Storage structure for head rest

• US 6,203,104 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuo, Takashi, Matsuo, Harumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US09/170,716
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.04, 297/188.01, 297/391, 297/397, 297/403, 297/378.1, 297/316, 297/331, 297/335, 297/248, 297/188.08, 297/188.09, 297/188.1, 297/451.11, 297/452.55, 297/440.1, 297/440.24
• US Class Current: 297/188.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable

Abstract

In a storage structure for a head rest designed in such a way that with a seat cushion pulled up and frontward and a head rest detached, a seat back is to be folded frontward and stays of the head rest are to be fitted in the seat cushion, a back of the seat cushion is formed by a resin panel integrally provided with cylindrical portions, which have bottoms and hold the stays of the head rest.

Claims

1. A headrest storage structure for a motor vehicle seat, comprising:

a seat having a seat cushion angularly movable about a pivot, a seat back angularly movable to a folded forward position, a head rest removably attached to said seat back by at least one stay; and

a resin panel forming the back of said seat cushion and including an integrally formed tubular portion for each stay configured to receive said stay for holding said head rest in a storage position, whereby when said head rest is received in said tubular portions when said seat cushion is pulled frontward and up said seat back can be folded frontward, and wherein said tubular portion includes at least one window in an outer surface thereof such that the stays are visible through the windows when said head rest is in the storage position.

2. The storage structure according to claim 1, wherein each said tubular portion includes a bead portion protruding inward and configured to engage the respective stay to aid in retaining said head rest in the storage position.

3. The storage structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said tubular portions includes a bottom positioned to be abutted by a free end of said stay when said stay is inserted into the tubular portion.

4. The storage structure according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second window formed in each of the tubular portions, the windows of each tubular portion being spaced apart along a length of the tubular portion.

5. A seat for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a seat cushion angularly movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally upright position in which a lower surface of the seat cushion faces in a rearward direction of the seat;

a seat back angularly pivotable from a generally upright position to a generally horizontal folded position;

a head rest removably attached to the seat back by at least one stay affixed to the head rest; and

a resin panel affixed to the seat cushion and forming the lower surface thereof, the resin panel including an integrally formed tubular portion configured to receive and retain the stay of the head rest such that the head rest is retained in a storage position on the lower surface of the seat cushion when the seat cushion is in the upright position, wherein the tubular portion is formed in the resin panel such that the stay of the head rest is generally vertical when the seat cushion is moved into the upright position and the head rest is in the storage position.

6. The seat of claim 5, wherein the head rest includes a pair of stays, and the resin panel includes a pair of tubular portions for receiving and retaining the stays.

7. The seat of claim 5, wherein the tubular portion includes a bead which protrudes inwardly for engaging the stay to aid in retaining the head rest in the storage position.

8. The seat of claim 7, wherein the bead is positioned about midway along a length of the tubular portion.

9. The seat of claim 5, wherein the tubular portion has a bottom positioned to be abutted by a free end of the stay when the stay is inserted into the tubular portion.

10. The seat of claim 5, wherein the tubular portion includes at least one window through which the stay is visible when the stay is at least partially inserted into the tubular portion.