Electrically height adjustable head rest device for an automotive vehicle

• US 8,020,935 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C ROB Hammerstein GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: C ROB Hammerstein GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Ho, Van-Toan, Beneker, Wilfried, Becker, Burckhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US12/397,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 297/353, 297/410, 297/411.36
• US Class Current: 297/410
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/821 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors

Abstract

An electrically height-adjustable head rest device of a motor vehicle seat having a head rest, one or two bars carrying the head rest, a cross member, which is connected to at least one bar and comprises an internal thread, and a motor-spindle unit comprising a spindle engaging the internal thread. On the cross member and/or on the motor-spindle unit there is provided a guide seat for a guide part.

Claims

1. An electrically height-adjustable head rest device in a seat back of a motor vehicle seat comprising:

a head rest;

at least one bar carrying the head rest;

a cross member connected to the at least one bar and comprising an internal thread; and

a motor-spindle unit comprising a spindle engaging the internal thread, wherein a first guide part is provided on one of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit, and a first guide seat for the first guide part is provided on the other of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit, the first guide part is configured to be a U-shaped wire bracket comprising legs extending parallel to the spindle, wherein the legs engage the first guide seat.

2. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a retaining means for fastening the first guide part is provided and is disposed on the cross member, and the associated first guide seat is attached to the motor-spindle unit.

3. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a retaining means for fastening the first guide part is provided and is disposed on the motor-spindle unit, and the associated first guide seat is attached to the cross member.

4. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first guide part extends parallel to the spindle.

5. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first guide part is long and has a length that is not smaller than the length of a free adjustment path of the spindle.

6. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first guide part is configured to be a metal rod.

7. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first guide part is a separate part formed of a separate element attached to the one of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit.

8. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 7, wherein a second guide seat is provided on one of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit and a second guide part is provided on the other of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit and the second guide seat receives the second guide part.

9. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first guide part forms at least one end limit stop for an adjustment path of the spindle.

10. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the motor-spindle unit is retained on a structure part of a seat back frame, the motor-spindle unit is one of (i) non-rotatably connected to the structure part or (ii) retained on said structure part and is capable of rotating about the axis of the spindle.

11. An electrically height-adjustable head rest device in a seat back of a motor vehicle seat comprising:

a head rest;

at least one bar carrying the head rest;

a cross member connected to the at least one bar and comprising an internal thread; and

a motor-spindle unit comprising a spindle engaging the internal thread, wherein a first guide part is provided on one of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit, and at least one of a first guide seat for the first guide part is provided on the other of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit, a second guide part is provided on one of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit, and a second guide seat for the second guide part is provided on the other of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit, the first guide part is long and has a length that is not smaller than the length of a free adjustment path of the spindle and the second guide part is short and has a length that is smaller than about 50% of the length of a free adjustment path of the spindle.

12. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second guide part is short and has a length that is smaller than about 25% of the length of the free adjustment path of the spindle.

13. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first guide part and the second guide part is provided on the motor-spindle unit.

14. An electrically height-adjustable head rest device in a seat back of a motor vehicle seat comprising:

a head rest;

at least one bar carrying the head rest;

a cross member connected to the at least one bar and comprising an internal thread; and

a motor-spindle unit comprising a spindle engaging the internal thread, wherein a second guide part is provided on one of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit, and a second guide seat for the second guide part is provided on the other of the cross member and the motor-spindle unit, the second guide part is short and has a length that is smaller than about 50% of the length of a free adjustment path of the spindle.

15. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the second guide part is short and has a length that is smaller than about 25% of the length of the free adjustment path of the spindle.

16. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the second guide part is configured to be a pin that is injection-molded integral with a main part and the main part belongs to one of the motor-spindle unit and the cross member.

17. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth in claim 14, wherein, when the electrically height-adjustable head rest device is in a delivery condition for mounting, the cross member is close to the motor-spindle unit and the second guide part and the second guide seat are engaged.