Headrest-integrated entertainment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10556549-B2
Application number	US-201514793881-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2015
Priority date	Jul 8, 2015
Publication date	Feb 11, 2020
Grant date	Feb 11, 2020

Abstract

A headrest system and a method of providing the same is disclosed. The headrest system comprises a head support unit adaptable onto a vehicle seat, a fabric member configured to envelope at least a portion of the head support unit, and a plurality of anchor members configured to retain the fabric member in a substantially staple-free fashion. The head support unit includes a pillow portion defining a head supporting surface. The fabric member includes a central portion configured to cover the head supporting surface, and a fringe portion integrally connected around the central portion. The anchor members are arranged at locations opposite to the head supporting surface, and are configured to engage selective parts of the fringe portion, so as to as to stretch the central portion substantially conformally over the head support surface of the pillow portion and substantially retain the fabric member on the head support unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest system for a vehicle seat, comprising:
a head support unit adaptable onto a vehicle seat, including a pillow portion defining a head supporting surface configured to support the head of a vehicle boarder;
a fabric member configured to envelope at least a portion of the head support unit, the fabric member including:
a central portion configured to cover the head-supporting surface of the pillow portion, and
a fringe portion integrally connected around the central portion;

a plurality of anchor members arranged on the head support unit at locations opposite to the head supporting surface, configured to engage selective parts of the fringe portion so as to stretch the central portion substantially conformally over the head support surface of the pillow portion and substantially retain the fabric member on the head support unit; and
a multimedia module configured to be coupled to the head support unit, the multimedia module comprising:
a housing unit that defines a device compartment and a multimedia system including a display device accessibly retained in the device compartment,
wherein the housing unit comprises a base member adapted to be securely coupled to the head support unit, and the anchor members are integrally provided on the base member of the housing unit,
wherein the housing unit comprises a cover panel member configured to enclosingly couple the base member to define the device compartment that accessibly receives the multimedia system,
wherein the base member and the cover panel member are couplable to each other through a plurality of integrally formed buckle units respectively distributed thereon, and
wherein a portion of the anchor members is configured to concurrently function as the buckle unit.

2. The headrest system of claim 1 , wherein the fabric member is retained on the head support unit in a substantially staple-free manner.

3. The headrest system of claim 1 ,
wherein the head support unit further includes a support portion coupled to the pillow portion and configured to support the head support unit on the seat,
wherein a portion of the anchor members is integrally provided on the support portion of the head support unit.

4. The headrest system of claim 3 , wherein the support portion comprises a mounting bracket, and a portion of the anchor members is integrally formed on the mounting bracket.

5. The headrest system of claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a molded plastic construction, and the anchor members are integrally formed thereon.

6. The headrest system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the plurality of anchor members comprises an intrusive arrangement configured to penetrate through a selective location of the fringe portion of the fabric member.

7. The headrest system of claim 6 , wherein the fringe portion of the fabric member comprises a retaining slot arranged at a location corresponding to the anchor member.

8. The headrest system claim 7 , wherein the anchor member comprises a protruding extension.

9. The headrest system of claim 8 , wherein the protruding extension further comprises a hook that establishes mechanical contact with the fringe portion.

10. The headrest system of claim 1 ,
wherein the fabric member further comprises a fastening unit arranged at a selective location of the fringe portion thereof, and
wherein a portion of the plurality of anchor members comprises a non-intrusive arrangement including an anchor slot configured to accept the fastening unit.

11. The headrest system of claim 10 ,
wherein the fastening unit is a hook attachment provided at the selective location of the fringe portion,
wherein the anchor slot comprises a recess slot correspondingly configured to accept the hook attachment.

12. The headrest system of claim 10 , wherein the fastening unit comprises a magnetic attachment provided at the selective location of the fringe portion.

13. The headrest system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the anchor members comprises hook extensions protruding from an inner wall of the base member.

14. A method of providing a headrest system, comprising:
providing a head support unit having a pillow portion that defines a head supporting surface configured to support the head of a seat occupant;
integrally forming a plurality of anchor members on the head support unit at locations opposite to the head supporting surface;
providing a fabric member configured to envelope at least a portion of the head support unit, the fabric member including a central portion configured to cover the head supporting surface of the pillow portion and a fringe portion integrally connected around the central portion;
mounting the fabric member onto the head support unit by:
substantially covering the head supporting surface of the pillow portion with the central portion of the fabric member, and
engaging selective parts of the fringe portion of the fabric member with the anchor members so as to stretch the central portion substantially conformally over the head support surface of the pillow portion and substantially retain the fabric member on the head support unit; and

providing a multimedia module configured to be coupled to the head support unit, the multimedia module comprising a housing unit that defines a device compartment and a multimedia system including a display device accessibly retained in the device compartment,
wherein integrally forming the anchor members includes stamp pressing selected portions of the head support unit to form the anchor members.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the head support unit includes a support portion coupled to the pillow portion configured to support the head support unit on a vehicle seat, wherein forming a plurality of anchor members includes integrally forming the anchor members on the support portion.

16. The method of claim 15 ,
wherein the support portion comprises a mounting bracket, and
wherein integrally forming the anchor members includes stamp pressing selected portions of the mounting bracket to form the anchor members.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein mounting the fabric member includes providing a portion of the anchor members in an intrusive configuration arranged to penetrate through a selective location of the fringe portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fringe portion of the fabric member is provided with a retaining slot arranged at a location corresponding to the anchor member.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the retaining slot in the fringe portion of the fabric member is pre-designated.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the retaining slot is pre-arranged.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the retaining slot in the fringe portion of the fabric member is provided in the field prior to mounting.

22. The method of claim 14 , further including providing a fastening unit at a selective location of the fringe portion,
wherein mounting the fabric member includes providing a portion of the anchor members in a non-intrusive configuration that comprises an anchor slot configured to accept the fastening unit.

23. A method of providing a headrest system, comprising:
providing a head support unit having a pillow portion that defines a head supporting surface configured to support the head of a seat occupant;
forming a plurality of anchor members on the head support unit at locations opposite to the head supporting surface;
providing a fabric member configur

Assignees

• Voxx Int Corp

Inventors

• Chang Chung Lung
• Chang Arthur

Classifications

• B60N2/6009

  covering more than only the seat · CPC title

• B60R11/02 Primary

  for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof · CPC title

• B60N2/58

  Seat coverings · CPC title

• B60R2011/0017

  Head-rests · CPC title

• B60N2/806

  movable or adjustable · CPC title