Headrest for protecting against whiplash

• US 7,926,871 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Schmuda von Trzebiatowski, Peter, Helm, Manfred, Pförtner, -Ing Dirk, Rademacher, Horst, Meixner, Armin, Hoffmeister, Andreas, Lühring, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): White; Rodney B
• Application Number:
  US11/993,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20100072795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest (10) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a backrest for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest essentially comprising a headrest frame or headrest casing (14) and a foam base body (356) that surrounds the headrest frame or casing (14). In the event of a rear impact on the motor vehicle, the headrest remains fixed in relation to the backrest (conventional headrest) or at least part of the headrest is immediately displaced towards the vehicle occupant (active headrest). According to the invention, the head of a vehicle occupant can be brought into contact with the headrest (10) at least at two different heights (k1_z, k2_z), (two-point contact), to reduce or neutralize a torque (M_y) about a y-axis (y-y) in the vicinity of the vertebral column and to prevent accident-related injuries to the seat occupant, in particular to prevent cervical spine syndrome or a whiplash injury in the event of a front and/or rear impact. A head centre of gravity (HCG) is also configured between the two heights (k1_z, k2_z) of the headrest (10).

Claims

1. Headrest for a backrest of an automobile seat, the headrest comprising a headrest box and a foam base body surrounding the headrest box, wherein in an event of a rear impact on the automobile, a head of the seat occupant is movable into contact with the headrest at least two different heights of the headrest so as to form a two-point support and a head center of gravity between these heights of the headrest, wherein the two-point support is formed

(i) in an upper region of the headrest in a first height of the headrest box, substantially through the foam base body with a dynamic characteristic of a foam and

(ii) in a lower region of the headrest in a second height of the headrest box, substantially through a crash beam as a solid or hollow body integrated in the headrest box as one piece, inside of the foam base body near a contact surface at the headrest with a dynamic characteristic of the crash beam and the foam,

wherein the crash beam is adapted to stabilize the head of the seat occupant, in an event of an accident, by changing the dynamic characteristic in the lower region of the headrest, relative to the remaining upper region of the headrest.

2. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein contact with the headrest in the at least two different heights occurs at a two-point contact that is selected from a group consisting of across an area, along a line and at a point.

3. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein, for guiding the head and for reducing or neutralizing a torque about a y-axis in a region of the cervical spine of the seat occupant and for preventing injuries caused by an accident the foam base body of the headrest is made, at least in a front section of the foam base body and therefore on a contact surface, of a first foam disposed essentially in the upper region of the headrest and a second foam disposed essentially in the lower region of the headrest, wherein the first and second foams have different dynamic characteristics.

4. The headrest according to claim 3, wherein the first and second foams have different densities.

5. The headrest according to claim 4, wherein the first foam has a lower viscosity and lesser firmness than the second foam.

6. The headrest according to claim 5, wherein the second foam is a viscoelastic foam with a velocity-dependent spring characteristic and a constant spring constant.

7. The headrest according to claim 6, wherein the crash beam is configured as a foam body inside the headrest box, wherein the crash beam and the foam base body have different densities.

8. The headrest according to claim 6, wherein the second foam provides greater damping of the head on the headrest at higher velocity due to the velocity-dependent spring characteristic.

9. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein the crash beam is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a wire, a wire mesh, a metal plate, a profile, a plastic body and a foam body.

10. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein the headrest is stationary relative to the backrest in an event of an accident.

11. The headrest according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the headrest is movable immediately towards the head of the seat occupant in an event of an accident.

13. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the headrest box and the crash beam are made of at least one plastic material.

14. The headrest according to claim 13, wherein the at least one plastic material is an injection-molded plastic.

12. A headrest for a backrest of an automobile seat, the headrest comprising a headrest box and a foam base body surrounding the headrest box, wherein a center of gravity of a head of a seat occupant is contactable at two or more different heights of the headrest, wherein a contact surface for the head of the seat occupant is formed

(i) in a foam arranged in an upper region of the headrest of the foam base body at a first height defined as a first vertical distance between the center of gravity of the head of the seat occupant and a first force introduced into the head of the seat occupant, wherein the upper region has a dynamic characteristic of the foam, and

(ii) at a second height in a lower region of the headrest by a crash beam arranged inside the foam base body of the headrest and integrated as a single piece in the headrest box of the headrest, the second height being defined as a second vertical distance between the center of gravity of the head of the seat occupant and a second force introduced into the head of the seat occupant, wherein the lower region has a dynamic characteristic of the crash beam and the foam,

wherein, in an event of a crash, a stabilizing contact surface is formed on the headrest in the upper region of the headrest and a stabilizing, line-shaped contact is formed in the lower region of the headrest, wherein the crash beam is adapted to stabilize the head of the seat occupant, in an event of an accident, by changing the dynamic characteristic in the lower region of the headrest, relative to the remaining upper region of the headrest.