Headrest device

• US 7,066,545 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Mori, Masatoshi, Tanino, Masaharu, Ohchi, Masato, Terada, Takami, Nakamura, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARRETT, ERIKA P
• Application Number:
  US10/992,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20050116523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 297/61, 297/391, 297/410, 297/344.1, 297/408, 297/409
• US Class Current: 297/410
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/821 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors

Abstract

A headrest device includes a headrest provided over a seatback of a seat, a sliding means for slidably adjusting the seat in back and forth directions, a position-adjusting means for adjusting position of the headrest, and a connecting mechanism connecting the sliding means and the position-adjusting means. The connecting mechanism operates the position-adjusting means in conjunction with operation of the sliding means. The connecting mechanism moves in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and the connecting mechanism moves in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward.

Claims

1. A headrest device comprising:

a headrest provided over a seatback of a seat;

a sliding means for slidably adjusting the seat in back and forth directions;

a position-adjusting means for adjusting a position of the headrest; and

a connecting mechanism connecting the sliding means and the position-adjusting means, the connecting mechanism operating the position-adjusting means in conjunction with operation of the sliding means;

wherein

the connecting mechanism moves in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and the connecting mechanism moves in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the position-adjusting means includes a driving portion operated by the connecting mechanism, and a driven portion moved in conjunction with the headrest; and

transmission of a driving force from the driving portion is selectively inputted into and cut off from the driven portion;

and further wherein the driving portion includes a pinion gear;

the driven portion includes a rack gear selectively engaged with the pinion gear; and

the driving force is cut off by separating the pinion gear from the rack gear.

2. The headrest device according to claim 1, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

3. The headrest device according to claim 1, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire wound around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

4. The headrest device according to claim 1, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire round around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

5. The headrest device according to claim 1, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire round around the pulley;

the driving force transmitted from the driving portion to the driven portion is selectively cut off in accordance with movement of the pulley; and

extending direction of the wire extending from the pulley is determined to be approximately parallel to a moving direction of the pulley.

6. A headrest device comprising:

a headrest provided over a seatback of a seat;

a sliding means for slidably adjusting the seat in back and forth directions;

a position-adjusting means for adjusting a position of the headrest;

a connecting mechanism connecting the sliding means and the position-adjusting means, the connecting mechanism operating the position-adjusting means in conjunction with operation of the sliding means;

wherein the connecting mechanism moves in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and the connecting mechanism moves in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

wherein the position-adiusting means includes a driving portion operated by the connecting mechanism, and a driven portion moved in conjunction with the headrest; and

wherein transmission of a driving force from the driving portion is selectively inputted into and cut off from the driven portion; and

further comprising a pinion gear included in the driving portion;

a rack gear included in the driven portion, being selectively engaged with the pinion gear; and

recess portions provided on end portions of the rack gear in order to rotate the pinion gear in a disengaged state.

7. The headrest device according to claim 6, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire round around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

8. The headrest device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a biasing spring provided at each said recess portion, for biasing the pinion gear towards the center of the rack gear.

9. The headrest device according to claim 7, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire round around the pulley;

wherein the wire is configured to be pulled in a first direction when the sliding means moves forward, and to be pulled in a second direction when the sliding means moves backward;

the pulley is moved in conjunction with operation of the wire; and

the position-adjusting means is operated by means of operation of the pulley.

10. The headrest device according to claim 6, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire round around the pulley;

the driving force transmitted from the driving portion to the driven portion is selectively cut off in accordance with movement of the pulley; and

extending direction of the wire extending from the pulley is determined to be approximately parallel to a moving direction of the pulley.

11. The headrest device according to claim 8, wherein

the connecting mechanism includes a pulley, and a wire round around the pulley;

the driving force transmitted from the driving portion to the driven portion is selectively cut off in accordance with movement of the pulley; and

extending direction of the wire extending from the pulley is determined to be approximately parallel to a moving direction of the pulley.