Patent ID: 7195313

Claim:
A headrest for a vehicle seat, wherein the headrest is for operating during at least both a crash and period of normal use that does not include a crash, the headrest comprising: at least one four-bar linkage, wherein the four-bar linkage includes (a) a support, (b) upper and lower linkages that are each mounted for pivoting relative to the support, and (c) an impact element, wherein the upper and lower linkages are each mounted for pivoting relative to the impact element; an energy storage device for driving the four-bar linkage in response to the crash and thereby changing the four-bar linkage's configuration in a first predetermined manner, so that the impact element moves forwardly away from the support from an initial position to a crash position, wherein the upper and lower linkages pivot relative to both the support and the impact element while the impact element moves forwardly away from the support; a lock for restricting rearward movement of the impact element while the impact element is in the crash position; a drive operative for at least indirectly bringing the headrest from the initial position to at least one other comfort position during the period of normal use; a guide tappet, wherein (a) the bringing of the headrest from the initial position to the other comfort position comprises changing the four-bar linkage's configuration in a second predetermined manner so that the impact element moves forwardly away from the support, from the initial position to the other comfort position, and (b) the drive is operative for moving the guide tappet so that the moving of the guide tappet at least indirectly causes the changing of the four-bar linkage's configuration in the second predetermined manner; and a transverse link that bears upon the four-bar linkage, wherein the guide tappet includes a section for bearing against the transverse link in a manner that at least indirectly causes the changing of the four-bar linkage's configuration in the second predetermined manner during the moving of the guide tappet.