Headrest control

• US 4,600,240 A
• Filed: 03/09/1984
• Issued: 07/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Price Company (Costco Wholesale Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van Order, Kim L., Clark, Russell L., Suman, Michael J., Haan, Ted W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyddane, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US06/587,988
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 297/374, 297/408, 403/19, 403/116, 403/357, 403/379, 192/8 C, 188/77 W, 188/82.6
• US Class Current: 297/408
• 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: Y10T 403/32581 Pin and slot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7088 Sliding pin

Abstract

A headrest includes a unidirectional clutch permitting adjustment of the headrest from a reference position to any desired selected position and resists motion in a rearward direction except upon release of the clutch. In one embodiment of the invention, a spring return mechanism is provided to automatically return the headrest to a reference position upon release of the clutch.

Claims

1. A vehicle headrest adjustment mechanism including a headrest which is adjustable about a pivot axle, said mechanism comprising:

a spring clutch having a relatively short, large diameter coil spring surrounding an axle about which the headrest pivots said spring having an inner diameter greater than its axial length;

a cylindrical sleeve secured to said axle in axial alignment with said coil spring and extending axially beyond the ends of said spring, said sleeve having an outer diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of said coil spring and significally greater than the diameter of said axle to thereby increase the effective clutch working surface;

means engaging said spring for releasing the gripping action of said spring from said sleeve whereby said headrest can be pivoted rearwardly, said headrest being pivotable to a forwardly adjusted position without actuation of said release means;

said release means comprising a second cylindrical sleeve rotatably fitted over an end of said axle and coupled to said coil spring to release the gripping force of said coil spring on said first named sleeve when said second sleeve is rotated in a first direction;

said second sleeve including socket means formed in an end opposite said spring for releasably receiving a control shaft; and

a control shaft with a first end configurated to extend within said socket whereby different lengths of control shafts can be selected for different widths of headrests so as to provide for the control shaft to extend outwardly beyond an edge of the headrest for access by a user.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket includes an end wall with an opening and wherein said first end of said control shaft includes a tab which extends through said opening and snap-locks said control shaft to said sleeve.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said control shaft includes a knob at an end opposite said first end.