Vehicle Head Restraint Lock Slide Mechanism for Vertical Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle head restraints that are vertically adjustable often require cumbersome manual adjustment due to complex mechanisms, leading to inefficient user interaction.
Innovation Solution
A head restraint assembly with a lock slide mechanism that moves between locked and unlocked conditions, allowing for easy vertical adjustment by disposing lock slide edges within recesses of post portions, facilitated by a push button actuator and biasing springs to maintain consistent effort and reduce rattle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment mechanism is used for vertical head restraint positioning, then the head restraint can be adjusted to different heights, but the adjustment process becomes cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into discrete vertical positions marked by recesses in the post portion, allowing the lock slide to engage at specific intervals rather than requiring continuous adjustment, simplifying the operation while maintaining vertical adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
A lock slide acts as an intermediary component between the user and the head restraint positioning system. The lock slide engages with recesses in the post portion to secure the head restraint at desired heights, reducing the complexity of direct manual adjustment
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex manual adjustment mechanism is used, then vertical positioning is achievable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous vertical adjustment range is segmented into discrete positions defined by recesses in the post portion, allowing simple engagement points rather than a complex continuous control mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted as a separate lock slide component that can be independently actuated, simplifying the overall mechanism by separating the positioning function from the locking function
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
Enables minimal effort vertical translation of the head restraint, improving user convenience and reducing adjustment complexity while maintaining consistent manual effort and noise reduction.
Implementation Method 1
a lock slide manually moveable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the locked condition disposing a portion of the lock slide within one of a plurality of recesses of the first post portion
Data Source
AI summary
A head restraint assembly includes a base portion including a first post portion extending in a vertical direction. The assembly also includes a head restraint operatively coupled to the base portion. The assembly further includes a lock slide manually moveable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the locked condition disposing a portion of the lock slide within one of a plurality of recesses of the first post portion, the unlocked condition defined by removal of the lock slide from the plurality of recesses to allow adjustment of the head restraint in the vertical direction.