Automobile seat

• US 7,325,869 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Braune, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US11/042,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/216.14
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

An automobile seat possesses a seat back that includes a seat back frame to which an restraining device for a headrest is mounted. The headrest may be displaced from an initial position into an extended position against the head of the seat occupant. A locking process is provided by means of which the restraining device may be maintained in its extended position with respect to the seat back frame. The locking process device includes an engaging element pre-tensioned by a spring that may engage with the engagement recess formed on the restraining device. The locking process device includes a disengaging element to be operated by the seat occupant or other person that brings the engaging element out of engagement with the engaging recess in the maintained condition of the restraining device against the force of the spring.

Claims

1. An automobile seat with a seat back that includes a frame to which a restraining device is mounted for a headrest, whereby the headrest may be displaced from an initial position into an extended position against the head of a seat occupant, whereby a locking device is provided by means of which the restraining device in the extended position of the headrest may be affixed to the seat back frame, whereby the locking device includes an engaging element pretensioned against a spring that engages the engaging element with an engaging recess on the restraining device, characterized in that the locking device includes an unlocking device that may be actuated by service personnel that, when actuated in the locked position of the restraining device, brings the engaging element out of engagement with the engaging recess against the force of the spring, and wherein the restraining device includes headrest tubes to guide headrest rods of the headrest, whereby slots are provided in the headrest tubes that extend in the longitudinal direction of the headrest tubes that form an engaging recess.

2. The automobile seat as in claim 1, wherein the unlocking element is mounted on the seat back frame.

3. The automobile seat as in claim 1 wherein the unlocking element is mounted so that it may pivot.

4. The automobile seat as in claim 1 wherein the unlocking element includes an actuation section that may be actuated by service personnel.

5. The automobile seat as in claim 1 wherein the unlocking element includes an actuation section that works together with the engaging element or with components connected to it.

6. The automobile seat as in claim 1 wherein the unlocking element is formed as a rocker.

7. The automobile seat as in claim 1 wherein the restraining device is mounted to the seat back frame so that it may pivot, and is connected with pressure elements, whereby pressure on the pressure elements by the seat occupant may cause the restraining device to pivot for the purpose of allowing an extending motion.

8. The automobile seat as in claim 7, wherein a return spring is provided to retract the headrest from an extended position to the initial position.

9. The automobile seat as in claim 1 wherein the restraining device is held in its initial position by a blocking device against the force of a pre-tensioning element, whereby the blocking device may be released by exceeding a threshold acceleration for an extending motion of the headrest with the help of the pre-tensioning element.