Vehicle seat head restraint actuation

• US 9,145,078 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Locke, Gerald S., Yetukuri, Arjun, Taylor, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Kimberley S
• Application Number:
  US13/592,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20140054944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 297/61, 297/378.1, 297/217.3, 297/408, 297/410, 297/378.12, 701/49
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/832 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/891 with the head-rest being comma-shaped in side view
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a seat back having pivoted forward to a predetermined position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to pivot a head restraint in response to the input. Another vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a seat back having pivoted rearward to a predetermined position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to pivot a head restraint in response to the input. Another vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a rear seat assembly having adjusted to a slouch position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to stow a head restraint of a front seat assembly in response to the input.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body;

a seat back adapted to be pivotally connected to the vehicle body adjacent to the seat bottom for pivoting to an upright position and a forward position;

an actuator mounted to the seat back;

a head restraint operably connected to the actuator;

a sensor cooperating with the seat back to detect a position of the seat back; and

a vehicle seat controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator, the vehicle seat controller being configured to;

receive a first input indicative of the seat back having pivoted forward to a predetermined position,

convey a first signal to the actuator to pivot the head restraint to a folded position in response to the first input for visual clearance of an occupant seated rear of the seat assembly,

receive a second input indicative of the seat back having pivoted rearward to a second predetermined position, and

convey a second signal to the actuator to pivot the head restraint in response to the second input.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a vertical orientation of the seat back.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a position beyond a vertical orientation of the seat back.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a non-use position.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the predetermined position is further defined as a fully forward position.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator pivots the head restraint forward in response to the first signal.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined position is further defined as a vertical orientation of the seat back.

8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined position is further defined as a position beyond a vertical orientation of the seat back.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined position is further defined as a use position.

10. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined position is further defined as a fully rearward position.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator pivots the head restraint rearward in response to the second signal.