GB2219734A - Head cradle - Google Patents

Abstract

A head rest element (12) extends transversely between side supports (11, 12) and has a portion, e.g. a recess (16 or 17), shaped to accommodate and support the occipital region of a human neck so as to relax the muscles and relieve tension. Relative to the side supports (11, 12) the head rest element is preferably adjustable in height, in position longitudinally of the supports and in angle so that the optimum configuration can be obtained for any user. <IMAGE>

Description

HEAD CRADLE This invention relates to a head cradle, that is to say a device providing means upon which the neck of a user can be rested for purposes of muscle relaxation and stress relief.

Many head aches and pains are caused or made worse by the many muscles at the base of the skull and in the upper neck going over tense and into spasm resulting in increased pressure on the nerve fibres that pass through or between these muscles. Nerve impulses indicative of pressure on the nerve fibres are transmitted to the brain and warning signals are released in the form of pain. SubseqUent reduction of tension in the muscles releases the pressure on the nerve fibres, transmissions slow down and pain subsides.

One of the most successful ways of relieving muscular spasm and tension in the base of the skull and upper neck which is used by therapists is, with a patient lying on his/her back, to support the patient's head in the occipital region on the tips of the therapist's fingers. This position only needs to be held for two or three minutes. In most cases the muscles relax and the fingers seem to sink into the softened area immediately below the base of the skull.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cradle, frame or like device (hereinafter referred to as "a cradle") whereon a human head can be rested in such a way as to simulate the aforesaid exercise, i.e.

whereby the occipital region at the base of the skull can be supported in order to reduce tension and spasm in the muscles and thus alleviate one of the major causes of stress and tension head aches and pain. A further object is to provide such a cradle whereby the occipital region can be gently massaged.

Pursuant hereto the invention provides a head cradle comprising head rest element extending between two spaced side supports, the head rest element, at a location between the side supports, being so shaped as to accommodate and support the occipital region of a human neck.

Preferably, the head rest element is connected to the respective side supports by releasably fastening means, so that the cradle can readily be dismantled and the component parts laid flat, possible one on top of each other, for compact storage and carriage, and yet be quickly and easily re-assembled for use.

Furthermore, to adapt to users of differing statues and physical dimensions, the head rest element is advantageously connected to the respective side supports in such a way as to enable adjustment both of the postion of attachment of the head rest element to the respective side supports and of the angle of orientation of the head rest element relative to the respective side supports.

Two main forms of the device are envisaged, one in which the head rest element and the two side supports are constituted by planar shaped boards, made, for example of wood or plastics, or even metal, or any combination thereof, and another in which the head rest element and the two side supports are formed from wire or tubing or the like by suitable bending thereof. The latter is likely to be much lighter in weight, and possibly less expensive to manufacture. However, the former, if fashioned from wood and well finished is likely to be more aesthetically appealing in design.

It will be appreciated that in use, once the three parts are connected together, the cradle is ideally laid upon the ground, or some other relatively firm, flat surface, with the shaped portion of the head rest uppermost. The user then lies down on his/her back and rests his/her neck on the shaped portion. In this respect, the soft occipital region at the base of the skull should be supported by the head rest element for maximum benefit in neck muscle relaxation and stress relief. To achieve the correct position of support, the attachment of the head rest element to the side supports may need adjustment to suit the user, with regard to height and distance from one end of the side supports as well as angle of orientation relative to the side supports.To facilitate achieving the correct position of the head rest element from one end of the side support, the said supports preferably have, at one end, a concave contour, designed to seat against the user's shoulders.

Each side support preferably also has a convex contour on which it rests to enable gentle rocking of the cradle while the neck of the user is appropriately positioned on the head rest, thereby gently massaging the occipital region.

The cradle could also be used with the user seated or standing, and the side supports resting against an upright chair back or wall and supported upon the user's shoulders. However, this is not as favourable for achieving the desired muscular relaxation.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred practical embodiment of the head cradle of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the cradle shown in Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the cradle shown in Fig.

1; Fig. 4 is a further side view of the cradle of Figs. 1 to 3 showing three possible positions of the head rest; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the cradle of the invention; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cradle of the invention which is quite different in form.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4, this first embodiment of the cradle of the invention comprises three main components, namely a head rest element 10, and a pair of side supports 11, 12, the latter being substantially identical in size and configuration. As illustrated, the head rest element 10 is connected between the side supports 11, 12.

The head rest element 10 consists of a substantially planar piece of wood approximately 22.5cm x 10cm and 2.5cm thick having a respective threaded bolts 13 projecting from each shorter side edge. The opposing longer side edges 14, 15 are provided midway along, with respective arcuate recesses 16, 17, suitably shaped to snugly accommodate the occipital region of a human neck. These longer side edges 14, 15 are also bevelled at an angle of about 300 towards opposing sides of the element 10. However, the recesses 16, 17, are of somewhat different size, e.g. 5cm and 5.5 cm, or 5cm and 6cm radius respectively so as better to fit different sizes of neck.

The side supports 11, 12 consist of respective substantially planar pieces of wood approximately 25cm x 14cm and 1.25 cm thick. As best illustrated in Fig. 2, one of the longer sides 18 has a convex contour to enable rocking. The opposing longer side has protrusions 19 adjacent each end so that rocking is not possible when the cradle is supported upon these sides.

Each end (i.e. shorter side) of each support 11, 12 has a concave contour 23 for resting against a user's shoulder. In a central region each side support 11, 12 has three elongate apertures 20', 20b; 20 which are generally aligned longitudinally of the support, but are at different spacings from the convex side 18. In this example, as seen in Fig. 2, two of the apertures 20 & 20b, extend side by side, one above the other, while the third 20C is to one side thereof, at an intermediate spacing from the rocker 18.

Also provided as part of the assembled cradle, or part of a kit of parts for assembling same are two washers 21 and two wing nuts 22.

It will readily be appreciated, by reference to Figs. 1 to 4, that the components are to be assembled with the side supports 11, 12 lying substantially parallel, and in the same orientation as each other, and the head rest element 10 extending therebetween as a cross piece. In this respect, the bolts 13 are inserted through corresponding apertures 20", or 20b, or 20c, in the supports 11, 12 and are secured at the outer sides by the respective washers 21 and wing nuts 22.

The cradle when thus assembled is placed on the ground and the user lies down on his/her back and rests his/her neck in whichever recess 16 or 17 is of most appropriate size. The cradle is ideally intended to be orientated so that the convex edges 18 of the side supports are in contact with the ground. The head rest element 10 can be readily adjusted in height, simply by unscrewing the nuts 22 and fastening in a different aperture 20, in lateral position by loosening the nuts 22 and sliding the bolts 13 along the relevant aperture, and in angle, by loosening the nuts 22 and swivelling the head rest 10 relative to the supports 11, 12. The bevel of the selected recess 16 or 17 should, of course, be directed towards the shoulders of the user for maximum comfort and muscular relaxation effect.

The ends of the side supports 11, 12 directed towards the user's supine body, should fit, by virtue of the contour 23, against the user's shoulders to enable the correct lateral position of the head rest element 10 to be ascertained. In this respect the bevelled recess 16 or 17 should be located so as to support the soft occipital region immediately below the base of the skull for maximum benefit and stress relief. The fitting of the contoured ends 23 of the supports 11, 12 against the shoulders prevents the element 10 sliding down to the mid neck and thus becoming ineffectual.

Once the position of the head rest 10 is adjusted to suit the user, and the user has his/her occipital region supported thereon, the cradle can be gently rocked up and down on the convexly contoured edges 18 by gentle nodding of the head. Also the recesses 16 and 17 are shaped so as to permit slight side to side movement of the head. Both movements serve to gently massage the relevant neck region and often prove beneficial in facilitating or enhancing muscle relaxation in the neck.

For the user, the experience is generally comfortable and soothing.

Once the muscles relax, the head falls slightly as the edge defining the relevant recess 16 or 17 sinks into the soft tissue. Because the position of the head rest 10 relative to the user's shoulders is fixed, by the abutment of the contoured ends 23 against the shoulders, as mentioned, this results in slight stretching of the neck and spine, akin to other traction techniques used by therapists and additionally beneficial to relief of muscular tension.

In Fig. 5 a modified embodiment is shown. To avoid repetition of description, the same reference numerals are used here for parts which correspond to those in Fig. 1 to 4. In this embodiment both of the opposing longer sides 18, 18' of each support 11, 12 are convexly contoured to enable rocking of the cradle when supported thereon. Furthermore, only two apertures 20 are provided in each side support 11, 12, instead of three, and these are notched so as to define a series of adjustment positions for the bolts 13 from which slippage is prevented. Finally, the head rest element 10 is provided with only a single neck-supporting recess 16, so needs to be checked for correct orientation in use. In all other respects, however, this cradle is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and it is used in similar manner.

Fig. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the cradle which has all the essential features propounded in the foregoing but is constructed in a different manner. The head rest elements 30, which extends as a cross-piece between two generally parallel and substantially identical side supports 31, 32, consists of a length of wire or tubing which is suitably curved in its central section to accommodate and support the neck of a user.

The side supports 31, 32 also consist of respective lengths of wire or tubing, e.g. plastics-covered wire or plastics tubing, each bent so as to form an elongate four sided frame. The opposing shorter sides 34 are in each case concave and serve to fit against the shoulders of the user to precisely the same effect as in the previous embodiments. The opposing longer sides are, in contrast, convexly contoured. A corresponding one of these in each case constitutes a rockable base 36 whereon the cradle is supported. The other longer side in each case, includes a joint between the ends of the wire or tubing as well as means for attachment of the head rest element 30. In each case both the joint and the attachment are achieved at one and the same time by a respective tee-piece connector 38. Each connector 38 is hollow and telescopically receives in its respective limbs, the two ends of the side frame (31 or 32) and the respective end of the head rest 10. One end of the side frame, in each case, is fixed into the connector 38, while the other is adjustably connected by means of a pin (not shown) engaging in selected aligned apertures in the end region of the side frame and the connector 38. In this way the distance of the head rest 10 from the user's shoulders can be adjusted. Similarly, the angle of the head rest 10 and its length (and thus its height) can be adjusted by swivelling the end margins inside the connector 38 or by inserting them to a greater or lesser extent before securement, e.g. by pins engaging in selected aligned apertures. Otherwise the use and efficiency of this embodiment are as previously described.

Claims (16)

1. A head cradle comprising a head rest element extending between two spaced side supports, the head rest element, at a location between the side supports, being so shaped as to accommodate and support the occipital region of a human neck.

2. A head cradle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the head rest element is so shaped at a location substantially midway between the two side supports.

3. A head cradle as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the head rest element is connected to the respective side supports by releasable fastening means.

4. A head cradle as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the head rest element is connected to the respective side support in such a way as to enable adjustment both of the position of attachment of the head rest element to the respective side supports and of the angle of orientation of the head rest element relative to the respective side supports.

5. A head cradle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the side supports are each formed so as to have a convex contour enabling rocking of the cradle upon a surface.

6. A head cradle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the side supports are each formed so as to have, at one end, a concave contour for seating against a respective shoulder of a user.

7. A head cradle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the side supports are of substantially equal size and shape.

8. A head cradle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each portion of the head rest element which is shaped to accommodate the occipital region of the neck is also provided with padding.

9. A head cradle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the head rest element is in the form of a substantially planar board having a recess in one edge shaped to accommodate the occipital region of a human neck.

10. A head cradle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the board has respective recesses of differing size in opposing edges.

11. A head cradle as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the or each edge portion definding a recess is bevelled.

12. A head cradle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the side supports are constituted by substantially planar boards which are arranged substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the head rest element which extends therebetween.

13. A head cradle as claimed in claim 12 wherein the side supports are provided with one or more elongate apertures to enable fastening of the head rest element at different positions.

14. A head cradle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the side supports consist of frames made of wire or tubing or the like, and the head rest element consists of a shaped piece of wire or tubing or the like.

15. A head cradle as claimed in claim 14 wherein the head rest element is adjustably connected to the respective side supports by way of hollow tee-piece connectors.

16. A head cradle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs.

1 to 4, or Fig. 5, or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.