WO2005075244A1

WO2005075244A1 - An arrangement with extra headrests in a vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: WO2005075244A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/000138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per-Olof Blomqvist; Jan-Inge Johansson
Original assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab
Priority date: 2004-02-10
Filing date: 2005-02-04
Publication date: 2005-08-18
Also published as: SE526662C2; SE0400259L; SE0400259D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (100) for a headrest in a vehicle seat, comprising a first extra headrest (100) and also a first axle (130) with a first extend, around which first axle the first extra headrest can be moved to and for in a first direction of movement, characterized in that the arrangement also comprises a first clip (140), with the aid of which the first extra headrest is arranged around the said first axle, the clip having a part (145) for fastening around the axle, which fastening part of the clip has at least one plane surface and one rounded surface, and in that the cross-sectional area of the axle has, over at least part of the extent of the axle, correspondingly designed straight surfaces and rounded surfaces, the extra headrest being provided with defined snap positions in its movement around the axle by interaction between the plane surfaces and rounded surfaces on the axle and on the fastening part of the clip.

Description

TITLE

An arrangement with extra headrests in a vehicle seat.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an arrangement for a headrest in a vehicle seat, comprising a first extra headrest and also a first axle with a first extent, around which first axle the first extra headrest can be moved to and fro in a first direction of movement.

BACKGROUND ART

In motor vehicles, such as private cars, lorries etc., the seats are in principle always provided with a separate headrest, in other words a rest which extends upwards from the seat back in order that the person sitting in the seat will be able to lean his head against the rest. Another important function of the rest is that it is to be capable of taking up forces in the event of a collision or hard braking.

As the headrest is to be capable of taking up the great forces which arise during collisions etc., it must in principle be rigidly secured, the result of which is that it can often have only one position. In order for it to be possible to achieve an increase in comfort for the person sitting in the seat, it would be desirable to have a headrest which could occupy a number of different positions, between which it would be possible to change with simple manipulations.

It would also be desirable for it to be possible for such a headrest to be mounted in a simple way in an existing mechanical solution, as this would mean cost savings.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A need therefore exists for an arrangement with the aid of which it is possible to obtain a headrest in a vehicle which can take up forces in the event of collisions but which can nevertheless offer more different positions than has previously been possible. It is moreover to be possible to change between the different positions simply, and the solution is to be capable of being mounted in a simple way in an existing mechanical solution.

This need is met by the present invention by virtue of the fact that it discloses an arrangement for a headrest in a vehicle seat, which comprises a first extra headrest and also a first axle with a first extent, around which first axle the first extra headrest can be moved to and fro in a first direction of movement, which arrangement also comprises a first clip, with the aid of which the first extra headrest is arranged around the said first axle, the clip having a part for fastening around the first axle, which fastening part of the clip has at least one plane surface and one rounded surface. The cross-sectional area of the axle has, over at least part of the extent of the axle, correspondingly designed straight surfaces and rounded surfaces.

By virtue of this design of straight and round surfaces in the fastening part of the clip and the axle, the extra headrest can, in a way which will emerge, be provided with a desired number of snap positions in its movement around the axle. The whole arrangement can be secured in a simple way to an existing mechanical solution for a headrest, which will be demonstrated in the description below.

The arrangement suitably also comprises a second such extra headrest, which is also arranged movably around the first axle, and which second extra headrest can likewise be moved to and fro in the said first direction of movement, the arrangement also comprising actuating means, with the aid of which a movement around the axle of the first extra headrest gives rise to corresponding movement of the second extra headrest. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The invention will be described in greater detail below with the aid of the accompanying illustrations, in which

Fig. 1 shows a conventional support for a headrest with an arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows the same as Fig. 1 from the other side;

Fig. 3 shows a clip and an axle according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a clip, and Figs 5 and 6 show the arrangement from Fig. 1 with a covering on it.

EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a conventional support 10 for a headrest in a vehicle, which is provided with securing eyes 20, with the aid of which the support 10 can be joined together with an existing structure in a seat back. A continuous cover made of a material which takes up force is intended to be arranged over the support, a headrest of conventional design being obtained. The support 10 is not an essential part of the invention but is shown chiefly in order to facilitate understanding of the invention.

The support 10 in Fig. 1 is also provided with an arrangement 100 according to the invention. The arrangement 100 comprises a first and suitably also a second extra headrest 110, 120. The two extra headrests are intended as a complement to the ordinary headrest obtained with the aid of the support 10, the function of the extra headrests essentially being to take up the forces which arise when a head is leant against them in order for it to be possible to rest or sleep. The function of the two extra headrests is consequently not primarily to take up the forces which arise in the event of, for example, a collision or hard braking.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 , the arrangement 100 comprises a first axle 130, around which the first extra headrest 110, and, if present, the second extra headrest 120 as well, is movably arranged. Fig. 1 shows the arrangement 100 shown from the side on which a head is intended to rest against the headrest. The first and second headrests 110, 120 can be moved to and fro around the axle by hand in a direction of movement which coincides roughly with the hypothetical direction of travel of the vehicle.

As mentioned, the purpose of the extra headrests is mainly to offer a number of different rest positions for a head in addition to the "basic position" defined by the ordinary headrest. In the event of a collision or hard braking, the head of a passenger/driver will be thrust against the extra headrests with such force that the extra headrests are moved towards the ordinary headrest, it then being possible for the capacity of the ordinary headrest for taking up force to be utilized.

In Fig. 1 , the two extra headrests 110, 120 consist of essentially plane rectangular "wings", but other designs are also possible within the scope of the invention, which will be understood from the description below.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 , the extra headrests are arranged around the axle by means of "fastening parts" 112, 113; 114, 15, which project from the extra headrest concerned in the form of eyes which can be arranged around the axle. Other designs of these fastening parts are also conceivable; for example, the eyes do not have to be a continuous circle but can be designed as part of a circle. As both the extra headrests are to be arranged around the same axle, their fastening parts are suitably designed so that they run around different portions of the axle.

Fig. 1 shows that the first extra headrest is also arranged around the axle with the aid of a clip 140 in addition to the said fastening part. It is the interaction between this clip 140 and the axle 130 which provides the extra headrest 110 with the different positions mentioned above; this will be described in more detail below. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement from Fig. 1 from the rear, where essentially the same components as in Fig. 1 can be seen. It can also be seen in Figs 1 and 2 that the clip 140 has a part 145 which runs around the axle, referred to below as the "fastening part", and a part which extends from the axle over the front side and rear side of the headrest. The part is consequently actually a "tongue" on each side of the extra headrest 110.

Fig. 3 shows a possible embodiment of the fastening part 145 of the clip and also a cross section of the axle 130, which provides the different positions of the extra headrest mentioned above: as shown, the fastening part 145 has two plane surfaces 145a, 145b, which in this embodiment face one another. The fastening part also has two rounded surfaces 145c, 145d. One plane surface is interrupted by that part of the clip which extends towards the extra rest.

Fig. 3 also shows a cross-sectional area of a part of the axle 130 around which the fastening part is to run. As can be seen, the cross-sectional area of the axle also has two plane surfaces 130a, 130b and two rounded surfaces 130c, 130d.

When the fastening part is arranged around that part of the axle which has the cross section shown, the following will occur: when the plane surfaces of the fastening part bear against corresponding plane surfaces of the axle, a defined snap position for the clip and thus the extra headrest as well will be obtained. If on the other hand the rounded surfaces of the clip bear against corresponding rounded surfaces of the axle, it will be possible for the clip, and thus the extra headrest as well, to carry out a gentle movement.

It has therefore been possible with the embodiment described of the fastening part of the clip and the axle to obtain a movement of the extra headrest which includes gentle motion and also a fixed "snap position". The number of plane and rounded surfaces shown on the components in Fig. 3 is intended only to illustrate a principle. It is clear that, on the basis of the principle shown in Fig. 3, it is possible to obtain a large number of combinations of snap positions and positions for gentle motion by means of suitable design and dimensioning of the number of plane and rounded surfaces of clip and axle.

For the sake of clarity, Fig. 4 shows an alternative design of clip/axle cross section. This design has four plane surfaces 410, 411 , 412, 413, where two 410, 411 of the plane surfaces meet at an angle α and are connected to the other two plane surfaces 412, 413 by two rounded surfaces 414, 415. The other two plane surfaces 412, 413 meet at the same angle α. This design will allow a larger number of snap positions to be obtained than with the embodiment in Fig. 3. It is clear that the number of possible such designs employing the principle described is great.

It should also be emphasized here that the entire axle does not have to have a cross-sectional area which corresponds to the design of the fastening part of the clip. As can be seen from Figs 1 and 2, the fastening part 145 grips around only part of the total length of the axle, which means that it is only this part of the axle which has to be designed like this. As far as the possible combinations of plane and rounded surfaces are concerned, it may also be mentioned that a "minimum variant" is to have one plane surface and one rounded surface.

Thus far, the description has dealt with how an extra headrest 110 of the invention is provided with a number of different positions around its axle 130. As shown in Figs 1 and 2, however, an arrangement 100 according to the invention suitably also has a second extra headrest 120, the first and the second extra headrest suitably being arranged in such a way around the axle that they each support their own side of a head which is leant against the arrangement. With two extra headrests 110, 120 in the arrangement, it is desirable for both extra rests to be provided with the different rest positions described above. There are a number of different ways for achieving this function, one of which is for the arrangement to comprise actuating means, with the aid of which a movement around the axle 130 of the first extra headrest 110 gives rise to corresponding movement of the second extra headrest 120.

A variant of such actuating means can be seen in Fig. 2: a first lever 150 is fastened to the first extra headrest, which lever extends behind the second headrest 120 ("behind" with regard to the direction of movement of the extra headrests or with regard to the direction of travel of a hypothetical vehicle). Behind the second extra headrest, there is also a second lever 160, which is mounted behind the second headrest and comprises a part 161 for making contact with the first lever and a part 162 for making contact with the second headrest.

The first lever consequently extends behind the second extra headrest, which the first lever makes contact with on its one side, and, on its other side, the first lever makes contact with the second lever. This may also be expressed as that part of the first lever which extends behind the second extra headrest is located between the second extra rest and the second lever.

As mentioned, the second lever comprises a part 161 which is to make contact with the first lever and also comprises a part 162 which is to make contact with the second headrest, the latter part extending along the rear side of the second headrest. As mentioned, the second lever is mounted pivotably behind the second extra headrest, which gives rise to the following effect:

When the first extra headrest 110 is moved forwards (with regard to the direction of travel of a hypothetical vehicle), the first lever 150 will be moved backwards and will act on the second lever 160 on the part 161. The second lever 160 will, as it is pivotably mounted, pivot around a centre of rotation 163, and that part 162 of the second lever which is intended to make contact with the second extra headrest will make this contact, the second extra headrest being carried along around the axle 130 in the same movement as the first extra headrest carries out.

The movements of the first headrest 110 will consequently carry the second headrest 120 along in corresponding movements. The mounting of the second lever 160 referred to is suitably in the form of a pivot 163 around which the second lever can move, which will be described later in this text.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, a preferred embodiment of the arrangement has not only actuating means acting on the second extra headrest from the first, but also actuating means which cause the second extra rest to carry the first extra rest along in its movement. These actuating means are suitably designed in the same way as those described above, in other words the second extra headrest has a third lever fastened to it, which lever extends behind the first headrest. Behind the first extra headrest, there is also a fourth lever, which is pivotably mounted behind the first extra headrest and comprises a part for making contact with the third lever and a part for making contact with the first extra headrest.

The third lever consequently extends behind the first extra headrest, which the third lever makes contact with on its one side, and, on its other side, the third lever makes contact with the fourth lever, which may also be expressed as that part of the third lever which extends behind the first extra headrest is located between the first extra rest and the fourth lever.

As mentioned, the second and, where appropriate, the fourth lever are mounted pivotably behind their respective extra headrest. This is suitably effected by a pivot or pin being located behind each extra headrest, around which an essentially circular cutout in the lever is arranged. As shown in Figs 1 and 2, the support 10 comprises an extra crosspiece 15, which connects the two "legs" of the support. The two pivots for the second and fourth levers are suitably arranged on this support, as shown in the drawings.

It can also be seen from Figs 1 and 2 how the arrangement 100 can simply be secured on the support 10: the two extra headrests 110, 120 are arranged around the axle 130 with the aid of the eyes 112, 113, 114, 15 or the like mentioned above, in other words the extra headrests are slipped over the axle, the clip 140 being arranged in the first extra headrest 110, and the fastening part 145 of the clip thus also being slipped over the axle 130. As mentioned, the eyes "overlap" one another along the axle 130 so as not to block the movements of the two extra headrests around the axle.

The pivots around which the second and fourth levers are to move are suitably arranged on the support 15 beforehand, the levers suitably also being arranged on their respective pivot. The extra headrests are consequently arranged around their axle, and the axle is secured to the support by one end of the axle being secured to the ordinary crosspiece of the support and the other end of the axle being secured to the extra crosspiece 15 of the support. In this connection, the first and third levers are fitted in so that they come to lie between their respective headrest and the second and fourth levers.

The axle is suitably attached to the extra crosspiece of the support and to the ordinary, upper crosspiece by, for example, snap-fitting or welding, suitably resistance welding. The axle can be fixed to the support by the axle being provided with a shape at at least one of its ends which coincides with the cross-sectional area of the support: if the cross section of the support is circular, as shown in Figs 1 and 2, one end of the axle is provided with a concave shape which corresponds to the circular cross section of the support. A suitable such design can also provide "snap locking" of the axle on the support.

The clip is fixed to the first extra headrest with the aid of a locking component 170, which is indicated in Figs 1 and 2. As can be seen from Figs 1 , 2 and 3, the clip also has, in addition to its fastening part, a part which extends along the headrest, on each side of the headrest, which may be expressed as the clip has two tongues, one on each side of the extra rest. The locking component grips around the said two tongues of the clip, which is effected by way of the headrest having an opening 172 where the tongues end, into which opening the locking component can be inserted. In the design shown, the locking component is made in the form of an open rectangle and locks the tongues of the clip around a shoulder.

The description above has dealt with how the first extra headrest is provided with defined snap positions around the axle with the aid of a clip and how this headrest can be made to carry the second headrest along with it with the aid of actuating means. Another possibility for obtaining a number of defined positions for the two extra headrests is instead to provide the second extra headrest as well with a clip of the kind described above, with the aid of which the second extra headrest is also mounted around the axle. In this way, both the extra headrests will be provided with defined rest positions around the axle, between which rest positions the extra headrests can be moved individually; in this variant, there is consequently no need for a "coupling" with the aid of actuating means between the extra headrests, although one may be desirable and can of course be used.

Lastly, for the sake of completeness, Figs 5 and 6 show a finished headrest with an arrangement according to the invention. What is shown in Figs 5 and 6 is essentially the same as can be seen in Fig. 1 , but, in Figs 5 and 6, on the one hand the support 10 and on the other hand the extra headrests 110, 120 have been provided with coverings made of a material which takes up force.

Claims

1. An arrangement (100) for a headrest in a vehicle seat, comprising a first extra headrest (110) and also a first axle (130) with a first extent, around which first axle (130) the first extra headrest (110) can be moved to and fro in a first direction of movement, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the arrangement also comprises a first clip (140), with the aid of which the first extra headrest is arranged around the said first axle, the clip having a part (145) for fastening around the axle (130), which fastening part of the clip has at least one plane surface (145a, 145b) and one rounded surface (145c, 145d), and in that the cross-sectional area of the axle has, over at least part of the extent of the axle, correspondingly designed straight surfaces (130a, 130b) and rounded surfaces (130c, 130d), the extra headrest (110) being provided with defined snap positions in its movement around the axle (130) by interaction between the plane surfaces and rounded surfaces on the axle and on the fastening part of the clip.

2. The arrangement (100) according to claim 1 , also comprising a second such extra headrest (120), which is arranged movably around the first axle (130), and which second extra headrest can likewise be moved to and fro in the said first direction of movement, where the arrangement comprises actuating means (150, 160, 163), with the aid of which a movement around the axle (130) of the first extra headrest (110) gives rise to corresponding movement of the second extra headrest (120).

3. The arrangement (100) according to claim 2, in which the said actuating means for acting on the second headrest from the first headrest consist of a first lever (150) fastened to the first headrest (110), which lever (150) extends behind the second headrest (120) with regard to the said first direction of movement and there acts on a second lever (160), which is mounted behind the second headrest, the second lever comprising a part (161 ) for making contact with the first lever and a part (162) for making contact with the second headrest.

4. The arrangement (100) according to claim 3, also comprising actuating means for acting on the first headrest from the second headrest, which actuating means consist of a third lever fastened to the second headrest, which lever extends behind the first headrest with regard to the said first direction of movement and there acts on a fourth lever, which is mounted behind the first headrest, the fourth lever comprising a part for making contact with the third lever and a part for making contact with the first headrest.