Adjustable headrest enabling sideward leaning and seclusion

• US 10,421,381 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Kuhne, Manon
• Primary Examiner(s): Ference, James M
• Application Number:
  US15/561,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20180056833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0642 Adjustable headrests

Abstract

A passenger seat headrest (100) includes a body (102) and a side wing (120A, 120B). The body includes a forward (104), an aft side (106) distal from the forward side, a first side (108) extending between the forward side (104) and the aft side (106), and a second side (110) distal from the first side (108) and extending between the forward side (104) and the aft side (106). The side wing (120A) is pivotably connected to the first side (108) of the body (102) and is pivotable between a stowed position, at which the side wing (120A) is positioned against the forward side (104) of the body (102), and a deployed position, at which the side wing (120A) is spaced apart from the forward side (104) of the body (102).

Claims

1. A passenger seat headrest comprising:

a body comprising a forward side, an aft side distal from the forward side, a first side extending between the forward side and the aft side, and a second side distal from the first side and extending between the forward side and the aft side;

a side wing pivotably connected to the first side of the body, the side wing pivotable between a stowed position, at which the side wing is positioned against the forward side of the body, and a deployed position, at which the side wing is spaced apart from the forward side of the body; and

a dress cover connected to the body and to the side wing and comprising a hammock portion,

wherein the hammock portion comprises a forward edge extending from the body to the side wing, an upward-facing surface extending from the forward edge towards the body, and a downward-facing surface opposite from the upward-facing surface and extending from the forward edge towards the body, and

wherein the upward-facing surface of the hammock portion is configured to retain a head of a passenger while sleeping.

2. The passenger seat headrest of claim 1, wherein the side wing is a first side wing, and wherein the passenger seat headrest further comprises:

a second side wing pivotably connected to the second side of the body, the second side wing pivotable between a stowed position, at which the second side wing is positioned against the forward side of the body, and a deployed position, at which the second side wing is spaced apart from the forward side of the body.

3. The passenger seat headrest of claim 2, wherein an inner surface of the first side wing faces an inner surface of the second side wing when the first side wing and the second side wing are in the deployed positions.

4. The passenger seat headrest of claim 2, wherein the second side wing is pivotable independent from the first side wing.

5. The passenger seat headrest of claim 1, wherein the forward side of the body comprises a forward-facing surface, wherein the side wing comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the forward side of the body defines a wing recess having a wing recess surface, and wherein, in the stowed position, the inner surface of the side wing is positioned against the wing recess surface and the outer surface of the side wing is flush with the forward-facing surface of the body.

6. The passenger seat headrest of claim 1, wherein, in the deployed position, the side wing is substantially perpendicular to the forward side of the body.

7. The passenger seat headrest of claim 1, wherein the side wing comprises:

a first side edge positioned proximate to the body;

a second side edge distal from the first side edge; and

an inner surface extending from the first side edge to the second side edge,

wherein the forward edge of the hammock portion is secured to the forward side of the body at a position proximate to a halfway point between the first side of the body and the second side of the body, and

wherein the forward edge of the hammock portion is secured to the inner surface of the side wing proximate to the second side edge.

8. A passenger seat headrest comprising:

a body comprising a forward side, an aft side distal from the forward side, a first side extending between the forward side and the aft side, and a second side distal from the first side and extending between the forward side and the aft side;

a side wing pivotably connected to the first side of the body; and

a dress cover covering at least a portion of the body, the dress cover comprising a hammock portion connected to the body and to the side wing,

wherein the hammock portion comprises a forward edge extending from the body to the side wing, an upward-facing surface extending from the forward edge towards the body, and a downward-facing surface opposite from the upward-facing surface and extending from the forward edge towards the body, and

wherein the upward-facing surface of the hammock portion is configured to retain a head of a passenger while sleeping.

9. The passenger seat headrest of claim 8, wherein the side wing is pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein, in the stowed position, the side wing is positioned against the forward side of the body, and wherein, in the deployed position the side wing is spaced apart from the forward side of the body.

10. The passenger seat headrest of claim 9, wherein the hammock portion of the dress cover is in a relaxed position when the side wing is in the stowed position and in a tensioned position when the side wing is in the deployed position, wherein, in the relaxed position, the hammock portion is folded between the side wing and the body, and wherein, in the tensioned position a surface of the hammock portion defines a resting area between the side wing and the body.

11. The passenger seat headrest of claim 10, wherein the dress cover is constructed from leather.

12. The passenger seat headrest of claim 8, wherein the hammock portion is a first hammock portion, wherein the side wing is a first side wing, and wherein the passenger seat headrest further comprises a second side wing pivotably connected to the second side of the body, and wherein the dress cover comprises a second hammock portion connected to the second side wing and the body.

13. The passenger seat headrest of claim 12, wherein the first side wing comprises:

a first side edge positioned proximate to the body;

a second side edge distal from the first side edge; and

an inner surface extending from the first side edge to the second side edge,

wherein the forward edge of the first hammock portion is secured to the forward side of the body at a position proximate to a halfway point between the first side of the body and the second side of the body, and

wherein the forward edge of the first hammock portion is secured to the inner surface of the first side wing proximate to the second side edge.

14. The passenger seat headrest of claim 12, wherein the second side wing comprises:

a first side edge positioned proximate to the body;

a second side edge distal from the first side edge; and

an inner surface extending from the first side edge to the second side edge and

wherein the second hammock portion comprises a forward edge extending from the body to the second side wing, an upward-facing surface extending from the forward edge towards the body, and a downward-facing surface opposite from the upward-facing surface and extending from the forward edge towards the body,

wherein the upward-facing surface of the second hammock portion is configured to retain the head of the passenger while sleeping,

wherein the forward edge of the second hammock portion is secured to the forward side of the body at a position proximate to a halfway point between the first side of the body and the second side of the body, and

wherein the forward edge of the second hammock portion is secured to the inner surface of the first side wing proximate to the second side edge.

15. The passenger seat headrest of claim 8, wherein the hammock portion is movable between a relaxed position and a tensioned position, wherein, in the relaxed position, the hammock portion is folded between the side wing and the body, and wherein, in the tensioned position, a surface of the hammock portion defines a resting area between the side wing and the body and the hammock portion is spaced apart from a portion of the body such that the portion of the body is not covered by the hammock portion.

16. A passenger seat headrest comprising:

a body;

a side wing connected the body and pivotable between a deployed position and a stowed position; and

a dress cover comprising a hammock portion connected to the body and to the side wing, the hammock portion movable between a relaxed position and a tensioned position,

wherein, in the relaxed position the hammock portion is folded between the side wing and the body, and

wherein, in the tensioned position a surface of the hammock portion defines a resting area between the side wing and the body and the hammock portion is spaced apart from a portion of the body such that the portion of the body is not covered by the hammock portion.

17. The passenger seat headrest of claim 16, wherein the side wing is a first side wing, and wherein the passenger seat headrest further comprises:

a second side wing connected to the body at a location distal from the first side wing, the second side wing pivotable between a deployed position and a stowed position, the second side wing pivotable independent from the first side wing.

18. The passenger seat headrest of claim 17, wherein the hammock portion is a first hammock portion, and wherein the dress cover further comprises:

a second hammock portion connected to the body and to the second side wing, the second hammock portion movable independent from the first hammock portion and movable between a relaxed position and a tensioned position,

wherein, in the relaxed position, the second hammock portion is folded between the second side wing and the body, and

wherein, in the tensioned position, a surface of the second hammock portion defines a resting area between the second side wing and the body.

19. The passenger seat headrest of claim 16, wherein the side wing is connected to the body through a torque hinge, and wherein the torque hinge comprises a detent.

20. The passenger seat headrest of claim 16, wherein the body comprises a forward side defining a forward-facing surface and a wing recess surface, wherein the side wing comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein, in the stowed position, the inner surface of the side wing is positioned against the wing recess surface and the outer surface of the side wing is flush with the forward-facing surface of the body.

21. The passenger seat headrest of claim 16, wherein the hammock portion comprises:

a forward edge extending from the body to the side wing;

an upward-facing surface extending from the forward edge towards the body; and

a downward-facing surface opposite from the upward-facing surface and extending from the forward edge towards the body, and

wherein the upward-facing surface of the hammock portion is configured to retain a head of a passenger while sleeping.