Segmented Foam Sleeping Aid for Infant Seat Head Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child vehicle seats and booster seats lack head and neck support, leading to discomfort and potential injuries from head rolling during sleep, especially in infants and children whose neck muscles are not strong enough to maintain a stable head position during vehicle movements.
Innovation Solution
A sleeping aid comprising a pad or pillow with a thicker first portion and a thinner second portion, offset and enclosed by the first, providing support for the child's head, connected to the seat via a strap or elastic band with a pivot connection for adjustable comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a child sleeps in an upright seated position in a vehicle seat, then the child can rest during travel, but the head will fall forward or roll to the left or right due to weak neck muscles, causing strain and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
A sleeping aid device acts as an intermediary between the child's head and the vehicle seat, providing the necessary support that the child's weak neck muscles cannot provide. The device includes a support surface with a head support region and a neck support region that together stabilize the head and prevent harmful movements during sleep.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeping aid device has different regions with different support characteristics - a head support region and a neck support region. Each region is designed with specific local properties to address the particular needs of different parts of the head and neck, providing customized support where needed most.
2Reliability
If standard vehicle seat belts are used to secure the child seat, then the upper body is supported according to safety standards, but the head and neck regions remain unsupported, potentially resulting in severe head and neck injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeping aid device segments the support function into distinct regions - head support and neck support - that are separate from the standard seat belt system. This segmentation allows the device to provide targeted support to the head and neck areas without interfering with the upper body restraint function of the seat belt.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeping aid device serves as an additional intermediary support system that works in conjunction with the seat belt. While the seat belt provides upper body restraint, the sleeping aid specifically addresses the head and neck support gap, creating a multi-layered protection system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing head support devices are used, then some head support is provided, but they are bulky in size and weight, require intricate installation, and cannot be readily adjusted to accommodate various head sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeping aid device incorporates adjustable parameters such as the position and orientation of the support surface to accommodate various head sizes and shapes. This adjustability allows the device to be customized for different children without requiring multiple different devices or complex installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeping aid device is designed to be universally applicable to different children and seat types. The support surface can be positioned and oriented to accommodate various head sizes, making a single device suitable for multiple users and situations, thereby reducing the need for multiple specialized devices.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If existing head support devices are used, then some head support is provided, but they are bulky in both size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeping aid device extracts only the essential head and neck support function from the complex, bulky existing devices. By focusing on the core support needs and eliminating unnecessary bulk and weight, the device provides effective head support in a lightweight, compact form that is easy to handle and install.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 1C~2B
Figure 2C~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sleeping aid (1) for an infant seat (S), where the sleeping aid (1) comprises a front layer (2), a back layer (3), between which two layers a layer of soft foam material (4) is arranged, said sleeping aid (1) further being divided into a first portion (5) and a second portion (6), where the first portion (5) completely encircle or enclose the second portion (6) and where the back layer (3) further is provided with a fastening assembly.