Foldable halo style headrest

• US 6,129,421 A
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biomedical Engineering Trust I, Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Sisunik, Chuck, Gilson, Todd J., Baldassarre, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US09/368,872
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 297/391, 297/403, 297/408
• US Class Current: 297/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/85 with continuous positioning
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back with a support post vertically adjustable with respect to the seat back. A cushioned base is non-movably mounted to the support post and covered by a trim cover material. The base includes first and second ends. A U-shaped headrest has opposing ends pivotally connected to the first and second ends of the base, respectively. The U-shaped headrest is covered by a trim cover material and is pivotally movable between an upright position for use and a horizontal position for seat tumbling. The base and U-shaped headrest cooperate to form an opening therebetween for improved visibility when the U-shaped headrest is in the upright position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat back;

a support post vertically adjustable with respect to the seat back;

a base having a cushion therealong and being non-movably mounted to the support post and covered by a trim cover material, said base having first and second ends extending outwardly therefrom;

a U-shaped headrest having opposing ends and being pivotally connected to said first and second ends of the base, respectively, said U-shaped headrest covered by a trim cover material, and said U-shaped headrest being pivotally movable between an upright position for use and a horizontal position for seat tumbling; and

wherein the base and U-shaped headrest cooperate to form an opening there between for improved visibility when the U-shaped headrest is in the upright position.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes a cam engaged with the U-shaped headrest for selectively positioning the headrest in the upright or horizontal position.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, further comprising a return spring biasing the U-shaped headrest toward the upright position.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, further comprising an automatic locking mechanism which automatically locks the U-shaped headrest in the upright position once the headrest is moved to the upright position, said locking mechanism including a release button for unlocking.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the support post is configured to be selectively removable from the seat back.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said support post is non-pivotally mounted with respect to the seat back.

7. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat back;

a support post vertically adjustable with respect to the seat back;

a base having a cushion therealong and being non-movably mounted to the support post and covered by a trim cover material, said base having first and second ends extending outwardly therefrom;

a U-shaped headrest having opposing ends and being pivotally connected to said first and second ends of the base, respectively, said U-shaped headrest covered by a trim cover material, and said U-shaped headrest being pivotally movable between an upright position for use and a horizontal position for seat tumbling;

wherein the base includes a cam engaged with the U-shaped headrest for selectively positioning the headrest in the upright or horizontal position; and

an automatic locking mechanism which automatically locks the U-shaped headrest in the upright position once the headrest is moved to the upright position, said locking mechanism including a release button for unlocking.

8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7, further comprising a return spring biasing the U-shaped headrest toward the upright position.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7, wherein the support post is configured to be selectively removable from the seat back.

10. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7, wherein said support post is non-pivotally mounted with respect to the seat back.

11. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat back;

a support post vertically adjustable with respect to the seat back and non-pivotally mounted with respect to the seat back;

a base having a cushion therealong and being non-movably mounted to the support post and covered by a trim cover material, said base having first and second ends extending outwardly therefrom;

a U-shaped headrest having opposing ends and being pivotally connected to said first and second ends of the base, respectively, said U-shaped headrest covered by a trim cover material, and said U-shaped headrest being pivotally movable between an upright position for use and a horizontal position for seat tumbling;

wherein the base includes a cam engaged with the U-shaped headrest for selectively positioning the headrest in the upright or horizontal position.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11, further comprising a return spring biasing the U-shaped headrest toward the upright position.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11, further comprising an automatic locking mechanism which automatically locks the U-shaped headrest in the upright position once the headrest is moved to the upright position, said locking mechanism including a release button for unlocking.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11, wherein the support post is configured to be selectively removable from the seat.