Patent ID: 8231177

Claim:
A head restraint assembly comprising: a mounting subassembly comprising: a first support post; a second support post; a cross member having a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post the cross member forming a first pivot axis extending lengthwise laterally between the first and second support posts; and a latch rigidly attached to the cross member, and a locking plate having a planar face that is substantially parallel to the first axis, the locking plate positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch on the planar face of the locking plate and at a second plate position for releasing the latch, the locking plate being movable from the first plate position to the second plate position by pivoting about a pivot point on a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis intersecting the locking plate proximate to a corner of the locking plate wherein the second pivot axis is centrally located in a lateral direction relative to the mounting subassembly, an actuation mechanism engages the locking plate on an actuation end of the locking plate distal from the second pivot axis, and a locking plate biasing member is attached to the locking plate at a location between the corner and the actuation end of the locking plate; and a structural shell supported by the mounting subassembly, the structural shell pivotable about the first pivot axis when the locking plate is in the second plate position.