Head rest

• US 10,449,881 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishihara, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abraham, Tania
• Application Number:
  US15/701,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20180001803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/815 Release mechanisms, e.g. buttons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/818 with stepwise positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/862 with means for maintaining a desired position when the seat-back is adjusted, e.g. parallelogram mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/894 with rods solidly attached to the back-rest

Abstract

A headrest is provided including a movable unit that can be shifted to multiple positions in the front-rear direction in a normal mode. A headrest includes first and second headrest pillars, a stationary unit disposed between the first and second headrest pillars, a movable unit movable apart from or close to the stationary unit toward a front or rear direction, an X linkage connecting the stationary unit to the movable unit and including an inside linkage segment and an outside linkage segment rotatably connected each other at a central connecting intersection, and a front-rear locking mechanism including a lock receiver and a locking component engageable with the lock receiver, to lock or unlock the movable unit movable relative to the stationary unit toward the front or rear direction.

Claims

1. A headrest comprising:

first and second headrest pillars;

a stationary unit disposed between the first and second headrest pillars;

a movable unit movable with respect to the stationary unit toward a front or rear direction;

a movable mechanism connected to the movable unit; and

a front-rear locking mechanism comprising lock receivers and locking components engageable with the lock receivers, the locking mechanism being configured to lock or unlock the movable unit movable relative to the stationary unit toward the front or rear direction;

wherein

the lock receivers protrude rearward from the stationary unit in response to the movement of the movable unit toward the rear direction,

the stationary unit has clearances to receive the lock receivers,

the movable mechanism comprises a linkage segment which connects the lock receivers, and

the linkage segment is disposed in front of the stationary unit.

2. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein

the lock receivers consist of a first lock receiver and a second lock receiver respectively disposed on left and right sides of the headrest, and

the lock receivers and the linkage segment are integrated with each other.

3. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein

the lock receivers consist of a first lock receiver and a second lock receiver respectively disposed on left and right sides of the headrest, and

the lock receivers extend forward, and the linkage segment connects the lock receivers at portions near front ends of the lock receivers.

4. The headrest according to claim 3, wherein the linkage segment is shorter than a distance between an outer edge of the first lock receiver and an outer edge of the second lock receiver.

5. The headrest according to claim 3, wherein

the clearances consist of a first clearance and a second clearance respectively disposed on left and right sides of the headrest to receive the first and second lock receivers, and

the linkage segment is shorter than a distance between an outer edge of the first clearance and an outer edge of the second clearance.

6. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein an upper edge of the locking component is disposed above upper edges of the lock receivers.

7. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein the stationary unit comprises a rib.

8. The headrest according to claim 7, wherein the rib protrudes forward.

9. A vehicle seat comprising:

first and second headrest pillars;

a stationary unit disposed between the first and second headrest pillars;

a movable unit movable with respect to the stationary unit toward a front or rear direction;

a movable mechanism connected to the movable unit; and

a front-rear locking mechanism comprising lock receivers and locking components engageable with the lock receivers, the locking mechanism being configured to lock or unlock the movable unit movable relative to the stationary unit toward the front or rear direction;

an operation unit to operate the locking components; and

a seat back frame that constitutes a frame of the vehicle seat,

wherein

the lock receivers protrude rearward from the stationary unit in response to the movement of the movable unit toward the rear direction,

the lock receivers consist of a first lock receiver and a second lock receiver that are respectively disposed on left and right sides of the headrest,

the stationary unit has clearances to receive the lock receivers,

the movable mechanism comprises a linkage segment integrated with the lock receivers to connect the lock receivers,

the front-rear locking mechanism comprises pillar retainers that are slidable respectively along the first and the second headrest pillars,

the movable unit comprises a headrest casing that houses upper portions of the first and second headrest pillars, the stationary unit, the movable mechanism and the front-rear locking mechanism, and

the movable unit further comprises a cushion pad and a covering material that are disposed around the headrest casing.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 9, wherein the movable unit comprises a recessed portion on a front side of the movable unit.