Active Headrest Assembly with Lumbar Unit and Guide Pins
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional active headrest assemblies for vehicles compromise riding comfort due to the need for an active plate to project forward, which can decrease comfort for occupants leaning on the seat back, and may not effectively prevent neck injuries during collisions.
Innovation Solution
An active headrest assembly that incorporates a lumbar unit with a support wire, guide pins, and a returning unit, allowing the active plate to rotate rearward and the headrest to project forward, enhancing operational responsiveness and reducing neck injury risk while maintaining comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the active plate projects forward to ensure reliable headrest functioning, then neck injury prevention is improved, but riding comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The active headrest assembly is divided into separate functional components: the active plate, headrest, lumbar unit, guide pins, and returning unit. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling the active plate to project forward for safety while the lumbar unit maintains comfort through separate mechanical action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic elements including guide pins that slide along guide slots, a rotatable lumbar unit connected to the seat back frame, and an elastic returning unit. These dynamic components enable the active plate to project forward during collisions while automatically returning to a retracted position during normal use, thus maintaining both safety and comfort.
2Reliability
If the active plate is rotated rearward during collision, then headrest projection forward is improved for neck support, but operational responsiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lumbar unit is pre-positioned and pre-loaded with elastic energy through the returning unit during normal vehicle operation. This preliminary action ensures that when a collision occurs, the headrest can immediately project forward without delay, as the mechanical components are already prepared and positioned for rapid deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide pins sliding along guide slots and the elastic returning unit create a feedback mechanism that automatically detects the rearward movement of the active plate during collision and triggers the headrest projection. This feedback system ensures rapid operational responsiveness by immediately converting the mechanical energy from plate rotation into headrest forward motion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves riding comfort and reduces neck injury risk during collisions by enhancing the operational responsiveness of the headrest, allowing it to effectively support the occupant's neck without compromising comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The returning unit comprises a rotation bracket and a spring. The rotation bracket hingedly connects one end of the active plate and the seat back frame with each other. The spring elastically connects the rotation bracket and the active plate with each other.
Data Source
AI summary
An active headrest assembly for a vehicle includes a headrest supported by a seat back frame. An active plate is connected to the headrest and has guide slots defined therein. Guide pins are inserted through the guide slots to slide along the guide slots. A lumbar unit has a support wire secured to the guide pins and is rotatably connected to the lower end of the seat back frame. A returning unit elastically connects the active plate and the lumbar unit with each other.