Massage Headrest Assembly With Dual Resilient Face Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing massage devices lack a headrest assembly that provides optimal comfort, adjustability, and support while maintaining a low profile and being lightweight, which are essential for enhancing the massage experience.

Innovation Solution

A headrest assembly featuring a resilient support frame with a dual resilient subassembly system, adjustable support arms, and a flexible outer covering that conforms to the user's face, allowing for improved support and comfort with adjustable positioning and a compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a traditional rigid headrest structure is used, then structural strength is ensured, but comfort and adaptability to user's face are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidadaptability to user's face
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest is divided into multiple independent resilient members (first resilient member, second resilient member, third resilient member) that can independently deform and adapt to different facial contours, while collectively providing structural support. This segmentation allows each member to flex independently, improving adaptability while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient members are designed with varying degrees of flexibility and curvature. The first resilient member has a first curvature, the second has a second curvature, and the third has a third curvature, allowing each to adapt to different regions of the face. This parameter variation enables the rigid structure to become adaptable through controlled flexibility changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If a low profile design is implemented, then compactness and ease of storage are improved, but support capability and comfort may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile heightVSAvoidsupport capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient members are designed to be dynamically deformable, allowing them to compress and expand as needed. When not in use, they maintain a compact low profile; when a user's face is applied, they dynamically adjust their curvature and length to provide optimal support. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between low profile and support capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient members can be nested or folded together when not in use, reducing the overall profile height to a compact form factor. When deployed, they extend and unfold to provide the necessary support length and curvature. This nesting principle allows the headrest to transition between compact storage and full support configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple resilient members are used to improve comfort, then support and adaptability are enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort and supportVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple resilient members are merged into a single integrated headrest assembly where the members work together as a unified structure. The members share common mounting points and coordinate their deformation, reducing the complexity of individual components while achieving enhanced comfort through their combined action. This merging approach allows complex functionality to be achieved through simple, coordinated elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 headrest assembly enhances user comfort and support by providing adjustable and customizable fit, reducing the likelihood of contact with the arm connector and allowing for easy insertion and removal, while maintaining a low profile and lightweight construction.

Implementation Method 1

The resilient member can include a resilient first beam having a first end that cantilevers away from the support frame. Further, the resilient member can include a resilient second beam that is attached to the first end of the first beam and cantilevers away from the first beam.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP1898747B1Headrest assembly for a massage device
Publication Date: 2015.11.11 EARTHLITE MASSAGE TABLES INC
  • EP1898747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1898747B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP1898747B1 patent drawingFigure 2BB

AI summary

A headrest assembly (212) for supporting a face of a user (16) of a massage device (10) includes a support frame (226) and a resilient assembly (220). The support frame (226) is coupled to the massage device (11). The resilient assembly (220) includes a first resilient subassembly (256) that is coupled to the support frame (226), and a second resilient subassembly (258) that engages the first resilient subassembly (256). The first resilient subassembly (256) and the second resilient subassembly (258) cooperate and act in parallel to support the face of the user (16). The first resilient subassembly (256) can include a plurality of spaced apart resilient members (360).