Seat assembly with integral head/neck rest

• US 6,616,235 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wolrd Market, Inc., World Market Incorporated
• Original Assignee: World Market Incorporated
• Inventors: Bonds, Shirley A., Khavari, Abolfazl
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US10/064,162
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 297/391, 297/408, 297/410
• 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 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/30 Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces

Abstract

A seatback assembly having an integral generally “U” shaped head/neck rest within its seatback that can be configured to accommodate a variety of positions while in use and incorporated into the seatback when not in use. The seat assembly has a seatback attached to a lower seat having a support arch and an opening. A generally “U” shaped head/neck rest is disposed within and pivotally attached to the seatback opening by a pair of mounting bars. The pivotal mount allows an open position for use and a closed position that is integral with the seatback. The mounting bars can be slidably mounted to the seatback and have locking mechanisms. Other features can include an internal frame, a pivotal attachment between the lower seat and seatback and the support arch can be made of tube steel and have padding.

Claims

1. A seatback assembly, comprising:

a seatback having a support arch and an internal periphery that defines a seatback opening; and

a head/neck rest assembly connected to said seatback, said head/neck rest assembly comprising at least one mounting bar, and a generally “

U”

shaped head/neck rest connected to said at least one mounting bar, said at least one mounting bar connected to said seatback to provide a pivotal mounting between said head/neck rest and said seatback, wherein said head/neck rest is pivotable between an open position in which it is disposed substantially out of said seatback opening and a closed position in which it is accommodated substantially within said seatback opening.

2. The seatback assembly of claim 1, wherein said support arch forms part of an internal frame of said seatback.

3. The seatback assembly of claim 2, further comprising upholstery and cushioning materials covering said internal frame.

4. The seatback assembly of claim 1 further comprising a lower seat pivotally attached to said seatback.

5. The seatback assembly of claim 1, wherein said support arch is made of tube steel.

6. The seatback assembly of claim 1, wherein said support arch further comprises padding.

7. The seatback assembly of claim 1, wherein said support arch defines a top of said seatback assembly and said head/neck rest assembly in said open position does not extend above said top of said support arch.

8. A seatback assembly, comprising:

a support arch and an internal periphery that defines a seatback opening;

a head/neck rest assembly connected to and disposed within said seatback, opening, said head/neck rest assembly comprising a pair of mounting bars, and a generally “

U”

shaped head/neck rest pivotally attached relative to said mounting bars between an open position for use and a closed position that is integral with the seatback; and

wherein said mounting bars are slidably mounted to said seatback.

9. The seatback assembly of claim 8, wherein said slidable mount comprises vertical slots having a vertical slot channel along said internal periphery and said mounting bars extend into and through said vertical slot channel.

10. The seatback assembly of claim 8, wherein said slidable mount further comprises a locking mechanism.

11. The seatback assembly of claim 10, wherein said locking mechanism comprises an array of teeth along a back edge of said vertical slot channel, and said mounting bar further comprising a lock pin disposed within a bore spring biased toward said teeth and a release lever attached to said lock pin guided in a channel within said mounting bar.