10 and 120. In preferred embodiments, the compressible, resilient portion 12 is made of a material having an IFD rating between 12 and 16. As known to the skilled artisan, IFD measures the force (in pounds-force) required to make a dent 1 inch into a foam sample 15″×15″×4″ by an 8-inch-diameter (50 sq in) disc.
In embodiments, the compressible, resilient portion 12 is made of a material having a foam density of 5 pounds per cubic foot (80 kg/m3) or greater. In preferred embodiments, the compressible, resilient portion 12 is made of a material having a foam density of 1 to 5 lb/ft3 (16-80 kg/m3), and even more preferably 4 to 5 lb/ft3.
The headband 10 optionally comprises one or more pads 13. The one or more pads 13 can be located laterally adjacent to the compressible, resilient portion 12. As shown by
Referring again to
In some embodiments, the headband 10 consists of the compressible, resilient portion 12, the covering 11 and the one or more pads 13. For example, an embodiment of the headband 10 consists of the compressible, resilient portion 12, the covering 11 and, on the outer surface 22, the one or more pads 13.
An aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of obtaining rest including positioning a headband comprising a memory foam component on an individual's head such that a portion of the headband covers the eyes of the individual. The method can further comprise positioning the head against a surface such that the memory foam component is positioned between the head and the surface. In an embodiment, the surface on which the head is positioned is a surface of a vehicle. The vehicle can be a selected from the group consisting of automobile, train and plane.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of providing a comfortable environment to a passenger in a vehicle, the method including providing a headband comprising a memory foam component to a vehicle passenger in need of rest, the headband to be worn by the vehicle passenger. In an embodiment, the method includes the vehicle passenger in need of rest wearing the headband.
Thus, specific embodiments and aspects have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the disclosure. Moreover, in interpreting the disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
Claims
1. A headband comprising a covering in which a memory foam insert is located.
2. The headband of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises at least one of polyester, viscose rayon or spandex, and one or more pads are affixed to the covering.
3. The headband of claim 1, wherein the cover consists of a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, viscose rayon, spandex and combinations thereof, and one or more pads are affixed to the covering.
4. The headband of claim 1, wherein the memory foam insert has a foam density of 1 to 5 lb/ft3.
5. The headband of claim 1, wherein the memory foam insert extends over only a portion of the circumference of the covering, the memory foam insert absent from the remainder of the circumference of the covering.
6. A method comprising: positioning a headband comprising a memory foam component on an individual's head such that a portion of the headband covers the eyes of the individual; and positioning the headband against a surface such that the memory foam component is positioned between the head and the surface.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: sleeping with the headband positioned against the surface such that the memory foam component is positioned between the head and the surface.
8. (canceled)
9. A headband consisting of:
- a covering having a top edge substantially parallel to a bottom edge;
- a compressible, resilient portion within the covering; and
- one or more pads affixed to the covering in a position laterally adjacent to the compressible, resilient portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 9, 2014
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Inventor: Mary Kathryn Dickerson (Charleston, SC)
Application Number: 14/201,909
International Classification: A41D 20/00 (20060101);