VEHICLE SEAT HAVING ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT

• US 20120256454A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Humer, Mladen, Yetukuri, Nagarjun, Locke, Gerald, Smallwood, Dale
• Granted Patent: US 8,434,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly having a seatback frame, an upper armature that is movable relative to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted on the upper armature. A linkage assembly operatively interconnects the upper armature and an impact body such that movement of the impact body relative to the seatback frame acts on the linkage assembly to move the upper armature relative to the seatback frame to cause the head restraint to move toward the occupant. The linkage assembly includes a linkage and a coupler movably connected to the linkage. The coupler includes a first member movably connected to the seatback frame and a second member movably connected to the first member at a location below the upper end of the impact body.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seatback frame comprising;

a pair of side frame members disposed in an upright orientation and spaced horizontally relative to one another,

an upper cross member extending horizontally between the pair of side frame members, and

a lower cross member extending horizontally between the pair of side frame members with at least one cam surface formed therein;

an active head restraint system operatively supported by the seatback, the active head restraint system comprising;

an upper armature moveably mounted to the seatback frame and disposed proximate the upper cross member of the seatback frame, the upper armature comprising;

a cross bar disposed horizontally, and

multiple posts spaced on the cross bar and extending upright therefrom,

a head restraint mounted to an upper end of each post of the upper armature to be disposed proximate to a head and neck area of an occupant, such that movement of the cross bar consequently moves the posts and the head restraint from an upright position toward the head and neck area of the occupant at an operative position, and

a lower armature disposed below and operatively attached to the upper armature, the lower armature being operable to move rearward, and to act upon the upper armature to transfer forces to the upper armature in response to a predetermined force from the occupant on the lower armature, to move the head restraint toward the head and the neck of the occupant, the lower armature comprising;

an impact body oriented generally upright, the impact body including a lower end disposed proximate to a pelvic area of the occupant, the impact body being moveable in relation to the seatback frame such that force from the occupant generated during a rear end collision is transferred from the impact body to the lower armature as the impact body is moved rearward,

a transverse bar cooperating with the at least one cam surface of the lower cross member of the frame, and

at least one transfer member operatively connected to the transverse bar and the upper armature, to move and act upon the upper armature and to slide the transverse bar along the cam surface in response to a predetermined force applied to the impact body to move the head restraint toward the occupant; and

a biasing member operatively mounted to the active head restraint system and the seatback frame to bias the upper armature toward the upright position in absence of the predetermined force.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the active head restraint system further comprises at least one tab connecting the at least one transfer member to the upper armature.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper armature is pivotal relative to the seatback frame.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the impact body is generally planar.