Foldable headrest assembly

• US 7,422,280 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Windsor Machine & Stamping (2009) Ltd
• Original Assignee: Windsor Machine & Stamping (2009) Ltd
• Inventors: Brockman, Mark Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US11/697,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20070236070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12, 297/408
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/43 Safety locks for back-rests B60N2/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/841 characterised by their locking devices
• 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

A foldable headrest assembly for a seat includes a pair of posts engaged with an upper portion of the seat and a frame rotatably supported by the posts. A latch is moveably supported by the frame and includes a release pin. A release mechanism is coupled to the latch for moving the latch from a locked position preventing rotation of the frame relative to the posts to an unlocked position allowing rotation of the frame relative to the posts. The assembly further includes an inertia lock rotatably coupled to the frame. The inertia lock defines a stop slot corresponding to the release pin. In response to deceleration of the frame, e.g., resulting from a collision of the vehicle, the inertia lock rotates to a triggered position whereby the stop slot receives the release pin and limits movement of the release pin thereby maintaining the latch in the locked position.

Claims

1. A foldable headrest assembly for a seat comprising:

a post for engagement with an upper portion of the seat;

a frame extending between a first end and a second end with said first end rotatably supported by said post for selective rotation of said frame relative to said post about a first axis;

a latch moveably supported by said first end of said frame;

a release pin mounted to said latch for movement with said latch;

a release mechanism coupled to said latch for moving said latch and said release pin between a locked position with said latch engaging said post to prevent rotation of said frame about the first axis and an unlocked position with said latch disengaged from said post to allow rotation of said frame about the first axis; and

an inertia lock rotatably coupled to said frame for rotation from a neutral position to a triggered position in response to deceleration of said frame and defining a stop slot dimensioned to catch said release pin in the triggered position and prevent the movement of said latch from the locked position to the unlocked position.

2. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inertia lock defines a cavity extending from said stop slot with said release pin disposed in said cavity in the neutral position and with said cavity dimensioned to allow said release pin to travel in said cavity during said movement between the locked and unlocked positions.

3. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a lock biasing device coupled to said inertia lock and to said frame for biasing said inertia lock toward the neutral position.

4. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lock biasing device is further defined as a coil spring.

5. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said inertia lock defines a stop surface and further including a latch pivot pin extending from said first end of said frame with said lock biasing device urging said stop surface into contact with said latch pivot pin in the neutral position.

6. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a latch pivot pin disposed in said frame and extending along a second axis offset from said release pin with said latch pivot pin coupled to said latch with said latch and said release pin rotatable relative to said frame about the second axis.

7. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 6 further including a latch spring supported by said latch pivot pin and coupled to said latch and to said first end of said frame for biasing said latch toward the locked position.

8. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch includes a tooth and said post defines a lock notch corresponding to said tooth with said tooth engaged with said lock notch in the locked position and with said tooth disengaged with said lock notch in the unlocked position.

9. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said release mechanism includes a sheath fixed relative to said frame and a motion transmitting cable extending in said sheath with said motion transmitting cable extending between a first terminal and a second terminal.

10. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first terminal extends beyond said sheath with said first terminal coupled to said release pin of said latch.

11. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said release mechanism includes a fulcrum pin fixed relative to said frame and a pivot lever coupled to and pivotal about said fulcrum pin and wherein said second terminal extends beyond said sheath with said second terminal coupled to said pivot lever.

12. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said release mechanism includes a handle coupled to said release mechanism spaced along said pivot lever from said fulcrum pin and said second terminal.

13. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame is U-shaped with a base portion, a first arm extending from said base portion and presenting said first end, and a second arm spaced from said first arm and extending from said base portion in parallel with said first arm and presenting said second end.

14. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 13 further including a second post rotatably supporting said second end of said frame for engagement with the upper portion of the seat.

15. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said first end of said frame, said second end of said frame, said post, and said second post define an aperture and further including a shaft extending through and rotatable in each of said apertures.

16. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 15 further including a frame biasing device supported on said shaft and coupled to said post, said second post, and said frame with said frame biasing device urging said frame toward a forwardly folded position.

17. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said frame biasing device is further defined as a first torsion spring and wherein said frame includes a brace extending between and coupled to said first and second plates with said first torsion spring extending between and attached to said shaft and said brace.

18. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said inertia lock defines a bore receiving said shaft with said inertia lock rotatable about said shaft between the neutral and triggered positions.

19. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first arm of said frame includes a first rod and a first plate attached to said first rod with said first plate presenting said first end and wherein said second arm of said frame includes a second rod and a second plate attached to said second rod with said second plate presenting said second end.

20. The foldable headrest assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said post and said second post each define a bend and wherein said first and second plates each include a first stop positioned to rest on said bend for supporting said frame in an upright position.