Child Restraint Headrest Structure for Lateral Impact Force Dispersion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing child restraints do not effectively manage and reduce undesirable forces acting on a child's head during a vehicle collision, particularly in lateral impacts.

Innovation Solution

The child restraint incorporates an energy-redirection layer in the headrest that redirects impact forces into multiple directions, dispersing them over a larger area and time, using materials like expanded polyethylene or polypropylene to minimize cumulative forces on the child's head.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional headrest design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but cumulative force during impact is not effectively reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecumulative force on child's headVSAvoidheadrest structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest is divided into multiple functional layers: a support layer providing structural foundation, a comfort layer for cushioning, and an energy-redirection layer with convex surface for force redistribution. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function in managing impact forces on the child's head.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The energy-redirection layer features a convexly-shaped outer surface that causes the child's head to roll across during lateral impact. This curvature disperses the cumulative force over a greater area and longer time period, reducing the peak force experienced by the child's head.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If energy-redirection layer is added to headrest, then impact force dispersion is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety during lateral impactVSAvoidheadrest assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The energy-redirection layer is configured with specific geometric parameters including a convex outer surface with predetermined curvature radius and thickness variations. These parameter changes optimize the force-redistribution characteristics while maintaining compatibility with standard manufacturing processes for foam and fabric layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If headrest redirects force into multiple directions, then force concentration is reduced, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact force distributionVSAvoidforce redirection mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The convex surface of the energy-redirection layer converts the harmful concentrated impact force into beneficial dispersed forces by causing the head to roll across the surface during lateral impact. This transformation redirects the force into multiple directions (laterally into side sections and outwardly from rear section) rather than concentrating it at a single point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 energy-redirection layer significantly reduces the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) score by more than 50% by distributing impact forces, providing enhanced safety during lateral collisions.

Implementation Method 1

The energy-redirection means redirect at least a portion of a cumulative force from the head of the child during an impact event into at least a first force extending into one of the first and second side sections and a second force extending outwardly away from the rear section of the headrest

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce redirection:

Implementation Method 2

During a lateral impact event, the energy-redirection layer causes the head of the child to roll across the energy-redirection surface and to maintain contact with the energy-redirection surface for a longer period of time and/or distance during the lateral impact event

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling motion:

Implementation Method 3

This disperses forces acting on the head of the child over a greater area and longer period of time thereby reducing the potential for a cumulative force that may injure the child

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce dispersion:

Data Source

PatentUS20250276620A1Child restraint

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 DOREL JUVENILE GROUP INC

AI summary

A child restraint includes a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom. The seat back includes a backrest configured to extend upwardly from the seat bottom and a headrest coupled to the backrest for supporting a head of a child. The headrest includes a rear section arranged along the backrest, a first side section extending outwardly away from the rear section, and a second side section extending outwardly away from the rear section.