ERGONOMIC CLOSEOUT

• US 20080136142A1
• Filed: 12/10/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Parusziewicz, William, Welch, Thomas, Hulme, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable

Abstract

A head restraint assembly of this embodiment includes a bun and a post. The post is adapted to attach the head restraint assembly to a vehicle seat. The head restraint bun includes a head restraint core and a trim cover. The trim cover surrounds at least a portion of the head restraint core. The trim cover includes a close-out section at which the trim cover is closed after the head restraint core is placed within the trim cover. A retainer clip is attached to the head restraint core at an attachment region. The head restraint assembly also includes a close-out retainer bracket which is attached to a close-out section of the trim cover. When the trim cover is in a closed position, the close-out retainer bracket is secured to the retainer clip. A method of assembly head restraints is also provided.

Claims

1. A head restraint assembly for a vehicle seat assembly, said head restraint assembly comprising:

a post adapted to engage a vehicle seat;

a head restraint core, the head restraint core having a trim cover attachment region;

at least one retainer clip attached to the head restraint core at the trim cover attachment region; and

a trim cover surrounding at least a portion of the head restraint core, the trim cover having a closeout section; and

a closeout retainer bracket attached to the close-out section and to the retainer clip thereby securing the trim cover to the head restraint core.

2. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the head restraint core is a foam head restraint core comprising a foamed resin.

3. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the retainer clip is mechanically or adhesively attached to the head restraint core.

4. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the retainer clip is partially embedded within the head restraint core.

5. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein two or more retainer clips are used to secure the trim cover to the head restraint core.

6. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein two retainer clips are used to secure the trim cover to the head restraint core, the two retainer clips being connected to each other by an attachment member.

7. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the retainer clip comprises a clip base section and two side walls, the clip base section and the two side walls defining a channel adapted to mate with the close-out retainer bracket.

8. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the close-out retainer bracket comprises a bracket base section adapted to be attached to the close-out section.

9. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the close-out bracket further comprises a barbed section adapted to be inserted into the close-out section.

10. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the close-out bracket is attached to the trim cover by sewing or by an adhesive.

11. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the post comprises two legs and a cross member disposed therebetween.

12. The head restraint assembly of claim 1 wherein the trim cover has a class-A surface visible from a vehicle interior and a class-B surface adapted to contact the head restraint core.

13. The head restraint assembly of claim 1 wherein the trim cover comprises a material selected from the group consisting of leather, polyvinyl, fabric, and combinations thereof.

14. A head restraint assembly for a vehicle seat assembly, said head restraint assembly comprising:

a post adapted to engage a vehicle seat;

a foamed head restraint core, the foamed head restraint core having a trim cover attachment region;

at least one retainer clip attached to the head restraint core at the trim cover attachment region; and

a trim cover surrounding at least a portion of the head restraint core, the trim cover having a closeout section; and

a close-out retainer bracket attached to the close-out section and to the retainer clip thereby securing the trim cover to the head restraint core.

15. The head restraint of claim 14 wherein two or more retainer clips are used to secure the trim cover to the head restraint core.

16. The head restraint of claim 14 wherein two retainer clips are used to secure the trim cover to the head restraint core, the two retainer clips being connected to each other by an attachment member.

17. The head restraint of claim 14 wherein the retainer clip comprises a clip base section and two side walls, the clip base section and the two side walls defining a channel adapted to mate with the close-out retainer bracket.

18. The head restraint of claim 14 wherein the close-out retainer bracket comprises a bracket base section adapted to be attached to the close-out section.

19. The head restraint of claim 14 wherein the close-out bracket further comprises a barbed section adapted to be inserted into the close-out section.

20. A method for forming a vehicle head restraint assembly, the head restraint assembly comprising:

a post adapted to engage a vehicle seat;

a head restraint core, the head restraint core defining a trim cover attachment region;

at least one retainer clip attached to the head restraint core at the trim cover attachment region; and

a trim cover surrounding at least a portion of the head restraint core, the trim cover defining an opening and a close-out section; and

a close-out retainer bracket attached to the close-out section and to the retainer clip thereby securing the trim cover to the head restraint core, the method comprising;

inserting the head restraint core into the trim cover; and

closing the trim cover by engaging the retainer clip with the closeout retainer bracket.