Reusable Vehicle Seat Headrest with Elastic Tilt Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active headrest devices in vehicles, which use explosive mechanisms, cannot be reused after activation in a rear-end collision, limiting their functionality and safety benefits.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design that includes a headrest system with adjustable guide slots and elastic elements, allowing the headrest to be tilted forward during a collision and then rearranged for reuse by loosening tension wires, enabling multiple uses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an explosive mechanism is used to activate the headrest in a rear-end collision, then the headrest can be moved toward the head of a seated passenger at an early stage, but the device cannot be reused after activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the explosive mechanism from the system and replaces it with an elastic element (spring) that can be reset. The tension wire mechanism is separated into adjustable components that can be reconfigured after deployment, allowing the headrest to be reused while maintaining the rapid deployment capability through the elastic recovery force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and parameters of the activation mechanism from a one-time explosive charge to a reusable elastic element. The spring constant, wire tension, and guide slot geometry can be adjusted to optimize performance, and these parameters can be reset after deployment, enabling multiple uses while maintaining reliable protective function.
2Ease of manufacture
If the guide slots have a fixed length, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the forward tilting angle of the headrest cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static guide slot into a dynamic, adjustable component. The guide slot length can be modified to change the headrest's forward tilting angle, allowing the same basic structure to adapt to different safety requirements and collision scenarios while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through modular design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the distance between the upper lateral member and the lower lateral member is fixed, then the structure is more stable, but the moment applied to the headrest by the elastic elements cannot be changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adjustability into the lateral member spacing, allowing the distance between upper and lower lateral members to be modified. This enables control of the moment applied to the headrest by the elastic elements, providing adaptability for different weight classes and safety requirements while maintaining structural stability through robust connection mechanisms.
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 design allows for the reuse of the active headrest device by rearranging tension wires after a rear-end collision, enhancing safety and functionality while maintaining the protective benefits of the headrest.
Implementation Method 1
a headrest which is disposed on the seat frame and is tiltable toward the front, and an elastic element which is configured to urge the headrest to be tilted forward
Implementation Method 2
some of the plurality of tension wires are hooked on the headrest to apply a tension to the headrest, the tension maintaining the headrest at an erected position against an urging force of the elastic element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A headrest (28) is supported by an upper lateral member (72U) and a lower lateral member (72L) of a seat frame. A headrest stay (32) is inserted through each of guide slots (74, 76), both of which are formed in both the upper lateral member (72U) and the lower lateral member (72L), and an extension wire (34B) is hooked on a lower end of the headrest stay (32). In a rear-collision, a seat back is retreated by a force received from a seated passenger, and a tension (T) of the tension wire (34B) is accordingly loosened, which causes the headrest (28) to be tilted forward by an urging force of tilt springs (88, 90).