FR3054176A1 - HEADREST FOR THE SEAT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat headrest, said headrest comprising: two parallel connecting rods to the seat; a housing for receiving a headrest cushion; two sets of bearings (4) each comprising a high and a low bearing, each of said sets being mounted by interlocking said bearings in housings provided in said housing, said bearings being provided with an orifice (6) for sliding reception of the corresponding rod; in which, for each of said bearings, the periphery of an orifice (6) is delimited by two fixed zones (9) of said bearing, said zones being opposite longitudinally and being substantially in contact with the corresponding rod, and by two internal tabs ( 10) transversely opposed flexible, said tabs being derived from material of said bearing and being resiliently biased towards said rod so as to grip it.

Description

054 176

57027 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 60 N2 / 809 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 07.22.16. (© Applicant (s): CERA TSC Société par actions simpli- (© Priority: trusted - FR. @ Inventor (s): GEORGES LAURENT and HERVE GREGORY. (43) Date of public availability of the request: 26.01.18 Bulletin 18/04. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents (® Holder (s): CERA TSC Société par actions simpli- related: trusted. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): STRATO-IP Limited liability company.

MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT SUPPORT.

FR 3 054 176 - A1 (h /; The invention relates to a headrest for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising: two parallel rods for connecting to the seat; a housing intended to receive a headrest cushion ; two sets of bearings (4) each comprising a high bearing and a low bearing, each of said sets being mounted by fitting said bearings into housings provided in said housing, said bearings being provided with a sliding receiving orifice (6) of the corresponding rod; in which, for each of said bearings, the periphery of an orifice (6) is delimited by two fixed zones (9) of said bearing, said zones being opposite longitudinally and being substantially in contact with the corresponding rod, and by two flexible transverse internal tabs (10) opposite, said tabs being made of material from said bearing and being biased elastically towards said rod so as to enclose it.

The invention relates to a headrest for a motor vehicle seat and a bearing for such a headrest.

It is known to produce a headrest for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising:

• two parallel rods for connecting to the seat, said rods being intended to be mounted at the top of the back of said seat, • a casing made of molded plastic material for absorbing energy in the event of an impact by the head of a passenger on said support -head, said housing being intended to receive a headrest cushion, • two sets of bearings each comprising a high bearing and a low bearing, each of said sets being mounted by fitting said bearings in housings provided in said housing, said bearings being provided with a receiving orifice for sliding the corresponding rod.

In order to limit the noise linked to the vibrations of the vehicle while driving, it is important to ensure optimal contact between the rods and the bearings, and this while ensuring good sliding of said rods with respect to said bearings despite the dimensional variations of the housing which may result from temperature differences.

These dimensional variations are particularly troublesome in the transverse direction since the nominal difference between the rods is not substantially subject to dimensional variations, said difference being defined in particular by the difference between the means for receiving said rods at the seat back .

The purpose of the invention is to propose an arrangement which makes it possible to respond to these problems.

To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a headrest for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising:

• two parallel rods for connecting to the seat, said rods being intended to be mounted at the top of the back of said seat, • a casing made of molded plastic material for absorbing energy in the event of an impact by the head of a passenger on said support -head, said housing being intended to receive a headrest cushion, • two sets of bearings each comprising a high bearing and a low bearing, each of said sets being mounted by fitting said bearings in housings provided in said housing, said bearings being provided with a receiving orifice for sliding the corresponding rod, knowing that, for each of said bearings, the periphery of an orifice is delimited by two fixed zones of said bearing, said zones being opposite longitudinally and being substantially in contact with the corresponding rod, and by two flexible internal tabs opposite transversely, said tabs being made from material of said bearing and as resiliently biased toward said rod so as to enclose it.

In this description, the terms of positioning in space (top, bottom, longitudinal, transverse, front, rear, vertical, lateral, ...) are taken with reference to a headrest mounted in the vehicle.

With the proposed arrangement, the presence of the two flexible internal legs which are transversely opposite and disposed at the periphery of the orifices makes it possible to absorb in the transverse direction the dimensional variations of the housing due to temperature differences.

In addition, the legs being biased elastically towards the rod so as to enclose it, perfect contact is guaranteed between the bearing and the rod in the transverse direction, just as such contact is guaranteed in the longitudinal direction because the fixed zones are substantially in contact with said rod.

Finally, the fact of having two internal tabs facing one another makes it possible to guarantee the repeatability of the pressure exerted on the rod, this despite the dimensional variations linked to temperature differences.

More particularly, the invention proposes that the rods be part of a frame based on a tube or a metal wire folded in the general shape of an inverted U, said rods corresponding to the branches of the U.

When it is said that the rods are part of a frame based on a tube or a metal wire folded in the general shape of an inverted U, we do not exclude the fact that said frame can be based on different components based on a tube or metal wire, said components being assembled together, said frame being for example in the form of a central part folded back at the ends of which substantially straight rods fit together.

With such an arrangement, the mechanical strength of the headrest is markedly improved since the rods form with the housing only two separate elements, which limits the degrees of freedom of the assembly; noise sources are thus reduced.

Furthermore, the rods are perfectly positioned relative to each other by means of the central part of the U-shaped frame, which makes it possible to avoid phenomena of "crabbing" detrimental to the proper sliding of said rods. .

However, in this case, it is well understood that the dimensional variations of the housing linked to temperature differences are all the more troublesome as regards the good sliding of the rods whatever the temperature of use of the headrest.

As such, for the reasons already mentioned above, the use of bearings as recommended is particularly relevant.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a bearing for such a headrest.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, made with reference to the attached figures, in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded partial perspective view of a headrest according to one embodiment, • Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1, the headrest being assembled, • Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view partial vertical longitudinal of the headrest of the preceding figures, • FIG. 4 is a view in partial transverse vertical section of the headrest of the preceding figures, • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bearing according to one embodiment, • Figure 6 is a partial view similar to Figure 5, a rod being inserted in the bearing.

With reference to the figures, a headrest 1 of a motor vehicle seat is described, said headrest comprising:

• two parallel rods 2 for connection to the seat, said rods being intended to be mounted at the top of the back of said seat, • a casing 3 made of molded plastic material for absorbing energy in the event of a passenger's head impact on said headrest, said housing being intended to receive a headrest cushion, • two sets of bearings 4 each comprising a high bearing and a low bearing, each of said sets being mounted by fitting said bearings into housings 5 provided in said housing, said bearings being provided with an orifice 6 for sliding reception of the corresponding rod 2, knowing that, for each of said bearings, the periphery of an orifice 6 is delimited by two fixed zones 9 of said bearing, said zones being opposite longitudinally and being substantially in contact with the corresponding rod 2, and by two flexible internal legs 10 transversely opposite, said legs being from mati re of said bearing and being resiliently biased toward said rod so as to enclose it.

According to the embodiment shown, the rods 2 are parts of a frame 7 based on a tube or a metal wire folded in the general shape of an inverted U, said rods corresponding to the branches of the U.

According to the embodiment shown, the rods 2 have a cylindrical section.

In a variant not shown, the rods 2 may have an oval section, the large dimension of which is in particular oriented longitudinally, this in order to increase their flexural strength.

According to one embodiment, the bearings 4 are made of molded plastic material,

According to one embodiment, the bearings 4 are identical.

According to one embodiment, the housing 3 is molded in one piece, which makes it possible to avoid the formation of dangerous edges which may appear, following an impact, on a housing in two parts welded to one another.

According to the embodiment shown, the internal legs 10 of a bearing 4 comprise an end 11 for connection to the rest of said bearing and a free end 12, so as to define in said bearing slots 13 extending along said legs, said slots emerging inwards through an opening 14 delimited by a free end 12 and by the zone 15 of said bearing arranged closest to said free end.

According to the embodiment shown, the internal tabs 10 of a bearing 4 are resiliently recalled by means of two respective spring blades 16 mounted on said bearing.

According to the embodiment shown, the spring blades 16 are inserted into the slots 13.

According to the embodiment shown, the internal tabs 10 and / or the fixed zones 9 are shaped so as to match the geometry of a rod 2.

According to the embodiment shown, the fixed zones 9 are arranged at the interface of two inclined faces 17 forming an acute external angle 18.

According to the embodiment shown, the headrest 1 comprises a device for locking the housing 3 relative to the rods 2 according to a plurality of vertical positions, so as to allow an adjustment in height of said housing relative to said rods, said device comprising:

• a notched rod 2 provided with locking notches 19 extending axially, ie along the direction of extension of said rod, • a locking projection, not visible in the figures, mounted movable relative to said housing between a locking position, where said projection is inserted into one of said notches, and an unlocking position, where said projection is withdrawn from said notch in order to release the sliding of said notched rod.

According to the embodiment shown, the two rods 2 are provided with locking notches 19, the locking device comprising a cross member 21 mounted in transverse sliding in the housing 3, said cross member comprising two locking projections, said cross member being provided on one of its ends of a push button 22 enabling it to be actuated from a locking position, where said protrusions are each inserted into a notch 19 of corresponding rod 2, towards an unlocking position, where said protrusions are withdrawn from said notches, said support -head being further provided with a return spring from said crosspiece to its locking position.

According to one embodiment, the notches 19 are in the form of notches opening out towards the front - according to the embodiment shown - or towards the rear, said notches being obtained by deformation of the metal constituting the rod 2, in particular according to the " rolling ”, the openings 14 of the slots 13 being arranged opposite the lateral edges 24 of said notches, so as not to impede the sliding of a notched rod 2 provided with a deformation protruding at said edges.

According to the embodiment shown, the bearings 4 are provided with elastically deformable external tabs 25, said tabs being in abutment against the internal wall 20 of the housings 5 so as to keep said bearings locked in said housings, in order to ensure firm maintenance of the housing 3 relative to the frame

7 while allowing movement of said bearings, by deformation of said legs in said housings in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to optimally absorb the dimensional variations of the housing 3 linked to temperature variations, in particular in the transverse direction, while avoiding blocking of the sliding of the rods 2.

In addition, it ensures perfect cohesion between the frame 7 and the housing.

3.

Finally, a bearing 4 is described for such a headrest 1, said bearing being provided with an orifice 6 intended to receive in sliding a rod 2 of reinforcement of said headrest, the periphery of an orifice 6 being delimited by two fixed zones 9 of said bearing, said zones being opposite longitudinally and being intended to be substantially in contact with a corresponding rod 2, and by two flexible internal tabs 10 transversely opposite, said tabs being made from material of said bearing and being biased elastically towards the interior of said orifice so as to be able to grip said rod once introduced into said orifice.

Claims (11)

1. Headrest (1) of a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising: • two parallel rods (2) for connecting to the seat, said rods being intended to be mounted at the top of the back of said seat, • a casing (3) made of molded plastic material for absorbing energy in the event of an impact of the head d 'a passenger on said headrest, said housing being intended to receive a headrest cushion, • two sets of bearings (4) each comprising a high bearing and a low bearing, each of said games being mounted by interlocking said bearings in housings (5) provided in said housing, said bearings being provided with an orifice (6) for sliding reception of the corresponding rod, said headrest being characterized in that, for each of said bearings, the periphery of an orifice (6) is delimited by two fixed zones (9) of said bearing, said zones being opposite longitudinally and being substantially in contact with the corresponding rod (2), and by two flexible internal legs (10) opposite transv ersally, said legs being made from material of said bearing and being biased elastically towards said rod so as to enclose it. 2. Headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the rods (2) are part of a frame (7) based on a tube or a metal wire folded in the general shape of an inverted U, said rods corresponding to the branches of the U. 3. Headrest according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal legs (10) of a bearing (4) comprise a connection end (11) to the rest of said bearing and a free end (12 ), so as to define in said bearing slots (13) extending along said legs, said slots opening inwards through an opening (14) delimited by a free end (12) and by the zone (15) of said bearing arranged closest to said free end. 4. Headrest according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the internal tabs (10) of a bearing (4) are resiliently biased by means of two respective spring blades (16) mounted on said bearing . 5. Headrest according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the spring blades (16) are inserted in the slots (13). 6. Headrest according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the internal legs (10) and / or the fixed zones (9) are shaped so as to match the geometry of a rod (2) . 7. Headrest according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fixed zones (9) are arranged at the interface of two inclined faces (17) forming an acute external angle (18). 8. Headrest according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a device for locking the housing (3) relative to the rods (2) in a plurality of vertical positions, so as to allow a height adjustment of said housing relative to said rods, said device comprising: • a notched rod (2) provided with locking notches (19) extending axially, • a locking projection mounted mobile relative to said housing between a locking position, where said projection is inserted in one of said notches, and a unlocking position, where said projection is withdrawn from said notch in order to release the sliding of said notched rod. 9. Headrest according to claim 8 when it depends on claim 3, characterized in that the notches (19) are in the form of notches opening forward or backward, said notches being obtained by deformation of the metal constituting the rod (2), the openings (14) of the slots (13) being arranged opposite the lateral edges (24) of said notches, so as not to impede the sliding of a notched rod (2) provided a deformation protruding at said edges. 10. Headrest according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bearings (4) are provided with external legs (25) elastically deformable, said legs being in abutment against the internal wall (20) of 5 housings (5) so as to keep said bearings locked in said housings, in order to ensure firm maintenance of the housing (3) while allowing movement of said bearings by deformation of said legs in said housings in the longitudinal and transverse directions. 11. A bearing for a headrest according to any one of claims 1 to 10, said bearing being provided with an orifice (6) intended to receive in sliding a rod (2) of frame (7) of said support- head, said bearing being characterized in that the periphery of an orifice (6) is delimited by two fixed zones (9) of said bearing, said zones being opposite longitudinally and being intended to be 15 substantially in contact with a corresponding rod (2), and by two transverse flexible internal legs (10) opposite, said legs being made of material from said bearing and being biased elastically towards the inside of said orifice so as to be able to grip said rod a once introduced into said orifice. 1/4