Adjustable vehicle head restraint assembly

A vehicle head restraint assembly includes a support frame for supporting a head restraint cushion, a stay configured to connect with an associated vehicle seatback and a slide pivot bracket mechanism connected with the support frame and the stay. The slide pivot bracket mechanism is configured to allow for selective movement of the support frame with respect to the stay along a translational axis. The slide pivot bracket mechanism includes a lower bar extending along the translational axis and a plurality of teeth extending upward from the lower bar to define position recesses for receiving the support frame and inhibit movement of the support frame with respect to the stay when the support frame is received in one of the position recesses.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle head restraints extend above a seatback of a vehicle seat. Known head restraints are typically adjustable in a vertical direction. Some known head restraints are also adjustable in a longitudinal direction, i.e., in the direction of travel for the vehicle. Of these known head restraints that are longitudinally adjustable, some include a rack and pinion arrangement. One such longitudinally adjustable head restraint includes a pinion that is rotated by an operator turning a knob. Another known longitudinally adjustable head restraint includes a pinion that is moveable after depressing a laterally disposed actuator member. Many known longitudinally adjustable head restraints tend to include a complicated or cumbersome locking mechanism.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a vehicle head restraint assembly includes a support frame for supporting a head restraint cushion, a stay configured to connect with an associated vehicle seatback and a slide pivot bracket mechanism connected with the support frame and the stay. The slide pivot bracket mechanism is configured to allow for selective movement of the support frame with respect to the stay along a translational axis. The slide pivot bracket mechanism includes a lower bar extending along the translational axis and a plurality of teeth extending upward from the lower bar to define position recesses for receiving the support frame and inhibit movement of the support frame with respect to the stay when the support frame is received in one of the position recesses.

According to another aspect, a vehicle head restraint assembly includes a stay configured to connect with an associated vehicle seatback and a support frame for connecting a head restraint cushion. The support frame is connected with the stay in the manner that allows the support frame to move relative to the stay. The vehicle head restraint assembly further includes a slide pivot bracket having a bracket lower bar and spaced apart teeth extending therefrom to define position recesses for accommodating the support frame. The support frame is moveable among the position recesses for moving the support frame relative to the stay and held in a select one of the position recesses by the spaced apart teeth.

According to a further aspect, a vehicle head restraint assembly includes a stay extending upward from an associated vehicle seatback, a slide pivot bracket fixedly mounted to the stay, and a support frame having a head restraint cushion overmolded thereon arranged for pivoting and sliding movement relative to the slide pivot bracket to move the head restraint cushion relative to the associated vehicle seatback and maintain the support frame in a selected position relative to the associated vehicle seatback, wherein the slide pivot bracket includes teeth defining positions for the support frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating one or more exemplary embodiments and not for purposes of limiting same,FIGS. 1-4illustrate a vehicle seat10including a seatback12and a head restraint14connected with the seatback12. As shown inFIGS. 1-4, the head restraint14is moveable with respect to the seatback12along a translational axis16(FIG. 2), which can be generally parallel with a direction of travel for the vehicle (not shown) in which the vehicle seat10is located.FIG. 1depicts the head restraint14in an intermediate or middle position.FIG. 2depicts the head restraint14pivoted out of the middle position for movement to another position.FIG. 3depicts the head restraint14in a rear-most position.FIG. 4depicts the head restraint14in a forward-most position.

With additional reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, a vehicle head restraint assembly20is illustrated that includes a support frame22for supporting a head restraint cushion24of the head restraint14. The vehicle head restraint assembly20also includes a stay26configured to connect with the vehicle seatback12. In the depicted embodiment, the stay26includes a left stay leg28and a right stay leg30, though this is not required. Also in the depicted embodiment, the left stay leg28is a mirror image of the right stay leg30, though this too is not required.

The vehicle head restraint assembly20further includes a slide pivot bracket mechanism32connected with the support frame22and the stay26. As will be described in more detail below, the slide pivot bracket mechanism32is configured to allow for selective movement of the support frame22with respect to the stay26along the translational axis16(FIG. 2). In the illustrated embodiment, the slide pivot bracket mechanism32includes a left bracket34and a right bracket36, though this is not required. Also in the depicted embodiment, the left bracket34is identical to the right bracket36, though this too is not required.

Each of the right and left brackets34,36includes a lower bar (lower bar34aon left bracket34and lower bar36aon right bracket36) that extends along the translational axis16with a plurality of teeth (teeth34bon the left bracket34and teeth36bon the right bracket36) extending upward from the lower bar34aor36ato define position recesses for receiving the support frame22and inhibit movement of the support frame22with respect to the stay26when the stay26is received in one of the position recesses. Each of the left bracket34and right bracket36can also include an upper bar (upper bar34con left bracket34and upper bar36con right bracket36) that can be fixedly secured, respectively, to the lower bars34a,36a, such as via welding.

The support frame22in the illustrated embodiment can be a bent and/or formed metal rod having a U-shaped section40and base sections42,44at terminal ends of the U-shaped section40. The support frame22provides a rigid member for supporting the head restraint cushion24. The U-shaped section40generally defines a vertical plane along a lower region and bends to generally define an angled plane in an upper region of the U-shaped section40. The support frame22bends at the terminal ends of the U-shaped section transitioning into the base sections42,44, which extend rearwardly from the U-shaped section40. In the illustrated embodiment, the base sections42,44are generally horizontally oriented. Also in the illustrated embodiment, the base sections42,44are welded together along central portions42a,44a, respectively.

The stay26of the illustrated embodiment can also be a bent and/or formed metal rod having a U-shaped configuration including a cross member50and the left and right stay legs28,30. A lower end of the stay26(i.e., lower ends28a,30aof the legs28,30) is configured to be received in the vehicle seatback12as shown inFIGS. 1-4and an upper end of the stay (i.e., cross member50) is configured to be vertically spaced from an upper edge12aof the seatback12.

The support frame22includes an engaging section extending along a lateral axis oriented perpendicularly relative to the translational axis16, wherein the engaging section is received in one of the position recesses defined by the plurality of teeth34b,36b. In the illustrated embodiment, the engaging section comprises segments42b,44bof the base sections42,44. Each of the lower bars34a,36aincludes a sliding segment34d,36ddisposed rearwardly of a rearward-most tooth of the plurality of teeth34b,36band the support frame22includes a load bearing section disposed in parallel relation to the engaging section (i.e., segments42b,44b) that slideably contacts the sliding segments34d,36d. In the illustrated embodiment, the load bearing section of the support frame22is comprised of distal segments42c,44cof the base sections42,44, the central portions or segments42a,44aspacing apart the segments42b,44bfrom the distal segments42c,44c. As will be described in more detail below, the support frame22can be pivoted about the load bearing section (i.e., the distal segments42c,44c) to move the support frame22from a selected one of the position recesses to another one of the position recesses.

Each of the upper bars34c,36cincludes a sliding segment cage portion34e,36edisposed above, respectively, the sliding segments34d,36dto limit vertical movement of the load bearing section (i.e., distal segments42c,44c) relative to the sliding segments34d,36d. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, each sliding segment cage portion34e,36eextends from a rearward-most of the plurality of teeth34b,36bto a distal end of the respective sliding segments34d,36dto define a sliding segment contained area34f,36f. Depending wall segments34g,36g, which form the respective distal edges, can close off the sliding segment contained areas34f,36f. The load bearing section of the support frame22, comprised of the distal segments42c,44c, is received through the sliding segment contained areas34f,36fand inhibited from moving beyond the sliding segment contained areas34f,36f.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, each of the plurality of teeth34b,36bextends orthogonally upward from, respectively, the lower bars34a,36a. The upper bars34c,36cinclude, respectively, tooth cage portions34h,36hdisposed above the plurality of teeth34b,36bto limit vertical movement of the engaging section (i.e., segments42b,44b) relative to the lower bars34a,36a. Each of the tooth cage portions34h,36hextends from a forward-most tooth of the plurality of teeth34b,36bto a rearward-most tooth of the plurality of teeth34b,36bto define, respectively, tooth contained areas34i,36i. The engaging section of the support frame22comprised of the segments42b,44bis received through the tooth contained areas34i,36iand inhibited from moving beyond the tooth contained areas34i,36i.

Each of the upper bars34c,36ccan also include, respectively, a stay mounting portion34j,36jconnected, respectively, to the sliding segment cage portions34e,36eand the tooth cage portions34h,36hto define a closed stay contained area34k,36kthrough which the cross member50of the stay26extends and is inhibited from moving relative to the slide pivot bracket mechanism32. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the most rear-most tooth and/or the forward-most tooth extends a greater distance from the lower bar34a,36athan an adjacent tooth. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the forward-most tooth of the plurality of teeth34b,36bextends a greater distance from the respective lower bar34a,36athan an adjacent tooth.

In operation, the segments42b,44bof the support frame22can be received in one of the positions defined by the teeth34b,36b. As shown inFIG. 1, the segments42b,44bare received in the middle or intermediate position defined by the teeth34b,36b. To move the head restraint14, the head restraint14is lifted and pivoted as shown inFIG. 2so that the segments42b,44bare removed from the middle position defined by the teeth34b,36bto allow sliding movement along the translational axis16. Such sliding movement is limited by the sliding segment contained areas34f,36f. That is, the distal segments42c,44ccannot move beyond the area defined by the sliding segment contained areas34f,36f. Likewise, the tooth contained areas34i,36ialso limits the extent of forward and rearward movement of the support frame22relative to the slide pivot bracket mechanism32, which is fixably mounted to the stay26.

The head restraint14can be moved to the rearward-most position shown inFIG. 3wherein the segments42b,44bare again installed in a position, this time the rear-most position, defined by the teeth34b,36b. Alternatively, the head restraint14can be moved to its forward-most position wherein the segments42b,44bare received in the forward-most position defined by the teeth34b,36b, as shown inFIG. 4.