ADJUSTABLE HEAD RESTRAINT ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE SEATS

• US 20120068517A1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Yetukuri, Arjun V., Locke, Gerald S., Willard, Scott Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,807,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/844 Release mechanisms, e.g. buttons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/847 with stepwise positioning

Abstract

An adjustable vehicle head restraint assembly is provided with a post mounted in a vehicle proximate to a seat back. A transverse shaft is mounted to the post. A head restraint is pivotally connected to the shaft. A series of teeth are provided on the head restraint. A locking mechanism is mounted to the shaft for translation in a transverse direction for engagement with the teeth. An actuator cooperates with the locking mechanism for disengaging the mechanism from the series of teeth for permitting adjustment of a tilt of the head restraint. A head restraint assembly is provided with a partial ring gear mounted to the head restraint. A sector gear is mounted to a transverse shaft in engagement with the partial ring gear. The actuator translates one of the partial ring gear and the sector gear for disengaging the gears and permitting adjustment of the tilt.

Claims

1. An adjustable vehicle head restraint assembly comprising:

at least one post adapted to be mounted in a vehicle proximate to a seat back;

a transverse shaft mounted to the at least one post;

a head restraint pivotally connected to the transverse shaft;

a series of teeth provided on the head restraint;

a locking mechanism mounted to the transverse shaft for translation in a transverse direction for engagement with the series of teeth; and

an actuator mounted to the head restraint in cooperation with the locking mechanism such that actuation of the actuator in the transverse direction disengages the locking mechanism from the series of teeth for permitting adjustment of a tilt of the head restraint relative to the transverse shaft.

2. The head restraint assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a first slider mounted to the transverse shaft for translation in the transverse direction, the first slider being in cooperation with the actuator; and

a second slider mounted to the transverse shaft for translation in a direction generally perpendicular to the transverse direction, the second slider being in cooperation with the first slider such that translation of the first slider actuates the second slider for retracting and extending the second slider in order to engage and disengage the second slider with the series of teeth on the head restraint.

3. The head restraint assembly of claim 2 further comprising a biasing member in cooperation with the first slider for maintaining the first slider, and consequently the second slider, in a locked position.

4. The head restraint assembly of claim 3 wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring.

5. The head restraint assembly of claim 2 wherein the first slider has one portion of an angled slot formed therein and a pin extending therefrom;

wherein the second slider has the other portion of the angled slot formed therein and the pin extending therefrom; and

wherein the pin is received in the angled slot for converting translation of the first slider to translation of the second slider.

6. The head restraint assembly of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member cooperating with the transverse shaft and the head restraint for urging the head restraint to a forward-most tilt position in response to actuation of the manual actuator.

7. The head restraint assembly of claim 6 wherein the biasing member comprises a torsion spring.

8. The head restraint of claim 1 wherein the series of teeth extend radially toward the transverse shaft;

and

wherein the locking mechanism converts translation in the transverse direction to translation in a perpendicular direction.

9. An adjustable vehicle head restraint assembly comprising:

at least one post adapted to be mounted in a vehicle proximate to a seat back;

a transverse shaft mounted to the at least one post;

a head restraint pivotally connected to the transverse shaft;

an actuator mounted to the head restraint;

a partial ring gear mounted to the head restraint; and

a sector gear mounted to the transverse shaft in engagement with the partial ring gear;

wherein one of the partial ring gear and the sector gear is mounted for translation in a transverse direction to the corresponding one of the head restraint and the transverse shaft, such that actuation of the actuator in the transverse direction disengages the sector gear from the partial ring gear for permitting adjustment of a tilt of the head restraint relative to the transverse shaft.

10. The head restraint assembly of claim 9 wherein the sector gear is affixed to the transverse shaft;

wherein the partial ring gear is mounted to the head restraint for translation in the transverse direction; and

wherein the head restraint assembly further comprises a biasing member cooperating with the partial ring gear for maintaining the partial ring gear in a locked position.

11. The head restraint assembly of claim 10 wherein the biasing member comprises a tension spring.

12. The head restraint assembly of claim 9 wherein the sector gear is mounted to the transverse shaft for translation in the transverse direction;

wherein the partial ring gear is affixed to the head restraint; and

wherein the head restraint assembly further comprises a biasing member cooperating with the sector gear for maintaining the sector gear in a locked position.

13. The head restraint assembly of claim 12 further comprising:

a sleeve mounted on the transverse shaft for translation therealong in the transverse direction, the sector gear being affixed to the sleeve, the sleeve having a transverse slot formed therethrough; and

a pin extending from the transverse shaft into the transverse slot for preventing rotation of the sleeve and sector gear relative to the transverse shaft.

14. The head restraint assembly of claim 12 wherein the biasing member further comprises a compression spring.

15. The head restraint assembly of claim 9 further comprising a biasing member cooperating with the transverse shaft and the head restraint for urging the head restraint to a forward-most tilt position in response to actuation of the manual actuator.

16. The head restraint assembly of claim 15 wherein the biasing member comprises a torsion spring.

17. The head restraint assembly of claim 15 further comprising a damping mechanism cooperating with the transverse shaft and the head restraint for damping movement of the head restraint to the forward-most tilt position.

18. An adjustable vehicle head restraint assembly comprising:

at least one post adapted to be mounted in a vehicle proximate to a seat back;

a transverse shaft mounted to the at least one post;

a head restraint pivotally connected to the transverse shaft;

a series of teeth provided on the head restraint extending radially toward the transverse shaft;

a locking mechanism mounted to the transverse shaft for converting translation in a transverse direction to translation in a direction perpendicular to the transverse direction for engagement with the series teeth; and

an actuator mounted to the head restraint in cooperation with the locking mechanism such that actuation of the actuator in the transverse direction disengages the locking mechanism from the series of teeth for permitting adjustment of a tilt of the head restraint relative to the transverse shaft.

19. The head restraint assembly of claim 18 wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a first slider mounted to the transverse shaft for translation in the transverse direction, the first slider being in cooperation with the actuator; and

a second slider mounted to the transverse shaft for translation in a direction generally perpendicular to the transverse direction, the second slider being in cooperation with the first slider such that translation of the first slider actuates the second slider for retracting and extending the second slider from and into engagement with the series of teeth of the head restraint.

20. The head restraint assembly of claim 19 wherein the first slider has one portion of an angled slot formed therein and a pin extending therefrom;

wherein the second slider has the other portion of the angled slot formed therein and the pin extending therefrom; and

wherein the pin is received in the angled slot for converting translation of the first slider to translation of the second slider.