Chairs and seats – Headrest – Adjustable rectilinearly vertically
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-08-07
Barfield, Anthony D. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Headrest
Adjustable rectilinearly vertically
C297S391000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270161
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is related to headrests for motor-vehicle seats, of the type comprising a yielding body and a support structure for connecting the yielding body to the backrest of a motor-vehicle seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, in the known headrests of the above-referenced type the support structure comprises a pair of parallel rods projecting from the base of the yielding body to be connected to the structure of a seat backrest. Superiorly the two support rods are connected to a load-bearing framework incorporated within the headrest yielding body, and adjustment means are normally provided for the height adjustment of the yielding body relative to the seat backrest. These adjustment means are usually arranged according to two alternative systems: in a first system the support rods are rigidly fixed to the load-bearing framework of the yielding body, and are lowerly connected to the backrest structure in a vertically slidable way, with the aid of resilient positioning members releasably co-operating with corresponding notches formed in the lower portions of the support rods. In the second system the two support rods are rigidly secured to the backrest structure, and are slidably coupled superiorly to the load-bearing framework of the yielding body. Even in this case resilient positioning members are provided, releasably co-operating with notches formed in the upper portions of the support rods to retain the headrest yielding body in the selected position.
These traditional headrests are affected by several drawbacks. Firstly, the slidable connection between the two support rods and the backrest structure or, respectively, the load-bearing framework incorporated within the headrest yielding body may be subjected in use to slacks originating vibrations and noise. Moreover this slidable connection between the support rods and the yielding body, or respectively, the seat backrest may involve undesired upward or downward displacement of the headrest and also, in case of abrupt crash of the vehicle on which the headrest in installed, accidental withdrawal of the support rods and separation of the yielding body from the seat backrest. In such event the headrest function would fail, with adverse consequences for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks.
According to the invention this object is achieved by the fact that a headrest for motor-vehicle seat of the type set forth at the beginning is characterised in that said support structure comprises an articulated parallelogram system formed by two pairs of swinging arms by means of which said yielding body can be displaced between a lower position and a raised position, and releasable locking means to hold said yielding body in said raised or, respectively, in said lowered position, said locking means providing in said raised position a retaining force appreciably higher than in said lowered position of the yielding body.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said locking means act on one of said pairs of swinging arms (normally the lower swinging arm pair) and the other of said pairs of swinging arms (normally the upper swinging arm pair) defines a toggle mechanism whose dead centre is got through in said raised position.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention said locking means conveniently comprise:
a slider member displaceable transversely of said swinging arms between an inoperative condition and a operative condition,
a pair of juxtaposed locking blocks movable parallely to said slider member between a mutually distal position and a mutually proximal position in which said locking blocks interact and, respectively, do not interact with said one pair of swinging arms,
resilient thrust means urging said locking blocks towards said distal position,
a stop element movable perpendicularly to said slider member and to said locking locks and displaceable, following displacement of said slider member from said inoperative condition to said operative condition, from an advanced position in which said stop element is interposed between said locking blocks to irreversibly keep them in said distal position, and a retracted position in which said locking blocks can be brought near to each other, upon oscillation of said one pair of swinging arms, towards said proximal position against the action of said resilient means.
To displace the slider member from the inoperative condition to the operative condition a push-button is conveniently provided, which is arranged on one side of said yielding body of the headrest.
Moreover, according to another advantageous feature of the invention, the articulated parallelogram system together with the related locking means is carried by a attachment plate designed to be connected to the load-bearing framework of the yielding body of the headrest, following upholstery trimming thereof, by means of irreversible snap-fit coupling means.
Due to the features set forth in the above, and to additional features which will become apparent in the following, the height adjustment of the yielding body of the headrest according to the invention only provides positioning the yielding body in one or in the other of said lowered and raised positions. The lowered position is corresponding to a non-operative condition of the headrest, in which upward projection and thus height encumbrance thereof is minimum so as to ensure, with particular reference to the rear seats of a motor-vehicle, maximum rearward visibility for the driver. As a matter of fact, the headrest according to the invention is particularly—though not exclusively—intended for application as a central rear headrest.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3055707 (1962-09-01), Spound
patent: 4304439 (1981-12-01), Terada et al.
patent: 4640549 (1987-02-01), Yokota
patent: 4733913 (1988-03-01), Tateyama
patent: 4840429 (1989-06-01), Stockl
patent: 5052754 (1991-10-01), Chinomi
patent: 6082817 (2000-07-01), Muller
patent: 24 02 498 (1975-07-01), None
patent: 2402498 (1975-07-01), None
Barfield Anthony D.
Gestind M.B. Manifattura Di Bruzolo S.p.A.
Shlesinger & Arkwright & Garvey LLP
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