Vehicle Headrest Retainer With Single-Piece Lever Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current headrest adjustment mechanisms for vehicles require additional components and increased manufacturing and assembly costs due to the need for separate retaining and actuation elements, which also compromise impact resistance and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A retaining device with a single-piece U-shaped rod forming both the retaining element and lever, which is actuated by a push button and features an elastic element to return to the retaining position, allowing direct force transfer to the seat structure and reducing component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate retaining and actuation elements are used, then the headrest adjustment mechanism is functional, but the number of components increases and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the retaining element and the actuation lever into a single integrated component made from one rod. This merging eliminates the need for separate retaining and actuation elements, reducing the total number of components while maintaining the functional reliability of the headrest adjustment mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If additional components are incorporated for movement transmission, then the retaining element can be located inside the seat structure, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated rod design merges the retaining element and lever into one component that can be positioned inside the seat structure without requiring additional movement transmission mechanisms. This eliminates complex assemblies and reduces both manufacturing and assembly costs while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used, then the adjustment mechanism is complete, but impact resistance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece rod construction merges multiple functional elements into one robust component, improving impact resistance by eliminating weak points at connection interfaces between separate parts. The integrated design maintains mechanism completeness while enhancing structural strength and impact resistance.
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 solution reduces manufacturing and assembly costs, enhances impact resistance, and maintains user familiarity while enabling adjustable headrests across various vehicle seats without significant changes in operation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element pushing said lever towards the retaining position of said retaining element
Data Source
AI summary
A retaining device for vehicle headrests, including a guide element inside which a fixing rod for fixing a headrest can be housed, a retaining element movable between a retaining position, in which the retaining element prevents the movement of the fixing rod with respect to the guide element, and a release position, and a push button for moving the retaining element from the retaining position to the release position, and at least one lever linked with the push button transferring the movement of the push button to the retaining element, and an elastic element pushing the lever towards the retaining position of the retaining element, wherein the retaining element and the lever are made in a single piece.