Folding headrest in particular for motor vehicles

• US 5,669,668 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Leuchtmann, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US08/693,819
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 297/403, 297/408, 297/391, 403/321, 403/322, 403/102, 403/325
• US Class Current: 297/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/859 specially adapted for rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/874 movable to an inoperative or stowed position B60N2/832, B60N2/856 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator

Abstract

A headrest is provided that can be folded by a pivot mechanism, in particular for a motor vehicle seat having a backrest, which can be attached by posts on the backrest or on a component connected to the car body in the region of the backrest upper edge and can be locked by a locking mechanism at least in an approximately vertical position of use. For simplicity of production and to increase the convenience of using the headrest, the locking device is arranged inside the pivot mechanism which has a sleeve-shaped housing with at least one journal pin rotatably mounted in it and is arranged outside the headrest.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle seat having a backrest and a headrest having a supporting structure, a pivot mechanism for supporting said headrest to said backrest so that said headrest is pivotable forward and rearward relative to said backrest about a substantially horizontal axis lying in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and so that said headrest can be releasably locked in a substantially vertical position, said pivot mechanism comprising:

a sleeve-like housing located outside of said headrest and having a post connected to said headrest supporting structure, said housing also having a radial slot and an internal stop member recess,

a journal rotatably mounted within said sleeve, said journal having a central axis and a post connected to said backrest to orient said journal axis substantially horizontal and in the transverse direction of said vehicle seat said journal post also being movable within said sleeve radial slot as said journal rotates within said sleeve, said journal further having a groove like guide and a central boring through an end of said journal that opens into said groove like guide,

a bolt which is arranged within said housing and slidable within said groove like guide against the force of a spring, said bolt further having a guide pin guided without play through said journal central boring and also having a locking member engageable in form locking relationship with said sleeve internal stop member recess to hold said sleeve post, headrest supporting structure and headrest in said substantially vertical position, and,

a release button movable relative to said sleeve to push said bolt guide pin through said journal central boring against the force of said spring to thereby slide said bolt through said journal groove like guide to a released position that removes said bolt locking member out of form locking relationship with said sleeve internal stop member recess, and thereby releases said sleeve to allow relation of said journal as said journal post moves through said sleeve radial slot and said headrest concurrently rotates about said journal axis.