Abstract:
A vehicle headrest, including a center portion, two side members that attach to opposite ends of the center portion and that extend forward and retract backward and a locking mechanism in each side member that locks each side member independent of the other side member in multiple positions relative to the center portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure relate to a headrest of a vehicle to increase the comfort of a user during prolonged use. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Seats of a vehicle such as an automobile are provided with a headrest for the safety and comfort of an occupant (user). The headrest provides protection to the occupant in the event of a crash by helping to prevent head, neck, or spinal injuries by limiting the rearward movement of the occupant&#39;s head. A headrest also provides comfort to a user by providing a place to rest one&#39;s head especially for a long drive. 
         [0005]    Headrests may be provided in special arrangements to enhance the comfort of the user. For example, certain materials such as foam may be used to provide a soft cushion. Also, the shape of the headrest may be designed to enhance comfort. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,517 B2. However, U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,517 B2 has a drawback in that the side wings do not go all the way back, which does not give the appearance of a normal headrest when the side wings are not in use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present disclosure is designed to address issues in the related art. In particular, a headrest according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides passengers with the convenience of a pillow like cushion that can be adjusted to provide support for the back and the side of the head of the passenger. This additional support provides extra comfort to passengers during long drives. 
         [0007]    The vehicle headrest includes a center portion, two side members that attach to opposite ends of the center portion and extends forward and retracts backward and a locking mechanism in each side member locks each side member independent of the other side member in multiple positions relative to the center portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an extendable comfort headrest assembly in accordance with one example; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of an extendable comfort headrest assembly in accordance with one example; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a back view of an extendable comfort headrest assembly in accordance with one example; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of an extendable comfort headrest assembly in accordance with one example; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top section view of an extendable comfort headrest assembly in accordance with one example; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of an extendable comfort headrest assembly with side member extended in accordance with one example; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of an extendable comfort headrest assembly with side member extended in accordance with one example; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of the center portion of the extendable comfort headrest assembly with the side member removed in accordance with one example; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of a side member of the extendable comfort headrest assembly in accordance with one example. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Further, as used herein, the words “a,” “an” and the like generally carry a meaning of “one or more,” unless stated otherwise. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1-9  depict various aspects of an extendable comfort headrest for a vehicle seat. Here a vehicle refers to a land vehicle exemplified by an automobile. However, the present disclosure is also applicable to any similar type vehicle, such as but not limited to, a sport utility vehicle, a pickup truck, a commercial vehicle, airplane, train, or the like. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an extendable comfort headrest  100  according to one embodiment in its retracted position. The extendable comfort headrest  100  includes a center portion  102 , and two side members  104  and  106 . In the retracted position, the two side members,  104  and  106 , are flush with the center portion  102 . The side members can be manipulated by a user to extend the side members  104  and  106  out past the front surface of the center portion  102 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the extendable comfort headrest  100  in the retracted position according to one embodiment. The sides  202  and  204  of the center portion  102  are angled from the front  206  of the center portion  102  to the back  208  of the center portion. The corresponding interior sides  210  and  212  of the two side member  104  and  106  are angled at the same angle as the sides  202  and  204 . Therefore, the width W 1  of the front  206  of the center portion  102  is wider than the width W 2  of the back  208  of the center portion  102 . The angled sides  202  and  204  of the center portion  102  provide angled positions for the side members  104  and  106  when extended. The angle of the angled sides of the center portion  102  is fixed. The current angle shown in the figures merely demonstrates a possible embodiment and not meant to be exclusive. The angle of the angled sides of the center portion  102  could be any possible angle. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a back view of the extendable comfort headrest  100  in the retracted position according to one embodiment. The center portion  102  has a smaller width in the back  208  of the headrest than in the front  206  of the headrest. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a right side view of the extendable comfort headrest  100  in the retracted position according to one embodiment with side member  106  visible. In the center of the side member  106 , a button  402  is illustrated. The button  402  is surrounded by trim  404 . The trim  404  adds stability to the button  402 . A corresponding button and trim are found on side member  104  of the left side of the extendable comfort headrest  100 . The button  402 , as discussed below, activates the locking mechanism, and allows the user to manipulate the position of the side member  106  by extending the side member  106  forward, or retracting the side member  106  backwards. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the interior structure of the extendable comfort headrest  100  according to one embodiment. The view is based on the cross-section line A in  FIG. 1 . The front  206  of the extendable comfort headrest  100  is at the bottom of the  FIG. 5 , and the back  208  is at the top of  FIG. 5 . A locking mechanism  502  is disposed within each side member  104  and  106 . The locking mechanism  502  includes a pin  504  that rotates about a pivot point  506 , an inner sliding wall  508 , a retracted locking position  510 , and an extended locking position  512 . The locking positions are slots in the inner sliding wall  508 . 
         [0025]    As the locking mechanisms  502  for each side member  104  and  106  are substantially the same, the locking mechanism  502  in side member  106  will be explained. A bias force acts on the pin  504  to force the pin  504  toward the inner sliding wall  508 . The bias force locks a first end  514  of the pin  504  locked in a slot, such as the retracted locking position  510  shown in  FIG. 5 . When the user pushes on the button  402 , the button  402  depresses and exacts a force on a second end  516  of the locking mechanism pin  504 , which causes the pin  504  to rotate about the pivot point  506  in a clockwise direction as shown in the figures, although the pin  504  does not need to rotate clockwise. The force exacted by the button  402  on the pin  504  counteracts the bias force. Correspondingly, the pin  518  in the side member  104  rotates counter-clockwise when the button  402  is depressed. 
         [0026]    As the pin  504  rotates, the first end  514  of the pin  504  is released from the retracted locking position  510 . Once the first end  514  of the pin  504  is released from the retracted locking position  510 , the user is able to slide the side member  106  forward. As soon as the first end  514  of the pin  504  engages with the inner sliding wall  508  outside the slot, the user no longer needs to press the button  402  and exact a force on the second end  516  of the pin  504 . Here, the bias force presses the first end  514  of the pin  504  against the inner sliding wall  508  and the first end  514  is configured to slide along the inner sliding wall  508 . The first end  514  of the pin  504  continues to slide along the inner sliding wall  508  until the first end  514  encounters a new locking position or slot, such as the extended locking position  512 . When the first end  514  encounters a new locking position or slot, the bias force pushes the first end  514  into the slot and locks the pin  504  into the new locking position. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  merely illustrates two locking positions, but the present disclosure is not so limited. The extended comfort headrest could have multiple locking positions to enable the user to adjust the length of the side members  104  and  106  according to the user&#39;s preferences or needs. The present disclosure is also not limited by the type of locking mechanism used as long as the locking mechanism  502  allows the user to lock the side members  104  and  106  in more than one location relative to the center portion  102 . 
         [0028]    The present disclosure allows for easy operation by the user because the user can simply push a button and extend the side member forward until it locks into position. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of the extended comfort headrest  100  with side member  104  and  106  in the extended position according to one embodiment. Side member  104  and  106  are extended out past the front surface of the center portion  102 . With the side member  104  and  106  fully extended, the width W 1  of the center portion  102  is sufficient to accommodate the 95 th  percentile male head size. However, the present disclosure is not so limited, and the width could be larger or smaller than W 1  to accommodate larger or smaller head sizes. 
         [0030]    The extension or retraction of one side member is not dependent on the other side member. The user can extend either one or both of the side members, depending on personal preference or need. The inner surface  602  of the side members  104  and  106  are only exposed when the side members are extended. The inner surface  602  contains padding to ensure the user will be comfortable. The padding could be foam or any other material known to one skilled in the art. Further, multiple layers of foam and padding could be used to ensure the comfort of the user. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of the extendable comfort headrest  100  with the side member  104  and  106  in the extended position according to one embodiment. The front  206  of the extendable comfort headrest  100  is at the bottom of the  FIG. 7 , and the back  208  is at the top of  FIG. 7 . The extended position length L is sufficient accommodate the 95 th  percentile male head size. However, the present disclosure is not so limited, and the length could be larger or smaller than L to accommodate larger or smaller head sizes. 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of the center portion  102  of the extendable comfort headrest  100  with the side member removed according to one embodiment. Slides  802  and  804  are attached to the side member  104 . The slides  802  and  804  control the linear movement of the side members  104  and  106  relative to the central portion  102  by moving through the channels  806  and  808 , respectively. When the user unlocks the pin  504 , the user is able to slide the side member  104  between the retracted locking position  510  and the extended locking position  512 . Although, there could be multiple locking positions or slots, not just two. The first end  514  of the pin  504  also slides along the inner sliding wall  508 , as the user slides the side member  104  with the help of the slides  802  and  804  in the slide channels  806  and  808 . 
         [0033]    As discussed earlier, when the extendable comfort headrest  100  is in the retracted position, the pin  504  is locked in the retracted locking position  510 . Further, when the extendable comfort headrest  100  is extended forward, the pin  504  is locked in the extended locking position  512 . 
         [0034]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  illustrates two slides and two sliding channels, but the present disclosure is not so limited. Additional channels and slides could be added to control the linear movement of the side members. The slide mechanism used could be any known slide mechanism to one skilled in the art. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the inner structure of the side member  104  of the extendable comfort headrest  100  according to one embodiment. Slides  802  and  804  can be seen through a cut away view. The slides  802  and  804  are attached to the side members  104 , and engage with the channels  806  and  808  of the center portion  106 . The area  902  houses the button  402 . 
         [0036]    Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.