Adjustable head supporting travel accessory
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional travel pillows provide insufficient support when the head naturally tilts to the side, front, or back during travel, leading to discomfort and pain due to the lack of responsive support mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable head supporting apparatus with a contoured head and shoulder element, connected by a linking member that allows independent displacement, anchored within a fabric garment for enhanced comfort and support, featuring a fastening unit for locking and releasing positions to accommodate head tilts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional travel pillows provide support for upright sitting position, then comfort is improved, but support for head tilts (side, front, back) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The travel pillow incorporates movable and adjustable components including a head support element that can be independently positioned, a body support element with adjustable firmness, and a connecting element that allows relative movement. This dynamic structure enables the pillow to adapt to various head positions (upright, tilted side, front, back) while maintaining comfort support, resolving the contradiction between fixed comfort and adaptive responsiveness.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the head support element is fixed relative to the body support element, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to different head positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow is divided into distinct functional segments: a head support element, a body support element, and a connecting element. These segments can move independently relative to each other, allowing the head support element to be positioned at multiple angles and distances from the body support element. This segmentation maintains structural stability while enabling adaptability to different head positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element incorporates movable joints or articulation points that allow the head support element to be dynamically repositioned relative to the body support element. This dynamic connection maintains overall structural integrity while permitting adjustment for various head orientations (side tilt, front, back, upright).
3Ease of manufacture
If the travel pillow uses simple filling materials, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but support responsiveness to head tilts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying solely on complex materials, the invention achieves responsive support through dynamic mechanical structures - movable head support elements, adjustable connecting elements, and articulated joints. These mechanical dynamics provide automatic adaptation to head tilts while using conventional, easily manufactured filling materials, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enhancing responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an adjustable head supporting apparatus. In the illustrated examples, a garment encases the adjustable head supporting apparatus. The apparatus may include a contoured head element, a contoured shoulder element, and at least one connecting member connectable to each of the head element and the shoulder element. The at least one connecting member may be configured to link the head element and the shoulder element such that the at least one connecting member facilitates displacing the head element and the shoulder element to adjust spacing between them and the at least one connecting member. Displacement of a first end of the head element and displacement of a first end of the shoulder element can be independent of displacement of a second end of the head element and a second end of the shoulder element. The head element and the shoulder element may be encased within a fabric garment.