Adjustable headrest

• US 20010028191A1
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technology Holding Company II (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Henderson'S Industries Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lance, Mark Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 6,471,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/410
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/38 for the head adjustable coupled to reclining or easy chairs A47C1/036
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head

Abstract

Adjustable headrest (201) for a seat backrest having a mounting system (148, 149) includes frame structure (207) adapted to be secured on the mounting system (148, 149) for up and down movement relative to the seat backrest. Headrest (201) also includes drive means (120, 130) having height adjustment drive system (121-123, 125) for controlling height adjustment of headrest (201) by moving height adjuster section (114), and fore/aft adjustment drive system (131-134) for controlling fore/aft adjustment by moving the fore/aft adjuster section (115). Fore/aft drive system (131-134) has adjustment member or nut (132) constrained to up and down movement, and nut (132) is engaged with adjuster section (115) so as to permit fore/aft movement of adjuster section (115) relative to adjuster section (114) and adjustment nut (132).

Claims

1. An adjustable headrest, for a seat backrest having an associated mounting system, wherein the headrest includes a frame structure adapted to be secured on the mounting system for up and down movement relative to the seat backrest, the frame structure including a height adjuster section and a fore/aft adjuster section;

the fore/aft adjuster section is engaged with the height adjuster section for relative movement providing fore/aft adjustment;

wherein the headrest further includes drive means which has a height adjustment drive system for controlling height adjustment of the headrest by moving the height adjuster section and fore/aft adjustment drive system for controlling fore/aft adjustment of the headrest by moving the fore/aft adjuster section; and

wherein the fore/aft drive system has an adjustment member or nut which is constrained substantially to up and down movement and which is engaged with the fore/aft adjuster section so as to permit fore/aft movement of the fore/aft adjuster section relative to the height adjuster section and the adjustment nut.

2. A headrest according to

claim 1

, wherein the fore/aft adjuster section is engaged with the height adjuster section by first engagement means which precludes relative movement between said sections in a direction for height adjustment while enabling relative movement between said sections in a direction for fore/aft adjustment.

3. A headrest according to

claim 2

, wherein the first engagement means comprises at least one projection, rib or fin, on one of said sections, which is located in a slot extending in the fore/aft direction and defined by the other of said sections.

4. A headrest according to

claim 2

or

claim 3

, wherein the adjustment member or nut is engaged with the fore/aft adjuster section by second engagement means which constrains relative movement between said member or nut and said section to movement along a direction which is inclined with respect to directions for both height and fore/aft adjustment to provide thereby fore/aft adjustment of the headrest due to the first engagement means precluding relative movement in the direction for height adjustment between the height and fore/aft adjuster sections.

5. A headrest according to

claim 4

, wherein the second engagement means comprises at least one projection, rib or fin, on one of said member or nut and said fore/aft adjuster section, which is located in a slot extending in said inclined direction and defined by the other of said member of nut and said fore/aft adjuster section.

6. A headrest according to any one of

claims 1

to

5

, wherein the drive system for fore/aft adjustment is a first electrically powered drive means operable to move the adjustment member of nut, relative to the height adjuster section, in the direction for height adjustment.

7. A headrest according to

claim 6

, wherein the first drive means is secured on the height adjuster section and includes a first electric motor and a first rotatable, screw-threaded spindle drivingly connected to the first motor, and the first spindle is co-operatively engaged in a screw-threaded bore defined by the adjustment nut with the first spindle disposed in the direction for height adjustment, whereby travel of the adjustment nut by rotation of the first spindle causes the fore/aft adjuster section to move in the fore/aft direction relative to the height adjuster section due to the respective engagement of the fore/aft adjuster section with the height adjuster section and the adjustment nut.

8. A headrest according to any one of

claims 1

to

7

, wherein the drive system for height adjustment is a second electrically powered drive means operable to move the height adjuster section, and hence the headrest, in the direction for height adjustment.

9. A headrest according to

claim 8

, wherein the second drive means includes a second electric motor and a second rotatable screw-threaded spindle drivingly connected to the second motor, the second motor and second spindle are secured on or in relation to one of the height adjuster section and the mounting system, with the second spindle disposed in the direction for height adjustment, and the second spindle is co-operatively engaged with a screw-threaded nut defined by or secured on or in relation to the other one of the height adjuster section and the mounting system.

10. A headrest according to

claim 9

, wherein the nut with which the second spindle is engaged is fixed in relation to post means which forms part of the support means and which is adapted to be secured to the seat backrest.

11. A headrest according to any one of

claims 1

to

10

, wherein the height adjuster section and the fore/aft adjuster section are within a housing which is split on a medial plane through the headrest to comprise two complementary hollow housing portions.

12. A headrest according to

claim 11

, wherein the housing portions are oppositely movable between a closed position for the housing, in which the portions abut, and respectively laterally retracted positions in which the portions are mutually spaced.

13. A headrest according to

claim 12

, wherein the housing portions provide part of the fore/aft adjuster section.