WO2005120894A1

WO2005120894A1 - A device for a collapsible headrest

Info

Publication number: WO2005120894A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/000885
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per-Olof Blomqvist
Original assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab
Priority date: 2004-06-09
Filing date: 2005-06-09
Publication date: 2005-12-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for a headrest in a vehicle, which headrest can assume a collapsed and an upright position, and comprises a bracket for a cushion and a casing in which a first end of the bracket is disposed. The first end of the bracket is disposed alongside a lock segment and the device also comprises a first spring, which is arranged such that it endeavours to tilt the bracket into the collapsed position. The device further comprises a lock shuttle in the casing, arranged such that the lock shuttle can be guided between a locking position, in which the said lock segment secures the bracket in the upright position, and an unlocking position, in which the locking action of the lock segment ceases, the tilting force of the first spring, in the unlocking position, making the bracket assume the collapsed position. The lock shuttle additionally accommodates a second spring, which endeavours to guide the lock shuttle from the unlocking position into the locking position. Expediently, the second spring is accommodated in the lock shuttle by the lock shuttle having a recess in which the second spring is disposed.

Description

TITLE

A device for a collapsible headrest

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a device for a headrest in a vehicle. The headrest can assume a collapsed and an upright position and comprises a bracket for a cushion and a casing in which the first end of the bracket is disposed. The first end of the bracket is disposed alongside a lock segment and the device further comprises a first spring, which is arranged such that it endeavours to tilt the bracket into the collapsed position.

BACKGROUND ART

In the majority of vehicles having passenger seats behind the driver's seat, the passenger seats are provided with headrests for the comfort and safety of the passengers. However, headrests on such seats can obstruct the view of the driver when reversing and can also constitute an obstacle if the seats can be tilted forward, since the headrest will then hit against the front row of seats.

For these reasons, it is desirable that headrests in passenger seats should be able to be collapsed forwards in relation to the seat. There are a number of solutions which allow such tilting, but there is a constant quest to be able to achieve such solutions more cost-effectively. Furthermore, new seat configurations have led to requirements or desires for the headrests to be narrower (in the imaginary direction of travel of the vehicle) than previously.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

There are therefore desires for a solution which allows cheaper and narrower collapsible headrests for passenger seats in vehicles than have hitherto been possible.

These desires are satisfied by the present invention in that it discloses a device for a headrest in a vehicle, which headrest can assume a collapsed and an upright position. The device comprises a bracket for a cushion and a casing in which a first end of the bracket is disposed, and the first end of the bracket is disposed alongside a lock segment.

The device further comprises a first spring, arranged such that it endeavours to tilt the bracket into the collapsed position, and the device also comprises a lock shuttle in the casing, arranged such that the lock shuttle can be guided between a locking position, in which the said lock segment secures the bracket in the upright position, and an unlocking position, in which the locking action of the lock segment ceases, the tilting force of the first spring, in the unlocking position, making the bracket assume the collapsed position.

The lock shuttle also accommodates a second spring, which endeavours to guide the lock shuttle from the unlocking position into the locking position.

Expediently, the second spring is accommodated in the lock shuttle by the lock shuttle having a first recess in which the second spring is disposed.

With the aid of the invention, a device is obtained which is narrower (in an imaginary direction of travel of the vehicle) than previously known such devices. A device according to the invention is also cheaper to make than previously known similar devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the appended drawings. For the sake of clarity, the headrest cushion, which, inter alia, offers comfort and energy absorption has been omitted from the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a device for a headrest according to the invention, and Fig. 2 shows a section through the device from Fig. 1 , and Fig. 3 shows a lock segment and lock shuttle according to the invention, and Fig. 4 shows a cross-section of the lower part of the device from Fig. 1 , and Fig. 5 shows a lock segment in two different positions.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Fig. 1 shows a device 100 according to the invention for a headrest in a passenger vehicle, mainly intended for use in passenger seats in the row(s) behind the driver.

The device 100 comprises, as shown, a bracket 110, on which a cushion can be fixed. The bracket can be realized in a large number of ways within the scope of the invention, but in the example in Fig. 1 the bracket is a U-shaped bow having a first 110' and a second 110" leg, in which the ends of the legs are directed downwards towards an imaginary seat back.

As can also be seen from Fig. 1 , the device 100 comprises a casing 130, into which the ends of the legs of the bracket extend; in other words, the one or first end of the bracket is disposed in the casing in a manner which will be explained below. It is the casing 130 which can subsequently be fixed in or on a seat back.

In Fig. 1 , two other components are also prominent, the function of which will become clear from the continued description, namely a screw 160 and one end of a lock shuttle 150. By pulling the end of the lock shuttle in a direction coinciding with the principal extent of the lock shuttle, which direction is shown by the arrow P in Fig. 1 , the bracket 110 will be made to tilt down, in principle in the direction which is into "the paper".

The casing 130 also comprises a lid 140, which has been removed in the diagram shown in Fig. 2. Since the lid has been removed, a number of other components in the device 100 are visible in Fig. 2: extending inside and along a large part of the long and narrow casing 140 there is a frame 211 , which expediently, but not necessarily, is made of plastic. The function of the frame 211 is firstly to support the sliding motion of the lock shuttle 150 and secondly to act as a counter-stay for the second spring 207.

Around the screw 160, a lock segment 202 is disposed on the inside of the casing in such a way that the lock segment can pivot around the screw. Expediently, but not necessarily, the device comprises two such screws, one on each of the short sides of the casing, and a lock segment for each screw.

The device further comprises a first spring 209, which is arranged such that it induces one of the lock segments 202 to execute the aforementioned rotation about the screw 160. According to the invention, at least one of the legs 110', 110" of the bracket is fixedly disposed on one of the lock segments, which means that the action of the spring upon the lock segment will induce the whole of the bracket to rotate. The spring therefore induces the bracket to execute the tilting motion which is one of the concepts of the invention.

In Fig. 2, it is also shown that the lock shuttle 150 extends essentially along the whole of the length of the casing, inside the aforementioned frame 211 , and that the lock segments 202 are disposed at the ends of the lock shuttle.

With reference to Fig. 3, it is evident why the lock segments 202 cannot execute the motion urged upon them by the spring 209: the lock shuttle 150 is configured as an essentially plane rectangle, having a recess 303, 303' for each lock segment, and an additional recess 305, the function of which will become clear. If the device 100, in other words, were only to contain one lock segment, then only one of the recesses 303, 303' would be needed.

In the illustrated example in Fig. 3, the lock segment 202 is realized as an essentially circular plane plate having a recess 203. The lock segment can have a number of different configurations, but the recess 203 should be dimensioned according to its interaction with the segment. With renewed reference to Figs 2 and 3, the locking function of the lock shuttle and the lock segment is evident: the lock segment 202 is arranged so that it grips with its recess 203 around both sides of the lock shuttle at a point A in the lock shuttle which does not have any recess, whereby the tilting motion induced by the spring 209 is prevented, since the lock shuttle is not arranged in a collapsible manner in the casing 130. In other words, the lock shuttle is here in a locking position.

The lock shuttle is on the other hand arranged such that it can be guided forward and back in the principal direction of extent of the casing 140, in other words in the lateral direction of an imaginary vehicle seat.

When the lock shuttle is guided in the said direction in the casing, the direction shown by the arrow P in Fig. 1 , preferably by manual force, the recess(es) 303, 303' in the shuttle will end up directly in front of the recess 203 in the segment(s) 202, whereupon the tilting motion of the bracket will be executed. This can be termed as the lock shuttle 150 entering into an unlocking position. Of course, other force transmission principles are also possible for executing the motion of the lock shuttle, manual force being just one example.

In Fig. 3, a second recess 305 in the lock shuttle 150 can also be seen, the function of which is evident from Fig. 2: the recess is for the accommodation of a second spring 207. When the lock shuttle is pulled so that the tilting motion is enabled, this second spring 207 will be compressed and will therefore endeavour to return the lock shuttle to the locking position.

Owing to the second spring 207, the lock shuttle will therefore automatically assume the locking position whenever the bracket, or a cushion disposed thereon, is returned by manual force to the upright position after having been collapsed. One problem with the second spring 207 is to ensure that it remains in the recess in the lock shuttle and that it maintains its essentially oblong shape. The invention discloses a number of alternative possible solutions to this problem, which can also be mutually combined. One of these solutions is shown in Fig. 3, in which a pin 307 is disposed in the recess in the lock shuttle, essentially in the direction in which the spring is meant to extend and exert the spring action. The spring 207 is expediently threaded onto the pin 307 during manufacture.

As previously stated, the casing 130 comprises a cover lid 140, which can also offer the desired function with regard to the pin 307. This can be seen from Fig. 4, which shows a cross-section of the casing 130 and its contents in the locking position, in other words with the bracket tilted up.

The function and purpose of the majority of the parts shown in Fig. 4 have already been explained, but Fig. 4 can further help to increase understanding of the invention.

The lock shuttle 150 with its recesses for the lock segments 202 can clearly be seen, as can the lock segments 202, which are disposed on one and the same side of their respective recesses. When the lock shuttle is guided in a direction coinciding with its principal extent, to the right in the drawing, the lock segments will be directly in front of the recesses in the lock shuttle, and the unlocking position is engaged.

The screws 160 are also visible in Fig. 4, and it is apparent that they constitute pivot points or rotational axes for the lock segments 202 and hence also for the bracket 110, since the bracket legs 110', 110" are fastened, for example by welding, in the lock segments.

Also visible in Fig. 4 is the first spring 209, the "tilt spring", which is arranged adjoining one of the screws 160 so that it acts upon the lock segment supported by the screw.

As for the second spring 207, this is also visible in its recess in the lock shuttle 150, and it can additionally be seen how the cover lid 140 holds the spring in place in the recess by the cover lid forming a cap for the recess, for example by the cover lid having a rectangular part 140', which juts down into the casing 130 so that the downward-jutting part covers the whole or parts of the recess.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged cross-section of a lock segment and surrounding parts. Unbroken lines serve to show when the collapsible parts are in an upright position, the locking position, and dashed lines serve to show the same parts in the collapsed position, the unlocked position. With reference to that which is illustrated with unbroken lines, the lock segment 202 and its grip on both sides of the lock shuttle, the position of the screw 160, and also a fastening facility for the tilt spring 209, in the form of an opening in which one end of the spring can be inserted, can be seen. The fastened bracket leg is also apparent.

Dashed lines serve to show that the grip of the lock segment around the lock shuttle ceases once the bracket has been tilted forwards and that the rotation is executed with the screw as the centre of rotation.

A large number of variants on the above-illustrated are conceivable within the scope of the invention. The securement of the second spring 207 in the lock shuttle 150 can, as stated, be realized either with a pin or with the aid of a cover lid, or with a combination of the two. The lock shuttle can be held fast in the direction of tilt, but can still be made movable in the transverse direction in a number of ways beyond what has been shown, in other words with the aid of the frame 211.

The device can comprise one or more lock segments 202, the number shown (two) should only be regarded as an example.

In general terms, the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments which have been shown above, but can be freely modified within the scope of the following patent claims.

Claims

1. A device (100) for a headrest in a vehicle, which headrest can assume a collapsed and an upright position, comprising a bracket (110) for a cushion and a casing (130) in which a first end of the bracket (110) is disposed, the first end of the bracket being disposed alongside a lock segment (202), and further comprising a first spring (209), which is arranged such that it endeavours to tilt the bracket (110) into the collapsed position, which device is c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it further comprises a lock shuttle (150) in the casing, arranged such that the lock shuttle (150) can be guided between a locking position (A), in which the said lock segment secures the bracket in the upright position, and an unlocking position (B), in which the locking action of the lock segment ceases, the tilting force of the first spring (209), in the unlocking position, making the bracket assume the collapsed position, wherein the lock shuttle accommodates a second spring (207), which endeavours to guide the lock shuttle from the unlocking position into the locking position, which second spring (207) is accommodated in the lock shuttle (150) by the lock shuttle having a first recess (305) in which the second spring is disposed, wherein the device is c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second spring (207) is made to essentially maintain its shape by the casing (130) having a lid (140) which also forms a cap for the said recess.

2. The device (100) according to Claim 1 , in which the recess (305) in the lock shuttle (150) further comprises a pin (307) on which the second spring (207) can wholly or partially be threaded.

3. The device (100) according to either of Claims 1-2, in which the lock shuttle (150) is an essentially rectangular plate comprising the said first recess (305), further comprising a second recess (303, 303'), in which the lock segment (202), in the locking position (A), grips around the lock shuttle, and in which the lock segment, in the unlocking position (B), is directly in front of the said second recess (303, 303'), whereby the locking action of the lock segment ceases.

4. The device (100) according to any one of Claims 1-3, in which the lock segment (150) is fastened in the casing (130) with the aid of a screw (160) on which the first spring (209) is disposed, which screw constitutes the pivot point for the device between the tilted-up and the collapsed position.