RETROFIT HEADREST ASSEMBLY WITH DUAL-POINT MOUNTING BRACKET FOR OFFICE CHAIRS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/738,248, filed Dec. 23, 2024, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to chair headrests and, more particularly, to an add-on headrest with a mounting bracket for retrofitting existing office chairs.

Office chairs, particularly ergonomic task chairs such as the Steelcase® Leap® V2, have been manufactured and sold for many years without integrated headrests. While some manufacturers later introduced built-in headrest options for new purchases, millions of existing chairs remain without head and neck support. The absence of a headrest creates ergonomic deficiencies, particularly for users who spend prolonged periods seated, resulting in discomfort, poor posture, and increased strain on the neck and upper back.

Built-in headrests are typically affixed to the chairback during manufacture and cannot be added to chairs already in use. The millions of Leap® V2 chairs and similar office chairs currently in service lack any commercially available retrofit solution. Users seeking to improve ergonomics have no viable option to add head and neck support without replacing the entire chair.

Retrofit headrest designs face several technical challenges. Attachment mechanisms must securely engage the chair's existing frame without damaging fabric, cushioning, or structural components, while remaining stable during reclining or flexing. The mounting system must accommodate the specific geometry and materials of the target chair model while being installable by end users without specialized tools or expertise.

Previous aftermarket headrest solutions have relied on 3D-printed plastic components or adhesive mounting systems, which lack durability and reliability for long-term use. Plastic hooks and connectors are prone to breakage under repeated stress, while adhesive mounts may fail or damage chair surfaces. Rigid mounting systems that do not move with the chair's back during reclining create discomfort and reduce headrest effectiveness.

As can be seen, there is a need for a durable, user-installable retrofit headrest system that securely attaches to existing office chairs without causing damage, provides adjustable ergonomic support, and moves naturally with the chair's reclining mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a retrofit headrest assembly is provided for attachment to an office chair. The assembly comprises a headrest including a cushion mounted to a support panel with at least one vertical rail coupled to the support panel. A guide sleeve encompasses the vertical rail and is coupled to an upper bracket. A lower bracket is coupled to the upper bracket and includes at least one vertical member. A hook is fastened to the vertical member and configured to engage an upper portion of the office chair. A clamp assembly is coupled to the vertical member and configured to secure around a frame member of the office chair.

The upper bracket is pivotally coupled to both the guide sleeve and the lower bracket, permitting angular adjustment of the headrest. The guide sleeve may slidably receive the vertical rail for height adjustment. The upper bracket may be monolithically formed with a pair of arms connected by a horizontal bar. The lower bracket may include vertical rods joined by a horizontal bar and terminating at a base, with the hook fastened to an inward-facing surface of the vertical member. A protective cover may be disposed over the hook. The clamp assembly may include a base, plate, and fasteners. The hook may be configured for insertion between a fabric portion and back panel of the chair. Fasteners may adjustably couple the upper bracket to the lower bracket and the headrest to the upper bracket.

The hook and clamp assembly provide secure attachment to the office chair without requiring modification of the chair structure.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a headrest assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a rear exploded view thereof, shown in a use position on a chair back;

FIG. 6 is another rear view thereof, showing the bracket installed on the chair back;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view thereof, showing the headrest in an anterior position and a posterior position, illustrating movement; and

FIG. 8 is rear perspective view thereof, shown in an installed position on a chair back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is a retrofit headrest assembly for attachment to an existing office chair. The headrest assembly comprises a head restraint having a cushioned support surface mounted to a rigid panel, with rails extending from the top of the panel to the bottom of the panel and received within guide sleeves for height adjustment. An upper mounting bracket includes a pair of arms connected by an upper horizontal bar, with the arms tiltably coupled to the guide sleeves to permit vertical and angular positioning of the head restraint. A lower mounting bracket includes a pair of vertical rods adjustably coupled to the upper bracket to permit depth adjustment of the head restraint, the vertical rods joined by a lower horizontal bar at an intermediate elevation. Hooks are fastened to inward-facing surfaces of the vertical rods below the lower horizontal bar. The vertical rods merge with a base.

The hooks engage a top edge of the chair back by insertion between a fabric portion and a back panel of the chair, with protective covers disposed over the hooks to prevent damage to the chair materials. The base cooperates with a plate and thumbscrews to form a clamp that secures around a horizontal frame member of the chair back, thereby anchoring the headrest assembly to the chair through upper and lower attachment points without requiring modification of the chair structure.

In embodiments, the assembly may attach to different chair frame parts, such as side rails or upper frame sections, accommodating various chair designs beyond the Leap® V2 geometry.

In embodiments, alternative fastening mechanisms include clamps, snap-fit connectors, or adhesive mounts. Custom hardware may be fabricated if off-the-shelf options prove insufficient. Preferably, hardware enables tool-free assembly.

In embodiments, components may be modular or interchangeable to accommodate different frame dimensions or surface characteristics, allowing a single headrest design to fit multiple chair models.

In embodiments, the mounting bracket may be monolithically formed with integrated protective padding, eliminating the need for separate protective covers. The monolithic component may be molded or formed from a material that provides both structural rigidity for supporting the headrest and protective cushioning at contact points with the chair, such as a rigid plastic core with softer overmolded regions at interface surfaces.

In embodiments, the brackets may be manufactured from aluminum, reinforced nylon, or polycarbonate. Protective padding may be rubber, silicone, or foam, each offering different grip, cushioning, and durability characteristics.

In embodiments, the headrest may be a modular system where brackets, hardware, and padding are mixed and matched for specific chair models. For example, hook-style brackets may pair with clamp hardware and silicone padding, while side-rail brackets may combine with snap-fit connectors and foam padding.

In embodiments, additional adjustment mechanisms may include tilt angle adjustment for the cushion, or lateral and rotational adjustments to position the headrest off-center or angled relative to the chair back centerline.

In one embodiment, a manufacturing method comprises shaping protective covers to align with bracket and chair frame contact points, applying adhesive to integrate padding into the bracket, assembling components, coupling the head restraint to the bracket through guide sleeves, performing quality control testing, and packaging with installation instructions.

In one embodiment, a usage method comprises applying protective covers to hooks, inserting hooks between the chair's fabric and back panel, positioning the base and plate around a horizontal frame member, tightening thumbscrews to clamp the bracket, adjusting height by loosening and repositioning vertical rails, adjusting depth by repositioning the upper bracket relative to the lower bracket, and testing for stability and comfort.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, FIG. 1 illustrates a headrest assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, including a head restraint 12 and a mounting bracket assembly comprising an upper bracket 20 and a lower bracket 30. The head restraint 12 comprises a rigid panel 14 having a handle 15 disposed thereon for facilitating adjustment of the headrest assembly 10. A cushion 18 is mounted to the front surface of the rigid panel 14 to provide comfortable support for a user's head. Vertical rails 16 extend across the rear of the rigid panel 14 and are received within guide sleeves 17. The guide sleeves 17 are tiltably connected to the upper bracket 20, with hand knob tightening screws 24 securing the tilt position and the vertical rails 16 for height adjustment. The upper bracket includes a monolithic frame including a pair of arms 26 connected by an upper horizontal bar 28. The lower bracket 30 includes a pair of vertical rods 31 that are coupled to the upper bracket 20 at their upper ends via knobs 32, joined by a lower horizontal bar 33 at an intermediate elevation, and terminate at a base 37 at their lower ends. A pair of hooks 34 are fastened to inward-facing surfaces of the vertical rods 31 between the lower horizontal bar 33 and the base 37 by screws 35. The hooks 34 are configured to have curved portions facing forward toward a seat back when installed. The base 37 forms part of a clamp mechanism 40 that includes a plate 44 and thumbscrews 42 for clamping around a horizontal frame member of the chairback.

The hooks 34 are sheathed by protective covers 36, as shown in FIG. 2, which prevent damage to the chair fabric and frame while providing secure engagement with the chair. This view illustrates the symmetrical arrangement of the lower bracket 30 components, including the base 37, the vertical rods 31, the lower horizontal bar 33, and the hooks 34, and the frontal profile of the cushion 18. The lower horizontal bar 33 forms an expanded V-shape. The base 37 is coupled to a plate 44 by the thumbscrews 42, forming a clamp mechanism 40 that secures around a horizontal chair frame member to anchor the entire headrest assembly 10 to the chair.

As shown in FIG. 3, vertical rails 16 are connected to the top and bottom of the rigid panel 14 and are received within guide sleeves 17 that are tiltably connected to the arms 26 of the upper bracket 20. This view also shows the positioning of the hand knob tightening screws 24 on the rear side of the assembly, which are accessible for adjustment by a user to lock the tilt position and secure the rails 16 for height adjustment.

FIG. 4 illustrates the cushion 18 and rigid panel 14, including the handle 15 positioned on the top surface of the rigid panel 14. This view shows the tilt adjustment mechanisms 22 at the connections between the guide sleeves 17 and the arms 26, the spatial relationship between the upper horizontal bar 28 connecting the arms 26 and the lower horizontal bar 33, and demonstrates the overall footprint of the headrest assembly 10 when viewed from above.

As FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, the lower bracket 30 attaches to an upper portion of a chair back via the hooks 34 that engage the top edge of the chair back, and via the base 37 and plate 44 clamping onto a horizontal frame member that extends across the chair back. The spatial relationship between the upper attachment point (hooks 34) and lower attachment point (base 37/plate 44 clamp) is clearly shown, demonstrating the two-point mounting system that secures the lower bracket 30 to the chair.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it is apparent how a user may shift the position of the head restraint 12 using the handle 15 and the upper horizontal bar 28.

FIG. 8 further illustrates the lower bracket 30 attachment to the chair back, including the positioning of the hooks 34 relative to the chair's upper edge and the overall mounting configuration.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.