Head restraint

• US 6,299,254 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Rauscher, Frank, Dinh, Vinh-Khuong, Orizaris, Vasilios
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/368,417
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 297/408, 297/403, 297/391, 297/405
• US Class Current: 297/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/847 with stepwise positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/874 movable to an inoperative or stowed position B60N2/832, B60N2/856 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/0208 the seat or seat part turning about or moving along an inclined axis

Abstract

A head restraint for a vehicle seat which has a seat back or backrest, having a head cushion and a retaining device. The retaining device secures the head cushion pivotably to the backrest. The retaining device is designed such that the head cushion can be pivoted between an upper functional position and a lower-lying rest or non-functional position. For the purpose of simplifying the retaining device in terms of design and manufacture, the head cushion and retaining device are connected to each other via a pivot which is aligned transversely with respect to the backrest front surface and passes eccentrically through the plane of symmetry of the head cushion.

Claims

1. Head restraint for a backrest of a vehicle, comprising:

a head cushion; and

a retaining device including a pivot adapted to be positioned above a backrest for coupling the head cushion pivotably to the backrest,

said pivot being aligned transversely to a front surface of the backrest and passing eccentrically through a plane of symmetry of the head cushion such that the head cushion is pivotable between an upper functional position and a lower nonfunctional position, wherein the retaining device includes a bearing cup having a cup axis coaxial with said pivot,

said pivot including a pivot pin coupled to said head cushion and extending rearwardly of a proximal portion of the head cushion which is lower in the functional position,

said cup rotatable accommodating said pivot pin, wherein said proximal portion of the head cushion is bevelled on a rearward side to define an oblique surface running approximately parallel to the front surface of the backrest.

2. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein said head cushion includes an upholstered supporting frame having a first transversely extending frame strut located at said proximal portion, and a retaining bolt protruding at an obtuse angle with respect to the supporting frame, said retaining bolt being coupled to the pivot pin in a rotationally fixed manner.

3. Head restraint according to claim 2, further comprising a second transversely extending frame strut located at a distal portion of the head cushion which is higher in the functional position, said first transversely extending frame strut having wider upholstery in a vertical direction than said second transversely extending frame strut.

4. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein said backrest defines at least one guide sleeve, and wherein said bearing cup is coupled to a supporting hoop configured to be disposed in said at least one guide sleeve.

5. Head restraint according to claim 1, further comprising a lock which releasably locks the pivot pin to the bearing cup when the head cushion is in said functional position, said lock being at least one of manually releasable and releasable via a power assisted control, said lock automatically engaging when the head cushion is pivoted into said functional position.

6. Head restraint according to claim 5, wherein the lock comprises a recess in the pivot pin and a locking pin retained in an axially displaceable manner on the bearing cup, said locking pin being engageable with the recess under a spring force of a locking spring.

7. Head restraint according to claim 6, further comprising a solenoid having an armature coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being displaceable against the spring force of the locking spring via excitation of said solenoid.

8. Head restraint according to claim 7, further comprising a release lever pivotably disposed on said bearing cup and coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being displaceable against the spring force via said release lever.

9. Head restraint according to claim 6, further comprising a release lever pivotably disposed on said bearing cup and coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being displaceable against the spring force via said release lever.

10. Head restraint according to claim 5, further comprising a restoring spring coupled to said pivot pin, said restoring spring being tensioned when the head cushion is moved to said functional position.

11. Head restraint according to claim 10, wherein the restoring spring is a spiral spring or a leg spring disposed around said pivot pin, said restoring spring having one spring end coupled to the bearing cup and having another spring end coupled to the pivot pin.

12. Head restraint according to claim 1, further comprising a covering hood arranged to cover said retaining device, said covering hood being at least approximately aligned with an upper edge of the backrest.

13. Head restraint according to claim 12, wherein said head cushion and said covering hood are configured and said pivot pin is coupled to said head cushion such that an upper edge of the head cushion, when in the lower nonfunctional position, is essentially flush with an upper edge of the covering.

14. Retaining device for pivotably coupling a head cushion to a vehicle seat backrest, comprising:

a bearing to be coupled to the vehicle seat backrest such that a pivot axis defined by said bearing extends at least approximately perpendicularly to a front surface of the backrest;

a pivot pin adapted to be positioned above the backrest and coupled to a lower portion of the head cushion, said pivot pin being disposed in said bearing to be rotatable about said pivot axis between a first position corresponding to an upper functional position of the head cushion and a second position corresponding to a lower nonfunctional position of the head cushion; and

at least one locking mechanism which releasably locks said pivot pin to said bearing in said first position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a recess in the pivot pin and a locking pin axially displaceably disposed on the bearing, said locking pin being releasably engageable with the recess.

15. Retaining device according to claim 14, further comprising a solenoid having an armature coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being releasable from said recess via excitation of said solenoid.

16. Retaining device according to claim 15, further comprising a release lever pivotably disposed on said bearing and coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being releasable from said recess via said release lever.

17. Retaining device according to claim 14, further comprising a release lever pivotably disposed on said bearing and coupled to said locking pin, said locking pin being releasable from said recess via said release lever.

18. Head restraint system, comprising the retaining device of claim 16 and the head cushion,

said head cushion including a supporting frame,

said pivot pin being coupled to said supporting frame via a retaining bolt, said retaining bolt being fixed non-rotatably to said supporting frame and being fixed non-rotatably to said pivot pin.

19. Head restraint system according to claim 18, further comprising the vehicle seat backrest,

said vehicle seat backrest defining at least one guide sleeve,

said bearing being coupled to a supporting hoop configured to be disposed in said at least one guide sleeve.

20. A method of pivotably coupling a head cushion to a vehicle seat backrest, comprising:

coupling a bearing to the vehicle seat backrest such that a pivot axis defined by said bearing extends at least approximately perpendicularly to a front surface of the backrest;

coupling a pivot pin to a lower portion of the head cushion;

coupling said pivot pin to said bearing to be rotatable about said pivot axis between a first position corresponding to an upper functional position of the head cushion and a second position corresponding to a lower nonfunctional position of the head cushion wherein said pivot pin is positioned above said backrest; and

providing at least one locking mechanism to releasably lock said pivot pin to said bearing in said first position.