NZ613379A - Neck support - Google Patents

Abstract

613379 A head and neck support for a hair washing basin. The support has a body (2) having a concave neck receiving portion (6) projecting internally and providing support for a substantial amount of the cervical spine of a user. The neck receiving portion (6) has an upper neck engaging portion and a lower neck engaging portion and a channel with a drain (12) separating the portions. The channel directs excess fluids away from the neck of the user. An external groove (4) is included to engage with a rim of the basin.

Description

NECK SUPPORT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to neck supports and in particular to head and neck supports for hair washing basins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It should be noted that reference to the prior art herein is not to be taken as an acknowledgement that such prior art constitutes common general knowledge in the art.

Most people in the Western world will visit a hairdresser or barber on a regular basis to have their hair trimmed, styled or coloured or simply to be pampered and to relax. However, the experience of having their hair shampooed can be far from relaxing as their neck is extended backwards into the basin. This position can be painful for some people and can even lead to neck injury.

It is difficult for salons to accommodate people of different height and adjustable chairs have been used in an attempt to make hair washing more comfortable. However, the rim of the basin is hard and thin which puts significant pressure on the person’s neck no matter what height the chair.

The neck can often be overextended, causing damage to blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and other structures.

Also existing neck conditions can be further irritated by extension of the neck over the rim of the basin. Covers have been developed on some basins in an attempt to cushion the rim, but they do not reduce the pressure on the neck and head to the optimum extent of nine to ten centimetres.

US 6651269 teaches a neck support which can be secured to a standard configuration salon or barber’s sink for use when the individual is placed in a reclined position, the support having a double arcuate surface complementary to the normal curve of the individual's spine and neck to support the neck area of the individual.

WO 2006040518 discloses a neck support for cushioning the back of a person's neck against the rim of a wash basin comprising a first portion to sit over the rim of a basin and a second portion to sit in front of the rim and support the neck. The second portion having a valley-like shaping and a number of ridges and groves to improve support, to aid grip to the wash basin, and to accommodate movement of a user's head.

CA 1277104 discloses a neck support installable in the wall indentation of a hairdresser's bowl having a notch for receiving and cushioning the neck of a person whose hair is to be shampooed and a membrane which extends across the notch to form a fluid leakage barrier. However none of these supports provide sufficient support for the neck and users may still experience significant neck pain when using them.

Clearly it would be advantageous if a neck and head support could be devised that helped to at least ameliorate some of the shortcomings described above.

In particular it would be advantageous to provide an improved neck support for use on hairdressers’ or barbers’ basins or at least to provide an alternative to current neck supports.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a head and neck support for a hair washing basin comprising: a body having a concave neck receiving portion projecting internally and providing support for a substantial amount of the cervical spine of a user, the neck receiving portion comprising an upper neck engaging portion and a lower neck engaging portion and a channel with a drain separating the portions, the channel directs excess fluids away from the neck of the user; and an external recess to engage with a rim of the basin.

Preferably, in use, the neck receiving portion extends substantially around the sides and base of the user’s neck spreading the weight of their head and neck over an area larger than an area of the rim of the basin adjacent the neck receiving portion.

Preferably, in use, the neck receiving portion follows the hairline substantially around the sides of the user’s neck.

Preferably the neck receiving portion has two longitudinal channels to direct fluids away from the user’s neck wherein at least one of the channels has a drain to drain the fluid from the channel.

Preferably, in use, the support is slightly tilted as the user reclines backward causing the sides of the neck receiving portion to be higher that its centre to facilitate fluid drainage.

Preferably the base has a layer of silicon or a similar non-slip surface treatment to provide friction between the base and the underside of the basin to further reduce movement of the support during use. Alternatively or additionally the base may have at least one suction cup to secure the support to the underside or rim of the basin.

Preferably a lip of the groove extends over the basin rim to help secure the neck support to the basin. In one form the lip has one or more suction cups to secure the support onto the basin. In another form the lip has a silicone layer to frictionally grip onto the rim and prevent movement of the support during use. In yet another form the lip has both a silicone layer and one or more suction caps.

In an alternative embodiment, the head and neck support further comprises an extension extending from the back of the neck receiving portion to support the user’s spine.

Preferably the plate is narrower and thinner towards its extremity to avoid discomfort to the user.

Preferably the support is formed as an integral unit from one or a combination of expanded rubbers or foam rubbers.

Preferably the support is manufactured from a compressible, yet resilient material which can deform to accommodate the neck of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given hereinafter and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which, however, should not be taken to be limitative to the invention, but are for explanation and understanding only.

Fig 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the head and neck support of the present invention; Fig 2 is a plan view of the support of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a front elevation of the support of Fig 1; Fig 4 is a rear elevation of the support of Fig 1; Fig 5 is a sectional view along line A-A of Fig 2; Fig 6 is a side elevation of the support of Fig 1; Fig 7 is a front elevation of an alternative embodiment of the support of the present invention; Fig 8 is a rear elevation of the support of Fig 7; Fig 9 is a side elevation of the support of Fig 7; Fig 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the support of the present invention; Fig 11 is a plan view of the support of Fig 10; Fig 12 is a bottom view of the support of Fig 10; Fig 13 is a side elevation of the support of Fig 10; Fig 14 is a front elevation of the support of Fig 10; and Fig 15 is a section along line A-A of Fig 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The head and neck support of Figs 1 to 6 consists of body 2 having base 16, groove 4 and neck receiving portion 6. Groove 4 is adapted to receive the rim of a basin (not shown) and is of a convex shape so that it fits most standard basins. Lip 8 of groove 4 extends over the basin rim to help secure the support to the basin and also to prevent the user’s head from falling backwards into the basin and over extending the neck. Lip 8 has two suction cups 11 which secure the support on the basin.

Groove 4 receives the rim of the basin such that neck receiving portion 6 is facing outwardly from the basin. During use a user reclines in a chair in front of the basin and leans backward to place their neck into the neck receiving portion 6 of the support positioned on the basin rim to allow their hair to be washed in the basin.

Neck receiving portion 6 is of a concave shape and is adapted to wrap substantially around the back and sides of a user’s neck. Support around the sides of the neck distributes the weight of the head over a larger area and also provides lateral support to the neck. Neck receiving portion 6 is constructed of a compressible, yet resilient material to fit the majority of neck shapes and sizes and is firm enough to help support a user’s neck while being soft enough to cushion the neck and relieve discomfort. Suitable materials include expanded rubbers or rubber foams such as ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene, polyethylene, ethafoam, polyurethane, polypropylene or latex foam.

Neck receiving portion 6 has a shallow channel 10 within its surface to catch water and dye leaked onto the user’s neck. Channel 10 runs from each side to the centre of neck receiving portion 6 and into drain 12 which runs through body 2 of the support. Channel 10 gradually widens and deepens from the sides toward the centre of neck receiving portion 6 so that water and dye is channelled towards drain 12 in the centre.

Furthermore, the support is slightly tilted during use as the user reclines backward causing the sides of neck receiving portion 6 to be higher than its centre thus, facilitating water drainage. Water and dye will drain through body 2 of the support preventing it from running down the neck and back of the user and potentially spoiling their clothing.

The support has base 16 extending from body 2 which is adapted to contact the underside of the basin thus reducing movement of the support during use.

Base 16 has a surface layer of silicone or similar non-slip surface treatment (not shown) to provide greater friction between base 16 and the basin further reducing movement of the support during use. Suction cups (not shown) may also be used to secure base 16 to the underside of the basin.

The support is preferably formed as an integral unit from foams indentified previously. Such foam materials have elastic properties so that when the support is positioned on a basin, the body and base are pulled slightly apart and the elasticity biases them towards each other to grip the basin.

Figs 7 to 9 show an alternative embodiment of the support of the present invention which further comprises extension 20 extending from neck receiving portion 6. Extension 20 is adapted to support the user’s spine between the neck receiving portion 6 and the top of the chair in which they are sitting during hair washing. Extension 20 is narrower and thinner towards its extremity to avoid discomfort to the user.

The support is removable for cleaning or replacement by simply pulling body 2 and base 16 apart to disengage it from the basin. The foam is water and bacteria resistant and can be easily cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth and then allowing the support to dry.

Figs 10 to 15 show a further alternative support 30 which uses less material and incorporates two channels, upper 31 without drain and lower 32 which channels water and dye to drain 33. Groove 34 is of a convex shape to fit most standard basins. Lip 38 of groove 34 extends over the basin (not shown) rim to help secure the support and also to prevent the user’s head from falling backwards into the basin and over extending the neck.

Neck receiving portion 36 is of a concave shape and is adapted to wrap substantially around the back and sides of a user’s neck thus distributing the weight of the head over a larger area and providing lateral support to the neck. Neck receiving portion 36 is constructed of a compressible, yet resilient material to fit the majority of neck shapes and sizes and is firm enough to help support a user’s neck while being soft enough to cushion the neck and relieve discomfort. Suitable materials include expanded rubbers or rubber foams such as ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene, polyethylene, ethafoam, polyurethane, polypropylene or latex foam.

As before, support 30 is slightly tilted during use as the user reclines backward causing the sides of neck receiving portion 36 to be higher than its centre thus, facilitating water drainage. Water and dye will drain through channels 31 and 32 preventing it from running down the neck and back of the user and potentially spoiling clothing.

ADVANTAGES The present invention provides a support for use on hair dressers’ or barbers’ basins that assists users in supporting their neck and also resists their head falling backward and causing over extension of their neck. The support wraps substantially around the back and sides of the neck spreading the weight of their head and neck over an area larger than the rim of the basin reducing point loads and discomfort to the user. Furthermore, by wrapping around the sides of the neck, the support provides improved lateral support to the neck.

The incorporation of channels and drain helps avoid hair dye damaging clothing and the additional a back supporting plate provides greater support to the spine to increase comfort. Using the support of the present invention will reduce costs incurred by hair dressers due to reimbursements for damaged clothing or compensation for neck injuries and will results in happier customers.

VARIATIONS It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising” are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps.

Claims (9)

1. A head and neck support for a hair washing basin comprising: 5 a body having a concave neck receiving portion projecting internally and providing support for a substantial amount of the cervical spine of a user, the neck receiving portion comprising an upper neck engaging portion and a lower neck engaging portion and a channel with a drain separating the portions, the channel directs excess fluids away from the neck of the user; 10 and an external recess to engage with a rim of the basin.

2. The support of claim 1 wherein in use the neck receiving portion extends substantially around the sides and base of the user’s neck spreading 15 the weight of their head and neck over an area larger than an area of the rim of the basin adjacent the neck receiving portion.

3. The support of claim 2 wherein in use the neck receiving portion follows the hairline substantially around the sides of the user’s neck.

4. The support of claim 1 wherein the neck receiving portion has two longitudinal channels to direct fluids away from the user’s neck, wherein at least one of the channels has a drain to drain the fluid from the channel. 25

5. The support of claim 4 wherein in use the support is slightly tilted as the user reclines backward causing the sides of neck receiving portion to be higher than its centre to facilitate fluid drainage.

6. The support of any of the preceding claims and further comprising an 30 extension extending downwards from the back of the neck receiving portion to support the user’s spine.

7. The support of any of the preceding claims in which the external recess has a surface layer of a non-slip material to provide greater friction between 35 the support and the basin to reduce movement of the support during use.

8. The support of any of the preceding claims further comprising at least one suction cup to secure the support on the rim of the basin.

9. The support of any of the preceding claims wherein the support is 5 manufactured from a compressible, yet resilient material which can deform to accommodate the neck of the user.