U.S. patent application number 10/311117 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-12 for protective cover for a headrest of a passenger seat, passenger seat provided with a protective cover, combination of such a passenger seat and further passenger seat, aircraft, vessel, vehicle or carriage provided with such a passenger seat and use of a protective cover.
Invention is credited to Albersen, Joseph Joannes Maria.
Application Number | 20040026966 10/311117 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19771551 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040026966 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Albersen, Joseph Joannes
Maria |
February 12, 2004 |
Protective cover for a headrest of a passenger seat, passenger seat
provided with a protective cover, combination of such a passenger
seat and further passenger seat, aircraft, vessel, vehicle or
carriage provided with such a passenger seat and use of a
protective cover
Abstract
The present invention relates to a removable, loose cover-like
protective cover for a headrest of a passenger seat. The protective
cover has a front section for covering the front face with which
the passenger's head will come into contact and a rear section for
covering the rear face of the headrest facing away from the
passenger's head. The rear section is provided with at least one
compartment that in particular is pocket-like. The present
invention further relates to a passenger seat provided with a
protective cover according to the invention, a combination of a
passenger seat according to the invention and a further passenger
seat, an aircraft, vessel, vehicle or carriage provided with a
passenger seat according to the invention and to the use of a
protective cover according to the invention.
Inventors: |
Albersen, Joseph Joannes Maria;
(Gravenzande, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Webb Ziesenheim Bruening Logsdon
Orkin & Hanson
700 Koppers Building
436 Seventh Avenue
Pittsburgh
PA
15219-1818
US
|
Family ID: |
19771551 |
Appl. No.: |
10/311117 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
June 15, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL01/00451 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/188.06 ;
297/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 7/043 20130101;
B60N 2/6081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/188.06 ;
297/220 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2000 |
NL |
1015457 |
Claims
1. Removable, loose cover-like protective cover (10) for a headrest
(23) of a passenger seat (20), the protective cover (10) having a
front section (1) for covering a front face of the headrest (23)
with which a passenger's head will come into contact and also
having a rear section (2) for covering a rear face of the headrest
(23) facing away from said passenger's head, and the rear section
(2) being provided with at least one compartment (4).
2. Protective cover (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one compartment (4) is moisture-resistant, in particular
water-repellent or watertight.
3. Protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the protective cover (10) and the at least one compartment
(4) are made of the same material, preferably in one piece, and
wherein that material is moisture-resistant, in particular
water-repellent or watertight.
4. Protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the protective cover (10) is multi-angular.
5. Protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the protective cover (10) is made of plastic, such as
polypropylene, of woven fabric, of fibres, of paper or of any
combination thereof.
6. Protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the protective cover (10) is made in the form of a loose
cover.
7. Protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the protective cover (10) is provided with an adhesive
strip (6) for detachable fixing to the headrest (23).
8. Protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the protective cover (10), or at least part thereof, can be
printed and preferably is printed.
9. Protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the rear section (2) is provided with a cut-out.
10. Protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the at least one compartment (4) is pocket-like.
11. Passenger seat (20) having a headrest (23) provided with a
protective cover (10) according to one of the preceding claims.
12. Combination of a passenger seat (20) according to claim 11 and
a further passenger seat (20) arranged behind it with the seat (21)
facing forwards, which further passenger seat (20) is preferably
also in accordance with claim 11.
13. Aircraft, vessel, vehicle or carriage provided with at least
one passenger seat (20) according to claim 11 or at least one
passenger seat (20) combination according to claim 12.
14. Use of a protective cover (10) according to one of claims 1-10
for covering a headrest (23) of a passenger seat (20).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a removable, loose
cover-like protective cover for a headrest of a passenger seat, the
protective cover having a front section for covering a front face
of the headrest with which a passenger's head will come into
contact.
[0002] Protective covers of this type are generally known for
covering the headrests of passenger seats in aircraft, vessels,
vehicles or carriages. In this way the headrests of the passenger
seats are prevented from becoming soiled by, in particular, the
passengers' hair. The protective cover can be removed each time it
has been used by a passenger or otherwise with some regularity in
order to be replaced by a new protective cover or at least a clean
protective cover. The protective cover that has been removed and
taken away can then either be thrown away or, if appropriate,
cleaned for re-use, depending on the material used for it.
[0003] In aircraft, buses, etc., the passengers are usually
provided with food, drink and other snacks or the passengers have
brought their own food, drinks or snacks, especially in the case of
long journeys over a relatively long distance. The waste associated
with this food and these drinks and snacks frequently lands on the
floor, certainly in the absence of waste containers, then ends up,
for example, under the seats and has to be cleaned up later by the
staff. On the one hand this is slovenly and on the other hand it
entails additional work involved in cleaning up.
[0004] The aim of the present invention is to provide a solution to
the abovementioned problem.
[0005] The abovementioned aim is achieved according to the
invention by providing a removable, loose cover-like protective
cover for a headrest of a passenger seat, the protective cover
having a front section for covering a front face of the headrest
with which a passenger's head will come into contact and also
having a rear section for covering a rear face of the headrest
facing away from said passenger's head, and the rear section being
provided with at least one compartment.
[0006] By providing the rear section of the protective cover with
at least one compartment, for example 1, 2, 3 or more compartments,
it becomes possible to deposit waste in said at least one
compartment. This waste can originate, for example, from food,
drinks or other snacks. However, the waste can also be of a
different origin. When the protective covers are removed the waste
collected in the compartments provided therein is then removed at
the same time. In the case of a protective cover according to the
invention it is conceivable both that the passenger deposits his or
her waste in the compartments which are provided in the rear
section of the protective cover on his own headrest and that the
passenger deposits his or her waste in the compartments in the rear
section of the protective cover over the headrest of a passenger
seat located in front of that passenger. In addition to being
suitable for waste, the compartments are also suitable for storing
small items, which can belong to the passenger him- or herself (for
example reading glasses, pen, sweets, etc.) and/or can be provided
by third parties, such as the transport company (for example wet
tissues, dry tissues, eye shades for covering the eyes when
sleeping, sweets, advertising samples, etc.).
[0007] In order to prevent the at least one compartment starting to
leak in the case of moist or partially moist waste, such as, for
example, lids of yoghurt pots or other material, and then, for
example, soiling the upholstery on the underlying headrest of the
passenger seat, it is preferable according to the invention if the
at least one compartment is moisture-resistant, in particular
water-repellent or watertight. To this end the at least one
compartment can have been subjected to a specific treatment or
provided with a conventional inner or outer lining. From the
standpoint of production engineering it will be preferable if the
protective cover and the at least one compartment are made of the
same material, preferably in one piece, and if that material is
moisture-resistant, in particular water-repellent or watertight.
The at least one compartment can, for example, be produced in one
piece with the protective cover by extending the rear section of
the protective cover at the bottom, folding up this extended
section onto the rear section and joining this folded up section to
the rear section by means of stitching, adhesive joins or some
other type of join.
[0008] According to the invention the protective cover can be
multi-angular, such as rectangular or with more angles.
[0009] The protective cover according to the invention can be made
of a wide variety of types of material, in particular of materials
which are already known per se for loose covers for passenger seat
headrests. The material from which so-called surgical clothing is
manufactured may, for example, also be mentioned as an example of a
very suitable material. In a more general sense, the protective
cover can be made of plastic, such as polypropylene, from woven
fabric, from fibres, from paper or any combination thereof.
[0010] With a view to simple fixing over a headrest of a passenger
seat, it is advantageous according to the invention if the
protective cover, for example a rectangular protective cover or
multi-angular protective cover of some other type, is made in the
form of a loose cover. Such a loose cover, the dimensions of which
will usually be matched to the dimensions of the headrest
concerned, can easily be slid over the headrest from the top in
order to surround such a headrest on all sides. A loose cover of
this type can optionally be open at the side and have one or more
bands, optionally elastic bands, joining the front and the rear
section to one another.
[0011] In order to fix the protective cover to the headrest it is
preferable according to the invention if the protective cover is
provided with an adhesive strip for detachable fixing to the
headrest. The adhesive strip can be a touch-and-close strip, but
can also be implemented on the basis of an adhesive, said adhesive
then, as is known per se from the prior art, been so chosen that it
leaves no residues behind on the headrest.
[0012] According to a particular embodiment, it is preferable if
the protective cover, or at least part thereof, can be printed and
in particular is printed. Incidentally, instructions for use or
advertising messages or other types of messages can be applied to
the protective cover.
[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the rear section of the protective cover is provided
with a cut-out. In this way it is possible, inter alia, to make the
protective cover fit around a monitor or some other device provided
in the rear of a passenger seat.
[0014] According to the invention, the at least one compartment
will advantageously be made pocket-like. In this context
pocket-like is understood in particular to mean that when the
protective cover is in use the at least one compartment is provided
only at the top with an entry for waste, which entry can optionally
be closed off by a flap.
[0015] According to a further aspect the invention relates to a
passenger seat having a headrest that is provided with a protective
cover according to the invention.
[0016] According to yet a further aspect, the present invention
relates to a combination of a passenger seat according to the
invention and a further passenger seat arranged behind it with the
seat facing forwards, which further passenger seat will preferably
likewise be according to the invention.
[0017] According to yet a further aspect, the present invention
relates to an aircraft, vessel, vehicle or carriage provided with
at least one passenger seat according to the invention or at least
one passenger seat combination according to the invention.
[0018] According to yet a further aspect, the invention relates to
the use of a protective cover according to the invention for
covering a headrest of a passenger seat.
[0019] The present invention will be explained in more detail below
with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown diagrammatically
in the drawing. In the drawing:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a protective cover
according to the invention laid out flat;
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic, perspective view of the rear of
the passenger seat provided with a protective cover according to
the invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a perspective, diagrammatic view of the front
of a passenger seat according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view corresponding to the
perspective view in FIG. 2, but now of a passenger seat having a
video screen and protective cover according to the invention
adapted to this;
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a highly diagrammatic side view of two
passenger seats positioned one behind the other and provided with a
protective cover according to the invention.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, the protective cover consists of a
front section 1, a rear section 2 and an intermediate section 3
located between them. The rear section 2 is provided with three
compartments 4. The compartments 4 are pocket-like with an entry 5.
The intermediate section 3 is provided with an adhesive strip 6.
The protective cover, indicated in its entirety by 10, has been
produced from a single piece of material that initially was larger
than is shown in FIG. 1. The rear section 2 was extended on the
left. This extended section was folded back along a fold line 7,
now bottom edge 7 of the rear section 2, to come into contact with
the rear section 2 and was then fixed to said rear section 2 by
means of four parallel stitched seams 8. The three pocket-like
compartments 4 are formed in this way.
[0026] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the protective cover 10 fitted on a
passenger seat 20. The passenger seat 20 is shown highly
diagrammatically and is made up of a seat 21, a backrest 22 and a
headrest 23 on top of the latter. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view
of the seat side of the passenger seat 20. The front of the
headrest 23 is oriented towards this seat side. The front section 1
of the protective cover 10 is in contact with the front of the
headrest 23 to protect it against soil. The intermediate section 3
is on the top edge of the headrest 23 and is fixed to said top of
the headrest 23 by means of the adhesive strip 6. As can be seen in
FIG. 2, the rear section 2 of the protective cover 10 according to
the invention lies against the rear of the headrest 23 and there
provides three compartments 4 for depositing waste. FIG. 5 shows,
highly diagrammatically, two passenger seats 20 one behind the
other, each provided with a protective cover 10 according to the
invention. This illustrates that the passenger in the rear
passenger seat 20 is easily able to reach the compartments 4 in the
protective cover 10 on the front passenger seat 20 in order to
deposit waste in these.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a perspective and diagrammatic view of the rear
of a passenger seat 30 with a protective cover 40 according to the
invention. The passenger seat 30 has a seat 31, a backrest 32 and a
headrest 33. A video screen 34 is provided in the back of the
headrest so that a passenger in a passenger seat behind it can see
images on the video screen. The protective cover 40 has an
intermediate section 43, that once again clings to the top edge of
the headrest 33, and a rear section 42 that, in order to leave the
video screen 34 exposed, is provided with a cut-out with a
pocket-like compartment 44 on either side. Completely separately
from the cut-out for the video screen 34, the protective cover 40
is provided on either side with bands 45 to join the front section
41 and rear section 42 of the protective cover 40 to one another in
order, as it were, to form a loose cover that is open at the sides.
It should be clear that the front section 41 and the rear section
42 can optionally also be joined on either side in a closed manner
by an insert of the sheet-like material so as, as it were, to form
a closed loose cover.
[0028] The protective cover according to the invention can
essentially be made from any type of material. The protective cover
will in particular be made of a material that does not pollute the
environment or at least does not pollute it to any great extent and
that thus can be thrown away and can be further processed as waste
by the conventional route. The protective cover according to the
invention will advantageously be printed with, for example,
instructions for use or advertising messages. In order to prevent
moist materials and/or waste from leaking through, the compartments
will preferably be lined on the inside, and optionally on the
outside, with a hydrophobic lining in order to render the
compartment moisture-repellent or moisture-tight. It is also
conceivable that the compartments are rendered hydrophobic not so
much by lining with a material suitable for this purpose but
because the material from which the compartments have been made is
itself hydrophobic. It is also conceivable that the entire
protective cover is produced from a hydrophobic material or
optionally material provided with a hydrophobic lining.
* * * * *