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Headrest insertHeadrest insert description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070035163, Headrest insert. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present regular United States patent application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/707,880 filed on Aug. 12, 2005. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to automobile headrests, and, more particularly, the invention pertains to headrest inserts for headrest assemblies commonly found in automobiles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Seats in automobiles and other vehicles are designed to protect the occupant from injury during accidents and other occurrences. As part of the seat design, it is known to extend portions of the seat back to a height that provides support behind the head and neck of the seat occupant. Posterior support of the head and neck can reduce whiplash and other injuries that are common in moving accidents, and even it stationary accidents occurring with only minimal violence. While some seat backs are of a continuous form from the seat bottom to an elevation at or above an occupants head, it is also known to provide the headrest as a vertically adjustable and removable attachment to the seat back. [0004] In a known design for automobile seats, the seat back has two sleeves having openings at the top of the seat back. A headrest includes corresponding rods, tubes or other elongated bodies that can be inserted into the sleeves. By providing two sleeves in the seat back and two appropriate rods at opposite ends of the headrest, sound structural support is provided. It is known to provide the headrest as a generally curved body from one end thereof to the opposite end thereof so that the posterior head of the occupant is comfortably received against the headrest. [0005] The headrest includes a substructure between the elongated rods generally forming the curved shape of the headrest. Padding and an outer covering are provided over the substructure. However, the substructure must provide sufficient rigidity and support between the opposed elongated rods so that the occupants head is adequately supported even in a violent crash. [0006] Difficulties can be encountered with known headrest subassemblies or inserts. For adequate support, the elongated rods of the headrest extend a significant distance into the seat back. The space between the rods is relatively short, the rods are narrow and the sleeves are only sufficiently wide to receive the rods. Accordingly, with the rods relatively long and interconnected at only one end, relative skewing of one rod compared to the other can occur, Skewing or racking can make it difficult to operate or adjust the headrest relative to the seat body. The relatively rigid headrest inserts have not accommodated skewing of the support rods, one relative to the other. [0007] Further, the sleeves in the seat backs are rigidly secured between frame members of the seat. Again, since the headrest support rods are relatively long and narrow, any slight misalignment or inaccurate positioning of the sleeves relative to each other can result in binding against the support rods, and difficult operation if the sleeves are not perfectly parallel and properly aligned axially with the openings at the top of the seat back. Even a slight variation in parallelism between the two sleeves coupled with a very slight deviation from parallelism between the headrest support rods can result in difficult operation of the headrest. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,158 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,850 disclose headrest inserts having transitions at the centers thereof. [0009] There is a need in the industry for a more easily operated headrest and one that more readily accommodates normal day-to-day uses and common conditions for headrests. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The present invention provides a headrest insert that accommodates skewing or misalignment of the headrest support rods relative to sleeves in the seat back. [0011] In one aspect thereof, the present invention provides a headrest insert for an automobiles headrest, with first and second rod holders and a web connected to and spanning the area between the first and second rod holders. The web has a top edge and a bottom edge. A flex portion in the web accommodates relative angular movement between the first rod holder and the second rod holder. [0012] In another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a headrest insert with first and second rod holder adapted for engaging a support rod inserted therein. A web interconnects the first and second rod holders. At least one corrugated portion in the web has a series of ridges and valleys extending from a top edge of the web to a bottom edge of the web. [0013] In a still further aspect thereof, the present invention provides a headrest insert with first and second rod receivers adapted for engaging support rods inserted therein and a web interconnecting the first and second rod holders. The web has a top edge and a bottom edge. At least one region in the web has a compressible and extendable structure disposed from the top edge to the bottom edge, and enabling accordion-like movement of the first and second rod receivers. [0014] An advantage of the present invention is providing a headrest insert that accommodates and compensates for minor skewing of headrest support rods. [0015] Another advantage of the present invention is providing a headrest insert that facilitates smooth operation of a headrest, without undue effort by the occupant. [0016] Still another advantage of the present invention is providing a headrest insert that adequately supports the structure in crash events. [0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a headrest insert in accordance with the present invention; [0019] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the headrest insert shown in FIG. 1, with support rods installed therein; [0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of the headrest insert shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; Continue reading about Headrest insert... Full patent description for Headrest insert Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Headrest insert patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Headrest insert or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Conditioning system for cooling and heating surfaces, particularly automobile seats Next Patent Application: Adjustable chair station and method of use Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Headrest insert patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.26137 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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