Movable Headrest Mechanism for Full Seat Back Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding operations of seat backs in vehicles are hindered by the protrusion of headrests, which must maintain a minimum height to meet safety regulations, causing interference with the seat cushion and preventing full tilting during folding.
Innovation Solution
A headrest apparatus that moves back and forth in coordination with the seat back, featuring a headrest fixing member, guide member, elastic members, and a locking release unit, allowing the headrest to retract automatically during seat back folding, ensuring compliance with safety regulations while enabling smooth folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the headrest maintains a minimum height to meet safety regulations, then safety compliance is improved, but the seat back folding operation is hindered due to interference with the seat cushion
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position between a protruded state (for safety compliance) and a retracted state (for folding operation). The headrest assembly includes a headrest fixing member that can move forward and backward along a guide member, transitioning between locked and unlocked positions to accommodate different operational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest retraction mechanism is activated in advance during the folding operation. When the seat back begins to tilt forward, the locking release unit is triggered to unlock the headrest fixing member, allowing it to retract along the guide portion before the headrest interferes with the seat cushion, thereby preventing obstruction and enabling complete folding
2Reliability
If the headrest protrudes forward to meet height regulations, then safety regulation compliance is improved, but the front side of the headrest interferes with the seat cushion during tilting, preventing full folding
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest assembly transitions from a static protruding position to a dynamic reconfigurable system. The headrest fixing member moves along the guide portion of the guide member, allowing the headrest to retract into the seat back structure, thereby reducing its forward projection and creating the necessary space for complete seat back folding
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest assembly is extracted from its fixed position and separated from the seat back structure through the movable fixing member mechanism. This allows the headrest to be temporarily removed from the protruding position during folding operations, enabling the seat back to fold completely without interference
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
Enables the headrest to be safely retracted during seat back folding, preventing interference and allowing for complete folding of the seat back, thus enhancing vehicle space utilization and safety.
Implementation Method 1
at least an elastic member coupling the guide member and the headrest fixing member and configured to bias the headrest fixing member in the forward direction of the seat back so that the headrest fixing member moves in the forward direction along the guide portion of the guide member
Data Source
AI summary
A headrest apparatus may include a headrest fixing member connected to a headrest assembly, a guide member connected to a seatback frame inside the seat back, wherein the guide member including a guide portion and a locking portion guides forward and backward movement of the headrest fixing member, at least an elastic member coupling the guide member and the headrest fixing member and configured to bias the headrest fixing member in the forward direction of the seat back so that the headrest fixing member moves in the forward direction and then is locked to the locking portion of the guide member by the elastic member when the seat back is unfolded, and a locking release unit pivotally coupled to the guide member and configured to release the headrest fixing member from the locking portion of the guide member in accordance with the seat back when the seat back is folded.