Adjustable Aircraft Seat Headrest Assembly for Height Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft passenger seat headrests do not accommodate varying passenger heights and lack adjustable features beyond rotating side wings.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable headrest assembly with a headrest center bracket, vertical side plate tracks, and side plate assemblies that allow the headrest side plates to move up and down, and the headrest center bracket to rotate, enabling multiple position adjustments for enhanced passenger comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the headrest is designed with fixed position, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but it cannot accommodate varying passenger heights
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest assembly incorporates movable side plates that can slide vertically along the headrest structure, transforming from a static fixed-position design to a dynamic adjustable system. This allows the headrest to adapt to different passenger heights while maintaining structural integrity through guided movement paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest is divided into separate functional components: a central headrest portion and adjustable side plates. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the side plates relative to the center bracket, enabling customized positioning for different passengers without requiring complete redesign of the entire headrest assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the side wings are made rotatable only, then the adjustment mechanism is simple, but it lacks sufficient adjustment means for varying preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The side plates are designed with dual adjustment capabilities: vertical sliding movement along the headrest and rotational movement. This transforms the simple rotatable side wings into a dynamic multi-degree-of-freedom adjustment system that can accommodate both height variations and preference-based positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The side plate assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides lateral support, allows vertical position adjustment for different heights, and enables rotational adjustment for preference-based positioning. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate mechanisms into a single integrated component.
3Ease of operation
If the headrest is made adjustable for varying heights, then passenger comfort is improved, but it may encroach into passenger space
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism utilizes the vertical dimension along the headrest structure rather than expanding horizontally into passenger space. By sliding the side plates vertically along the headrest body, the system achieves height adjustment while maintaining a compact footprint that minimizes encroachment on lateral passenger space.
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include an adjustable headrest assembly. The adjustable headrest assembly may include a headrest center bracket, a left vertical side plate track, a left headrest side plate assembly including a left headrest side plate, a right vertical side plate track, and a right headrest side plate assembly including a right headrest side plate. The left headrest side plate may be configured to move up and down relative to the left vertical side plate track based on the engagement of the left headrest side plate assembly with the left vertical side plate track. The right headrest side plate may be configured to move up and down relative to the right vertical side plate track based on the engagement of the right headrest side plate assembly with the right vertical side plate track.