Head restraint guide with two-way locking lever

A head restraint guide for guiding and engaging an armature of a head restraint includes a guide bushing having an axial bore for receiving the armature therein. A lever is pivotally coupled within the guide bushing and includes an aperture for receiving the armature therethrough. A spring includes first and second portions biased against the armature. The first portion is adapted for engaging any of a plurality of adjustment notches on a first side of the armature. The second portion is adapted for engaging a stop notch on a second side of the armature. Pivoting the lever in a first direction disengages the first portion of the spring from the plurality of adjustment notches and allows axial adjustment of the armature. Pivoting the lever in a second direction disengages the second portion of the spring from the stop notch and allows removal of the armature from the guide bushing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an adjustable head restraint of an automotive vehicle seat. More particularly, the invention relates to a head restraint guide having a two-way locking lever.

2. Description of Related Art

Adjustable head restraints are well known in the automotive vehicle seating art. Typically, adjustable head restraints include at least one armature or rod extending vertically downward for attaching the head restraint to an upper end of a seat back. The seat back includes a frame with an attachment tube or opening for receiving a plastic guide bushing or sleeve therein. The guide bushing is inserted into the attachment tube or opening and slidably guides the armature during vertical height adjustment of the head restraint.

Various guide bushings are well known in the seating art that allow for vertical height adjustment of the head restraint and also allow for complete removal of the head restraint from the seat back. Typically, for use with such a guide bushing, the armature includes a series of vertically spaced apart adjustment notches along one side and a stop notch on the other side formed adjacent to or below the lowest adjustment notch. The guide bushing includes a first locking element for engagement with one of the series of adjustment notches, thereby locking the armature and head restraint in place. A first button or release mechanism is actuated to disengage the first locking element from the respective adjustment notch to allow the armature to slide within the guide bushing, thus permitting vertical height adjustment of the head restraint.

The guide bushing also includes a second locking element for engagement with the stop notch which prevents the armature from being completely removed from the guide bushing when the head restraint is lifted upwards. A second button or release mechanism is actuated to disengage the second locking element from the stop notch to allow removal of the armature from the guide bushing, thus permitting complete removal of the head restraint from the seat back.

While such guide bushings are well known and provide the desired functionality, the necessity of having separate locking elements and release mechanisms for vertical height adjustment and removal of the head restraint adds cost and complexity to the system. It is therefore desirable to provide a simple and robust two-way locking lever that controls vertical height adjustment of a head restraint and also controls removal of the head restraint from a seat back.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a head restraint guide is provided for guiding and engaging an armature of a head restraint. The armature includes a plurality of adjustment notches on a first side and a stop notch on a second side. The head restraint guide includes a guide bushing having an axial bore for receiving the armature therein. A lever is pivotally coupled to the guide bushing. A spring includes first and second portions biased against the armature. The first portion of the spring is adapted for engaging any of the plurality of adjustment notches and the second portion of the spring is adapted for engaging the stop notch. Pivoting the lever in a first direction disengages the first portion of the spring from the plurality of adjustment notches allowing axial adjustment of the armature relative to the guide bushing and pivoting the lever in a second direction disengages the second portion of the spring from the stop notch allowing removal of the armature from the guide bushing.

According to another aspect of the invention, an automotive vehicle seat includes a seat back and a head restraint operatively coupled thereto. The head restraint includes an armature having a plurality of adjustment notches on a first side and a stop notch on a second side. A guide bushing is coupled to the seat back and includes an axial bore for receiving the armature therein. A two-way locking lever is pivotally coupled to the guide bushing and includes an aperture for receiving the armature therethrough. A spring includes first and second portions biased against the armature. The first portion is adapted for engaging any one of the plurality of adjustment notches to lock the head restraint in place and the second portion is adapted for engaging the stop notch to prevent removal of the head restraint from the seat back. Actuating the lever in a first direction disengages the first portion from the plurality of adjustment notches to allow axial adjustment of the head restraint relative to the seat back. Actuating the lever in a second direction disengages the second portion from the stop notch to allow removal of the head restraint from the seat back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, a typical automotive vehicle seat is generally shown at10. The seat10includes a seat cushion12, a seat back14, and a head restraint16operatively coupled to an upper end18of the seat back14. The head restraint16is attached in a known manner to at least one, and in the current embodiment, to a pair of spaced apart and parallel rods or armatures20,22.

Referring toFIG. 2, the construction of the seat back14comprises a rigid seat back frame24for supporting a contoured foam pad (not shown) encased by a trim cover26as conventionally known to one skilled in the art. A pair of plastic head restraint guide bushings28,30is inserted into openings (not shown) in the seat back frame24and each armature20,22is slidably mounted in one of the guide bushings28,30. In this manner, the head restraint16is vertically adjustable relative to the seat back14and can also be completely removed or detached from the seat back14.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, at least one of the armatures20includes a plurality of adjustment notches32spaced equidistantly in a vertical direction along a first side34of the armature20. On a second side36of the armature20, generally opposite the first side34, a stop notch38is formed below or at the same level as the lowest adjustment notch32. In the embodiment shown, the stop notch38coincides with the lowest adjustment notch32. It is contemplated that both armatures20,22may include the plurality of adjustment notches32and the stop notch38without varying from the scope of the invention.

The guide bushing28corresponding to the armature20with the plurality of adjustment notches32and the stop notch38will be described in detail hereinafter. The guide bushing30corresponding to the armature22can be any standard guide bushing known to one skilled in the art. Referring toFIGS. 3, and6through8, the guide bushing28includes an elongated cylindrical stem40having an axial bore42for receiving the armature20therein and an enlarged head44extending in a plane transverse to the axial bore42. The guide bushing28is preferably molded in one piece of a suitable thermoplastic and is adapted to be seated and locked in engagement with the seat back frame24. An annular flange46on the stem40is generally parallel to the head44and serves as an abutment stop, engaging a top side of the seat back frame24when the guide bushing28is fully inserted therein. The head44of the guide bushing28is provided to cover an access hole (not shown) in the trim cover26. In the embodiment shown, the head44and annular flange46are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the thickness of the foam pad. Alternatively, the guide bushing28can be molded without the annular flange46, and in such case, the bottom surface of the head44will serve as the abutment stop against the trim cover26.

The head44of the guide bushing28includes an open receptacle48for receiving a two-way locking lever50therein. The open receptacle48is defined by a lower surface52and an opposing upper surface54. The axial bore42extends through the lower and upper surfaces52,54. A first channel56, shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, is formed in the lower surface52and extends from a mouth58of the open receptacle48to a lever pivot hole60, shown inFIG. 8, on the opposite side of the axial bore42. The first channel56bisects the lower surface52. A second channel62, shown inFIGS. 3,6, and7, is formed in the upper surface54in facing relation to the first channel56and extends from the mouth58of the open receptacle48to an end location directly above the lever pivot hole60. The purpose of the first and second channels56,62will become apparent below.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, the two-way locking lever50is generally triangular-shaped and extends between an inner tip64and an outer peripheral edge66. It is appreciated, however, that the locking lever50may be any shape without varying from the scope of the invention. The outer peripheral edge66is generally convex and includes a plurality of teeth or a knurled surface68for providing grip, the reason for which will become apparent below. The locking lever50includes a bottom surface70and an opposite top surface72. The bottom surface70is generally smooth except for a lower pivot74protruding therefrom adjacent the inner tip64and a lower arcuate stability rib76protruding therefrom adjacent the outer peripheral edge66. The top surface72has a triangular-shaped cavity78bisected by a first raised portion80and a second raised portion82. An upper pivot84protrudes from the first raised portion80adjacent the inner tip64and an upper arcuate stability rib86protrudes from the top surface72adjacent the outer peripheral edge66. The cavity78is adapted to receive a generally U-shaped spring wire88, as shown inFIGS. 6, and11through14. The spring wire88includes a first leg90and a second leg92. The closed end of the spring wire88is disposed about the first raised portion80and the ends of the first and second legs90,92are adjacent to first and second sides94,96of the second raised portion82, respectively. The locking lever50also includes an aperture98extending therethrough between the first and second raised portions80,82.

The locking lever50is disposed within the open receptacle48of the head44of the guide bushing28such that the knurled surface68of the outer peripheral edge66protrudes at least partially from the mouth58. More specifically, the lower pivot74protruding from the bottom surface70of the locking lever50is disposed in the lever pivot hole60and the upper pivot84protruding from the top surface72of the locking lever50is disposed at the end location of the second channel62directly above the lever pivot hole60, thereby pivotally coupling the locking lever50within the head44of the guide bushing28. It is appreciated that the first and second channels56,62formed in the respective lower and upper surfaces52,54provide clearance for the lower and upper pivots74,84to allow the locking lever50to be assembled into the open receptacle48.

The aperture98extending through the locking lever50is aligned with the axial bore42of the guide bushing28when the locking lever50is pivotally coupled within the head44of the guide bushing28such that the armature20extends therethrough and is disposed between the first and second legs90,92of the spring wire88. The width of the first and second raised portions80,82within the cavity78of the locking lever50is less than the diameter of the armature20such that the first and second legs90,92of the spring wire88are biased against an outer surface100of the armature20.

As best seen inFIG. 4, when the head restraint16is in use, the first leg90of the spring wire88engages one of the adjustment notches32and the second leg92engages the outer surface100of the armature20opposite the adjustment notch32being engaged. The result of this engagement is the armature20, and thus the head restraint16, is locked in place. With the first leg90engaging one of the adjustment notches32and the second leg92engaging the outer surface100of the armature20, the locking lever50is in a first locking position, as shown inFIG. 11. The adjustment notches32are designed to have a wedge fit with the first leg90of the spring wire88to ensure that there is no vertical looseness of the head restraint16.

In order to adjust the vertical position of the head restraint16, the locking lever50is actuated to an adjustment position, shown inFIG. 12, by pushing on the knurled surface68to pivot the locking lever50in a clockwise direction (when viewed fromFIG. 12). As the locking lever50pivots in the clockwise direction, the first side94of the second raised portion82pushes the first leg90of the spring wire88outward relative to the armature20to disengage the first leg90from the adjustment notch32. It is now possible to slide the armature20within the guide bushing28, thus permitting the height of the head restraint16to be adjusted up or down. Additionally, as the locking lever50pivots between the first locking position and the adjustment position, the lower and upper arcuate stability ribs76,86slidably contact the lower and upper surfaces52,54of the open receptacle48to guide and support the locking lever50therewithin.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, each one of the plurality of adjustment notches32include an upper edge102and a lower edge104. The upper edge102is at an approximately ninety (90) degree angle to the outer surface100of the armature20so that once the head restraint16is positioned with the first leg90of the spring wire88engaging one of the adjustment notches32, the application of a sudden force or impact will not cause the head restraint16to move in a downward direction. In other words, the first leg90engages against the upper edge102of the adjustment notch32and blocks the head restraint16from being lowered. The lower edge104is at some angle less than ninety (90) degrees to the outer surface100of the armature20so that the head restraint16can be raised without actuating the locking lever50to the adjustment position. The head restraint16can be raised until the second leg92of the spring wire88engages the stop notch38.

As best seen inFIG. 5, in order to remove the head restraint16from the seat back14, the armature20is moved upwards until the second leg92of the spring wire88engages the stop notch38and the first leg90of the spring wire88engages the lowest adjustment notch32. The result of this engagement is the armature20, and thus the head restraint16, is once again locked in place. With the second leg92engaging the stop notch38and the first leg90engaging the lowest adjustment notch32, the locking lever50is in a second locking position, as shown inFIG. 13. In order to remove the head restraint16, the locking lever50is actuated to a removal position, shown inFIG. 14, by pushing on the knurled surface68to pivot the locking lever50in a counterclockwise direction (when viewed fromFIG. 14). As the locking lever50pivots in the counterclockwise direction, the second side96of the second raised portion82pushes the second leg92of the spring wire88outward relative to the armature20to disengage the second leg92from the stop notch38. It is now possible to slide the armature20farther upwards and out of the guide bushing28, thus permitting the head restraint16to be removed.

The stop notch38includes an upper edge106and a lower edge108. The lower edge108is at an approximately ninety (90) degree angle to the outer surface100of the armature20so that once the head restraint16is positioned with the second leg92of the spring wire88engaging the stop notch38, removal of the armature20is prevented. In other words, the second leg92engages against the lower edge108of the stop notch38and blocks the head restraint16from being removed. The upper edge106is at some angle less than ninety (90) degrees to the outer surface100of the armature20so that the head restraint16can be lowered back down until the first leg90of the spring wire88engages the upper edge102of the lowest adjustment notch32.

In the embodiment shown, because the stop notch38coincides with the lowest adjustment notch32, when the second leg92engages the lower edge108of the stop notch38the first leg90engages the upper edge102of the lowest adjustment notch32and therefore further raising and lowering of the head restraint16is prevented. Thus, in order to raise the head restraint16from this position to remove the head restraint16from the seat back14, it is necessary to pivot the locking lever50in the clockwise direction to the removal position. Alternatively, in order to lower the head restraint16from this position, it is necessary to pivot the locking lever50in the counterclockwise direction to the adjustment position.