Head support device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sleep-deprived individuals face challenges in maintaining stable and comfortable sleep positions, leading to instability and embarrassment when they lose consciousness, as existing solutions fail to provide adequate support for head maintenance in seated positions.
Innovation Solution
A head support device with interconnected hand apertures and a breathable, elastic strap that accommodates the user's hands and head, allowing for stable support without requiring conscious muscle control, enabling comfortable and safe napping or viewing in seated positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a user maintains head support using conscious muscle control in a seated position, then the head position can be maintained, but the user experiences fatigue and loses stability once consciousness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The head support device is designed to support the user's head without requiring active muscle control. The device structure itself provides the support function, allowing the user to passively maintain head position during sleep or rest in a seated position, eliminating the need for continuous conscious effort
Solution Approach 2:
The head support device acts as an intermediary between the user's head and the external environment. It provides a stable support structure that maintains head position without requiring the user's muscle control, transferring the support function from biological systems to a mechanical device
2Reliability
If a user adopts a conventional sleeping position, then the head can be supported, but the position becomes unstable when the user loses consciousness
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed in advance to provide stable head support in a seated position. By pre-configuring the support structure with appropriate geometry and connection points, the device ensures stability is maintained from the beginning of use through to the end, even when the user loses consciousness
Solution Approach 2:
The head support device divides the support function into separate components: hand support elements and head support elements connected by a strap. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to provide overall positional stability
3Ease of operation
If a support device requires active muscle control to maintain head position, then the head can be held upright, but the user experiences fatigue and embarrassment
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs the head support function autonomously without requiring active user participation. Once the user positions themselves in the device, the structural design automatically maintains head position, providing both ease of operation and reliable support
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 device provides stable head support, allowing users to rest without muscle control, enhancing comfort and safety by maintaining the head's position, thus addressing the instability issues associated with sleep deprivation.
Implementation Method 1
a breathable, elastic strap that accommodates the user's hands and head
Data Source
AI summary
A head support device having two handles or receptacles connected by a support strap, wherein the handles or receptacles are configured to support or accommodate the user's hands, and the support strap is configured to support or accommodate a portion of the user's head, namely, the user's face. In use, the user wears or otherwise passively contacts the handles or receptacles of the device such that the support strap maintains a desired distance between the user's hands. When in the seated position, the user contacts the support strap with their face, such that the user's hands and the handles or receptacles contact opposite sides of the user's head. The user further supports their arms by placing their elbows on their knees, upper legs, or other stable surface, thereby transferring the weight of their head to a stable surface via their forearms.