Adjustable Head Rest with Sliding Lower Support for Aircraft Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional passenger seats lack adjustable head support, leading to discomfort for passengers of varying lengths and hinder the ability to stow the headrest during aircraft activities like taxi, takeoff, and landing.
Innovation Solution
A headrest assembly with a lower head support that includes a rest bar and extensions, which can be slid and pivoted to adjust position, allowing for customizable support and stowage, featuring a track system and hinges for independent deployment and stowage of side supports and deployment arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a lower head support is integrated into the head rest through shaping, then head support is provided, but the head rest cannot stow flat during taxi, take off, and landing
Solution Approach 1:
The head rest assembly is divided into separate components: an upper head support portion and a lower head support portion that can be independently positioned. The lower head support can be deployed or retracted relative to the upper support, allowing it to provide support when needed while being stowed flat during critical flight phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower head support is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. It can be positioned in multiple locations along the seat back, including a retracted position where it lies flat against the upper support, enabling the head rest to adapt between providing support and stowing compactly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a lower head support is integrated into the head rest, then head support is provided, but it intrudes into longer passengers' shoulders and/or upper back
Solution Approach 1:
The lower head support's position is made adjustable along the seat back, allowing it to be relocated to accommodate passengers of different heights. Longer passengers can have the lower support retracted or repositioned higher, preventing intrusion into their shoulders and upper back while still providing adequate head support.
Solution Approach 2:
The head rest assembly provides different support characteristics at different locations. The upper head support remains fixed while the lower support can be independently positioned, allowing customization of support distribution to match individual passenger anatomy and preferences.
3Device complexity
If traditional fixed orientation positions are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but adequate head support for each passenger cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The head rest assembly incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow the lower head support to be repositioned to multiple locations along the seat back. This dynamic adjustability enables customization of head support for passengers of varying heights and preferences while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The head rest assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: providing head support for passengers of different heights, enabling stowage during critical flight phases, and accommodating various passenger preferences. The adjustable lower support mechanism allows a single design to universally accommodate diverse passenger needs.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described are passenger seats (10) having a seat back support (12) and a head rest assembly (14) coupled to the seat back support (12). The head rest assembly (14) includes a head support (16) and a lower head support (18) with a rest bar and a pair of extensions, wherein a first end of each extension is slidingly coupled to the rest bar and a second end of each extension is pivotally coupled to the head support (16). The rest bar is positioned adjacent the head support (16) when the lower head support (18)is in a stowed position and is positioned a distance forward of the head support (16)when the lower head support (18) is in a deployed position.