Head Rest Release Mechanism

Abstract

The invention is a head rest actuation system which is activated by forces acting upon a seat back or devices within a seat back. Forces acting upon a seat back or lumbar devices within a seat back are transmitted to a head rest and provide and actuating force therefor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority of provisional application No. 60/890,451 filed Feb. 16, 2007 and provisional application No. 60/805,016 filed Jun. 16, 2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to head rests and, more specifically, to actuating head rests.

2. Related Art

Currently, many head rests move up and down and rotate backwards and forwards for varied reasons including comfort, convenience and safety. In many instances a user must move the headrest to a desired position manually, by holding down a button, or by pressing a switch. In many instances it desirable to provide automatic actuation of a headrest to a desired position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides for actuation of a headrest to a desired position. The disclosed system provides for transmission of forces acting upon the body of a seat to a headrest. The transmitted force is utilized to actuate the headrest into a desired position.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a back perspective view showing the cable terminal of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a back perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a back perspective view showing the stationary point of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of showing an alternate stationary point of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a back perspective view showing the a close-up of the cable terminal of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates front perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates front perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates back perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 14 illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in a headrest actuating position;

FIG. 15 illustrates a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention with the basket removed;

FIG. 17 illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 18 illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 19 illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a headrest actuating position;

FIG. 20 illustrates a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates a perspective view of a close up of the torsion spring in a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 23 illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 24 illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 25 illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a headrest actuating position;

FIG. 26 illustrates a front perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 27 illustrates a side perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 28 illustrates a side perspective view of the cam in a non-headrest actuating position in a sixth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates a side perspective view of the cam in a headrest actuating position in a sixth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 30 illustrates a front perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 31 illustrates a back perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 32 illustrates a back perspective view of the slider and housing of a seventh embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 33 illustrates a side perspective view of the hinge wire, kickstand wire and housing of a seventh embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 34 illustrates a front perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 35 illustrates a back perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 36 illustrates a side perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the invention in a non-headrest-actuating position;

FIG. 37 illustrates a side perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the invention in a headrest-actuating position;

FIG. 38 illustrates a front perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

According to the various exemplary embodiments set forth below, a force is applied either to a main seat body 24 or at a location within the main seat body 24 and is transmitted to a head rest 20. The transmitted force preferably actuates the head rest 20 causing it to move to a position that is beneficial to a user or occupant of the seat.

According to a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6, the head rest 20 is connected to a housing 22. The housing may be directly or indirectly connected to the main seat body 24. A head rest Bowden cable 50 is connected to one side of a cable terminal 26 together with a first bolster Bowden cable 28 and a second bolster Bowden cable 30. A folding seat Bowden cable 32 is connected to the cable terminal 26 on the other side.

A termination block (not shown) is preferably situated within the cable terminal 26. Each of the four Bowden cables 28, 30, 32, 50 connected to the cable terminal 26 comprise a termination bullet (not shown) that is disposed in a hole in the termination block. The termination block may be provided with a track that compliments a track within cable terminal for traveling longitudinally within cable terminal 26. The termination block is preferably provided with thirty-five (35) millimeters of longitudinal travel within cable terminal.

The folding seat Bowden cable 32 is terminated at another end at a stationary point 34. It will be appreciated that the stationary point 34 may be located at numerous points outside of a back portion of the main seat body 24. The stationary point 34 is selected such that when, the back portion of the main seat body 24 is pivoted from a vertical position to a folded, horizontal position, distance between the stationary point 34 and the folding seat Bowden cable conduit 36 is increased. In this manner tension is applied to the folding seat Bowden cable wire 38 when the seat is folded down.

As a result, the termination block within cable terminal 26 is pulled towards the folding seat Bowden cable 32, and is pulled away from head rest Bowden cable 50, first bolster Bowden cable 28, and second bolster Bowden cable 30. As the cable terminal 26 end of the head rest Bowden cable 50 is pulled, the other end of the head rest release Bowden cable 50 actuates the head rest 20. Similarly the first and second bolster Bowden cables 28, 30 provide an actuating force to first and second lateral bolsters 40, 42. It is within the scope of the invention that multiple other Bowden cables could be attached to the cable terminal 26 and used to actuate other devices, such as a lumbar support in a similar manner.

Preferably the head rest 20 end of the head rest Bowden cable 50 is attached to a latch mechanism in head rest (not shown). The latch mechanism may release the head rest 20 to assume a folding forwards position or a folding backwards position. There may also be combined a telescoping release function wherein the head rest is released from its extended telescoped position in conjunction with either folding forwards or folding backwards.

The head rest latch mechanism may operate in numerous ways. In one embodiment, the latch mechanism may release a wound coil spring. Releasing the wound coil spring will allow the spring to unwind and to torque the head rest into either a folding forwards position or a folding backwards position. The spring may be re-wound by the raising of the seat back frame to the upright position.

Alternatively, when the head rest Bowden cable 50 is pulled, the head rest end of the head rest Bowden cable 50 may pull the head rest 20 towards a folding forwards position or a folding backwards position. Preferably, a spring opposes the folding motion of the headrest such that when the back portion of the main seat body is returned from a folded, horizontal position to a vertical position and the tension on the head rest Bowden cable 50 is reduced, the spring returns the head rest 20 to an unfolded, upright position.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, an adjustable lumbar support is provided comprising a basket 220 supported by two mounting brackets 222. According to this embodiment, an actuator 224 having a motor 226 and gear set 228 is preferably attached to the basket 220. The actuator 224 drives a Bowden cable 230. The Bowden cable 230 has a wire 232 that preferably passes through a channel in the basket 220 and terminates at an actuating mechanism in the head rest 20. The Bowden cable also preferably has a first conduit portion 234 between the actuator 224 and a first side of the basket 220, and a second conduit portion 236 between a second side of the basket 220 and the head rest 20. The ends of the first and second conduit portions 234, 236 connected at their respective sides of the basket 220 are preferably connected directly to the respective guide wires 222 or in such a manner that force applied to the ends of the conduits 234, 236 is transmitted to the respective guide wires 222 with little or no transmission of force through the basket 220.

Preferably the Bowden cable 230 is arranged as shown in FIG. 9, such that when the actuator 224 pulls the Bowden cable wire 232, the basket 220 is pulled towards the lumbar region of an occupant of the seat. However, pressure applied to the basket 220 results in increased tension in the Bowden cable wire 232. As tension in the Bowden cable wire 232 increases, a greater force is applied to the actuating mechanism in the head rest 20. The actuating mechanism in the head rest preferably causes the head rest 20 to move towards the head of an occupant of the seat as tension in the Bowden cable wire 232 increased due to and increasing load applied to the basket 220.

Third through sixth embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 10-29, provide a lumbar support device comprising a basket 330 slidably connected to a guide wire 332. In operation, a first and second actuator 334, 336 preferably control the curvature and vertical position of the basket 330, respectively. The first actuator 334 preferably operates a curvature Bowden cable 338 that varies the distance between the upper and lower portions of the basket 330, thereby varying the curvature of the basket 330. The second actuator 336 preferably operates one or two vertical Bowden cables that vary the vertical position of the upper and lower portions of the basket without substantially varying the curvature of the basket.

Although the third through sixth embodiments are illustrated in conjunction with the described lumbar support device, the disclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest 20 could be used in conjunction with numerous devices located within the back of a seat. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the use of the disclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest in conjunction with the lumbar support device described above.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 10-14, an upper portion of the basket 330 is preferably slidably connected to the guide wire 332 and a lower portion of the basket 330 is preferably slidably connected to a hinge wire 360. As shown in FIG. 12, the hinge wire 360 is hingedly connected to a hinge plate 362, which is slidably connected to the guide wire 332. A kickstand wire 370 is hingedly attached to the hinge wire 360 on one end and hingedly connected to a kickstand plate 372, which is fixed to the guide wire 332. A kickstand spring 374 is attached between the hinge plate 362 and the kickstand plate 372. A head rest Bowden cable 50 is preferably provided with the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 attached to the hinge plate 362 and the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 attached to the kickstand plate 372.

When a severe load is applied to the basket 330, such as in the case of a collision from behind, the basket 330 will flatten and the hinge wire 360 may be drawn towards the guide wire 330. As the hinge wire 360 draws closer to the guide wire 330, the hinge plate 362 will slide away from the kickstand plate 372. As the distance between the two plates increases, the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 will be pulled away from the terminal of the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 and the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 will increase. The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferably actuates the head rest 20, drawing it closer to the head of an occupant of the seat.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 15-19, an upper portion of the basket 330 is preferably slidably connected to the guide wire 332 and a lower portion of the basket 330 is preferably slidably connected to a hinge wire 460. According to this embodiment, an upper portion of the hinge wire 460 is preferably hingedly connected to the guide wire 332 by way of a bracket 440. A middle portion of the hinge wire is preferably slidably connected to a pair of arcuate springs 450. The upper and lower ends of the arcuate springs 450 are attached to upper and lower sliders 452, 454, respectively, which are slidably connected to the guide wire 332. According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 is preferably connected to the upper slider 452, and the head rest Bowden Cable wire 54 is preferably connected to the lower slider 454.

When a severe load is applied to the basket 330, such as in the case of a collision from behind, the basket 330 will flatten and the hinge wire 460 may be drawn towards the guide wire 332. As the hinge wire 460 draws closer to the guide wire, the arcuate springs 450 flatten, causing the upper and lower sliders 452, 454 to separate from one another, thereby increasing the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54. The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferably actuates the head rest 20, drawing it closer to the head of an occupant of the seat.

According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 20-25, upper and lower portions of the basket 330 are slidably connected to the guide wire 332. A bottom portion of the guide wire 332 is attached to a bar 520 that slides in an arcuate channel 522 within a housing 524. Each side of the bar 520 is connected to an outer portion of a torsion spring 526 which biases the bar 520 in a position towards an occupant of the seat. The center of the torsion springs 526 are fixed to the housing 524.

According to this embodiment the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 is attached to the lower portion of the guide wire 332 and the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 is attached to the housing 524. When a severe load is applied to the basket 330, the lower portion of the guide wire 332 and the bar 520 are pushed in the direction of the applied force, along the arcuate channel 522 within the housing 524. As this occurs, the distance between the point at which the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 is attached to the lower portion of the guide wire 332 and the point at which the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 is attached to the housing 524 is increased. Accordingly, the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 is increased and is preferably used to actuate the head rest 20. Preferably, the head rest 20 is drawn towards the head of an occupant of the seat.

According to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 26-29, upper and lower portions of the basket 330 are slidably connected to the guide wire 332. A lower portion of the guide wire 332 is connected to one end of a cam 620. The other end of the cam is connected to an outer portion of a torsion spring 624. The center of the torsion spring 624 is fixed with respect to a seat frame, and preferably the cam 620 rotates about the center of the torsion spring 624.

According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit 54 is attached to a bracket 626 on the guide wire 332. The bracket 626 is preferably placed to allow the full range of vertical movement of the basket 330. The Bowden cable wire 54 is attached to the end of the cam 620 that is connected to the outer portion of the torsion spring 624. When a severe load is applied to the basket 330, the load is transmitted to the lower portion of the guide wire 332, which is then displaced in the direction of the applied force, causing the cam 620 to rotate. As the cam 620 rotates, it pulls the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 away from the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52, thereby increasing the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54. The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferably actuates the head rest 20, drawing it closer to the head of an occupant of the seat.

Seventh and eighth embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 30-37, provide a lumbar support device comprising a basket 730 with an upper portion slidably connected to a guide wire 732. In operation, an actuator 734 preferably controls the curvature of the basket 730. The actuator 734 preferably operates a curvature Bowden cable 736 that varies the distance between the upper and lower portions of the basket 730 thereby varying the curvature of the basket 730.

Although the seventh and eighth embodiments are illustrated in conjunction with the described lumbar support device, the disclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest 20 could be used in conjunction with numerous devices located within the back of a seat. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the use of the disclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest in conjunction with the lumbar support device described above.

According to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 30-33, a lower end of the guide wire 732 is hingedly attached to a hinge wire 760 and a kickstand wire 770. The opposite end of the kickstand wire 770 is hingedly attached to a slider housing 780. The hinge wire 760 is hingedly engaged with a slider 782 that is in sliding engagement with a channel 784 in the slider housing 780. A spring 786 is preferably provided connecting the slider 782 and the end of the kickstand wire 770 engaged with the slider housing 780.

According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 is preferably fixed with respect to the slider 782, and the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 is preferably fixed with respect to the end of the kickstand wire 770 engaged with the slider housing 780. When a severe load is applied to the basket 730, such as in the case of a collision from behind, the basket 730 will flatten and the guide wire 732 will be pressed towards the slider housing 780. Accordingly, the slider 782 will be pressed away from the kickstand wire 770, thereby increasing the distance between the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 and the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52, which increases tension in the Bowden cable wire 54. The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferably actuates the head rest 20, drawing it towards the head of an occupant of the seat.

According to the eighth embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 34-37, a lower portion of the guide wire 732 is preferably attached to a substantially arcuate spring 820. The arcuate spring 820 is preferably constructed of spring steel. First and second ends of the arcuate spring 820 are preferably fixed to first and second sliding members 822, 824. The first and second sliding members 822, 824 are slidingly engaged with a frame crossmember 826, which is fixed to a frame.

According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 is attached to one of the sliding members 822, 824 and the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 is attached to the other sliding member 822, 824. When a severe load is applied to the basket 730, the basket 730 will flatten and the arcuate spring 820 may flatten. Accordingly the first and second sliding members 822, 824 will be pressed away from each other and tension on the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 will be increased. The increased tension on the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferably actuates the head rest 20 such that the head rest moves towards the head of an occupant of the seat.

According to a ninth embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 38, a bladder lumbar support 920 is provided. The bladder lumbar support 920 is filled with a fluid, which may be air, water or any other fluid. The pressure of the fluid within the bladder lumbar support 920 can be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the amount of lumbar support provided. Generally a pump 922 is used to control the pressure within the bladder 920. Although not shown in the illustrations, the vertical position of the bladder lumbar support could also be controlled by a vertical actuator assembly.

The bladder lumbar support 920 is preferably connected to a passageway 924 between the bladder lumbar support 920 and a head rest actuator mechanism. According to this embodiment, when a severe load is applied to the bladder lumbar support 920, the pressure of the fluid inside the bladder lumbar support 920 and the passageway increases 924. The increased pressure of the fluid drives the actuation mechanism and thereby preferably actuates the head rest 20 such that the head rest 20 moves towards the head of an occupant of the seat.

As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A head rest actuation system comprising:

a seat back pivotable between an upright position and a folded horizontal position;

a first Bowden cable having a conduit and a wire;

a head rest having an operative position and a folded position;

wherein an end of the first Bowden cable wire is fixed to a point remote from the seat back;

wherein tension in the first Bowden cable wire is increased when said seat back pivots from the upright position to the folded horizontal position; and

wherein the increase in the tension of the first Bowden cable wire actuates the head rest from the operative position to the folded position.

2. An actuation system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a cable terminal connected to said first Bowden cable;

a cable termination block disposed in said cable terminal, said cable termination block having a first end and a second end, said cable termination block at one of said first end and said second end being connected to said first Bowden cable;

a second Bowden cable connected to the other one of said first end and said second end of said cable termination block, said second Bowden cable being further connected to a head rest actuation mechanism.

3. A head rest actuation system comprising:

a seat;

a lumbar support basket;

a Bowden cable having a wire and a conduit;

a head rest;

an actuator in operative communication with the Bowden cable wire such that when the actuator increases tension in the Bowden cable wire, the lumbar support basket is pulled towards an occupant of the seat; and

wherein a force applied against the lumbar support basket causes the Bowden cable to actuate the head rest towards the head of the occupant of the seat.

4. A head rest actuation system comprising:

a head rest;

a guide wire;

a lumbar support basket slidably connected to the guide wire;

a Bowden cable having a wire and a conduit;

wherein a force applied to the lumbar support basket creates tension in the Bowden cable wire; and

wherein the tension in the Bowden cable wire provides an actuating force to the head rest.

5. The actuation system of claim 4 further comprising:

a hinge wire slidably connected to the guide wire, wherein a lower portion of the lumbar support basket is slidably connected to the hinge wire;

a kickstand wire hingedly connected to the hinge wire and slidably connected to the guide wire;

a spring fixed on a first end at the sliding connection of the kickstand wire and the guide wire and fixed at a second end at the sliding connection of the hinge wire and the guide wire;

wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal fixed with respect to the sliding connection of the hinge wire and the guide wire; and

wherein the Bowden cable wire has a terminal fixed with respect to the sliding connection of the kickstand wire and the guide wire.

6. The actuation system of claim 4 further comprising:

a hinge wire hingedly attached to the guide wire, wherein a lower portion of the lumbar support basket is slidably connected to the hinge wire;

a substantially arcuate spring having a midpoint slidably attached to the hinge wire, a first end attached to a first slider, and a second end attached to a second slider;

wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal attached to the first slider and the Bowden cable wire has a terminal attached to the second slider.

7. The actuation system of claim 4 further comprising:

a housing;

a torsion spring having a center and an outer portion, wherein the center is attached to the housing and the outer portion is attached to a lower portion of the guide wire;

wherein the Bowden cable wire has a terminal attached to the housing and the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal attached to the lower portion of the guide wire.

8. The actuation system of claim 4 further comprising:

a torsion spring having a center and an outer portion, wherein the center is fixed with respect to a seat frame;

a cam rotating substantially about the center of the torsion spring and having a first and second end; wherein the first end is attached to a lower portion of the guide wire and the second end is attached to the outer portion of the torsion spring;

wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal attached to the guide wire and the Bowden cable wire has a terminal attached to the second end of the cam.

9. The actuation system of claim 4 further comprising:

a hinge wire hingedly connected to the guide wire and hingedly connected to a slider;

a kickstand wire hingedly attached to the guide wire;

a housing having a channel, wherein the kickstand wire is hingedly attached to the housing and the slider is slidingly engaged in the channel;

wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal fixed with respect to the slider and the Bowden cable wire has a terminal fixed with respect to the housing.

10. The actuation system of claim 4 further comprising:

a substantially arcuate spring fixed to a lower portion of the guide wire at a midsection of the spring, fixed to a first slider at a first end of the spring, and fixed to a second slider at a second end of the spring;

a frame crossmember having a first and second channel, wherein the first slider is sliding engaged in the first channel and the second slider is slidingly engaged in the second channel;

wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal fixed with respect to the first slider and the Bowden cable wire has a terminal fixed with respect to the second slider.

11. A head rest actuation system comprising:

a head rest actuator;

a lumbar support bladder filled with a fluid having a passageway to the head rest actuator, wherein an increase in the pressure of the fluid provides and actuating force to the head rest actuator.