Apparatus for supporting a user in a forward-leaning position with faceplate pivotability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for supporting the head and upper body in a forward-leaning position, such as airline seats, often fail to provide adequate comfort due to limited recline angles, making it difficult for individuals to rest or sleep in seated positions, especially for those with back pain or physical issues.
Innovation Solution
A customizable apparatus featuring a faceplate, arm, and base with pivot adjustment rings, locking pins, and spring mechanisms that allow for independent adjustment of the faceplate's orientation, arm height, and base position, enabling users to customize their support configuration for comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If airline seats are designed with fixed recline angles (typically not exceeding 35 degrees), then the structural simplicity and ease of manufacture are maintained, but user comfort and adaptability are significantly compromised for individuals with back pain or physical issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic recline mechanism that transitions from fixed to adjustable angles through a spring-loaded pin system. The pin can be manually positioned to engage with different slots on an arc-shaped guide, enabling the seat back to recline to various angles (including beyond 35 degrees) while maintaining structural simplicity. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability without requiring a completely complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the recline angle parameter from a fixed value to an adjustable range. The spring mechanism allows the seat back angle to vary dynamically, while the pin-slot system provides discrete stable positions. This parameter change enables the seat to adapt to different user needs (improving comfort for back pain sufferers) while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through a relatively simple mechanical implementation.
2Ease of operation
If airline seats allow greater recline angles to improve comfort for sleeping and resting, then user comfort is improved, but the structural stability and support during forward-leaning positions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the recline adjustment into discrete positions using the pin-slot engagement system. The arc-shaped guide provides multiple predetermined stable positions, allowing the seat back to be locked at specific angles. This segmentation enables deep recline for comfort while maintaining structural stability at each locked position, preventing uncontrolled movement that would compromise support during forward-leaning activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded to automatically return the seat back to an upright position when the pin is disengaged. This preliminary action ensures that after a user reclines for comfort, the seat naturally returns to a stable forward-leaning position, maintaining structural support without requiring active user intervention. The spring's pre-stored energy provides the restoring force needed for stability.
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 apparatus provides enhanced comfort and support by allowing users to adjust the position of the faceplate, arm, and base to accommodate individual preferences, improving rest and sleep quality in seated positions.
Implementation Method 1
The hub further comprises a spring mechanically coupled to the first and second hub bodies, when the first and second buttons are in the depressed state, the first and second hub bodies slide inwardly along the shaft to compress the spring, and when the first and second buttons are in the released state, the first and second hub bodies slide outwardly along the shaft to expand the spring.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for supporting a user includes a faceplate, an arm, a bridge, and a base. The bridge is rotatably attached to the faceplate to allow the faceplate to be pivotably adjusted. The bridge includes a hub with first and second hub bodies. Locking pins on the hub bodies slidingly engage pivot adjustment holes in first and second pivot adjustment rings. First and second buttons can be depressed to slide the hub bodies inwardly to separate the locking pins from the pivot adjustment holes to allow the hub to rotate, thereby allowing the faceplate to pivot. When the buttons are released, the hub bodies slide outwardly to insert the locking pins into the same or different pivot adjustment holes to prevent the hub from rotating.