Abstract:
The invention is a head rest actuation system which is activated by forces acting upon a seat back or devices within a seat back. Forces acting upon a seat back or lumbar devices within a seat back are transmitted to a head rest and provide and actuating force therefor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This Application claims priority of provisional application No. 60/890,451 filed Feb. 16, 2007 and provisional application No. 60/805,016 filed Jun. 16, 2006. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable.  
       APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates to head rests and, more specifically, to actuating head rests.  
         [0006]     2. Related Art  
         [0007]     Currently, many head rests move up and down and rotate backwards and forwards for varied reasons including comfort, convenience and safety. In many instances a user must move the headrest to a desired position manually, by holding down a button, or by pressing a switch. In many instances it desirable to provide automatic actuation of a headrest to a desired position.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The invention provides for actuation of a headrest to a desired position. The disclosed system provides for transmission of forces acting upon the body of a seat to a headrest. The transmitted force is utilized to actuate the headrest into a desired position.  
         [0009]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a back perspective view showing the cable terminal of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a back perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a back perspective view showing the stationary point of a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front perspective view of showing an alternate stationary point of a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a back perspective view showing the a close-up of the cable terminal of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  illustrates front perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  illustrates front perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  illustrates back perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in a headrest actuating position;  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  illustrates a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 16  illustrates a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention with the basket removed;  
         [0027]      FIG. 17  illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;  
         [0028]      FIG. 18  illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;  
         [0029]      FIG. 19  illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a headrest actuating position;  
         [0030]      FIG. 20  illustrates a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 21  illustrates a perspective view of a close up of the torsion spring in a fifth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 22  illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;  
         [0033]      FIG. 23  illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;  
         [0034]      FIG. 24  illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;  
         [0035]      FIG. 25  illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a headrest actuating position;  
         [0036]      FIG. 26  illustrates a front perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 27  illustrates a side perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 28  illustrates a side perspective view of the cam in a non-headrest actuating position in a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 29  illustrates a side perspective view of the cam in a headrest actuating position in a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 30  illustrates a front perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 31  illustrates a back perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the invention;  
         [0042]      FIG. 32  illustrates a back perspective view of the slider and housing of a seventh embodiment of the invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 33  illustrates a side perspective view of the hinge wire, kickstand wire and housing of a seventh embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;  
         [0044]      FIG. 34  illustrates a front perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 35  illustrates a back perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0046]      FIG. 36  illustrates a side perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest-actuating position;  
         [0047]      FIG. 37  illustrates a side perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the invention in a headrest-actuating position;  
         [0048]      FIG. 38  illustrates a front perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0049]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0050]     According to the various exemplary embodiments set forth below, a force is applied either to a main seat body  24  or at a location within the main seat body  24  and is transmitted to a head rest  20 . The transmitted force preferably actuates the head rest  20  causing it to move to a position that is beneficial to a user or occupant of the seat.  
         [0051]     According to a first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the head rest  20  is connected to a housing  22 . The housing may be directly or indirectly connected to the main seat body  24 . A head rest Bowden cable  50  is connected to one side of a cable terminal  26  together with a first bolster Bowden cable  28  and a second bolster Bowden cable  30 . A folding seat Bowden cable  32  is connected to the cable terminal  26  on the other side.  
         [0052]     A termination block (not shown) is preferably situated within the cable terminal  26 . Each of the four Bowden cables  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  50  connected to the cable terminal  26  comprise a termination bullet (not shown) that is disposed in a hole in the termination block. The termination block may be provided with a track that compliments a track within cable terminal for traveling longitudinally within cable terminal  26 . The termination block is preferably provided with thirty-five (35) millimeters of longitudinal travel within cable terminal.  
         [0053]     The folding seat Bowden cable  32  is terminated at another end at a stationary point  34 . It will be appreciated that the stationary point  34  may be located at numerous points outside of a back portion of the main seat body  24 . The stationary point  34  is selected such that when, the back portion of the main seat body  24  is pivoted from a vertical position to a folded, horizontal position, distance between the stationary point  34  and the folding seat Bowden cable conduit  36  is increased. In this manner tension is applied to the folding seat Bowden cable wire  38  when the seat is folded down.  
         [0054]     As a result, the termination block within cable terminal  26  is pulled towards the folding seat Bowden cable  32 , and is pulled away from head rest Bowden cable  50 , first bolster Bowden cable  28 , and second bolster Bowden cable  30 . As the cable terminal  26  end of the head rest Bowden cable  50  is pulled, the other end of the head rest release Bowden cable  50  actuates the head rest  20 . Similarly the first and second bolster Bowden cables  28 ,  30  provide an actuating force to first and second lateral bolsters  40 ,  42 . It is within the scope of the invention that multiple other Bowden cables could be attached to the cable terminal  26  and used to actuate other devices, such as a lumbar support in a similar manner.  
         [0055]     Preferably the head rest  20  end of the head rest Bowden cable  50  is attached to a latch mechanism in head rest (not shown). The latch mechanism may release the head rest  20  to assume a folding forwards position or a folding backwards position. There may also be combined a telescoping release function wherein the head rest is released from its extended telescoped position in conjunction with either folding forwards or folding backwards.  
         [0056]     The head rest latch mechanism may operate in numerous ways. In one embodiment, the latch mechanism may release a wound coil spring. Releasing the wound coil spring will allow the spring to unwind and to torque the head rest into either a folding forwards position or a folding backwards position. The spring may be re-wound by the raising of the seat back frame to the upright position.  
         [0057]     Alternatively, when the head rest Bowden cable  50  is pulled, the head rest end of the head rest Bowden cable  50  may pull the head rest  20  towards a folding forwards position or a folding backwards position. Preferably, a spring opposes the folding motion of the headrest such that when the back portion of the main seat body is returned from a folded, horizontal position to a vertical position and the tension on the head rest Bowden cable  50  is reduced, the spring returns the head rest  20  to an unfolded, upright position.  
         [0058]     According to a second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , an adjustable lumbar support is provided comprising a basket  220  supported by two mounting brackets  222 . According to this embodiment, an actuator  224  having a motor  226  and gear set  228  is preferably attached to the basket  220 . The actuator  224  drives a Bowden cable  230 . The Bowden cable  230  has a wire  232  that preferably passes through a channel in the basket  220  and terminates at an actuating mechanism in the head rest  20 . The Bowden cable also preferably has a first conduit portion  234  between the actuator  224  and a first side of the basket  220 , and a second conduit portion  236  between a second side of the basket  220  and the head rest  20 . The ends of the first and second conduit portions  234 ,  236  connected at their respective sides of the basket  220  are preferably connected directly to the respective guide wires  222  or in such a manner that force applied to the ends of the conduits  234 ,  236  is transmitted to the respective guide wires  222  with little or no transmission of force through the basket  220 .  
         [0059]     Preferably the Bowden cable  230  is arranged as shown in  FIG. 9 , such that when the actuator  224  pulls the Bowden cable wire  232 , the basket  220  is pulled towards the lumbar region of an occupant of the seat. However, pressure applied to the basket  220  results in increased tension in the Bowden cable wire  232 . As tension in the Bowden cable wire  232  increases, a greater force is applied to the actuating mechanism in the head rest  20 . The actuating mechanism in the head rest preferably causes the head rest  20  to move towards the head of an occupant of the seat as tension in the Bowden cable wire  232  increased due to and increasing load applied to the basket  220 .  
         [0060]     Third through sixth embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10-29 , provide a lumbar support device comprising a basket  330  slidably connected to a guide wire  332 . In operation, a first and second actuator  334 ,  336  preferably control the curvature and vertical position of the basket  330 , respectively. The first actuator  334  preferably operates a curvature Bowden cable  338  that varies the distance between the upper and lower portions of the basket  330 , thereby varying the curvature of the basket  330 . The second actuator  336  preferably operates one or two vertical Bowden cables that vary the vertical position of the upper and lower portions of the basket without substantially varying the curvature of the basket.  
         [0061]     Although the third through sixth embodiments are illustrated in conjunction with the described lumbar support device, the disclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest  20  could be used in conjunction with numerous devices located within the back of a seat. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the use of the disclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest in conjunction with the lumbar support device described above.  
         [0062]     According to the third embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 10-14 , an upper portion of the basket  330  is preferably slidably connected to the guide wire  332  and a lower portion of the basket  330  is preferably slidably connected to a hinge wire  360 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the hinge wire  360  is hingedly connected to a hinge plate  362 , which is slidably connected to the guide wire  332 . A kickstand wire  370  is hingedly attached to the hinge wire  360  on one end and hingedly connected to a kickstand plate  372 , which is fixed to the guide wire  332 . A kickstand spring  374  is attached between the hinge plate  362  and the kickstand plate  372 . A head rest Bowden cable  50  is preferably provided with the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52  attached to the hinge plate  362  and the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  attached to the kickstand plate  372 .  
         [0063]     When a severe load is applied to the basket  330 , such as in the case of a collision from behind, the basket  330  will flatten and the hinge wire  360  may be drawn towards the guide wire  330 . As the hinge wire  360  draws closer to the guide wire  330 , the hinge plate  362  will slide away from the kickstand plate  372 . As the distance between the two plates increases, the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  will be pulled away from the terminal of the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52  and the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  will increase. The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  preferably actuates the head rest  20 , drawing it closer to the head of an occupant of the seat.  
         [0064]     According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 15-19 , an upper portion of the basket  330  is preferably slidably connected to the guide wire  332  and a lower portion of the basket  330  is preferably slidably connected to a hinge wire  460 . According to this embodiment, an upper portion of the hinge wire  460  is preferably hingedly connected to the guide wire  332  by way of a bracket  440 . A middle portion of the hinge wire is preferably slidably connected to a pair of arcuate springs  450 . The upper and lower ends of the arcuate springs  450  are attached to upper and lower sliders  452 ,  454 , respectively, which are slidably connected to the guide wire  332 . According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52  is preferably connected to the upper slider  452 , and the head rest Bowden Cable wire  54  is preferably connected to the lower slider  454 .  
         [0065]     When a severe load is applied to the basket  330 , such as in the case of a collision from behind, the basket  330  will flatten and the hinge wire  460  may be drawn towards the guide wire  332 . As the hinge wire  460  draws closer to the guide wire, the arcuate springs  450  flatten, causing the upper and lower sliders  452 ,  454  to separate from one another, thereby increasing the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire  54 . The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  preferably actuates the head rest  20 , drawing it closer to the head of an occupant of the seat.  
         [0066]     According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 20-25 , upper and lower portions of the basket  330  are slidably connected to the guide wire  332 . A bottom portion of the guide wire  332  is attached to a bar  520  that slides in an arcuate channel  522  within a housing  524 . Each side of the bar  520  is connected to an outer portion of a torsion spring  526  which biases the bar  520  in a position towards an occupant of the seat. The center of the torsion springs  526  are fixed to the housing  524 .  
         [0067]     According to this embodiment the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52  is attached to the lower portion of the guide wire  332  and the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  is attached to the housing  524 . When a severe load is applied to the basket  330 , the lower portion of the guide wire  332  and the bar  520  are pushed in the direction of the applied force, along the arcuate channel  522  within the housing  524 . As this occurs, the distance between the point at which the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52  is attached to the lower portion of the guide wire  332  and the point at which the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  is attached to the housing  524  is increased. Accordingly, the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  is increased and is preferably used to actuate the head rest  20 . Preferably, the head rest  20  is drawn towards the head of an occupant of the seat.  
         [0068]     According to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 26-29 , upper and lower portions of the basket  330  are slidably connected to the guide wire  332 . A lower portion of the guide wire  332  is connected to one end of a cam  620 . The other end of the cam is connected to an outer portion of a torsion spring  624 . The center of the torsion spring  624  is fixed with respect to a seat frame, and preferably the cam  620  rotates about the center of the torsion spring  624 .  
         [0069]     According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit  54  is attached to a bracket  626  on the guide wire  332 . The bracket  626  is preferably placed to allow the full range of vertical movement of the basket  330 . The Bowden cable wire  54  is attached to the end of the cam  620  that is connected to the outer portion of the torsion spring  624 . When a severe load is applied to the basket  330 , the load is transmitted to the lower portion of the guide wire  332 , which is then displaced in the direction of the applied force, causing the cam  620  to rotate. As the cam  620  rotates, it pulls the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  away from the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52 , thereby increasing the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire  54 . The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  preferably actuates the head rest  20 , drawing it closer to the head of an occupant of the seat.  
         [0070]     Seventh and eighth embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 30-37 , provide a lumbar support device comprising a basket  730  with an upper portion slidably connected to a guide wire  732 . In operation, an actuator  734  preferably controls the curvature of the basket  730 . The actuator  734  preferably operates a curvature Bowden cable  736  that varies the distance between the upper and lower portions of the basket  730  thereby varying the curvature of the basket  730 .  
         [0071]     Although the seventh and eighth embodiments are illustrated in conjunction with the described lumbar support device, the disclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest  20  could be used in conjunction with numerous devices located within the back of a seat. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the use of the disclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest in conjunction with the lumbar support device described above.  
         [0072]     According to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 30-33 , a lower end of the guide wire  732  is hingedly attached to a hinge wire  760  and a kickstand wire  770 . The opposite end of the kickstand wire  770  is hingedly attached to a slider housing  780 . The hinge wire  760  is hingedly engaged with a slider  782  that is in sliding engagement with a channel  784  in the slider housing  780 . A spring  786  is preferably provided connecting the slider  782  and the end of the kickstand wire  770  engaged with the slider housing  780 .  
         [0073]     According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52  is preferably fixed with respect to the slider  782 , and the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  is preferably fixed with respect to the end of the kickstand wire  770  engaged with the slider housing  780 . When a severe load is applied to the basket  730 , such as in the case of a collision from behind, the basket  730  will flatten and the guide wire  732  will be pressed towards the slider housing  780 . Accordingly, the slider  782  will be pressed away from the kickstand wire  770 , thereby increasing the distance between the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  and the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52 , which increases tension in the Bowden cable wire  54 . The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  preferably actuates the head rest  20 , drawing it towards the head of an occupant of the seat.  
         [0074]     According to the eighth embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 34-37 , a lower portion of the guide wire  732  is preferably attached to a substantially arcuate spring  820 . The arcuate spring  820  is preferably constructed of spring steel. First and second ends of the arcuate spring  820  are preferably fixed to first and second sliding members  822 ,  824 . The first and second sliding members  822 ,  824  are slidingly engaged with a frame crossmember  826 , which is fixed to a frame.  
         [0075]     According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit  52  is attached to one of the sliding members  822 ,  824  and the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  is attached to the other sliding member  822 ,  824 . When a severe load is applied to the basket  730 , the basket  730  will flatten and the arcuate spring  820  may flatten. Accordingly the first and second sliding members  822 ,  824  will be pressed away from each other and tension on the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  will be increased. The increased tension on the head rest Bowden cable wire  54  preferably actuates the head rest  20  such that the head rest moves towards the head of an occupant of the seat.  
         [0076]     According to a ninth embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 38 , a bladder lumbar support  920  is provided. The bladder lumbar support  920  is filled with a fluid, which may be air, water or any other fluid. The pressure of the fluid within the bladder lumbar support  920  can be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the amount of lumbar support provided. Generally a pump  922  is used to control the pressure within the bladder  920 . Although not shown in the illustrations, the vertical position of the bladder lumbar support could also be controlled by a vertical actuator assembly.  
         [0077]     The bladder lumbar support  920  is preferably connected to a passageway  924  between the bladder lumbar support  920  and a head rest actuator mechanism. According to this embodiment, when a severe load is applied to the bladder lumbar support  920 , the pressure of the fluid inside the bladder lumbar support  920  and the passageway increases  924 . The increased pressure of the fluid drives the actuation mechanism and thereby preferably actuates the head rest  20  such that the head rest  20  moves towards the head of an occupant of the seat.  
         [0078]     As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.