Four-Bar Headrest Assembly for Adjustable Massage Face Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing massage devices lack adjustable and comfortable headrests that can effectively support the face and head, providing inadequate adjustability and often being too heavy or bulky.
Innovation Solution
A headrest assembly with a resilient assembly, a support arm assembly, and an adjuster assembly that includes a four-bar type linkage system, allowing for adjustable positioning and improved range of movement to better support and adjust to the user's comfort needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional headrest design is used in massage devices, then the structure is simple, but the adjustability and comfort are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest assembly employs a four-bar linkage mechanism that enables dynamic adjustment of the headrest position and angle. The linkage system includes movable linkages connecting the headrest support frame to the support arm, allowing the headrest to transition between multiple positions and orientations to accommodate different user preferences and face shapes, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest assembly is divided into multiple independent components including the resilient assembly, support arm assembly, adjuster assembly, and four-bar linkage mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall adjustability, enabling complex functionality without requiring the entire structure to be overly complicated.
2Strength
If a heavy and bulky headrest is used, then strength and stability are improved, but portability and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient assembly incorporates resilient members that can be made from flexible yet strong materials, providing the necessary support and stability without requiring excessive mass. These resilient members can deform to conform to the user's face while maintaining structural integrity, achieving strength without bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest assembly utilizes composite construction combining rigid components (support frame, linkages) with resilient components (resilient members). This composite approach allows the rigid parts to provide structural strength while the resilient parts provide comfort and weight reduction, avoiding the need for uniformly heavy construction throughout the entire assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If the headrest structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but the range of movement and adjustment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The four-bar linkage mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the range of motion for adjustment, maintains structural stability during movement, and can be manufactured using standard mechanical components. This multi-functionality allows a single mechanism to achieve complex movement patterns without requiring multiple separate systems, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while expanding the range of motion.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable headrest system is added, then comfort and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The four-bar linkage mechanism is designed to be manually operable by the user without requiring motors, actuators, or complex control systems. The user can directly manipulate the linkage to adjust the headrest position, and the mechanism's mechanical design ensures stable positioning once adjusted. This self-service approach provides full adjustability while avoiding the complexity of powered adjustment systems.
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 headrest assembly provides improved comfort, adjustability, and a lighter, more compact design that effectively supports the face and head, accommodating various shapes and weights, enhancing the massage experience.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient assembly (220) that supports a face of a user
Implementation Method 2
the first adjuster subassembly (240A) forms a first, four bar type linkage assembly... pivoting of the first linkage relative to the support arm assembly causes the support frame to move up or down
Implementation Method 3
the first linkage and the adjuster beam can rotate relative to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A headrest assembly (212) for supporting a face of a user (16) of a massage device (10) includes a resilient assembly (220) that supports the face of the user (15), a support arm assembly (222) that is secured to the massage device (10), and an adjuster assembly (224) that can be used to adjust the position of the resilient assembly (220) relative to the support arm assembly (222). The adjuster assembly (224) can include a first adjuster subassembly (240A) that forms a first, four bar type linkage assembly and a second adjuster subassembly (240B) that forms a second, four bar type linkage assembly. The four bar type linkage assemblies allow for improved range of movement and adjustment of the resilient assembly.