Pivoting Headrest Assembly with Dynamic Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headrest assemblies lack a compact and efficient mechanism to pivot relative to seatbacks, making it difficult to stow seating assemblies in a space-efficient manner.
Innovation Solution
A headrest assembly featuring first and second pivot members with a pivot pin, a pulley wheel, and locking features that allow the pivot pin to rotate between engaged and disengaged conditions, enabling the headrest to pivot relative to the seatback, with a biasing feature to yieldingly bias the locking features for easy transition between positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a headrest assembly uses a traditional fixed mounting mechanism, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the headrest cannot pivot relative to the seatback, making it difficult to stow in a space-efficient manner
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest assembly employs a dynamic locking mechanism that transitions between locked and unlocked states. The biasing feature continuously applies force to maintain the locking features in engagement, while the pulley wheel provides a controlled mechanism to disengage the locks when needed, enabling the headrest to pivot from a fixed appearance to a movable state for stowing
Solution Approach 2:
The locking features are disposed between the pivot members, with the first locking feature coupled to the pivot pin and the second locking feature coupled to the support structure. The pulley wheel is disposed between these locking features, creating a nested arrangement where multiple functional elements are compactly integrated within the headrest assembly structure
2Reliability
If a headrest assembly includes a locking mechanism to prevent rotation, then the headrest remains stable in position, but the mechanism increases complexity and may hinder easy pivoting for stowing
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing feature automatically maintains the locking features in engagement without requiring active control, providing self-service locking that ensures stable positioning. When pivoting is needed, the system uses the pulley wheel mechanism which, when actuated, allows the locking features to disengage and re-engage automatically as the headrest moves to its stowed position
Solution Approach 2:
The pulley wheel acts as an intermediary element between the locking features and the pivot pin. It provides a mechanical advantage and controlled motion transfer, allowing the locking mechanism to transition smoothly between locked and unlocked states, facilitating easy pivoting while maintaining reliability
3Volume of moving object
If the headrest assembly uses a compact design with locking features disposed between pivot members, then space efficiency is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism merges multiple functions into a compact arrangement: the first and second locking features are disposed between the pivot members, the pulley wheel is integrated between these locking features, and the biasing feature provides continuous locking force. This merging of elements achieves compact volume while managing complexity through functional integration
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 solution allows for compact storage and easy pivoting of the headrest, facilitating space-efficient stowing of seating assemblies within vehicles by preventing rotation in the engaged condition and enabling it in the disengaged condition, enhancing the usability and space management of vehicle seating.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing feature disposed between the first and second pivot members and configured to yieldingly bias the first locking feature toward the second locking feature; the biasing feature comprises a coil spring at least partially coiled about the pivot pin
Implementation Method 2
A pulley wheel is disposed between the first and second locking features and has an aperture through which the pivot pin extends. The pulley wheel is operable to rotate about the pivot pin from a first position to a second position. Rotation of the pulley wheel from the first position to the second position moves the first locking feature further away from the second locking feature
Data Source
AI summary
A headrest assembly includes a pivot pin rotatably coupled to a support structure. A pivot member extends outward from a headrest body and is coupled to the pivot pin. A lock assembly is disposed about the pivot pin and is operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition. In the engaged condition, rotation of the pivot pin relative to the support structure is generally prevented. A pulley wheel is operable to rotate about the pivot pin from a first position to a second position to prompt the lock assembly to enter the disengaged condition.