Adjustable headrest and backrest for a chair

Claim 2

In a treatment chair including a seat portion and a tiltable, upwardly-extending backrest for reception and positioning of a patient in a variety of positions for treatment by an operator; the improvement of a headrest assembly telescopingly carried by said backrest for adjustment to desired positions for different size patients and characterized by providing support to the shoulder area of a patient and counterbalanced adjustment mechanisms for ease in adjustment thereof to any desired position; said headrest assembly comprising: a continuous, generally rectangular, relatively thin, body portion of substantial width at least one-half but less than the width of said backrest for providing a continuous support for the shoulder and head areas of a seated patient while allowing easy access to the head of the patient by an operator; means contained within said backrest defining a longitudinallyextending, open-topped, relatively wide passageway for telescoping reception of said headrest body portion through the top of said backrest for longitudinal adjustment of said headrest body portion therein and outwardly thereof to desired positions; counterbalance means positioned within said passageway in engagement with said headrest body portion biasing said body portion generally upwardly and outwardly of said backrest and counterbalancing the weight of the said body portion for ease in adjustment thereof to any desired position; and friction locking means carried by said backrest for frictional engagement with said headrest body portion when said body portion is placed in any desired position for locking said headrest assembly in such position and being releasable for unlocking said headrest assembly when adjustment thereof is desired.

Claim 3

In a treatment chair, as set forth in claim 1, in which said counterbalance means includes a pair of laterally spaced, convolute wound, torsion springs having corresponding outer end portions attached to said backrest to define laterally opposite sides of at least a portion of said passageway therein and with the convolutions thereof facing inwardly, bearing means carried by the lower portion of said headrest body portion and engaging and riding against the outer convolution of said torsion springs for causing said springs to be unwound and extended progressively by said bearing means during downward and inward positioning movement of said headrest body portion and for winding up and applying a lifting force to said headrest body portion during upward and outward movement thereof; and elongate, rigid, back-up members secured to the inside of said backrest on each side of saId passageway therein and engaging the distal surfaces of said torsion springs and against which said torsion springs unwind as said headrest body portion is adjusted inwardly and downwardly in said passageway.

Claim 4

In a treatment chair, as set forth in claim 1, in which said headrest assembly further includes a relatively thin, upholstered pad of substantially the same size and shape as said body portion and secured to the front surface of said body portion for telescoping movement within and out of said backrest passageway and for providing a comfortable support for the seated patient, and a headrest cushion secured to said headrest body portion at the upper end thereof for providing a comfortable support for the head of the seated patient.

Claim 5

In a treatment chair, as set forth in claim 1, in which said headrest assembly further includes guiding and stabilizing means connected with said backrest within said passageway therein and with said headrest body portion for guiding and stabilizing said body portion during movement thereof to desired positions.

Claim 6

In a treatment chair, as set forth in claim 4, in which said guiding and stabilizing means comprises a longitudinally-extending, generally medial, guide slot extending through a major portion of the length of said headrest body portion and being open at its lower end, and an elongate guide bar of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending generally longitudinally along and secured to a medial portion of the inside of said backrest at the rear of said passageway therein, said guide bar including a web portion extending through said guide slot in said headrest body portion and a lateral flange of a width greater than said slot for holding said body portion on said guide bar for guiding and stabilizing movement.

Claim 7

In a treatment chair, as set forth in claim 1, in which said backrest defines an opening in the upper rear portion thereof generally medially of said passageway therethrough; and in which said friction locking means is positioned in said opening and includes a pivotally mounted lever and a locking member eccentrically carried by said lever for frictionally engaging said body portion of said headrest assembly when said lever is pivoted to one position thereof for locking said body portion in the adjusted position thereof and for moving out of friction engagement with said body portion of said headrest member when said lever is pivoted to the other position thereof for releasing said body motion for movement thereof to another adjusted position.

Claim 8

In a treatment chair including a seat portion and a tiltable, upwardly extending backrest for reception and positioning of a patient in a variety of positions for treatment by an operator; the improvement of a headrest assembly telescopingly carried by said backrest for adjustment to desired positions for different size patients and characterized by providing support to the shoulder area of the patient and counterbalanced adjustment mechanisms for ease in adjustment thereof to any desired position; said headrest assembly comprising: a continuous, generally rectangular, relatively thin, body portion of substantial width at least one-half but less than the width of said backrest and having a relatively thin, upholstered pad of substantially the same size and shape as said body portion and being secured to the front surface thereof for movement therewith and a headrest cushion secured to said body portion and overlying said upholstered pad at the upper end thereof, said body portion and said upholstered pad and said cushion providing a continuous support for the shoulder and head areas of a seated patient while allowing easy access to the head of the patient by an operator; means contained within said backrest defining a longitudinally-extending, open-topped, relatively wide passageway for telescoping reception of said headrest body portion with said upholstered pad thereon through the top of said backrest for longitudinal adjuStment inwardly and outwardly to desired positions; counterbalance means positioned within said backrest passageway in engagement with said headrest body portion biasing said body portion generally upwardly and outwardly of said backrest and counterbalancing the weight of said headrest body portion for ease in adjustment thereof to any desired position, said counterbalance means comprising a pair of laterally spaced, convolute wound, torsion springs having corresponding outer end portions attached to said backrest to define laterally opposite sides of at least a portion of said backrest passageway and with the convolution thereof facing inwardly, bearing means carried by the lower portion of said headrest body portion and engaging and riding against the outer convolution of said torsion springs for causing said springs to be unwound and extended progressively by said bearing means during downward and inward positioning movement of said headrest body portion and for winding up and applying a lifting force to said headrest body portion during upward and outward movement thereof; guiding and stabilizing means connected with said backrest within said passageway therein and with said headrest body portion for guiding and stabilizing said body portion during movement thereof to desired positions, said guiding and stabilizing means comprising a longitudinally-extending, generally medial, guide slot extending through a major portion of the length of said headrest body portion and being open at its lower end, and an elongate guide bar of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending generally longitudinally along and secured to a medial portion of the inside of said backrest at the rear of said passageway therein and including a web portion extending through said guide slot in said headrest body portion and a lateral flange of a width greater than said slot for holding said headrest body portion on said guide bar for guiding and stabilizing movement; and friction locking means carried by said backrest for frictional engagement with said headrest body portion when said body portion is placed in any desired position for locking said headrest assembly in such position and being releasable for unlocking said headrest assembly when adjustment thereof is desired.

Claim 9

In a treatment chair including a seat portion and a tiltable, upwardly extending backrest for reception and positioning of a patient in a variety of positions for treatment by an operator; the improvement of a headrest assembly telescopingly carried by said backrest for adjustment to desired positions for different size patients and characterized by providing support to the shoulder area of the patient and counterbalanced adjustment mechanisms for ease in adjustment thereof to any desired position; said headrest assembly comprising: a continuous, generally rectangular, relatively thin, body portion of substantial width at least one-half but less than the width of said backrest and having a relatively thin, upholstered pad of substantially the same size and shape as said body portion and being secured to the front surface thereof for movement therewith and a headrest cushion secured to said body portion and overlying said upholstered pad at the upper end thereof, said body portion and said upholstered pad and said cushion providing a continuous support for the shoulder and head areas of a seated patient while allowing easy access to the head of the patient by an operator; means contained within said backrest defining a longitudinally-extending, open-topped, relatively wide passageway for telescoping reception of said headrest body portion with said upholstered pad thereon through the top of said backrest for longitudinal adjuStment inwardly and outwardly to desired positions; counterbalance means positioned within said backrest passageway in engagement with said headrest body portion biasing said body portion generally upwardly and outwardly of said backrest and counterbalancing the weight of said headrest body portion for ease in adjustment thereof to any desired position, said counterbalance means comprising a pair of laterally spaced, convolute wound, torsion springs having corresponding outer end portions attached to said backrest to define laterally opposite sides of at least a portion of said backrest passageway and with the convolution thereof facing inwardly, bearing means carried by the lower portion of said headrest body portion and engaging and riding against the outer convolution of said torsion springs for causing said springs to be unwound and extended progressively by said bearing means during downward and inward positioning movement of said headrest body portion and for winding up and applying a lifting force to said headrest body portion during upward and outward movement thereof; guiding and stabilizing means connected with said backrest within said passageway therein and with said headrest body portion for guiding and stabilizing said body portion during movement thereof to desired positions, said guiding and stabilizing means comprising a longitudinally-extending, generally medial, guide slot extending through a major portion of the length of said headrest body portion and being open at its lower end, and an elongate guide bar of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending generally longitudinally along and secured to a medial portion of the inside of said backrest at the rear of said passageway therein and including a web portion extending through said guide slot in said headrest body portion and a lateral flange of a width greater than said slot for holding said headrest body portion on said guide bar for guiding and stabilizing movement; and friction locking means carried by said backrest for frictional engagement with said headrest body portion when said body portion is placed in any desired position for locking said headrest assembly in such position and being releasable for unlocking said headrest assembly when adjustment thereof is desired.

Claim 10

In a treatment chair, as set forth in claim 7, in which the upper end of said guide bar on the inside of said backrest at the rear of said passageway therein is spaced below the upper end of said backrest and said backrest defines an opening in the upper rear portion thereof generally medially of the said passageway therethrough and being of substantially greater width than said guide slot in said headrest body portion; and in which said friction locking means comprises a bracket positioned in said opening and having a substantially T-shaped portion including a web member fitting loosely in said guide slot in said headrest body portion and a flange member positioned adjacent and overlying the front face of said body portion adjacent said guide slot, means restraining said bracket against vertical displacement relative to said backrest, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said bracket and rearwardly of said headrest body portion, and at least one eccentric locking element carried by said lever adjacent the pivotal axis thereof and positioned to releasably frictionally engage and lock said headrest body in any selected position of adjustment.

Claim 11

In a treatment chair, as set forth in claim 7, in which said headrest assembly further includes an elongate, channel-shaped shield carried by said headrest body portion and overlying said guide slot therein and said flange portion of said guide bar extending through said slot for preventing engagement of said guide bar with said upholstered pad secured to the front face of said body portion.

Claim 12

In a treatment chair, as set forth in claim 7, in which the uppermost central portion of said headrest body portion includes a relatively short, laterally eXtending and relatively narrow strap receiving slot therethrough, and in which said headrest cushion includes a strap thereon for extending through said strap receiving slot for suspendingly supporting said headrest cushion upon the front surface of said upholstered pad.