Multi-function headrest

• US 6,394,551 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1997
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beukema, Jack A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELL, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US09/001,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 297/125,167,217.6,217.3,391,403,408
• US Class Current: 297/391
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests

Abstract

A headrest is tiltably mounted to a passenger side seat and includes a lamp assembly for directing illumination rearwardly and downwardly from a rear surface in the headrest to illuminate the lap area of the seat located behind the passenger seat. The seat can be folded forwardly and the headrest tilted rearwardly to direct illumination onto a work surface located in the back of the seat back.

Claims

1. An illuminated headrest assembly comprising:

a headrest having a lamp assembly mounted to a rear surface thereof, said lamp assembly housing having said light source mounted in recessed relationship thereto, wherein said housing includes switch means for operating said light source, and wherein said lamp assembly includes a reflector mounted to said housing for directing illumination downwardly at an angle of from 20°

to 40°

for directing illumination from said headrest to allow a person located behind said headrest to read under low ambient light conditions;

means for moving said headrest from a first position, generally co-planar with the back of a seat to which said headrest is mounted for directing illumination toward an area behind said headrest, to a second position generally orthogonal to the plane of the seat for directing illumination onto the rear surface of the back of a seat to which it is mounted; and

means for mounting said headrest to a seat, said mounting means comprising a pivot axle mounted to one of a seat and said headrest and at least one arm coupled to said pivot axle and extending into the other of said headrest and seat for supporting said headrest in said first and second positions.

2. The headrest assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a fluorescent bulb.

3. A vehicle seat assembly including an illuminated headrest comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat and a seat back pivotally mounted to said seat, such that said seat back can be folded forwardly over said seat, said seat back including a work surface formed thereon;

a headrest having front and rear surfaces, said headrest mounted to said seat back and including a lamp assembly including a housing mounted in recessed relationship to said headrest and a bulb mounted to said housing, wherein said housing includes switch means for operating said bulb and wherein said housing includes a reflector for directing illumination downwardly from said headrest at an angle of about 30°

for directing illumination therefrom; and

means for mounting said headrest to said seat back for movement from a first position, generally co-planar with said seat back for directing illumination toward an area behind said seat, to a second position for directing illumination onto said work surface of said seat back, wherein said means for mounting said headrest to a seat comprises a pivot axle mounted to said seat back and at least one arm coupled to said pivot axle and extending said headrest for supporting said headrest in said first and second positions.

4. An illuminated headrest assembly comprising:

a headrest having a recessed lamp housing mounted to a rear surface thereof;

a lamp assembly including a light source mounted in said housing for directing illumination from said headrest, wherein said housing includes a switch for operating said light source, and wherein said light source comprises a fluorescent bulb; and

a pivot mount for moving said headrest from a first position, generally co-planar with the back of a seat to which said headrest is mounted for directing illumination toward an area behind said headrest, to a second position for directing illumination onto the rear surface of the back of the seat to which it is mounted.

5. The headrest assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said housing includes a reflector for directing illumination downwardly from said headrest at an angle of from about 200 to 400.