U.S. patent application number 11/553623 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-01 for dynamic headrest.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEAR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to H. Winston Maue, John F. Nathan, Oliver Young.
Application Number | 20080100118 11/553623 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38829763 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080100118 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Young; Oliver ; et
al. |
May 1, 2008 |
DYNAMIC HEADREST
Abstract
A dynamic headrest having a capabilities to move forwardly
during an accident or other suitable condition so as to limit
injuries to an occupant's head. The headrest optionally including
an actuator configured to move the headrest forwardly in respond to
rotary motion of a rotary member.
Inventors: |
Young; Oliver; (Grosse
Pointe, MI) ; Nathan; John F.; (White Lake, MI)
; Maue; H. Winston; (Northville, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C. / LEAR CORPORATION
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075-1238
US
|
Assignee: |
LEAR CORPORATION
Southfield
MI
|
Family ID: |
38829763 |
Appl. No.: |
11/553623 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/404 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/888 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/404 |
International
Class: |
A47C 1/10 20060101
A47C001/10 |
Claims
1. A dynamic headrest for use with a vehicle seat having an
occupant, the headrest comprising: a moveable shell configured to
support a head of the occupant; an actuator configured to move the
shell forwardly, the actuator having a rotary motion resulting in
linear displacement of the shell; wherein the actuator includes a
rotary member configured to rotate about a central axis in order to
provide the rotary motion and a cam follower configured to move
forwardly away from the central axis against a front face of the
shell in order to impart the linear displacement; and wherein the
rotary member includes a cam configured to rotate about an end of
the cam follower such that the rotary motion of the cam causes the
cam to engage the cam follower in such as manner as to impart the
linear displacement to the shell.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The headrest of claim 1 wherein the cam follower is fixed to the
shell and the rotary member is fixed to a headrest support
post.
5. The headrest of claim 4 wherein the cam follower is not fixed to
the rotary member.
6. The headrest of claim 1 wherein the rotary member includes a
spring configured to rotate about the central axis, the spring
having a locked and unlocked state, the locked state corresponding
with kinetic energy of the spring being stored and the unlocked
state corresponding with kinetic energy of the spring being
released, the cam configure to rotate with actuation of the spring
from the locked to unlocked state.
7. The headrest of claim 6 wherein the rotary member is configured
to reload the spring to the locked state in response to rearward
movement of the shell.
8. The headrest of claim 1 further comprising a support post to
support the shell, the shell moving forwardly along a portion of
the support post during the linear displacement.
9. The headrest of claim 1 wherein the actuator includes a guide
operable with the shell to guide movement of the shell.
10. The headrest of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism
configured to prevent rearward movement of the headrest.
11. A resettable headrest system comprising: a moveable shell
configured to support a head of the occupant; an actuator having a
spring rotationally wound about an axis, the actuator configured to
release the wound spring such that the spring rotationally unwinds
about the axis in order to provide force for automatically moving
the shell forwardly, the actuator being resettable with rearward
movement of the shell to rewind the spring about the axis for
subsequent use in providing force for automatically moving the
shell forwardly; and wherein the shell includes guides that slide
along headrest support posts when the actuator moves the shell
forwardly, the headrest support posts connecting the headrest to a
seat back.
12. The headrest of claim 11 wherein the actuator includes a rotary
member configured to rotate about a central axis in order to
provide rotary motion and a cam follower configured to move
forwardly away from the central axis against a front face of the
shell.
13. The headrest of claim 12 wherein the rotary member includes a
cam having a cam portion shaped to rotate about an end of the cam
follower such that the rotary motion of the cam causes the cam
portion to engage the cam follower in such as manner as to impart
linear displacement to the shell.
14. The headrest of claim 13 wherein the cam follower is fixed to
the shell and the rotary member is fixed to a headrest support
post.
15. (canceled)
16. The headrest of claim 11 further comprising a locking mechanism
must be unlocked to permit rearward movement of the headrest.
17. A dynamic headrest for use with a vehicle seat having a
controller configured to anticipate an impending accident and to
issue a signal in response thereto, the headrest comprising: a
moveable shell configured to support a head of an occupant; an
actuator configured to move the shell forwardly upon receipt of the
signal wherein the actuator includes a number of gears configured
to cooperate with a lever that engages the gears to prevent
occupant impact from moving the shell rewardly an element connected
to the lever and extending beyond the headrest, the element being
retractable to disengage the lever from the teeth.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. The headrest of claim 17 wherein the actuator is configured to
reload the spring if the lever is lifted and the shell is moved
rearwardly.
21. (canceled)
22. The headrest of claim 17 wherein the lever successively changes
from one gear to the next as the actuator moves the shell
forwardly.
23. The headrest of claim 17 wherein the actuator includes a rotary
actuated spring to move the shell forwardly.
24. The headrest of claim 23 wherein the actuator is configured
such that rotary motion of the spring moves the headrest
linearly.
25. The headrest of claim 17 wherein the actuator includes a
torsion spring to move the shell.
26. The headrest of claim 11 wherein the guides slide along a
portion of the headrest support posts that is bent at an angle
relative to a downwardly extending portion of the headrest support
post that connects to the seat back.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to dynamic headrests of the
type that move towards the head of a seat occupant when
actuated.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] On Jan. 4, 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) published a Notice for Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) regarding the upgraded requirements and changes to Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 202. The proposals focused on
vehicle head restraints, which became final rule FMVSS 202A that
took effect Sep. 1, 2005. One aspect of this rule relates to
dynamic headrest. Accordingly, a need exists to provide a dynamic
headrest that meets the FMVSS requirements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention is pointed out with particularity in
the appended claims. However, other features of the present
invention will become more apparent and the present invention will
be best understood by referring to the following detailed
description in conjunction with the accompany drawings in
which:
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a dynamic headrest seating system in
accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present
invention;
[0007] FIGS. 2-3 illustrates views of the headrest in accordance
with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 4a-b illustrate a partial view of an actuator in
accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention;
and
[0009] FIG. 5 illustrates a component view of the actuator in
accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a dynamic headrest seating system 10 in
accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention.
The system 10 may be associated with a vehicle (not shown) having a
vehicle seat 12 and controller (not shown). The vehicle seat may
include a dynamic headrest 14 having capabilities to facilitate
moving forwardly in response to signals received from the
controller. The forward movement of the headrest may be suitable to
satisfy the above-identified FMVSS requirements.
[0011] The controller may be configured to instigate or otherwise
coordinate actuation of the headrest 14 as a function of any number
of vehicle operating conditions associated with a need to impart
such movement and/or may the headrest may be directly actuate with
signals form system associated with sensing pre/post-crash
conditions, i.e., without processing by the controller. The
controller may communicate, monitor, or otherwise interface with
any number of vehicle elements suitable for use in assessing
conditions suitable to actuation of the headrest, such as but not
limited to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,060, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.
[0012] The controller may rely on pre-crash information gleaned
from radar detectors, navigation elements, vehicle-to-vehicle
warnings, and the like when assessing a need to actuate the
headrest. This and other information may be helpful in actuating
the headrest prior to or in anticipation of an impending accident
or other incident suitable for headrest actuation.
[0013] The controller may rely on information received from an
accelerometer, air bag deployment sensor, and crash sensors when
assessing a need to actuate the headrest. The accelerometer may
indicate a rapid acceleration or other change in vehicle operation
conditions commonly associated with an accident or other conditions
suitable for actuating the headrest 14. The air bag deployment
sensor may indicate deployment of the air bag due to a crash or
other event. Such crash-based or other vehicle movement based
information may be helpful in actuating the headrest after an
accident or other incident suitable for headrest deployment.
[0014] The present invention contemplates any number of conditions
for actuating the headrest and is not intended to be limited to the
foregoing. The foregoing describes electronically determined
operations and actuating the headrest 14 with signals generated by
the controller as a function thereof. The present invention fully
contemplates non-electronic or mechanical means and methods for
actuating the headrest 14, such as but not limited to other means
similarly or not similarly associated with the foregoing pre-crash
and post-crash conditions. For example, the headrest 14 may include
capabilities to facilitate moving forwardly in response to signals
received from pre-crash or post crash conditions, such as but not
limited to conditions measured with an accelerometer, manual
actuation via occupant acceleration, and/or electromechanical
actuation transforming occupant acceleration into electronic
actuation.
[0015] The system 10 is described with respect to automobiles and
other vehicles where it may be desirable to actuation the headrest
14 in response to or in expectation of an accident or other
suitable operating condition. The present invention, however, is
not intended to be limited to vehicles and actuating the headrest
14 in response to accidents. The present invention contemplates
using the dynamic headrest 14 of the present invention in any
number of non-automotive or non-vehicular applications.
[0016] FIGS. 2-3 illustrates views of the headrest 14 in accordance
with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention. The views
illustrate an actuator 16 and headrest shell 18 in a pre-actuation
position (solid) and actuated position (phantom). The actuator 16
may be configured to impart a rotary motion that results in linear
displacement of the shell 18 in a forwardly direction, i.e., toward
the occupant's head. One non-limiting aspect of this invention
relates to a rotary member 24 24 having a cam 26 and cam follower
28 configured through an interference movement or direct cam
follower attachment movement. Another non-limiting aspect may be
off-set cams which provide variable displacement versus cam surface
rotation.
[0017] The actuator 16 may store kinetic energy such that the
kinetic energy is released or fired in order to rapidly actuate the
headrest 14 in a forwardly direction towards the occupants head. In
this manner, the gap between the passenger's head and the headrest
14 is decreased so as to limit neck and head injuries during
accidents and other operating conditions. A locking mechanism 34
may be included to prevent the occupant's head from rewardly moving
the forwardly deployed headrest. The locking mechanism may include
a spring biased locking lever 36 configured to interact with a gear
38 on the rotary member 24 (See FIGS. 4a-b) such that the headrest
14 is prohibited from moving rearwardly without unlocking the
locking mechanism 34 with retraction of a cable 40 connected to the
lever.
[0018] The actuator 16 may comprise any type of actuator suitable
to facilitate moving the headrest forwardly and is not necessarily
limited to the illustrated actuator. With respect to the
illustrated actuator 16, however, it may correspond with the
trigger assembly described in U.S. patent application corresponding
with U.S. Ser. No. 11/472,203 that utilizes a smart memory alloy
(SMA) trigger 44 to actuate to the rotary member 24, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.
[0019] The actuator 16 may include a plate 46 for supporting a
rotary member 24. The plate 24 may be used to connect the rotary
member 24 to a cross-bar portion 50 of a headrest support post 52
such that the rotary member 24 is fixed to the post. The shell 18
may include a relief 55, 57 for riding within a laterally extending
portion of the support post 52. The shell 18 may be free to
displace relative to the laterally extending portion of the support
post 52 such that it displaces in a linear direction toward the
seat occupant's head with actuation of the rotary member 24, as
shown in FIGS. 2-3.
[0020] The actuator 16 may include the cam follower 28 connected to
a front face of the shell 18, integrally molded thereto, and/or
otherwise in communication therewith the facilitate its linear
displacement. The cam follower 28 may be moved forwardly with
actuation of the rotary member 24. The rotary member 24 may include
the cam 26 having a cam portion 56 configured to facilitate
linearly moving the shell 18 forwardly about the support post with
rotary action of the cam 26. The cam 26 may include a relief with
side walls 58 to engage and position the cam follower 28
thereto.
[0021] The cam portion 56 may be arcuate in shape such that rotary
motion of the cam 26 causes the cam follower 28 to displace
linearly at a fixed elevation. The displacement of the cam follower
28 may result in the shell 18 moving forwardly about the laterally
extending portion of the support post 52 towards the occupant's
head. In this manner, the movement of the headrest 14 towards the
passenger is defined relative to the support post 52 used to
support the headrest.
[0022] The support post 52 may be connected to a receiving unit
(not shown) within the seat back. The support post 52 may be
vertically or otherwise positioned relative to the seat back and
the occupant's head so that actuation of the shell 18 corresponds
with desired positioning of the headrest relative to the occupant's
head. The support post 52 may be used to position the headrest 14
to any number of locations relative to the occupant's head and with
mechanical or non-mechanical operations.
[0023] The shell 18 may include grooves 60-62 or channels 64
operable with posts 66-68 and guide 70 of the support plate 46. The
posts and guides may extend into the channels of the shell to
stabilize movement of the shell relative to the plate. This may be
helpful to assure that both ends of the shell 18 move forwardly
towards the passenger during actuation. The posts and guides may
also be helpful in facilitation assembly of the headrest, and in
particular, alignment of the shell relative to the actuator.
[0024] FIG. 4a-b illustrate a partial view of the actuator 16 in
accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates the actuator 16 in a loaded or non-actuate state
and FIG. 5 illustrates the actuator 16 in an unloaded or actuated
state. As shown, the elevation of the cam follower 28 remains
substantially fixed during the rotary motion of the cam 26 such
that the shell 18 is moved forwardly at a corresponding fixed
elevation.
[0025] The cam follower 28 may be affixed to an inside face of the
shell such that the positioning of the shell relative to the
support post 52 is sufficient to secure the cam follower 28
relative to the cam without requiring a permanent mechanical
connection between the cam follower and the cam and/or without
requiring the side walls 58. This lack of engagement may be helpful
in facilitating manufacturing of the headrest as the assembler need
only position the shell 18 relative to the rotary member 24, as
opposed to having to secure a permanent mechanical connection
between the same.
[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a component view of the actuator 16 in
accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention.
The movement of the actuator 16 may be associated with a power
spring 80 configured to impart rotary action to the cam. The power
spring may be mounted relative to a reference plate 82 that is
fixed to plate 46 and used to define a central axis 84 of the
actuator 16, as described in the above-reference patent
application. The spring 80 may be biased in a counter-clockwise
direction such that it is loaded or otherwise configured to store
its kinetic energy for subsequent release.
[0027] The actuator may be actuated with the trigger retracting a
trigger plate 86 and spring 88 to release an engagement fit between
balls 90-94 and the cam 26. The release of the cam 26 allows the
power spring 80 to rotate in a clockwise direction, and thereby
cause the cam 26 to rotate about the reference plate 82 in order to
impart the linear displacement to cam follower 28. The release and
actuation of the rotary member 24 may correspond with the release
and actuation of the trigger assembly included in U.S. Ser. No.
11/472,203.
[0028] From the actuated position (phantom), the rotary member 24
may be reloaded for subsequent actuation by simply pushing
rearwardly on the headrest shell 18. The rearward movement restores
the power spring 80 to its loaded position. If the illustrated
locking mechanism 34 is included, it may need to be unlocked in
order to permit the rearward movement. The illustrated locking
mechanism 34 is shown for exemplary purposes and without intending
to limit the scope and contemplation of the present invention. The
locking mechanism 34 may be replaced with any device having
suitable capabilities for preventing rearward movement of headrest
14, and which may or may not require unlocking in order to reset
the headrest 14.
[0029] The ability to reload the rotary member 24, or more
particularly the power spring, allows the present invention to
provide a resettable dynamic headrest assembly. This may be
advantageous in allowing the headrest to be repeatable reloaded
over time without having to be replaced. This may be further
advantageous over pyrotechnic or other so called `limited use`
headrest that require replacement of pyrotechnic devices (air bag)
or other more involved processes to reset the headrest.
[0030] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis
for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one
skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
[0031] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and
describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words
used in the specification are words of description rather than
limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *