Side impact active head restraint

• US 6,692,071 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Fowler, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARRETT, ERIKA P
• Application Number:
  US10/071,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 297/408, 297/406, 297/407, 297/216.12, 297/403
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• 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 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head

Abstract

A headrest assembly including a headrest pad having a front surface and side portions that are movable between a first position and a second position wherein the side portions are forward of the front surface of the headrest pad. A shift mechanism is provided for moving the side portion to the second position. A trigger is actuated in response to an impact that causes the shift mechanism to move the side portion from the first position to the second position. The headrest pad preferably has a central section that is flanked by right and left side portions. The side portions pivot on a shaft or hinge mechanism that includes a spring that biases the side portions toward the second position. The trigger is preferably a hook that is mounted on a slide secured to the headrest pad. A torsion spring is secured between the hook and the slide so that the hook may be displaced relative to the headrest pad when the impact exerts an inertial load to the headrest pad above a predetermined level. The right and left side portions may pivot independently relative to each other. A ratchet may be provided between the side portions and the headrest pad that permits the side portions to be locked in one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the headrest body. The headrest pad may alternatively have a central section that is flanked by right and left side portions that are shifted in a fore and aft linear direction independently relative to a central section.

Claims

1. A vehicle headrest assembly comprising:

a headrest pad having a front surface;

a side portion of the headrest pad having a first position, the side portion being shiftable in a forward direction to a second position forward of the front surface;

a shift mechanism for moving the side portion from the first position to the second position; and

a trigger actuated in response to a vehicle impact that causes the shift mechanism to move the side portion from the first position to the second position;

wherein a ratchet connection is provided between the side portion and the headrest pad that permits the side portion to be locked in one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the headrest pad, the trigger is a hook mounted on a slide that is secured to the headrest pad, and a torsion spring is secured between the hook and the slide, so that when the vehicle impact exerts an inertial load to the headrest pad above a predetermined level the hook is displaced and the torsion spring exerts a force on the shift mechanism that locks the side portion in one of the angular positions.

2. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the headrest pad has a central section that is flanked by right and left side portions.

3. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the side portion pivots on a shaft.

4. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 3 wherein the shift mechanism is a spring mounted on the shaft for biasing the side portion toward the second position.

5. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 4 wherein the trigger is a hook that is mounted on a slide secured to the headrest pad, a torsion spring being secured between the hook and the slide, and wherein the hook is displaced when the impact exerts an inertial load to the headrest pad above a predetermined level.

6. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the headrest pad has a right and left side portions that pivot independently relative to each other.

7. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the headrest pad has a central section that is flanked by right and left side portions that are shifted fore and aft in a linear direction independently relative to the central section.

8. A vehicle headrest assembly comprising:

a headrest pad having a front surface;

a side portion of the headrest pad having a first position, the side portion being shiftable in a forward direction to a second position forward of the front surface;

a shift mechanism for moving the side portion from the first position to the second position; and

a trigger actuated in response to a vehicle impact that causes the shift mechanism to move the side portion from the first position to the second position;

wherein the side portion pivots on a shaft, the shift mechanism is a spring mounted on the shaft for biasing the side portion toward the second position, the trigger is a hook mounted on a slide secured to the headrest pad, the trigger being displaced when the impact exerts an inertial load to the headrest pad above a predetermined level, and a torsion spring is secured between the hook and the slide.