Adjustable Headrest D-Rings for Harness Girth Fit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Three-point harness safety systems in off-road vehicles, such as tractors and construction equipment, often have shoulder webbing that cannot be adjusted to accommodate varying passenger girths, leading to ill-fitting and potentially unsafe harnesses due to fixed positioning.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable headrest with integrated D-rings that are vertically adjustable and feature slanted slots wider than the webbing, allowing for adjustment of the shoulder webbing to accommodate different girths, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit for passengers of varying sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed positioning D-rings are used, then the structure is simple, but the harness cannot accommodate varying passenger girths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the D-ring structure adjustable rather than fixed. The D-rings can be repositioned along the headrest assembly to accommodate different passenger girths, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that adapts to varying user needs while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through guided movement paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the D-ring position parameter to vary along the headrest assembly. This enables the harness system to adapt to different passenger girths by changing the spatial parameter of D-ring location, thereby achieving versatility without requiring a completely redesign of the structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vertically adjustable headrest is used, then passenger height accommodation is improved, but the shoulder webbing positioning remains fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the height adjustment function with the girth adjustment function into a single integrated headrest assembly. The D-rings are incorporated directly into the headrest structure, allowing both vertical positioning for height accommodation and lateral positioning for girth accommodation through unified adjustment mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest assembly is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a head support and as an adjustable harness anchoring system. The D-rings provide dual adjustment capabilities (vertical and lateral) within a single component, making the system universal for accommodating various passenger dimensions without requiring separate adjustment mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If non-adjustable shoulder webbing is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the harness fit is poor for varying girths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the harness system into adjustable components (D-rings with positioning mechanisms) and fixed components (webbing material and basic structure). This allows the webbing itself to remain simple for manufacturing while the D-ring positioning system provides the necessary adjustability for proper fit, separating the complexity of adjustment from the simplicity of webbing production.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable headrest and integrated seat belt D-ring for a seat including a height adjustable headrest, D-rings on either side of the headrest and attached to the headrest for unitary movement with the headrest, slots in the D-rings configured to receive harness webbing which are also slanted to accommodate spacing adjustment between the two harnesses fed through the slots.