Headrest for a Vehicle Seat and Motor Vehicle Having a Vehicle Seat and a Headrest

A headrest for a vehicle seat includes an upholstered support surface for supporting an occupant's head and a neck rest. The neck rest is pivotable between a flat position and an angled position by a friction hinge such that an end region of the neck rest forms a part of the upholstered support surface in the flat position and the end region of the neck rest stands angled in relation to the upholstered support surface and delimits the upholstered support surface in the angled position.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a headrest for a vehicle seat. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having a vehicle seat and a headrest.

A vehicle seat for a motor vehicle that can in particular be designed as a passenger car often has a headrest that is generally displaceably installed on a backrest of the vehicle seat. The headrest serves to support a head of a vehicle occupant, and thus an occupant's head. Via the headrest, a particularly comfortable position can be taken up by the occupant in the vehicle on the one hand, and on the other, in the event of an impact a risk of injury, for example to a neck of the occupant, can be reduced by supporting the head.

In the prior art, vehicle seats additionally exist that have a neck rest in addition to the headrest, e.g., as shown in DE 10 2005 030 258 A1. Actuator-driven neck rests in the form of a drawer are further known from the prior art.

Disadvantages in the prior art are a lack of comfort when operating and/or using the neck rest and a possible risk of injury from protruding neck rests.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a headrest for a vehicle seat and a corresponding motor vehicle that have a neck rest that is particularly easy to operate and comfortable to use.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a headrest. The headrest according to the invention for a vehicle seat comprises an upholstered support surface that serves to support an occupant's head. The vehicle seat is in particular a motor vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, which is designed for example as a passenger car. The headrest is advantageously fixed height-adjustably to a backrest of the vehicle seat. The support surface is designed such that it is upholstered and the headrest additionally advantageously has a cushion. The occupant's head is the head of an occupant or user of the vehicle who can rest their head on the support surface, for example to relax. In an intended position or usage position of the vehicle seat, and thus of the headrest in the motor vehicle, the vehicle seat is orientated such that the occupant sits in the vehicle and the backrest is not folded back to recline. In this intended position, the support surface is oriented substantially perpendicularly, such that in particular a region on the back of the occupant's head can be supported on the support surface for example against acceleration forces of the motor vehicle along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The headrest further comprises a neck rest.

So that the neck rest can be particularly advantageously operated and used by the occupant, it is provided according to the invention that the neck rest can be pivoted between a flat position and an angled position by means of at least one friction hinge, wherein an end region of the neck rest forms a part of the support surface in the flat position and the end region of the neck rest stands angled in relation to the support surface and delimits the support surface in the angled position. The end region in particular stands angled to the support surface such that the end region points in the direction of a neck if the vehicle occupant sits on the vehicle seat as intended. The end region can transition into the support surface, in particular seamlessly, as the end region delimits the, in particular now reduced, support surface in the angled position.

In the flat position, the end region serves as part of the support surface, in particular for supporting the occupant's head. In the angled position, the angled protrusion of the end region of the neck rest enables the end region to be advantageously designed to support a neck region or neck that is attached to the occupant's head and/or shoulder region of the occupant. In the usage position or in a mounted state of the headrest, the end region of the neck rest is in the flat position of the lower region of the support surface. In the angled position, the end region thus delimits the support surface at the bottom. The end region of the neck rest can also be described as a folding wing and as a whole forms a folding wing of the headrest.

The friction hinge is a mechanical component that serves to move the neck rest between the angled position and the flat position via an external torque and, in the respective position, or alternatively in an interim position, to independently keep the neck rest in the respective position. The functional principle of the friction hinge, which can also be described as a torque hinge, is based on friction. For example, a breakaway torque and/or a movement torque can correspond to a dynamic torque that enables a comfortable, jolt-free movement of the neck rest for the occupant or the user. The pivot into or out of the angled position can be achieved by the occupant manually pulling forward, for example on the end region.

The headrest with the neck rest resembles a normal headrest in the flat position as a part of the support surface is formed by the neck rest. Whereby the headrest and thus the vehicle seat can for example be designed particularly elegantly. In other words, the lower region of a headrest cushion can be pivoted via a friction hinge, with no optical change being able to be discerned in the folded-back state in relation to the known prior art. The pivot or forward swivel can be achieved by manually pulling forward on a lower cushion edge. Form stability in the respective position is achieved via the resistance of the friction hinge.

The invention thus has the advantage that a sufficient, and in particular individually adjustable neck support for a vehicle occupant is enabled in addition to a good head support. The vehicle seat can be a front seat or a seat in the rear region of the vehicle. The invention thus has the advantage that, in the case of optically identical outer geometry of the headrest, and thus also usability of the headrest, for example when adjusting the height relative to a backrest of the vehicle seat, there is no restriction in comparison with a conventional headrest. The headrest according to the invention additionally offers an additional function and serves as a comfortable and effective neck support for the vehicle occupant. A particularly simple technical solution for the potential displacement or pivoting of the neck support can thus additionally be obtained by using the friction hinge. The neck rest is additionally in functional use in its respective position, and thus both in the flat position and in the angled position. Contrastingly, in the prior art, the neck rest takes up a usage and a non-usage position, with no function being achieved in the latter position.

Additionally, using the friction hinge has the advantage that in the event of an accident, for example via an impact event on the motor vehicle, an extended neck rest can independently fall or travel from the angled position back into the flat position as a result of force. The headrest can thus be used just as safely as a conventional headrest. For this purpose, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, resistance of the friction hinge is adjusted to the impact event, whereby the neck rest independently pivots into the flat position during the impact event. In other words, in the event of an accident, the neck rest is independently reset, for example due to centrifugal forces and/or further forces, via the resistance, in particular friction resistance of the friction hinge.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the neck rest comprises a frame element that forms a contour of the end region. In other words, an outer shape of the end region of the neck rest, and thus, in the flat position, an outer shape of the support surface, is formed by a frame or the frame element. The shape of the end region of the neck rest used to support the neck is thus formed by the frame element. The frame element is advantageously covered with a cushion or a cushion element. This thus has the advantage that the shape of the end region can be designed particularly simply, and the frame can in particular be fixed to a part of the friction hinge such that it is fixed against rotation, whereby the frame element can be used by the occupant particularly advantageously when pivoting the neck rest as a grip or grip element.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the headrest comprises a massage device. The massage device of the headrest or the neck rest can for example cause a massage effect on the head or neck and/or shoulder region of the occupant via a mechanical movement. The headrest can thus advantageously be used particularly comfortably by the occupant, whereby, for example, a journey with the motor vehicle can be carried out particularly comfortably.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the massage device has a vibrating element. For example, the vibrating element is a motor with a shaft on which a weight is arranged with an imbalance. At least one part in the massage device can thus be set to vibrate, which is transferred to the occupant as a massage effect via the headrest. The vibrating element has the advantage that the massage device is particularly simple, and can thus for example be designed cost-efficiently.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the massage device has a pneumatic actuator. The pneumatic actuator operates a controlling member, for example, which provides a deformation at least of a partial region of the neck rest, in particular of a partial region of the end region. A massage effect can thus be caused for the occupant. The pneumatic actuator has the advantage that the massage can for example be carried out particularly intensively and/or particularly precisely.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the massage device is arranged on the neck rest, and there in particular on the end region and most particularly on the frame element. In other words, the region of the headrest that serves to support the neck has a device for massaging the vehicle occupant. By arranging the massage device on the neck rest, and in particular on the end region, it is possible that the massage effect can be caused almost on an edge or on the lower end of the headrest or neck rest. The massage effect can thus extend to the lower neck or upper shoulder region of the occupant, whereby the occupant can be particularly relaxed.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the headrest has a removable cushion element that can be fixed to the support surface by means of a fastening element. In other words, a cushion element is provided that is designed in particular to be particularly soft and/or smooth, for example to allow the occupant's head to sink into the cushion element particularly well, such that the cushion element can also be described as a cuddly cushion. The fastening element can in particular be designed such that the cushion element can be adjusted relative to the support surface, for example to a size of the occupant. The position of the cushion element can additionally be influenced by pivoting the neck rest. This has the advantage that it is particularly comfortable for the occupant to use the headrest and the efficacy of the neck support can be further increased.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cushion element comprises a heating element. In other words, the cushion element has heating that can increase the temperature of at least a part of the cushion element in comparison for example with an environment temperature. As an alternative or in addition, the heating element can also be designed such that it does not serve or does not only serve to heat, but also to cool. In other words, the heating element can also be designed as a temperature regulation element. The interaction of the heating element of the cushion element in combination with pivoting the neck rest has the advantage that a wellbeing or relaxing effect can be increased, as heat transfer in the neck or neck region of the occupant can be carried out in a particularly targeted and particularly effective manner. The heating effect can in particular be conveyed via the end region or the frame element.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, having a vehicle seat that has a headrest according to the invention. In other words, the vehicle comprises a vehicle seat that in particular has a backrest. The headrest is advantageously fixed to the latter. The headrest of the vehicle seat is for example provided with a headrest cushion designed which can be pivoted via a friction hinge. In a folded-back state, i.e., in a flat position of a lower region or of the neck rest of the headrest, in particular no change can be seen in comparison with a conventional head cushion. In the forward pivoted state of the neck rest, i.e., in the angled position, an effective neck support is achieved.

Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the first aspect should be seen as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention and vice versa.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings. The features and combinations of features specified previously in the description and the features and combinations of features specified in the following description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be used not only in the respectively specified combinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation without leaving the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.1shows, in a schematic perspective view, a headrest10for a vehicle seat11of a motor vehicle (not shown), in particular a passenger car. The vehicle seat11has a headrest10for supporting an occupant's head12of a vehicle occupant. The headrest10is mounted on a backrest14of the vehicle seat11. Headrests10that offer a particular comfort function additionally have a neck rest16. The headrest10has a support surface18that is upholstered so that the headrest10can particularly advantageously support the occupant's head12. For this purpose, a cushion20is for example provided.

The neck rest16can be pivoted between a flat position shown inFIG.2and an angled position shown here inFIG.1by means of at least one friction hinge22shown inFIGS.3and4, so that the headrest10, and thus the vehicle seat11, can offer particularly high comfort and particularly simple operability, and can additionally be operated safely.

An end region24of the neck rest16is a part of the support surface18in the flat position. In the angled position, the end region24of the neck rest16is positioned angled to the support surface18, wherein the end region24is designed to support a neck region26or neck attached to the occupant's head12. In an intended position of the vehicle seat11in the motor vehicle, the end region24is substantially located on the lower end of the headrest10. The headrest10thus has the advantage that the neck rest16does not necessarily need to be pivoted into a non-usage position if it is not currently required to support the neck as it takes on the function of the support surface18in the flat position and thus serves as a support for the occupant's head12in place of the neck support.

Resistance of the friction hinge22is advantageously adjusted to an impact event, i.e., in particular to the acceleration, which can affect the motor vehicle or the headrest10or the neck rest16. The neck rest16can thus pivot independently into the flat position in the event of an impact event. The motor vehicle shown and the headrest10shown thus respectively have the advantage that a particularly simple technical solution for pivoting the neck rest16can be provided by using the friction hinge22.

Due to the design of the friction hinge22and the coordination of its resistance, in particular of the friction resistance when it is operated, the headrest10can be particularly easily operated, for example by a hand of the occupant, and the neck rest16can thus be pivoted. In the event of an impact, for example in the event of an accident, an independent reset of the neck rest can for example be achieved in the flat position, whereby the headrest10shown can be operated safely.

The headrest10can be used both for a vehicle seat11front region and also for a vehicle seat11in the rear region of the motor vehicle. The headrest10can be connected to the backrest14by means of fixing elements30and such that its height can be adjusted via the fixing elements. The headrest10can comprise a base element36or a base body in its structure, on which, for example, the friction hinge22and/or the cushion20among other things are mounted.

So the headrest10can be used particularly comfortably, a removable cushion element28is advantageously provided that can be fixed to the support surface18by means of a fastening element (not shown). The cushion element28can additionally comprise a heating element42that can be used to heat and/or to cool the cushion element28and thus to heat and/or cool the occupant's head12or the neck region26.

Due to an interaction of the cushion element28with the end region24when pivoting the neck rest16, the heating element42can be particularly advantageously positioned on the neck region26of the vehicle occupant, whereby a heat transfer into the neck region26and/or shoulder region of the vehicle occupant can be achieved in a particularly advantageous manner, whereby the headrest10can be used particularly comfortably.

The headrest10can further have a massage device32for particularly comfortable use and relaxation moments of the vehicle occupant, the massage device being able to comprise both a vibrating element and/or a pneumatic actuator to generate a massage effect for a vehicle occupant. The massage device32is in particular arranged on the neck rest16, and there on the end region24, whereby the massage device32can be particularly advantageously positioned on the neck region26of the vehicle occupant, as a massage can generally lead to more relaxation there than directly on the occupant's head12.

FIG.2shows the headrest10according toFIG.1, likewise in a schematic perspective view, wherein unlike inFIG.1, the neck rest16is not located in the angled position, but in the flat position, whereby it thus forms a part of the support surface18.

FIG.3andFIG.4show, likewise in a schematic perspective view, the headrest10, now with the cushion20removed, whereby the friction hinge22can be seen particularly clearly.FIG.3shows the neck rest16in the angled position andFIG.4the neck rest16in the flat position. A first part34of the friction hinge22is fixed to the base element36of the headrest10. A second part38of the friction hinge22, which can be pivoted relative to the first part34by overcoming the friction force and thus enables the neck rest16to be pivoted, is fixed to the neck rest16. The neck rest16has a frame element40that determines or forms a contour of the end region24. The frame element40can advantageously be connected at least indirectly in a manner fixed against rotation or fixed in place to the second part38of the friction hinge22, whereby the frame element40can particularly advantageously be designed as a grip for pivoting the neck rest16.

FIG.5shows the headrest10in the flat position in a further schematic perspective view.FIG.6shows the headrest10in the angled position in a further schematic perspective view.FIG.5andFIG.6both show the headrest10according toFIG.1to4, wherein the cushion element28is removed or cannot be provided. BothFIGS.5and6show side panelling44, however, which clads the base element36and is normally mounted for operating the vehicle seat11.FIGS.5and6additionally show a side element46which can serve as an operating element, for example for height adjustment of the headrest10and/or as a mounting element, for example for the fastening element of the cushion element28.

A comfortable and effective neck support can be achieved by the headrest10shown and the presented motor vehicle. The neck rest is additionally advantageous as in the event of an accident it is possible for the end region24to pivot back independently. The headrest10can be designed such that it has an identical external appearance in comparison with a headrest without a neck rest16. The heating effect of the heating element42in the neck region can be increased in a particularly advantageous manner via the pivotable end region24. A targeted neck massage is further possible via the massage device32. The headrest10can thus be operated particularly easily and can be used particularly comfortably.