Claims:We Claim:

1. A head stabilizer (100) for a dental chair, the head stabilizer (100) stabilizes the head of a patient on the dental chair, the head stabilizer comprising:
a horizontal support (10) arranged on a headrest (not shown) of the dental chair, wherein the horizontal support (10) is removably attached with the dental chair;
a cushion (20) is secured over the horizontal support (10) for cushioning head and neck of an occupant;
two lateral pads (30) slidably arranged on the sides of the horizontal support (10) for supporting and accommodating the head of the occupant; and
one or more straps (40) extending from each of the lateral pads (30) for fastening the head of the occupant and one or more straps (40) extending from sides of the horizontal support (10) for mounting the head stabilizer (100) on the dental chair.

2. The head stabilizer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal support (10) is having a protrusion (10(a)) which is slidably fitted inside a slot (30(a)) grooved on the backside of each lateral pad (30).

3. The head stabilizer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral pads (30) are connected by one or more tension springs (not shown).
4. The head stabilizer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushion (20) includes a flat head support (20(a)) and a neck support (20(b)) in a single piece.

5. The head stabilizer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the neck support (20(b)) in the cushion includes a U-shaped arm for enclosing the back and the front side of the neck.

6. The head stabilizer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral pads
(30) include a cushioning layer wrapped around the periphery for cushioning the head of the patient from lateral sides.
, Description:Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a head stabilizer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a head stabilizer for a dental chair.

Background of the invention

[0002] Generally, the dental chairs are essential part of dental treatment. The dental chair structure is designed so that the head of the patient rested in a position that is easily accessible by the dentist and comfortable for the patient. In the existing dental chairs, the patient's head is rested on the dental chair's headrest without any external support. Due to the absence of support, there is a possibility of the movement of the head of the patient and which results in disturbance for the doctor during a dental check-up. In dental surgery, the patient's unnecessary movement might result in a severe injury to the patient. This problem is mostly encountered with children due to their restless behaviour, significantly below 6 or 7 years. In such a case, there is a need to provide a side attendant for holding the child in a proper position, resulting in more workforce.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need of a head stabilizer for dental chair which overcome one more drawback of existing head stabilizer for dental chairs.

Objects of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a head stabilizer for a dental chair.

[0005] One more object of the present invention is to provide a head stabilizer for a dental chair, which can secure the patient's head and neck in a secured position.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a head stabilizer for a dental chair, which is detachable and can be used with any dental chair separately.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a head stabilizer for a dental chair, which is simple in construction and cost-effective.

Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention discloses a head stabilizer for a dental chair. The head stabilizer may be used for securing the head of a patient on a dental chair during treatment. Also, the head stabilizer can support the head and neck of the patient on the dental chair during dental treatment, thereby avoiding back pain. The head stabilizer can prevent any injury to the patient during dental surgery by firmly securing the head on the dental chair's headrest. The head stabilizer may be removably attached to the dental chair. It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to fixedly attach the head stabilizer on the dental chair. The head stabilizer may include a horizontal support. The horizontal support can be arranged on a headrest (not shown) of the dental chair. The horizontal support may be removably attached to the dental chair. The horizontal support may work as a supporting unit for the head of a patient. The horizontal support can be a rigid beam that is stiff enough to sustain the weight of the head of the patient and any external impact.

[0009] Further, a cushion may be provided for cushioning the head and neck of the patient. The cushion can be firmly attached over the horizontal support, utilizing any permanent attachment known to persons skilled in the art. The cushion may include a flat head support and a neck support portion in a single piece. Further, the neck support portion may include a U-shaped arm for enclosing the back and the front side of the neck of the patient. The arm can provide cushioning to the back and the front side of the neck, thereby providing a light gripping over the patient's neck and preventing neck pain.

[0010] Further, two lateral pads can be slidably arranged on the one side of the both ends of the horizontal support. Specifically, the lateral pads can be arranged on both sides of the cushion, wherein the cushion can be attached on the centre of the horizontal support. The lateral pads can be arranged for supporting and accommodating different sizes of the patients' heads. The lateral pads can be covered with a cushion layer (not shown) for comfortable gripping the patient's head. The lateral pads may include a slot grooved on the backside of each lateral pad which is slidably fitted over a protrusion on the horizontal support, thereby forming a slidable dovetail joint between lateral pads and horizontal support. The horizontal support may be a cylindrical rod that can be fitted inside the linear bearings within each of the lateral pads. The joint between lateral pads and horizontal support may allow the pads to have only one degree of freedom (translational motion in two sides along the horizontal support).

[0011] Further, the lateral pads can be connected by one or more tension springs (not shown). A dentist or a user can slide and separate both the lateral pads away from each other for securing the head of the patient in between the pads. After resting the head of the patient on the cushion, the dentist or the user can release the lateral pads, and the lateral pads may get restored close to each other due to spring action, thereby gripping the head of the patient.

[0012] Further, one or more straps are extending from each of the lateral pads for fastening the head of the patient to the head stabilizer. The straps can be wrapped around the patient's forehead, thereby securing the patient's head to the cushion. One or more straps may extend from the sides of the horizontal support for mounting the head stabilizer on the headrest of the dental chair. The horizontal support can be removably attached to the dental chair by employing the straps. The straps can be elastic members that can be stretched up to the required length to fully enclose both the patient's head and the dental chair. The straps can be attached to the lateral pads and the horizontal support by using any permanent attachment method known to the person skilled in the art such as bracket, adhesive bond etc.

Brief Description of drawings

[0013] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a front view of a head stabilizer for a dental chair in accordance with the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a rear view of the head stabilizer; and

[0015] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a left side view of the head stabilizer.

Detailed description of the invention

[0016] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
[0017] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0018] The present invention discloses a head stabilizer for a dental chair. The head stabilizer is used for securing the head of a patient on a dental chair during treatment. Also, the head stabilizer supports the head and neck of the patient on the dental chair during dental treatment, thereby avoiding back pain. The head stabilizer prevents any injury to the patient during dental surgery by firmly securing the head on the dental chair's headrest.

[0019] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0020] Referring now to figures 1, 2 and 3, various view of a head stabilizer (100) for a dental chair (not shown) in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The head stabilizer (100) is removably attached to the dental chair. It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to fixedly attach the head stabilizer on the dental chair. The head stabilizer (100) includes a horizontal support (10). The horizontal support (10) is arranged on a headrest (not shown) of the dental chair. In the present embodiment, the horizontal support (10) is removably attached to the dental chair. The horizontal support (10) works as a supporting unit for the head of a patient. The horizontal support (10) is a rigid beam that is stiff enough to sustain the weight of the head of the patient and any external impact.

[0021] Further, a cushion (20) is provided for cushioning the head and neck of the patient. The cushion (20) is firmly attached over the horizontal support (10), utilizing any permanent attachment known to persons skilled in the art such as adhesive bonding. The cushion (20) includes a flat head support portion (20(a)) and a neck support portion (20(b)) in a single piece. Further, the neck support portion (20(b)) includes a U-shaped arm for enclosing the back and the front side of the neck of the patient. The arm (20(a)) provides cushioning to the back and the front side of the neck, thereby providing a light gripping over the patient's neck and preventing neck pain.

[0022] Further, two lateral pads (30) are slidably arranged on the one side of the both ends of the horizontal support (10), as shown in figure 2. Specifically, the lateral pads (30) are arranged on both sides of the cushion (20), wherein the cushion (20) is attached on the centre of the horizontal support (10). The lateral pads (30) are arranged for supporting and accommodating different sizes of the patients' heads. In one of the embodiment, the lateral pads (30) are covered with a cushion layer (not shown) for comfortable gripping the patient's head.

[0023] Referring to figure 3, the lateral pads (30) include a slot (30(a)) grooved on the backside of each lateral pad (30) which is slidably fitted over a protrusion (10(a)) on the horizontal support (10), thereby forming a slidable dovetail joint between lateral pads (30) and horizontal support (10). In another embodiment, each of the lateral pads (30) have a cylindrical through-hole drilled inside the body of each of the lateral pads (30), and the linear ball bearings are press-fitted inside the cylindrical holes. The horizontal support (10) is a cylindrical rod fitted inside the linear bearings within each of the lateral pads. Due to linear bearings, the lateral pads (30) can slide in a linear direction along the horizontal support (10). In the present embodiment, the joint between lateral pads (30) and horizontal support (10) allows the pads (30) to have only one degree of freedom (translational motion in two sides along the horizontal support).

[0024] In the present embodiment, the lateral pads (30) are connected by one or more tension springs (not shown). A dentist or a user can slide and separate both the lateral pads (30) away from each other for securing the head of the patient in between the pads (30). After resting the head of the patient on the cushion (20), the dentist or the user releases the lateral pads (30), and the lateral pads (30) get restored close to each other due to spring action, thereby gripping the head of the patient.

[0025] Referring again to figure 1, one or more straps (40) are extending from each of the lateral pads (30) for fastening the head of the patient to the head stabilizer. The straps (40) are wrapped around the patient's forehead, thereby securing the patient's head to the cushion (20). One or more straps (40) are extending from the sides of the horizontal support (10) for mounting the head stabilizer (100) on the headrest of the dental chair. The horizontal support (10) is removably attached to the dental chair by employing the straps (40). The straps (40) are elastic members that can be stretched up to the required length to fully enclose both the patient's head and the dental chair. In one of the embodiment, the straps are Velcro straps or plastic buckle straps. The straps are attached to the lateral pads (30) and the horizontal support (10) by using any permanent attachment method known to the person skilled in the art such as hook, adhesive bond etc.

[0026] Therefore the present invention provides a head stabilizer (100) for securing the patient's head on the dental chair's headrest. The head stabilizer (100) supports the head and neck of the patient and prevents head movement during dental treatment, thereby avoiding any injuries to the teeth, which is common in children. Also, the head stabilizer (100) is portable, simple in construction and cost-effective. The head stabilizer (100) can be attached to both pediatric and adult dental chairs. The head stabilizer (100) also eliminates the need for any side attendant to position the head on the headrest and reduce the workforce.

[0027] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.