Motor-Vehicle Headrest Latch for Compact Height Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headrests for motor-vehicle seats lack cost-effective and space-efficient mechanisms for vertical adjustment, often requiring complex mechanisms and high installation space.
Innovation Solution
A vertically adjustable headrest with a support rod featuring horizontally open notches and a latch element that can be engaged or disengaged using a pivotal actuating element, allowing for compact design and low-force adjustment, utilizing springs or rigid members for locking and unlocking the head support's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex mechanisms are used for vertical adjustment, then adjustment reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch element is divided into separate functional components: a latch body with engagement features, an actuating element with pivot axis, and spring elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall reliability through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element automatically returns the latch element to its engaged position after actuation, eliminating the need for additional return mechanisms. The system uses its own components (springs) to perform the return function, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If complex mechanisms are used for vertical adjustment, then adjustment reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch element uses simple, inexpensive components such as spring elements and plastic or metal latch bodies that can be manufactured at low cost. These components are designed to be replaceable if needed, following the philosophy of using affordable, easily manufactured parts rather than expensive, complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential locking and unlocking functions from complex adjustment mechanisms. By removing unnecessary components and retaining only the core functionality (latch engagement with notches via simple actuation), the design achieves reliability at lower manufacturing cost.
3Ease of operation
If traditional adjustment mechanisms are used, then vertical adjustment function is achieved, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch element is designed to nest within the head support structure, with the actuating element pivoting within a compact arc and the spring element compressed within the available space. This nesting allows the adjustment mechanism to fit within minimal installation space while maintaining full vertical adjustment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element operates by pivoting about a pivot axis, converting linear vertical movement into rotational motion. This dimensional change allows the mechanism to achieve the same adjustment function within a more compact spatial footprint, reducing installation space requirements.
4Stability of the object's composition
If high-force locking mechanism is used, then locking stability is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The latch element transitions dynamically between locked and unlocked states through pivoting motion. The spring element provides progressive force, starting with high force for secure locking but reducing the effective force needed for actuation as the pivot angle changes, making operation easier while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element acts as an intermediary between the actuating element and the latch engagement. It mediates the force transmission, providing sufficient force for stable locking while allowing the actuating element to operate with reduced force requirements through its elastic deformation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables cost-effective, compact, and easy-to-install headrest adjustment with minimal installation space, allowing for precise height adjustment while preventing unwanted movement.
Implementation Method 1
The latch element can be formed by a spring, for example
Data Source
AI summary
A headrest has a generally vertical rod mountable in a motor-vehicle seat and formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally open notches, a support vertically movable along the rod and adapted to carry a head cushion, and a latch element vertically fixed on the support and shiftable on the support between a latched position engaged in one of the notches and locking the support on the rod against downward movement and an unlatched position disengaged from the rod and permitting free vertical movement of the support on the rod. An actuating element is pivotal about an axis on the support between an actuated position holding the latch element in the disengaged position and a rest position with the latch element in the engaged position.