GB2037154A

GB2037154A - Head restraints for vehicle seats

Info

Publication number: GB2037154A
Application number: GB7842625A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: COX Ltd
Current assignee: COX Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-31
Filing date: 1978-10-31
Publication date: 1980-07-09

Abstract

A head restraint device for attachment to the back of a seat in a vehicle, comprising an inverted "U" shaped padded frame (13) adapted for attachment to the back of a seat and a movable member (14) pivotally mounted between the arms of the frame for movement between a recessed safety position, Fig. 1A, within the frame, and an extended position, Fig. 1, in which it forms a cushioned head rest. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to head restraints for passenger seats in vehicles This invention relates to a head restraint for use on the back of a seat in a vehicle, particularly although not exclusively a motor vehicle.

There is a growing acceptance of the need to provide a head restraint or support, extending above the back of a seat in a motor vehicle, to provide support or restraint for the head of a person sitting in the seat to engage and support the person's head in the event of a sudden acceleration of the vehicle in a forward direction, as a result of an accident or some other cause.

Standards have been defined for such head restraints, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a head restraint which meets such requirements, and which can be arranged to provide extra passenger comfort in an alternative mode.

Accordingly the present invention provides a head restraint device for attachment to the back of a seat in a vehicle, comprising an inverted "U" shaped padded frame adapted for attachment to the back of a seat and a movable member pivotally mounted between the arms of the frame for movement between a recessed position within the frame, and an extended position in which it forms a cushioned head rest.

In the recessed position the movable member leaves the padded frame prominent behind the head of a person occupying the seat so that any shock may be resisted by the padded frame which is designed to meet the strength requirements and padding requirements for such purpose. In the extended position the movable member extends in front of the padded frame and offers a cushioned support to the head of a person occupying the seat, designed more from a comfort point of view, such as may be desired when the vehicle is at rest.

In order to promote a fuller understanding of the above, and other, aspects of the present invention an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective a typical vehicle seat fitted with an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1a shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in its alternative configuration, Figures 2a, 2b and 2c shows details of the construction of the frame of the movable portion of the embodiment of Figure 1, Figures 3, 3a, 3b and 3c show details of the construction of the frame of a fixed portion of the embodiment of Figure 1, Figures 4, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d shows elevations and cross-sectionsofthe padding of the fixed portion of the embodiment of Figure 1, and Figures 5, 5a, 5b and Sc shows details in crosssections of the padding of the movable portion of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Referring firstto Figures 1 and 1a, there is shown an embodiment of the invention comprising a head restraint 10 which is removably attached to the back 11 of a seat indicated generally at 12. The head restraint 10 comprises a fixed portion 13 which is in the form of a padded inverted "U" shaped frame, attached, in known mannerperse, to the back 11 of the seat by means of two spigots which fit into suitable sockets provided in the back 11. Pivotally mounted in the fixed portion 11, is a movable member 14 which can be pivoted between the position shown in Figure 1 and the position shown in Figure 1a.

In the extended position of the movable member 14 shown in Figure 1, it can be seen that the face of the movable member 14 presented to the head of a passenger can be disposed so that it provides a head rest for passenger comfort. When the movable member 14 is pivoted to the recessed position shown in Figure 1 a, it can be seen that it is moved back into the frame of the fixed portion 13 so that the frame is prominent with the recessed surface of the movable member 14 presented to the passenger in this position providing additional clearance. Thus with the movable member 14 in the recessed position shown in Figure lathe frame of the fixed portion 13 is left clear to engage and restrain the passenger's head in an emergency situation when the vehicle is suddenly accelerated forwards.

Thus in the two positions the head rest can provide comfort as shown in Figure 1, and safety as shown in Figure 1a, in that the frame of the fixed portion 13 can be made substantial and is rigidly attached to the back of the seat, whereas the movable member 14 can present a more resilient and comfortable surface to a head when in the position as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows in elevation the metal frame for the movable member 14 of the embodiment of Figure 1.

The metal frame comprises a sheet metal pressing 20 formed with a stiffening depression 21 at its lower edge, ears 22 at its side edges to form handles by which it may be moved and a channel section 23 around the top portion of its edge to assist in the attachment of padding to the frame and of a synthetic plastics material trim strip. A cranked steel rod indicated at 24 is welded to the member 20 to provide pivot pins at the cranked ends 25 thereof.

Figures 3, 3a and 3b show a tubular metal frame for the fixed portion 13 of the embodiment of Figure 1. The frame comprises a formed tube member 31 formed into an inverted "U" shape, and provided with solid rods 32 welded into the ends of the tube 31 to form spigots for insertion into the back of a seat as discussed above. Towards the top of the "U" shape two short tubes 33 are welded to the tube 31 to form bearings for the cranked ends 25 of the rod 24 of the frame of the movable member. Immediately above the tubes 33, pins 34 are welded to the tube 31 to provide anchorages for springs 35 (Figure 3c) which are used to bias the movable portion 14 to its two positions as discussed below.

The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy. Each of the springs 35 includes a loop 36 which fits over a respective pin 34 on the frame 30. Each spring 35 includes a curved arm 37 which loops round the outside of the respective tube 33 on the frame. Each spring includes a straight arm 38 which lies in a respective slot 40 provided across the ends of the tubes 33. The arms 38 are arranged to engage a respective flat 39 on the cranked end 25 of the frame member so that as the frame member 20 is pivoted in the frame 30, the springs 35 engaging on the flats 39 cause the movable member 14to "snap" into its recessed position as shown in Figure 1 a.As the movable member 14 is swung manually away from the position of Figure lathe arms 38 of the springs 35 ride up onto the cylindrical portion of the crank ends 25 to frictionally engage thereon so that the movable member 14 may be swung to and left in the extended position as shown in Figure 1. By this means the movable member is resiliently retained in its recessed or normal position as shown in Figure 1.

Figures 4, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d show in various views details of synethic plastic material padding which is moulded around the frame 31 to complete the fixed portion 13 of the embodiment of Figure 1. The plastics material is preferably of a self-skinned variety moulded integrally around the frame. Recesses indicated at 41 are provided to enable access to the movable member 14 so that it may be gripped to move itto its extended position.

Figures 5, 5a, 5b and Sc show the moulded synthetic plastics material padding fitted to the frame member 20 to complete the movable member 14.

The padding material is preferably covered with an outer synthetic plastics material or leather skin which is sewn part way round the assembly, and is fitted around the top portion of the assembly in the channel section 23 of the frame member 20 by means of synethetic plastics material trim strip indicated at 42. The ears 22 of the frame member 20 are covered with a plastics material edging strip as indicated at 44, glued onto the ears 22 to form handles which are accessable in the recesses 41 mentioned above, and by which the movable portion may be gripped for movement to its extended position.

Claims

1. A head restraint device for attachment to the back of a seat in a vehicle, comprising an inverted "U" shaped padded frame adapted for attachment to the back of a seat, and a movable member pivotally mounted between the arms of the frame for movement between a recessed position within the frame and an extended position in which it forms a cushioned head rest.

2. A head restraint device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the movable member is pivotablethrough substantially 1800 between said recessed position and said extended position.

3. A head restraint device as claimed in Claim 1 or2, in which the movable member has a recessed face which it presents forwardly when in said reces sed position, and has a cushioned face which it pres ents forwardly when in said extended position.

4. A head restraint as claimed in Claim 3, in which the recessed face of the movable member when in the recessed position is recessed behind the face of the frame which faces forwards when the device is attached to a seat.

5. A head restraint as claimed in Claim 3 or4, in which the cushioned face of the movable member when in the extended position, extends forwardly of the face of the frame which faces forwards when the device is attached to a seat.

6. A head restraint as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the frame is externally padded substantially all over.

7. A head restraint as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the movable member is externally padded substantially all over.

8. A head restraint as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the movable member comprises a sheet metal frame by which it is pivotally mounted in said "U" shaped frame.

9. A head restraint as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the movable member is retained in said recessed position by resiliently biassed catch means.

10. A head restraint as claimed in Claim 9, in which the catch means comprises a spring arranged to engage a flat formed on a pivot shaft by which the movable member is pivotally mounted in the "U" shaped frame.

11. A head restraint as claimed in any preceding Claim in which "U" shaped frame arms are provided with spigots for insertion in sockets in a seat back for attachment of the restraint to a seat.

12. A head restraint substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.