Apparatus for rotating a headrest of a vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12157407-B2
Application number	US-202217941839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2022
Priority date	Sep 14, 2021
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus for rotating a headrest of a vehicle seat includes a headrest that is rotated forward to support a seat occupant's head upon reclining of a seatback. A seat occupant's head is comfortably supported by the headrest and a comfortable relaxation posture is implemented.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for rotating a headrest of a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:
a headrest support frame mounted on a seatback frame;
a pair of stay guide pipes into which stays of a headrest are inserted so as to be movable upward and downward;
a hinge device mounted between the headrest support frame and the pair of stay guide pipes and configured to rotate the pair of stay guide pipes forward and rearward;
a latch device mounted on the hinge device to lock or unlock the pair of stay guide pipe;
a reclining operation lever mounted on a side portion of a seat cushion to recline the seatback frame;
a first cable connecting the seatback frame to the hinge device; and
a second cable connecting the reclining operation lever to the latch device,
wherein the hinge device includes
a pair of support pipes each mounted on the pair of stay guide pipes,
a first hinge bracket and a second hinge bracket mounted on the headrest support frame so as to be spaced apart from each other in a leftward and rightward direction,
a hinge pipe connecting the pair of support pipes and rotatably inserted into the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket, and
a first rotating plate rotatably located on an outer side of the first hinge bracket, connected to one end of the hinge pipe, and connected to a distal end of the first cable so as to be rotated forward when the first cable is pulled.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first return spring is mounted between the first rotating plate and the first hinge bracket, the first return spring configured to provide an elastic restoring force to rotate the first rotating plate to an original position thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cable has a proximal end connected to a fixed frame to which the seatback frame is reclinably coupled.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a section between a proximal end and a distal end of the first cable is mounted on a rear surface portion of the seatback frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the latch device comprises:
a toothed gear mounted on the hinge pipe of the hinge device;
a locking pin rotatably disposed at an inner side of the second hinge bracket of the hinge device and lockably engaged with the toothed gear; and
a second rotating plate rotatably disposed on an outer side of the second hinge bracket, coaxially connected to the locking pin, and connected to a remaining end of the second cable so as to be rotated in an unlocking direction of the locking pin when the second cable is pulled.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a second return spring is mounted between the second rotating plate and the second hinge bracket, the second return spring configured to provide an elastic restoring force to rotate the second rotating plate to an original position thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cable has one end connected to a rear upper surface portion of a rotating center of the reclining operation lever.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cable rotates the stay guide pipe forward while being pulled during reclining of the seatback frame.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cable unlocks the latch device while being pulled when the reclining operation lever is lifted.

10. An apparatus for rotating a headrest of a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:
a headrest support frame mounted on a seatback frame;
a pair of stay guide pipes into which stays of a headrest are inserted so as to be movable upward and downward;
a hinge device mounted between the headrest support frame and the pair of stay guide pipes and configured to rotate the pair of stay guide pipes forward and rearward;
a latch device mounted on the hinge device to lock or unlock the pair of stay guide pipe;
a reclining operation lever mounted on a side portion of a seat cushion to recline the seatback frame;
a first cable connecting the seatback frame to the hinge device; and
a second cable connecting the reclining operation lever to the latch device,
wherein the second cable has one end connected to a rear upper surface portion of a rotating center of the reclining operation lever.

11. An apparatus for rotating a headrest of a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:
a headrest support frame mounted on a seatback frame;
a pair of stay guide pipes into which stays of a headrest are inserted so as to be movable upward and downward;
a hinge device mounted between the headrest support frame and the pair of stay guide pipes and configured to rotate the pair of stay guide pipes forward and rearward;
a latch device mounted on the hinge device to lock or unlock the pair of stay guide pipes;
a reclining operation lever mounted on a side portion of a seat cushion to recline the seatback frame;
a first cable connecting the seatback frame to the hinge device; and
a second cable connecting the reclining operation lever to the latch device,
wherein the hinge device includes a first hinge bracket and a second hinge bracket mounted on the headrest support frame so as to be spaced apart from each other in a leftward and a rightward direction, and
wherein the latch device includes a toothed gear mounted on a hinge pipe of the hinge device and includes a locking pin rotatably disposed at an inner side of the second hinge bracket of the hinge device and lockably engaged with the toothed gear.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the hinge device further comprises:
a pair of support pipes each mounted on the pair of stay guide pipes;
the hinge pipe connecting the pair of support pipes and rotatably inserted into the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket; and
a first rotating plate rotatably located on an outer side of the first hinge bracket, connected to one end of the hinge pipe, and connected to a distal end of the first cable so as to be rotated forward when the first cable is pulled.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a first return spring is mounted between the first rotating plate and the first hinge bracket, and wherein the first return spring is configured to provide an elastic restoring force to rotate the first rotating plate to an original position thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the latch device further comprises:
a second rotating plate rotatably disposed on an outer side of the second hinge bracket, coaxially connected to the locking pin, and connected to a remaining end of the second cable so as to be rotated in an unlocking direction of the locking pin when the second cable is pulled.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a second return spring is mounted between the second rotating plate and the second hinge bracket, and wherein the second return spring is configured to provide an elastic restoring force to rotate the second rotating plate to an original position thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first cable has a proximal end connected to a fixed frame to which the seatback frame is reclinably coupled.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a section between a proximal end and a distal end of the first cable is mounted on a rear surface portion of the seatback frame.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second cable has one end connected to a rear upper surface portion of a rotating center of the reclining operation lever.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first cable rotates the stay guide pipe forward while being pulled during reclining of the seatback frame.

20

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Kim Bong Ku
• Park Sang Do
• Lee Hoon Bok
• Kim Mu Young
• Jung Chan Ho
• Lim Deok Soo

Classifications

• B60N2/809

  vertically slidable · CPC title

• B60N2/847

  with stepwise positioning · CPC title

• B60N2/853

  characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors · CPC title

• B60N2002/971

  the locking system being an element distinct from articulation means, retaining the seat or seat part in its folded position, e.g. controlled by a wire · CPC title

• B60N2/844

  Release mechanisms, e.g. buttons · CPC title