Patent ID: 8434818

Claim:
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seatback frame comprising: a pair of side frame members disposed in an upright orientation and spaced horizontally relative to one another, an upper cross member extending horizontally between the pair of side frame members, and a lower cross member extending horizontally between the pair of side frame members with at least one cam surface formed therein; an active head restraint system operatively supported by the seatback, the active head restraint system comprising: an upper armature moveably mounted to the seatback frame and disposed proximate the upper cross member of the seatback frame, the upper armature comprising: a cross bar disposed horizontally, and multiple posts spaced on the cross bar and extending upright therefrom, a head restraint mounted to an upper end of each post of the upper armature to be disposed proximate to a head and neck area of an occupant, such that movement of the cross bar consequently moves the posts and the head restraint from an upright position toward the head and neck area of the occupant at an operative position, and a lower armature disposed below and operatively attached to the upper armature, the lower armature being operable to move rearward, and to act upon the upper armature to transfer forces to the upper armature in response to a predetermined force from the occupant on the lower armature, to move the head restraint toward the head and the neck of the occupant, the lower armature comprising: an impact body oriented generally upright, the impact body including a lower end disposed proximate to a pelvic area of the occupant, the impact body being moveable in relation to the seatback frame such that force from the occupant generated during a rear end collision is transferred from the impact body to the lower armature as the impact body is moved rearward, a transverse bar cooperating with the at least one cam surface of the lower cross member of the frame, and at least one transfer member operatively connected to the transverse bar and the upper armature, to move and act upon the upper armature and to slide the transverse bar along the cam surface in response to a predetermined force applied to the impact body to move the head restraint toward the occupant; and a biasing member operatively mounted to the active head restraint system and the seatback frame to bias the upper armature toward the upright position in absence of the predetermined force.