Car seat with a head rest

• US 6,402,238 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Bigi, Dante, Heilig, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US09/446,041
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12, 297/391, 297/410, 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/427 Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash
• 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 2/838 Tiltable
• 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 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 2021/21531 using a strechable wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2173 the module or part thereof being movably mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A vehicle seat (10) with a back rest (12) and with an adjustable head rest (15) having a supporting surface (16) which the head of the vehicle occupant can touch in the case of restraint is characterized in that the head rest (16) has an expansion device which increases the size of the supporting surface (16) of the head rest (15) in the case of restraint. Furthermore, the head rest (15) is vertically adjusted in relation to the back rest (12) at least when the head rest (15) is arranged so close to the back rest (12) that the back rest (12) would prevent a complete increase in size of the supporting surface (16).

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a back rest; and

an adjustable head rest, said head rest including a supporting surface for supporting a head of a vehicle occupant, said head rest further including a gas generator for increasing the surface area of said supporting surface,

said head rest being adjusted upwards relative to said back rest for helping to protect the vehicle occupant, said head rest being expanded by fluid from said gas generator thereby causing said supporting surface of said head rest to push against said back rest and move said head rest upwards relative to said back rest when said head rest is near said back rest.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the increase in size of the supporting surface occurs in vertical and horizontal directions.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that, to help protect the vehicle occupant, said head rest is moved into a predefined basic position in which said supporting surface extends upward from close to said back rest and is not obstructed by said back rest.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said gas generator inflates an inflatable gas bag within said head rest.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, characterized in that said gas bag, in an unfolded state, is disposed at least partially outside said head rest.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, characterized in that said gas bag, in an unfolded state, is disposed completely within an interior of said head rest.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, characterized in that said gas generator is arranged inside said head rest and is able to be exchanged separately from said head rest.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, characterized in that said gas generator is arranged in said back rest, said vehicle seat further including a bearing rod fastening said back rest to said head rest, said bearing rod having a gas guide duct for directing gas into an interior portion of said head rest.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said head rest has an expansible covering.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said head rest has incisions permitting an increase in volume of said head rest without destroying said head rest.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said gas generator and a gas bag are arranged in said head rest and are surrounded by said head rest.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said head rest has a chamber in an interior portion of said head rest, said chamber being inflatable by said gas generator and delimited by said head rest, said head rest being formed from a material with a low gas permeability.

13. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said head rest has a padding part and a cover surrounding said padding part, said padding part and said cover consisting of a material with low gas permeability.

14. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that an internal pressure of said head rest, produced by said gas generator, depends on the intensity of an impact to a vehicle.

15. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that an additional device moves said head rest independently of said gas generator.

16. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said vehicle seat further includes a sensor for determining a position of the head of the vehicle occupant and that an amount of inflation of said head rest is dependent on a determined position of the head of the vehicle occupant.

17. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said head rest automatically reassumes an initial shape after expansion of said head rest has been completed.