Patent ID: 6942292

Claim:
An adjustable head restraint assembly comprising: a mounting post having a horizontal portion; a head restraint portion disposed about said mounting post horizontal portion and further characterized as mounted to at least one spring mounted fixedly about said mounting post horizontal portion; pivoting bracket connecting said head restraint body to said mounting post horizontal portion for enabling said head restraint body to pivot relative to said mounting post; ratcheting means acting between said mounting post and said head restraint body for permitting said head restraint body to pivot in a first direction and selectively locking said head restraint body against pivotal movement in a direction opposite said first direction, said ratcheting means including a ratcheting gear having a plurality of teeth and a pawl having a pair of teeth containing ends, for selectively alternatively engaging said ratcheting gear teeth, a first pawl end when engaged allowing movement of the ratcheting gear only in a first direction and a second pawl end when engaged allowing movement of the ratcheting gear in a direction opposite said first direction only, to control the movement of said head restraint body, and characterized by said ratcheting means comprises; a ratcheting position locking mechanism comprising; a pivoting bracket for mounting an inertia spring connecting rod, an inertia spring pawl connecting rod for mounting one end of a plurality of inertia springs and the non-ratcheting gear engaging end of a pawl, a plurality of inertia springs, a pawl mounting rod for mounting said pawl to said pivoting bracket, a ratcheting gear mounted on said mounting post horizontal portion upon which said pawl engages as well as linear damping toothed rotary gear in operable engagement with said ratcheting gear to slow the forward motion of said adjustable head restraint assembly during forward positioning; and a ratchet plunger release mechanism comprising; a plunger end, mounted within a mounting sleeve, both being mounted on a plunger rod, said plunger rod moveably mounted through said pivoting bracket and having a plunger end return biasing spring mounted on said plunger rod between said mounting sleeve and said pivoting bracket to return said plunger end to a forward most position when rearward pressure is removed from said plunger end.