This Crazy Contraption Straps Your Head to an Airline Seat for Better Sleep Want better sleep when traveling? A Finnish startup wants you to try strapping your head to your headrest.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

korvalas via Vimeo
Relax Ally

How many times have you tried to fall asleep on a plane or train and, well, never mind. Let's be serious: You either snap awake with an aching neck or wind up drooling all over the person sitting next to you.

Increasingly cramped airline seating has spawned a cottage industry of wacky inventions aimed to help business travelers get some much-coveted shut-eye. One such contraption is the Relax Ally, a sleep mask attached to a strap that fastens around airplane, train, bus and car seats in order to prevent passengers' heads from snapping around while they're dozing off, reports Mail Online.

Yes, your head is strapped to and held in place against a headrest. What happens during turbulence or an accident, we're not so sure.

Related: Flying Solo? App Lets You Chat With Perfect Strangers on Flights

The patent-pending device comes care of Finnish company Active Ally Oy, which was founded in 2012, and is hosting a 100,000-Euro crowdfunding campaign. Sixteen percent of the campaign has been funded with 41 days to go -- though an Indiegogo campaign last year exceeded its $5,000 goal.

Related: Hate Flying? This Dreamy (or Dorky) Virtual Reality Helmet Could Help You Escape the Experience.

Consumers from 20 countries have already purchased the roughly $30 device and retailers like QVC have expressed interest, said CEO Lasse Korvala. Additional funds would be put toward developing a full family of products -- including a Relax Ally sleeping cap for children.

Korvala says that Relax Ally's health benefits are matched by its potential marketing powers. Not only does the product allow for uninterrupted slumber, he said, but prevents "micro-trauma" to the neck and shoulders. Furthermore, he envisions working alongside major brands like Coca-Cola, Lufthansa, Volkswagen and Marimekko to plaster their logos atop the Relax Ally masks.

One thing's for certain: you're a lot less likely to wind up in an epic in-air brawl using this head strap thing compared to some other bizzare travel gadgets we've heard about lately.

Related: Press Snooze? You Lose.

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.

Franchise

Franchise Models Explained — How to Choose the Right One for Your Goals

Navigating the franchise world starts with understanding key business models. Here's how project-based and subscription franchises differ in investment, scalability, and recession resistance.

Business News

'I Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down from Microsoft in 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% of His Time Working at the Company

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gates also said he is still close with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.

Business News

Uber's CEO Says Drivers Have About 10 Years Left Before They Will Be Replaced

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the jobs of human drivers are safe for the next decade, but after that, another type of driver will take over.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.