Cable-Driven Headrest Height Adjustment to Reduce Mechanism Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing height adjustment mechanisms for headrests are complex and costly, making them inefficient for mass production and user-friendly applications.
Innovation Solution
A simple and cost-effective height adjustment mechanism for seating furniture, featuring a guide rod, a bracket support, and a flexible traction drive, such as a cable drive, powered by an electric motor, allowing for easy adjustment of the headrest's height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If threaded rods or motor-driven gear racks and gear wheels are used for height adjustment, then the headrest can be adjusted in height, but the design becomes complex and cost-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible cable instead of rigid mechanical linkages (threaded rods or gear racks) to transmit the driving force from the motor to the bracket support. This flexible cable system significantly simplifies the mechanical structure while maintaining the height adjustment function, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical transmission systems (gear racks and gear wheels) with a more simple cable-driven mechanism. The motor directly drives a cable that pulls the bracket support along the guide rod, eliminating the need for intermediate mechanical transmission components and reducing overall system complexity
2Ease of operation
If threaded rods or motor-driven gear racks and gear wheels are used for height adjustment, then the headrest can be adjusted in height, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible cable used in the invention is simpler and less expensive to manufacture compared to precision-machined threaded rods or assembled gear rack and gear wheel sets. The cable can be produced through standard extrusion or forming processes, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing complex mechanical transmission components with a cable-driven system, the patent reduces the number of precision-machined parts and assembly steps required, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the height adjustment functionality
3Reliability
If spring elements are used to latch bracket rods, then the fixing elements provide reliable pinch protection, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring elements in the fixing elements automatically engage with the bracket rods through their own elastic force without requiring external actuation or complex control mechanisms. This self-latching mechanism provides reliable pinch protection while maintaining simplicity, as the spring elements inherently provide both the latching function and the force necessary for pinch protection
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing elements are designed as discrete, modular components that can be independently attached to the bracket support. Each fixing element with its spring element and insertion funnel is a separate unit, allowing for simple assembly and maintenance while providing distributed pinch protection at multiple locations along the bracket rods
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 mechanism provides a reliable, easy-to-use, and cost-efficient solution for height adjustment, ensuring the headrest can be adjusted seamlessly while maintaining safety features like pinch protection.
Implementation Method 1
an insertion funnel, through which the respective free end, formed with a radial groove, of one of the shackle rods of the support part shackle can be inserted into the spring housing and latched with the spring element with a predetermined spring force
Implementation Method 2
a drive unit with an electric motor and a drive shaft that can be driven by the motor is attached to the back part of the seating furniture, with which the bracket support can be moved along the guide rod by a motor
Implementation Method 3
A flexible traction drive coupled to the bracket support and driven by the drive shaft is attached to the guide rod. According to an advantageous design variant, the traction means is designed as a cable drive
Data Source
AI summary
A height adjustment mechanism for a movable support part of a piece of seating furniture has a guide rod fastenable to a back part of the piece of seating furniture, a bracket support guided on the guide rod so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the guide rod, at least one support part bracket fastened to the bracket support, a drive unit fastened to the back part of the seating furniture, and an electric motor and a drive shaft drivable by the electric motor and by which the bracket support is displaceable by a motor along the guide rod, a traction drive coupled to the bracket support and driven by the drive shaft being fastened to the guide rod.