MULTI-ADJUSTABLE HEAD RESTRAINT

• US 20170253153A1
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adient US, LLC (Adient plc)
• Original Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.A R.L. (Adient plc)
• Inventors: Kapusky, Michael J., Burton, Brent D., Caruss, Nathan, Michalak, Eric B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,399,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/821 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/85 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests

Abstract

An adjustable head restraint assembly for a seat back of a seat that includes a head supporting structure, a head rest support, and at least two of a height adjustment mechanism, a side angle adjustment mechanism, and a tilt adjustment mechanism that are each electronically powered. The head supporting structure is configured to support an occupant'"'"'s head. The head rest support supports the head supporting structure. The height adjustment mechanism is configured to change the height of the head supporting structure relative to the head rest support and the seat back. The side angle adjustment mechanism is configured to change the angle of side portions of the head supporting structure relative to a center portion of the head supporting structure. The tilt adjustment mechanism is configured to change a tilt angle of the head supporting structure relative to a tilt supporting structure and the seat back.

Claims

1. An adjustable head restraint assembly for a seat back of a seat, the adjustable head restraint assembly comprising:

a head supporting structure configured to support an occupant'"'"'s head;

a head rest support that supports the head supporting structure and is configured to attach the head supporting structure to the seat back; and

at least two of a height adjustment mechanism, a side angle adjustment mechanism, and a tilt adjustment mechanism that are each electronically powered,

wherein the height adjustment mechanism is configured to change the height of the head supporting structure relative to the head rest support and the seat back,

wherein the side angle adjustment mechanism is configured to change the angle of side portions of the head supporting structure relative to a center portion of the head supporting structure,

wherein the tilt adjustment mechanism is configured to change a tilt angle of the head supporting structure relative to a tilt supporting structure and the seat back.

2. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 1, further comprising all three of the height adjustment mechanism, the side angle adjustment mechanism, and the tilt adjustment mechanism.

3. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the height adjustment mechanism, the side angle adjustment mechanism, and the tilt adjustment mechanism are independently controlled.

4. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 1, wherein the height adjustment mechanism is configured to move the head supporting structure between a low position and a high position, wherein the head supporting structure is relatively closer to the seat back in the low position and relatively further from the seat back in the high position.

5. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 1, wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a guiding assembly and a mounting bracket assembly, wherein the guiding assembly is configured to move the mounting bracket assembly in a vertical direction, wherein the vertical direction extends along the height of the head supporting structure, wherein vertical movement of the mounting bracket assembly changes the height of the head supporting structure.

6. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 5, wherein the guiding assembly comprises a first motor and transmission assembly and a first lead screw, wherein the first motor and transmission assembly is configured to rotate the first lead screw in order to move the mounting bracket assembly in the vertical direction along the length of the first lead screw, which changes the height of the head supporting structure relative to the head rest support.

7. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket assembly comprises a nut and a mounting bracket statically attached to each other and the nut is movably attached to the first lead screw such that the nut and the mounting bracket move congruently together along the length of the first lead screw as the first lead screw is rotated.

8. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 7, wherein the guiding assembly comprises one or more tracks that are configured to guide the mounting bracket as the first lead screw is rotated.

9. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 7, wherein the guiding assembly comprises a guide region that extends along the length of the first lead screw and is configured to prevent the nut from rotating as the first lead screw rotates.

10. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 1, wherein the head supporting structure comprises a center portion and two side portions on either side of the center portion, wherein the two side portions are rotatably attached to the center portion, wherein the side angle adjustment mechanism is configured to rotate each of the side portions between a full rearward position and a full forward position relative to the center portion.

11. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 10, wherein the angle between a front surface of each of the side portions and a front surface of the center portion is greater in the full rearward position than in the full forward position.

12. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 10, wherein one of the side portions has a drive gear mechanism and the other of the side portions has a slave gear mechanism such that rotation of the one of the side portions causes the other of the side portions to rotate congruently.

13. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 10, wherein the side angle adjustment mechanism comprises a second motor and transmission assembly and a second lead screw, wherein the second motor and transmission assembly is configured to rotate the second lead screw, wherein rotation of the second lead screw causes the side portions to rotate relative to the center portion.

14. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 13, wherein rotating the second lead screw moves a nut along at least a portion of the length of the second lead screw, wherein linear movement of the nut along the second lead screw causes the side portions to rotate relative to the center portion.

15. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 14, wherein the side angle adjustment mechanism further comprises a link arm that attaches the nut and a drive gear mechanism on one of the side portions together, wherein the link arm translates the linear movement of the nut along the second lead screw into rotation of the drive gear mechanism.

16. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 13, wherein rotating the second lead screw rotates a drive gear mechanism of one of the side portions, wherein rotation of the drive gear mechanism causes a slave gear mechanism on the other of the side portions to rotate congruently.

17. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 1, wherein the tilt adjustment mechanism is configured to rotate the head supporting structure between a forward position and a rearward position about a substantially horizontal axis.

18. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 1, wherein the tilt adjustment mechanism comprises a tilt supporting structure, at least one adjuster, and an adjuster bar, wherein the adjuster bar is rotatably attached to the tilt supporting structure through the at least one adjuster and is nonrotatably attached to the head rest support, wherein the at least one adjuster is configured to rotate the adjuster bar relative to the tilt supporting structure, wherein rotation of the adjuster bar changes the tilt angle of the head rest support and the head supporting structure relative to the tilt supporting structure.

19. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 1, wherein the tilt adjustment mechanism comprises a tilt supporting structure, a third motor and transmission assembly, and a third lead screw, wherein the third motor and transmission assembly is configured to rotate the third lead screw in order to rotate the head rest support and change the tilt angle of the head rest support and the head supporting structure relative to the tilt supporting structure.

20. The adjustable head restraint assembly of claim 19, wherein the tilt adjustment mechanism comprise a lever, wherein a first end of the lever is statically attached to the head rest support and a second end of the lever defines a recess, wherein the third lead screw comprises a pin that is configured to be received by and move within the recess, wherein rotation of the third lead screw moves the pin within the recess, which moves the lever and rotates the head rest support.