Abstract:
An adjustable headrest for use with furniture and vehicle seats that includes novel slide mechanisms for permitting easy vertical and horizontal adjustments of the headrest relative to the seat. The headrest also includes wing-like side support members that are pivotally connected to horizontally adjustable slide mechanisms by constant torque hinges. Additionally, the headrest includes a mechanism for permitting pivotal movement of the entire headrest relative to the seat connector which connects the headrest to the seat.

Description:
[0001]     This is a Continuation-In-Part application of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/856,232 filed May 27, 2004 which is a Continuation-In-Part application of application Ser. No. 10/744,808, filed Dec. 22, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,705, which is a Continuation-In-Part application of application Ser. No. 10/172,477, filed Jun. 14, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,517, which is a Continuation-In-Part application of application Ser. No. 09/886,924, filed Jun. 20, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,846, which is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 09/665,992, filed Sep. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,716. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to headrests for seats. More particularly, the invention concerns a fully adjustable headrest for use in connection with furniture and with passenger vehicles such as aircraft, trains and busses.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Various types of headrests for use in passenger vehicles have been suggested in the past. As the general rule, these headrests are designed primarily to satisfy safety aspects rather than to provide a comfortable seating posture. Typically, the prior art vehicle headrests comprise only a vertically adjustable head support member designed to provide protection against injury in the event of an accident. However, some vehicle headrests have also been provided with lateral headrest elements. Exemplary of such a headrest is that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,091 issued to Rech, et al.  
         [0006]     In addition to passenger vehicle headrests, a number of headrests have been designed for use in emergency vehicles. These types of headrests are of a more complicated design and some include greater adjustability features. Exemplary of these types of headrests are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,462 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,749 both issued to Pond, et al.  
         [0007]     Even more complex headrests have been designed for use in military aircraft and, more particularly, in military aircraft for use in conjunction with ejection seats. Typical of this class of headrest design are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,243 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,961 both issued to Herndon. Another such headrest design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,662 issued to McDonald, et al.  
         [0008]     In addition to the development of headrests for use in military aircraft, significant advances have been made in recent years in the design of headrests for use in commercial aircraft. Many of these headrests are designed for personal comfort and include pivotally movable back and lateral supports. In these latter types of headrests, the head support members are typically slidably mounted on spaced-apart rods that extend upwardly from the back of the seat and rely on friction to maintain the headrest in an elevated position.  
         [0009]     As will become clear from the discussion that follows, the headrests of the present invention represents a substantial improvement over the prior art headrests provide significantly greater adjustability and, therefore, greater support and comfort to the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable headrest that provides both support and comfort to the user and can be used in connection with furniture including household and office furniture and also in connection with various types of passenger vehicles.  
         [0011]     Another object of the invention is to provide a headrest of the aforementioned character that includes slide means for permitting easy height adjustment of the headrest.  
         [0012]     Another object of the invention is to provide easily adjustable, wing-like, side support members that are pivotally connected to a horizontally adjustable member by means of constant torque hinges.  
         [0013]     Another object of the invention is to provide a headrest of the aforementioned character that includes means for permitting pivotal movement of the entire headrest relative to the seat connector.  
         [0014]     Another object of the invention is to provide a headrest as described in the preceding paragraph that is also slideably adjustable relative to the seat connector.  
         [0015]     Another object of the invention is to provide a headrest construction of the class described that is of a simple construction and one that can be inexpensively produced and easily installed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one form of the headrest assembly of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the headrest assembly shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  illustrating the pivotal movement of the headrest relative to the mounting component.  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a front view similar to  FIG. 8 , further illustrating the pivotal movement of the headrest relative to the mounting component.  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view, partly broken away to show internal construction, of yet another form of the seat headrest of the present invention that is especially adapted for use in connection with automobiles and like vehicles.  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is a greatly enlarged view taken along lines  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 13  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 15  is a fragmentary front view, partly broken away to show internal construction of the seat connector portion of the seat headrest of this latest form of the invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 16  is a greatly enlarged view, partly broken away to shown internal construction, of the area designated by the numeral  16  in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 17  is a front view of yet another form of the headrest assembly of the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 18  is a view taken along lines  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 19  is a view taken along lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 20  is a rear view of the headrest assembly shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 21  is a view taken along lines  21 - 21  of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 22  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  22 - 22  of  FIG. 21 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 23  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  23 - 23  of  FIG. 21 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 24  is a generally perspective, exploded view of the connector member, the first roller assembly and the elongated guide assembly of this latest form of the invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  25 - 25  of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  26 - 26  of  FIG. 25 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  27 - 27  of  FIG. 25 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 28  is a fragmentary, generally perspective view of the second resistance imparting means of the invention for imparting resistance to the movement of the first and second head support panel assemblies of the apparatus.  
         [0044]      FIG. 29  is a fragmentary, generally perspective view of the second roller module of the apparatus that permits smooth horizontal sliding of the head support panel assemblies illustrating the manner of interconnection of the connector link with the first and second head support panel assemblies. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 9 , one form of seat headrest of the invention is there illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  284 . The seat headrest here comprises a generally planar first connector member  288  that is connected to the seat of the vehicle by any suitable means. A head support, or headrest assembly  290  is slidably connected to first connector member  288  for movement between a first lowered position shown in  FIG. 1  and an upraised position shown in  FIG. 9 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , connector member  288  is disposed within a first plane generally parallel with the front surface of seat “S”. As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , headrest assembly  290  includes a generally planar central support member or panel  292  to which an elongated guide member  294  is connected by means of connectors  295   a ,  295   b  and  295   c  ( FIG. 1 ). As also illustrated in  FIG. 2  support member  292  is disposed in a second plane generally parallel to the first plane of connector member  288 . A first lateral or side panel  296  is pivotally connected to the central support member by means of a constant torque hinge  225 . Also connected to central support panel  292  by a constant torque hinge  230  is a second lateral or side panel  298 . As indicated by the phantom lines in  FIG. 2 , side panels  296  and  298  are pivotally movable, a first position shown by solid lines in  FIG. 2  wherein they are substantially co-planar with central support panel  292  to a second angularly extending forward position shown by phantom lines in  FIG. 2 . When side panels  296  and  298  are pivoted into the angularly outwardly extending position, they provide a comfortable lateral support to the passenger&#39;s head in the manner previously described and as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0046]     The earlier identified elongated guide member  294  includes oppositely disposed guide rails  294   a  ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ) that are adapted to be rollably engaged by two pairs of spaced-apart roller assemblies  300  that are mounted on connector member  288 . The roller assemblies  300 , each of which are of identical construction, include a connecting shaft  302  that is connected to connector member  288  and a grooved roller  304  that is rotatably mounted on shaft  302  ( FIG. 2 ). With this construction, as depicted in  FIG. 9 , the headrest assembly  290  can be adjustably moved upwardly and downwardly relative to seat connector member  288  so as to enable the desired adjustment in the height of the headrest assembly relative to the seat connector member. As the headrest assembly is moved upwardly and downwardly, guide means, shown here as a pair of internal ears  275  formed on support member  288  ( FIG. 2 ), slidably engage guide member  294  to guide the travel of the headrest assembly. With the construction shown in the drawings, as the headrest pivots and moves upwardly and downwardly, connector member  288  travels within the second plane (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ).  
         [0047]     The present form of the invention also includes resistance imparting means for imparting resistance to the movement of head rest assembly  290  upwardly and downwardly relative to connector member  288 . This resistance imparting means comprises a uniquely configured leaf spring designated in the drawings by the numeral  277 . When the headrest assembly of the invention is fully assembled, central portion  277   c  of the spring is in pressural engagement with the front surface, or face,  294   a  of guide  294  ( FIG. 3 ). With this construction, as the headrest assembly is moved upwardly and downwardly spring  277  will yieldably resist sliding movement of headrest assembly  290  relative to elongated guide  294  and seat connector member  288 .  
         [0048]     An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the entire headrest assembly  290  is pivotally movable relative to guide  294  and relative to seat connector  288  from the first position shown in  FIG. 6  to the second position shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 8  and to the third position shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 8 . More particularly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the entire headrest assembly  290  can be pivoted about connector member  295   b  through an angle of approximately 20 degrees. As the headrest assembly is so pivoted, connector members  295   a  and  295   c  travel within generally arcuate-shaped slots  307  formed in plate  292 . With this unique construction, the headrest assembly can be selectively positioned so that the passenger can comfortably rest his or her head on a selected one of the angularly inclined side wings  296  and  298 .  
         [0049]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , a second resistance imparting means is provided to frictionally resist arcuate movement of the headrest assembly. This second resistance imparting means here comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, uniquely configured leaf springs designated in the drawings by the numeral  309 . When the headrest assembly of the invention is fully assembled, the central portions of these springs are in pressural engagement with the rear surface  292   a  of central panel  292  in the manner best seen in  FIG. 3 . With this construction, as the headrest assembly is pivoted about connector  295   b , springs  309  will yieldably resist sliding movement of headrest panel  292  relative to elongated guide  294  and thereby ensure smooth arcuate travel of the headrest assembly.  
         [0050]     Headrest assembly  290  also uniquely incorporates massage systems generally designated in the drawings by the numeral  310 . These systems, which are commercially available from Inseat Solutions, LLC of Costa Mesa, Calif., include An Electronic Vibratory System  312  of the character manufactured and sold by Cascade Designs, LTD of Seattle, Wash. As indicated in the drawings, these novel massage systems are affixed to and encompass the central and side panels of the headrest assembly (see particularly  FIG. 7 ). When the massage systems are affixed to the headrest they can be operated by the passenger as desired to provide a stimulating and satisfying massage.  
         [0051]     Turning next to  FIGS. 10 through 16 , still another form of seat headrest of the invention is there illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  384 . This latest embodiment of the invention is also similar in some respects to the earlier described embodiment of the invention and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 10 through 16  to identify like components. The primary difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and that earlier described resides in the fact that this latest seat headrest of the invention is specifically designed for use in connection with passenger vehicles such as automobiles and trucks.  
         [0052]     As shown in  FIG. 10  and  11 , the seat headrest of this latest embodiment of the invention comprises a seat connector assembly  386 , which is connected to the vehicle seat “VS” and a headrest connector assembly  388  which is vertically spaced from the seat connector assembly and is pivotally connected thereto by a connector plate  390   a  the upper end of which is connected to panel  390  by a connector bracket  390   b  ( FIG. 11 ). The headrest assembly  388  here comprises a central support panel  390  and a pair of generally planar side panels  392  which are connected to the central panel by hinge means, or constant torque hinges  393 . With the construction shown in the drawings, the side panels  392  are pivotally movable from a substantially co-planar position with central support panel  362  to an angularly outwardly extending position. When the side panels are pivoted into the angularly outwardly extending position, they provide a comfortable lateral support to the passenger&#39;s head.  
         [0053]     As previously mentioned, the headrest connector assembly  388  is pivotally connected to the seat connector assembly  386  by hinge means so that the headrest connector assembly can be readily adjusted forwardly and rearwardly in the manner shown in  FIG. 10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 16  this hinge means comprises a barrel portion  372  connected to one leaf  393  of the hinge assembly, a shaft  376  rotatably carried by the barrel portion  376  and a plurality of generally U-shaped, friction imparting clips  380  which circumscribe the barrel portion and are of the configuration shown in the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the ends of the shaft are received within first and second connector segments  395  and  397  which are connected to leaf  399  of the hinge assembly. Leaf  393  is affixed to an elongated guide  402 , which forms a part of seat connector assembly  386 , while leaf  399  is affixed to connector plate  390   a  of headrest connector assembly  388 .  
         [0054]     Elongated guide  402  includes oppositely disposed guide rails  402   a  ( FIG. 15 ) that are adapted to be rollably engaged by two pairs of spaced-apart roller assemblies  404  that are mounted on a carriage assembly  406 . The roller assemblies  404 , each of which are of identical construction, include a threaded connecting shaft  404   a  that is threadably connected to carriage assembly  406  and a grooved roller  404   b  that is rotatably mounted on shaft  404   a . With this construction, carriage assembly  406  along with headrest assembly  388  can be adjustably moved upwardly and downwardly so as to enable the desired adjustment in the height of the headrest assembly relative to the vehicle seat back.  
         [0055]     Also forming and important aspect of the headrest assembly of this latest form of the invention is resistance imparting means for imparting resistance to the movement of headrest assembly upwardly and downwardly relative to the vehicle seat back. As before, this novel resistance imparting means comprises a uniquely configured leaf spring designated in the drawings by the numeral  407 . As best seen in  FIG. 12 , spring  407  includes a central portion  407   a  that engages the back surface of guide  402  in the manner shown in the drawings. As the headrest assembly is moved upwardly and downwardly, spring  407  will yieldably resist sliding movement of carriage assembly relative to guide  402 .  
         [0056]     Referring to  FIGS. 17 through 29 , another form of seat headrest of the invention is there illustrated. This latest embodiment of the invention is similar in some respects to the previously illustrated embodiments of the invention and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 17 through 29  to identify like components. The primary difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and those previously described, resides in the fact that not only is the slightly differently configured headrest assembly vertically movable relative to the seat connector assembly, but the side panels of the headrest assembly are simultaneously movable transversely relative to the central head support panel of the assembly.  
         [0057]     Turning particularly to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the seat headrest of this latest form of the invention, which is generally designated by the numeral  420 , can be seen to comprise a generally planar seat connector member  422  that is connected to the vehicle seat “S” ( FIG. 18 ) by suitable connectors  424 . The differently configured headrest assembly  426  of this latest form of the invention is slidably connected to connector member  422  for movement between a lowered position and an upraised position. In this regard, a first roller module  428  is connected to connector member  422  in the manner best seen in  FIG. 19 . First roller module  428  here comprises a first base plate  430  to which two pairs of spaced-apart roller assemblies  432  are mounted. The roller assemblies  432 , which are of identical construction, include a connecting shaft  434  that extends through connector member  422  and is connected to a second base plate  436  disposed in engagement with the inner surface  422   a  of connector member  422  ( FIG. 19 ). Each of the roller assemblies  432  also includes a grooved roller  438  that is rotatably mounted on shaft  434  ( FIGS. 19 and 24 ).  
         [0058]     As best seen in  FIG. 19  and  20 , the two pair of spaced-apart roller assemblies  432  are adapted to rollably engage the oppositely disposed guide rails  440   a  of an elongated guide  440  that is connected to a novel second roller module  442  that forms a part of the differently configured headrest assembly  426  of this latest form of the invention. With the construction thus described, headrest assembly  426  can be adjustably moved upwardly and downwardly relative to seat connector member  422  so as to enable the desired adjustment in the height of the headrest assembly relative to the seat connector member. As the headrest assembly is moved upwardly and downwardly, guide means, shown here as two pair of ears  443   a  formed on a support member  443  ( FIG. 24 ), slidably engage guide member  440  to guide the travel of the headrest assembly.  
         [0059]     As in the earlier described embodiment of the invention, the present form of the invention also includes means for imparting resistance to the movement of head rest assembly  426  upwardly and downwardly relative to connector member  422 . This first resistance imparting means, which is substantially identical to that of the previously described embodiment, comprises a uniquely configured leaf spring designated in the drawings by the numeral  277 . When the headrest assembly of the invention is fully assembled, central portion  277   c  of the spring is in pressural engagement with the front surface, or face,  445   a  of a Plastic film, or the like, guide insert  445  ( FIG. 26 ). With this construction, as the headrest assembly is moved upwardly and downwardly spring  277  will yieldably resist vertical sliding movement of headrest assembly  426  relative to elongated guide  440  and seat connector member  422 .  
         [0060]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 27 , second roller module  444  can be seen to comprise a front plate, or head support panel  446  and a spaced-apart back plate  448  to which elongated guide  440  is connected by connectors  449 . Disposed between plates  446  and  448  are first, second and third vertically spaced-apart sets of rollers  450   a ,  450   b  and  450   c  respectively. Each set of rollers includes two horizontally spaced-apart roller assemblies  452 , which are of identical construction. Each spaced-apart roller assembly  452  includes a connecting shaft  454  that extends through plates  446  and  448  ( FIGS. 27 and 29 ). Each of the roller assemblies  452  also includes a grooved roller  458  that is rotatably mounted on shaft  454 .  
         [0061]     Connected to second roller module  444  for transverse movement relative thereto between a first position shown in  FIG. 17  and a second position shown in  FIG. 25  is a first head support panel assembly  460 . Also connected to second roller module  444  for transverse movement relative thereto between a first position shown in  FIG. 17  and a second position shown in  FIG. 25  is a second head support panel assembly  462 . As best seen in  FIG. 17  and  20 , first head support panel assembly  460  comprises a first slide rail  464  and a first side panel  466  pivotally connected to the first slide rail. Similarly, second head support panel assembly  462  comprises a second slide rail  468  and a second side panel  470  pivotally connected to the second slide rail. Interconnecting first and second head support panel assemblies  460  and  462  is a connector link  474 . As indicated in  FIG. 17 , connector link  474  has a central portion  474   a  that is pivotally connected to front plate, or head support panel  446  by a connector  475 , a first end portion  474   b  that is pivotally connected to first head support panel assembly  460  by a connector  477  and a second end portion  474   c  that is pivotally connected to second head support panel assembly  462  by a connector  479 . With the construction thus described, first head support panel assembly  460  can be controllably rolled along first and second vertically spaced-apart roller sets  450   a  and  450   b  between their first extended position ( FIG. 17 ) and their second retracted position ( FIG. 25 ). Similarly, second head support panel assembly  462  can be controllably rolled along second and third vertically spaced-apart roller sets  450   b  and  450   c  between their first extended position ( FIG. 17 ) and their second retracted position ( FIG. 25 ). Because the first and second head support panel assemblies are uniquely interconnected by connector link  474 , movement of one of the head support panel assemblies will cause the simultaneous movement of the second head support panel assembly.  
         [0062]     This latest form of the invention also includes second resistance imparting means for imparting resistance to the movement of the first and second head support panel assemblies from side to side relative to the second roller module  444 . This resistance imparting means here comprises a pair of uniquely configured leaf springs designated in  FIGS. 27 and 28  of the drawings by the numeral  478 . When the headrest assembly of the invention is fully assembled, the central portion of the springs are in pressural engagement with the faces,  479   a  of a Plastic film, or the like, inserts carried by the rear surfaces of the first and second slide rails  464  and  468  ( FIG. 19 ). With this construction, springs  478  will yieldably resist sliding movement of the first and second head support panel assemblies from side to side relative to the second roller module  444  in a manner to permit assemblies.  
         [0063]     As previously mentioned and smooth horizontal sliding of the head support panel as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , first and second side panels  466  and  470  are pivotally connected to the first and second slide rails for movement between a first position wherein they are substantially co-planar with central support panel  446  to a second angularly extending forward position shown by phantom lines in  FIG. 19 . Side panels  466  and  470  are preferably pivotally connected to the slide rails by means of a constant torque hinges, such as the previously described constant torque hinges  225 . When side panels are pivoted into the angularly outwardly extending position, they provide a comfortable lateral support to the passenger&#39;s head in the manner previously described. This novel feature of the apparatus of the invention permits the user to slide the first and second side panels horizontally from side to side, to pivot the first and second side panels forwardly and then, if desired, to move the entire headrest assembly from a first lowered position to a second elevated position. In this way the user can achieve an optimum level of comfort.  
         [0064]     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.