Headrest apparatus for vehicle

• US 20070052265A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakai, Morio, Matsubayashi, Kiyoka
• Granted Patent: US 7,390,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.120
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

A headrest apparatus for a vehicle includes a headrest rear portion supported by a seatback, a headrest front portion movable between a fully closed position in which the headrest front portion is close to the headrest rear portion, and a fully open position in which the headrest front portion is away from the headrest rear portion, a driving means for moving the headrest front portion, and a controlling means for controlling the driving means so as to move the headrest front portion. The controlling means is configured to control the driving means so as to move the headrest front portion to the fully closed position at a predetermined timing.

Claims

1. A headrest apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a headrest rear portion supported by a seatback;

a headrest front portion movable between a fully closed position in which the headrest front portion is close to the headrest rear portion, and a fully open position in which the headrest front portion is away from the headrest rear portion;

a driving means for moving the headrest front portion; and

a controlling means for controlling the driving means so as to move the headrest front portion, the controlling means being configured to control the driving means so as to move the headrest front portion to the fully closed position at a predetermined timing.

2. A headrest apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means controls the driving means so as to move the headrest front portion to the fully closed position each time when a number of times power is supplied to the headrest apparatus exceeds a predetermined value.

3. A headrest apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means controls the driving means so as to move the headrest front portion to the fully closed position after the headrest front portion is brought to move towards the fully open position and then towards the fully closed position.

4. A headrest apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means controls the driving means so as to move the headrest front portion to the fully closed position at regular time intervals.

5. A headrest apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the power supply to the headrest apparatus is performed by an operation of an ignition switch.

6. A headrest apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controlling means counts a number of times of turning on the ignition switch.

7. A headrest apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the number of times of turning on the ignition switch fails to exceed the predetermined value and the headrest front portion was operated last time the power was supplied to the headrest apparatus, the headrest front portion retracts to the fully closed position.

8. A headrest apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a head portion detecting means for detecting whether or not a head portion of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat makes contact with the headrest front portion;

the head portion detecting means being provided on the headrest front portion, and

the controlling means stopping a movement of the headrest front portion when the head portion is detected by the head portion detecting means.

9. A headrest apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the head portion detecting means is a touch sensor.

10. A headrest apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controlling means stops the headrest front portion from fully opening when the head portion is detected, and moves the headrest front portion to the fully open position when the head portion fails to be detected.