Pivotable Side Wing Headrest for Sideward Leaning Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passenger seat headrests inadequately support the head, fail to provide privacy, and lack passenger control over side wings, which are not dimensioned to prevent head slipping during sideward leaning and are not easily stowable for interaction with other passengers.
Innovation Solution
A passenger seat headrest with pivotable side wings that can be deployed to form a hammock construction, offering adjustable support and privacy, and a dress cover with hammock portions that can be tensioned to cradle the head, allowing sideward leaning while preventing head slipping and reducing neck strain, with the option to stow the wings during takeoff and landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If side wings are made bigger to enable leaning, then head support capability is improved, but passenger control and stowability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The side wings are designed to be movable between deployed and stowed positions through pivotable connections. This dynamic configuration allows the headrest to adapt to different passenger needs: when deployed, the wings provide extended lateral support for leaning; when stowed, they clear the passenger's field of view to enable interaction with other passengers. The mobility transforms a static, fixed-size structure into an adaptive system that resolves the contradiction between support capability and controllability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If side wings are made bigger to prevent head slipping, then head support stability is improved, but space utilization and privacy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable side wings provide extended lateral support when deployed to prevent head slipping during leaning, yet can be stowed to minimize space occupation. This dynamic deployment allows the headrest to achieve stable head support only when needed, rather than permanently occupying excessive space. The hammock construction formed by the dress cover and side wings provides the necessary stability without permanently increasing the footprint of the headrest assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If privacy screen is provided between seats, then passenger privacy is improved, but space availability and social interaction deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The side wings serve multiple functions: they provide lateral head support, create visual privacy screens when deployed, and can be stowed to maximize space and enable social interaction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate privacy screens that would consume additional space. The same structural elements that support the head laterally also serve as privacy barriers when positioned in the deployed state, resolving the contradiction between privacy and space availability.
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 provides enhanced support and privacy through adjustable side wings that can be deployed for comfort and stowed for interaction, effectively addressing the limitations of existing headrests by allowing sideward leaning and seclusion while maintaining visibility and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a side wing pivotably connected to the first side of the body. In some embodiments, the side wing is pivotable between a stowed position, at which the side wing is positioned against the forward side of the body, and a deployed position, at which the side wing is spaced apart from the forward side of the body
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger seat headrest includes a body and a side wing. The body includes a forward side, an aft side distal from the forward side, a first side extending between the forward side and the aft side, and a second side distal from the first side and extending between the forward side and the aft side. The side wing is pivotably connected to the first side of the body and is pivotable between a stowed position, at which the side wing is positioned against the forward side of the body, and a deployed position, at which the side wing is spaced apart from the forward side of the body.