Horizontally pivoting headrest for motor vehicle

A headrest assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a headrest pivotable between first and second positions. The first position is generally proximate a seatback, and the second position is generally proximate a side wall.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to headrests for motor vehicle seats, and relates more specifically to a headrest that pivots from a side support bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many motor vehicles, particularly sport utility vehicles, are equipped with rear seats that can be moved from a seating configuration, in which passengers can sit in the seat, to a so-called “load floor” configuration where the back support of the seat is folded downwardly to assume a horizontal orientation and thereby facilitate cargo stowage in the van. Typically, locking mechanisms are provided for holding the seat in the seating configuration, and the locking mechanisms can be released to permit moving the seat to the load floor configuration.

Various arrangements have been proposed for retracting a headrest of the seat in order to provide the seat with a more compact profile when folded. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,940 shows several embodiments of a seat having an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the height of a headrest according to the pivoting of a seatback relative to a seat cushion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a headrest assembly for a motor vehicle. The headrest assembly comprises a headrest pivotable from a first position generally proximate a seatback to a second position generally proximate a side wall.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a headrest assembly of the type described above that provides support for an operator of the motor vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a headrest assembly of the type described above that facilitates the storage of relatively compact rear seats of the motor vehicle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of the type described above which is easy to use and cost-effective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows one embodiment of a headrest assembly10according to the present invention for a motor vehicle. In particular, the headrest assembly10is adapted for use in a vehicle having a roll bar12extending from a position generally at or near an interior side wall14and above a seat including a seatback16.

The headrest assembly10comprises a padded headrest18and one or more preferably tubular supports20. The supports20may be connected to the headrest18in any conventional manner, and extend from the headrest to one or more mounting brackets22which are preferably disposed proximate the roll bar12. It should be appreciated that a separate mounting bracket may be provided for each support20, or a single mounting bracket may be provided with accommodations for each support.

The supports20extend in a generally horizontal plane, while the mounting brackets22define a generally vertical axis about which the supports are pivotable. The headrest18is thus pivotable about the mounting brackets22from a first, stowed position shown inFIG. 1to a second, use position shown in FIG.2. In the use position, the headrest18is disposed generally proximate the seatback16and normally spaced thereabove.

FIG. 2shows the headrest18in the use position. In this position, the headrest18is disposed generally proximate the side wall14of the motor vehicle. A latching bar24is preferably connected to the lower support20so as to move therewith. The latching bar24is selectively engagable with a latch26to secure the headrest18in the use position. A detent28provides is engagable with the latching bar24to perform a similar function and hold the headrest18is the stowed position, as shown in FIG.1. It should be appreciated, of course, that the latch26and the detent28may be interchanged, or that the present invention may be equipped with two latches or two detents.

With the headrest18in the stowed position, the seatback16may be moved or removed from the vehicle altogether in order to present an increased available load floor. This may be advantageous, for example, in transporting large or cumbersome objects. Because the headrest is not connected to the seatback, moreover, the seatback offers a relatively compact profile to facilitate storage inside or outside of the vehicle.

It should be appreciated that while the embodiment of the headrest assembly described herein is preferably manually pivotable, the present invention also contemplates that the headrest18may be translated by any powered means such as an electric motor. Furthermore, the brackets22may be attached to any support structure such as B- or C-pillars.