Pivoting Head Support for Cervical Alignment During Hair Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional devices fail to provide adequate and adjustable support for the back of the head during hair washing in salons, leading to neck strain and discomfort, which can result in conditions like Cervical Radiculopathy.
Innovation Solution
A head support apparatus with an adjustable height and pivotable design that aligns the user's head with their spine, featuring a base for the sink, a telescoping support column, and a pivotably coupled head support to maintain alignment and comfort during hair washing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed support devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot adapt to different head positions and sizes, leading to inadequate support
Solution Approach 1:
The head support is pivotally coupled to the supporting member, allowing it to dynamically adjust and pivot as the user moves their head. This dynamic coupling enables the support to adapt to different head positions while maintaining proper alignment with the spine, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a base for positioning in the sink, a supporting member extending from the base, and a pivotally coupled head support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while contributing to the overall adaptability of the system.
2Ease of operation
If the head support is fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but the user experiences neck strain when moving their head during shampooing
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotal coupling between the head support and supporting member enables dynamic adjustment as the user moves their head during shampooing. This allows the head support to maintain proper alignment with the spine throughout the shampooing process, eliminating neck strain while keeping the mechanism relatively simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-adjustable support devices are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the devices cannot accommodate different sink depths and user preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping support column with adjustable height provides adaptability for different sink depths and user preferences. The column can be extended or retracted to accommodate various configurations, and this adjustability is achieved through a relatively simple telescoping mechanism that does not significantly complicate manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A cervical spine and head supporting device is described herein for supporting a user's head when extended at least partially over the sink or basin. The device maintains alignment of the head with the neck or spine particularly as the user moves their head relative to the device or sink to prevent or minimize straining of the user's neck while washing their hair. The device generally comprises a base which is shaped for positioning within a sink or basin, a support column adjustable attached to the base, a supporting member extending from the support column, and a head support which is shaped to support a posterior region of a head of a user, where the head support is pivotably coupled to the supporting member such that the head support is adjustable with a movement of the head when the head is moved relative to the supporting member.