Removable Headrest Storage in Folding Vehicle Seat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing folding vehicle seats require costly headrests that tilt relative to the backrest, which can be a drawback in terms of cost and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A seat design where the headrest is removable and can be housed in a cavity within the supporting structure, utilizing snap-fastening means to secure it, allowing for simple and cost-effective storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the headrest tilts forward relative to the backrest to prevent interference with the backrest's complete tilt, then the backrest can achieve full folding range, but the device complexity and cost increase due to requiring a specialized tilting headrest mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackrest folding rangeVSAvoidheadrest mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest is extracted from the backrest structure, making it a removable component that can be detached and stored in a cavity within the seat structure. This eliminates the need for complex tilting mechanisms while allowing the backrest to fold completely flat without interference from the headrest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The headrest is nested within a cavity in the seat structure when not in use. The cavity is integrated into the seat's load-bearing structure, allowing the headrest to be stored compactly without occupying additional space or requiring separate storage mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If a specialized tilting headrest mechanism is used to enable complete backrest folding, then the backrest achieves full folding capability, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackrest folding capabilityVSAvoidheadrest cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest is extracted as a separate removable component rather than being integrated with a tilting mechanism. This allows the use of simple, inexpensive headrest designs that can be manufactured independently using standard processes, significantly reducing overall cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The seat is segmented into independent components: the backrest, the removable headrest, and the cavity structure. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using optimized processes and assembled together, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3418124B1Folding seat with storage device for headrest
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 RENAULT SA
  • EP3418124B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3418124B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a load-bearing structure (100) that defines a cavity (110), a seat (200) movably mounted on said load-bearing structure, between a position of use in which it covers said cavity and a retracted position in which it allows access to said cavity, a backrest (300) movably mounted in a tilting position on said load-bearing structure, and a headrest (400) adapted to be mounted on the backrest. According to the invention, said headrest is adapted to be detached from the backrest, and the load-bearing structure includes fastening means (510) adapted to lock the headrest in a position such that at least a portion of said headrest is housed in said cavity.