Headrest assemblies for seats, method of using the same, and vehicles comprising the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12447882-B2
Application number	US-202318515446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2023
Priority date	Nov 21, 2023
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

Headrest assemblies and method of use thereof are provided to support a neck of an occupant of a seat. The headrest assemblies include a headrest cushion, a neck support cushion, and one or more extension members coupling the neck support cushion to the headrest cushion. The extension member(s) are configured to be transitioned between a retracted configuration in which the neck support cushion is adjacent to the headrest cushion and a first dimension is defined along a central longitudinal axis of the extension member(s), and an extended configuration in which the neck support cushion is cantilevered from the headrest cushion and a second dimension is defined along the central longitudinal axis of the extension member(s) that is greater than the first dimension. The extension member(s) are configured to releasably lock to secure the neck support cushion in a fixed position at least while in the extended configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest assembly for a seat, comprising:
a headrest cushion;
a neck support cushion;
one or more extension members coupling the neck support cushion to the headrest cushion, wherein the one or more extension members are configured to telescopically transition between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, wherein in the retracted configuration the neck support cushion is adjacent to the headrest cushion and a first dimension is defined along a central longitudinal axis of the one or more extension members, wherein in the extended configuration the neck support cushion is cantilevered from the headrest cushion and a second dimension is defined along the central longitudinal axis of the one or more extension members, wherein the first dimension is less than the second dimension, wherein the one or more extension members are configured to releasably lock to secure the neck support cushion in a fixed position relative to the headrest cushion at least while in the extended configuration,
wherein the neck support cushion is configured to support a neck of an occupant of the seat while in the fixed position;
a headrest cushion hinge pivotally coupling a proximal end of each of the one or more extension members to the headrest cushion, wherein the headrest cushion hinge is releasably lockable at more than one angle defined between the one or more extension members and the headrest cushion; and
a neck support cushion hinge pivotally coupling a distal end of each of the one or more extension members to the neck support cushion, wherein the neck support cushion hinge is releasably lockable at more than one angle defined between the one or more extension members and the neck support cushion.

2. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the headrest cushion includes a recess configured to receive therein at least a first portion of the neck support cushion while in the retracted configuration.

3. The headrest assembly of claim 2 , wherein while in the retracted configuration the neck support cushion is fully retracted into the recess such that exterior surfaces of the neck support cushion are flush with adjacent exterior surfaces of the headrest cushion.

4. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more mechanisms configured to release the neck support cushion from the fixed position in response to actuation of the one or more mechanisms.

5. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more motors configured to position the neck support cushion.

6. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the neck support cushion is configured to decouple from the headrest assembly.

7. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more extension members include an outer member and an inner member, wherein the inner member is configured to slide within the outer member along the central longitudinal axis and thereby extend and/or retract an overall length of the one or more extension members, wherein the inner member includes at least one protuberance extending radially from a sidewall thereof that is configured to interact with one or more holes or recesses formed in a sidewall of the outer member to selectively secure the inner member in predetermined fixed positions relative to the outer member, wherein the at least one protuberance is retractable toward the sidewall of the inner member to release the at least one protuberance from the one or more holes or recesses, wherein the at least one protuberance includes a curved profile configured to promote release of the at least one protuberance from the one or more holes or recesses upon application of a force in a direction along the central longitudinal axis that is in excess of a threshold.

8. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more extension members are each releasable coupled to the headrest cushion, and the neck support cushion is releasable coupled to each of the one or more extension members.

9. The headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more extension members are configured to release the neck support cushion from the fixed position in response to a force being applied to the neck support cushion in a direction toward the headrest cushion that exceeds a threshold.

10. A method for supporting a neck of an occupant of a seat, comprising:
telescopically extending one or more extension members coupling a headrest cushion of a headrest assembly of the seat to a neck support cushion of the headrest assembly such that the neck support cushion is cantilevered from the headrest cushion;
pivoting a proximal end of each of the one or more extension members, that is pivotally coupled to the headrest cushion of the headrest assembly, relative to the headrest cushion to define a first angle between the one or more extension members and the headrest cushion;
securing the one or more extension members at the first angle;
pivoting the neck support cushion, that is pivotally coupled to a distal end of each of the one or more extension members, relative to the distal end of each of the one or more extension members to define a second angle between the neck support cushion and the one or more extension members;
securing the neck support cushion at the second angle and in a fixed position relative to the headrest cushion while the neck support cushion is cantilevered from the headrest cushion; and
contacting the neck of the occupant of the seat with the neck support cushion while in the fixed position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein extending the one or more extension members includes transitioning between a retracted configuration wherein at least a first portion of the neck support cushion is received within a recess of the headrest assembly and an extended configuration wherein at least some of the first portion of the neck support cushion is removed from the recess.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising actuating one or more mechanisms to release the neck support cushion from the fixed position.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein extending the one or more extension members includes activating one or more motors.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising decoupling the neck support cushion from the headrest assembly.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising automatically releasing the neck support cushion from the fixed position in response to a force being applied to the neck support cushion in a direction toward the headrest cushion that exceeds a threshold.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein telescopically extending one or more extension members includes:
sliding an inner member of the one or more extension members within an outer member of the one or more extension members along the central longitudinal axis and thereby extend and/or retract an overall length of the one or more extension members; and
interacting at least one protuberance extending radially from a sidewall of the inner member with one or more holes or recesses formed in a sidewall of the outer member to selectively secure the inner member in predetermined fixed positions relative to the outer member;
wherein the method includes retracting the at least one protuberance toward the sidewall of the inner member to release the at least one protuberance from the one or more holes or recesses upon application of a force in a direction along the central longitudinal axis that is in excess of a threshold defined by a curved profile of the at least one protuberance.

17. A vehicle, comprising:
a seat having a headrest assembly, the headrest assemb

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc
• Gm Global Tech Operatons Llc

Inventors

• Choi Hyojun
• Seo Youngseok

Classifications

• B60N2002/899

  characterised by structural or mechanical details not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60N2/806 Primary

  movable or adjustable · CPC title