Seat assembly with displaceable neckrest and neck support

• US 9,216,676 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2014
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Reyes Luna, Rodolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Rodney B
• Application Number:
  US14/329,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20160009205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 297/112, 297/114, 297/188.01, 297/188.04, 297/392, 297/393, 297/487, 297/488
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/874 movable to an inoperative or stowed position B60N2/832, B60N2/856 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence

Abstract

A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat body having a seating surface and a storage cavity. A headrest is carried on the seat body. Further a neckrest is pivotally attached to the seat body. The neckrest is selectively displaceable between the storage position in a cavity of the seat body and a deployed position above the seating surface. In one possible embodiment the seat assembly also includes a neck support that may be displayed with the neckrest between storage and deployed positions.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a seat body including a seating surface, a seat back having a front face and a rear face and a storage cavity in said rear face;

a headrest carried on said seat body; and

a neckrest pivotally attached to said seat body and selectively displaceable between a storage position in said cavity and a deployed position above said seating surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said neckrest comprises two arms, said headrest being positioned between said two arms.

3. The assembly of claim 2, further including a switch connected to said seat assembly, activation of said switch allowing displacement of said neckrest from said storage position to said deployed position.

4. The assembly of claim 3, further including a spring for biasing said neckrest into said deployed position and a lock for securing said neckrest in said storage position.

5. The assembly of claim 2, further including a drive motor for displacing said neckrest between said storage and deployed positions and an activation switch for controlling said drive motor.

6. The assembly of claim 2, further including a neck support between said two arms and below said headrest.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said neck support includes a cushion displaceable between a storage position and a deployed position wherein said cushion projects forward from said seat back.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further including a mechanical linkage between said neck support and said neckrest.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said neckrest includes a pivot shaft and said mechanical linkage includes a pinion keyed to said pivot shaft and a cooperating rack connected to said cushion and engaged by said pinion whereby as said neckrest is deployed said pinion is turned to translate said rack and deploy said cushion.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further including a drive motor for driving said pivot shaft and an activation switch for controlling said drive motor.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said two arms are secured to said pivot shaft, said pivot shaft being held in said seat body while allowing relative rotation of said pivot shaft to said seat body.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further including a storage compartment for said neck support.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said storage compartment includes a recess for holding said neck support when said neck support is in said storage position.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said storage compartment is located adjacent a top of said seat back.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said activation button is mounted to said seat body adjacent said top of said seat back.

16. A seat assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a seat body including a seat back and a seating surface;

a headrest carried on said seat back;

a neckrest pivotally attached to said seat back and selectively displaceable between a storage position and a deployed position;

a neck support located below said headrest and also selectively displaceable between a storage position and a deployed position; and

a mechanical linkage between said neck support and said neckrest wherein said neckrest includes a pivot shaft and said mechanical linkage includes a pinion keyed to said pivot shaft and a cooperating rack connected to a neck support cushion and engaged by said pinion whereby as said neckrest is deployed said pinion is turned to translate said rack and deploy said cushion.

17. The assembly of claim 16, further including a drive motor for driving said pivot shaft and an activation switch for controlling said drive motor.