Seatback and headrest assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11291304-B1
Application number	US-202117221574-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2021
Priority date	Apr 2, 2021
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a seatback with a frame assembly. A track member is operably coupled to the frame assembly. A carriage member is pivotally and slideably coupled to the track member between raised and lowered positions. At least one support rod having upper and lower portions is operably coupled to the carriage member for movement therewith. A headrest assembly is supported on the upper portion of the at least one support rod and is operable between extended and retracted positions. The headrest assembly includes a headrest bun with a downwardly extending lower portion. The seatback includes a receiving area extending inwardly from a front side of the seatback and extending downwardly from an upper side of the seatback. A portion of the downwardly extending lower portion of the headrest assembly is received in the receiving area of the seatback when the headrest assembly is in the retracted position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat assembly, comprising:
a seatback having an interior portion with a frame assembly disposed therein;
a track member operably coupled to the frame assembly and having a channel disposed along the track member;
a carriage member slideably coupled to the channel of the track member between raised and lowered positions, wherein the carriage member includes a hollow interior cavity;
a guide plate pivotally coupled to the frame assembly between first and second positions, wherein the guide plate includes at least one sleeve having an outer casing with a receiving channel disposed therethrough;
at least one support rod having upper and lower portions with a body portion disposed therebetween, wherein the lower portion is received in the hollow interior cavity of the carriage member for movement therewith, and further wherein the body portion is slideably received in the receiving channel of the guide plate; and
a headrest assembly supported on the upper portion of the at least one support rod, wherein the headrest assembly is operable between extended and retracted positions.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the carriage member includes an engagement member extending outwardly from the body portion of the carriage member.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the engagement member is slideably and pivotally coupled to the channel of the track member for sliding and pivoting movement therealong.

4. The seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the channel is an inwardly opening channel.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the guide plate is in the first position when the carriage member is in the lowered position.

6. The seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein the guide plate is in the second position when the carriage member is in the raised position.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 , wherein the guide plate rotates forward from the first position to the second position as the carriage member moves from the lowered position to the raised position.

8. A seat assembly, comprising:
a seatback having an interior portion with a frame assembly disposed therein;
a track member operably coupled to the frame assembly;
a carriage member pivotally and slideably coupled to the track member between raised and lowered positions;
at least one support rod having upper and lower portions, wherein the lower portion is operably coupled to the carriage member for movement therewith; and
a headrest assembly supported on the upper portion of the at least one support rod, wherein the headrest assembly is operable between extended and retracted positions.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the headrest assembly includes a headrest bun with a downwardly extending lower portion.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the seatback includes a front side and an upper side, and further wherein a receiving area extends inwardly from the front side of the seatback and extends downwardly from the upper side of the seatback.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the downwardly extending lower portion is received in the receiving area when the headrest assembly is in the retracted position.

12. The seat assembly of claim 8 , including:
a guide plate pivotally coupled to the frame assembly between first and second positions, wherein the guide plate includes at least one sleeve with a receiving channel disposed therethrough, and further wherein a body portion of the at least one support rod is slideably received through the receiving channel.

13. The seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the guide plate is in the first position when the carriage member is in the lowered position.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the guide plate is in the second position when the carriage member is in the raised position.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 , wherein the guide plate rotates forward from the first position to the second position as the carriage member moves from the lowered position to the raised position.

16. A seat assembly, comprising:
a seatback having an interior portion with a frame assembly disposed therein;
a track member operably coupled to the frame assembly at a mounting angle; and
a support rod having upper and lower portions, wherein the lower portion is operably coupled to the track member for movement between raised and lowered positions, and further wherein the support rod is disposed at a first angle relative to the mounting angle of the track member when the support rod is in the lowered position, and further wherein the support rod is disposed at a second angle relative to the mounting angle of the track member when the support rod is in the raised position, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

17. The seat assembly of claim 16 , including:
a guide plate pivotally coupled to the frame assembly between first and second positions, wherein the support rod is slideably coupled to the guide plate.

18. The seat assembly of claim 17 , wherein the guide plate is in the first position when the support rod is in the lowered position, and further wherein the guide plate rotates forward to the second position as the support rod moves from the lowered position to the raised position.

19. The seat assembly of claim 16 , wherein the support rod pivots forward from the first angle to the second angle as the support rod moves from the lowered position to the raised position.

20. The seat assembly of claim 19 , including:
a headrest assembly supported on the upper portion of the support rod, wherein the headrest assembly is operable between extended and retracted positions.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Nagi Ranjit

Classifications

• B60N2/891 Primary

  with the head-rest being comma-shaped in side view · CPC title

• B60N2/859

  specially adapted for rear seats · CPC title

• B60N2/835

  specially adapted for rear seats · CPC title

• B60N2/42

  the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats (for protecting children B60N2/26; arm-rests B60N2/75; head-rests B60N2/888) · CPC title

• A47C7/38 Primary

  for the head, e.g. detachable · CPC title