Height adjustable head restraint for a vehicle seat

A vehicle seat and vehicle seat head restraint are disclosed having a stop adapted to be mounted to a rod extending from a vehicle seat back. A frame is adapted to be mounted to the rod to slide along the rod. A head restraint foam padding and cover are mounted to the frame for supporting a head of an occupant. A locking mechanism cooperates with the stop and the frame for permitting incremental locking positions of the frame relative to the stop. An actuator cooperates with the locking mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism to slide the head restraint and frame along the rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to height adjustable head restraints for vehicle seats.

2. Background Art

The prior art has offered height adjustable head restraints having a pair of rods connecting the head restraint to a frame of the vehicle seat. Typically, the head restraint and rods translate relative to the seat frame and the rods include a series of notches for locking the head restraint and rod at various positions relative to the frame of the seat back. The prior art has also offered head restraint rods that are mounted directly to the frame wherein the head restraint translates along the rods. Likewise, the rods include a series of notches for providing various height adjustment positions to the head restraint relative to the rod.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention discloses a vehicle seat having a seat back for supporting the back of an occupant. A rod is mounted to and extends from the seat back. A stop is mounted to the rod. A frame is mounted to the rod to slide along the rod. A head restraint is mounted to the frame for supporting a head of an occupant. A locking mechanism cooperates with the stop and the frame for permitting incremental locking positions of the frame relative to the stop. An actuator cooperates with the locking mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism to slide the head restraint and frame along the rod.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a vehicle seat head restraint having a stop adapted to be mounted to a rod extending from a vehicle seat back. A frame is adapted to be mounted to the rod to slide along the rod. A head restraint foam padding and cover are mounted to the frame for supporting a head of an occupant. A locking mechanism cooperates with the stop and the frame for permitting incremental locking positions of the frame relative to the stop. An actuator cooperates with the locking mechanism to release the locking mechanism to slide the head restraint and frame along the rod.

The above embodiments and other embodiments, benefits, advantages and features of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference now toFIG. 1, a vehicle seat is illustrated in accordance with the present invention and is referenced generally by numeral10. The vehicle seat10includes a seat cushion12that is adapted to be installed within an interior of a vehicle, such as an automobile, aircraft, water craft or the like. The seat back14is also installed in the vehicle, and for the depicted embodiment, the seat back14is connected to the seat cushion12. Although an individual seat is depicted inFIG. 1, the invention contemplates any seat configuration, such as a bench seat, a split frame seat, front row seat, rear row seat, or the like.

The seat cushion12and the seat back14are both fabricated from suitable and known materials and methods. For example, the seat cushion12and the seat back14may both utilize a structural frame, foam for cushioning and a cover.

The seat10also includes a head restraint16that is mounted to the frame of the seat back14and extends above the seat back14for supporting a head of an occupant. The head restraint16has a release button18mounted on a lateral side of the head restraint16for permitting an occupant to depress the button18and adjust the height of the head restraint16relative to the seat back14.

Referring now toFIG. 2, the head restraint16is illustrated with a head restraint cover and foam padding removed to reveal a head restraint height adjustment mechanism20. The height adjustment mechanism20includes a pair of rods22,24that are mounted to a frame of the seat back14and extend above the seat back14for supporting the head restraint16. The rods22,24are connected at their distal ends by an upper transverse bar26. Likewise, a lower transverse bar28is mounted to the rods22,24to translate along the rods22,24to perform the height adjustment of the head restraint16. Accordingly, the lower transverse bar28provides a frame for the head restraint16and the padding and cover of the head restraint16are mounted directly to the lower transverse bar28and translate along the rods22,24with the translation of the lower transverse bar28.

The height adjustment mechanism20includes a locking device30for locking the location of the lower transverse bar28along the rods22,24relative to the upper transverse bar26. The locking device30includes a locking shaft32that is oriented generally centrally on the lower transverse bar28between the rods22,24. The locking shaft32is generally parallel to the regions of the rods22,24upon which the lower transverse bar28translates for height adjustment of the head restraint16. The locking shaft32is pivotally connected to the lower transverse bar28and extends to the upper transverse bar26. The locking shaft32extends through a bore34in the upper transverse bar26and cooperates with the bore34, which provides a stop for locking the lower transverse bar28relative to the upper transverse bar26.

The locking shaft32is illustrated in a locked position inFIG. 2. The locking shaft32includes a pinion gear36formed upon its lower end adjacent to the lower transverse bar28. The release button18is mounted on a lateral end of the lower transverse bar28. The release button18cooperates with an actuation bar38that is mounted in the lower transverse bar28to slide along the lower transverse bar28. The actuation bar38includes a gear rack40formed on an inboard side in engagement with the pinion gear36of the locking shaft32. The actuation bar38includes a slot42, which receives a projection44of the lower transverse bar28to constrain the actuation bar38to linear translation relative to the lower transverse bar28. Thus, when the release button18is actuated, the actuation bar38is translated towards the rod24thereby rotating the locking shaft32counterclockwise inFIG. 2to a release position whereby height adjustment of the head restraint16is permitted. A coil compression spring46is mounted in a receiver48on the lower transverse bar28and engages a tab50extending from the actuation bar38to bias the actuation bar38to the locked position ofFIG. 2, thereby locking the head restraint16in absence of a force imparted upon the release button18.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, the actuation bar38and locking shaft32are illustrated in the locked position inFIG. 3and the locking shaft32and upper transverse bar26are illustrated in the locked position inFIG. 4. The locking shaft32has a series of incrementally spaced projections52, that are spaced longitudinally along the locking shaft32by a series of recesses54. The projections52extend radially outboard from a lateral region of the locking shaft32. Likewise, the bore34of the upper transverse bar26includes a corresponding series of projections56sized to be received within the recesses54of the locking shaft32and the projections56are spaced incrementally by a series of recesses58for receiving the projections52of the locking shaft32. The projections56and recesses58are provided on one lateral region of the bore34as illustrated inFIG. 4. Thus, when the locking shaft32is in the locked position ofFIGS. 3 and 4, the projections52and recesses54of the locking shaft32are engaged with the corresponding projections56and recesses58of the upper transverse bar26.

As stated above, actuation of the release button18translates the actuation bar38towards the rod24thereby rotating the locking shaft32counterclockwise to disengage the projections52and recesses54of the locking shaft32from the projections56and recesses58of the bore34. Referring now toFIGS. 5 and 6, the actuation bar38is illustrated translated towards the rod24and consequently the locking shaft32is illustrated in the released position. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the locking shaft32has been rotated such that the projections52and recesses54are rotated out of engagement with the projections56and the recesses58of the bore34of the upper transverse bar26. Thus, in the unlocked position ofFIGS. 5 and 6, the user may translate the lower transverse bar28and the head restraint16along the rods22,24until a desired height adjustment position is achieved. Once the desired height adjustment position is selected, the user removes a manual force from the release button18. Then, the spring46expands thereby translating the actuation bar38towards the rod22, which drives the pinion gear36of the locking shaft32clockwise inFIGS. 5 and 6until the shaft32is in the locked position illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4.

Thus, the height adjustment mechanism20permits simplified height adjustment of the head restraint16. An adjustment may be performed manually with one hand by depressing the release button18and translating the head restraint16to the desired height adjustment. By eliminating notches in the rods22,24, which are common in the prior art, the wall thickness of the rods22,24can be reduced thereby reducing the weight and complexity of the rods22,24and providing a cost savings in the material of the rods22,24. Additionally, various head restraint rod22,24configurations and cross sections are possible by elimination of the lock mechanism on the rods22,24.

Prior art head restraint height adjustment mechanisms that utilize notches in the head restraint rods are limited in the number of adjustment positions. The head restraint rods are structural members and therefore the notches are adequately spaced to prevent weakening of the head restraint rods. The height adjustment mechanism20permits more adjustment positions since the notches are not provided on the head restraint rods22,24.

The components of the head restraint height adjustment mechanism20may be formed from suitable materials, such as structural plastics or metals. Thus, the complexity of the locking of the head restraint16relative to the seat back14is removed from the rods22,24and concealed within the head rest16. Additionally, a secured locking arrangement is provided by engagement of multiple projections52and recesses54of the locking shaft32with multiple projections56and recesses58of the bore34of the upper transverse bar26. Thus, the locking arrangement is more secure and stable than a prior art single detent within a recess; and a reduction in buzz, squeak and rattle is provided by the enhanced locking arrangement.

Referring now toFIG. 7, the height adjustment mechanism20is illustrated concealed within a cavity59of a shell60that is depicted in phantom. The shell60is mounted to the lower transverse bar28and conceals the upper transverse bar26and locking device30in multiple height adjustment positions of the height adjustment mechanism20. The foam padding of the head restraint16may be formed directly upon the shell60and subsequently a cover may be provided over the foam and shell60to provide a completed head restraint16. In at least one embodiment, the shaft32is journalled directly within the shell60for providing bearing support to the distal end of the shaft32when fully extended through the upper transverse26.