Lightweight Headrest Assembly That Moves With the Seat Panel

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Solution Overview

Problem

In commercial aircraft seating, headrests mounted to the seat frame can damage mesh diaphragm seat panels when the occupant shifts, as the headrest does not move with the panel.

Innovation Solution

Attaching the headrest directly to the seat back panel using wire loops protruding from the headrest frame that pass through holes in the panel and secured with a retainer, allowing the headrest to move with the panel and reducing the risk of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the headrest is mounted to the seat frame, then the headrest structure is stable and easy to manufacture, but the seat panel is damaged by rubbing against the headrest when the occupant shifts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadrest stabilityVSAvoidseat panel damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest is attached to the mesh seat back panel rather than the rigid seat frame, allowing the headrest to move dynamically with the panel as the occupant shifts. The wire loops and retainer system enables this movement while maintaining secure attachment, eliminating the rubbing damage caused by fixed frame-mounted headrests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the headrest is attached to the seat back panel using wire loops and retainers, then the seat panel damage is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat panel damageVSAvoidheadrest attachment structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is divided into separate components: wire loops attached to the headrest frame, holes in the seat panel, and a retainer that secures the loops. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and assembly of each component while achieving the overall function of preventing panel damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wire loops act as an intermediary element between the headrest frame and the seat panel. Instead of directly attaching the headrest to the panel, the loops provide a flexible connection that absorbs movement and prevents damage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Weight of moving object

If the headrest is made lightweight to meet aircraft seating requirements, then the overall weight is reduced, but the headrest may lack sufficient strength to prevent panel damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadrest weightVSAvoidheadrest strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest frame is constructed using lightweight materials such as reinforced plastic composite or thin stamped metal, while the wire loops provide additional strength at the attachment points. This composite approach maintains overall lightweight design while ensuring sufficient strength to prevent panel damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS9579999B2Lightweight headrest assembly

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 FRANKLIN PRODUCTS INC

AI summary

A headrest assembly is attached to a seat back assembly by providing holes through a panel of the seat back assembly; providing loops protruding from a rear surface of the headrest assembly; inserting the loops of the headrest assembly through the corresponding holes of the seat back assembly; and inserting a retainer through the loops to fasten the headrest assembly to the seat back assembly.