Headrest with deployable neck pillow feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399475-B2
Application number	US-201715834257-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2017
Priority date	Dec 7, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A headrest assembly includes a headrest bun and first and second side supports coupled to first and second side portions of the headrest bun by first and second hinge assemblies, respectively. The first and second side supports each include respective first and second receiving wells and are operable between retracted and deployed positions relative to the headrest bun. A support member is partially received within the headrest bun and includes first and second locator pins extending outwardly from the first and second side portions of the headrest bun, respectively. The first and second locator pins are received in the first and second receiving wells when the first and second side supports are in the retracted position. The hinge assemblies each include a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis. The side support is rotatable along both the first and second pivot axes relative to the headrest bun.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest assembly, comprising:
a headrest bun;
first and second side supports respectively coupled to first and second side portions of the headrest bun by respective first and second hinge assemblies, wherein the first and second side supports include respective first and second receiving wells, and further wherein the first and second side supports are operable between retracted and deployed positions relative to the headrest bun; and
a support member formed as a single rigid frame comprising a generally U-shaped element partially received within the headrest bun and having a first locator pin extending outwardly from the first side portion of the headrest bun, and a second locator pin extending outwardly from the second side portion of the headrest bun, wherein the first and second locator pins are respectively received in the first and second receiving wells of the first and second side supports when the first and second side supports are in the retracted position.

2. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second receiving wells are disposed on inner side surfaces of the first and second side supports, and further wherein the first and second receiving wells inwardly extend into body portions of the first and second side supports from outer openings of the first and second receiving wells.

3. The headrest assembly of claim 2 , including:
a first release button operably coupled to a first engagement feature, wherein the first engagement feature outwardly extends from the first side portion of the headrest bun; and
a second release button operably coupled to a second engagement feature, wherein the second engagement feature outwardly extends from the second side portion of the headrest bun.

4. The headrest assembly of claim 3 , including:
a first retention feature positioned on the inner side surface of the first side support, the first retention feature including a first engagement member, wherein the first engagement member of the first side support engages the first engagement feature of the headrest bun when the first side support is in the retracted position; and
a second retention feature positioned the inner side surface of the second side support, the second retention feature including a second engagement member, wherein the second engagement member of the second side support engages the second engagement feature of the headrest bun when the second side support is in the retracted position.

5. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member and the first and second locator pins are comprised of a metal material, and further wherein the first and second locator pins include outer surfaces having a coating disposed thereon.

6. The headrest assembly of claim 5 , wherein the coating is flexibly resilient.

7. The headrest assembly of claim 6 , wherein the coating is comprised of one of a polymeric material, a foam material, a cloth material and a flock material.

8. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member and the first and second locator pins are comprised of a metal material, and further wherein the first and second receiving wells include linings disposed on inner perimeter surfaces thereof.

9. A headrest assembly, comprising:
a headrest bun having a laterally outwardly facing side surface;
a side support having at least one receiving well, the side support pivotally coupled about a plurality of axes to the headrest bun between retracted and deployed positions by a hinge assembly; and
at least one locator pin extending outwardly from the laterally outwardly facing side surface of the headrest bun at a location spaced from the hinge assembly, wherein the at least one locator pin is received in the at least one receiving well of the side support when the side support is in the retracted position.

10. The headrest assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one locator pin includes first and second locator pins.

11. The headrest assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one receiving well includes first and second receiving wells.

12. The headrest assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first locator pin is removeably received in the first receiving well when the side support is in the retracted position, and further wherein the second locator pin is removeably received in the second receiving well when the side support is in the retracted position.

13. The headrest assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first and second locator pins extend outwardly from a side portion of the headrest bun, and further wherein the first locator pin is positioned above the second locator pin.

14. The headrest assembly of claim 9 , wherein the hinge assembly includes a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis that is different than the first pivot axis, wherein the plurality of axes comprise the first and second pivot axes, and further wherein the side support is rotatable along both the first and second pivot axes when the at least one locator pin is removed from the at least one receiving well.

15. The headrest assembly of claim 9 , wherein the side support and the headrest bun include front surfaces, and further wherein the front surface of the headrest bun is aligned with the front surface of the side support when the at least one locator pin is received in the at least one receiving well of the side support.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jalpa Jonathan Kaleb
• Flores Carla
• Fernandez Arturo Sebastian

Classifications

• B60N2/885 Primary

  provided with side-rests · CPC title

• B60N2/838

  Tiltable · CPC title