Headrest, a seat comprising a headrest and a method of actuating a headrest

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018093594-A1
Application number	US-201715720763-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	Apr 5, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A headrest including a resilient headrest structure. The resilient headrest structure has a resilient headrest structure surface. The resilient headrest structure surface defines a non-planar contour, in particular an arcuate contour, when the resilient headrest structure is fixed between two points. The resilient headrest surface defines a planar contour when the resilient headrest structure is released. Due to the material properties of the resilient headrest structure, the resilient headrest structure surface automatically returns to the planar contour from the non-planar contour when the resilient headrest structure is released.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A headrest comprising:
a resilient headrest structure comprising a headrest structure surface, said resilient headrest structure surface defining a planar contour when said resilient headrest structure is fixed between two points, said headrest structure surface defining an arcuate contour when said headrest structure is loaded, wherein said headrest structure surface automatically returns to said planar contour from said arcuate contour when said resilient headrest structure is unloaded.

2 . A headrest in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said resilient headrest structure is an adjustable steel band.

3 . A headrest in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising:
a release mechanism connected to said resilient headrest structure, said release mechanism comprising an actuator, said actuator being movable between at least a first position and a second position, said resilient headrest structure being in a fixed position with said actuator in said first position, said resilient headrest structure being movable with said actuator in said second position.

4 . A headrest in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said actuator retains a defined contour of the headrest structure surface.

5 . A headrest in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising:
a headrest support structure connected to said resilient headrest structure, said headrest support structure comprising an arcuate headrest support structure contour and said resilient headrest structure comprising said arcuate contour when said actuator is in a lock position.

6 . A headrest in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said headrest support structure comprises a planar headrest support structure contour and said resilient headrest structure comprises said planar contour upon release of said actuator.

7 . A headrest in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
a headrest support structure, wherein said headrest support structure and said resilient headrest structure automatically return to a planar configuration from an arcuate configuration upon release of said actuator.

8 . A headrest in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said headrest support structure defines one of a front surface and a rear surface of the headrest and said resilient headrest structure defines another one of the front surface and the rear surface of the headrest.

9 . A headrest in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said resilient headrest structure comprises a first length when said resilient headrest structure comprises said arcuate contour, said resilient headrest structure comprising a second length when said resilient headrest comprises said planar contour, wherein said first length is greater than said second length.

10 . A headrest in accordance with claim 9 , wherein a length of said headrest support structure is the same with said actuator in said first position and with said actuator in said second position.

11 . A headrest in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each of said two fixed points is defined by a headrest support member.

12 . A headrest in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a parallel spring provides torsion about at least one of the two fixed points.

13 . A headrest in accordance with claim 1 , wherein material properties of the resilient headrest structure returns the headrest structure surface to the planar contour.

14 . A method, comprising:
providing a headrest structure comprising a resilient headrest structure; changing said resilient headrest structure from a planar configuration to an arcuate configuration, said resilient headrest structure comprising a planar contour in said planar configuration, said resilient headrest structure comprising an arcuate contour in said arcuate configuration; fixing said resilient headrest structure in said arcuate configuration after said resilient headrest structure changes from said planar configuration to said arcuate configuration; releasing said resilient headrest structure such said resilient headrest structure automatically changes from said arcuate configuration to said planar configuration.

15 . A suspension system for a headrest, comprising:
a headrest structure comprising a planar state and a non-planar state, said headrest structure comprising a planar contour in said planar state, said headrest structure comprising an arcuate contour in said non-planar state, said headrest structure being pre-loaded such that said headrest structure changes from said non-planar state to said planar state.

16 . A suspension system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the headrest structure comprises elastomeric material, wherein said headrest structure changes from said non-planar state to said planar state via at least said elastomeric material.

17 . A suspension system in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising:
a driver device, wherein said headrest structure changes from said non-planar state to said planar state via at least said driver device.

18 . A suspension system in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising:
a constraining device on one side of said headrest structure, said arcuate contour in said non-planar state of said headrest structure being maintained via said constraining device.

19 . A suspension system in accordance with claim 18 , further comprising:
another constraining device on another side of said headrest structure, said arcuate contour in said non-planar state of said headrest structure being maintained via said constraining device and said another constraining device.

20 . A suspension system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the driver device comprises a lock mechanism, the lock mechanism comprising a locked state and an unlocked state, the headrest structure being in a fixed position in a vertical direction when the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the headrest structure being movable in the vertical direction when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state.

21 . A suspension system in accordance with claim 13 , further comprising:
a lock mechanism comprising a locked state and an unlocked state, the headrest structure being in a fixed position in a vertical direction when the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the headrest structure being movable in the vertical direction when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state.

Assignees

• Adient Luxembourg Holding Sarl

Inventors

• Seibold Kurt

Classifications

• B60N2/891

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

• B60N2/806 Primary

  movable or adjustable · CPC title

• B60N2/885

  provided with side-rests · CPC title

• B60N2002/4891

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60N2/4882

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic