Motor Vehicle Headrest Lateral Motor Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle seat headrests do not effectively minimize their longitudinal dimension while maintaining the functionality of longitudinal adjustment and energy absorption for passenger safety.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle seat headrest design featuring a metal connection frame with a molded plastic energy-absorbing box, a longitudinally movable part with a front wall for a cushion, and an electric motor-driven threaded rod system, where the motor is laterally positioned to minimize the headrest's longitudinal extent, and includes a spacer member to offset the receiving means by the rod's length, allowing for compact adjustment and enhanced energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the motor is positioned longitudinally relative to the threaded rod, then the adjustment mechanism can be compact, but the longitudinal dimension of the headrest increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is repositioned from a longitudinal arrangement to a lateral arrangement relative to the threaded rod. This dimensional change allows the motor to be mounted on the side of the rod rather than along its length, thereby reducing the headrest's longitudinal dimension while maintaining the compactness of the adjustment mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the receiving means is positioned close to the front wall, then the headrest structure is compact, but the threaded rod cannot achieve full adjustment range
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer member is introduced as an intermediary component between the front wall and the receiving means. This spacer extends the receiving means rearwardly by a distance substantially equal to the length of the threaded rod, allowing the rod to achieve full adjustment range from front to back while maintaining overall structural compactness through the modular spacer design.
3Device complexity
If the headrest uses traditional positioning, then structural simplicity is maintained, but energy absorption during impact is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest employs a composite structure combining a metal connection frame with a molded plastic energy-absorbing box. This composite design integrates two different materials with complementary properties: the metal frame provides structural strength and simplicity, while the plastic box provides enhanced energy absorption capabilities during impact, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and impact protection.
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
This design minimizes the longitudinal dimension of the headrest while enabling longitudinal adjustment and enhanced energy absorption during impacts, improving passenger safety and comfort by optimizing the use of space and structural components.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded rod extending longitudinally, said rod being rotatably mounted in said box in cooperation with said motor so as to be rotated in one direction or the other by actuating said motor in one direction or the other
Implementation Method 2
a box made of molded plastic material for absorbing energy in the event of an impact of the head of a passenger on said headrest
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a headrest (1) comprising a frame (2), a housing (3) associated with said frame in a fixed manner along a longitudinal direction, a movable part (4) mounted at the front of said housing, a device for adjusting the longitudinal position of said part relative to said housing, said device comprising: an electric motor (6) mounted securely to said housing, a threaded rod (7) extending longitudinally, said rod being mounted for rotation in said housing in cooperation with said motor; a receiving means (8) for said rod through a threaded orifice provided in said means, said means being fixed behind said wall by means of a spreading member (9), said motor being disposed laterally relative to said rod, so as not to substantially extend in front of or behind said rod.