Vehicle Headrest Locking Mechanism for Simple Horizontal Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headrests have complex mechanisms for adjusting the head support relative to the supporting body, which can be cumbersome and require complicated torque transfer mechanisms, and lack efficient means for adjusting the head support towards the supporting body.
Innovation Solution
A headrest design featuring a supporting body with a head support that is adjustable and arrestable along a horizontal axis, utilizing a first arresting means that can rotate counter to a biasing force and engages with a second arresting means, such as toothed strips or cutouts, to securely position the head support, allowing for easy adjustment and locking without complex mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring-loaded pall with a complex lever mechanism is used to lock the head support, then the head support can be locked in position, but the adjustment mechanism becomes complicated and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent arresting means: a first arresting means with a pall that engages with arresting stages, and a second arresting means with corresponding engagement features. This segmentation simplifies the overall mechanism by distributing the locking function across separate, simpler components rather than a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex lever mechanism for torque transfer is completely removed from the design. The patent achieves locking without requiring any lever arms or torque multiplication mechanisms, directly engaging the pall with the arresting stages through simple mechanical contact driven by spring force.
2Ease of operation
If a button-actuated lever mechanism is used to unlock the pall, then the head support can be adjusted toward the support, but the operation becomes cumbersome and the mechanism complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The entire lever mechanism and torque transfer system is extracted and removed from the design. The patent achieves unlocking through direct mechanical action where the pall simply disengages from the arresting stages when the head support is pulled, eliminating the need for buttons, levers, or any intermediate mechanical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism becomes self-actuating: when the user pulls the head support away from the supporting body, the first arresting means automatically disengages from the second arresting means without requiring any additional unlocking action. The spring force automatically re-engages the locking mechanism when the head support is released, making the system self-regulating.
3Reliability
If the pall is designed to engage with toothed strip arresting stages, then reliable positioning is achieved, but the mechanism for releasing the lock becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The conventional approach is inverted: instead of requiring an active unlocking mechanism to release the lock, the design allows automatic unlocking through the natural movement of the head support. The spring force maintains engagement during normal operation, but pulling the head support automatically overrides this force and disengages the pall from the arresting stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking and unlocking functions are self-regulated by the mechanical interaction between the head support movement and the spring-loaded pall. No external actuation mechanism is needed - the system automatically locks when the head support is in position and automatically unlocks when pulled, making the entire process self-service.
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 provides a simple and effective method for adjusting and locking the head support, ensuring rattle-free operation and easy user control, while preventing unwanted rotation, thus enhancing user comfort and operational simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
the first arresting means (8) is configured such that it can travel over an angle of rotation about the horizontal axis (4) counter to the biasing force
Implementation Method 2
a first arresting means (8); and a second arresting means (9) that is disposed parallel to the horizontal axis (4) and is provided with arresting stages, wherein the arresting means, for an arresting of the head support (3) on the supporting body (2), is configured to engage, under the effect of a biasing force
Data Source
AI summary
A headrest for a vehicle. A supporting body is mounted on a backrest of the seat, and a head support is adjustable and arrestable relative to the supporting body along a horizontal axis. The headrest includes a first arresting mechanism and second arresting mechanism that is disposed parallel to the horizontal axis and is provided with arresting stages. For an arresting of the head support on the supporting body, the first arresting mechanism is configured to engage into the second arresting mechanism under the effect of a biasing force. The first arresting mechanism is further configured such that it can travel over an angle of rotation about the horizontal axis counter to the biasing force.