Integrated thin flex composite headrest assembly

• US 9,126,504 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Line, Johnathan Andrew, Ferretti, Daniel, Compton, Grant A., Harper, Kendrick Alden, Jaranson, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US13/749,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.2, 297/221, 297/391, 297/408, 297/219.1, 297/222, 297/220, 297/353
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/948 the actuation of the positioning or locking mechanism for one seat part being dependent on the position of another seat part, e.g. the seats floor lock being unlocked when the back-rest is inclined or the backrest can be tilted only when the seat is in its rear position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/30 Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces

Abstract

A vehicle headrest assembly includes a head restraint operably coupled to a vehicle seatback and having a head support surface. A flexible member includes a top portion operably coupled to the head restraint. The flexible member includes an intermediate portion adjacent the head support surface, a lower portion, and an upper back support disposed on the vehicle seatback and defining an elongated slot through which the flexible member extends. An actuation system is operably coupled to the lower portion of the flexible member. The actuation system operates to move the flexible member through the slot between a deployed position and a non-deployed position.

Claims

1. A vehicle headrest assembly comprising:

a headrest operably coupled to a vehicle seatback and including a head support surface;

a flexible member including;

a top portion operably coupled to the headrest;

an intermediate portion adjacent the head support surface; and

a lower portion;

an upper back support disposed on the vehicle seatback and defining an elongated slot through which the flexible member extends; and

an actuation system operably coupled to the lower portion of the flexible member, wherein the actuation system operates to move the flexible member through the slot between a deployed position and a non-deployed position.

2. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a coverstock disposed over the flexible member.

3. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible member includes an elongated spring steel element.

4. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower portion is operably coupled to a pivot bar that extends across the vehicle seatback.

5. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuation system includes a motor which is configured to rotate the pivot bar between a first position corresponding to the deployed position and a second position corresponding to the non-deployed position.

6. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 5, wherein the motor is operably coupled to a worm drive that linearly translates between a first position and a second position.

7. A vehicle headrest assembly comprising:

a headrest operably coupled to a vehicle seatback;

a flexible member including;

a top portion operably coupled to the headrest; and

first and second independent resilient elements defining an intermediate slit therebetween; and

an actuation system operably coupled to a lower portion of the flexible member, wherein the actuation system operates to move the flexible member between a deployed position and a non-deployed position.

8. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 7, wherein the headrest is operable between forward and rearward positions.

9. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 7, wherein the flexible member extends over a top portion of the headrest.

10. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 7, wherein the flexible member is operably coupled to an upper seatback support assembly that is operable between an extended position and a retracted position.

11. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 7, wherein the flexible member extends between an upper portion of the vehicle seatback and the headrest.

12. The vehicle headrest assembly of claim 11, wherein the upper portion of the vehicle seatback generally defines a horizontal slot through which the lower portion of the flexible member extends.

13. A vehicle headrest comprising:

a body portion including a head support surface; and

a flexible member including;

a top portion operably coupled to the body portion;

a flexible intermediate portion proximate the head support surface; and

a lower portion operably coupled to a pivoting member of an actuation system, wherein operation of the actuation system moves the flexible intermediate portion of the flexible member a predetermined distance away from the head support surface, and further wherein the pivoting member includes, a pivot bar disposed in a vehicle seatback.

14. The vehicle headrest of claim 13, wherein the flexible member extends over a top portion of the headrest.

15. The vehicle headrest of claim 13, further comprising:

a support column that operably couples a rear wall of the body portion to a vehicle seatback.

16. The vehicle headrest of claim 13, further comprising:

a coverstock disposed over the flexible member.

17. The vehicle headrest of claim 13, wherein the flexible member includes an elongated spring steel element.

18. The headrest assembly of claim 13, wherein the body portion is operable between forward and rearward positions.