Vehicle Headrest with Pivotable Wing for Continuous Contact Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing headrests lack a large contact surface in non-use positions and do not meet safety and aesthetic requirements effectively, with gaps in the central region disrupting the head contact surface.

Innovation Solution

A headrest with a base body and a pivotable wing, where the wing moves between first and second positions to form different head contact surfaces, providing a continuous surface in the first position and a large lateral contact surface in the second position, with a cushion integrated between the wing and base for enhanced comfort and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the headrest uses a traditional design with side bolsters that are recessed in the non-use position, then the design is simple, but the contact surface is small and not continuous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact surface areaVSAvoidheadrest structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest incorporates a movable wing element that can pivot between different positions. In the first position, the wing provides a large continuous contact surface for head support. In the second position, the wing moves away to create a recessed appearance. This dynamic movement allows the headrest to achieve both a large contact surface and a simple recessed design aesthetic at different times, resolving the contradiction between contact surface area and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the headrest provides lateral support in the non-use position, then comfort is improved, but the head contact surface may be interrupted by gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehead support comfortVSAvoidcontinuity of head contact surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest is divided into separate functional elements: a base body and a movable wing. The wing can be positioned in different locations relative to the base body. In the first position, the wing and base body work together to form a continuous head contact surface providing both lateral and rear support. In the second position, the wing moves away while the base body maintains a recessed appearance. This segmentation allows the headrest to provide continuous support when needed while maintaining aesthetic simplicity when not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3157778B1Head restraint for a vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 GRAMMER AG
  • EP3157778B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3157778B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3157778B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a head restraint for a vehicle seat, having a head portion (11) which comprises a main part (14) and a folding part (15), wherein the folding part (15) can be moved relative to the main part (14) between a first position and a second position, and wherein, in the first position, at least one outer surface (16) of the folding part (15) forms at least part of a first head contact surface (32).