Forward Translating Headrest With Ring Brake Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adjustable headrests for passenger seats, such as those in airliners, often require complex mechanisms like buttons, levers, and actuators for adjustability, which increase weight, cost, and complexity, and lack independent control over horizontal and rotational movements.
Innovation Solution
A mechanically operated forward translating headrest with a ring brake mechanism that allows for infinite adjustability without buttons, levers, or cabling, utilizing a ring brake assembly with magnetic washers and magnets to lock and reset positions, enabling separate horizontal movement from rotational movement and manual resetting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional adjustable headrests use buttons, levers, cabling and actuators for adjustment, then adjustability is achieved, but device complexity, weight, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes buttons, levers, cabling, and actuators from the headrest adjustment mechanism, extracting only the essential friction-based sliding interface between the headrest plate and seatback. This extraction eliminates unnecessary components while preserving the core adjustment functionality through direct manual manipulation of the headrest plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-regulating through friction between the headrest plate and seatback surfaces. The system uses its own structural surfaces to provide the necessary friction for positioning without requiring external actuators, cables, or electronic controls, making the system self-sufficient and simpler.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional headrests pivot relative to the seatback, then angular adjustment is achieved, but independent control of horizontal and rotational movements is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adjustment movements into independent components: the headrest plate can slide horizontally relative to the seatback independently of any rotational movement. This segmentation allows each degree of freedom to be controlled separately, providing versatile positioning while maintaining operational simplicity through the friction-based interface.
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
The solution provides a simple, compact, and cost-effective adjustable headrest that can be locked at any position along its stroke, enhancing compatibility with various seat designs and improving passenger comfort and safety by eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a ring brake mechanism providing infinite adjustability in the given amount of stroke
Implementation Method 2
the ring brake assembly with magnetic washers and magnets to lock and reset positions
Data Source
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AI summary
A forward translating headrest equipped with a ring brake assembly configured to lock a position of a headrest plate (22) relative to a headrest base (24). A ring brake (40) is disposed between spaced first and second magnets such that first and second reset plates push the ring brake in a direction of one of the first and second magnets to reset the ring brake assembly at both ends of the stroke to free the shaft (38).