VEHICLE SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT ACTUATION

• US 20140054944A1
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Locke, Gerald S., Yetukuri, Arjun, Taylor, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 9,145,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/354.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/832 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/891 with the head-rest being comma-shaped in side view
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/948 the actuation of the positioning or locking mechanism for one seat part being dependent on the position of another seat part, e.g. the seats floor lock being unlocked when the back-rest is inclined or the backrest can be tilted only when the seat is in its rear position

Abstract

A vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a seat back having pivoted forward to a predetermined position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to pivot a head restraint in response to the input. Another vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a seat back having pivoted rearward to a predetermined position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to pivot a head restraint in response to the input. Another vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a rear seat assembly having adjusted to a slouch position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to stow a head restraint of a front seat assembly in response to the input.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat controller configured to:

receive an input indicative of a seat back having pivoted forward to a predetermined position; and

convey a signal to an actuator to pivot a head restraint in response to the input.

2. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body;

a seat back adapted to be pivotally connected to the vehicle body adjacent to the seat bottom for pivoting to an upright position and a forward position;

an actuator mounted to the seat back;

a head restraint operably connected to the actuator;

a sensor cooperating with the seat back to detect a position of the seat back; and

a vehicle seat controller according to claim 1 in communication with the sensor and the actuator.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a vertical orientation of the seat back.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a position beyond a vertical orientation of the seat back.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a non-use position.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a fully forward position.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the actuator pivots the head restraint forward in response to the signal.

8. The vehicle seat controller of claim 1 wherein the input is further defined as a first input;

wherein the signal is further defined as a first signal; and

wherein the controller is further configured to;

receive a second input indicative of the seat back having pivoted rearward to a predetermined position, and

convey a second signal to the actuator to pivot the head restraint in response to the input.

9. A vehicle seat controller configured to:

receive an input indicative of a seat back having pivoted rearward to a predetermined position; and

convey a signal to an actuator to pivot a head restraint in response to the input.

10. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body;

a seat back adapted to be pivotally connected to the vehicle body adjacent to the seat bottom for pivoting to an upright position and a forward position;

an actuator mounted to the seat back;

a head restraint operably connected to the actuator;

a sensor cooperating with the seat back for detecting a position of the seat back; and

a vehicle seat controller according to claim 9 in communication with the sensor and the actuator.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a vertical orientation of the seat back.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as position beyond a vertical orientation of the seat back.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a use position.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a fully rearward position.

15. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the actuator pivots the head restraint rearward in response to the signal.

16. A vehicle seat controller configured to:

receive an input indicative of a rear seat assembly having adjusted to a slouch position; and

convey a signal to an actuator to stow a head restraint of a front seat assembly in response to the input.

17. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a rear seat assembly comprising;

a rear seat bottom adapted to be operably connected to a vehicle body for adjustment to an upright position and a slouch position, and

a rear seat back adapted to be operably connected to the vehicle body adjacent to the seat bottom for adjustment to an upright position and a slouch position;

a sensor cooperating with at least one of the rear seat bottom and the rear seat back is in the slouch position;

a front seat assembly comprising;

a front seat bottom adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body in front of the rear seat assembly,

a front seat back adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body adjacent to the front seat bottom,

an actuator supported by the front seat back, and

a head restraint operably connected to the actuator; and

a vehicle seat controller according to claim 16 in communication with the sensor and the actuator.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 further comprising a wire harness connecting the controller and the head restraint.

19. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 further comprising:

a transmitter in connection with the controller to transmit the signal; and

a receiver in connection with the actuator to receive the signal.

20. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 wherein the head restraint is pivotally connected to the front seat back.