Head Cushion with Openings for Pressure Distribution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial safety equipment headbands, such as welding masks and helmets, often cause discomfort and pressure on the head due to direct contact, leading to headaches and reduced wearability, with existing solutions like paper or fabric inserts being inconvenient and difficult to reuse.

Innovation Solution

A flexible, multi-purpose head cushion with adjustable bands and elastic material, featuring openings and incised portions for ventilation and flexibility, along with a soft surface and auxiliary pads for customizable comfort, which can be easily installed and removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the headband directly contacts the head to secure the welding mask, then the welding mask is firmly fixed, but the wearer experiences pressure, discomfort, and headaches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing reliabilityVSAvoidwearability comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies cushioning material between the headband and the wearer's head to prevent pressure and discomfort before they occur. The cushion is pre-installed on the headband, creating a soft interface that distributes pressure and reduces direct contact with the head, thereby maintaining fixing reliability while improving wearability comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If paper or fabric is inserted as a slip sheet to reduce pressure, then comfort is improved, but the slip sheet is not fixed and must be repeatedly prepared and inserted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewearability comfortVSAvoidtime for inserting and removing slip sheet
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cushion function with the headband structure by permanently attaching the cushion to the headband. This integration eliminates the need for separate slip sheets that require repeated insertion and removal, as the cushion remains fixed in position while continuing to provide pressure relief and comfort throughout use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the headband presses the head to secure the mask, then the welding mask stays in position, but perspiration increases during prolonged use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemask position stabilityVSAvoidperspiration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using cushioning material at the specific contact points between the headband and the head. This localized cushioning reduces pressure in areas prone to perspiration while maintaining overall mask stability, thereby addressing the harmful effect of perspiration without compromising position stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 head cushion enhances wearability by distributing pressure, minimizing perspiration, and maintaining a comfortable fit regardless of head shape or size, while being easy to install and reuse, thus improving working efficiency and effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

formed of a flexible elastic material, extending a supported range of the head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

easily performing ventilation and airing at the headband to minimize perspiration while the wearer works for a long time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVentilation: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3143889B1Functional/multi-purpose head cushion for headband
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 OTOS WING
  • EP3143889B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3143889B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3143889B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The present invention relates to a head cushion. A functional/multi-purpose head cushion for a headband can: assist in supporting of a wearer's head by being provided on a headband; expand the support range for the head when worn by being formed from a flexible resilient material and having formed an opening, and at the same time minimize the pressure on the head, a portion prone to pain and the like by having minimized contact surface area; have excellent ventilation and thus minimize perspiration in case of long working time; have easy shape transformation and resilience due to enhanced flexibility; and prevent pressure and play the role of a buffer by coming into contact with the wearer's head in sequence/phases and distributing weight. A headband comprises: a band main body worn on a wearer's head; a support band, connected to the band main body, for supporting the upper portion of the wearer's head; an adjustment band connected to the rear end of the band main body and having adjusted the length thereof; and a length adjustment lever for adjusting the length of the adjustment band. And the headband is formed from a head cushion comprising: a main body which is depressively formed from up, down, left and right towards the central part; a fixing clip which is provided on the upper part of the main body and is inserted into the band main body or the support band; and banding members for integrally connecting both end portions of the fixing clip and the upper edge portions of the main body, wherein the head cushion is formed from a resilient material so as to have easy shape transformation and resilience and is insert-provided inside the headband and thereby assist in supporting a wearer's head.