Friction module, friction hinge, and adjustable headrest including the friction module and/or friction hinge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10960801-B2
Application number	US-201916703598-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2019
Priority date	Mar 16, 2015
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

Adjustable headrest including a guide configured to be coupled to a seat; a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat; and a slider having a surface defining a recess receiving the guide. A retainer is positioned to urge a surface of the slider against a surface of the guide, thereby maintaining friction between the surface of the slider and the surface of the guide. Additionally, the adjustable headrest includes a bracket that is fixable relative to the head support or fixed relative to the seat. The bracket has a mounting section positioned for fixation relative to the head support or for fixation to the seat and a guide receiving portion receiving the guide. The slider and the bracket are separate components and are formed from the same material or different materials.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable headrest for a seat comprising:
a guide having opposed end portions;
a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat;
a bracket fixable or fixed relative to the seat, the bracket having a mounting section positioned to be fixed relative to the seat and a guide receiving portion for receiving the guide and for coupling the head support to the seat; and
a release assembly having an engaged configuration and a released configuration, the release assembly limiting movement of at least one end portion of the guide relative to the head support in the engaged configuration and permitting movement of the at least one end portion of the guide relative to the head support in the released configuration, thereby permitting angled or pivotable movement of the guide relative to the head support;
wherein the guide receiving portion of the bracket is prevented from separating from the guide when the release assembly is in the engaged configuration; and
wherein the guide receiving portion of the bracket is separable from the guide when the release assembly is in the released configuration and the guide is angled or pivoted relative to the head support.

2. The adjustable headrest of claim 1 , wherein the release assembly is coupled to a bottom portion of the head support.

3. The adjustable headrest of claim 1 , wherein the head support defines a slot having an entrance at an edge of the head support, the slot of the head support extending from the entrance inwardly in a first direction for receiving the at least one end portion of the guide.

4. The adjustable headrest of claim 3 , wherein the release assembly includes a release bracket defining a slot having an entrance at an edge of the release bracket, the slot of the release bracket extending from the entrance inwardly in a second direction transverse to the first direction for receiving the at least one end portion of the guide.

5. The adjustable headrest of claim 4 , wherein the entrance of the slot of the head support aligns with the entrance of the slot of the release bracket when the release assembly is in the released configuration, and the entrance of the slot of the head support is offset relative to the entrance of the slot of the release bracket when the release assembly is in the engaged configuration.

6. The adjustable headrest of claim 5 , wherein the release assembly includes a first release bracket coupled for movement relative to a second release bracket and a biasing member acting between the first release bracket and the second release bracket.

7. The adjustable headrest of claim 6 , wherein the biasing member is selected from the group consisting of a compression spring, an extension spring, or a compressible elastomer.

8. A method for separating an adjustable headrest from a seat, the method comprising:
moving a release assembly associated with the adjustable headrest from an engaged configuration, in which movement of a headrest guide is limited relative to the adjustable headrest or the seat, to a released configuration, in which angled or pivotable movement of the headrest guide relative to the adjustable headrest or the seat is permitted, thereby allowing the angled or pivotable movement of the headrest guide;
angling or pivoting the headrest guide relative to the adjustable headrest or the seat, thereby allowing separation of the adjustable headrest from the seat; and
separating the adjustable headrest from the seat.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the moving step further comprises aligning an entrance of a slot of a head support of the adjustable headrest with an entrance of a slot of a release bracket of the release assembly.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the separating step further comprises sliding the headrest guide relative to the seat or the adjustable headrest in a direction along an adjustment path of the adjustable headrest.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the moving step further comprises moving the release assembly from the engaged configuration, in which movement of the headrest guide is limited relative to the adjustable headrest, to the released configuration, in which angled or pivotable movement of the headrest guide relative to the adjustable headrest is permitted, thereby allowing the angled or pivotable movement of the headrest guide relative to the adjustable headrest.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the angling or pivoting step further comprises angling or pivoting the headrest guide relative to the adjustable headrest.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the separating step further comprises sliding a head support including the headrest guide along an adjustment path of the adjustable headrest.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the moving step further comprises moving a release bracket from a position in which a slot entrance of the release bracket is offset relative to a slot entrance of the head support to a position in which the slot entrance of the release bracket is aligned relative to the slot entrance of the head support, thereby permitting the release of an end portion of the headrest guide from the head support.

15. An adjustable seating system comprising:
a seat;
an adjustable headrest releasably coupled to the seat for movement along an adjustment path relative to the seat, the adjustable headrest comprising a head support configured to be movable along the adjustment path relative to the seat;
a guide fixed or fixable to the head support of the adjustable headrest or the seat, the guide having end portions positioned along the adjustment path; and
a release assembly permitting angled or pivotable movement of at least one end portion of the guide relative to the head support or the seat in a released configuration, thereby permitting separation of the adjustable headrest from the seat.

16. The seating system of claim 15 , wherein the guide is fixed or fixable to the head support of the adjustable headrest.

17. The seating system of claim 16 , wherein the release assembly permits angled or pivotable movement of the at least one end portion of the guide relative to the head support in the released configuration.

18. The seating system of claim 17 , the release assembly having an engaged configuration limiting movement of the at least one end portion of the guide relative to the head support.

19. The seating system of claim 15 , further comprising a bracket fixable or fixed relative to the seat, the bracket having a mounting section positioned to be fixed relative to the seat and a guide receiving portion for receiving the guide and for coupling the head support to the seat;
wherein the guide receiving portion of the bracket is prevented from separating from the guide when the release assembly is in an engaged configuration; and
wherein the guide receiving portion of the bracket is separable from the guide when the release assembly is in the released configuration and the guide is angled or pivoted relative to the head support.

Assignees

• Southco

Inventors

• Novin Eugene
• Matejka Andrew S

Classifications

• F16M2200/027

  by friction · CPC title

• F16C2326/43

  Aeroplanes; Helicopters · CPC title

• B60N2/824 Primary

  using springs · CPC title

• B60N2/844

  Release mechanisms, e.g. buttons · CPC title

• F16C2326/08

  Vehicle seats, e.g. in linear movable seats · CPC title