Headrest

• US 7,611,196 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Hattori, Takemi, Matsubayashi, Kiyoka, Terada, Takami
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alex; James
• Application Number:
  US11/385,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12, 297/408, 297/391
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/30 Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces

Abstract

In a headrest, a first connecting portion, including a first link and a second link relatively rotatably supported to the first link, is provided between a base portion and a receive portion movable between a first and second positions adjacent to/separate from the base portion. A drive portion drives the first connecting portion through a drive input portion provided at least either one of the first and second links by applying a driving force to the drive input portion in a moving direction of the receive portion toward the second position. First and second end portions of the first link are supported by the base portion and the receive portion through first and second pivot points. First and second end portions of the second link are slidably connected to first and second guide portions respectively provided at the base portion and the receive portion through first and second connecting points.

Claims

1. A headrest, comprising:

a base portion attached to an upper part of a seat;

a receive portion for receiving a head of an occupant sitting on the seat and movable between a first position adjacent to the base portion and a second position separate from the base portion;

a first connecting portion for connecting the base portion with the receive portion and including a first link and a second link relatively rotatably supported to the first link;

a drive input portion provided at least at either one of the first link and the second link; and

a motor for driving the first connecting portion through the drive input portion to move the first connecting portion in a manner causing the receive portion to move from the second position to the first position, wherein

a first end portion of the first link is supported by the base portion through a first pivot point,

a second end portion of the first link is supported by the receive portion through a second pivot point,

a first end portion of the second link is slidably connected to a first elongated guide portion provided at the base portion through a first connecting point so that the first connecting point is slidable along the first elongated guide portion,

a second end portion of the second link is slidably connected to a second elongated guide portion provided at the receive portion through a second connecting point so that the second connecting point is slidable along the second elongated guide portion, and

a driving force is applied to the drive input portion by the motor in a moving direction of the receive portion toward the second position upon either prediction or detection of a vehicular rear-end collision.

2. The headrest according to claim 1, further including a second connecting portion provided between the base portion and the receive portion for connecting the base portion with the receive portion and including a third link and a fourth link relatively rotatably supported to the third link, wherein

a first end portion of the third link is supported by the base portion through a third pivot point, a second end portion of the third link is supported by the receive portion through a fourth pivot point, a first end portion of the fourth link is slidably connected to a third guide portion provided at the base portion through a third connecting point, and a second end portion of the fourth link is slidably connected to a fourth guide portion provided at the receive portion through a fourth connecting point.

3. The headrest according to claim 2, wherein

at least either one of the first link and the second link has a support shaft, the first link of the first connecting portion, the second link of the first connecting portion, the third link of the second connecting portion, and the fourth link of the second connecting portion are supported by the support shaft at a first crossing portion of the first link of the first connecting portion with the second link of the first connecting portion and at a second crossing portion of the third link of the second connecting portion with the fourth link of the second connecting portion, and the drive input portion is provided at the support shaft.

4. The headrest according to claim 3, wherein

the first link, the third link, and the support shaft are integrally formed.

5. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein

the first pivot point is placed higher than the first connecting point, the second pivot point is placed lower than the second connecting point, and when the receive portion is at the first position, the second pivot point is placed lower than the first pivot point.

6. The headrest according to claim 3, wherein

the second link, the fourth link, and the support shaft are integrally formed.

7. The headrest according to claim 2, wherein

the third pivot point is placed higher than the third connecting point, the fourth pivot point is placed lower than the fourth connecting point, and when the receive portion is at the first position, the fourth pivot point is placed lower than the third pivot point.

8. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein the drive input portion passes through the first link and the second link.

9. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein said motor also moves the first connecting portion in a manner causing the receive portion to move from the first position to the second position.

10. A headrest, comprising:

a base portion attached to an upper part of a seat;

a receive portion for receiving a head of an occupant sitting on the seat and movable between a first position adjacent to the base portion and a second position separate from the base portion;

a first connecting portion provided between the base portion and the receive portion for connecting the base portion with the receive portion and including a first link and a second link relatively rotatably supported to the first link by a support shaft; and

a drive input portion provided at the support shaft, the drive input portion to which a driving force is applied from a motor upon either prediction or detection of a vehicular rear-end collision, and wherein the drive input portion passes through the first link and the second link;

wherein a first end portion of the first link is supported by the base portion through a first pivot point, a second end portion of the first link is supported by the receive portion through a second pivot point, a first end portion of the second link is slidably connected to a first guide portion provided at the base portion through a first connecting point, and a second end portion of the second link is slidably connected to a second guide portion provided at the receive portion through a second connecting point.

11. The headrest according to claim 10, wherein

the first pivot point is placed higher than the first connecting point, the second pivot point is placed lower than the second connecting point, and when the receive portion is at the first position, the second pivot point is placed lower than the first pivot point.

12. The headrest according to claim 10, wherein

the motor is provided at the base portion.

13. A headrest, comprising:

a base portion attached to an upper part of a seat;

a receive portion for receiving a head of an occupant sitting on the seat and movable between a first position adjacent to the base portion and a second position separate from the base portion;

a first connecting portion provided between the base portion and the receive portion for connecting the base portion with the receive portion; and

a drive input portion provided at the first connecting portion, the drive input portion to which a driving force is applied from a motor, wherein

the driving force is applied to the drive input portion by the motor in a moving direction of the receive portion toward the second position upon either prediction or detection of a vehicular rear-end collision, and

the first connecting portion includes a first link and a second link relatively rotatably supported to the first link, a first end portion of the first link is supported by the base portion through a first pivot point, a second end portion of the first link is supported by the receive portion through a second pivot point, a first end portion of the second link is slidably connected to a first guide portion provided at the base portion through a first connecting point, and a second end portion of the second link is slidably connected to a second guide portion provided at the receive portion through a second connecting point.

14. The headrest according to claim 13, wherein

the first pivot point is placed higher than the first connecting point, the second pivot point is placed lower than the second connecting point, and when the receive portion is at the first position, the second pivot point is placed lower than the first pivot point.

15. The headrest according to claim 13, wherein

the motor is provided at the base portion.