Airplane Headrest With Articulating Side Wings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional airplane headrests are static or minimally adjustable, failing to accommodate various passenger positions and comfort needs during long flights, leading to the necessity for personal neck support pillows for rest and sleep.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable passenger seat headrest with articulating side wings that can be extended and angled to form a hammock-like structure, providing customizable support and comfort by allowing the wings to be articulated further apart and extended from the seat back, enabling a range of head support angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If headrests are made static or minimally adjustable to reduce complexity and weight, then device complexity and weight are reduced, but adaptability and comfort for various passenger positions deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadrest structure complexityVSAvoidheadrest adaptability to passenger positions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest incorporates movable side wings that can articulate relative to the center headrest, transitioning from a static structure to a dynamic one. This allows the headrest to adapt to various passenger positions and preferences while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The headrest is divided into separate components: a center headrest and two independently movable side wings. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized separately and enables the side wings to articulate independently to provide customized support for different passenger needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If side wings are articulated further apart and extended to provide more acute angle of support, then head support comfort and adaptability are improved, but the width occupied when stowed increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead support angle adjustmentVSAvoidheadrest width when stowed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The side wings are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned close to the center headrest when not in use and extended outward when needed. This dynamic positioning capability enables the headrest to provide various support angles while minimizing the space occupied during storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The side wings can be positioned adjacent to and nested against the center headrest when not in use, similar to nested dolls. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall width of the headrest assembly when stowed, while still allowing full extension and articulation when deployment is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10202196B2Passenger seat headrest

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 BE AEROSPACE INC

AI summary

Apparatus and associated methods relate to an adjustable passenger seat headrest which includes articulating side wings, provides a more acute angle of support, and fits the width of a standard economy seat when stowed. In some embodiments, fabric may be stretched across the extreme ends of the wings to a center headrest, forming a hammock in which a passenger may rest their head. In an illustrative example, passengers may be provided with improved head support and comfort by employment of a mechanism that enables the side wings of the headrest to be articulated further apart, and/or extend out further from the back of the seat. These features may offer a more acute angle of passenger head support.