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Folding head restraint mechanism

Folding head restraint mechanism description/claims

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to head restraints for vehicle seats, more particularly to adjustable head restraints.

2. Background Art

Adjustable head restraints for vehicle seats are provided for comfort and safety of an occupant. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,956 B2, which issued on Oct. 14, 2003, discloses an adjustable head restraint with a rod that supports the head restraint and translates relative to sleeves of the seatback.

Another offering of the prior art is a head restraint that is adjustable on posts that extend from the seatback. The posts are received within receptacles of the seatback and the posts are also adjustable relative to the receptacles. The head restraint includes a detent mechanism for maintaining a position of the head restraint relative to the posts; and the receptacles include a locking mechanism for locking the posts relative to the receptacles. Moreover, some variations of the prior art head restraints allow folding. Although these head restraints of the prior art work reasonably well, the mechanism for folding tend to be complicated and expensive.

Accordingly, for at least these reasons, designs for improved head restraint folding mechanism are desirable.

The present invention solves one or more problems of the prior art by providing in at least one embodiment a foldable head restraint assembly that is moveable from a first head restraint position to a second head restraint position. The head restraint assembly includes a mounting subassembly, a structural shell, and a locking plate. The structural shell is supported by the mounting subassembly. The mounting subassembly includes a first support post, a second support post, a cross member and a latch. The cross member has a first end attached to the first support post and a second end attached to the second support post. Moreover, the latch is attached to the cross member. The folding motion of the head restraint is initiated by movement of the locking plate. The locking plate is positionable at a first plate position for engaging the latch and at a second plate position for releasing the latch. Advantageously, the structural shell is pivotable about the mounting subassembly when the latch plate is in the second plate position.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a head restraint in an upright position;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a head restraint in an folded position;

FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of showing the interior of a head restraint support structure utilizing an embodiment of the folding mechanism of the present invention in a locked state;

FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of showing the interior of a head restraint support structure utilizing an embodiment of the folding mechanism of the present invention in a released state;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a head restraint assembly using an actuator to effect movement of locking plate;

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration showing the interior of a head restraint support structure utilizing a pivotable locking plate in a locked state;

FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration showing the interior of a head restraint support structure utilizing a pivotable locking plate in a released state;

FIG. 5A is a schematic illustration of a button assembly designed for placement under the head restraint trim;

FIG. 5B is a schematic illustration of a button assembly designed for placement with a portion protruding through the head restraint trim;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a head restraint adapted to be attached to a seat back frame in an upright position; and

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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