Adjustable Laterally Patents (Class 297/406)
  • Patent number: 11572001
    Abstract: A headrest removal assembly is disclosed. The assembly may include a plunger including a plunger shaft and lever portion. The assembly may include a compressible spring coupled to the plunger and configured to surround at least a portion of the plunger shaft. The plunger configured to translate the stopper between at least a first position and a second position when a force is applied to the lever portion of the plunger to cause the plunger to compress a portion of the compressible spring within the cavity of the base to cause the stopper to disengage from the cavity within the headrest support plate to cause the headrest removal assembly to disengage from the headrest support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Kantner, Bobby W. Lawson, Jackson R Wanner
  • Patent number: 10940822
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure that includes: a seatback that is provided at a seat rear side of a seat cushion so as to be able to tilt in a seat front-rear direction with respect to the seat cushion, and that can support an upper body of a vehicle occupant; a headrest that is provided at a side of the seatback, which side is opposite from a side at which the seat cushion is located, and that can support a head portion of the vehicle occupant; and shoulder restraining portions that are provided at the headrest or at the headrest side of the seatback, and that, by protruding out toward a vehicle occupant side at a time of an emergency of a vehicle, restrain both shoulders of the vehicle occupant in a case in which the vehicle occupant has moved along the seatback toward the headrest side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Niikuni, Kenichiro Koshizako
  • Patent number: 10618442
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an automobile side back cushion, including: a mounting rod, including a first chute and a second chute disposed at an interval, and an adjusting channel disposed between the first chute and the second chute; a first side cushion and a second side cushion, which are respectively connected to two ends of the mounting rod; and a width adjusting structure, including: a first fastening frame, including at least one first inserting rod groove accommodated in the first chute and a first gear bar fixed on the outer side of the first inserting rod groove; a second fastening frame, including at least one second inserting rod groove accommodated in the second chute, and a second gear bar fixed on the outer side of the second inserting rod groove; and an adjusting gear disposed in the adjusting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SHENZHEN STAND BY ME TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Zhiping Zhou
  • Patent number: 10518679
    Abstract: A headrest assembly for a seat, wherein the headrest assembly comprises first and second headrest portions, the first and second headrest portions being movable relative to each other in a lateral direction, such that in a first configuration the first and second headrest portions are combined and form a single headrest for a single occupant of the seat, and in a second configuration, the first and second headrest portions are laterally spaced apart and form separate headrests for respective first and second occupants of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Leck
  • Patent number: 10279718
    Abstract: A vehicle headrest including: a main portion; at least one side portion; a base configured to support the main portion; and a pressure receiving operation mechanism configured to operate so as to push the main portion rearward from an initial position to a retraction position with respect to the base in response to load input by a head which leans on the main portion, wherein the pressure receiving operation mechanism includes a pushing mechanism portion configured to push the at least one side portion forward from an initial position to a side support position with respect to the base according to a moving amount of the main portion being pushed to the retraction position, the side support position being a position at which the head of the seated person is capable of being supported by the at least one side portion from a lateral side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Hayashi, Hisaya Mori
  • Patent number: 9758076
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an automatic headrest including: a headrest cushion configured to couple to a stay rod of a vehicle seat back; an actuation module configured to couple to the stay rod; a cushion bracket configured to couple to a rear surface of the headrest cushion; an actuation link having a plate shape; a motor link, wherein one side of the motor link is configured to couple to the actuation module and the other side of the motor link is configured to extend downward; and a guide link having a plate shape, wherein one side of a top portion of the guide link is configured to couple to the cushion bracket, the other side of the top portion of the guide link is configured to couple to the actuation link, and a bottom portion of the guide link is configured to couple to the motor link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Dymos Incorporated, Seoyoncnf Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Chol An, Jin Ho Seo, Jun Kyu Kim, Myeong Sub Kim, Yun Ho Kim, Dong Hwan Kim, Ju Sung Ha, Woo Jung Jang
  • Patent number: 9028000
    Abstract: An adjustable headrest that provides both support and comfort to the user and one that can be used in connection with various types of passenger vehicles. The adjustable headrest includes novel slide assemblies that permit multiple height adjustments of the headrest. More particularly, the headrest of the invention can be moved from a first lower position to a second intermediate position and finally to an uppermost position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Sergio Millan
  • Patent number: 8998334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a head support comprising a head support case that can be moved in relation to at least one stay bar in the X direction. The invention also relates to a locking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Prashanth Radhakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8998335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a seat part and with a seat back part for supporting a driver of the vehicle in the sitting position on the vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat has an additional vehicle driver's torso support device which can be disposed outside the seat part and the seat back and which can be temporarily disposed at least partially in an otherwise seat-free torso support region in front of the seat back part and laterally and/or above the seat back part, in order to provide support, laterally off-center of the seat back part, at least at the level of the shoulder region of the driver who is sitting on the vehicle seat when he adopts a seated working posture oriented to the side or backwards, and wherein the additional vehicle driver's torso support device comprises a seat back extension device which is disposed on the seat back part (3) so as to be movable in translation along a horizontal axis in order to be able to move the additional vehicle driver's torso support device su
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Katja Buehlmeyer, Erwin Haller, Jens Kolb, Roland Uebelacker, Hermann Meiller
  • Patent number: 8998315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a headrest having a headrest box which is mounted on at least one retaining rod and can be displaced in the X direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Rudolf Hemmelrath, Thomas Frotz, Denis Quandt
  • Patent number: 8950813
    Abstract: An integrated adjustable headrest includes a first curved head support and a second curved head support. Each of the curved head supports is secured to an adjustable rail, which itself is connected to the vertical track of a respective interior compartment. The interior compartment is located near the top of a chair, near a headrest section, inside a cavity. The curved head support can slide in and out of the adjustable rail slot. When extended, a person can rest their head on the curved head support. The curved head supports are also tiltable and extendable by manipulating the interior compartments or the adjustable rails. Locking mechanisms allow a user to adjust both the extension of the curved head supports and the angle of the adjustable rail slots. Once adjusted, the locking mechanisms secure the curved head supports in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Ali Nawaz
  • Patent number: 8911020
    Abstract: Described are passenger seats having a seat back support and a head rest assembly coupled to the seat back support. The head rest assembly includes a head support and a lower head support with a rest bar and a pair of extensions, wherein a first end of each extension is slidingly coupled to the rest bar and a second end of each extension is pivotally coupled to the head support. The rest bar is positioned adjacent the head support when the lower head support is in a stowed position and is positioned a distance forward of the head support when the lower head support is in a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC
    Inventors: Rik Westerink, Timothy W. Terleski
  • Patent number: 8882193
    Abstract: A head rest for a vehicle seat includes: at least one first section that is oriented towards the head of the seat occupant, a second section, and a third section, wherein the second section is arranged essentially between the first and third sections. In the event of an accident, the first section can be displaced in the direction of displacement, due to the effect of a relative displacement of the second section from a working position into a safety position in the direction of the head of the seat occupant. The relative movement of the sections is a rotation about an essentially parallel rotational axis in the direction of displacement. A mounting of the first section in relation to the second section is provided during the relative displacement about the rotational axis. The first section comprises a first bearing surface and the second section comprises a second bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst-Otto Fröse, Thomas Dillinger, Alexander Hasler
  • Patent number: 8840182
    Abstract: A seat structure has a right seat (1R) and a left seat (1L) configured to allow three passengers to be seated, respectively, in the left seat (1L), the right seat (1R), and a region striding across a boundary between the right and left seats (1R, 1L). The left seat (1L) can be slid leftward (L) to allow the right and left seats (1R, 1L) to become spaced apart to create a walk-through space (S) therebetween. A headrest (1c) for a middle seat passenger seated in the region striding the boundary between the right and left seats (1R, 1L) is supported on a top of a seat back of the left seat (1L). The middle seat passenger's headrest (1c) can be slid leftward to unblock the walk-through space (S) when the right and left seats (1R, 1L) are in spaced-apart relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Onji
  • Patent number: 8833860
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member. A button actuator is mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint for movement of the button actuator in a direction perpendicular to a lateral direction of the head restraint. A locking mechanism cooperates with the first guide member and the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The locking mechanism is connected to the button actuator so that actuation of the button actuator disengages the locking mechanism and permits adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Fey, Zdzislaw Sobieski
  • Patent number: 8662591
    Abstract: A chair includes at least one leg; a rotatable seat; a backrest; and a headrest including a clamping member having a yoke with two hollow cylindrical yoke arms; two hook members extending forward downward from both sides of the yoke respectively; and a lower well; a support including a hinge head pivotably disposed between the yoke arms; and two opposite fastening portions; a head frame including two rear bars and two joints frictionally, slidably fastened on the bars, each joint frictionally, pivotably secured to the fastening portion; a hooking member in the well and including two hook elements curved upward forward wherein the hook elements cooperate with the hook members to releasably mount the headrest on the backrest; a first hinge element pivotably disposed in one yoke arm and includes a lever; and a second hinge element moveably disposed in the other yoke arm and the hinge head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Yu-Jen Lin
  • Publication number: 20130113262
    Abstract: Provided is a headrest structure. The headrest structure includes an ergonomically shaped hole in the shape of a back of a human head formed in a soft-textured material of latex foam or memory foam, and an auxiliary tray and frame that can be assembled with the back of a chair to relieve a neck and a head from discomfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Hae-hyun Nam
  • Patent number: 8424965
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism in which a pressure receiving member is attached to two side frames of a seat back of a vehicle seat so as to be rotatable about rotation axes extending in a widthwise direction and in which when the pressure receiving member is rotated by a pressing load of an passenger sitting on the vehicle seat, the pressing load is selectively transmitted to an operation bracket pivotally connected to the rotation axes such that the operation bracket is rotated in the same direction as the pressure receiving member. When the pressure receiving member receives a quick pressing load, the operation bracket rotates while being mechanically integrated with the pressure receiving member, so that the pressing load can be transmitted to the operation bracket. When the pressure receiving member receives a slow pressing load, the operation bracket does not rotate, and only the pressure receiving member rotates, so that the transmission of the pressing load can be blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuki Sasaki, Kouji Kaneda, Kei Matsui
  • Publication number: 20120161489
    Abstract: Provided is an adjustable headrest installed at an upper portion of a seatback of a chair which a user's head contacts characterized in that an ergonomic head-shaped recess is provided such that the recess is adjusted to be appropriate to different head sizes, head shapes, and neck shapes of users to conveniently seat the neck and the head, allowing the user to rest and sleep on the chair. The adjustable headrest mounted on the chair includes an upper block having an upper recess concaved in the front thereof to seat the head, and a lower block disposed under the upper block and having a lower recess concaved in the front thereof to seat the neck. Here, the upper block and the lower block are movable relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Hae-Hyun Nam
  • Patent number: 8197007
    Abstract: A pivoting headrest assembly having a pivotally supported and cable actuated hook secured to fixed bracket. The hook engages a pin associated with a widthwise extending and upwardly biased support secured within a pair of side channels associated with the fixed bracket. Upon triggering the release of the hook, the support is upwardly displaced within the side channels. A pair of end supported pivotal linkages are secured in coaxial fashion with the ends of the displaceable support. Upper ends of the linkages pivotally engage a base plate of an upper pivotally driven headrest bun support offset from a pivotal engagement established between the base plate and upper end of the headrest bracket. The linkages are configured so that upward displacement exerted by the support is converted to the forward dump rotation of the headrest bun support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis Lutzka, Stephen Bruck, Jason Hamilton, David L. Quittschreiber
  • Publication number: 20120086255
    Abstract: A vehicular seat capable of effectively mitigating lateral direction vibrations is provided. In the present vehicular seat (10), a pair of leg portions (32A) of a headrest frame (32) are coupled to a seatback frame (20) to be relatively turnable about a longitudinal direction axis of a seatback (18). Joint portions 32C are provided between the pair of leg portions (32A) and a middle portion (32B) of the headrest frame (32). Thus, the headrest (14) is made turnable to left and right with respect to the seatback (18). Furthermore, the headrest (14) is urged toward a middle position of the range of turning with respect to the seatback (18) by rubber members that are provided between a headrest support (24) and a support bracket (20C). Thus, when lateral direction vibrations are applied to the present vehicular seat (10), the headrest (14) functions as a dynamic damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Ishimoto, Keisuke Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 8066329
    Abstract: A car seat head rest, which is adapted for mounting on a car seat having two spaced apart retention slots, includes a head pillow, a display screen supported at the rear side of the head pillow, and an adjustable mounting arrangement including a length-adjustable sliding guider longitudinally supported within the interior cavity of the head pillow, a supporting frame having two overlapped sliding panels and two supporting arms downwardly and parallelly extended from the sliding panels respectively through the bottom side of the head pillow to define an engaging distance between the two supporting arms, and an adjuster provided at the sliding guider to control a length of the sliding guider so as to selectively adjust the engaging distance of the supporting arms for slidably engaging with the two retention slots respectively so as to securely support the head pillow on the car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Edward Liu
  • Patent number: 8047606
    Abstract: One aspect according to the invention can include a headrest operating device including a backside collision detecting device that can produce an operational force upon detection of occurrence of backside collision. The operational force of the backside collision detecting device can be transmitted to an operation member via an interlocking member. A switching device can switch a path of movement of the interlocking member between an inoperative path and an operative path. When no backside collision occurs, the interlocking member can move along the inoperative path, so that the operational force of the backside collision detecting device cannot be transmitted to the operation member. When the backside collision occurs, the interlocking member can move along the operative path, so that the operational force of the backside collision detecting device can be transmitted to the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Matsui
  • Patent number: 8038219
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is disclosed that provides longitudinal adjustment and height adjustment of a head restraint by actuation of a manual release. One embodiment discloses a vehicle seat with a rod extending from a seat back and a frame mounted to the rod. A head restraint is mounted to the frame by a linkage to extend and retract. A locking mechanism cooperates with the head restraint and the frame for permitting incremental locking positions of the head restraint relative to the frame. A manual release releases the locking mechanism to extend and retract the head restraint relative to the rod. Another embodiment includes an eccentric mechanism pivotally connected to the frame. A wire spring is mounted to the frame for engaging a notch in the rod. An actuator rotates an eccentric mechanism for disengaging the wire spring from the notch in the rod for permitting height adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Klaus Boes, Juergen Geisslinger, Tobias Bokelmann
  • Patent number: 8016352
    Abstract: A vehicle multimedia system includes a head pillow, a display screen supported at the rear side of the head pillow, a central control, which is adapted for being installed at a predetermined location of the vehicle, electrically linked to the display screen via a connection cable running through one of the supporting arms such that the connection cable is extended between the display screen and the central control in a hidden manner, wherein the central control selectively generates a signal and transmits the signal to the display screen through the connection cable, so as to display on the display screen. Thus, the central control provides both the synchronizing mode and the discrete mode such that more than one function is selectively operated by the central control through the different display screen to meet the needs of passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Edward Liu
  • Patent number: 7717507
    Abstract: A head rest of a vehicle seat may include a head support portion for supporting a head of a passenger, and a drive unit for moving the head support portion. The drive unit has a moving mechanism that is arranged and constructed to move the head support portion toward and away from the passenger head, an actuator for actuating the moving mechanism, a load detecting device that can detect a load applied to the actuator and generate a control signal representative of the detected load, and a controller that can control the actuator so as to control the moving mechanism. The controller controls the moving mechanism so as to move the head support portion toward the passenger head. The controller controls the moving mechanism based on the control signal so as to stop the motion of the head support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Toda, Fumitoshi Akaike, Seiya Nishimura, Tomokazu Moriyama, Kiyoka Matsubayashi, Koji Aoki
  • Patent number: 7717508
    Abstract: The invention relates to a headrest of an automotive vehicle seat, said headrest comprising the following features: a carrier structure comprising at least one bar and being connected to a supporting member, said carrier structure being connected to said supporting member through at least one guide region and said supporting member being movable with respect to said carrier structure along a linear forward path of travel from a normal position of utilization into an accident position in which said supporting member is located both in the x direction and in the z direction in front of the position of utilization, a drive unit being provided, said drive unit comprising a tension spring and a blocking device, said blocking device comprising a first blocking part and a disengagement device, said first blocking part comprising an oblong opening through which engages a driver member of said carrier structure, in the position of utilization the tensile force of said tension spring abutting on said first blocking par
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Rolf Steinmetz, Thomas Thiel
  • Patent number: 7640090
    Abstract: A headrest control apparatus includes: a headrest moving mechanism that supports a headrest in such a manner that at least one of a rotation of the headrest about an axis of the headrest, which extends in the vehicle-height direction, and a movement of the headrest in the vehicle-width direction is permitted; a drive unit that causes at least one of the rotation and the movement of the headrest; and a control unit that controls the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoyuki Uchida, Yuichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7631935
    Abstract: A child car seat device with wing components includes a seat assembly, a backrest assembly and a headrest assembly, which are each connected together. The headrest assembly includes a headrest body, two headrest wing components, and two pivots passing through the headrest body and headrest wing components. Each pivot is retained by a fastener or a tab extending from the headrest wing component. The headrest body has a plurality of grooves and the headrest wing component has a rib. An angle defined between the headrest wing component and the headrest body can be changed by engaging the rib within different grooves. The headrest body has a stopper so that the headrest wing component cannot be pivotally rotated further outwards when it abuts against the stopper. The structures of the backrest assembly are similar to those of the headrest assembly. In addition, the seat device may be provided with the headrest wing components and/or backrest wing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-Min Chen, Jianqun Li
  • Patent number: 7631932
    Abstract: A vehicle headrest has a vehicle-mounted support, a cushion, and guides mounting the headrest cushion on the support for displacement forward from a rear position in a vehicle travel direction and rearward opposite thereto to a front position. A lever pivoted in the cushion has an arm engaging rearward on the support. An actuator connected to the lever can pivot the lever and displace the cushion forward into the front position. The arm has an outer end bearing on but not coupled to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventor: Markus Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7506926
    Abstract: A deformable, polypropylene-moulding lining (11), is provided in a head rest. It has a crosspiece (12), clipped (14) to the head support (5) and right and left deformable wings (15, 16). These are longer than the support wings (5, 6) of the head part (4), extending past distal edges (17) of the support wings. The deformable wings are spaced inwards from the support wings, with voids (18) defined between them. The deformable wings are divided into two in their forwards extent by a living hinge (19) into a front portion (20) and a rear portion (21). The living hinge is positioned just inside the distal edges of the shell wings. The injection moulded lining has its own foam materiel lining (22), the whole being covered with upholstery (23). The result of the arrangement is that if an occupant's head H impacts the lining in side impact of the vehicle equipped with the seat, the relevant lining wing will be pressed against the shell wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Britax Excelsior Limited
    Inventor: David Shaun Carine
  • Patent number: 7500721
    Abstract: A headrest support assembly capable of moving a headrest simultaneously in an up/down and fore/aft position. The headrest support assembly is located in a seat back and includes a headrest frame mounted on a support bracket, the support bracket includes a first and second guide track spaced apart from one another. Each guide track defines a substantially vertical first channel and a curved second channel therein. A first and second support pillar is mounted to the headrest frame. These first and second support pillars are located adjacent to the first and second guide track, respectively. A first and second guide roller is located on each of the first and second support pillars. The first guide roller is positioned within the first channel and the second guide roller is positioned within the second channel of the respective guide tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Beroth, Daniel I. Udriste, Catalin Bunea
  • Publication number: 20090058162
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is disclosed that provides longitudinal adjustment and height adjustment of a head restraint by actuation of a manual release. One embodiment discloses a vehicle seat with a rod extending from a seat back and a frame mounted to the rod. A head restraint is mounted to the frame by a linkage to extend and retract. A locking mechanism cooperates with the head restraint and the frame for permitting incremental locking positions of the head restraint relative to the frame. A manual release releases the locking mechanism to extend and retract the head restraint relative to the rod. Another embodiment includes an eccentric mechanism pivotally connected to the frame. A wire spring is mounted to the frame for engaging a notch in the rod. An actuator rotates an eccentric mechanism for disengaging the wire spring from the notch in the rod for permitting height adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Klaus Boes, Juergen Geisslinger, Tobias Bokelmann
  • Patent number: 7455363
    Abstract: A device for moving headrest back and forth for automobile in which a tilt adjusting device and a back and forth movement device are united into a single device is provided. The device comprises a stay 114, a ratchet member RM, a tilt adjusting device (TAD), a check member CM, a back and forth movement device MD, a first torsion coil spring 130, one or a pair of second torsion coil springs 121 and a mobile shaft 122 for the back and forth movement device (MD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Woobo Tech Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Hae Il Chung
  • Patent number: 7448686
    Abstract: A headrest for a dental chair that provides both the desirable support to a patient's head as well as avoiding damage to hairstyling is disclosed. The invention provides a U-shaped headrest that allows for comfortable resting of a patient's head on the headrest. The U-shape may be subject to a variety of mechanical changes, for example, making an opening bigger or. smaller, or changes in the angle of the headrest itself so that it better fits the counter of a patient's head. Such changes may be made through manual, pneumatic, or electrical control, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventor: Nelson Mark Hersh
  • Publication number: 20080185894
    Abstract: Various head restraints are disclosed, such as one embodiment with a central head restraint portion extending from a vehicle seat back for supporting a head of an occupant. A lateral head restraint portion is oriented at a lateral side of the central head restraint portion for also supporting the head of the occupant. An actuator cooperates with the lateral head restraint portion for moving the lateral head restraint portion out of a lateral line of sight of the occupant in response to an input from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arjun V. Yetukuri, Vikas Patwardhan, Gerald S. Locke
  • Patent number: 7407231
    Abstract: A headrest adjustment assembly is disclosed for adjusting the position of a headrest relative to a seatback. The headrest adjustment assembly includes a guide disposed in the seat back, at least one holding bar disposed within the guide, the guide and holding bar being configured with sufficient clearance to allow selective relative longitudinal and transverse sliding, the holding bar being fixed to the headrest, and a clamping element mounted to the seat back for selectively applying a transverse force to the holding bar to thereby fix the position of the holding bar within the guide and prevent relative transverse or longitudinal sliding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Alfmeier Prazision AG Baugruppen und Systemlosungen
    Inventors: Dieter Kraft, Jürgen Hofmockel
  • Patent number: 7264313
    Abstract: An adjustable headrest for use with furniture and vehicle seats that includes novel slide mechanisms for permitting easy vertical and horizontal adjustments of the headrest relative to the seat. The headrest also includes wing-like side support members that are pivotally connected to horizontally adjustable slide mechanisms by constant torque hinges. Additionally, the headrest includes a mechanism for permitting pivotal movement of the entire headrest relative to the seat connector which connects the headrest to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Clough
  • Patent number: 7213884
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a headrest with a center pad and two side pads that are laterally hinged to the center pad. The side pads are swivellable forward into a resting position and back into a supporting position. The center pad has a variable pad hardness, with a firmer pad hardness in the supporting position than in the resting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Flory, Thomas Geisel, Karsten Radonaut, Andreas Schmidt, Andreas Weingart, Guenter Franzmann
  • Patent number: 7114780
    Abstract: An improved headrest with adjustable connecting tubes is disclosed. The improved headrest comprises a main body, two connecting tubes, a socket unit and several pairs of intermediate connecting tubes. A plurality of threaded insertion holes are provided on the lower side of the main body, and the two connecting tubes may be inserted into these holes. The threaded insertion holes are spaced apart. The rectangular holes allow the adjustment in the distance between the two connecting tubes. The intermediate connecting tubes have several different diameters so that the intermediate connecting tubes may be connected with the bolts provided on the backrests of a seat for different models of automobiles. Hence, by adjusting the distance between the connecting tubes and selecting intermediate connecting tubes with a suitable diameter, the main body may be connected to the backrest of a seat for different models and makes of automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sysgration Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lee, Jung-Chang Wu, Wei-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 7080886
    Abstract: A headrest (1) for a seat (3), preferably a passenger seat, particularly an air passenger seat, includes at least one tilt adjusting device (27) and one height adjustment device (12) for adjusting the tilt or the height of the headrest (1) relative to the backrest (2) of the seat (3) on which the headrest (1) can be placed. A swiveling axis (28) for tilt adjustment of the headrest (1) is on guiding part (14), while pointing away from the headrest. The guiding part displaceably interacts with a longitudinal guide (13) and, together with this longitudinal guide, is part of the height adjusting device (12). The backrest structure can have a highly simplified design due to the longitudinal guide (13) being an integral part of the headrest (1) and the swiveling axis (28) of the guiding part (14) being fixed relative to the backrest (2), and since the frame of the backrest does not require any reinforcing structures or guide rails for accommodating a headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Bauer
  • Patent number: 6942292
    Abstract: A tilt-adjustable head restraint assembly includes a hollowed head restraint body pivotally connected to a U-shaped mounting post. A ratcheting mechanism is disposed within the head restraint body and includes a ratchet interacting with a rack of ratchet teeth. The ratchet has an inertia gear engaged therewith to slow the forward movement of the pivoting head restraint when the ratchet is engaged to allow forward movement of the head restraint, and further has a plunger mechanism which allows for the pivoting of the head restraint in a hands free manner by the application of a static force or pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Kar Keong Low, Nagarjun V. Yetukuri, Kenneth J. McQueen, Mark S. Sebby, Kevin L. Gasparotto
  • Patent number: 6938958
    Abstract: A toddler head support having a unitary support member which includes a padded central support portion and padded side support portions having rounded ends. The central support portion includes a support panel which provides a support base for a wire that forms looped members on each of the side supports. The looped wire provides for adjustability of the side supports. The support member includes an elastic strap and padded wire clips for attachment to a toddler car seat or automobile head rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Gold Bug, Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine Gold, Lynn Rosen
  • Patent number: 6935695
    Abstract: A portable traveller headrest is provided. The portable traller headrest includes a bar that may be articulated so that it can be folded onto itself, the ends of said bar having transversal holes to fix the bar to a seat with a fixing mechanism that adapts to different thickness of a top edge of various seats and fixes the bar to a backrest of the seats by pressure and at a desired height chosen by the user. Headrest elements, which comprise thin plates made of a rigid material and have a cushioned cover, can be connected, disconnected and rotated in discrete positions relative to the bar . The fixing mechanism is hingedly mounted in holes located on the bar, thereby requiring little space for storing the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Veme, S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Antonio Carta Gonzalez, Gerardo Garces Martin
  • Patent number: 6893095
    Abstract: A headrest assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a headrest pivotable between first and second positions. The first position is generally proximate a seatback, and the second position is generally proximate a side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: John E Schambre, Raymond C Deyonker, Marcus G Washington, Michael O Forker
  • Publication number: 20040195894
    Abstract: A vehicle headrest apparatus has a headrest unit mounted to an upper end of a seatback. The headrest unit has a headrest members with a head restraining member configured to be tensioned to restrain a passenger's head upon a rear-end collision. The headrest unit quickly and reliably restrains a seated passenger's head during a rear-end collision without utilizing the inertia force of the passenger's body by detecting the rear-end collision and pushing the headrest unit only outward in the forward direction of the vehicle. The headrest unit also has a swing/pushup device that to pushes the headrest members upwardly and forwardly. An auxiliary swing force adding device applies an auxiliary spring force in the deployment direction of the headrest members to increase the deployment speed of the headrest members and shorten the amount of time required to achieve initial contact between the passenger's head H and the head restraining member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chinmoy Pal, Izumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6767064
    Abstract: An occupant seat of a motor vehicle includes a backrest, and a headrest mounted atop the backrest on a pair of posts. The headrest includes a base portion supported by the posts, and an occupant-engaging contact portion that is supported by the base portion for relative translational movement along a pair of tracks defined on the base portion. In response to a suitable control signal, such as the tensioning of a Bowden cable in response to an applied force, the contact portion moves under the control of an articulated linkage against a return spring bias and away from the base portion. The translational movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion serves to control contact surface inclination throughout the range of movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Eric C. Veine, Thomas J. Fowler, James C. Mulvihill
  • Patent number: 6682143
    Abstract: A booster seat having a body including a seat back and a seat pan for supporting an occupant thereon and an adjustable thigh support coupled to the seat pan and being movable closer to or further away from the seat pan. The booster seat further includes a pair of adjustable arm rests coupled to the body, each arm rest being located on opposed sides of the body and being pivotable about an axis that extends generally transverse to the body. The booster seat includes a pair of head rests coupled to the seat back, each head rest being located on opposed sides of the seat back and being pivotable about an axis that extends generally along the height of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Evenflo Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David Amirault, Mark Geis, Dennis Karns
  • Patent number: RE40527
    Abstract: An occupant seat of a motor vehicle includes a backrest, and a headrest mounted atop the backrest on a pair of posts. The headrest includes a base portion supported by the posts, and an occupant-engaging contact portion that is supported by the base portion for relative translational movement along a pair of tracks defined on the base portion. In response to a suitable control signal, such as the tensioning of a Bowden cable in response to an applied force, the contact portion moves under the control of an articulated linkage against a return spring bias and away from the base portion. The translational movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion serves to control contact surface inclination throughout the range of movement of the contact portion relative to the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Eric C. Veine, Thomas J. Fowler, James A. Mulvihill
  • Patent number: RE44432
    Abstract: On a vertically adjustable headrest provided on a backrest of a vehicle seat, a perpendicularly extending center part is arranged on a front side. On the two lateral edges of the center part, a supporting part is pivotally connected in each case by way of a film hinge, which supporting parts can be swivelled toward lateral edges of the headrest. A holding bow is provided on each supporting part. A leg spring, which itself is inserted into the headrest, reaches around the holding bow. The holding bow interacts with the leg spring such that, in the event of a vehicle crash, the supporting parts are displaced into the inoperative position by the mere action of the vehicle occupant's head. Furthermore, one control element respectively can also be applied to the end section of the supporting part, by way of which control element, the supporting part is swivelled in a sensor-controlled manner into the inoperative position in the event of a vehicle crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sven Bartels