Headrest assembly for a pivoting headrest

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11208018-B1
Application number	US-202017001975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 25, 2020
Priority date	Aug 25, 2020
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A headrest assembly includes a pivot pin rotatably coupled to a support structure. A pivot member extends outward from a headrest body and is coupled to the pivot pin. A lock assembly is disposed about the pivot pin and is operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition. In the engaged condition, rotation of the pivot pin relative to the support structure is generally prevented. A pulley wheel is operable to rotate about the pivot pin from a first position to a second position to prompt the lock assembly to enter the disengaged condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest assembly, comprising:
first and second pivot members extending outward from a headrest body;
a pivot pin extending between the first and second pivot members and rotatably coupled to a support structure, wherein the first and second pivot members are configured to pivot relative to the support structure with rotation of the pivot pin relative to the support structure;
a first locking feature coupled to the pivot pin between the first and second pivot members and having an aperture through which the pivot pin extends, wherein the first locking feature is configured to rotate with rotation of the pivot pin relative to the support structure;
a second locking feature coupled to the support structure between the first and second pivot members and having an aperture through which the pivot pin extends, wherein the pivot pin is configured to rotate relative to the second locking feature, the first and second locking features being operable between an engaged condition, wherein the first and second locking features are relatively nearer to each other and rotation of the pivot pin relative to the support structure is generally prevented by the first and second locking features, and a disengaged condition; and
a pulley wheel disposed between the first and second locking features and having an aperture through which the pivot pin extends, the pulley wheel being operable to rotate about the pivot pin from a first position to a second position, wherein rotation from the first position to the second position moves the first locking feature further away from the second locking feature, such that the first and second locking features enter the disengaged condition.

2. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a biasing feature disposed between the first and second pivot members and configured to yieldingly bias the first locking feature toward the second locking feature.

3. The headrest assembly of claim 2 , wherein the biasing feature comprises a coil spring at least partially coiled about the pivot pin.

4. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pulley wheel comprises:
a first contact surface; and

the second locking feature comprises:
a second contact surface configured to contact the first contact surface of the pulley wheel, wherein contact between the first and second contact surfaces as the pulley wheel rotates from the first position to the second position about the pivot pin causes the pulley wheel to move along the pivot pin away from the second locking feature.

5. The headrest assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first and second contact surfaces respectively define first and second planes, each angled between an axis of rotation of the pulley wheel and a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein the first and second planes are closer to parallel to each other in the first position of the pulley wheel than the second position of the pulley wheel.

6. The headrest assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane in the first position of the pulley wheel.

7. A headrest assembly, comprising:
a pivot pin;
a support structure operably coupled to the pivot pin, wherein the pivot pin is configured to rotate relative to the support structure;
a pivot member coupled to the pivot pin, wherein the pivot member is configured to rotate with the pivot pin to pivot a headrest body coupled to the pivot member;
a first locking feature coupled to the pivot pin and configured to rotate with the pivot pin;
a second locking feature coupled to the support structure, the first and second locking features being operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition, wherein the first and second locking features generally prevent rotation of the pivot pin relative to the support structure; and
a pulley wheel operably coupled to the pivot pin between the first and second locking features and operable to rotate about the pivot pin from a first position to a second position, wherein rotation of the pulley wheel from the first position to the second position prompts the first and second locking features to enter the disengaged condition.

8. The headrest assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a biasing feature coupled to and configured to yieldingly bias the first locking feature toward the second locking feature.

9. The headrest assembly of claim 8 , wherein the biasing feature comprises a coil spring at least partially coiled about the pivot pin.

10. The headrest assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second locking features defines an aperture through which the pivot pin extends.

11. The headrest assembly of claim 7 , wherein the pulley wheel is configured to move along the pivot pin away from the second locking feature as the pulley wheel rotates about the pivot pin from the first position to the second position.

12. The headrest assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first locking feature comprises a pawl configured to be received by a receiver of the second locking feature in the engaged condition of the first and second locking features.

13. The headrest assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a cable operably coupled to the pulley wheel and operable to move between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein movement of the cable from the retracted position to the extended position is configured to rotate the pulley wheel from the first position to the second position.

14. A headrest assembly, comprising:
a pivot pin rotatably coupled to a support structure;
a pivot member that extends outward from a headrest body coupled to the pivot pin;
a lock assembly having first and second locking features disposed about the pivot pin and operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition, wherein rotation of the pivot pin relative to the support structure is generally prevented; and
a pulley wheel positioned between the first and second locking features and operable to rotate about the pivot pin from a first position to a second position to prompt the lock assembly to enter the disengaged condition.

15. The headrest assembly of claim 14 , further comprising:
a biasing feature configured to bias the lock assembly to yieldingly retain the lock assembly in the engaged condition.

16. The headrest assembly of claim 14 , wherein the
first locking feature defines an aperture through which the pivot pin extends, and
the second locking feature defines an aperture through which the pivot pin extends, wherein the first and second locking features are configured to be engaged with each other to generally prevent rotation of the pivot pin relative to the support structure in the engaged condition of the lock assembly.

17. The headrest assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first locking feature is operably coupled to the pivot pin, such that the first locking feature is configured to rotate with the pivot pin as the pivot pin rotates relative to the support structure, and the pivot pin is configured to rotate relative to the second locking feature.

18. The headrest assembly of claim 16 , wherein the pulley wheel is configured to move along the pivot pin away from the second locking feature as the pulley wheel rotates about the pivot pin from the first position to the second position.

19. The headrest assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
a cable operably coupled to the pulley wheel and operable to move between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein movement of the cable from the

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Koehler Juergen
• Fredriksson Chris
• Dunn Timothy
• Doan Linh Ngoc

Classifications

• B60N2/856

  movable to an inoperative or stowed position · CPC title

• B60N2/841 Primary

  characterised by their locking devices · CPC title