Articulated headrest for dental chairs and the like

Claim 2

An articulated headrest for dental chairs and the like comprising: a. a support member adapted for attachment to a dental chair; b. a headrest frame journaled to said support member; c. a pair of axially aligned toothed clutch members within said headrest frame, a first of said clutch members fixed to said support member and coaxial with said journal, and a second clutch member fixed to said headrest frame and being axially movable for engagement and disengagement with said first clutch member; d. a pin fixed to said headrest frame, said pin having the axis thereof generally parallel with the axis of said second clutch member; e. a lever arm having a first end fixed to said second clutch member and a second end slidably engaging said pin, said lever arm and pin comprising means for fixing said second clutch member to said frame; f. bias means within said headrest frame normally urging said clutch members into engagement for locking said headrest frame against movement about said journal; and g. drive means within said headrest frame connected to said second clutch member for axially moving said second clutch member against said bias means to disengage said clutch members and permit articulation of said headrest frame with respect to said support member.

Claim 3

An articulated headrest as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises: a. a shaft within said headrest frame, said shaft being axially movable with respect to said support member and headrest frame and extending slidably through said journal; b. said second clutch member being fixed to one end of said shaft; c. said shaft having its second and extending through one side of said headrest frame; and d. a pushbutton on said second shaft end wherein pushing said pushbutton moves said shaft axially with respect to said headrest frame and against said bias to disengage said clutch members.

Claim 4

An articulated headrest for dental chairs and the like comprising: a. a frame having a headrest portion; b. a headrest support member having one end adapted for attachmEnt to a dental chair and a second end extending into and journaled to said frame; c. a first toothed clutch member within said frame fixed to said support member coaxial with said journal; d. a second toothed clutch member within said frame fixed to rotate with said frame, said second toothed clutch member being axially movable toward and away from said first clutch member for engaging and disengaging said clutch members; e. means for driving said second toothed clutch member in corotation with said frame including a lever arm having one end fixed to said second toothed clutch member and a second end extending generally radially outward from said second clutch member and slidably fixed to said frame for movement along an axis generally parallel with the axis of said second clutch member; f. bias means axially urging said toothed clutch members into engagement for locking said frame against rotation about said journal; and g. means for moving said second toothed clutch member axially against said bias means to disengage said clutch members and permit rotation of said frame about said journal.

Claim 5

An articulated headrest for dental chairs and the like comprising: a. a frame having a headrest portion; b. a headrest support member having one end adapted for attachmEnt to a dental chair and a second end extending into and journaled to said frame; c. a first toothed clutch member within said frame fixed to said support member coaxial with said journal; d. a second toothed clutch member within said frame fixed to rotate with said frame, said second toothed clutch member being axially movable toward and away from said first clutch member for engaging and disengaging said clutch members; e. means for driving said second toothed clutch member in corotation with said frame including a lever arm having one end fixed to said second toothed clutch member and a second end extending generally radially outward from said second clutch member and slidably fixed to said frame for movement along an axis generally parallel with the axis of said second clutch member; f. bias means axially urging said toothed clutch members into engagement for locking said frame against rotation about said journal; and g. means for moving said second toothed clutch member axially against said bias means to disengage said clutch members and permit rotation of said frame about said journal.

Claim 6

An articulated headrest as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lever arm has its second end slidably engaging a pin fixed to said frame, said pin having its axis generally parallel to and offset from the axis of said second clutch member.

Claim 7

An articulated headrest as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second toothed clutch member is fixed to one end of a shaft, said shaft slidably extending coaxially through said journal with the second end of said shaft extending outwardly through one side of said frame said shaft being movable with respect to said frame and headrest support axially through said journal wherein pushing on said second end moves said shaft axially with respect to said frame and headrest support and against said bias means to disengage said clutch members.