Power head restraint flexible closeout cover

• US 10,144,321 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Line, Johnathan Andrew, Hosbach, Christian J., Casey, Carol, Kondrad, Marcos Silva
• Primary Examiner(s): Gabler, Philip F
• Application Number:
  US15/139,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20170313218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6009 covering more than only the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/899 characterised by structural or mechanical details not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A flexible cover assembly is disposed on a vehicle seat having an adjustable headrest assembly. The adjustable headrest assembly includes a headrest bun and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the headrest bun between extended and retracted positions. A trim component is disposed a seatback and includes a relief portion configured to receive a portion of the adjustment mechanism as the headrest bun is driven towards the extended position. A flexible cover member is coupled to the trim component at the relief portion. The flexible cover member includes a plate member operable between extend and retracted positions. The portion of the adjustment mechanism received in the relief portion of the trim component is configured to abut an inner surface of the plate member to move the plate member towards the extended position as the headrest bun is driven towards the extended position by the adjustment mechanism.

Claims

1. A flexible cover member of a vehicle headrest, comprising:

a substantially rigid support frame having upwardly extending spaced-apart side members; and

a plate member coupled to a lower portion of the frame through a flexible joint and operable between extended and retracted positions, wherein ends of the plate member are coupled to the side members through first and second flexible connectors which extend from the joint to distal ends of the side members.

2. The flexible cover member of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexible connectors are operable between at-rest and stretched conditions, and further wherein the first and second flexible connectors are resilient members biased towards the at-rest condition.

3. The flexible cover member of claim 2, wherein the plate member is in the retracted position when the first and second flexible connectors are in the at-rest condition.

4. The flexible cover member of claim 2, wherein the plate member is in the extended position when the first and second flexible connectors are in the stretched condition.

5. The flexible cover member of claim 1, wherein the plate member is operably coupled to the support frame at the flexible joint positioned between a lower portion of the plate member and the lower portion of the support frame.

6. The flexible cover member of claim 1, including:

a rigidifying member disposed on an inner surface of the plate member.

7. The flexible cover member of claim 1, including:

a plurality of mounting slots disposed on the support frame.

8. The flexible cover member of claim 1, wherein the flexible joint comprises a living hinge.

9. The flexible cover member of claim 1, wherein the plate member comprises a polymeric material.

10. The flexible cover member of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexible connectors comprise retractable portions and the retractable portions are integrally molded with the plate member.

11. The flexible cover member of claim 10, wherein the retractable portions are integrally molded with the side members.

12. The flexible cover member of claim 1, wherein the plate member is centrally located within the support frame.

13. A vehicle headrest cover member, comprising:

a substantially rigid generally U-shaped support frame; and

a plate member coupled to a lower portion of the support frame through a flexible joint and coupled to side members of the support frame through first and second flexible connectors, wherein the plate member is operable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the plate member is generally planar to the support frame in the retracted position.