Individually adaptable headrest for seats with backs

• US 6,158,812 A
• Filed: 02/11/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christoph Bonke
• Original Assignee: Christoph Bonke
• Inventors: Bonke, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US08/913,640
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/216.14, 297/397, 297/391, 280/730.1, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 297/391
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/806 movable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/818 with stepwise positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/08 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2076 Removable covers with tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21531 using a strechable wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A head restraint for seats with a seat back with an upper support body (1) which is provided in the extension of the seat back (3) above the upper edge (2) of the seat back (3) at head height, and with the longitudinal axis (6) aligned horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal axis (7) of the seat back (3), whereby the underside of the upper support body (1) is in contact with, or spaced apart from, the upper edge (2) of the seat back (3). At least two horizontally spaced apart structures (5) for lateral support of the head are provided at the front (9) of the upper support body (1) and/or integrated into it. At the height of the cervical lordosis of a seated person a lower, essentially cylindrical support body (4) for supporting the cervical spine is attached; when viewed from the side, the cross-section of the said support body (4) is essentially round, oval, elongated or semicircular in shape, and the longitudinal axis (13) of the said support body (4) is aligned horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal axis (6) of the upper support body (1).

Claims

1. A head restraint for a seat back of a seat, comprising:

a cylindrical, upper support body in the extension of the seat back above an upper edge of the seat back of the seat (3) at a head height of a seated person, wherein said upper support body includes a first longitudinal axis aligned horizontally and parallel to a second longitudinal axis of said seat back of the seat, wherein an underside of the upper support body is above the upper edge of the seat back of the seat, and wherein said upper support body includes a front portion having at least two horizontally spaced apart means for laterally supporting the head of the seated person; and

a lower, cylindrical support body integrated into the lower end of the front of said upper support body and positioned at a cervical lordosis of said seated person in said seat, wherein said lower support body is adapted to support the cervical spine of said seated person, and wherein said lower, cylindrical support body contains a semi circular cross-sectional area and wherein said lower support body includes a third longitudinal axis aligned horizontally and parallel to said first longitudinal axis of said upper support body, and wherein said lower support body includes at least two horizontally spaced apart means for laterally supporting the cervical spine.

2. The head restraint according to claim 1, wherein said upper support body further includes a projecting portion extending in a direction toward said seated person.

3. The head restraint according to claim 2, wherein said projecting portion is adjustably variable in size and shape.

4. The head restraint according to claim 2, wherein said means for laterally supporting the head and said means for laterally supporting the cervical spine are adjustably variable in size and shape.

5. The head restraint according to claim. 1, wherein said upper support body and said lower support body include wall reinforcement means for forming and maintaining the shape of said upper support body and said lower support body.

6. The head restraint according to claim 1, wherein said upper support body includes a deformable interior volume which can be filled with an external medium whereby the size and shape of said upper support body is controlled by the presence of said external medium within said interior volume.

7. The head restraint according to claim 1, wherein said lower support body includes a deformable interior volume which can be filled with an external medium whereby the size and shape of said lower support body is controlled by the presence of said external medium within said interior volume.

8. The head restraint according to claim 1, wherein said upper support body includes propelling means for propelling at least a portion of said upper support body in a direction toward said seated person.

9. The head restraint according to claim 8, wherein said propelling means is selected from the group consisting of a pump, a pressure-gas cylinder and gas generator.

10. The head restraint according to claim 1, wherein said lower support body includes propelling means for propelling at least a portion of said lower support body in a direction toward said seated person.

11. The head restraint according to claim 10, wherein said propelling means is selected from the group consisting of a pump, a pressure-gas cylinder and gas generator.

12. The head restraint according to claim 1, wherein said upper support body and said lower support body are constructed as a single unit having an S-shaped contour.

13. The head restraint according to claim 1, further comprising a hood cover matched to the shape of the upper support body (1) and the upper portion of the seat back of the seat, wherein said hood-like cover includes activatable portions.

14. The head restraint according to claim 1, further comprising an inflatable airbag attached thereto, wherein said airbag includes at least two means for laterally supporting a portion of the body of said seated person.

15. The head restraint according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of activatable portions, wherein said activatable portions are constructed in two layers, wherein a plurality of solid spherules are disposed between said layers, and wherein the space between said layers may be subjected to a pressure differential.

16. The head, restraint according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of activatable portions, wherein said activatable portions are in communication with a central processing unit, a memory storage unit, and an input device, whereby said activatable portions can be sized and positioned in response to input provided by said seated person.

17. The head restraint according to claim 1, further comprising at least one activatable portion, wherein said activatable portion is caused to immediately elevate said head restraint to a predetermined position upon detection of a predetermined threshold amount of acceleration.