Headrest Linkage With Coaxial Hinge Damper for Stable Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable headrest mechanisms for chairs lack ease of construction and user-friendly adjustment, often requiring complex structures and unreliable positioning due to lack of effective damping mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable headrest linkage system featuring a pair of arms rotatable about a first axis with a hinge damper co-axially disposed between them, allowing selective rotational movement and placement of the headrest to a desired position, utilizing frictional torque hinges for stable and adjustable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex linkage mechanism is used to support the headrest, then the headrest can be adjusted to multiple positions, but the device complexity increases and ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism is divided into two separate arms (first arm and second arm) that are rotatable about a common first axis. Each arm can be independently positioned, allowing the headrest to be adjusted to multiple positions while maintaining a relatively simple structural design for each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
A hinge damper is introduced as an intermediary component co-axially disposed about the first axis between the two arms. The hinge damper facilitates controlled rotational movement and provides damping to maintain the selected position, enabling smooth adjustment without requiring complex locking mechanisms or multiple connection points.
2Ease of operation
If a hinge damper is added to enable selective rotational movement, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge damper is co-axially disposed about the same first axis that the two arms rotate about. This merging of the damping function with the existing rotational axis eliminates the need for separate damping mechanisms or additional axes of rotation, thereby improving ease of operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple interleaved plate members are used to support the headrest, then the stability of positioning improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex interleaved plate member structure is replaced by extracting only the essential functions needed for stable positioning. The hinge damper provides the necessary damping to maintain position stability, while the simple two-arm linkage provides the structural support, eliminating the need for multiple interleaved plates and simplifying manufacturing.
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 easy and stable adjustment of the headrest to comfortable positions with minimal movement resistance, allowing users to maintain the selected position without further effort, and accommodating different user preferences through adjustable damper strengths.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge damper co-axially disposed about said axis of rotation between said first and second arms for selective rotational movement and placement of said headrest to a desired position
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable linkage to support an object comprising a pair of arms rotatable about a first axis, one of said arms supporting said object and damper means disposed about said first axis between said arms for selective rotational movement and placement of said object relative said other arm.