Abstract:
A head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat includes a post having first and second end portions, a support member fixedly attached to the second end portion of the post, and a head rest assembly. The support member includes a locking feature. The head rest assembly includes a housing supported by the support member, a locking member, and an actuator configured to move the locking member from a locked position with the locking feature to an unlocked position from the locking feature to permit the headrest assembly to move relative to the post and support member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2008 039 398.3, filed Aug. 22, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vehicle seats may include adjustable head restraints. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,434 to Ishida et al. discloses an adjustable head rest device for a vehicle seat. The device includes a head rest body for supporting the head of an occupant of the seat. The device further includes an adjusting member for adjusting the position of the head rest body with respect to the seat continuously within a defined range of movement. 
         [0003]    As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,455 to Metz et al. discloses a locking device and a headrest. The locking device includes spring elements which can be engaged in at least one locking position. The locking device can be displaced in relation to at least two retaining bars that have a number of recesses. The spring elements co-operate with the recesses in such a way that engagement of the spring elements in their locking position locks the locking device in relation to the retaining bars. The spring elements are configured in such as way that the retaining bars are locked by the mechanical fixing of the spring elements in their central zone or by exertion of a force on the spring elements in their central zone. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat includes a post having first and second end portions. The first end portion is capable of being attached to the seat. The system also includes a support member fixedly attached to the second end portion of the post, and a head rest assembly. The support member includes a locking feature. The head rest assembly includes a housing supported by the support member, a locking member and an actuator configured to move the locking member from a locked position with the locking feature to an unlocked position from the locking feature to permit the headrest assembly to move relative to the post and support member. 
         [0005]    An automotive vehicle seat includes a seat back and a post having first and second end portions. The first end portion is fixedly attached to the seat back. The seat also includes a structural member fixedly attached to the second end portion of the post, and a head rest assembly. The head rest assembly includes a housing supported by the structural member, and an engagement member. The structural member includes a portion configured to receive the engagement member and has an engagement feature disposed therein. The head rest assembly also includes an actuator configured to move the engagement member from an engaged position with the engagement feature to a disengaged position from the engagement feature to permit the housing, engagement member and actuator to move relative to the post and structural member. 
         [0006]    A head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat includes a guide member having first and second end portions. The first end portion is capable of being fixedly attached to the seat. The system also includes a support member fixedly attached to the second end portion of the guide member, a retention member carried by the support member, and a head rest assembly. The head rest assembly includes a notched shaft configured to be retained by the retention member, and an actuator configured to rotate the notched shaft relative to the retention member to permit the headrest assembly to move relative to the post and support member. 
         [0007]    While example embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed to limit the invention. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of an automotive vehicle seat including an adjustable head restraint according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the adjustable head restraint of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an assembly view of the adjustable head restraint of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a portion of the adjustable head restraint of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a portion of the head restraint of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is another bottom view of the portion of the head restraint of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an automotive vehicle seat  10  includes a head rest  12  and a seat back  14 . The head rest  12  is coupled to the seat back  14  via a post  16 . The post  16  may be attached with the seat back  14  in any suitable fashion. For example, the post  16  may be fastened or otherwise fixedly attached to a frame (not shown) of the seat back  14 . The post  16  may also be movably attached with the frame. Other arrangements are also possible. As discussed in more detail below, the head rest  12  is movable relative to post  16  and thus the seat back  14 . 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the head rest  12  may include a tray  18 , button actuator  20 , sleeve  22  and collar  24 . The head rest  12  may also include a column member  26 , coil spring  28  and housing  30 . The tray  18  may include a post receiving portion  32 , female locator  33 , coil spring locator  34 , actuator guide  35 , column locator  36  and retention features  37 . The sleeve  22  may include a male protrusion  38  and the post receiving portion  32  may include a female receiving portion  40 . The collar  24  may include male locators  41  (on the top and bottom, as illustrated, of the collar  24 ). With reference to the above and below described elements, however, other and/or different components may also be used. 
         [0016]    The sleeve  22  may be disposed within the post receiving portion  32  and located relative to the post receiving portion  32  via the male protrusion  38  and female receiving portion  40 . The sleeve  22  may be configured to and/or comprise a material, e.g., plastic, that facilitates the movement of the head rest  12  relative to the post  16 . 
         [0017]    The column member  26  may include a recessed portion  42 , column locator receiving portion (not shown), e.g., an aperture, adjacent the recessed portion  42 , a plurality of notches  44  disposed axially along the column member  26 , raised portion  46  also disposed axially along the column member  26  and top portion  47 . The button actuator  20  may include a button  48 , end portion  50  and coil spring locator  52 . 
         [0018]    The column member  26  may be located relative to (and be carried by) the tray  18  via the column locator  36  and column locator receiving portion (not shown). In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the column member  26  is positioned generally parallel to and spaced away from the post  16 . In other embodiments, however, the column member  26  may have any suitable orientation and/or position relative to the post  16 . Additionally, the column member  26  may take any desired shape and/or form. 
         [0019]    The button actuator  20  may also be carried by the tray  18  and arranged such that the end portion  50  of the button actuator  20  is operatively engaged with the recessed portion  42  of the column member  26 . The coil spring  28  may further be located between the coil spring locators  34 ,  52  of the tray  18  and actuator button  20  respectively. As discussed below, the button  48  may be pushed by an occupant of the vehicle seat  10  to rotate the column member  26  about the column locator  36 . The actuator guide  35  may guide the actuator button  20  as it travels relative to the tray  18 . 
         [0020]    A structural member  54  includes a post receiving portion  56 , clip slots  58 , column member receiving portion  60  and spring slot  62 . The structural member  54  may fit over an end of (and be fixed to) the post  16  via clips  64 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , retainer clips  64  are inserted into the clip slots  58  and clip receivers  66  of the post  16 . The retainer clips  64  anchor the structural member  54  to the post  16 . The structural member  54 , however, may be attached to the post  16  in any suitable fashion. For example, the structural member  54  may be bolted to the post  16 . 
         [0021]    The top portion  47  of the column member  26  may be inserted into the column member receiving portion  60 . A spring clip  68  may be inserted into the spring slot  62 . As discussed below, the spring clip  68  may engage the notches  44  of the column member  26  to hold the head rest  12  in place relative to the post  16  and structural member  54 . The spring clip  68  may also be disengaged from the notches  44  to allow the head rest  12  to move relative to the post  16  and structural member  54 . In other embodiments, however, any suitable locking and/or retention arrangement may be used. As an example, the column member  26  may include a plurality of protrusions disposed axially along the column member  26 . These protrusions may be received by a suitable aperture disposed within the column member receiving portion  60 . As another example, the column member receiving portion  60  may include a spring loaded button that may engage a suitable aperture in the column member  26 . A lever coupled with the housing  30  may be operatively arranged to retract the spring loaded button such that it disengages the column member  26 , thus allowing it to move. 
         [0022]    The housing  30  includes a female locator  70  and retention receiving features  72 . The collar  24  may be located relative to the tray  18  and housing  30  via the male locators  41  and the female locators  33 ,  70 . The collar  24  positions the button  48  relative to the housing  30 . The housing  30  may be placed over the above mentioned components and secured to the tray  18  via the retention features  37  and the retention receiving features  72 . The structural member  54  thus provides support for the housing  30 . 
         [0023]    Of course,  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate but one embodiment. Other configurations are also possible. As an example, the arrangement illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  may be inverted such that the structural member  54  may be fastened to the post  16  below the tray  18  and the push button  48  may be located near the top of the housing  30 . As another example, more than one post  16 , e.g., two spaced apart posts, may be used. Two column members  26  (one for each post) and associated components may also be used. 
         [0024]    Similarly, the components described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  may also take various forms and certain of them may be omitted. As an example, an actuator, e.g., a lever, may be operatively associated with the column member receiving portion  60 . Pressing the actuator may disengage a lock from a sliding member connecting the tray  18  and the structural member  54 , such as the column member  26 . As yet another example, the column member  26  may be spring loaded via an internal coil spring. As the column member  26  rotates, the internal coil spring may store energy that will later assist in returning it to its initial position. The structural member  54  may include a protrusion that engages the column member  26  in such configurations. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the spring clip  68  may be U-shaped and span the thickness of the column member  26 . The spring clip  68  may include a rear arm  74  and a front arm  76 . As illustrated, the rear arm  74  is disposed behind the column member  26  and the front arm  76  is disposed in front of the column member  26  and engaged with one of the recesses  44  of the column member  26 . As mentioned above, the button  48  may be pressed to rotate the column member  26  about the column locator  36  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As the column member  26  rotates, the raised portion  46  of the column member  26  makes contact with the front arm  76  of the spring clip  68  and lifts the front arm  76  out of the recess  44 . Once disengaged from the front arm  76 , the column member  26  (and thus the head rest  12 ) may move relative to the post  16  and structural member  54 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the button actuator  20 , as illustrated, is in the un-pressed position. The coil spring  28  is extended and the front arm  76  of the spring clip  68  is engaged with a notch (not shown) of the column member  26 . As mentioned above, the spring clip  68  is U-shaped when the button actuator  20  is un-pressed. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the button actuator  20 , as illustrated, is in the pressed position. The coil spring  28  is compressed and thus exerts a force generally opposite the pressing direction. The column member  26  has rotated clockwise permitting the raised portion  46  of the column member  26  to raise the front arm  76  of the spring clip  68  thus disengaging the spring clip  68  from the notch (not shown). In this position, the height of the head rest  12  may be adjusted relative to the seat back  14  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    In the absence of a force pressing the button  48 , the coil spring  28  will drive the button actuator  20  back to the un-pressed position illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As the button actuator  20  returns to the un-pressed position, the spring clip  68 , which was deformed by the rotation of the column member  26 , will exert a force on the raised portion  46  of the column member  26  prompting the column member  26  to rotate counter-clockwise until the spring clip  68  returns to its un-deformed position and reengages one of the notches  44  of the column member  26  thus securing the head rest  12  relative to the post  16  and structural member  54  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0029]    While example embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed to limit the invention. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.