U.S. patent application number 11/414523 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for headrest for vehicle seats.
This patent application is currently assigned to GRAMMAR AUTOMOTIVE GMBH. Invention is credited to Doreen Otto, Detlef Schulz-Lekies.
Application Number | 20060250017 11/414523 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36778202 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060250017 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Otto; Doreen ; et
al. |
November 9, 2006 |
Headrest for vehicle seats
Abstract
The invention relates to a headrest (10) for a motor-vehicle
seat that is fixed on the backrest of a vehicle seat by means of at
least one support rod and that has a head cushion (13), the
headrest being provided with a base element (15) on which the
support rod (11) is provided. Object of the invention is to provide
a headrest (10) that allows movable adaptation to the adjustment
and equipment requirements of the individual vehicle types. A
solution to this object is provided by the fact that the base
element (15) has holding means (16, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33, 44) that
are independent of each other and can be optionally used in a
module-like manner for a respective application which allow the
mounting of supporting elements for the connecting element (11a,
11b) as well as the mounting of adjusting elements (22, 34, 35), in
particular for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment.
Inventors: |
Otto; Doreen; (Duisburg,
DE) ; Schulz-Lekies; Detlef; (Ratingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE FIRM OF KARL F ROSS
5676 RIVERDALE AVENUE
PO BOX 900
RIVERDALE (BRONX)
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Assignee: |
GRAMMAR AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
|
Family ID: |
36778202 |
Appl. No.: |
11/414523 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/894 20180201;
B60N 2/865 20180201; B60N 2/888 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/410 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/36 20060101
A47C007/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2005 |
DE |
102005020276.4 |
Claims
1. A headrest (10) for a motor-vehicle seat that is fixed on the
backrest of a vehicle seat by means of at least one connecting
element (11), such as headrest support rod, and possibly has a
cushion support (13) as well as a cushion (12) for the passenger's
head, the headrest (10) being provided with a base element (15) on
which is provided the connecting element (11) and possibly the
cushion support (13), characterized in that an identical structure
of the base element (15) is suitable for different applications,
the base element having holding means (16, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33, 44)
that are independent of each other and that can be optionally used
in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting
elements for the connecting element (11a, 11b) as well as the
mounting of adjusting elements (22, 34, 35), in particular for the
vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment.
2. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element (15) has additional holding means for fixing
functional elements such as headrest-airbag or loudspeaker.
3. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element (15) has a supporting device (16a, 16b) for the
connecting element (11a, 11b) that simultaneously allows a rigid
holding as well as a movable holding of the support rods (11a, 11b)
within the base element (15) for the height adjustment of the
headrest (10).
4. The headrest according to claim 3, characterized in that the
supporting device is formed by at least one supporting bush (16a,
16b) that is formed on the base element (15) as one piece.
5. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element (15) has holding means (23) for first latch means (24,
26, 25, 27) by means of which the cushion support (13) can be
locked in a desired height on the support rods (11a, 11b).
6. The headrest according to claim 5, characterized in that the
latch means (24, 26, 25, 27) are formed by snap-in elements (24,
25) that interact with snap-in notches (26, 27) of the support
rods.
7. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element (15) has positive latch means (36, 37) that prevent
twisting of the support rods (11a, 11b) within the base
element.
8. The headrest according to claim 7, characterized in that the
positive latch means are formed by a groove/spring connection (36,
37).
9. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element (15) has holding means (17, 18) for support of at
least one part of the cushion support (13) that is rigid as well as
movable in a seat direction.
10. The headrest according to claim 9, characterized in that the
holding means are formed by at least one opening (17a, 17b, 17c) in
the base element, the opening being surrounded in coaxial direction
by a supporting device (18a, 18b, 18c) for a columnar holding rod
(14a, 14b, 14c).
11. The headrest according to claim 10, characterized in that the
supporting device is formed by a supporting bush (18a, 18b, 18c)
that is formed on the base element (15).
12. The headrest according to claim 5, characterized in that the
cushion support has holding means (23) for second latch means (21)
by means of which the cushion support piece can be blocked in a
desired position in a seat direction on the base element (15).
13. The headrest according to claim 12, characterized in that the
second latch means are formed by snap-in elements (21) that
interact with snap-in notches (20) of the columnar holding rods
(14a, 14b, 14c).
14. The headrest according to claim 5 characterized in that the
first (24, 25) and/or the second (21) latch means are assigned to a
snap-in slide (22).
15. The headrest according to claim 14, characterized in that the
base element (24) has a receiving device (23) in which the snap-in
slide (22) is received in a guided manner.
16. The headrest according to claim 15, characterized in that the
holding device (23) in the base element (15) is designed such that
the snap-in slide (22) is movable between three positions in the
base element (15), wherein in a first position the snap-in means
(24, 26) for latch the support rods (11a, 11b) and the snap-in
means (21, 20) for latch the holding rods (14a, 14b) are engaged
and wherein in a second position the snap-in means (24, 26, 25, 27)
for latch the support rods are not engaged and the snap-in means
(21, 20) for latch the holding rods (14a, 14b) are engaged and
wherein in a third position the snap-in means (25, 27) for latch
the support rods (11a, 11b) are engaged and the snap-in means (21,
20) for latch the holding rods (14a, 14b) are not engaged.
17. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element (15) has seat means (32, 33) for at least one
adjusting device (34, 35) that allow an automatic adjustment of the
headrest in height, seat direction or an angle of the headrest
(10).
18. The headrest according to claim 17, characterized in that the
adjusting device (34) has means for latch the base element (15) in
the desired height.
19. The headrest according to claim 17, characterized in that the
adjusting device comprises a pinion gear that is driven by an
electric motor (34, 35) that interacts with an array of teeth that
is provided at least indirectly on the driven element, such as
support rod (11a, 11b) or guide rod (14a, 14b, 14c).
20. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
support rods (11a, 11b) are formed by a composite of materials,
each of the support rods (11a, 11b) having a metal core (46) that
is enclosed by a plastic sleeve (47).
21. The headrest according to claim 20, characterized in that
between metal core (46) and plastic sleeve (47) an antitwist latch
is provided.
22. The headrest according to claim 21, characterized in that the
antitwist latch is formed by complementary, interacting structures
within metal core (46) and plastic sleeve (47).
23. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
support rods (11a, 11b) are supported in the holding means (16a,
16b) of the base element (15) via a three-point bearing.
24. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element (15) is formed by a component that is rigid and has a
substantially planar surface.
25. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element (15) is designed as plastic or plastic composite
formed piece.
26. The headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that for
different applications, an identical structure of the base element
(15) has holding means (16, 17, 18, 23, 32, 33, 44) that are
independent of each other and that can be optionally used in a
module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting elements
for the connecting element (11a, 11b) as well as the mounting of
adjusting elements (22, 34, 35), in particular for the vertical,
horizontal and angle adjustment, at least one holding means
remaining empty.
27. The headrest system for a headrest according to claim 1,
characterized in that for different applications, an identical
structure of the base element (15) has holding means (16, 17, 18,
23, 32, 33, 44) that are independent of each other and that can be
optionally used in a module-like, manner that allow the mounting of
supporting elements for the connecting element (11a, 11b) as well
as the mounting of adjusting elements (22, 34, 35), in particular
for the vertical, horizontal and angle adjustment, in a first
headrest of the headrest system all holding means being used and in
a second headrest of the headrest system at least one holding means
remains empty.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a headrest for a motor-vehicle seat
according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Such a headrest is known from DE 029 450 60 C2. The known
headrest is provided with an angle adjustment such that it can be
swivelled about an axis Z. Furthermore, a height adjustment is
provided by means of which the cushion support can be adjusted in
height and thus can be adjusted at the level of the driver's
head.
[0003] From patent application DE 10 2004 059 237, a headrest is
known in which in addition to a height adjustment, an adjustment of
the headrest in a seat direction is possible.
[0004] However, these headrests of the prior art have in common
which they provide designs of the headrest that are absolutely
different from each other depending on the adjustment
possibilities, since the manufacturers of automobiles use headrests
having different adjustment and fixation possibilities for the
different vehicle types. Therefore, the headrests must be custom
made for the vehicle types. The known headrests therefore can be
improved, since a given headrest type only provides very special
adjustment possibilities or functional elements.
[0005] On the basis of the last mentioned prior art, it is
therefore an object of the invention to provide a headrest that
allows a movable adaptation to the adjustment and equipment
requirements of the individual vehicle types.
[0006] The object is resolved by means of the features of claim 1,
in particular with the characterizing features, according to which
an identical, i.e. unmodified structure of the base element can be
used for different applications, the base element having holding
means that are independent of each other and that can be optionally
used in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of supporting
elements for the connecting element as well as the mounting of
adjusting elements, in particular for the vertical, horizontal and
inclining adjustment.
[0007] The principle of the invention thus substantially consists
in the fact that a base element is provided that provides different
holding means for the optional mounting of different adjusting
elements or supporting elements. Such adjusting elements can for
example be latch elements or elements of an electric drive for a
height adjustment, an angle adjustment as well as an adjustment in
a seat direction and also setting devices for the automatic
adjustment of the headrest. Supporting elements can be elements by
means of which for example the base element is supported on the
supporting bars or the cushion support is supported in a seat
direction on the base element for adjustment.
[0008] The advantage of the headrest according to the invention
consists in the fact that the adjusting and supporting elements can
be used or not dependently on the requirements of the
application.
[0009] The variety of pieces in the fabrication is considerably
reduced in this way, that entails a reduction of fabrication and
storage costs. Moreover, there exists the possibility of
retrofitting particular headrest features, that was not possible in
the prior art.
[0010] According to a design of the invention, the base element has
additional holding means for fixing functional elements such as
headrest airbag or headrest loudspeaker. The base element is
therefore already provided with such mounts, so that the functional
elements can optionally and independently of each other be inserted
according to the respective headrest accessory. Such accessory
elements can be for example a headrest airbag, headrest loudspeaker
or microphone, a heating or the like.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the invention, the base
element has a supporting device for the connecting element that at
the same time enables a rigid as well as a movable holding of the
supporting bars for the height adjustment of the headrest. The
supporting bars accordingly can be received such that it can be
shifted or such that it cannot be shifted within the supporting
device. In the latter case, a height adjustment of the base element
is possible. In the first case of rigid holding, height adjustment
in guiding sleeves of the backrest can be provided or the headrest
is not adjustable in height.
[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base
element has holding means for first latch means by means of which
the base element can be locked on the supporting bars at a desired
height. This solution allows one to achieve a latch at the desired
height on an adjusting device provided on the base element. This
can for example be achieved by means of notches in the supporting
bars in which snap-in means engage that are provided at least
indirectly on the base element.
[0013] According to a further design of the invention, the base
element has positive latch means that prevent a twisting of the
supporting bars within the base element. A twisting of the
supporting bars could entail the fact that a snap-in or adjusting
device is no longer engaged with the snap-in notches that are
provided on the snap-in bar or the teeth. The headrest could then
be accidentally moved and would no longer fulfil its safety
function. For reasons of safety, possibility of twisting of the
supporting bars cannot be tolerated.
[0014] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
positive latch means are formed by a groove-spring connection. A
groove-spring connection can be easily fabricated and thus assures
in an economic manner a safe preventing of the twisting of the
supporting bars within the cushion support.
[0015] According to a further design of the invention, the base
element has holding means for a rigid support as well as a support
that is movable in a seat direction of at least one part of the
cushion support. Such movable support of the cushion support in a
seat direction is provided for disposing the cushion support
dependently on the passenger's sitting position as close to the
passenger's head as possible.
[0016] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
holding means are formed by at least one opening in the base
element, the opening being coaxially surrounded by a supporting
device for a columnar holding bar. In the case of supporting the
cushion support in a movable manner in a seat direction, the
columnar holding bar that is provided on the cushion support can be
moved within the recesses in a seat direction. Thus, the
adjustability of the cushion support is achieved. The supporting
device can for example be formed by a support sleeve that coaxially
surrounds the opening that is formed on the base element. In this
manner, one or more holding bars of the cushion support are guided
in a safe manner on the base element.
[0017] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
cushion support has holding means for second latch means by means
of which the cushion support can be blocked in a desired position
on the base element. Such latch means can for example be formed by
snap-in notches in the columnar holding bar that interact with
snap-in elements that are at least indirectly provided on the base
element.
[0018] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
first and/or the second latch means are assigned to a snap-in
slide. The snap-in slide provides a possibility of moving the locks
of the headrest in a seat direction as well as also in the height
adjustment between at least one releasing and at least one latch
position, this possibility being easily fabricated and
operated.
[0019] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base
element has a holding device in which the snap-in slide is received
in a guided manner. In case a height adjustment or an adjustment in
a seat direction or both is provided, a latch of the respective
adjustment direction can be easily achieved by means of the snap-in
slide. By means of such guiding, a defined way is assigned to the
snap-in slide in a simple manner, which is necessary for releasing
or for snapping in the respective lock. In the case of an
absolutely rigid headrest, the snap-in slide is not necessary, so
that the holding device within the base element remains empty.
[0020] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
holding device is designed such that the snap-in slide can be moved
between three positions in the base element, wherein in a first
position the snap-in means for latch the supporting bars and the
snap-in means for latch the holding bars are engaged and in a
second position the snap-in means for latch the supporting bars are
not engaged and the snap-in means for latch the holding bars are
engaged and wherein in a third position the snap-in means for latch
the supporting bars are engaged and the snap-in means for latch the
holding bars are not engaged. In this manner, it is possible to
effect a height adjustment or an adjustment in a seat direction,
only one adjusting device being released. While the headrest is
adjusted in one direction, the other direction will not be
unintentionally adjusted.
[0021] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base
element has means for holding at least one adjusting device that
enable an automatic adjustment of the headrest in a vertical
direction, in a seat direction or a twisting of the headrest. Due
to such adjustment device, the headrest does not have to be
adjusted manually but rather is actuated automatically. The
adjustment device can for example be formed by an electric motor
that drives a pinion wheel that interacts with an array of teeth
that is at least indirectly provided on the driven element such as
for example supporting bar or holding bar. A gear of the adjustment
device can have an automatic lock that leads to the situation
wherein the headrest is automatically locked in the respective
movement direction when the electric motor is not in operation.
[0022] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
supporting bars are formed of a composite material, each of the
supporting bars having a metal core that is enclosed by a plastic
sleeve. Whereas the supporting bar core has high rigidity and
breaking strength, it is possible to easily form snap-in notches,
teeth or antitwist latch formations on the sleeve.
[0023] According to a further embodiment of the invention, an
antitwist latch is provided between metal core and plastic sleeve.
In this manner, it is prevented that the snap-in notches that are
formed on the sleeve or teeth are disengaged from their
complementary structures and that the safety of the headrest no
longer can be assured.
[0024] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
antitwist latch is formed by complementary, interacting structures
in the supporting bar and sleeve. Thus, for example the supporting
bar can have a spline shaft structure, the notches being filled
with plastic.
[0025] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
supporting bars are supported in the holding means of the base
element by means of a three-point bearing. This way, for example
three bearing noses can be formed on the supporting bar.
Alternatively, it is possible that only two bearing noses are
provided and the third bearing nose is formed by a rib that is
provided in a notch in the bearing of the base element as an
antitwist latch.
[0026] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base
element is formed by a rigid component having a substantially
planar surface. This component can for example extend between the
supporting bars. The component can have stiffening ribs for
providing the necessary stiffness.
[0027] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base
element is designed as a plastic or a plastic composite formed
piece. In this manner, the base element can be easily formed and be
fabricated at low cost.
[0028] Moreover, the invention relates to a further headrest
according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular according to
one of claims 2 to 25.
[0029] Based on the aforementioned prior art as well as on the also
above-mentioned object, the solution results from the features of
claim 26, in particular from the features of the characterizing
part, according to which an identical structure of the base element
can be used in different applications, the base element having
holding means that are independent of each other and that can be
optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the mounting of
supporting elements for the connecting element as well as the
mounting of adjusting elements, in particular for the vertical,
horizontal and angle adjustment, at least one holding means remains
empty.
[0030] Holding means that remain empty can often occur in case of
complete equipping of the headrest for example due to the fact that
the use of a holding means excludes the use of a further holding
means. For example, a holding means for the mounting of the base
element on the supporting bars in the case of a height adjustment
in the backrest can remain unused if the height adjustment is
achieved by relative shifting of the base elements on the
supporting bars, that is, if a height adjustment is effected on the
headrest.
[0031] Moreover, the invention relates to a headrest system for a
headrest according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular
according to one of claims 2 to 25.
[0032] Based on the aforementioned prior art as well as the
aforementioned object, the solution results from the features of
claim 27, in particular from the features of the characterizing
part according to which an identical structure of the base element
can be used in different applications, the base element having
holding means that are independent of each other and that can be
optionally used in a module-like manner, that allow the fixing of
supporting elements for the connecting element as well as the
fixing of adjusting elements, in particular for the vertical,
horizontal and angle adjustment, wherein in a first headrest of the
headrest system all holding means are used and in a second headrest
of the headrest system at least one holding means remains
empty.
[0033] In case the use of one holding means does not exclude the
use of another holding means, the use of all holding means can be
provided in a headrest by means of the headrest system according to
the invention, whereas in another headrest of the headrest system,
particular holding means remain empty, for example because the
respective functions are not desired in the headrest.
[0034] Further advantages of the invention result from the uncited
subclaims as well as on the basis of the subsequent description of
examples of embodiments shown in the drawings. Therein:
[0035] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the headrest according to the
invention,
[0036] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the headrest according to the
invention without any adjustment and without cushion support,
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a headrest, the cushion support not being
shown, with height adjustment in the backrest,
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a headrest, the cushion support not being
shown, with height adjustment in the base element of the
headrest,
[0039] FIG. 5 shows a headrest according to FIG. 4 in exploded
view,
[0040] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a headrest according to
FIG. 4 with cushion support,
[0041] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the headrest according to
the arrows VII-VII in FIG. 1,
[0042] FIG. 8 shows a section according to the section line VIII of
FIG. 7,
[0043] FIG. 9 is a partially perspective representation of a
headrest that can be adjusted in height and in a seat direction
with unillustrated cushion support,
[0044] FIG. 10 is a representation of the headrest according to
FIG. 9 with partially shown cushion support and
[0045] FIG. 11 shows the headrest according to FIG. 10 with
motor-driven height adjustment and motor-driven adjustment in a
seat direction.
[0046] In the drawings, a headrest for a motor-vehicle seat is
referred to in total by the reference number 10. Identical
reference numbers, also with addition of lower-case letters in the
different figures, refer to similar parts.
[0047] In FIG. 1, a headrest 10 of this type is shown. The headrest
10 is mounted by means of two support rods 11a and 11b on a
unillustrated backrest of a vehicle. For the comfortable support of
a passenger's head, the headrest 10 has a head cushion 12.
[0048] In the simplest embodiment, the headrest 10 is not adjusted
at all, so that it is provided in an absolutely rigid manner in a
fixed position relative to the backrest. Such headrest 10 has a
base element 15 shown in FIG. 2. On the base element 15, two
support sleeves 16a and 16b are formed in which the support rods
11a and 11b are provided according to FIG. 8, as will be further
described in the following. Since no adjusting possibilities are
provided, in sleeve openings 18a, 18b and 18c there are no guide
rods 14 and also in the bearing 23, no snap-in slide 22 is
provided. The head cushion which is shown in FIG. 2 can be directly
fixed to the base element 15 or alternatively on a cushion support
13 (in FIG. 2 not shown as well), that itself is provided on the
base element 15. The base element 15 is rigidly fixed to the
support rods 11a and 11b, so that the support rods 11a and 11b
cannot be shifted within the support sleeves 16a and 16b.
[0049] According to a further embodiment, a base element 15 that is
fixed to the support rods in such rigid manner however can be
adjustable in height provided the support rods 11a and 11b are
received in guiding sleeves 43a and 43b according to FIG. 3 that
are fixed to a unillustrated seat structure of a backrest. A latch
at a desired height can be effected by providing for example a
snap-in element on the guiding sleeve 43b that cooperates with
unillustrated snap-in notches of the support rod 11b. By pressing
the button 48, the latch can be released and the headrest can be
adjusted as to height.
[0050] In the headrest 10 shown in the FIG. 4, height adjustment is
provided that is effected by moving the base element 15 in a
y-direction relative to the support rods 11a and 11b that are
provided in a fixed manner on the backrest structure. In a bearing
23 of the base element 15, a snap-in slide 22 that is shown in
detail in FIG. 5, is provided such that it can be displaced in a
translatory manner. The snap-in slide 22 can be moved in a positive
z-direction, opposite the force of a unillustrated spring element,
by means of an actuating element 30. In so doing, the snap-in
elements 25a and 25b (see FIG. 5) are no longer engaged with
snap-in notches 27a and 27b that are provided on the support rods
11a and 11b, so that a height adjustment of the headrest can be
effected. Since the headrest according to FIG. 4 does not provide
for adjustment in a seat direction, the snap-in elements 21a and
21b of the snap-in slide 22 do not do anything. For this reason as
well, no guide rods 14a, 14b and 14c are inserted into the openings
17a, 17b and 17c of the base element 15. In the headrest according
to FIG. 4 as well, the head cushion 12 can either be directly
attached to the base element 15 or on a cushion support 13 as well
(see FIG. 6).
[0051] In a further embodiment of the headrest according to FIG. 9,
height adjustment as well as an adjustment of the headrest 10 in a
seat direction is provided. The height adjustment of the headrest
10 itself is effected by a relative movement of the base element 15
to the support rods 11a and 11b that are provided firmly attached
to the back structure. In this headrest according to FIG. 7, the
cushion support 13 is guided in a movable manner on the base
element 15 in lengthwise x-direction via columnar guide rods 14a,
14b, 14c. Thus, the headrest 10 can also be adjusted in a seat
direction x and be adapted to the position of the passenger's head.
The guide rods 14a, 14b and 14c thereby reach through openings 17a,
17b and 17c in the base element 15 and are supported in a sliding
manner on a formed-on-sleeve opening 18a, 18b and 18c, as shown in
FIG. 7 and FIG. 10.
[0052] The guide rods 14a, 14b and 14c are received with their ends
in bearings 28 and 29 of the cushion support 13. The cushion
support 13 has two shells 13a and 13b (see FIG. 7). For attaching
the shell 13a to the further shell 13b, the shell 13a is provided
with molded-on clasp elements 41 (see FIG. 6) that engage in a
positive-latch manner in unillustrated snap-in notches of the shell
half 13b. The cushion support 13 is provided with a head cushion 12
as shown in FIG. 7.
[0053] To latch the cushion support 13 in a desired position in
lengthwise x-direction on the base element 15, the guide rods 14a
and 14b have snap-in notches 20a and 20b that interact with snap-in
elements 21a and 21b of a snap-in slide 22 and thus prevent
movement of the cushion support 13 in a lengthwise x-direction.
Furthermore, snap-in elements 24a and 24b as well as 25a and 25b
are formed on the snap-in slide 22 that interact with snap-in
notches 26a and 26b as well as 27a and 27b on both sides of each
support rod 11, as it will be further described below. The snap-in
notches 27a and 27b are only shown in FIG. 5. They are on the side
of the support rods 11a and 11b that is opposite to the snap-in
notches 26a and 26b and are present in a number that is equal to
that of the snap-in notches 26a and 26b.
[0054] In this manner, the headrest 10 can be locked in height as
well as in lengthwise direction x by means of the snap-in slide 22
and can be released for adjustment. To this end, the snap-in slide
22 can be moved between three positions: a first position, in which
height adjustment and longitudinal adjustment are locked, a second
position in which height adjustment is released and longitudinal
adjustment remains locked as well as a third position where height
adjustment is locked but longitudinal adjustment remains
released.
[0055] The snap-in slide 22 is supported in a sliding manner in a
bearing 23 of the base element 15 and can be moved in a translatory
manner in the z-direction. The snap-in slide 22 is only necessary
if a height adjustment or a lengthwise x-adjustment of the headrest
10 or both is provided. In a headrest 10 that is absolutely rigid
or that has a height adjustment according to FIG. 3 in the backrest
or only an angle adjustment, a snap-in slide 22 is not provided.
The bearing 23 of the base element 15 in this case is not used.
[0056] An unillustrated spring element is provided on the snap-in
slide 22 that loads the snap-in slide 22 such that the snap-in
elements 21a and 21b as well as 25a and 25b are engaged with the
snap-in notches 20a and 20b or 27a and 27b according to FIG. 9. In
the first position of the snap-in slide 22, the snap-in elements
21a, 21b are engaged with one of the snap-in notches 20a and 20b of
the guide rods 14a and 14b and prevent movement of the cushion
support 13 in the lengthwise x-direction. The snap-in elements 25a
and 25b respectively engage with one of the snap-in notches 27a,
27b on the left side of the support rods 11 and thus prevent
adjustment of the base element 15 with respect to height (direction
Y).
[0057] By means of pressure exerted upon an actuation element 30
that is fixed to the flange 40 of the snap-in slide 22, the latter
is moved in the positive z-direction against the force of the
unillustrated spring element from the first position into the
second position, which is indicated to the user by engagement of a
further spring element 31 (see FIG. 5) that is formed on the
snap-in slide 22 with the inner wall of the receiving shaft 23 in
the base element 15. In this second position of the snap-in slide
22, the snap-in elements 25a, 25b are not engaged with the snap-in
notches 27a and 27b, so that a height adjustment is possible. The
snap-in elements 21a and 21b however remain engaged with
respectively one of the snap-in notches 20a, 20b.
[0058] The snap-in notches 20 are deeper than the snap-in notches
26, so that the adjustment travel of the snap-in slide 22 from
position 1 to position 2 releases the height adjustment, but not
the lengthwise adjustment. When the snap-in slide 22 is moved
opposite to the blocking of the unillustrated first spring as well
as the additional blocking of the spring element 31 in positive
z-direction into the third position, the snap-in elements 21 are no
longer engaged with the snap-in notches of the guide rods 14. In
this position the snap-in elements 24a and 24b are engaged with the
snap-in notches 26a and 26b, so that a height adjustment is not
possible and that on the contrary, lengthwise adjustment is
possible.
[0059] For adjustment of the headrest 10 to be effected in height
as well as in a seat direction x not only in a manual manner but
also in an automatic manner, seats 32 and 33 are provided on the
base element 15, in which in the embodiment of the headrest 10
according to FIG. 10, an electric drive 34 as well as a further
electric drive 35 for the adjustment of the headrest 10 in a seat
direction x is received. The automatic height adjustment can be
provided as an unillustrated pinion wheel that is provided on the
electric drive 34 that fits with an array of teeth that is
unillustrated as well and that is provided at least indirectly on
the support rod. In the same manner, automatic adjustment in a seat
direction by means of an electric drive 35 can be achieved.
[0060] Since in a height adjustment of the headrest 10 the position
of the headrest is assured by the fact that the snap-in notches 20
safely engage with the snap-in elements, twisting of the support
rods 11 must be prevented, because such twisting would cause the
snap-in elements 21 and snap-in elements 20 to be disengaged and
the headrest 10 to be unintentionally adjusted in height. In this
case, the headrest 10 would not be able to fulfil its safety
function. According to FIG. 8, the support rods 11 are therefore
provided with a rib 36 that engages with a longitudinal slot 37
that is formed on the inner surface 38 of the support sleeves 16a,
16b.
[0061] FIG. 8 also shows that the support rods are fabricated as a
composite structure and have a metal core 46 that is surrounded by
a plastic sleeve 47. In this manner, the ribs 36 as well as bearing
noses 39a and 39b can be formed on the support rods 11a and 11b
more easily. The bearing noses 39 have the purpose of easy height
adjustment of the headrest 10. By means of the bearing noses 39 and
the rib 36, the support rods 11a and 11b have a three-point bearing
by means of which it is supported within the holding sleeves 16a
and 16b. In this manner, there is only low frictional resistance to
height adjustment.
[0062] It is to be mentioned once more that all described
embodiments of the headrest 10 have the same base element 15 whose
holding means can solely be used depending on the desired
adjustability or function with additional components in a modular
manner.
* * * * *