Patent ID: 7677659

Claim:
A vehicle seat comprising: a seatback frame for supporting a back of an occupant, the seatback frame having a lower cross member extending transversely across the seatback, a pair of transversely spaced upright side members extending from the lower cross member, and an upper cross member extending transversely between the side members; a head restraint extending from the seatback frame upper cross member for supporting a head of the occupant; a linkage operably connected to the seatback frame lower cross member, the seatback frame side members, and the head restraint for actuating the head restraint to an actuated position; a torso support having a translatable connection with the seatback frame, and another translatable connection with the linkage for supporting a torso of the occupant, for receiving an input force from the occupant during an impact condition, and for distributing the input force to the linkage for actuating the linkage and consequently actuating the head restraint; a pair of transversely spaced ramps mounted to the lower cross member, each ramp having a slot inclined in a rearward direction relative to the seatback frame and an aperture spaced apart from the slot; and an axle extending laterally from the torso support into the pair of ramps slots so that the torso support translates rearward and upward relative to the seatback frame; wherein the linkage further comprises: a first link pivotally connected to the lower cross member, a second link pivotally connected to the first link, and a third link pivotally connected to the second link and one of the side members; wherein the translatable connection of the torso support with the linkage further comprises a fourth link pivotally connected to the torso support and pivotally connected to the second link; wherein the first link further comprises a transverse portion extending through the ramp apertures for pivoting relative to the ramp, and a pair of upright members extending from the transverse portion; wherein the second link further comprises a pair of second links each pivotally connected to a distal end of one of the first link upright members; wherein the third link further comprises a pair of third links each pivotally connected to one of the second links and one of the side members; and wherein the vehicle seat further comprises an armature pivotally connected to the pair of third links and connected to the upper cross member for pivotal and linear translation relative to the upper cross member so that the links drive the armature at the pivotal connection with the third link so that the head restraint pivots forward relative to the seatback frame and translates upward relative to the seatback frame in the actuated position.