Vehicular seat assembly having a movable headrest and a vehicle which incorporates the vehicular seat assembly

• US 6,840,560 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Flogard, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D ADAMO, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/248,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12, 297/408, 296/68.1, 296/65.02, 296/65.01, 280/751
• US Class Current: 296/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• 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

Abstract

A low profile vehicular seat having an occupant contacting surface and a headrest which is moved from a first position to a second head reception position upon the communication of force from the body of the vehicle to the seat assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicular seat assembly comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest portion;

a headrest assembly having a headrest movably coupled to the backrest portion; and

a mechanical linkage coupled to the headrest assembly and to a vehicle body, the mechanical linkage including;

a pivot member coupled to the headrest and rotatably mounted to the backrest portion;

a first arm extending from the pivot member and having a first end; and

a linkage member pivotally connected to the first end of the first arm and connectable to a portion of the vehicle body;

wherein the mechanical linkage transmits a force from the vehicle body to the headrest assembly to move the headrest assembly from a first position to a second head reception position in response to a vehicle impact such that rearward motion of the backrest portion relative to the portion of the vehicle body applies a moment to the pivot member, the moment urging the headrest toward the second head reception position.

2. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said headrest moves to said second head reception position along a direction that extends away from the vehicle impact.

3. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said mechanical linkage further comprises a second arm extending from said pivot member and engaging a stop secured to said backrest portion to prevent rotation of the pivot member in a direction opposite that in which said moment is applied.

4. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the stop is attached to an interior surface of the backrest portion.

5. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the stop has a triangular cross section.

6. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a biasing spring coupled to said mechanical linkage to urge the headrest toward the first position.

7. A vehicular seat assembly comprising:

a backrest portion;

a headrest;

a pivot member coupled to said headrest and rotatably mounted to said backrest portion;

a first arm extending from said pivot member and having a first end connectable to a vehicle body such that movement of said backrest rearward relative to said vehicle body exerts a force on said first arm urging said pivot member to rotate in a first direction corresponding to a forward position of said headrest; and

a second arm extending from said pivot member and having a free end engaging a stop disposed within said backrest portion to position said headrest in a rearward position and restrain the pivot member against rotation in a first direction corresponding to further rearward movement of the headrest;

wherein the first arm and the second arm are formed as a unitary “

V”

shaped member.

8. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 7 further comprising a biasing spring coupled to said first arm and to said backrest portion to urge the headrest toward the first position.

9. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 7 wherein said pivot member comprises a generally round and elongated member having opposed ends which respectively are rotatably received in a unique one of a pair of indentations formed within said backrest portion.

10. The vehicular seat assembly of claim 7 further comprising a linkage member coupled to said first arm and to said portion of said vehicle.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7 further comprising a seat portion and wherein said backrest portion is moveably coupled to said seat portion.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a body;

at least one low profile seat disposed within said body and having a backrest;

a headrest mounted to said backrest and movable relative to said backrest between a first position and a head reception position; and

a mechanical linkage coupling said headrest assembly to said body, said mechanical linkage including;

a pivot member coupled to said headrest and rotatably mounted to said backrest;

a first arm extending from said pivot member and having a first end; and

a linkage member pivotally connected between said first end of said first arm and said body;

wherein the mechanical linkage transmits a force from said body to said headrest assembly to move said headrest from said first position to said head reception position in response to a vehicle impact such that rearward motion of said backrest portion relative to said body applies a moment to said pivot member, said moment urging said headrest toward said reception position.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said mechanical linkage further comprises a second arm extending from said pivot member and engaging a stop secured to said backrest to prevent rotation of the pivot member in a direction opposite that is which said moment is applied.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said mechanical linkage comprises a biasing spring urging said backrest toward said first position.