Vehicle Headrest with Flared Wings and Integrated Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle headrests do not adequately support the head laterally while driving, often impairing peripheral vision and requiring separate reading lights and loudspeakers that are not energy-efficient or aesthetically pleasing, and lack effective adjustment mechanisms for comfort and driving positions.

Innovation Solution

A headrest with integrated reading lights and loudspeakers in the side wings, providing lateral support and precise illumination and sound reinforcement, combined with an adjustable mechanism for optimal positioning, including displacement in the Z and X directions and rotation about a vertical axis, ensuring comfort and reduced disturbance to other occupants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the side wings are designed to provide lateral support of the head, then seating comfort is improved, but peripheral vision of the person is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating comfortVSAvoidimpairment of peripheral vision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The side wings are designed with non-uniform projection: the top surface runs from top to bottom with increasing projection in driving position, providing lateral support where needed while maintaining reduced projection at the outer edges to preserve peripheral vision. This local variation in geometry resolves the contradiction between comfort support and visual access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If separate reading lights are arranged in the headliner, then reading illumination is provided, but the structural complexity increases and aesthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereading illuminationVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reading lights are integrated directly into the side wings of the headrest, combining the illumination function with the existing structural element. This eliminates the need for separate headliner-mounted reading lights, reducing structural complexity while maintaining aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The side wings serve multiple functions: providing lateral head support, housing reading lights, and potentially integrating loudspeakers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional headrests without integrated lighting are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but reading illumination requires separate components that are less energy-efficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidenergy efficiency of reading light

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the reading lights into the side wings, the patent combines two previously separate systems (headrest structure and reading illumination) into one unified component. This integration maintains structural simplicity while enabling the use of more energy-efficient LED lighting solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3681759B1Head restraint for a seat back of a vehicle seat and vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2021.09.01 ADIENT US LLC

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4C

AI summary

The invention relates to a head restraint (1) for a seat back (3) of a vehicle seat, comprising two lateral wings (1.1). According to the invention, a topmost surface (1.1.1) of the wings (1.1) flares from top to bottom in the driving position. The invention further relates to a vehicle seat.