HEAD SUPPORT DEVICE FOR VERTICAL SLEEPING POSITION

Abstract

A head support device for a person seeking to rest or sleep in an upright, seated position, primarily during travel or for medical related circumstances, comprising a support frame for the upright positioning of the head. The support frame includes a left side and right side with upper and lower arms, a rear portion, a front portion which includes support legs and chin supports, cushions for contact areas of the user, adjustable strap and fasteners. A method of using such a support is also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to travel pillows and more particularly a head and neck support device for better relaxation or sleep while in an upright, seated position by allowing the user's head to stay upright and rearward with even distribution of the weight of the head. The present invention also relates to medical devices where certain medical conditions require patients to support the head and neck while in a seated position.

BACKGROUND

Travelers seek support of the head and neck to enable better rest or sleep while in a seated and upright position. People with medical conditions also need to, at times, rest or sleep in a seated and upright position. Prior art proves the many attempts to aid users in achieving comfortable rest and sleep while in the seated position have been made, however the prior art does not sufficiently correct all of the disadvantages of resting in an upright position, most notably: allowing the head to fall forward and/or laterally, the head being pushed forward instead of rearward, supporting the head in a natural and comfortable position, supporting the weight of the head reducing strain on the neck and shoulder muscles, providing for full 360° support, increasing airflow and reducing body heat, compact and lightweight design, adjustable to different body sizes, allowing for the chin of the user to fall forward and the mouth to hang open, and constriction of the throat area. The following discussion of prior art shows that the disadvantages of resting or sleeping in an upright position are addressed separately or in combination, however not collectively.

Traditional U-shaped travel pillows, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,230,349 and 4,161,794, attempt to provide comfort and support but often do not provide either. In today's modern travel, the seats on airplanes, trains, buses, etc. do not recline to an acceptable level to hold the weight of the head against the headrest. The traditional U-shaped pillows create a barrier between the user's neck and the seat headrest that doesn't allow the head to lie flat, or nearly flat, on the headrest surface, but instead pushes the user's head forward. This pushing force combined with the gravitational force of the weight of the user's head causes the head to fall forward or in a lateral direction that increases strain on the neck and shoulder muscles. In addition to strained muscles, when the head falls forward or laterally gravity often causes the mouth to hang open causing embarrassment, snoring, drooling, and/or dry mouth. Reducing the barrier between the neck and the seat headrest, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,336,707 and 2,522,120, can reduce the forward pushing force however, without a sufficient recline of the seat, gravity will cause the user's head to fall forward or laterally. Furthermore, the arms of traditional U-shaped pillows do not incorporate the height needed to support the head when the head rests, or naturally falls, to the left or right side of the body. The pillow or device needs to incorporate support at or near the ear level of the user in order to support the head at an angle that doesn't cause undue strain on the neck and shoulder muscles. U.S. Pat. Nos. 673,872 and 9,635,962 attempt to correct the ability for the head to fall in a lateral direction. However, there are still disadvantages to both. U.S. Pat. No. 673,872 shows an additional cushion on one arm of the pillow to raise the height for more support however, the users head can still fall to the opposite side of the body and forward. U.S. Pat. No. 9,635,962 raises the cushioned area on both arms providing sufficient height for the head to rest on either side of the body. However, the cushion isn't firm enough and compresses significantly when the weight of the user's head is upon the cushion causing the neck and shoulder muscles to ultimately bear the weight of the head presenting undue strain.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,898,840 is a U-Shaped pillow that incorporates a rigid frame to help support the user's head as well as providing opposing forces to keep the pillow positioned correctly however the height of the arms do not provide adequate support for eliminating strain of the user's neck when the head rests laterally and the user's head is still able to fall in the forward direction. U.S. Pat. No. 9,101,223 provides sufficient height to support the head laterally, a decreased barrier between the headrest and the back of the user's neck and a place to rest the user's chin however there is no opposing support for the chinrest to effectively keep the user's head from falling in a forward direction causing strain on the back of the neck and shoulder muscles.

Non U-Shaped pillows or devices with the intent of keeping the head from falling forward or laterally are also present in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,538 and U.S. Published Application No. 2015/0157130 have sufficient height support, at or near the user's ear, to support the head at a reasonable angle to prevent undue strain however the devices only support one side of the head allowing the head to roll or fall forward or to the opposite side of the body. U.S. Pat. No. 9,962,021 provides a method of holding the head rearward however allows for the head to fall in a lateral direction as well as relying on the user's arms to remain in a constant position to leverage the weight of the head. U.S. Pat. No. 8,333,308 provides a chin rest to keep the head from falling forward and the mouth from hanging open however allows for the head to fall in a lateral direction.

A travel pillow may consist of foam or other type of soft fill in an effort to provide comfort. Foam or soft fill pillows are often soft to a degree that there is too much compression, causing a lack of support, when the weight of the head is applied which causes undue strain on the neck and shoulder muscles. A device or apparatus may incorporate an internal or external rigid frame with or without pillow or padding to allow for weight bearing support. U.S. Pat. No. 8,814,106 is a rigid device for holding the chin which prevents the head from falling forward and the mouth of the user from hanging open however there is the disadvantage of the head's ability to fall in a lateral direction. U.S. Pat. No. 9,375,104 and U.S. Published Application No. 2009/0019641 both contain a rigid yet bendable core to aid in holding the pillow's shape and provide firm weight bearing support for the head although there is nothing to keep the head from falling forward when using in an upright-seated position.

Travelers have a need for a supporting device that is compact and lightweight. Prior art shows examples of travel pillows or devices that are compact and lightweight yet prove to be disadvantageous in other ways. Many compact designs are inflatable in nature such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,794 that is a U-shape pillow and presents the disadvantages discussed previously in paragraph [0003] above. U.S. Pat. No. 8,984,688 is an inflatable cushion in which the user leans forward onto the cushion for support using the seat in front of the user for resistance. However, when inflated, the cushion is cumbersome and may disturb the person in the seat in front of the user as pressure will be applied to their seat, as well as, making it difficult for people seated in the same row of seats as the user to enter and exit the row. U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,262 is an example of a non-inflatable yet still compact travel pillow at approximately half the size of a traditional U shaped pillow. This example provides anatomically correct support for the head and neck yet only provides support on one or the other side of the head rather than 360° support.

Most travel pillows and devices claim that “one size fits all” however, travelers have a need for a supporting device that is simple to adjust to different body shapes and sizes to increase comfort and proper support. U.S. Pat. No. 9,962,021 does allow for size adjustments through the use of adjustable straps however, is not necessarily simple and provides other disadvantages as discussed previously in paragraph [0005] above.

Many travel pillows are filled with dense material that can trap heat causing the pillow user's to sweat, overheat or become uncomfortable. U.S. Pat. No. 9,968,197 alleviates this lack of airflow by incorporating air apertures. However, some of the previously discussed disadvantages of U shaped pillows are still present.

In order for a person to effectively rest or sleep in a seated, upright position, the head and neck need to be in a natural and comfortable position. When a person is in an upright position, whether seated or standing, the only natural and comfortable position for the head is to also be upright. When people are in a relaxed or sleep state the muscles that normally hold the head upright begin to relax and no longer support the weight of the head. Therefore, when relaxing or sleeping in a seated position, the head requires 360° of support to keep the head from falling forward, backward, or laterally causing undue strain on the neck and shoulder muscles. U.S. Pat. No. D469,541 incorporates a 360° design around the neck yet still has the disadvantages of the head falling laterally due to lack of proper height for support, lack of airflow, and being enclosed over the throat area which can be constricting and highly uncomfortable to many consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide solutions to the combined problems associated with resting or sleeping in an upright position by providing a novel device that fully supports the head in a 360° fashion, bears the weight of the head, reduces or eliminates strain and tension on the neck and shoulder muscles, provides natural and comfortable positioning of the head and neck in an upright and rearward fashion, allows for body size adjustment, allows for air flow and reducing body heat, prevents the user's mouth from hanging open, is lightweight and compact, and doesn't constrict the user's throat area. The rigid frame consisting of a coated wire-form, plastic or other suitable material, wrapped in strategic contact/pressure points with a resilient cushioned material, that will limit forward and lateral movement of the head within a small range to keep the head in a comfortable upright position at the same time as fully supporting the weight of the head. The shape of the device does not interfere with the placement of wired or wireless headphones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some features of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a back perspective view of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the collective parts of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the left side view of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the right side view of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates the back view of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates the front view of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates the top view of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates the bottom view of the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 10 illustrates the front view of the head support device with a cover applied over the head support device as worn by a user in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a front perspective view of the head support device with a cover applied over the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 illustrates the side view of the head support device with a cover applied over the head support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Reference throughout this document to “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The drawings featured in the figures are provided for the purposes of illustrating some embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein, the term “head stand” refers to a device configured to keep the user's head upright using connectable left side and right side rigid frames with padded areas that have a lower “arm” that rests crosswise along the shoulder, curves at the lower back of the neck, continues upward, curves at the upper back of the neck, continues forward forming an upper “arm” then continues downward to the front of the body forming a rounded support “leg” which rest on the chest area then continues upward to form a chin support.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-12, a head stand device is generally designated as element 100. The present invention is for use by a person and is described in connection with a seat that embodies a head rest area, such as seats designated for travel on an airplane, train, bus, and automobile, as well as, non-travel related seats such as a home, office, and/or hospital seats where the user seeks to rest or sleep in an upright seated position.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the head stand device 100 comprises a left side support frame 102 and a right side support frame 104 connecting with an adjustable strap 106 at the rear portion 108 of the device. Herein allowing that various alternative embodiments will be considered and/or contemplated within, and outside of, the content of this document.

Illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the head stand comprises a rigid left side frame 102 and a rigid right side frame 104 both consisting of an upper support arm 110, a lower support arm 112, a rear portion 108, and a front portion 114.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the upper support arm 110 consists of: a rigid material which does not flex or compress when weight is applied within the intended use of the head stand 100; and an upper support arm cushion 116 consisting of a resilient material and applied lengthwise on the upper support arm 110. The rigid frame of the upper support arm 110 is intended to rest along the jawline area of the user and provide lateral and vertical support of the user's head and neck by bearing the weight of the user's head when the head naturally leans laterally while at rest in an upright position. The upper support arm cushion 116 is applied over the rigid frame material and is intended to rest along the lower cheek and just under the ear of the user. The upper support arm cushion 116 serves to provide a comfortable surface for the user to rest upon as well as raising the overall height of the head stand 100 to an optimal range for supporting the weight of the head in a natural, comfortable, upright position and allowing for the use of wired or wireless head phones. The upper support arm cushion 116 may or may not be removable, washable, and/or inside a removable or non-removable cover made of suitable fabric or other materials. The upper support arm cushion 116 can be produced in various diameters to change the overall height of the head stand 100 making it adjustable for different body sizes and shapes.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the lower support arm 112 consists of a rigid material which does not flex or compress when weight is applied within the intended use of the head stand 100 and a lower support arm cushion 118 consisting of a resilient material and applied lengthwise on the lower support arm 112. The rigid frame of the lower support arm 112 is intended to rest crosswise on the shoulder area of the user and provide lateral and vertical support of the user's head and neck by bearing the weight of the user's head when the head naturally leans laterally while at rest in an upright position. The lower support arm cushion 118 is applied over the rigid frame material and is intended to provide a comfortable surface to rest on the user's shoulder area. Additionally, the lower support arm cushion 118 raises the overall height of the head stand 100 to an optimal range for supporting the weight of the head in a natural, comfortable, upright position. The lower support arm cushion 118 may or may not be removable, washable, and/or inside a removable or non-removable cover made of suitable fabric or other materials. The lower support arm cushion 118 can be produced in various diameters to change the overall height of the head stand 100 making it adjustable for different body sizes and shapes.

Referring to FIGS. 8-9, the lower support arm 112 extends beyond the upper support arm 110 approximately 0.50″, or any other suitable measurement, and is intended to further stabilize the head stand 100 and aid in the even weight distribution of the user's head by providing counter balance of the upper support arm 110.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the rear portion 108 consists of a rigid material which does not flex or compress when weight is applied within the intended use of the head stand 100. The upper support arm 110 and lower support arm 112 curve at the backend to form a continuous rear portion 108 which rests along the side and backside of the user's neck. The rear portion 108 is designed to lay flat, or nearly flat against the back of the user's neck. The rear portion 108 is flat in design so as to not interfere with the marginal support already provided by the seat headrest. When at rest in an upright, seated position, a person's neck muscles will eventually relax and no longer bear the weight of the head causing the head to naturally fall or lean in all directions. In today's modern travel, the seats on airplanes, trains, buses, etc. do not recline to an acceptable level to hold the weight of the head against the seat headrest causing the head to fall forward or laterally. Any cushions or other protruding articles in the rear portion 108 of the head stand 100 would create a barrier between the neck and the seat headrest which in turn would push the head further forward and out of direct contact with the seat headrest. The seat headrest can provide rearward support of the head on the condition that the head stays in flat, or near flat, contact with the seat headrest and the head stand 100 allows for this requiring condition with its flat rear portion 108 design.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, an adjustable strap 106 is utilized to connect the rear portion 108 of the left side support frame 102 to the rear portion 108 of the right side support frame 104. The adjustable strap 106 encircles the mid-section 124 of the left side and right side rear portions 108 and consists of a material elastic or stretchable in nature. The adjustable strap 106 may be continuous in nature or have a hook and loop fastener, or other suitable fastener, and will allow the user to adjust the head stand 100 to accommodate different body shapes and sizes. The adjustable strap 106 also enables the ability to compact the device for storage and carrying purposes as the elasticity, and/or detachability, allows for one of the side support frames to be inverted and stored alongside the other side support frame reducing the size by almost 50 percent. The device may or may not have a specifically designed case, carrier, and/or bag for storage and transport purposes.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5 and 7, the front portion 114 consists of a rigid material which does not flex or compress when weight is applied within the intended use of the head stand 100 and comprises a support leg 126, support leg cushion 128, chin support 130, and chin support cushion 132.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the support leg 126 curves downward from the forward end of the upper support arm 110 to rest on the upper chest area of the user then continues upward in a rounded shape at the end of which becomes the beginning of the chin support 130. The purpose of the support leg 126 is to provide the user upright and rearward support, significantly reduce and/or eliminate the natural tendency of the body and head to fall forward when at rest in an upright, seated position, and aid in the equal distribution of the weight of the user's head on the head stand 100. The support leg cushion 128 consists of a resilient material that serves as a soft surface to rest upon the user's chest area and raises the overall height of the front portion 114 to provide increased rearward support by holding the chin in an upward direction. The support leg cushion 128 may or may not be removable, washable, and/or inside a removable or non-removable cover made of suitable fabric or other materials. The support leg cushion 128 can be produced in various diameters to change the overall height of the head stand 100 making it adjustable for different body sizes and shapes. Rigid in material, the support leg 126, in conjunction with the other parts of the head stand 100, allows for a minimal yet comfortable range of movement by providing support and resistance of the weight of the user's head.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the chin support 130 is a continuation of and works in conjunction with the support leg 126. The chin support 130 is a horizontal circle, semi-circle, or any other suitable shape, with the intent of providing upright and rearward support to prevent the user's head and body from falling forward by holding the chin and pushing the chin slightly yet comfortably upward and rearward. This upward and rearward position provides enough resistance from the front of the head to keep the back of the head in contact with the seat headrest therefore providing support for the front and back of the head. If the head does fall forward within the minimal yet comfortable range of movement, the combination of the chin support 130 and support leg 126 continues to support the head in an upright position due to the rigid nature of the frame and resistance from the user's chest area. The chin support cushion 132 consists of a resilient material that covers the chin support 130 and provides for a comfortable area to rest the chin. There are two chin support cushions 132, one for the left side support frame 102 chin support 130 and one for the right side support frame 104 chin support 130. A hook and loop fastener 120, or any other suitable fastener, will be attached to the underside of one chin support cushion 132 and the upper side of one chin support cushion 132. When the head stand 100 is placed around the user's neck, the left side chin support 130 and the right side chin support 130 are brought together, placed one on top of the other and secured with the hook and loop material 120 attached to the chin support cushions 132. As shown in FIG. 5, in order for the two chin supports 130 to be placed one on top of the other, one of the two support legs 126 will be of decreased height 122 allowing for the support legs 126 to be level on the user's chest area. In an alternative embodiment, the two support legs 126 would be of the same height and only one chin support cushion 132 would be used on either the right side or left chin support 130.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the head stand 100 is comprised of a left side support frame 102, right side support frame 104, rear portion 108, and front portion 114 that collectively form an open frame design which encircles the user's neck providing 360° of upright support for the user's head. The open frame design allows for support without causing constriction or pressure on the throat area that is highly undesirable by consumers. The open frame design allows for airflow that reduces potential body heat of the user.

Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of the head stand 100 has one continuous frame (not shown) where the left side support frame 102 and the right side support frame 104 are permanently connected as the upper support arms 110 would continue as one across the upper rear portion 108 and the lower supports arms would continue as one across the lower rear portion 108 and the adjustable strap 106 as well as the mid-section 124 of the rear portion 108 would be eliminated.

Illustrated in FIG. 1042, the head stand 100, as shown on a representative user's head H and shoulders S, may have a cover 134 made of any suitable fabric which may, or may not, be removable and/or washable. Illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the head stand 100 may have a cover 134 made of any suitable fabric which may, or may not, be removable and/or washable.

A possible embodiment to the head stand 100 is the addition of a heating and cooling feature which may be battery powered or a self-activating type of heat or cooling pack (not shown).

A possible embodiment to the head stand 100 is the addition of a removable travel blanket that may incorporate an eye mask and/or a hood (not shown).

A possible embodiment to the head stand 100 is the addition of a specifically designed case, carrier, and/or bag (not shown) for storage and transport purposes.

Claims

1. A head support device for allowing a user to sleep or comfortably rest while seated, the device comprising:

(a) a left side support frame that is continuous, said left side support frame including: (i) an upper support arm adapted for positioning along a jawline area of the user, (ii) a lower support arm adapted for positioning crosswise on a shoulder area of the user, (iii) a rear portion having a curved region adapted for resting on a back neck portion of the user, and (iv) a front portion having a rounded support leg adapted for resting on an upper chest area of the user, said left side front portion extending upward to form part of a chin rest support when in use;

(b) a right side support frame that is continuous, said right side support frame including: (i) an upper support arm adapted for positioning along the jawline area of the user, (ii) a lower support arm adapted for positioning crosswise on the shoulder area of the user, (iii) a rear portion having a curved region adapted for resting on the back neck portion of the user, and (iv) a front portion having a rounded support leg adapted for resting on the upper chest area of the user, said left side front portion extending upward to form part of the chin rest support when in use; and

(c) a strap adapted for connecting the left side support frame to the right side support frame at a rear portion of the left side support frame and a rear portion of the right side support frame prior to use.

2. The head support device of claim 1 wherein said strap is a band for wrapping about the left side support frame and the right side support frame and connecting back to itself.

3. The head support device of claim 1 wherein the left side support frame and the right side support frame are both formed of a suitable rigid material capable of providing support for a user's head weight, said rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal wire, plastic, composite and combinations thereof.

4. The head support device of claim 1, which further includes a plurality of cushions for one or more of: the left side upper support arm, the right side upper support arm, the left side lower support arm, the right side lower support arm, the rounded support leg of the left side front portion, the rounded support leg of the right side front portion, the chin rest support of the left side front portion and the chin rest support of the right side front portion.

5. The head support device of claim 4 wherein said plurality of cushions are formed from a closed cell foam material.

6. The head support device of claim 4 wherein said cushion for the chin rest support of the left side front portion and said cushion for the chin rest support of the right side front portion include matching sections of hook and loop fastener tape for joining to one another.

7. The head support device of claim 4 wherein said plurality of cushions are removable for washing and reinstalling.

8. The head support device of claim 4 wherein said plurality of cushions are exchangeable with cushions of varying sizes for different user body sizes of the user.

9. The head support device of claim 2 wherein said strap includes matching sections of hook and loop fastener tape at opposed ends.

10. The head support device of claim 1 wherein said left side support frame and said right side support frame are relatively sized so as to allow one of the support frames to be inverted and seat within the other support frame for storage when not in use.

11. The head support device of claim 10 wherein said left side support frame and said right side support frame when joined together or un-joined are adapted for carrying in a transport case.

12. The head support device of claim 1, which further includes a cover for fitting over said left side support frame and said right side support frame after assembly and prior to use.

13. A method of supporting a person's head while seated upright, said method comprising the steps including:

(a) providing a 360° head support device consisting of a left side support frame and a right side support frame, each of said left side support frame and said right side support frame including a chin rest support component, said head support device further including an adjustable strap for connecting the left side support frame to the right side support frame at a rear area of each frame;

(b) positioning the head support device about the person's neck and onto the person's shoulders, and

(c) making adjustments to the chin rest support components and the adjustable strap until the head support device rests on the person's chest area and the chin rest support components are positioned one above the other with the upper chin rest support component directly beneath the person's chin.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) includes adjusting the chin rest support components until the person's chin is pushed slightly upward.

15. A head support system for allowing a person to comfortably rest or sleep while in an upright position when the support system is installed about the person's neck and beneath the person's chin, said system comprising:

(a) a left side support frame with an upper support arm, a lower support arm, a rear portion, and a forward portion having a support leg and a chin support component;

(b) a right side support frame with an upper support arm, a lower support arm, a rear portion, and a forward portion having a support leg and a chin support component;

(c) an adjustable strap for connecting the left side support frame to the right side support frame;

(d) a plurality of cushions for covering all potential contact points of the left side support frame and the right side support frame with the person's body; and

(e) a fastener for connecting the left side chin support component to the right side chin support component.

16. The head support system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of cushions cover one or more of: the upper support arm, the lower support arm, the support leg, and the chin support component of the left side support frame, and the upper support arm, the lower support arm, the support leg, and the chin support component of the right side support frame.

17. The head support system of claim 15, which prevents the person's head from falling laterally to either side or falling forward, said head support system;

(a) allowing for the person's head to make contact with a seat headrest from behind; and

(b) allowing the person to use head phones while wearing the head support system.

18. The head support system of claim 15, wherein the chin support components keep the person's chin pushed slightly upward.

19. The head support system of claim 15, which has an open frame design allows for increased airflow and which decreases body heat when worn.

20. The head support system of claim 15 wherein the chin support components prevent the person's mouth from hanging open while not touching or constricting the person's throat area.