V-Shaped Head Support Cushion for Upright Sleep Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head support devices fail to effectively prevent a user's head from tilting forward or sideways while sleeping in an upright position, often causing discomfort and potentially injuring the neck or throat, and they are not secure enough to remain in place without leaning forward, especially for children in car seats.
Innovation Solution
A cushion with a v-shape top and wraparound supports that use hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro, to securely hold the head in an upright position, which can be attached to seat belts or straps, ensuring the head is kept upright and preventing pressure on the throat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a neck strap is used to hold the head support in place, then the head support can be secured to the user, but the neck strap puts forward pressure on the user's upper neck region causing discomfort and possibly injuring the vertebrae
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the neck strap component entirely from the head support system. Instead of using a strap that contacts and presses on the neck, the head support is secured through alternative means such as headrest integration or positioning mechanisms that do not require neck contact, thereby eliminating the harmful pressure while maintaining support stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary securing mechanism that acts between the head support and the user without directly contacting the neck. This intermediary system uses distributed pressure points or structural integration with the seating system to secure the head support in place without concentrating force on the vulnerable neck region
2Reliability
If most head supports are designed to be held in place, then they can provide support, but they cannot remain in place unless the torso of the user is leaning forward on the device
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dynamic securing mechanisms that adapt to different user positions. The head support includes adjustable or flexible securing elements that maintain effective engagement whether the user is leaning forward or sitting upright, allowing the device to remain reliable across multiple postures without requiring a specific forward-leaning position
Solution Approach 2:
The head support is designed with multi-functional securing capabilities that work effectively in various user positions. The securing mechanism can engage with both forward-leaning and upright postures, making the device universally applicable regardless of whether the user needs to lean forward or maintain an upright sitting position
3Reliability
If head supports are designed to prevent head tilting, then they can maintain upright position, but they often put pressure on the carotid arteries, jugular veins, or the trachea
Solution Approach 1:
The head support is designed with localized support zones that provide head position control only where needed, avoiding contact with vulnerable areas. The support structure concentrates its stabilizing force on safe regions of the head and neck while deliberately excluding contact with the carotid arteries, jugular veins, and trachea, thus maintaining head position control without causing harmful pressure
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 effectively maintains the head in a comfortable, upright position, preventing tilting and ensuring safety by being securely fastened, with adjustable straps and a design that prevents accidental choking hazards, particularly in car seats.
Implementation Method 1
A cushion with a v-shape top and wraparound supports that use hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro, to securely hold the head in an upright position
Data Source
AI summary
The portable head support device of the present invention provides comfortable support for a user's head while the user is in a sitting potion. The pillow or cushion has a v-shape on the top where a user's chin can rest so that the head cannot fall forward or sideways but will stay in a comfortable and upright position. The pillow is held in place by hook and loop fasteners located on the pillow and, for instance, on straps extending from behind the user's back and over the shoulders or wraparound supports wrapped around standard seat belts. The head support can be used in child car seats to keep a child's head in a safe and stable position while they sleep.