Seat-Mounted Upper Body Support for Long Drives

This is a 3D-printed seat-mounted shoulder/upper-body support designed for long drives and road trips. It hooks over the upper back side of the car seat/headrest area and extends forward to support the upper body from under the shoulders.

The idea is to reduce the load on the back during long driving sessions by letting part of the upper body weight rest on the printed shoulder hooks. For my own road trips, this design has greatly reduced my back pain(my back even feels better than before after a long drive).

The model is especially useful for drivers with back issues. 

The Fusion 360 source file is included, so it can be customized to fit your own seat and body size.

For comfort, I strongly recommend adding foam padding to the shoulder-contact areas. Without padding, the hooks may cause some numbness or pressure under the shoulders during long use.

The rear and the front shoulder-support arm are connected with mechanical screws instead of being printed as one rigid piece. This makes the structure stronger at the joint and allows angle adjustment, helping the model fit different body shapes. I used #10 × 1 in. screws for my print.

Do not print this in PLA or PETG. A parked car interior can become very hot, and even PETG will soften and deform. ABS or ASA is recommended because they handle car-cabin heat much better.

Print with extra walls can support more body weight. But use this model with caution. This is a DIY 3D printed comfort accessory, not a certified safety device. Plastic can break under sudden force, especially during an accident. I intentionally prefer plastic over metal because it may break instead of becoming a rigid metal hazard, but broken plastic can still be sharp or dangerous. Use at your own risk, drive carefully, and do not use it in a way that interferes with driving.