GB2432784A

GB2432784A - Adjustable head rest

Info

Publication number: GB2432784A
Application number: GB0524727A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Huck
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd; Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-03
Filing date: 2005-12-03
Publication date: 2007-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-03
Also published as: GB2432784B; GB0524727D0

Abstract

A head rest 10 for a vehicle seat comprising a body portion 12 having an upper face 16, a front face 18 and opposing sides 20, and a support member 30 attached to one said side. The support member 30 being moveable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position wherein the support member extends forwardly of the front face to provide side support for a user's head. The or each support member has a first arm 32 pivotably mounted at one end region to the body portion and a second arm 40 extending laterally from the opposite end 38 of the first arm 32. The second arm 40 serving to provide said side support for the user's head. In the extended position of the or each support member the second arm 40 extends upwardly from the first arm 32.

Description

HEAD REST

The present invention relates to a head rest for a seat back of a vehicle.

A disadvantage of conventional head rests is that whilst they provide adequate support for the back of the head of a user, where the user, being a passenger wishes to relax in a vehicle, the head rests to do not provide any side support to prevent lateral movement of the head whilst the vehicle is moving.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved head rest.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a head rest for a seat back of a vehicle, the head rest comprising a body portion having an upper face, a front face and opposing sides, and a support member attached to one said side, said support member being movable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position wherein said support member extends forwardly of said front face (18) to provide side support for a user's head.

In a preferred fonn of head rest, a respective support member is attached to each said side of said body portion and the or each said support member is pivotably mounted to said body portion.

Advantageously, the or each said support member has a first arm pivotably mounted at one end region to said body portion and a second arm extending laterally of said first arm, at or adjacent a second, opposite end region of said first arm, and in the plane of pivoting of said support member, said second arm serving to provide said side support for the user's head.

The second arm conveniently has orthogonal dimensions in the plane of pivoting substantially greater than the dimension parallel to the pivot axis thereby to provide substantial support for the user's head.

In the extended position of the or each said support member said second arm extends upwardly from said first arm.

Preferably, the body portion has a lower face, said front face has a depending portion extending below said lower face, and said first arm is pivotably mounted to said depending portion, the arrangement being such that in said retracted position said support member forms an extension of said upper and front surfaces of said body portion.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of head rest according to the present invention, mounted on a vehicle seat back; Figure 2 is a plan view of the head rest in extended attitude; Figure 3 is a plan view of the head rest in retracted attitude; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a second form of head rest according to the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, these show a preferred form of head rest 10 according to the present invention.

The head rest is shown in side elevation in Figure 1. The head rest has a body portion 12, which is supported in conventional maimer on the upper region 14 of a seat back of a vehicle seat. As can be seen from Figure 1, the body portion has an upper face 16, a front face 18 and opposing sides 20, only one of which can be seen in Figure 1.

The body portion 12 also has a lower face 24 which faces or abuts an upper surface 26 of the seat back when the head rest is located in position on the seat back.

The front face 18 of the body portion preferably has a depending portion 22 which extends below the lower face 24 and can, depending on the vertical position of the head rest relative to the seat back, extend below the upper surface 26 of the seat back.

The head rest also has a support member 30, which is pivotally mounted to the body portion 12, so as to be moveable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position as shown in Figure 1. Whilst the support member is described as being pivoted to the body portion, it will be appreciated that any other suitable form of mounting may be used, which allows movement of the support member between its retracted and extended positions.

Figure 1 shows the head rest in side elevation with the support member 30 mounted to one side of the body portion, and in its extended position. Whilst only one such support member 30 is shown, it will be appreciated that a respective support member can be mounted on each side of the head rest.

Where two such support members 30 are mounted on the body portion, they are substantially identical and therefore only the left hand support member 30 shown in Figure 1 is described.

The support member 30 has a first arm 32 which is pivotally mounted at a first end region 34 to the body portion 12 of the head rest by way of a pivot 36. The opposite, free end region 38 of the first arm 32 mounts a second arm 40 which, in the extended position of the support member, extends upwardly from the first arm 32. The second arm 40 extends laterally of the first arm 32 and generally in the plane of pivoting of the support member, such that when the support member 30 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 1, the second arm 40 moves upwardly and around to a position above the upper face 26 of the seat back and alongside the body portion 12 of the head rest.

As is best seen from Figure 1, the support member 30, in side elevation, has generally the same shape as the head rest body portion in side elevation, such that when the support member is pivoted into its retracted position, surfaces 42 and 44 of the support member lie substantially flush with and form extensions of the upper and front surfaces 16, 18 of the body portion. This provides an aesthetically pleasing shape to the head rest with no unnecessarily projecting portions of the support members when in their retracted position, and also avoids the projection of any sharp corners.

As can be seen from the drawings, the dimensions of the second arm 40 in orthogonal directions in the plane of pivoting are substantially greater than the dimension of the second arm 40 in the direction of the pivot axis 36. This provides for a significant area of support for the head of the user. Typically, the dimensions of the second arm 40 in the plane of pivoting will be several inches, compared to an inch or perhaps less in the direction of the pivot axis.

The support member 30 is shown in Figure 1 as being generally L-shaped in side elevation. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable shape of support member may be used such as square, rectangular or oval.

Figure 4 shows a modified form of head rest 60 in plan view. Like parts are given like numbers and as can be seen from Figure 4, the body portion 12 of the head rest has flanges 52, 54 which project forwardly from the front face 18 at respective side edges of the front face 18 to provide a support for the pivot 36.

Whilst the head rest body portion 12 of Figure 1 is shown having the depending portion 22, it will be appreciate that this is not essential and the support member 30 could be pivoted at a point above the seat back upper surface 26. However, the provision of the depending portion 22 does provide for an aesthetic and practical fitment to a seat back where the seat back is contoured, as shown in dotted lines 60 inFigurel.

It also makes it easier for the shape of the support member 30 in side elevation to be matched to that of the head rest body portion 12.

The first arm 32 of the support member 30 has a lower corner 62 at its first end region 34, which can serve as a stop to limit pivoting of the support member 30 in an anti-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 1 when the corner 62 abuts the seat back 14.

The construction of the pivot 36 may also include suitable stop means to limit anti-clockwise pivoting of the support member 30.

Claims

Claims I A head rest for a seat back of a vehicle, the head rest (10)

comprising a body portion (12) having an upper face (16), a front face (18) and opposing sides (20), and a support member (30) attached to one said side, said support member being movable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position wherein said support member extends forwardly of said front face (18) to provide side support for a user's head.

2 A head rest as claimed in claim 1 comprising a respective said support member (30) attached to each said side of said body portion (12).

3 A head rest as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the or each said support member (30) is pivotably mounted to said body portion (12).

4 A head rest as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the or each said support member (30) has a first arm (32) pivotably mounted at one end region to said body portion and a second arm (40) extending laterally of said first arm, at or adjacent a second, opposite end region (38) of said first arm (32), and in the plane of pivoting of said support member (30), said second arm (40) serving to provide said side support for the user's head.

A head rest as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second arm (40) has orthogonal dimensions in the plane of pivoting substantially greater than the dimension parallel to the pivot axis (36) thereby to provide substantial support for the user's head.

6 A head rest as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein, in said extended position of the or each said support member (30) said second arm (40) extends upwardly from said first arm (32).

7 A head rest as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 wherein said body portion (12) has a lower face (24), said front face (18) has a depending portion (22) extending below said lower face (24), and said first arm (32) is pivotably mounted to said depending portion, the arrangement being such that in said retracted position said support member (30) forms an extension of said upper and front surfaces (16, 18) of said body portion.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

CLAIMS

1. A head rest for a seat back of a vehicle, the head rest (10) comprising: a body portion (12) having an upper face (16), a front face (18) and opposing sides (20), and a support member (30) attached to one said side, said support member being movable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position wherein said support member extends forwardly of said front face (18) to provide side support for a user's head; wherein the or each said support member (30) has a first arm (32) pivotably mounted at one end region to said body portion and a second arm (40) extending laterally of said first arm, at or adjacent a second, opposite end region (38) of said first arm (32), and in the plane of pivoting of said support member (30), said second arm (40) serving to provide said side support for the user's head; and wherein, in said extended position of the or each said support member (30) said second arm (40) extends upwardly from said first arm (32).

2. A head rest as claimed in claim 1, comprising a respective said support member (30) attached to each said side of said body portion (12).

3. A head rest as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each said support member (30) is pivotably mounted to said body portion (12).

4. A head rest as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said second arm (40) has orthogonal dimensions in the plane of pivoting substantially greater than the dimension parallel to the pivot axis (36) thereby to provide substantial support for the user's head.

5. A head rest as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said body portion (12) has a lower face (24), said front face (18) has a depending portion (22) extending below said lower face (24), and said first arm (32) is pivotably mounted to said depending portion, the arrangement being such that in said retracted position said support member (30) forms an extension of said upper and front surfaces (16, 18) of said body portion.