Motor-vehicle headrest

• US 20070284929A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Keller, Hubert, Hoffmann, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 8,066,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position

Abstract

A motor-vehicle headrest has an upright rod having upper and lower ends, a cushion support pivotal on the upper rod end about a generally horizontal axis between a use position and an stowage position, and a stop fixed on the rod upper end. A latch element is pivotal in the support between a retaining position engaging the stop and preventing pivoting of the support and a freeing position clear of the stop and permitting pivoting of the support.

Claims

1. A motor-vehicle headrest comprising:

an upright rod having upper and lower ends;

a cushion support pivotal on the upper rod end about a generally horizontal support axis between a use position and an stowage position;

a stop fixed on the rod upper end; and

a latch element pivotal on the support about an element axis between a retaining position engaging the stop and preventing pivoting of the support and a freeing position clear of the stop and permitting pivoting of the support.

2. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 1 wherein the latch element has a center of mass generally at the element axis.

3. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 2 wherein the latch element is generally rotation symmetrical to the element axis.

4. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 3 wherein the element is a disk oriented in a plane generally perpendicular to the element axis.

5. The motor-vehicle headrest-defined in claim 4 wherein the disk has a generally circular outer edge.

6. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 4 wherein the stop has a stop face engageable axially of the element axis with an axial face of the disk.

7. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 6 wherein the stop is formed with a slot having an edge forming the stop face and through which the disk engages.

8. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 7 wherein the disk is also formed with at least one slot open at the outer edge and engaging over the stop in the freeing position.

9. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 1, further comprising

a spring urging the latch element into the retaining position.

10. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an actuating formation projecting radially of the element axis from the latch element; and

an actuator engageable with the actuating formation for angularly displacing the latch element from the retaining position into the freeing position.

11. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 10 wherein the actuator is a solenoid.

12. The motor-vehicle headrest defined in claim 10 wherein the actuator is an externally accessible pushbutton.