Headrest support assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569683-B2
Application number	US-201816012034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2018
Priority date	Jun 19, 2018
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A headrest support assembly is provided that comprises a support member flexible between neutral and loaded states and having first and second ends with a channel extending therebetween. A cable is slidably received in the channel between first and second positions. The cable has first and second ends, and the cable moves from the first position to the second position when the support member moves from the neutral state to the loaded state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest support assembly, comprising:
a support member having first and second ends with a channel extending therebetween, wherein the support member includes an upper portion that is flexible to deflect from a neutral state to a loaded state when a load is applied to the upper portion of the support member; and
a cable slidably received in the channel between first and second positions, wherein the cable has first and second ends, and further wherein the cable moves from the first position to the second position when the upper portion of the support member moves from the neutral state to the loaded state.

2. The headrest support assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second ends of the cable includes an anchor extending past the respective first and second ends of the support member.

3. The headrest support assembly of claim 2 , wherein each anchor abuts the respective first and second ends of the support member when the cable is in the second position.

4. The headrest support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises interior ribs defining a plurality of openings.

5. The headrest support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable is over molded into the channel.

6. A headrest support assembly, comprising:
a support member having first and second ends, an upper portion, a lower portion, and a transition curve;
a channel defined by the support member and extending between the first and second ends of the support member; and
a cable received in the channel and having first and second cable ends.

7. The headrest support assembly of claim 6 , wherein the cable is slidable within the channel between first and second positions.

8. The headrest support assembly of claim 7 , wherein the cable is in the first position when the support member is in a neutral state, and further wherein the cable is in the second position when the support member is in a loaded state.

9. The headrest support assembly of claim 6 , wherein the support member includes retention clips positioned above each of the first and second ends of the support member.

10. The headrest support assembly of claim 6 , wherein the upper portion and the lower portion include first interior ribs positioned perpendicular to a rear side of the support member.

11. The headrest support assembly of claim 10 , wherein the transition curve includes second interior ribs positioned parallel to the rear side of the support member.

12. The headrest support assembly of claim 6 , wherein the support member is deflectable between a neutral state and a loaded state.

13. The headrest support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the upper portion is configured to move relative to the lower portion as the support member deflects through the transition curve and between the neutral state and the loaded state.

14. A headrest support assembly, comprising:
a support member defining a channel extending between first and second ends of the support member;
a cable having first and second ends with an interconnecting portion disposed therebetween, wherein the interconnecting portion is slidably received in the channel of the support member, and further wherein the first and second ends are disposed outside of the channel of the support member when the cable is in a first position; and
first and second anchors disposed on the first and second ends of the cable, respectively, wherein the first and second anchors abut the first and second ends of the support member, respectively, when the cable is in a second position.

15. The headrest support assembly of claim 14 , wherein the cable is over-molded with the channel.

16. The headrest support assembly of claim 14 , wherein first and second caps are operably coupled with the first and second ends of the support member.

17. The headrest support assembly of claim 14 , wherein the support member is movable between first and second positions.

18. The headrest support assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cable is moved to the second position when the support member is in the second position.

19. The headrest support assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first and second anchors extend a predetermined distance beyond the first and second ends of the support member, and further wherein the predetermined distance is determined by an expected deflection of the support member in the second position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Fredriksson Chris
• Medoro Michael Steven
• Woods Derren

Classifications

• B60N2/882

  detachable · CPC title

• B60N2/865 Primary

  providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head · CPC title

• B60N2/897

  with sleeves located in the back-rest for guiding the rods of the head-rest · CPC title

• B60N2/894

  with rods solidly attached to the back-rest · CPC title

• B60N2/888 Primary

  with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest · CPC title