Ergonomic closeout

• US 7,585,025 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Parusziewicz, William, Welch, Thomas, Hulme, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer; Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US11/608,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,003 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.2, 297/220, 297/228.13, 297/463.1, 297/463.2
• US Class Current: 297/218.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable

Abstract

A head restraint assembly of this embodiment includes a bun and a post. The post is adapted to attach the head restraint assembly to a vehicle seat. The head restraint bun includes a head restraint core and a trim cover. The trim cover surrounds at least a portion of the head restraint core. The trim cover includes a close-out section at which the trim cover is closed after the head restraint core is placed within the trim cover. A retainer clip is attached to the head restraint core at an attachment region. The head restraint assembly also includes a close-out retainer bracket which is attached to a close-out section of the trim cover. When the trim cover is in a closed position, the close-out retainer bracket is secured to the retainer clip. A method of assembly head restraints is also provided.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a core having a trim cover attachment region;

a trim cover having a closeout section and a trim cover end with openings;

a closeout retainer bracket attached to the closeout section; and

a retainer clip attached to the core at the trim cover attachment region, the retainer clip having a clip base section and two side walls, the clip base section and the two side walls defining a channel adapted to mate with the closeout retainer bracket and each side wall has a protrusion that extends into the channel for holding the closeout retainer bracket therein, the two side walls at least partially protruding through the openings in the trim cover end.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the core comprises a foamed resin.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the retainer clip is mechanically or adhesively attached to the core.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the retainer clip is partially embedded within the core.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein more than two retainer clips are used to secure the trim cover to the core.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein two or more retainer clips are used to secure the trim cover to the core, the two retainer clips being connected to each other by an attachment member.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the two or more retainer clips are attached to a single bracket.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the closeout retainer bracket comprises a bracket base section adapted to be attached to the closeout section.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the closeout retainer bracket further comprises a barbed section adapted to be inserted into the retainer clip.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the closeout retainer bracket is attached to the trim cover by sewing or by an adhesive.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the post comprises two legs and a cross member disposed therebetween.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the trim cover has a class-A surface visible from a vehicle interior and a class-B surface adapted to contact the core.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the trim cover comprises a material selected from the group consisting of leather, polyvinyl, fabric, and combinations thereof.

14. An assembly comprising:

a post adapted to engage a vehicle seat;

a foamed core having a trim cover attachment region;

a trim cover having a closeout section and a trim cover end with openings;

a closeout retainer bracket attached to the closeout section; and

a retainer clip attached to the core at the trim cover attachment region, the retainer clip having a clip base section and two side walls, the clip base section and the two side walls defining a channel adapted to mate with the closeout retainer bracket and each side wall has a protrusion that extends into the channel for holding the closeout retainer bracket therein, the side walls at least partially protruding through the openings in the trim cover end.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein two or more retainer clips are used to secure the trim cover to the core.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the two or more retainer clips are attached to a single bracket.

17. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the closeout retainer bracket further comprises a barbed section adapted to be inserted into the retainer clip.

18. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the closeout retainer bracket comprises a bracket base section adapted to be attached to the closeout section.