VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20090243347A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wilms, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• 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 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable

Abstract

A vehicle seat and head restraint assembly is disclosed in which the configuration of the seat back is automatically adjusted as the position of the head rest is changed. Upon lowering the head restraint, a forwardly directed face of the seat back is urged outward to thereby decrease a torso angle associate with the seat assembly. Additional versions are described in which the torso angle is decreased by raising the head rest. And, versions are described in which horizontal or pivotal movement of the head restraint causes movement of a forward face of the seat back.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat;

a seat back positionably secured to the seat, the seat back having a seat face defining a contour adapted to contact and support the back of a person sitting in the seat assembly;

a head restraint positionably secured to the seat back;

wherein upon a change in the position of the head restraint, the contour of the seat face of the seat back changes.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the head restraint is positionable between a raised position and a lowered position.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the contour of the seat face of the seat back is positionable between an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 wherein upon lowering the head restraint, the contour of the seat face of the seat back is extended outward.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 wherein upon raising the head restraint, the contour of the seat face of the seat back is retracted inward.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the head restraint can be positioned to a head restraint height of at least 750 mm.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 6 wherein the head restraint can be positioned to a head restraint height of at least 800 mm.

8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the head restraint is positionable between a forward position and a rearward position.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the contour of the seat face of the seat back is positionable between an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position, and upon forwardly or rearwardly positioning the head restraint, the contour of the seat face of the seat back is extended outward.

10. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat;

a seat back positionably secured to the seat, the seat back defining a seat face adapted to contact and support the back of a person sitting in the seat assembly;

a head restraint positionably secured to the seat back;

wherein upon changing the height of the head restraint, a contour of the seat face of the seat back changes.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the head restraint is positionable between a raised position and a lowered position.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the contour of the seat face of the seat back is positionable between an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 12 wherein upon lowering the head restraint, the contour of the seat face of the seat back is extended outward.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 12 wherein upon raising the head restraint, the contour of the seat face of the seat back is retracted inward.

15. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the head restraint can be positioned to a head restraint height of at least 750 mm.

16. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the head restraint can be positioned to a head restraint height of at least 800 mm.

17. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat adapted to contact and support an occupant sitting in the seat assembly;

a hinge component affixed to the seat;

a seat back pivotally secured to the seat by the hinge component, the seat back including a forwardly directed seat face adapted for contacting and supporting the back of the seat occupant, the seat face being displaceable between an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position; and

a selectively positionable head restraint secured to the seat back, the head restraint being positionable between a raised position and a lowered position;

wherein upon the head restraint being repositioned, the seat face is displaced.

18. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 17 wherein upon repositioning of the head restraint to a new position lower than a previous position, the seat face is displaced to a new position different than a previous position.

19. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 17 wherein upon repositioning of the head restraint to a new position higher than a previous position, the seat face is displaced to a new position different than a previous position.

20. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 17 wherein the head restraint is positionable to a head restraint height of at least 750 mm.