Extendable comfort headrest

• US 9,446,694 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Baskin, Bradley, Szczygiel, Lindsey, Mizuno, Ryosuke, Howlett, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Brindley, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US14/566,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20150329025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 297/391, 297/410
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/899 characterised by structural or mechanical details not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A vehicle headrest, including a center portion, two side members that attach to opposite ends of the center portion and that extend forward and retract backward and a locking mechanism in each side member that locks each side member independent of the other side member in multiple positions relative to the center portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle headrest, comprising:

a center portion;

two side members that attach to opposite ends of the center portion and that extend forward and retract backward with a linear movement; and

a locking mechanism in each side member that locks each side member independent of the other side member in multiple positions relative to the center portion,

wherein the side members respectively include a foam portion adjacent to the center portion,

wherein the side members includes a button,

wherein outer surfaces of the center portion that respectively face the two side members each include a plurality of locking slots and,

wherein the locking mechanism includes a pin that rotates about a pivot point based on an input from the button, the pin including a first end in contact with the button and a second end that engages one of the plurality of locking slots to lock the respective side member in one of the multiple positions,

wherein the pivot point is between the first end and the second end.

2. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism has a retracted locking position or an extended locking position.

3. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the button releases the locking mechanism from a locked position and enables the side member to extend forward or retract backward.

4. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein when the pin rotates about the pivot point, the pin is released from a locked position and enables the side member to extend forward or retract backward.

5. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the two side members extend at a fixed angle.

6. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein when the side members are retracted, they are flush with the center portion.

7. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the multiple positions includes an extended position in which the side members are extended forward, and

wherein the side members each include an interior surface adjacent to the center portion, the respective interior surfaces being exposed in the extended position.

8. The vehicle headrest of claim 7, wherein the interior surfaces of the side members respectively include the foam portions.

9. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the foam portions include a melamine foam or a polyurethane foam.

10. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the center portion includes a channel on respective surfaces of the center portion that are adjacent to the side portions, and

wherein the side members each include a slide that move within the respective channel to control the linear movement of the side members.

11. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the a button is on the exterior side of the side members, and

wherein depressing the button causes the pin to rotate away from the plurality of locking slots.

12. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the pin is substantially L-shaped.

13. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the second end of the pin penetrates the one of the plurality of locking slots to lock the respective side member in the position.

14. The vehicle headrest of claim 1, wherein the side members each include an interior surface that faces the respective outer surfaces of the center portion, and

wherein the second end of the pin extends beyond the respective interior surface to engage one of the plurality of locking slots when in a locked position.