SEAT ASSEMBLY AND AN ADJUSTABLE HEAD RESTRAINT ASSEMBLY

• US 20100283306A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Loehr, Karsten, Boes, Klaus, Tscherbner, Achim
• Granted Patent: US 8,939,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/844 Release mechanisms, e.g. buttons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/85 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests

Abstract

A seat assembly having a headrest for supporting the head of a seat occupant. The seat assembly includes a seat back, a support post disposed on the seat back, and a headrest. The headrest has a front portion for supporting the head of a seat occupant. The front portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The headrest is rotatably disposed on the support post such that the headrest can rotate independent of movement of the front portion.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat back;

a support post disposed on the seat back; and

a headrest having a front portion for supporting the head of a seat occupant, wherein the front portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position that differs from the first position and wherein the headrest is rotatably disposed on the support post such that the headrest can rotate independent of movement of the front portion.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the headrest rotates about an axis of rotation that extends through the support post.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the headrest includes a subframe that is rotatably disposed on the support post.

4. The seat assembly of claim 3 further comprising a friction element that is disposed on the subframe and the support post, wherein the friction element permits the headrest to rotate when a sufficient force is applied and inhibits rotation of the headrest when sufficient force is not applied to the headrest.

5. The seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the subframe engages the support post when in a first rotational position and is spaced apart from the support post when in a second rotational position.

6. The seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the headrest further comprises a support frame disposed on the subframe and a pivot member moveably disposed on the support frame, wherein the pivot member engages the front portion of the headrest and slides along a slot in the support frame when the front portion moves between the first and second positions.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 further comprising a pivot pin that extends into the slot and the pivot member to permit the pivot member to rotate as the pivot member moves in the slot.

8. The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a latch mechanism at least partially disposed within the headrest, the latch mechanism being moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the headrest is simultaneously moveable in multiple directions when the latch mechanism is disposed in the unlatched position.

9. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat back; and

a head restraint assembly including;

a headrest for supporting the head of a seat occupant;

a support post disposed in the headrest and extending from the seat back; and

a subframe rotatably disposed on the support post;

a pivot member moveable with respect to the subframe, the pivot member being configured to engage the headrest; and

a support linkage rotatably disposed on the subframe and moveably associated with the pivot member;

wherein movement of the pivot member with respect to the subframe is independent of rotation of subframe with respect to the support post.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 further comprising an insert nut that is rotatably disposed in the support linkage.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 further comprising a pivot pin that extends at least partially through the insert nut to permit the insert nut to rotate with respect to the support linkage.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the pivot pin extends at least partially through the support linkage and the pivot member to permit the pivot member to rotate with respect to the support linkage.

13. The seat assembly of claim 10 further comprising a drive shaft that rotates about a drive shaft axis of rotation, the drive shaft including a threaded region and wherein the insert nut includes a threaded hole that engages the threaded region.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13 further comprising a motor configured to actuate the drive shaft.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the motor is configured to drive a first drive element and the drive shaft includes a second drive element, wherein the first and second drive elements are coupled by a belt.

16. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the motor is configured to drive a first drive element and the drive shaft includes a second drive element, wherein the first and second drive elements are configured as gears that engage each other.

17. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat back; and

a head restraint assembly including;

a headrest having a front portion for supporting the head of a seat occupant;

a support post disposed on the seat back;

a subframe rotatably disposed on the support post;

a support frame disposed on the subframe; and

a pivot member moveably disposed on the support frame, the pivot member being configured to engage the front portion;

wherein movement of the pivot member with respect to the support frame is independent of rotation of subframe with respect to the support post.

18. The seat assembly of claim 17 wherein the subframe, support frame, and pivot member are disposed in the headrest.

19. The seat assembly of claim 17 further comprising:

a drive shaft fixedly disposed on the support frame and having a threaded region; and

a second drive element having a threaded hole that receives the threaded region.

20. The seat assembly of claim 19 further comprising a motor, a first drive element configured to be driven by the motor, and a second drive element configured to be driven by the first drive element to rotate the drive shaft and actuate the front portion between a first position and a second position that differs from the first position.