Adjustable Aircraft Headrest Assembly With Independent Side Wing Height

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft passenger seat headrests do not accommodate passenger adjustments for varying heights and lack mechanisms for adjustments beyond rotating the side wings.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable headrest assembly that includes a mounting plate assembly, allowing the headrest to rotate and move up or down, and enabling the side wings to be independently adjusted in height, providing multiple positions and rotations for enhanced passenger comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the headrest is made fixed and simple in structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different passenger heights is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability to passenger heightVSAvoidheadrest structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The mounting plate assembly enables the headrest to move vertically along the seatback and rotate about a fore-aft axis, allowing it to adapt to different passenger heights and preferences while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through controlled degrees of freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The headrest is divided into multiple independent components: the headrest center bracket, left and right side plates, and mounting plate assembly. Each component can move or rotate independently, providing adjustability without requiring complex integrated mechanisms. The side plates can be adjusted independently of the center bracket.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the headrest allows multiple adjustment movements, then the ease of operation for different passengers is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment easeVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple adjustment functions (vertical movement along the seatback, rotation about fore-aft axis, and side wing rotation) are merged into a single integrated mounting plate assembly. This consolidation allows passengers to perform all adjustments through one structural unit rather than multiple separate mechanisms, improving ease of operation while controlling overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4227221B1Adjustable head rest assembly and system
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 BE AEROSPACE INC
  • EP4227221B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4227221B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4227221B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system may include an adjustable headrest assembly. The adjustable headrest assembly may include a headrest center bracket (104), a left vertical side plate track (106A), a left headrest side plate assembly (108A) including a left headrest side plate, a right vertical side plate track, and a right headrest side plate assembly (108B) 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 (106A) based on the engagement of the left headrest side plate assembly (108A) with the left vertical side plate track (106A). The right headrest side plate may be configured to move up and down relative to the right vertical side plate track (106B) based on the engagement of the right headrest side plate assembly (108B) with the right vertical side plate track.