Backrest for a vehicle seat

• US 7,703,847 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Piotr Szablewski
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Inventors: Szablewski, Piotr
• Primary Examiner(s): Edell; Joseph F
• Application Number:
  US11/899,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/216.12, 297/216.14, 297/410
• US Class Current: 297/216.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0028 of a body part, e.g. of an arm or a leg
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/003 characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field

Abstract

The invention relates to a backrest for a vehicle seat, with a head support (1) which is adjustable in terms of the height of the head support (1) with respect to the backrest, and with a proximity sensor (5) for detecting the head position of a person sitting on the vehicle seat in relation to the head support (1), an indication for adjusting the head support (1) in the event of a mispositioning and/or an adjustment of the head support (1) by an electric drive (4) out of an initial position taking place until the head of the person sitting on the vehicle seat causes a triggering of the proximity sensor (5), the proximity sensor (5) being arranged in the upper part of the head support (1) and being directed downward onto the region of greatest curvature of the back of the head of the person sitting on the vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A backrest with head support for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a substantially upright backrest;

a head support mounted in the backrest and adjustable in height with respect to the backrest from a preestablished initial position to a final position commensurate with the height of the head of a person sitting in the vehicle seat, said head support having upper and lower portions;

a capacitive proximity sensor arranged in the upper portion of the head support and having a sensing field directed obliquely downward to be triggered by the upper portion of the back of the person'"'"'s head;

wherein said upper portion of the back of the person'"'"'s head has a curvature and said sensing field has a curvature which is greater than that of said upper portion of the person'"'"'s head;

an indicator responsive to a proximity signal from the proximity sensor dependent on the proximity of said upper portion of the person'"'"'s head to the upper portion of the head support; and

means for adjusting the height of the headrest to a final position at which said proximity signal is triggered.

2. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said final position the upper portion of the head support is adjacent the upper portion of the back of said person'"'"'s head and the lower portion of the head support is adjacent the lower portion of the back of said person'"'"'s head.

3. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is directed downward toward the back of the head of a person sitting on the vehicle seat, onto the region of the back of the head having the greatest curvature.

4. The backrest as claimed in claim 3, wherein said region of greatest curvature is at a height above the person'"'"'s eyes.

5. The backrest as claimed in claim 4, wherein the final position is determined by a triggering of the proximity sensor commensurate with the sensing of the region of the back of the head having the greatest curvature.

6. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initial position is at a maximum height and the head support can be moved downward out of the initial position to the final position as determined by a triggering of the proximity sensor.

7. The backrest as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head support is arranged on the backrest adjustably with respect to the head, and in a middle portion of the head support, where the head is to be nearest to the head support, a further proximity sensor is provided, the output signal from which can be used for adjusting the distance between head and head support.

8. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head support is arranged so that the upper portion of the head support is inclined toward the head.

9. The backrest as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head support is arranged so that the upper portion of the head support is inclined toward the head.

10. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head support is arranged on the backrest adjustably with respect to the head, and in a middle portion of the head support, where the head is to be nearest to the head support, a further proximity sensor is provided, the output signal from which can be used for adjusting the distance between head and head support.

11. The backrest as claimed in claim 10, wherein the head support is adjustable electromotively in its inclination with respect to the backrest.

12. The backrest as claimed in claim 10, wherein the head support is adjustable electromotively in height with respect to the backrest.

13. The backrest as claimed in claim 10, wherein, if the proximity sensor in the upper portion of the head support does not respond to adjustment of the head support over a range of motion, the further proximity sensor in the middle portion of the head support can be used for setting the height of the head support.

14. The backrest as claimed in claim 10, wherein the switch-off edge of the further proximity sensor can be used to terminate the setting of the distance of the head from the head support.

15. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the proximity sensor in the upper part of the head support does not respond to adjustment of the head support over a range of motion, a second indicator indicating a necessary adjustment of the backrest can be displayed.

16. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch-on edge of the proximity sensor can be used for terminating the height adjustment of the head support to the final position.

17. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein a memory switch is provided for relocating an earlier head support position.

18. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein a renewed position change of the head support can be carried out, on the basis of a sensor signal change after adjustment, only after a predetermined time has elapsed.

19. The backrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor in the upper portion of the head support possesses a response range which is narrow in relation to the size of the head.