Power head restraint with flexible closeout cover member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10703237-B2
Application number	US-201816160011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2018
Priority date	Apr 27, 2016
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a headrest assembly coupled to a seatback which has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a headrest bun between extended and retracted positions. A plate member is positioned between the seatback and the headrest assembly and coupled to a substantially rigid frame through an extendable member. The adjustment mechanism comprises a linkage to move the plate member towards a deployed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seat, comprising:
a headrest assembly positioned above and supported by a seatback, the headrest assembly having an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a headrest bun between extended and retracted positions; and
a plate member operably coupled to the seatback below the headrest assembly, wherein the plate member is coupled to a substantially rigid frame through an extendable member, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a linkage to move the plate member towards a deployed position.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the plate member is coupled to the substantially rigid frame through a plurality of extendable members.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 2 , wherein the extendable members are positioned on opposite sides of the plate member.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the extendable member further includes an outwardly extending body portion that contorts to retract the plate member.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises an actuator.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the extendable member is operable between at-rest and extended positions.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the extendable member includes first and second ends disposed on opposite sides of an outwardly extending body portion.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rigidifying member disposed on an inner surface of the plate member.

9. A vehicle seat, comprising:
a headrest assembly supported above a seatback and having a headrest bun and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the headrest bun between extended and retracted positions; and
a plate member engaged with the adjustment mechanism and operably coupled to the seatback below the headrest assembly, wherein the plate member pivots towards a deployed position as the headrest bun is driven outwardly by the adjustment mechanism.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein the plate member is coupled to a substantially rigid frame assembly.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 10 , wherein the plate member is coupled to the substantially rigid frame assembly at a flexible joint.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 10 , wherein the plate member is coupled to the substantially rigid frame assembly through an extendable member.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an actuator and a linkage.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein the plate member is positioned between the headrest bun and the seatback.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 9 , wherein the plate member is operable between deployed and retracted positions.

16. A vehicle seat, comprising:
a headrest assembly supported above and operably coupled to a seatback wherein the headrest assembly includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a headrest bun between extended and retracted positions, wherein a spacing is defined between the headrest bun and the seatback in the extended position; and
a plate member positioned on the seatback below the headrest assembly, wherein the plate member is operable to extend into the spacing in an extended position from a retracted position.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 16 , wherein the plate member is coupled to the adjustment mechanism.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 17 , wherein the plate member is configured to move into the spacing as the headrest bun is moved to the extended position.

19. The vehicle seat of claim 16 , wherein the plate member is free of contact with the headrest bun in both the extended and retracted positions of the headrest bun.

20. The vehicle seat of claim 16 , wherein the plate member is coupled to a substantially rigid frame assembly.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Hosbach Christian J
• Casey Carol
• Godin Keith Allen
• Andree David

Classifications

• B60N2/865 Primary

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

• B60N2/6009

  covering more than only the seat · CPC title

• B60N2/862

  with means for maintaining a desired position when the seat-back is adjusted, e.g. parallelogram mechanisms · CPC title

• B60N2/58 Primary

  Seat coverings · CPC title