Vehicle Head Neck Support Rotary Motion Tether
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head and neck support devices for high-performance vehicles restrict neck motion and may lead to neck muscle fatigue and injury, while limiting the range of rotary head motion.
Innovation Solution
A head and neck support device with a yoke and tether system, where the tether slides within sleeve members, allowing greater rotary head motion while transferring forces from the helmet to the shoulder harness, reducing neck loading and fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tether length is fixed and equal to the distance between sleeve members, then the device provides stable force transfer, but the range of rotary head motion is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is designed with a length greater than the distance between sleeve members, allowing it to dynamically adjust its configuration during head rotation. This dynamic excess length enables the tether to accommodate rotary motion while maintaining tension for force transfer, resolving the contradiction between motion range and force stability
Solution Approach 2:
The tether length parameter is intentionally set to be greater than the sleeve member distance, creating a variable effective length during operation. This parameter change allows the system to provide both rotational freedom and stable force transfer depending on the head position
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tether restricts head motion to reduce neck loading, then neck muscle fatigue is reduced, but the user loses rotational head mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The tether system transitions from a static restriction to a dynamic force transfer mechanism. During normal rotation, the excess tether length allows freedom of motion; during deceleration, the tether becomes taut and dynamically transfers forces away from the neck, eliminating both fatigue and mobility restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary element that selectively engages during harmful deceleration events rather than continuously restricting motion. It mediates between the helmet and yoke, providing force transfer only when needed, thus protecting the neck without limiting rotational mobility
3Device complexity
If the tether is attached directly to the yoke, then the structure is simple, but the force transfer path creates neck muscle fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The yoke serves as an intermediary component between the tether and the occupant's body. The tether attaches to the yoke rather than directly to the head or shoulders, creating a force transfer path that routes deceleration forces through the yoke structure to the shoulders and torso, thereby eliminating neck muscle fatigue while maintaining simple attachment
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 device enables increased rotary head motion while effectively reducing neck loading and fatigue, and transmitting forces to the shoulder harness to minimize injury risks during vehicle deceleration or impact.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one sleeve member can further define a first distance extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the at least one sleeve member. In this aspect, the tether can define a second distance between the first and second ends of the tether that is greater than the first distance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A head and neck support device for an occupant of a vehicle with a shoulder harness over the shoulders of the occupant and a helmet on a head of the occupant. The head and neck support device having a yoke, a tether, and at least one sleeve member, which has a cavity defined therethrough. The tether is configured to slide through the sleeve member cavity for a defined distance, which allows the occupant a greater range of side-to-side rotary head mobility.