Vehicle Headrest Linkage Guide for Compact Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headrest designs for vehicles are expansive in the X-direction when in the rear position, making them unsuitable for integral seats with limited space, as they protrude and occupy too much installation space.
Innovation Solution
A headrest design featuring a guiding device with first and second joint units, each comprising two links forming hinge joints, allowing the headrest part to move in the X-direction while maintaining a narrow profile by folding into a compact position, with pivot axes arranged in parallel, and a locking mechanism to secure the headrest in various positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional guide means (toothed rails, columns) are used to guide the headrest part, then the headrest part can be moved in the X-direction, but the guide means protrude far to the rear causing the headrest to be expansive in the X-direction
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device uses a dynamic linkage mechanism with two links that can change their configuration between extended and folded states. This allows the headrest part to be guided during movement while enabling the structure to fold into a compact form in the rearmost position, resolving the contradiction between guidability and compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide device is divided into two separate links (first link and second link) that work together to guide the headrest part. This segmentation allows each link to perform specific functions while enabling the overall structure to fold compactly when not in use, reducing the X-direction dimension.
2Volume of moving object
If the headrest part is positioned in the rearmost position for space efficiency, then the X-direction dimension is minimized, but the guide means still protrude and prevent flush integration with the backrest
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism is designed to fold into a compact configuration when the headrest part is in the rearmost position. The two links can be arranged to occupy minimal space, allowing the headrest to achieve a narrow profile that enables flush integration with the backrest while maintaining all guiding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide device structure is designed to nest or fold into a compact form when not actively guiding movement. The links can be positioned to overlap or align in a way that minimizes the overall envelope, allowing the headrest to achieve a space-efficient profile in the rearmost position.
3Length of moving object
If the guide device is designed to be compact in the rearmost position, then the headrest is narrow in the X-direction, but the guidance stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device dynamically adapts its configuration based on the headrest part's position. During movement, the links extend to provide stable guidance. When the headrest part reaches the rearmost position, the links fold into a compact configuration. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain guidance stability during operation while achieving a narrow profile when stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance function is distributed across two separate links rather than a single rigid structure. This segmentation allows the system to provide stable guidance during movement while enabling compact folding when not in use, as each link can independently contribute to the guidance function while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a headrest with a base (13) and a head support part (16) with a guide device (18, 52) which is connected to the head support part (16) and to the base (13), by means of which the head support part (16) can be moved relative to the base (13) in the direction (x1) of the head of the seat occupant and in the opposite direction (x2) between a rear basic position and a frontmost extended position, and with a locking device (29, 49) with which the head support part (16) can be locked in at least one position.The special feature is that the guide device (18, 52) comprises at least one first joint unit (19) and at least one second joint unit (20), wherein each joint unit (19, 20) comprises at least two links (25, 26; 27, 28), wherein a first link (25, 27) forms a first hinge joint (G1, G4) with the base (13) and a second link (26, 28) forms a second hinge joint (G2, G5) with the head attachment part (16), and wherein the first link (25, 27) and the second link (26, 28) form a third hinge joint (G3, G6) with each other, wherein pivot axes (a1, a2, a3 / a4, a5, a6) of all hinge joints (G1, G2, G3 / G4, G5, G6) of a joint unit (19, 20) are arranged parallel, wherein the The pivot axes (a1, a2, a3) of the hinge joints of the first joint unit (19) and the pivot axes (a4, a5, a6) of the second joint unit (20) form an angle of approximately 90°.