Vehicle seat and head restraint assembly

• US 7,159,934 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Yetukuri, Nagarjun, McQueen, Kenneth, Low, Kar K., Farquhar, Mark, Sebby, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/957,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 297/61, 297/391, 297/408, 297/354.12
• US Class Current: 297/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/85 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/862 with means for maintaining a desired position when the seat-back is adjusted, e.g. parallelogram mechanisms

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back connected to the seat bottom. A reclining mechanism is configured to adjustably position the seat back. A head restraint assembly includes a head restraint and one or more supports receiving the head restraint extending through one or more slots in an upper frame member of the seat back frame. A head restraint adjustment mechanism cooperates with the seat back to position the head restraint adjacent an occupant'"'"'s head. The head restraint adjustment mechanism includes a guide rotatably mounted to the seat back frame receiving the one or more head restraint supports, a cam rotatably mounted to the seat back frame and a linkage having a first end connected to the guide and a second end adjustably connected to the cam.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly for supporting an occupant, the assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back connected to the seat bottom having a frame including an upper frame member; and

a head restraint assembly adjustably connected to the seat back, the head restraint assembly including a head restraint and a head restraint adjustment mechanism cooperating with the seat back to position the head restraint adjacent an occupant'"'"'s head, the head restraint adjustment mechanism including one or more head restraint supports receiving the head restraint, at least one linkage having a first end extending through one or more slots in the seat back frame cooperating with the head restraint and a second end pivotally mounted to the seat back frame to allow positioning of the head restraint between the first and second positions adjacent the occupant'"'"'s head and a guide rotatably mounted to the seat back frame receiving the one or more head restraint supports,

wherein the head restraint adjustment mechanism positions the head restraint adjacent the occupant'"'"'s head as the seat back is adjusted between at least a first and a second position relative to a reference plane.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a reclining mechanism configured to adjustably position the seat back.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the head restraint adjustment mechanism adjusts the head restraint position relative to the occupant'"'"'s head to maintain a constant backset as the seat back is rotated between about 20°

and about 35°

from the reference plane.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the reclining mechanism cooperates with the head restraint adjustment mechanism to adjustably position the head restraint adjacent the head of the seat occupant.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the head restraint adjustment mechanism further comprises a cam rotatably mounted to the seat back frame and the at least one linkage includes an upper linkage having a first end connected to the guide and a second end adjustably connected to the cam, and a lower linkage having an anchored first end and a second end adjustably connected to the cam.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the first end of the lower linkage is anchored to the seat bottom frame.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 wherein the cam is rotatably mounted to a receiving plate extending from the seat back frame.

8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7 wherein the seat back frame further comprising a lower frame member supporting the receiving plate and a pair of opposing substantially vertical side frame members extending between the upper and lower frame members.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more slots in the seat back frame limit the travel of the at least one linkage of the head restraint adjustment mechanism receiving the head restraint.

10. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back connected to the seat bottom having a frame including an upper frame member;

a reclining mechanism configured to adjustably position the seat back;

a head restraint assembly adjustably connected to the seat back, the head restraint assembly including a head restraint and one or more head restraint supports receiving the head restraint extending through one or more slots in the upper frame member of the seat back frame; and

a head restraint adjustment mechanism cooperating with the seat back to position the head restraint adjacent an occupant'"'"'s head, the head restraint adjustment mechanism including a guide rotatably mounted to the seat back frame receiving the one or more head restraint supports, a cam rotatably mounted to the seat back frame and a linkage having a first end connected to the guide and a second end adjustably connected to the cam, wherein the head restraint adjustment mechanism positions the head restraint adjacent the occupant'"'"'s head as the seat back is adjusted between at least a first and a second position relative to a reference plane.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the reclining mechanism cooperates with the head restraint adjustment mechanism to adjustably position the head restraint adjacent the head of the seat occupant.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the head restraint adjustment mechanism adjusts the head restraint position relative to the occupant'"'"'s head to maintain a constant backset as the seat back is rotated between about 20°

and about 35°

from the reference plane.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the head restraint adjustment mechanism further comprises a lower linkage having an anchored first end and a second end adjustably connected to the cam.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the first end of the lower linkage is anchored to the seat bottom.

15. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the cam is rotatably mounted to a receiving plate extending from the seat back frame.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the seat back frame further comprising a lower frame member supporting the receiving plate and a pair of opposing substantially vertical side frame members extending between the upper and lower frame members.

17. A seat back and head restraint assembly configured for use with a vehicle seat having a seat bottom, the assembly comprising:

a seat back connectable to the seat bottom having a frame including an upper frame member;

a reclining mechanism configured to adjustably position the seat back;

a head restraint extending above the seat back frame including a pad portion;

one or more head restraint supports receiving the head restraint extending through one or more slots in the upper frame member;

a guide rotatably mounted to the seat back frame receiving the one or more head restraint supports;

a cam rotatably mounted to the seat back frame;

an upper linkage having a first end connected to the guide and a second end adjustably connected to the cam; and

a lower linkage having a first end connectable to the seat bottom and a second end adjustably connected to the cam,

wherein the head restraint is adjustably positionable between at least a first and a second position as the seat back is adjusted relative to a reference plane.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the upper linkage and guide cooperate to adjust the position of the head restraint relative to an occupant'"'"'s head to maintain a constant backset as the seat back is rotated between about 200 and about 35°

from the reference plane.

19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the seat back frame further comprising a lower frame member including a receiving plate for rotatably mounting the cam and a pair of opposing substantially vertical side frame members extending between the upper and lower frame members.