Deployable Headrest Side Supports with Locator Pin Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passengers in vehicles often face discomfort while trying to sleep due to the lack of a supportive headrest during long trips, especially when seatbelts restrict movement, and traditional neck pillows are not always available or effective.
Innovation Solution
A headrest assembly with deployable side supports that are hingedly coupled to a headrest bun, featuring locator pins and receiving wells, allowing the side supports to pivot and rotate for enhanced neck and head support, which can be easily deployed and retracted using release buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional neck pillows are used to provide neck support, then comfort during sleep is improved, but portability and convenience deteriorate because they are bulky and must be remembered to be brought along
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the headrest bun and neck pillow into a single integrated headrest assembly. The side supports with receiving wells are attached to the headrest bun, creating a unified structure that provides both headrest and neck support functions in one component, eliminating the need for separate neck pillows.
Solution Approach 2:
The side supports are designed to be selectively deployable between retracted and deployed positions through hinge assemblies. This dynamic configuration allows the structure to adapt from a compact headrest form to an expanded headrest with neck support, providing versatility without permanent complexity.
2Reliability
If side supports are added to provide enhanced neck support, then comfort and support are improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assemblies automatically engage and disengage the side supports through the locator pin and receiving well mechanism. When the side support is moved to the deployed position, the locator pin automatically engages with the receiving well to maintain the position, eliminating the need for manual fastening mechanisms or complex locking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The locator pins and receiving wells are extracted as separate, simple components rather than integrated into complex fastening mechanisms. This extraction simplifies the overall structure by using basic geometric features for the primary function of positioning and securing the side supports.
3Reliability
If the headrest assembly is made bulky to provide adequate support, then support effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The side supports are designed to be selectively deployable between retracted and deployed positions through hinge assemblies, allowing the structure to adapt from a compact headrest form to an expanded headrest with neck support. This dynamic configuration enables easy operation while maintaining support effectiveness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest assembly is segmented into the headrest bun and detachable side supports. This segmentation allows the side supports to be independently deployed or retracted based on need, providing support when required while maintaining a compact, easy-to-operate configuration when not in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A headrest assembly includes a headrest bun and first and second side supports coupled to first and second side portions of the headrest bun by first and second hinge assemblies, respectively. The first and second side supports each include respective first and second receiving wells and are operable between retracted and deployed positions relative to the headrest bun. A support member is partially received within the headrest bun and includes first and second locator pins extending outwardly from the first and second side portions of the headrest bun, respectively. The first and second locator pins are received in the first and second receiving wells when the first and second side supports are in the retracted position. The hinge assemblies each include a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis. The side support is rotatable along both the first and second pivot axes relative to the headrest bun.