A VEHICULAR SEAT ASSEMBLY HAVING A MOVABLE HEADREST AND A VEHICLE WHICH INCORPORATES THE VEHICULAR SEAT ASSEMBLY

• US 20040160094A1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Flogard, Anders
• Granted Patent: US 6,840,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

19A low profile vehicular seat 10 having an occupant contacting surface 61 and a headrest 18 which is moved from a first position to a second head reception position upon the communication of force from the body 60 of the vehicle to the seat assembly 10 which occurs in the absence of force to occupant contacting surface 61.

Claims

1. A vehicular seat assembly comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest portion; and

a headrest assembly having a headrest movably coupled to said backrest portion, said headrest assembly further having a mechanical linkage coupled to the headrest and connectable to a body of a vehicle to move said headrest assembly from a first position to a second head reception position in response to movement of said backrest portion with respect to the vehicle body.

2. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said headrest moves to said second head reception position along a direction which extends away from said impact.

3. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said mechanical linkage comprises:

a pivot member coupled to said headrest and rotatably mounted to said backrest portion; and

a first arm extending from said pivot member and having a free end connectable to said portion of said body such that rearward motion of the backrest portion relative to said portion of said body applies a moment to the pivot member, said moment urging the headrest toward said head reception position.

4. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 3 wherein said mechanical linkage further comprises a second arm extending from said pivot member and engaging a stop secured to said backrest portion to prevent rotation of the pivot member in a direction opposite that in which said moment is applied.

5. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 3 wherein said mechanical linkage further comprises a linkage member pivotingly connected to said first end of said first arm and connectable to said portion of said body.

6. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a biasing spring coupled to said mechanical linkage to urge the headrest toward the first position.

7. A vehicular seat assembly comprising:

a backrest portion;

a headrest;

a pivot member coupled to said headrest and rotatably mounted to said backrest portion;

a first arm extending from said pivot member and having a free end connectable to a vehicle body such that movement of said backrest rearward relative to said vehicle body exerts a force on said first arm urging said pivot member to rotate in a first direction corresponding to a forward position of said headrest; and

a second arm extending from said pivot member and having a free end engaging a stop disposed within said backrest portion to position said headrest in a rearward position and restrain the pivot member against rotation in a first direction corresponding to further rearward movement of the headrest.

8. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 7 further comprising a biasing spring coupled to said first arm and to said backrest portion to urge the headrest toward the first position.

9. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 7 wherein said pivot member comprises a generally round and elongated member having opposed ends which respectively are rotatably received in a unique one of a pair of indentations formed within said backrest portion.

10. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 7 wherein said first and second arms are formed as a unitary “

V”

shaped member attached to said pivot member.

11. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 7 further comprising a linkage member coupled to said first arm and to said portion of said vehicle.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7 further comprising a seat portion and wherein said backrest portion is movably coupled to said seat portion.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a body;

at least one low profile seat disposed within said body and having a backrest;

a headrest mounted to said backrest and movable relative to said backrest between a first position and a head reception position; and

a mechanical linkage coupling said headrest to said body, said mechanical linkage operative to maintain said headrest in said first position and move said headrest to the head reception position in response to rearward movement of said backrest with respect to said vehicle body.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said mechanical linkage comprises:

a pivot member coupled to said headrest and rotatably mounted to said backrest; and

a first arm extending from said pivot member and having a free end connectable to said body such that rearward motion of the backrest portion relative to said body applies a moment to the pivot member, said moment urging the headrest toward said head reception position.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said mechanical linkage further comprises a second arm extending from said pivot member and engaging a stop secured to said backrest to prevent rotation of the pivot member in a direction opposite that in which said moment is applied.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said mechanical linkage further comprises a linkage member pivotingly connected between said first end of said first arm and said body.

17. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said mechanical linkage comprises a biasing spring urging said headrest toward said first position.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein said seat includes a seat portion and wherein said backrest is selectively foldable over said seat portion.