Head restraint for a vehicle seat

• US 6,623,073 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co.
• Original Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Kreuels, Olaf, Braun, Dieter, Jung, Thomas, Schäfer, Volker, Berberich, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US10/288,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 297/391, 297/216.12, 297/406, 297/407
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/427 Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• 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: B60N 2002/022 the seat or seat part turning about or moving along a vertical axis

Abstract

A headrest (1) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, has a first assembly for contact with the occupant'"'"'s head and a height-adjustable second assembly (25, 41). The first assembly (101) moves forward relative to the second assembly (25, 41) in the event of a crash. A third assembly (15) on the headrest (1) is provided beneath the second assembly (25, 41). The first assembly (101) moves upward relative to the third assembly (15) in the event of a crash.

Claims

1. A head restraint for a vehicle seat, wherein the head restraint is for restraining a head of an occupant of the vehicle seat in the event of a crash, the head restraint comprising:

a first subassembly positioned for resting against a rear of the head of the occupant;

a second subassembly mounted for being vertically adjustable, wherein the first subassembly is mounted for moving forwardly relative to the second subassembly;

a first driving mechanism mounted for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in the event of a crash;

a third subassembly positioned below the second subassembly, wherein at least the first subassembly is mounted for moving upwardly relative to the third subassembly; and

a second driving mechanism mounted for upwardly moving at least the first subassembly relative to the third subassembly in the event of a crash.

2. A head restraint according to claim 1, wherein:

the second driving mechanism is mounted for upwardly moving the second subassembly relative to the third subassembly in the event of a crash; and

the first subassembly is mounted to the second subassembly so that the second subassembly carries the first subassembly upward relative to the third subassembly in the event of a crash,

whereby the second driving mechanism is for moving the first and second subassemblies upward relative to the third subassembly in the event of a crash.

3. A head restraint according to claim 2, wherein:

the first driving mechanism is operative for causing translatory forward movement of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in the event of a crash; and

the second driving mechanism is operative for causing translatory upward movement of the second subassembly relative to the third subassembly in the event of a crash.

4. A head restraint according to claim 3, wherein at least the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the third subassembly are cooperative for forming a closed unit during an initial state that is prior to a crash.

5. A head restraint according to claim 4, wherein:

the second subassembly includes at least one energy storage device of the first driving mechanism, with the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism being mounted for providing force for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in the event of a crash;

a biased first locking device is mounted for securing the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism during the initial state, so as to at least initially prevent the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism from providing force for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly;

a mass sensor is arranged within the head restraint for causing the first locking device to release the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism in the event of a crash, so as to allow the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism to provide force for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly;

the first driving mechanism further includes a train of mechanisms cooperating with the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in response to the release of the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism, wherein the train of mechanisms has at least one pivotable arm which is operatively connected to the first subassembly, and the pivotable arm brings about the movement of the first subassembly at least partially by way of pivoting movement of the pivotable arm;

a catch is mounted for securing the first subassembly after a crash, wherein the first driving mechanism is for moving the first subassembly from a first position to a second position in the event of a crash, with the first subassembly being closer to the second subassembly in the first position than in the second position, and the catch is operative for securing the first subassembly in the second position after a crash;

the second subassembly further includes at least one energy storage device of the second driving mechanism, with the energy storage device of the second driving mechanism being mounted for providing force for moving the first and second subassemblies upward relative to the third subassembly in the event of a crash;

a second locking device is mounted for securing the energy storage device of the second driving mechanism during the initial state, so as to at least initially prevent the energy storage device of the second driving mechanism from providing force for moving the first and second subassemblies upward relative to the third subassembly; and

the train of mechanisms causes the second locking device to release the energy storage device of the second driving mechanism in the event of a crash, so as to allow the second driving mechanism to move the first and second subassemblies upward relative to the third subassembly.

6. A head restraint according to claim 3, wherein:

the second subassembly includes at least one energy storage device of the first driving mechanism, with the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism being mounted for providing force for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in the event of a crash;

a biased first locking device is mounted for securing the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism during an initial state that is prior to a crash, so as to at least initially prevent the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism from providing force for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly;

a mass sensor is arranged within the head restraint for causing the first locking device to release the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism in the event of a crash, so as to allow the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism to provide force for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly;

the first driving mechanism further includes a train of mechanisms cooperating with the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in response to the release of the energy storage device of the first driving mechanism, wherein the train of mechanisms has at least one pivotable arm which is operatively connected to the first subassembly, and the pivotable arm brings about the movement of the first subassembly at least partially by way of pivoting movement of the pivotable arm;

a catch is mounted for securing the first subassembly after a crash, wherein the first driving mechanism is for moving the first subassembly from a first position to a second position in the event of a crash, with the first subassembly being closer to the second subassembly in the first position than in the second position, and the catch is operative for securing the first subassembly in the second position after a crash;

the second subassembly further includes at least one energy storage device of the second driving mechanism, with the energy storage device of the second driving mechanism being mounted for providing force for moving the first and second subassemblies upward relative to the third subassembly in the event of a crash;

a second locking device is mounted for securing the energy storage device of the second driving mechanism during the initial state, so as to at least initially prevent the energy storage device of the second driving mechanism from providing force for moving the first and second subassemblies upward relative to the third subassembly; and

the train of mechanisms causes the second locking device to release the energy storage device of the second driving mechanism in the event of a crash, so as to allow the second driving mechanism to move the first and second subassemblies upward relative to the third subassembly.

7. A head restraint according to claim 6, wherein:

the train of mechanisms of the first driving mechanism includes at least one pivoting device mounted for pivoting relative to a fixed component while the first driving mechanism forwardly moves the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in the event of a crash, and

a freewheel is between a pivoting device and the fixed component, wherein the freewheel is operative for both;

allowing forward movement of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly, and

restricting rearward movement of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly.

8. A head restraint according to claim 7, wherein the train of mechanisms of the first driving mechanism includes a hinged guide positioned between the first and second subassemblies for at least partially delimiting forward movement of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in the event of a crash, and the pivoting device is part of the hinged guide.

9. A head restraint according to claim 7, wherein the fixed component is a head restraint rod, whereby the freewheel is effective between the pivoting device and the head restraint rod, and wherein the head restraint rod has at least one point with a reduced diameter for releasing the freewheel.

10. A head restraint according to claim 1, wherein:

the first driving mechanism includes at least one pivoting device mounted for pivoting relative to a fixed component while the first driving mechanism forwardly moves the first subassembly relative the second subassembly in the event of a crash, and

a freewheel is between the pivoting device and the fixed component, wherein the freewheel is operative for both;

allowing forward movement of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly, and

restricting rearward movement of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly.

11. A head restraint according to claim 10, wherein the first driving mechanism includes:

an energy storage device positioned between the first and second subassemblies for providing force for forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in the event of a crash; and

a hinged guide positioned between the first and second subassemblies for at least partially delimiting forward movement of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly in the event of a crash.

12. A head restraint according to claim 11, wherein the pivoting device forms part of the hinged guide.

13. A head restraint according to claim 12, wherein:

a biased locking device is mounted for securing the energy storage device, with the locking device securing the energy storage device during an initial state which is prior to a crash, so as to at least initially prevent the energy storage device from forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly, and

a mass sensor is arranged within the head restraint for causing the locking device to release the energy storage device in the event of a crash, so as to allow the energy storage device to forwardly move the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly.

14. A head restraint according to claim 11, wherein:

a biased locking device is mounted for securing the energy storage device, with the locking device securing the energy storage device during an initial state which is prior to a crash, so as to at least initially prevent the energy storage device from forwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly, and

a mass sensor is arranged within the head restraint for causing the locking device to release the energy storage device in the event of a crash, so as to allow the energy storage device to forwardly move the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly.

15. A head restraint according to claim 14, wherein a blocking mass is arranged within the head restraint and is operative for preventing the mass sensor from causing the locking device to release the energy storage device in the event of predetermined forces being imparted on the head restraint prior to a crash.

16. A head restraint according to claim 10, wherein:

the second subassembly includes at least one dedicated energy storage device of the second driving mechanism,

the energy storage device is for providing force for upwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the third subassembly in the event of a crash, and

a locking device is mounted for securing the energy storage device, with the locking device securing the energy storage device during an initial state which is prior to a crash, so as to at least initially prevent the energy storage device from upwardly moving the first subassembly relative to the third subassembly, and

the pivoting movement of the pivoting device, which occurs in the event of a crash, causes the locking device to release the energy storage device, so as to allow the energy storage device to upwardly move the first subassembly relative to the third subassembly.

17. A head restraint according to claim 10, wherein the fixed component is a head restraint rod, whereby the freewheel is effective between the pivoting device and the head restraint rod, and wherein the head restraint rod has at least one point with a reduced diameter for releasing the freewheel.

18. A head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the head restraint is in combination with the vehicle seat by virtue of the head restraint being mounted to the vehicle seat.