Seat having an adjusting mechanism for adjusting height of head rest

• US 5,918,940 A
• Filed: 06/25/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawaguchi, Satoshi, Wakamatsu, Fumio, Nihonmatsu, Hideo, Takeda, Nobuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US08/882,165
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 297/410, 297/403, 297/408, 297/61, 297/378.1
• US Class Current: 297/410
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2213 Gear wheel driven mechanism B60N2/2231, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors

Abstract

A seat having an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the height of a head rest includes a seat cushion, a seat back connected to the seat cushion and rotatable relative to the seat cushion, a head rest disposed on the seat back and movable in the vertical direction relative to the seat back, and a mechanism for moving the head rest in the vertical direction according to the pivoting of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.

Claims

1. A seat including a head rest whose height is adjustable, comprising:

a seat cushion designed to be slidably disposed on a floor;

a seat back connected to the seat cushion and rotatable relative to the seat cushion;

the head rest disposed adjacent the top of the seat back and adjustable in height relative to the seat back;

an inclining mechanism for inclining the seat back relative to the seat cushion;

a sliding mechanism for sliding the seat cushion relative to the floor;

a moving mechanism for moving the head rest towards and away from the top of the seat back; and

an interlocking mechanism for interlocking the moving mechanism for moving the head rest with each of the inclining mechanism for inclining the seat back relative to the seat cushion and the sliding mechanism for sliding the seat cushion relative to the floor such that said sliding of the seat cushion or inclining of the seat back results in movement of the headrest in height relative to the seat back.

2. A seat device, comprising:

an inclining mechanism for inclining a seat back relative to a seat cushion;

a sliding mechanism for sliding the seat cushion relative to a floor;

a moving mechanism for moving a head rest in the vertical direction; and

an interlock mechanism for interlocking the moving mechanism for moving a head rest in the vertical direction with each of the inclining mechanism for inclining a seat back relative to a seat cushion and the sliding mechanism for sliding the seat cushion relative to a floor such that said sliding of the seat cushion or inclining of the seat back results in movement of the headrest in height relative to the seat back.

3. A seat device as claim in claim 2 wherein the interlock mechanism includes:

a pinion gear for meshing with a rack gear to be mounted on the floor;

a first gear and drum, the first gear meshed with the pinion gear; and

at least one wire wound on the drum and connected to the moving mechanism.

4. A seat device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first gear and drum are mounted on the same shaft.

5. A seat device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first gear and drum are mounted on separate shafts, and said drum includes a second gear meshed with the first gear.

6. A seat for mounting in a vehicle, comprising:

a seat cushion designed to be slidably mounted in the vehicle for sliding movement;

a seat back connected for rotating movement relative to the seat cushion;

a head rest mounted in the seat back and whose height is adjustable relative to the seat back;

a handle rotatably disposed on the seat;

means connected to the head rest for adjusting the height of the head rest;

an interlock mechanism responsive separately to sliding movement of the seat cushion, rotating movement of the seat cushion, and rotation of the handle to operate the adjusting means to adjust the height of the head rest.

7. A seat as claimed in claim 6 further comprising means for rotating the seat back relative to the seat cushion.

8. A seat as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interlock mechanism includes:

a pinion gear for meshing with a rack gear;

a first gear and drum mounted on the same shaft, the first gear meshed with the pinion gear; and

at least one wire wound on the drum and connected to the adjusting means.

9. A seat as claimed in claim 8 wherein the handle is connected to the same shaft as the first gear and drum.

10. A seat as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interlock mechanism includes:

a pinion gear for meshing with a rack gear;

a first gear meshed with the pinion gear;

a drum including a second gear, the second gear meshed with the first gear; and

at least one wire wound on the drum and connected to the adjusting means.