Articulated headrestraint system

• US 20040108766A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Camaco LLC (P & C Group I Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Camaco LLC (P & C Group I Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, Christopher, Bhandari, Ajay
• Granted Patent: US 6,910,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/815 Release mechanisms, e.g. buttons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/844 Release mechanisms, e.g. buttons

Abstract

An articulated headrestraint system for a vehicle seat permits the user to adjust the headrest vertically, and to adjust the headrest either forwardly by using a pushbutton mechanism, or rearwardly with respect to the top of the seat.

Claims

1. An adjustable headrest for a vehicle seat comprising:

a first support mounted on a vehicle seat;

a second support pivotally mounted with respect to the first support about a pivotal axis toward either a forward direction or a rearward direction;

a headrest mounted on the second support;

a gear segment mounted on the first support, the gear segment having a series of teeth formed in an arc about said pivotal axis;

a pawl mounted on the second support so as to be movable along a path of motion toward said gear segment teeth;

the pawl having a first cam surface;

a pushbutton actuator including a pushbutton having a second cam surface engageable with the pawl first cam surface, and including a pushbutton supported for movement toward a release position for moving the pawl away from the gear segment;

the pushbutton being movable in a reverse direction permitting movement of the pawl toward the gear segment teeth;

bias means urging the pawl toward the gear segment whereby when the pawl is engaged with the gear segment teeth, the second support is locked against rearward pivotal motion with respect to the first support, and when the pawl is disengaged from the gear segment teeth, the second support is pivotal about said pivotal axis for moving the headrest rearward toward an adjusted position with respect to the seat.

2. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 1, in which the first support includes a post mounted on a seat back.

3. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 1, in which the post is vertically adjustable with respect to a vehicle seat back.

4. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 1, including means for supporting the pawl for a sliding motion either toward and away from said gear segment and said pivotal axis.

5. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 1, in which the pushbutton is movable along a path of motion parallel to said pivotal axis as the pushbutton is urged toward said release position.

6. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 1, in which the first support comprises a pair of spaced parallel posts, and the second support comprises a U-shaped member having a pair of legs, and means pivotally connecting the pair of legs to the parallel posts for pivotal motion.

7. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 6, including means for releasably connecting the second support to the first support for an adjustable motion along the length of the parallel posts.

8. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 2, including a body, the gear segment being mounted on the body so as to be movable therewith, the body having an opening for receiving said post for vertical motion thereto, the post having a notch, and including a lever having a tooth mounted for motion between a locking portion in which the lever tooth engages the notch in the post, and a release position in which the lever tooth is separated from the notch to permit movement of the body along the post.

9. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 8, in which the lever is pivotally mounted on the body.

10. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 6, including a first rivet pivotally connecting one of said pair of legs to one of said pair of posts, and a second rivet pivotally connecting the other of said pair of legs to the other of said pair of posts.

11. An adjustable headrest as defined in claim 1, in which the gear segment teeth are so formed as to permit the pawl to ratchet on the gear segment teeth when the second support is pivotal in said forward direction when the pawl teeth are engaged with the gear segment teeth.