Inclined Wall Headrest Frame for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headrests often fail to effectively absorb impact during frontal collisions, resulting in increased reaction force on the occupant due to inadequate component forces acting on the headrest, particularly when tilted at large angles, which reduces the seat back's ability to rotate and absorb impact.
Innovation Solution
A headrest design featuring a pair of side frame sections and an inclined wall portion between them, where the lower end is positioned farther forward than the upper end, enhances the component force acting on the headrest during collisions, facilitating seat back rotation and reducing reaction force on the occupant, and optionally includes a tilting mechanism and pressure bearing member for improved load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the headrest is tilted towards the vehicle front with a large angle of tilt, then the component force acting on the headrest in the vehicle downwards direction is at a maximum, but it becomes difficult for the seat back to rotate towards the vehicle front direction, reducing impact absorption and increasing reaction force to the occupant
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is divided into multiple functional components: a headrest body, a headrest frame with side frame sections, and a separate inclined wall portion. This segmentation allows the inclined wall to independently bear load from the front-rear direction while the side frames provide structural support, enabling the seat back to rotate more easily during impact without compromising the downward force component
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined wall portion acts as an intermediary structure between the headrest body and the side frames. It specifically bears the load acting on the headrest body from the front-rear direction and transmits it to the side frames, which then transmit it to the seat back. This intermediary structure enables the seat back to rotate during impact while maintaining the necessary downward force component
2Ease of operation
If the headrest is tilted at a small angle of tilt towards the vehicle front, then the seat back can rotate readily to absorb impact, but the component force acting on the headrest towards the vehicle front is relatively large, reducing impact absorption effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the load-bearing function into the inclined wall portion and the structural support function into the side frames, the headrest can be positioned at a small tilt angle. The inclined wall then provides the necessary force component through its inclination, while the side frames maintain structural integrity, enabling both easy seat back rotation and effective impact absorption
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle of the inclined wall portion is optimized to balance two opposing requirements: providing sufficient component force in the front-rear direction for impact absorption while allowing the seat back to rotate readily. By changing the inclination parameter of the wall, the system achieves optimal performance in both aspects
3Reliability
If the headrest structure is made thicker in the front-rear direction to improve impact absorption, then better protection is provided, but vehicle cabin space is reduced and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest utilizes a thin-wire frame structure with an inclined wall portion that provides high impact absorption capability despite its thin profile. The frame structure with strategically placed inclined surfaces absorbs impact energy through controlled deformation and rotation, achieving reliable protection without requiring a thick structure that would reduce cabin space
Data Source
AI summary
A headrest including: a headrest body that supports a head portion of an occupant; a pair of side frame sections that supports the headrest body, the side frame sections extending along a seat height direction and disposed at a separation from each other along a seat width direction; and an inclined wall portion that is provided between the side frame sections, that is inclined towards a seat front-rear direction front side with respect to the side frame sections such that a lower end portion of the inclined wall portion is positioned further to the seat front-rear direction front side than an upper end portion of the inclined wall portion, and that bears load acting on the headrest body from a seat front-rear direction rear side.