Chin rest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for supporting the head during travel, such as neck pillows and portable headrests, often fail to provide adequate support under the chin, leading to discomfort and strain due to spatial constraints and the need for frequent purchases or loss of devices.
Innovation Solution
A chin rest with a unitary body design featuring a top portion under the chin and a bottom portion on the upper chest, made of compliant or semi-rigid materials like closed cell polystyrene, providing a neutral head position with angled surfaces and concave surfaces for comfort and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If neck pillows are used to support the head during travel, then neck support is provided, but chin support is insufficient leading to head leaning forward and neck strain
Solution Approach 1:
The chin rest is designed as a segmented structure with a top portion for chin support and a bottom portion for chest support, connected by a middle portion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function: the top portion provides chin support to prevent forward head leaning, while the bottom portion provides stable chest support, collectively eliminating neck strain caused by inadequate support.
Solution Approach 2:
The chin rest features locally optimized surfaces including a concave top surface that conforms to the chin contour and angled side surfaces that provide lateral support. These local quality modifications ensure precise fit and distribution of support forces, enhancing chin support effectiveness while preventing head displacement and neck strain.
2Ease of operation
If portable headrests are placed between head and shoulder, then side support is provided, but the device must be repositioned to change sides and does not provide consistent chin support
Solution Approach 1:
The chin rest combines chin support and chest support functions into a single integrated device. The top portion rests under the chin while the bottom portion rests on the upper chest, creating a stable triangular support structure that eliminates the need for repositioning. The middle portion connects these two support points, providing a fixed, versatile solution that adapts to different travel positions without requiring relocation.
3Ease of operation
If expensive resting devices are purchased for each travel, then adequate support is provided, but frequent loss or misplacement necessitates repeated purchases
Solution Approach 1:
The chin rest is designed as an inexpensive, simple device that can be easily replaced if lost or damaged. The minimalist construction using basic geometric shapes and simple materials reduces manufacturing cost, transforming the device from a high-value item that must be protected to a low-cost item that can be readily replaced, thereby ensuring continuous availability without financial burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The chin rest utilizes materials and construction methods that optimize the balance between durability and cost. By selecting appropriate material properties and simplifying the structural parameters, the device achieves sufficient durability for travel use while maintaining low production cost, ensuring reliable availability through easy replacement rather than expensive protection.
4Ease of manufacture
If the chin rest body has uniform width, then manufacturing is simpler, but it does not provide optimal support distribution for chin and chest
Solution Approach 1:
The chin rest employs asymmetric width distribution along its length, with the top portion and bottom portion being wider than the middle portion, creating an I-shaped cross-section. This asymmetric design optimizes support distribution: the wider top portion provides sufficient chin support surface area, the wider bottom portion ensures stable chest contact, while the narrower middle portion reduces material usage and maintains structural flexibility, balancing manufacturing simplicity with ergonomic effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A chin rest includes a body having opposing sides, a front, a back, a top having a top surface, and a bottom having a bottom surface. The top further defines a top plane between a front and back of the top, and the bottom defines a bottom plane between a front of the bottom and a back of the bottom. The top plane and bottom plane form an angle so that the chin rest can comfortable sit between a user's chin and the user's chest, with the user's chin resting on the top surface, and the bottom surface engaged against the user's upper chest. The user's head can be comfortably supported while the user is seated, allowing the user to relax muscles in the neck and avoid strain and other issues normally associated with resting without support in a seated position.