Occupant detecting seat assembly with headrest and method of moving headrest
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A seat assembly comprising:
- a seat;
a headrest connectable to said seat and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to said seat;
a biasing element;
wherein said biasing element is operable for biasing said headrest toward said second position;
a releasable headrest restraining mechanism;
an occupant detection mechanism operable for detecting the presence of an occupant at said seat;
wherein said occupant detection mechanism is operatively connectable to said releasable headrest restraining mechanism; and
wherein said releasable headrest restraining mechanism is operable for restraining said headrest in said first position when said occupant detection mechanism does not detect the presence of an occupant and for releasing said headrest to permit movement of said headrest to said second position via said biasing element when said occupant detection mechanism detects the presence of an occupant at said seat.
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Abstract
A seat assembly includes a seat and a headrest connected to the seat and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the seat. The seat assembly also includes a biasing element biasing the headrest toward the second position. A releasable headrest restraining mechanism restrains the headrest in the first position when the seat is unoccupied and releases the headrest to permit movement of the headrest via the biasing element to the second position when the seat is occupied. A method of moving the headrest is also provided.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A seat assembly comprising:
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a seat;
a headrest connectable to said seat and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to said seat;
a biasing element;
wherein said biasing element is operable for biasing said headrest toward said second position;
a releasable headrest restraining mechanism;
an occupant detection mechanism operable for detecting the presence of an occupant at said seat;
wherein said occupant detection mechanism is operatively connectable to said releasable headrest restraining mechanism; and
wherein said releasable headrest restraining mechanism is operable for restraining said headrest in said first position when said occupant detection mechanism does not detect the presence of an occupant and for releasing said headrest to permit movement of said headrest to said second position via said biasing element when said occupant detection mechanism detects the presence of an occupant at said seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A seat assembly comprising:
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a seat;
a headrest connected to said seat and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to said seat;
a biasing element biasing said headrest toward said second position;
a releasable headrest restraining mechanism movable between a restraining position and a release position;
wherein said releasable headrest restraining mechanism restrains said headrest in said first position when said releasable headrest restraining mechanism is in said restraining position;
wherein said releasable headrest restraining mechanism releases said headrest to permit movement of said headrest to said second position via said biasing element when said releasable headrest restraining mechanism is in said release position;
headrest support structure connecting said headrest with said seat;
wherein said headrest support structure and said releasable headrest restraining mechanism are releasably matable;
an occupant detection mechanism disposed in said seat and operable for detecting the presence of an occupant at said seat;
wherein said occupant detection mechanism includes a lever;
wherein said lever is movable between an undepressed position and a depressed position in response to the presence of an occupant at said seat;
a cable connecting said occupant detection mechanism with said releasable headrest restraining mechanism;
wherein said lever pulls said cable when said lever is moved between said undepressed position and said depressed position; and
wherein said releasable headrest restraining mechanism moves from said restraining position to said release position when said cable is pulled, thereby releasing said headrest support structure.
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16. A method comprising:
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restraining a headrest in a first position;
detecting the presence of an occupant at a seat, said seat being connected to said headrest;
after said detecting, releasing said headrest such that said headrest is movable to a second position; and
after said releasing, moving said headrest from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A vehicle comprising:
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structure forming an interior passenger space;
a seat assembly located in said interior passenger space, said seat assembly comprising;
a seat;
a headrest connected to said seat and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to said seat;
a biasing element operable for biasing said headrest toward said second position;
a releasable headrest restraining mechanism;
an occupant detection mechanism operable for detecting the presence of an occupant at said seat;
wherein said occupant detection mechanism is operatively connected to said releasable headrest restraining mechanism;
wherein said releasable headrest restraining mechanism releasably restrains said headrest in said first position when said occupant detection mechanism does not detect the presence of an occupant;
wherein said releasable headrest restraining mechanism releases said headrest to permit movement of said headrest to said second position via said biasing element when said occupant detection mechanism detects the presence of an occupant at said seat; and
wherein said headrest extends higher in said interior passenger space in said second position than in said first position.
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19. A seat assembly comprising:
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a seat;
a headrest connectable to said seat and movable between a first position and a second position;
a biasing element operable for biasing said headrest toward said second position;
a releasable headrest restraining mechanism; and
wherein said releasable headrest restraining mechanism is operable for restraining said headrest in a first position when said seat is unoccupied and for releasing said headrest to permit movement of said headrest via said biasing element to said second position when said seat is occupied.
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Specification