Adjustable headrest for juvenile vehicle seat

A juvenile vehicle seat unit includes a seat and a headrest mounted for up-and-down movement on a headrest support included in the seat. The seat unit also includes a headrest height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the headrest and to the headrest support.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to juvenile vehicle seats, and, in particular, to backrests for juvenile vehicle seats. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a backrest mounted on a seat base to provide a juvenile vehicle seat.

SUMMARY

A juvenile vehicle seat unit in accordance with the present disclosure includes a seat including a backrest and a headrest mounted for up-and-down movement on the backrest relative to a seat bottom also included in the seat. The seat unit also includes a headrest height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the headrest and to the backrest.

In illustrative embodiments, the headrest height-adjustment mechanism includes a movable headrest anchor mounted for movement relative to the backrest and an anchor retainer strip arranged to extend from the headrest in a rearward direction to lie alongside the backrest and locate the movable headrest anchor in a space provided between the anchor retainer strip and the backrest. The headrest anchor includes an anchor button that is spring-biased normally to extend into one of several anchor receivers formed in the anchor retainer strip whenever the headrest is moved to one of several predetermined elevated positions established by the anchor receivers to establish a fixed elevated position of the headrest relative to the seat bottom.

In illustrative embodiments, the anchor retainer strip is cantilevered to a rearwardly facing surface of the headrest and formed to include three anchor receivers. Each anchor receiver is located at a different elevation with respect to the seat bottom and arranged to receive the anchor button therein so as to establish lowest, middle, and highest fixed positions of the headrest relative to the seat bottom and to the backrest.

Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A juvenile vehicle seat10includes a backrest12, a seat base14carrying armrests51and52, a headrest16, and a height-adjustment mechanism13for headrest16, as shown, for example, inFIGS. 1-4. This seat10can be shipped in an unassembled state in a relatively small and compact carton (not shown) as suggested inFIG. 1. A purchaser can remove the disassembled and packed seat shown inFIG. 3from the shipping carton and separate the components12,14,16in the manner shown, for example, inFIG. 4. The components12,14,16can then be assembled by the purchaser to produce an assembled juvenile vehicle seat10as shown, for example, inFIG. 2.

As shown best inFIGS. 1 and 4, backrest12includes a headrest support18, seat back20coupled to headrest support18, and first, second, and third posts21,22,23coupled to seat back20. Seat back20is interposed between headrest support18and the three posts21,22,23. Seat base14includes seat bottom30and first, second, and third sockets31,32,33and carries first and second armrests51,52. Posts21,22,23mate with sockets31,32,33to orient backrest12in an upright seat-forming position as shown, for example, inFIG. 2.

Headrest16is mounted for movement on headrest support18of backrest12in up-and-down directions17,19to adjust the height of headrest16relative to backrest12. A headrest height-adjustment mechanism (height adjustor)13is coupled to backrest12and headrest16as suggested inFIGS. 5 and 6and is configured to be operated by a user to change the elevation of headrest16as suggested inFIGS. 7-9.

As shown best inFIGS. 4 and 5, seat base14further includes a first backrest support41arranged to extend upwardly from seat bottom30and a second backrest support42also arranged to extend upwardly from seat bottom30. First and second backrest supports41,42are arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another along a rear portion of seat bottom30to locate backrest12therebetween as shown, for example, inFIG. 2after components12,14,16have been assembled to produce juvenile vehicle seat10.

Seat base14is also formed to include a first cup holder13and a second cup holder15arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first cup holder13to locate seat bottom30therebetween. First cup holder13is arranged to lie forward of first backrest support41. Second cup holder15is arranged to lie forward of second backrest support42. In the illustrated embodiment, seat base14is a monolithic element made of a suitable plastics material.

Juvenile vehicle seat10includes a first armrest51coupled to first backrest support41and a second armrest52coupled to second backrest support42. These armrests51,52are arranged to extend normally in a forward direction relative to and away from seat back20of backrest12as suggested inFIGS. 1 and 2. In the illustrated embodiment, first and second armrests51,52are mounted on seat base14(e.g., first and second backrest supports41,42) for pivotable movement about a pivot axis53shown, for example, inFIG. 5.

When disassembled, backrest12, seat base14, headrest16, and armrests51,52are packed in a manner shown, for example, inFIG. 1in a shipping carton (not shown). Headrest16is placed on seat bottom30of seat base14and located between armrests51,52carried on seat base14. Backrest12is arranged loosely to overlie seat bottom30and to “sandwich” headrest16between seat bottom30and headrest support18of backrest12. Movement of headrest16to its packed and stored position between seat base14and backrest12is shown, for example, inFIG. 4.

As shown best inFIG. 5, headrest16includes a head-engagement panel60interposed between first and second side wing panels61,62. In the illustrated embodiment, headrest16is a monolithic element made of a plastics material. A back cover16′ is coupled to headrest16as suggested inFIG. 5.

Height adjustor13includes first and second anchor retainers6466coupled to headrest16, a first headrest anchor67coupled to headrest support18and associated with first anchor retainer64, and a second headrest anchor68coupled to headrest support18and associated with second anchor retainer64as shown, for example, inFIG. 5. In the illustrated embodiment, first anchor retainer64is formed to include a series of three anchor receivers (e.g., apertures)641,642, and643and each of these anchor receivers641,642,643is adapted to receive a portion of first headrest anchor67therein to block up-and-down movement of headrest16in directions17and19relative to headrest support18. Similarly, second anchor retainer66is formed to include a series of three more anchor receivers (e.g., apertures)661,662, and663, and each of those anchor receivers661,662,663is adapted to receive a portion of second headrest anchor68therein to help block up-and-down movement of headrest16in directions17and19relative to headrest support18.

Headrest support18is arranged to extend upwardly from seat back20to lie in a space69provided between first and second anchor retainers64,66on a rear side of head-engagement panel60as suggested inFIGS. 5 and 6. First headrest anchor67is coupled to headrest support18and arranged to face in a first direction71toward anchor receivers641,642,643formed in first anchor retainer64as headrest16is moved in up-and-down directions17,19relative to backrest12while a portion of headrest support18carrying first headrest anchor67lies between first and second anchor retainers64,66. Likewise, second headrest anchor68is coupled to headrest support18and arranged to face in an opposite second direction72toward anchor receivers661,662,663formed in second anchor retainer66as headrest16is moved in up-and-down directions17,19relative to backrest12while a portion of headrest support18carrying second headrest anchor68lies between first and second anchor retainers64,66.

In an illustrative embodiment, first headrest anchor67comprises a first anchor button74, a button-biasing spring76, and a tether including flexible lower and upper button tethers78,79as shown, for example, inFIGS. 6-9. In the illustrated embodiment, second headrest anchor68comprises a second anchor button74′, a button-biasing spring76′, and a tether including flexible lower and upper button tethers78′,79′ as shown, for example, inFIG. 5.

As suggested inFIG. 6, first anchor retainer64is formed to include a lowest anchor receiver641associated with a highest position of headrest16. First anchor retainer64is also formed to include a middle anchor receiver642associated with a middle position of headrest16as shown, for example, inFIG. 7. First anchor retainer64is also formed to include a highest anchor receiver643associated with a lowest position of headrest16as shown, for example, inFIG. 9. It is within the scope of this disclosure to form any number of anchor receivers in first anchor retainer64to establish a like number of predetermined elevation positions of headrest16above seat bottom30. As suggested inFIGS. 6-9, first headrest anchor67is mounted for movement on headrest support18between a mated position extending into one of anchor receivers641,642,643to establish a fixed elevated position of headrest16relative to headrest support18and an unmated position (seeFIG. 8) disengaging each of anchor receivers641,642,643to allow up-and-down movement of headrest16in directions17,19relative to headrest support18.

In the illustrated embodiment, headrest support18includes a support plate80, first and second vertically extending side rims81,82coupled to perimeter edges of support plate80, and a horizontally extending upper rim83coupled to a perimeter edge of support plate80as shown, for example, inFIGS. 5 and 6. First headrest anchor67is arranged to interconnect first side rim81and upper rim83as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. Second headrest anchor68is arranged to interconnect upper rim83and second side rim82as shown inFIG. 6.

As suggested inFIGS. 6,7, and9, first anchor button74is sized and arranged to extend into either the lowest, middle, or highest anchor receiver641,642,643upon movement of first headrest anchor67in first direction71to the mated position. In the illustrated embodiment, flexible lower button tether78has a lower end coupled to first side rim81and an upper end coupled to first anchor button74while flexible upper button tether79has a lower end coupled to first anchor button74and an upper end coupled to upper rim83. As suggested inFIGS. 6-9, flexible lower and upper button tethers78,79cooperate to support first anchor button74for controlled movement relative to headrest16during movement of first headrest anchor67between the mated and unmated positions.

As shown best inFIG. 6, a perimeter edge84of support plate80cooperates with first anchor button74to define a spring-receiver space85therebetween. Button-biasing spring76of first headrest anchor67is located in spring-receiver space85and interposed between first anchor button74and support plate80. Button-biasing spring76is also arranged normally to urge first anchor button74into either the lowest, middle, or highest anchor receiver641,642,643upon movement of headrest16on headrest support18to place first anchor button74in confronting relation to one of the anchor receivers641,642,643as suggested, for example, inFIGS. 6,7, and9.

As suggested inFIG. 6, backrest12includes a monolithic section made of a plastics material and configured to include first side and upper rims81,83, first anchor button74, and flexible lower and upper button tethers78,79. Each of tethers78,79has a serpentine shape and is made of a somewhat stiff but deformable elastic material that is able to retain an initial shape as shown, for example, inFIG. 6.

An outer end of button-biasing spring76acts against first anchor button74and an inner end of spring76acts against support plate80of headrest support18as shown, for example, inFIGS. 6-9. First anchor button74includes an inner portion741and an outer portion742. Inner portion741is arranged to lie in either anchor receiver641,642, or643and outer portion742is arranged to lie outside space85and anchor receivers641,642, and643upon movement of first headrest anchor67in first direction71to the mated position as shown, for example, inFIGS. 6,7, and9. In this position, outer portion742is presented in an “exposed” position so that it can be touched easily by a finger86of a headrest operator as shown, for example, inFIG. 8. Outer portion742is arranged to pass in second direction72through anchor receiver642(as well as other anchor receivers641,643) to overcome a biasing force applied by button-biasing spring76to first anchor button74to reach a space87provided between first anchor retainer64and headrest support18upon movement of first headrest anchor67in second direction72to the unmated position as shown, for example, inFIG. 8, to free headrest16for up-and-down movement in directions17,19relative to headrest support18.

Support plate80is formed to include a spring mount support88facing toward anchor receivers641,642,643during up-and-down movement of headrest16relative to headrest support18. As shown inFIG. 6, spring mount support88is formed to include a base90and three spring guides91,92,93cantilevered to base90and arranged to extend away from support plate80and toward first anchor retainer64to define a region containing a portion of button-receiving spring76therebetween.

As shown best inFIGS. 5 and 6, first anchor button74is cylinder-shaped and button-biasing spring76is a coiled compression spring. As suggested inFIG. 7, first anchor button74includes a protrusion extending into an opening formed in the outer end of coiled compression spring76.

In the illustrated embodiment, each anchor retainer67is a thin strip made of plastics material. Headrest16includes a monolithic section made of a plastics material and configured to include head-engagement panel60and anchor retainers64,66. During use, headrest16is constrained to move up and down on headrest support18in directions17,19along a substantially vertical line and anchor buttons74,74′ are constrained to move back and forth on headrest support18in directions71,72along a substantially horizontal line as suggested in the drawings.

Height adjustor13can be used to adjust the height of headrest16relative to headrest support18as shown, for example, inFIG. 2. When first and second anchor buttons74,74′ extend into lowest anchor receivers641,661formed in anchor retainers64,66, then the top of headrest16is arranged to extend a “highest” distance161above a reference line160associated with headrest support18. Movement of anchor buttons74,74′ into middle anchor receivers642,662formed in anchor retainers64,66cause the top of headrest16to extend a lesser “middle” distance162above reference line160. Movement of anchor buttons74,74′ into highest anchor receivers643,663formed in anchor retainers64,66cause the top of headrest16to extend a still lesser “lowest” distance163above reference line160.