Vehicle Headrest with External Pivot Axis for Child Seat Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headrests for vehicle rear seats can hinder the installation of child restraint systems and restrict the driver's rearview, as they often require complex mechanisms for folding between use and non-use positions, making them difficult to use and install.
Innovation Solution
A headrest design featuring support rods and a transverse strut that runs outside the upholstery part, allowing for simple and inexpensive folding between use and non-use positions, with the upholstery part pivoting around a pivot axis, ensuring unobstructed rearview and easy installation of child restraint systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the headrest is positioned in the use position to support the head of an occupant, then head support comfort is improved, but it hinders the installation of child restraint systems and restricts the driver's rearview
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to switch between a use position (protruding from the backrest to support the head) and a retracted position (flush with or behind the backrest surface). This dynamic adjustment enables the headrest to adapt to different operational requirements: providing head support during normal use and being retracted to allow child restraint installation and maintain clear rearview visibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the headrest uses a complex folding mechanism with internal pivot axes and guides to enable folding between use and non-use positions, then folding functionality is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot axis is extracted from the interior of the upholstery part and relocated to the exterior, specifically to the rear surface of the backrest. This extraction eliminates the need for complex internal guides and mounting structures within the upholstery part. The support rods are simplified to function primarily as connection elements between the upholstery part and the external pivot axis, significantly reducing overall mechanism complexity while maintaining full folding functionality.
3Strength
If the support rods and cross strut run inside the upholstery part to provide structural support, then structural integrity is improved, but the folding mechanism becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is transitioned from a three-dimensional internal arrangement (rods and struts embedded within the upholstery part) to a two-dimensional external configuration (pivot axis on the backrest surface with support rods connecting externally). This dimensional change simplifies manufacturing by eliminating the need for complex internal routing and integration, while the external pivot axis provides a stable foundation that maintains structural integrity during folding operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising a cushion (2), support rods (3, 4) for attaching the cushion (2) to a backrest (15) of the vehicle seat, and a device (5) for folding the cushion (2) about two pivot axes (6) and (10) from a position in use to a position not in use, wherein the device (5) includes a crossbar (6) connecting the support rods (3, 4) and forming the pivot axis (6) of the cushion (2). Furthermore, the support rods (3, 4) and the crossbar (6) extend outside the cushion (2), and the cushion (2) is pivotally suspended from the outside via the retaining strut (10) and the double clamp (11) on the crossbar (6). The invention further relates to a vehicle seat with such a headrest (1).