Pneumatic bladder arrangement for neckrest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat designs, particularly in vehicles, often result in a gap between the headrest and backrest, leading to comfort and safety issues, especially for users of varying heights, and fail to provide adequate neck support and configuration for different neck shapes, which can be problematic during accidents.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic bladder arrangement for a neckrest or cushion that includes a base inflatable bladder and side bladders, allowing for adjustable thickness and shape to accommodate different neck sizes and provide lateral support, connected via a frame that can be mounted to the headrest and seat, enabling independent inflation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid mechanical elements (plates, pivots, joints) are used to implement the neckrest, then structural strength and stability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase, and safety risks in collisions arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid mechanical elements (plates, pivots, joints) with a pneumatic system consisting of inflatable bladders connected to a pump. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical linkages while providing adjustable neck support through inflation/deflation control, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining structural functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic bladders that can be inflated and deflated to provide adjustable neck support. The pump system controls the inflation level, allowing dynamic adaptation to different user needs and neck positions. This pneumatic approach replaces solid mechanical structures with flexible, controllable air-filled chambers, simplifying the overall mechanism.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid mechanical elements are used for the neckrest, then structural stability is improved, but safety in case of collision deteriorates due to potential injury from rigid components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible inflatable bladders instead of rigid mechanical components. These soft, compliant structures can deform and absorb impact energy during collisions, significantly reducing the risk of injury to occupants while maintaining structural stability through controlled inflation. The flexible nature of the bladders allows them to adapt to neck contours without creating hard contact points.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed thickness neckrest is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different neck shapes and sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic neckrest system where the thickness and shape can be adjusted in real-time through pump-controlled inflation. The bladders can be inflated to different levels to accommodate various neck sizes and shapes, transforming a static structure into an adaptive system that responds to user needs while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized bladder components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the neckrest by varying the inflation pressure and volume of the bladders. This allows the same basic structure to provide different thicknesses and contours, adapting to individual user requirements without requiring multiple fixed-thickness models, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving high adaptability.
4Reliability
If the neckrest provides comprehensive lateral support, then safety in lateral impact is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the neckrest into multiple independent inflatable bladders (first bladder for central region, second bladder for lateral region). This segmentation allows independent control of different support zones, enabling comprehensive lateral support through the second bladder while keeping the overall system simple through modular design and separate inflation control.
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
This solution provides customizable support and comfort for various neck shapes, reduces the risk of whiplash, and acts as a passive safety device in collisions by minimizing rigid mechanical components, while also being lightweight and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
a first pneumatic bladder arrangement (200, 300) mounted on the frame (310)... comprising a base inflatable bladder (320) having a shape mainly elongated along a longitudinal axis, at least two side inflatable bladders (330) partially overlapping the base inflatable bladder (320)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A
AI summary
The invention relates to a pneumatic bladder arrangement (300) for a neckrest (N) or cushion support (C) of a seat (S) comprising a base inflatable bladder (320) having a shape mainly elongated along a longitudinal axis (X), at least two side inflatable bladders (330), partially overlapping the base inflatable bladder (320) and positioned so that end regions (R1, R3) of the base inflatable bladder (320) are covered by the side inflatable bladders (330) while a central region (R2) of the base inflatable bladder (320) is not covered by the side inflatable bladders (330). The invention further relates to a neckrest (N), a seat comprising the neckrest (N) and to a seat comprising the cushion support (C).