Headrest device

• US 20050116523A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yoshihiko, Mori, Masatoshi, Tanino, Masaharu, Ohchi, Masato, Terada, Takami
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/391
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/821 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors

Abstract

A headrest device includes a headrest provided over a seatback of a seat, a sliding means for slidably adjusting the seat in back and forth directions, a position-adjusting means for adjusting position of the headrest, and a connecting mechanism connecting the sliding means and the position-adjusting means. The connecting mechanism operates the position-adjusting means in conjunction with operation of the sliding means. The connecting mechanism moves in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and the connecting mechanism moves in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward.

Claims

1. A headrest device comprising:

a headrest provided over a seatback of a seat;

a sliding means for slidably adjusting the seat in back and forth directions;

a position-adjusting means for adjusting position of the headrest; and

a connecting mechanism connecting the sliding means and the position-adjusting means,

the connecting mechanism operating the position-adjusting means in conjunction with operation of the sliding means;

wherein

the connecting mechanism moves in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and the connecting mechanism moves in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward.

2. The headrest device according to claim 1, wherein the position-adjusting means includes a driving portion operated by the connecting mechanism, and a driven portion moved in conjunction with the headrest;

and wherein transmission of driving force from the driving portion is selectively inputted into and cut off from the driven portion.

3. The headrest device according to claim 2, wherein

the driving portion includes a pinion gear;

the driven portion includes a rack gear selectively engaged with the pinion gear; and

wherein the driving force is cut off by separating the pinion gear from the rack gear.

4. The headrest device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a pinion gear included in the driving portion;

a rack gear included in the driven portion, being selectively engaged with the pinion gear; and

recess portions provided on end portions of the rack gear in order to rotate the pinion gear in an disengaged state.

5. The headrest device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a biasing spring provided at each said recess portion, for biasing the pinion gear towards the center of the rack gear.

6. The headrest device according to claim 1, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

7. The headrest device according to claim 2, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

8. The headrest device according to claim 3, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

9. The headrest device according to claim 4, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

10. The headrest device according to claim 5, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

11. The headrest device according to claim 2, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

the driving force transmitted from the driving portion to the driven portion is selectively cut off in accordance with movement of the pulley; and

extending direction of the wire extending from the pulley is determined to be approximately parallel to a moving direction of the pulley.

12. The headrest device according to claim 3, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

the driving force transmitted from the driving portion to the driven portion is selectively cut off in accordance with movement of the pulley; and

extending direction of the wire extending from the pulley is determined to be approximately parallel to a moving direction of the pulley.

13. The headrest device according to claim 4, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

the driving force transmitted from the driving portion to the driven portion is selectively cut off in accordance with movement of the pulley; and

extending direction of the wire extending from the pulley is determined to be approximately parallel to a moving direction of the pulley.

14. The headrest device according to claim 5, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

the driving force transmitted from the driving portion to the driven portion is selectively cut off in accordance with movement of the pulley; and

extending direction of the wire extending from the pulley is determined to be approximately parallel to a moving direction of the pulley.

15. A headrest device comprising:

a headrest provided over a seatback of a seat;

at least one stay for supporting the headrest on the seatback;

a position-adjusting device connected to the stay, the position-adjusting device adjusting height of the headrest relative to the seatback in conjunction with a seat slide device for adjusting a back and forth position of the seat relative to a vehicle floor; and

a connecting member, a first end of which is pulled when the seat is moved forward by the seat slide device, and a second end of which is pulled when the seat is moved backward by the seat slide device;

wherein

the position-adjusting device is in conjunction with the seat slide device by means of the connecting member.

16. A seat device comprising:

a headrest;

a stay for supporting the headrest;

a position-adjusting device connected to the stay and having a driving portion and a driven portion moved in conjunction with the headrest; and

a connecting member, a first end of which is connected to the driving portion and pulled when the seat is moved forward by the seat slide device, and a second end of which is connected to the driving portion and pulled when the seat is moved backward by the seat slide device so that the position-adjusting device adjusting height of the headrest relative to the seatback in conjunction with a seat slide device for adjusting a back and forth position of the seat relative to a vehicle floor;

wherein

transmission of driving force from the driving portion is selectively inputted into and cut off from the driven portion.

17. The seat device according to claim 16, wherein

the driving portion includes a pinion gear;

the driven portion includes a rack gear selectively engaged with the pinion gear; and

the driving force is cut off by separating the pinion gear from the rack gear.