U.S. patent application number 11/771368 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-01 for head restraint system for a vehicle seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEAR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Jeff A. Kempf, Alan Sturt, Mark S. Weaver.
Application Number | 20090001792 11/771368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40159526 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090001792 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sturt; Alan ; et
al. |
January 1, 2009 |
HEAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE SEAT
Abstract
A vehicle seat 10 is disclosed with a seatback frame 18 and an
actuator 20 for supporting an occupant. A head restraint 16 extends
from the seatback frame 18 for supporting the head of the occupant.
The head restraint 16 is movable from a rest position 24 to a
deployed position 26. In one embodiment, a two-bar mechanism 22 is
housed partially within the head restraint 16. A linkage 30 extends
between the mechanism 22 and the actuator 20. When the actuator 20
receives an input force from the occupant in response to an impact,
the linkage 30 actuates the head restraint 16 to the deployed
position by cooperative movement of the two-bar mechanism 22.
Inventors: |
Sturt; Alan; (West
Bloomfield, MI) ; Weaver; Mark S.; (Auburn Hills,
MI) ; Kempf; Jeff A.; (Romeo, 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: |
40159526 |
Appl. No.: |
11/771368 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/284.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/888 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/284.4 |
International
Class: |
A47C 3/00 20060101
A47C003/00 |
Claims
1. A vehicle seat comprising: a seatback frame with a lumbar
support for supporting a back of an occupant; a head restraint
extending from the seatback frame for supporting the head of the
occupant; a mechanism having one or more bars that is housed at
least partially within the head restraint so that the head
restraint is movable from a rest position to a deployed position;
an actuator; and a linkage extending between the mechanism and the
actuator so that when the actuator receives an input force from the
occupant in response to an impact, the linkage actuates the
mechanism to the deployed position.
2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the mechanism moves to the
deployed position in response to the input force exerted by the
seatback against the occupant.
3. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the mechanism comprises: a
slider plate that can move upwardly or downwardly in relation to a
pair of posts that extend from the seatback frame; a first bar
having a lower end pivotably connected to the slider plate; a
second bar having a lower end pivotably connected to the slider
plate; a support plate that is pivotably connected between upper
ends of the first and second bars; and an arm having a lower end
that is pivotably connected to the first bar for limiting arcuate
displacement of the first and second bars.
4. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the linkage includes a
connector.
5. The vehicle seat of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member
cooperating with the mechanism for maintaining the head restraint
in a rest position in the absence of an impact that exceeds a
predetermined load.
6. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operatively
connected via the linkage to the mechanism for actuating the
mechanism.
7. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the head restraint is
slidably connected to the seatback frame.
8. The vehicle seat of claim 3 wherein the first bar and the second
bar cooperate with the slider plate for displacing the support
plate forwardly and downwardly, and for actuating the head
restraint to the deployed position.
9. The vehicle seat of claim 3 further comprising: a detent
mechanism located between the slider plate and at least one of the
pair of posts which allows manual forward adjustment of the
headrest by pulling it to a desired position.
10. The vehicle seat of claim 9 further including: a release button
that is located adjacent to the detent mechanism, the release
button permitting disengagement from the detent thereby permitting
movement of the headrest to a rearward position.
11. A vehicle seat comprising: a seatback frame with a lumbar
support for supporting a back of an occupant; a head restraint
extending from the seatback frame for supporting the head of the
occupant, the head restraint being movable from a rest position to
a deployed position; a mechanism that is housed partially within
the head restraint and is biased to an actuated position but is
releasably secured in a design position before impact; an actuator;
and a linkage extending between the mechanism and the actuator so
that when the actuator receives an input force from the occupant in
response to an impact, the linkage actuates the head restraint to
the deployed position by cooperative movement of the mechanism.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to head restraints for vehicle
seats.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Vehicle seats are often provided with headrests or head
restraints that translate from a rest to a deployed position in
response to a force imparted to the seat by an occupant during an
impact condition. One example of a vehicle seat having a movable
head restraint is disclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0071518, which
published on Jun. 24, 2004.
[0005] Several anti-whiplash mechanisms are available today that
are not adjustable. Others may require a clamshell or elastic
material with which to encapsulate the mechanism. Such approaches
are bulky and make it difficult to match the style of the head
restraint to that of the seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention includes a vehicle seat comprised of a
seatback frame for supporting the back of an occupant. A head
restraint extends from the seatback frame for supporting the head
of the occupant. In one embodiment, a two-bar mechanism that is
operably connected to the head restraint receives an input force
from the occupant in response to an impact and actuates the head
restraint to the deployed position. Thus, the head restraint is
movable from a rest position to a deployed position before or in
response to an impacting force that exceeds a nominal value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a quartering perspective view of the invention
that depicts a vehicle seat with a seatback frame for supporting
the back of an occupant and a head restraint that extends from the
seatback frame;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a quartering perspective, partially broken away
view of a two-bar mechanism that is supported between two headrest
posts, the two-bar mechanism being depicted in a rest or design
position;
[0009] FIG. 3 resembles the view of FIG. 2, except that the two-bar
mechanism is depicted in a deployed or actuated position;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG.
2;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3;
and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a view that resembles FIG. 5 with the head
restraint cover material shown in phantom.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] 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.
[0014] In FIG. 1, a vehicle seat is illustrated in accordance with
the present invention and is referenced generally by numeral 10.
The vehicle seat includes a seat bottom 12 secured to a floor of
the associated vehicle for seating an occupant. A seatback 14
extends from and is secured relative to the seat bottom 12 for
supporting the back of the occupant. The seat 10 also includes a
head restraint 16 extending above the seatback 14 for supporting
the head of the occupant.
[0015] In one embodiment, the seatback 14, which is illustrated
with a cover and padding removed for depicting internal components,
includes a frame 18 for providing structural support for the
seatback 14. The seatback may include a trigger mechanism before
actuating one or more impact response devices within the seat
(hereinafter "actuator mechanism"), generally depicted by the
reference 20 (FIG. 1). One such actuator mechanism is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,894, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Such a device includes mechanical or electronic triggering devices.
Upon receipt of an impact to the actuator mechanism 20, such as a
body of the occupant that exceeds a predetermined force, the
actuator mechanism 20 actuates a linkage 30. In a manner to be
described, the output of the linkage 30 may be communicated to a
mechanism having one or more bars, such as a two-bar mechanism 22
in the head restraint 16. This results in the head restraint 16
being translated forwardly relative to the seatback 14. Thus, at
one end of the linkage 30 lies the actuator mechanism 20 (driving
end). At the other end of the linkage 30 is a driven end. The
driven end in some embodiments is a two-bar mechanism 22. That
mechanism 22 is housed at least partially within the head restraint
16.
[0016] In some embodiments, the mechanism 22 is molded into a thin
profile, self-contained plastic shell, that in one embodiment
permits a thin one-piece foam and trim cover to be applied over
it.
[0017] After the impact, the linkage 30 actuates the head restraint
16 to the deployed position by cooperative movement of components
within the two-bar mechanism 22.
[0018] In some embodiments (FIGS. 2-5), the two-bar mechanism 22
comprises a slider plate 28 that can move upwardly or downwardly in
relation to a pair of headrest posts 62 that extend from the
seatback frame 18. Optionally, the slider plate 28 may be
fabricated in plastic and can be snapped on to the headrest posts
62.
[0019] The mechanism 22 includes a first bar 38 having a lower end
that is pivotably connected to the slider plate 28 that can move
upwardly or downwardly in relation to the headrest posts 62. In
some embodiments, a first bar 38 having a lower end is pivotably
connected to the slider plate 28. A second bar 40 has a lower end
that is also pivotably connected to the slider plate 28. In some
embodiments, the first bar or the second bar or both may assume an
L-shaped cross section, although the invention is not so limited. A
support plate 42 is pivotably connected between the upper ends 44,
48 of the first 38 and second 40 bars.
[0020] The various components of a two-bar link mechanism 22 have
alternative cross sections. For example, in FIG. 2, the first bar
38 is illustrated as having a U-shaped cross section. It will be
appreciated that in alternate embodiments, the first bar (or the
second bar for that matter) may have a cross section that is
rounded, but it will be understood that any suitable cross section
may be deployed. In the design position (FIG. 2) the first bar 38
is illustrated as being received within the second bar 40.
Alternatively, either the first or the second bar to be presented
in rod-form or tubular. In this case, the mating bar could be
shaped in a complimentary channel-shaped form.
[0021] If desired, the support plate 42 that extends between the
upper ends of the first and second bars 38, 40 can include an
elastomeric or padded material.
[0022] Preferably, an arm 52 (FIGS. 4-5) extends between a cross
member 64 that extends between the headrest posts 62 and a pivot
point that is located at an intermediate region of the first bar
38. The arm 52 controls the movement of first bar 38, second bar
40, and the support plate 42 when the support plate 42 is driven
away from headrest posts 62 during actuation. It will be
appreciated that the extent of arcuate displacement of the two-bar
mechanism 22 can be influenced, among other ways, by the location
at which the arm 52 is pivotably connected to the first bar 38.
[0023] In some embodiments, the linkage 30 includes an elongate
wire or rod or cable or other connector (collectively "connector")
that extends between the actuator mechanism 20 and the two-bar
mechanism 22.
[0024] Preferably, a biasing member 70 cooperates with the two-bar
mechanism 22 for maintaining the head restraint 16 in a rest
position in the absence of an impact that exceeds a predetermined
load.
[0025] Optionally, the system allows the head restraint to be
adjusted forwardly and aft as desired. This can be accomplished by
use of a detent mechanism between the slider plate 28 and a
headrest post 62 which allows manual forward adjustment of the
headrest by pulling it to the desired position. Movement to a rear
position can be accomplished by a release button adjacent to the
detent mechanism on the slider plate 28.
[0026] The device can optionally activate the head restraint
upwardly or downwardly so as to accommodate multiple deployment
solutions. Thus, the invention can be adjustable to meet individual
vehicle specifications. In several embodiments, for example, the
invention can be installed on the second or third row seats.
[0027] Thus, the disclosed invention is a small manageable package
that is easy to install.
[0028] Thus, there has been disclosed an integrated anti-whiplash
device that has an energy-activated head restraint 16. The
restraint 16 moves forwardly to support the occupant's head in the
event of a rear impact. The mechanism that drives the forward (and,
in some embodiments, downward) motion of the head restraint uses a
two-bar link mechanism 22 which is molded into a thin profile,
self-contained plastic shell 74 (FIG. 6). This plastic shell 74 in
some embodiments is surrounded by a thin one piece foam and a trim
cover.
[0029] 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.
* * * * *