Child Seat Headrest Support Mechanism to Limit Backward Swing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing child safety seats with adjustable headrests suffer from gaps between the headrest and seat back, leading to violent swinging during vehicle acceleration or deceleration, inadequate support for the head and neck, and potential injury to the child occupant.

Innovation Solution

A headrest height adjustment mechanism with a support member that presses against both the seat back and headrest, limiting backward movement of the headrest during sudden vehicle changes in speed, featuring supporting protrusions and a reinforcing rib for stability and smooth adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the headrest is made vertically adjustable to adapt to children of different heights, then the adaptability is improved, but a gap is formed between the headrest and seat back causing harmful swinging motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadrest height adjustabilityVSAvoidheadrest backward swinging

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A support member is introduced as an intermediary component between the headrest and seat back. This support member fills the gap created by headrest adjustment and provides continuous support to prevent backward swinging, while not interfering with the vertical adjustability of the headrest.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support member is divided into distinct functional segments: a first end that contacts the headrest, a second end that contacts the seat back, and intermediate portions that provide structural support. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while working together as a unified support system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the headrest is adjusted to a high level to protect taller children, then the adaptability is improved, but the headrest swings more violently during sudden acceleration or deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadrest height rangeVSAvoidheadrest stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support member acts as a mediator that maintains stable connection between the headrest and seat back across the entire height range. By providing continuous support from the seat back to the headrest, it prevents violent swinging even when the headrest is positioned at maximum height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support member is pre-installed and positioned to provide immediate support to the headrest. This preliminary support structure is already in place before vehicle acceleration or deceleration occurs, preventing violent swinging motion from the outset.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a headrest height adjustment mechanism is added to protect children of different heights, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadrest height adjustment capabilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and isolates the essential support function from the complex adjustment mechanism. By providing a separate, simple support member that independently addresses the swinging problem, the complexity of the adjustment mechanism itself is not increased, as the support member works in conjunction with existing adjustment components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support member is designed as a separate, modular component with distinct functional segments. This segmentation allows for simple manufacturing, easy installation, and independent operation from the height adjustment mechanism, thereby minimizing added complexity to the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4714736A1Headrest height adjustment mechanism and safety seat comprising same

Publication Date: 2026.03.25 MAX INF NINGBO BABY PROD

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AI summary

The present invention discloses a headrest height adjustment mechanism and a safety seat including the same. The headrest height adjustment mechanism includes a seat back and a headrest adjustably arranged on the seat back. A headrest support member is further arranged on the seat back. The headrest support member is located between the seat back and the headrest. The headrest support member includes a connection end surface and a supporting end surface opposite to the connection end surface. The connection end surface is configured to press against the seat back. The supporting end surface is configured to press against the headrest. The headrest support member is configured to limit the headrest from swinging backward relative to the seat back. In the headrest height adjustment mechanism provided by the present invention, the headrest support member is arranged between the headrest and the seat back, the connection end surface of the headrest support member is configured to press against the seat back, and the supporting end surface of the headrest support member is configured to press against the headrest. As such, the headrest support member can support the headrest to limit the headrest from swinging backward relative to the seat back when the vehicle suddenly accelerates or decelerates, to better protect the head and the neck of a child occupant and reduce the probability of injury of the child occupant.