Head rest for motor vehicles

• US 7,413,253 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Original Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Inventors: Karlberg, Rune
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer; Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US10/500,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 297/408, 297/391, 297/403, 297/409
• US Class Current: 297/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/844 Release mechanisms, e.g. buttons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

The present invention relates to a head rest for a vehicle seat in a motor vehicle. The head rest consists of an attachment (8) arranged on top of the back rest of the vehicle seat, a protective cushion (4) and one or several supporting arms (5, 13) which protrude from the attachment and support the protective cushion (4). The supporting arms are at their one end (7) pivotably attached to the attachment about a lower pivoting shaft (9), and the attachment exhibits a locking mechanism which in its use position for the head rest holds the locking arms pivotable locked about the first pivot shaft relative to the attachment. A release mechanism can, when activated, release the locking mechanism for pivoting of the supporting arms together with the protective cushion about the pivot shaft. The protective cushion (4) is also pivotable attached to the supporting arms (5, 13) about an upper pivoting shaft (10) and a second locking mechanism in the use position holds the protective cushion pivotable locked about the upper pivoting shaft relative to the supporting arm. A further release mechanism can, when activated, release the protective cushion from its pivotably locked position for pivoting of the cushion relative to the supporting arms.

Claims

1. A head rest for a vehicle seat including a backrest in a motor vehicle comprising:

an attachment positioned at the top of said backrest;

a cushion;

at least one supporting arm protruding from said attachment and supporting said cushion;

wherein said at least one supporting arm is pivotably attached to said attachment and pivots around a first pivoting axis, said attachment further including a first locking mechanism configured to hold said at least one supporting arm in a locked position relative to said attachment, and a first release mechanism configured to release said first locking mechanism, thereby allowing pivoting of said at least one supporting arm, together with said cushion, relative to said attachment;

and wherein said cushion is pivotably attached to said at least one supporting arm and includes a second locking mechanism configured to hold said cushion in a locked position relative to said at least one supporting arm, and a second release mechanism configured to release said cushion from the locked position, thereby allowing pivoting of said cushion relative to said at least one supporting arm.

2. The head rest of claim 1 wherein said second release mechanism is operatively engaged with said first release mechanism whereby said second release mechanism is activated by the pivoting motion of said at least one supporting arm.

3. The head rest of claim 1 wherein said second release mechanism is activated by the pivoting motion of said at least one supporting arm.

4. The head rest of claim 1 further comprising a maneuvering bar having a first end and a second end wherein said first end is pivotably connected to said attachment and pivots about a second pivoting axis located at a distance from said first pivoting axis, and wherein said second end is attached to said second release mechanism.