Vehicle Headrest Extension With Rotating Lateral Head Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current headrest solutions in vehicle seats do not provide optimal comfort as the head tends to tilt sideways when passengers fall asleep or rest, lacking adequate lateral support.
Innovation Solution
A headrest extension with two lateral support elements and a movable fixing assembly that attaches to the seat frame, allowing rotation between positions to provide adjustable lateral support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed headrest is provided on the seat back, then the headrest structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the passenger's head cannot receive adequate lateral support when sleeping or resting
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest system is divided into the original fixed headrest and an additional lateral support assembly. The lateral support assembly includes two separate lateral support elements that can be independently positioned on either side of the headrest, providing segmented lateral support functionality without modifying the original headrest structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A fixing assembly acts as an intermediary component between the lateral support elements and the seat frame. This fixing assembly includes a mounting plate attached to the seat back and adjustable fixing mechanisms that connect the lateral support elements to the mounting plate, enabling easy installation and adjustment without complex integration.
2Reliability
If lateral support elements are added to provide head support during sleep, then passenger comfort is improved, but the device complexity and attachment mechanism requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral support elements are designed with adjustable positioning capabilities along the seat back surface. The fixing assembly includes adjustable fixing mechanisms that allow the lateral support elements to be positioned at different heights and angles, adapting to different passenger needs and providing reliable head support while maintaining installation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing assembly is designed to be easily installed and adjusted by passengers or attendants without requiring specialized tools or complex procedures. The mounting plate attaches directly to the seat back frame, and the lateral support elements can be quickly fixed and adjusted using simple manual operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the headrest extension is made removable and adjustable, then versatility and comfort are improved, but the risk of vandalism and unauthorized removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the headrest system have different fixation characteristics. The mounting plate is permanently or semi-permanently attached to the seat back frame with high fixation strength to prevent vandalism. The lateral support elements use adjustable but secure fixing mechanisms that allow legitimate repositioning while maintaining adequate security against unauthorized removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate is pre-installed on the seat back frame during seat assembly, establishing a secure base before the lateral support elements are added. This preliminary installation ensures that the foundation structure is firmly in place and difficult to remove, while the subsequent lateral support elements can be adjusted without compromising the overall security of the system.
Data Source
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AI summary
Headrest extension (10) for a vehicle seat (20) comprising a backrest (26), a headrest and a frame (28) for attaching the headrest to the backrest, the headrest having a front face and a rear face opposite an upper portion of the backrest, the frame connecting the rear face to the upper portion of the backrest, the headrest extension (10) comprising: - two lateral head support elements (14A, 14B) spaced along a transverse axis (12), - a fixing assembly (16), located between the two lateral support elements, and configured to be brought onto the frame by inserting between the rear face of the headrest and the upper portion of the backrest.