Self-raising headrest for vehicle seat and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self-raising headrest apparatus for a foldable vehicle seat comprising:
- a seat;
a backrest located adjacent the seat and rotatable with respect to the seat between a folded position where the backrest and the seat define an acute angle with the seat and an upright position where the backrest and the seat define an angle that is greater than the acute angle;
a headrest disposed at an upper end of the backrest and movable along a linear path with respect to the backrest;
a bracket linkage;
at least one channel located adjacent the bracket linkage;
a second linkage having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end rotatable with respect to the seat; and
a pivot follower pin connecting the bracket linkage to the second linkage, the pin located within the at least one channel for following the channel when the backrest is rotated with respect to the seat;
wherein the pivot follower pin cooperates with each of the bracket linkage, the channel, and the second linkage to displace the headrest along the linear path when the backrest moves between the folded position and the upright position, respectively.
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Abstract
A vehicle seat that is foldable can include a linkage mechanism for operatively withdrawing the headrest during fold down procedures and automatically extending the headrest to a use position during unfolding procedures of the seat.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-raising headrest apparatus for a foldable vehicle seat comprising:
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a seat; a backrest located adjacent the seat and rotatable with respect to the seat between a folded position where the backrest and the seat define an acute angle with the seat and an upright position where the backrest and the seat define an angle that is greater than the acute angle; a headrest disposed at an upper end of the backrest and movable along a linear path with respect to the backrest; a bracket linkage; at least one channel located adjacent the bracket linkage; a second linkage having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end rotatable with respect to the seat; and a pivot follower pin connecting the bracket linkage to the second linkage, the pin located within the at least one channel for following the channel when the backrest is rotated with respect to the seat; wherein the pivot follower pin cooperates with each of the bracket linkage, the channel, and the second linkage to displace the headrest along the linear path when the backrest moves between the folded position and the upright position, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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5. A self-raising headrest apparatus for a foldable vehicle seat comprising:
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a headrest disposed at an upper end of a backrest of the foldable vehicle seat, the backrest rotatable with respect to a seat of the foldable vehicle seat via a pivot point; a recliner support bracket located in the backrest; a linkage having an upper end and a lower end; and means for moving the headrest relative to the seatback along a linear path when the backrest is moved with respect to the seat, and the means for moving is operatively connected to the recliner support bracket and the linkage, wherein a lower end of the headrest is operatively connected to an upper end of the recliner support bracket, a lower end of said recliner support bracket is operatively connected to the upper end of the linkage, and the lower end of the linkage is operatively connected to a pivot point on the seat. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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10. A method for automatically extending and retracting a vehicle seat headrest, comprising:
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providing a seat that is rotatably attached to a backrest, a headrest that is movably coupled to the backrest, a first linkage configured as a rigid lever and connected to the seat, a second linkage configured as a rigid lever and connected to the first linkage, a pivot follower associated with the second linkage, and a channel guide; rotating the backrest with respect to the seat; causing the first linkage to rotate with respect to the seat; moving the second linkage by means of rotation of the first linkage; directing the second linkage by means of the pivot follower following an extent of the channel; and moving the headrest relative to the backrest along a linear path via movement of the second linkage.
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Specification