Aircraft Headrest Assembly With Sliding Flaps for Neck Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adjustable seat headrests in aircraft are limited in adjustability, failing to provide adequate support for passengers' heads and necks, especially for shorter individuals, and are not universally accessible across seating positions.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable headrest assembly with primary and secondary flaps that can rotate and slide horizontally, allowing for customizable head, neck, and shoulder support, including a base structure with u-shaped brackets and slide guides, and friction hinges for multiple degrees of rotation and extension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current adjustable seat headrests with small flaps are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability for different passengers and seating positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is divided into multiple functional segments: a base structure, primary flaps (first and second), and secondary flaps (first and second). Each segment can be independently adjusted, allowing different combinations to serve various passenger needs and seating positions, thereby improving adaptability without requiring a completely complex new design
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms including friction hinges that allow rotation of flaps between multiple positions (e.g., 0-90 degrees for primary flaps, 0-180 degrees for secondary flaps) and slide guides with sliding members that enable horizontal movement. This dynamic capability allows the same structure to adapt to different passengers and positions
2Ease of operation
If headrest movement is restricted to small flap rotations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the support effectiveness for various body types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains ease of operation through simple manual adjustments while providing enhanced adaptability. Primary flaps can rotate 0-90 degrees via friction hinges, and secondary flaps can rotate 0-180 degrees, allowing passengers to easily adjust the headrest to support different body types, head positions, and seating configurations without complex controls
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds horizontal movement capability through slide guides and sliding members, enabling the primary flaps to move horizontally outward by at least 3.35 inches. This additional degree of freedom in another dimension (horizontal translation) expands support effectiveness for various body types while maintaining simple manual operation
3Ease of operation
If passengers in window seats lean against the aircraft wall, then the comfort for those specific passengers is improved, but the accessibility of this comfort option deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest assembly provides universal comfort support for all passengers regardless of seating position. The multiple flaps can be configured to support passengers in aisle seats, window seats, and middle seats without requiring them to lean against walls or use external supports. The system replicates the beneficial wall-leaning support internally through adjustable flap positions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of external support (the aircraft wall) and replaces it with an self-contained headrest system. Instead of requiring external structures like walls or pillows, the headrest assembly provides all necessary support functions through its own adjustable flaps and cushioning elements
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 assembly provides enhanced comfort and support for passengers of varying sizes and seating preferences, accommodating different body types and positions, improving passenger comfort on long flights.
Implementation Method 1
a primary set of friction hinges configured to rotate around a primary rotation axis
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable headrest assembly for an aircraft seat with secondary flaps is disclosed. The adjustable headrest assembly may include a base structure configured to attach to a headrest area of an aircraft seat. The base structure may include a base frame with u-shaped brackets on both an upper and a lower side. The base structure may also include two slide guides configured to retain sliding members, with an upper slide guide coupling into the u-shaped brackets on the upper side and a lower slide guide coupling into the u-shaped brackets on the lower side. The sliding members may include a first sliding member and a second sliding member, configured to slide horizontally outwards. The assembly may further include primary flaps, each rotatably coupled to opposing sides of the base structure, and secondary flaps, each rotatably coupled to the primary flaps.