Folding head restraint mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A head restraint assembly comprising:
- a mounting subassembly comprising;
a first support post;
a second support post;
a cross member having a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post the cross member forming a first pivot axis extending lengthwise laterally between the first and second support posts; and
a latch rigidly attached to the cross member, anda locking plate having a planar face that is substantially parallel to the first axis, the locking plate positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch on the planar face of the locking plate and at a second plate position for releasing the latch, the locking plate being movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by pivoting about a pivot point on a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis intersecting the locking plate proximate to a corner of the locking plate wherein the second pivot axis is centrally located in a lateral direction relative to the mounting subassembly, an actuation mechanism engages the locking plate on an actuation end of the locking plate distal from the second pivot axis, and a locking plate biasing member is attached to the locking plate at a location between the corner and the actuation end of the locking plate; and
a structural shell supported by the mounting subassembly, the structural shell pivotable about the first pivot axis when the locking plate is in the second plate position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A foldable head restraint assembly includes a mounting subassembly, a structural shell, and a locking plate. The mounting subassembly supports the structural shell and includes a first support post, a second support post, a cross member, and a latch rigidly. The cross member is attached to the first and second support posts and to the latch. The folding motion of the head restraint is initiated by movement of the locking plate which is positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch and at a second plate position for releasing the latch. The structural shell is pivotable about the mounting subassembly when the latch plate is in the second plate position.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A head restraint assembly comprising:
-
a mounting subassembly comprising; a first support post; a second support post; a cross member having a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post the cross member forming a first pivot axis extending lengthwise laterally between the first and second support posts; and a latch rigidly attached to the cross member, and a locking plate having a planar face that is substantially parallel to the first axis, the locking plate positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch on the planar face of the locking plate and at a second plate position for releasing the latch, the locking plate being movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by pivoting about a pivot point on a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis intersecting the locking plate proximate to a corner of the locking plate wherein the second pivot axis is centrally located in a lateral direction relative to the mounting subassembly, an actuation mechanism engages the locking plate on an actuation end of the locking plate distal from the second pivot axis, and a locking plate biasing member is attached to the locking plate at a location between the corner and the actuation end of the locking plate; and a structural shell supported by the mounting subassembly, the structural shell pivotable about the first pivot axis when the locking plate is in the second plate position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A head restraint assembly comprising:
-
a mounting subassembly comprising; a first support post; a second support post; a cross member having a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post the cross member forming a first pivot axis extending lengthwise laterally between the first and second support posts; and a latch rigidly attached to the cross member, and a locking plate having a planar face that is substantially parallel to the first axis, the locking plate positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch on the planar face of the locking plate and at a second plate position for releasing the latch, the locking plate being movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by pivoting about a pivot point on a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis intersecting the locking plate proximate to a corner of the locking plate wherein the second pivot axis is centrally located in a lateral direction relative to the mounting subassembly, an actuation mechanism engages the locking plate on an actuation end of the locking plate distal from the second pivot axis, and a locking plate biasing member is attached to the locking plate at a location between the corner and the actuation end of the locking plate; a structural shell supported by the mounting subassembly, the structural shell pivotable about the first pivot axis when the locking plate is in the second plate position; a locking plate biasing member that acts to move the locking plate into the first plate position; and a damping mechanism that damps movement of the structural shell when pivoting from an upright position to a folded position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19)
-
-
15. A head restraint assembly comprising:
-
a mounting subassembly comprising; a first support post; a second support post; a cross member having a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post the cross member forming a first pivot axis extending lengthwise laterally between the first and second support posts; and a latch rigidly attached to the cross member, and a locking plate having a planar face that is substantially parallel to the first axis, the locking plate positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch on the planar face of the locking plate and at a second plate position for releasing the latch, the locking plate being movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by pivoting about a pivot point on a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis intersecting the locking plate proximate to a corner of the locking plate, wherein the second pivot axis is centrally located in a lateral direction relative to the mounting subassembly, an actuation mechanism engages the locking plate on an actuation end of the locking plate distal from the second pivot axis, and a locking plate biasing member is attached to the locking plate at a location between the corner and the actuation end of the locking plate; a structural shell supported by the mounting subassembly, the structural shell pivotable about the first pivot axis when the locking plate is in the second plate position; a head restraint biasing spring that acts to move the head restraint assembly from a first head restraint position to a second head restraint position when the locking plate is in the second plate position; and a locking plate biasing spring that acts to move the locking plate into the first plate position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification