WO2007000565A1 - A head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle - Google Patents

A head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007000565A1
WO2007000565A1 PCT/GB2006/002051 GB2006002051W WO2007000565A1 WO 2007000565 A1 WO2007000565 A1 WO 2007000565A1 GB 2006002051 W GB2006002051 W GB 2006002051W WO 2007000565 A1 WO2007000565 A1 WO 2007000565A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
motor vehicle
head restraint
latch mechanism
rear roof
roof panel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2006/002051
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Alan Condon
Torsten Gerhardt
John Harding
Steve David Fleming
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Original Assignee
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ford Global Technologies LLC filed Critical Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority to JP2008518948A priority Critical patent/JP2008544790A/en
Priority to DE112006001302T priority patent/DE112006001302B4/en
Priority to CN2006800232854A priority patent/CN101208216B/en
Publication of WO2007000565A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007000565A1/en
Priority to GB0723375A priority patent/GB2441680B/en
Priority to US11/961,362 priority patent/US7637553B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/80—Head-rests
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
    • B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
    • B60J7/12—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts
    • B60J7/14—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts with a plurality of rigid plate-like elements or rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. with non-slidable, but pivotable or foldable movement
    • B60J7/143—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts with a plurality of rigid plate-like elements or rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. with non-slidable, but pivotable or foldable movement for covering the passenger compartment
    • B60J7/148—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts with a plurality of rigid plate-like elements or rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. with non-slidable, but pivotable or foldable movement for covering the passenger compartment at least one element being stored in vertical fashion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
    • B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
    • B60J7/12—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
    • B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
    • B60J7/12—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts
    • B60J7/14—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts with a plurality of rigid plate-like elements or rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. with non-slidable, but pivotable or foldable movement
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
    • B60J7/20—Vehicle storage compartments for roof parts or for collapsible flexible tops
    • B60J7/201—Vehicle storage compartments for roof parts or for collapsible flexible tops being outside of vehicle, e.g. onto boot lid, or into a storage compartment to be closed by one of the roof panels itself
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/30—Non-dismountable or dismountable seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats
    • B60N2/3002—Non-dismountable or dismountable seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats back-rest movements
    • B60N2/3004—Non-dismountable or dismountable seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats back-rest movements by rotation only
    • B60N2/3009—Non-dismountable or dismountable seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats back-rest movements by rotation only about transversal axis
    • B60N2/3011—Non-dismountable or dismountable seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats back-rest movements by rotation only about transversal axis the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/80—Head-rests
    • B60N2/806—Head-rests movable or adjustable
    • B60N2/838—Tiltable
    • B60N2/856—Tiltable movable to an inoperative or stowed position
    • B60N2/859—Tiltable movable to an inoperative or stowed position specially adapted for rear seats
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/80—Head-rests
    • B60N2/806—Head-rests movable or adjustable
    • B60N2/874—Head-rests movable or adjustable movable to an inoperative or stowed position
    • B60N2/876—Head-rests movable or adjustable movable to an inoperative or stowed position specially adapted for rear seats

Definitions

  • This invention relates to head restraints for motor vehicles and in particular to a head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle.
  • GB-A 2,325,620 It is known from, for example, GB-A 2,325,620 to provide a head restraint for a motor vehicle that is moveable between a raised or stowed position in which the head restraint lies adjacent to a roof panel of the motor vehicle and a lowered position in which the head restraint is positioned above the backrest of a seat for use by a passenger of the vehicle seated upon the seat.
  • the head restraint is physically moved from its raised or lowered positions by an occupant of the motor vehicle by releasing a latch used to hold the head restraint in its two positions.
  • a motor vehicle having front and rear stowable roof panels moveable between raised and lowered positions and at least one seat assembly having a backrest, an automatically stowable head restraint rotatably supported by the rear roof panel for movement between a stowed position in which the head restraint lies adjacent an inside surface of the rear roof panel and an in use position in which the head restraint is positioned above the backrest of the seat assembly, a biasing means to bias the head restraint into the stowed position and a latch mechanism to selectively hold the head restraint in the lowered position wherein the latch mechanism is released by the process of lowering one of the front and rear roof panels so as to permit the head restraint to move to its stowed position.
  • the motor vehicle may have front and rear rows of seats and the rear roof panel when in the lowered position may be stowed between the front and rear rows of seats.
  • the motor vehicle may have front and rear rows of seats and each of the seats in the rear row of seats having a head restraint may have an automatically stowable head restraint.
  • the latch mechanism may be released by a linkage connected to part of the mechanism used to raise and lower the front roof panel.
  • the latch mechanism may be released by a linkage connected to part of the mechanism used to raise and lower the rear roof panel .
  • the latch mechanism may be released by a linkage connected to part of a locking mechanism used to hold the front and rear roof panels together when they are both in their respective raised positions .
  • the linkage may be one of a cable linkage, a rod linkage, a chain linkage and a fluid connection.
  • the latch mechanism may be an electro-mechanical latch mechanism and may be connected to an electronic controller used to control the raising and lowering of at least one of the front and rear roof panels and the electronic controller may be operable to release the latch mechanism so as to permit the head restraint to move to its stowed position when a signal is received indicative that at least one of the front and rear roof panels is in the process of being moved to its lowered position.
  • Fig. 1 is a cutaway side view of part of motor vehicle having a pair of head restraints in accordance with the invention showing moveable front and roof panels in raised positions;
  • Fig. 2 is a cutaway side view of part of a motor vehicle according to the invention showing the moveable front and roof panels in stowed positions;
  • Fig. 3 is a pictorial view of the inside of the rear roof panel showing a head restraint assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • a motor vehicle 5 having front and rear stowable roof panels 6 and 7 each of which is moveable between a raised position as shown in Fig. 1 and a lowered or stowed position as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the front roof panel 6 is moveable by means of an arm arrangement or linkage mechanism(not shown) having a number of connected arms of which one is driven by an electric motor (not shown) or some other power source to move the front roof panel 6 from its raised position to its stowed position and vice-versa.
  • a similar multi-arm linkage mechanism or a chain drive mechanism is used to move the rear roof panel 7 from its raised position to its stowed position.
  • the motor vehicle has two rows of seats, therebeing a front row of seats having two seats 9 arranged side by side and a rear row of seats having two seat assemblies 10 arranged side by side.
  • the rear roof panel 7 when in its stowed position is located between the front row of seats 9 and the rear row of seat assemblies 10 and lies just behind the front row of seats 9.
  • the front roof panel 6 is located substantially horizontally to the rear of the front row of seats 9 so that it covers the rear row of seat assemblies 10. Therefore when the two roof panels 6, 7 are in their raised positions they define a four seat hatchback vehicle and when the two roof panels 6, 7 are in their stowed positions they define a two seat open top vehicle.
  • Each of the seat assemblies 10, of which only one is shown in Figs . 1 and 2 comprises of a seat cushion 12 and a backrest 11 which are pivotally connected together so that the backrest 11 can fold forward and lie upon the seat cushion 12 as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the backrest 11 has an upper edge above which is positioned an automatically stowable head restraint 13 supported by two rods 17 each of which is attached to a transverse support rail 21 for movement between a raised or stowed position in which a cushion part of the head restraint 13 is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the rear roof panel 7 or rest against an inner surface of the rear roof panel 7 and a lowered or in use position in which the head restraint 13 is positioned above the upper edge of the backrest 11.
  • the support rail 21 is rotatably supported at each end by a respective bracket assembly (not shown) which is fastened to the rear roof panel 7.
  • a latch mechanism 20 is attached to one of the brackets to hold the head restraints 13 in their respective lowered positions against the action of a spring (not shown) .
  • the latch mechanism comprises of a pivotable arm having a finger which engages with an aperture in the support rail 21 when the support rail 21 is positioned such that the head restraints 13 are in their respective lowered positions. It will be appreciated that torsion springs or helical extension springs could be used to provide the biasing action required to return the head restraints to their respective stowed positions when the latch mechanism is released.
  • Both of the seat assemblies 10 forming the rear row of seats have an automatically stowable head restraint 13 positioned above them.
  • the invention could be used with a rear row of seats having two seats with stowable head restraints positioned above them and a centre seat with no head restraint positioned above it or in a motor vehicle having three seats arranged in a row each of which has a respective stowable head restraint positioned above it.
  • the latch mechanism 20 is automatically released by the process of stowing one of the front and rear roof panels 6 and 7 and in this case is automatically released by the process of stowing the front roof panel 6.
  • the latch mechanism 20 is connected by a cable 14 to one of the arms forming part of the arm arrangement on the right side of the motor vehicle used to move the front roof 6 between its raised and stowed positions. It will be appreciated that there is an arm arrangement on both sides of the motor vehicle 5 but only the arm arrangement on the right hand side of the motor vehicle 5 is used in this case to release the latch mechanism 20. It will be appreciated that the cable 14 could be replaced by a rod linkage, a chain linkage or a fluid connection.
  • both of the head restraints 13 are automatically released to their stowed positions .
  • the head restraints 13 are moveable to their respective lowered positions by the action of a user of the motor vehicle 5 pulling against one of the two head restraints 13 until the latch mechanism is reset.
  • the head restraints could be separately mounted on the rear roof panel 7 and separate latch mechanisms could be used.
  • a cable connection to the linkage or mechanism used to raise and stow the rear roof could be used to release the latch mechanism or the cable 14 could be connected to a manual locking means used to secure the front and rear roof panels 6 and 7 together where they meet when they are both in their respective raised positions as shown in Fig. 1.
  • an electro-mechanical latch mechanism connected to an electronic controller used to control the raising and stowing of at least one of the front and rear roof panels 6, 7 could be used to release the head restraints 13.
  • the electronic controller could be operable to release the latch mechanism so as to permit the head restraints to move to their stowed positions either when a command is received from a user of the motor vehicle to stow at least one of the front and rear roof panels 6, 7 or when a signal is received from a sensor associated with one of the front and rear roof panels 6 and 7 or the linkage or mechanism used to stow the front or rear roof panels 6 and 7 indicating that the roof panels 6, 7 are in the process of being stowed.
  • the invention provides a motor vehicle with head restraint assemblies that are automatically stowed so that contact that would otherwise occur between the head restraints and one or other of the moveable roof panels is avoided.
  • the invention provides a head restraint that is automatically placed in a stowed position as part of the process of stowing one of the front and rear roofs .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A motor vehicle (5) is disclosed having one or more seat assemblies (10) each of which has an automatically stowable head restraint (13) associated with it. Each head restraint (13) is pivotally supported by a stowable rear roof panel (7) and is biased into a stowed position in which it lies adjacent to the rear roof panel (7) by a spring. A latch mechanism (20) is used to hold the head restraint in a lowered position in which it depends downwardly from the roof (panel 7) for use by an occupant of the motor vehicle (5). The latch mechanism (20) is automatically released by the process of stowing the rear roof panel (7) or a front roof panel (6).

Description

A HEAD RESTRAINT FOR A CONVERTIBLE MOTOR VEHICLE
This invention relates to head restraints for motor vehicles and in particular to a head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle.
It is known from, for example, GB-A 2,325,620 to provide a head restraint for a motor vehicle that is moveable between a raised or stowed position in which the head restraint lies adjacent to a roof panel of the motor vehicle and a lowered position in which the head restraint is positioned above the backrest of a seat for use by a passenger of the vehicle seated upon the seat. The head restraint is physically moved from its raised or lowered positions by an occupant of the motor vehicle by releasing a latch used to hold the head restraint in its two positions.
It is an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle having stowable front and rear roofs with one or more head restraints that are automatically stowed before either of the roofs is moved fully into its stowed position.
According to the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having front and rear stowable roof panels moveable between raised and lowered positions and at least one seat assembly having a backrest, an automatically stowable head restraint rotatably supported by the rear roof panel for movement between a stowed position in which the head restraint lies adjacent an inside surface of the rear roof panel and an in use position in which the head restraint is positioned above the backrest of the seat assembly, a biasing means to bias the head restraint into the stowed position and a latch mechanism to selectively hold the head restraint in the lowered position wherein the latch mechanism is released by the process of lowering one of the front and rear roof panels so as to permit the head restraint to move to its stowed position. The motor vehicle may have front and rear rows of seats and the rear roof panel when in the lowered position may be stowed between the front and rear rows of seats.
The motor vehicle may have front and rear rows of seats and each of the seats in the rear row of seats having a head restraint may have an automatically stowable head restraint.
The latch mechanism may be released by a linkage connected to part of the mechanism used to raise and lower the front roof panel.
Alternatively, the latch mechanism may be released by a linkage connected to part of the mechanism used to raise and lower the rear roof panel .
As yet another alternative the latch mechanism may be released by a linkage connected to part of a locking mechanism used to hold the front and rear roof panels together when they are both in their respective raised positions .
The linkage may be one of a cable linkage, a rod linkage, a chain linkage and a fluid connection.
As yet a further alternative the latch mechanism may be an electro-mechanical latch mechanism and may be connected to an electronic controller used to control the raising and lowering of at least one of the front and rear roof panels and the electronic controller may be operable to release the latch mechanism so as to permit the head restraint to move to its stowed position when a signal is received indicative that at least one of the front and rear roof panels is in the process of being moved to its lowered position. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:-
Fig. 1 is a cutaway side view of part of motor vehicle having a pair of head restraints in accordance with the invention showing moveable front and roof panels in raised positions;
Fig. 2 is a cutaway side view of part of a motor vehicle according to the invention showing the moveable front and roof panels in stowed positions; and
Fig. 3 is a pictorial view of the inside of the rear roof panel showing a head restraint assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
With particular reference to Figs. 1 to 3 there is shown a motor vehicle 5 having front and rear stowable roof panels 6 and 7 each of which is moveable between a raised position as shown in Fig. 1 and a lowered or stowed position as shown in Fig. 2.
The front roof panel 6 is moveable by means of an arm arrangement or linkage mechanism(not shown) having a number of connected arms of which one is driven by an electric motor (not shown) or some other power source to move the front roof panel 6 from its raised position to its stowed position and vice-versa.
A similar multi-arm linkage mechanism or a chain drive mechanism is used to move the rear roof panel 7 from its raised position to its stowed position. In the example shown the motor vehicle has two rows of seats, therebeing a front row of seats having two seats 9 arranged side by side and a rear row of seats having two seat assemblies 10 arranged side by side. As can be seen with reference to Fig. 2 the rear roof panel 7 when in its stowed position is located between the front row of seats 9 and the rear row of seat assemblies 10 and lies just behind the front row of seats 9. The front roof panel 6 is located substantially horizontally to the rear of the front row of seats 9 so that it covers the rear row of seat assemblies 10. Therefore when the two roof panels 6, 7 are in their raised positions they define a four seat hatchback vehicle and when the two roof panels 6, 7 are in their stowed positions they define a two seat open top vehicle.
Each of the seat assemblies 10, of which only one is shown in Figs . 1 and 2 comprises of a seat cushion 12 and a backrest 11 which are pivotally connected together so that the backrest 11 can fold forward and lie upon the seat cushion 12 as shown in Fig. 2.
The backrest 11 has an upper edge above which is positioned an automatically stowable head restraint 13 supported by two rods 17 each of which is attached to a transverse support rail 21 for movement between a raised or stowed position in which a cushion part of the head restraint 13 is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the rear roof panel 7 or rest against an inner surface of the rear roof panel 7 and a lowered or in use position in which the head restraint 13 is positioned above the upper edge of the backrest 11.
The support rail 21 is rotatably supported at each end by a respective bracket assembly (not shown) which is fastened to the rear roof panel 7. A latch mechanism 20 is attached to one of the brackets to hold the head restraints 13 in their respective lowered positions against the action of a spring (not shown) . The latch mechanism comprises of a pivotable arm having a finger which engages with an aperture in the support rail 21 when the support rail 21 is positioned such that the head restraints 13 are in their respective lowered positions. It will be appreciated that torsion springs or helical extension springs could be used to provide the biasing action required to return the head restraints to their respective stowed positions when the latch mechanism is released.
Both of the seat assemblies 10 forming the rear row of seats have an automatically stowable head restraint 13 positioned above them. However, it will be appreciated that the invention could be used with a rear row of seats having two seats with stowable head restraints positioned above them and a centre seat with no head restraint positioned above it or in a motor vehicle having three seats arranged in a row each of which has a respective stowable head restraint positioned above it.
The latch mechanism 20 is automatically released by the process of stowing one of the front and rear roof panels 6 and 7 and in this case is automatically released by the process of stowing the front roof panel 6.
The latch mechanism 20 is connected by a cable 14 to one of the arms forming part of the arm arrangement on the right side of the motor vehicle used to move the front roof 6 between its raised and stowed positions. It will be appreciated that there is an arm arrangement on both sides of the motor vehicle 5 but only the arm arrangement on the right hand side of the motor vehicle 5 is used in this case to release the latch mechanism 20. It will be appreciated that the cable 14 could be replaced by a rod linkage, a chain linkage or a fluid connection.
When the front roof 6 is moved from its raised position the arm of the front roof mechanism to which the cable 14 is attached rotates and pulls on the cable 14 which then pulls on the arm of the latch mechanism 20 holding the head restraints 13 in their respective lowered positions. This causes the arm of the latch mechanism 20 to disengage from the aperture in the support rail 21 and the support rail 21 then rotates under the action of the spring causing the two head restraints 13 to be moved to their respective stowed positions .
Therefore as soon as the front roof 6 starts to move from its raised position both of the head restraints 13 are automatically released to their stowed positions .
The head restraints 13 are moveable to their respective lowered positions by the action of a user of the motor vehicle 5 pulling against one of the two head restraints 13 until the latch mechanism is reset.
It will be appreciated that other forms of latch mechanism could be used to replace that shown in Fig. 3.
It will be further appreciated that instead of using a single cable connection from the front roof mechanism to the head restraints 13 the head restraints could be separately mounted on the rear roof panel 7 and separate latch mechanisms could be used.
Also it will be appreciated that a cable connection to the linkage or mechanism used to raise and stow the rear roof could be used to release the latch mechanism or the cable 14 could be connected to a manual locking means used to secure the front and rear roof panels 6 and 7 together where they meet when they are both in their respective raised positions as shown in Fig. 1.
It will be further appreciated that instead of using a cable connection an electro-mechanical latch mechanism connected to an electronic controller used to control the raising and stowing of at least one of the front and rear roof panels 6, 7 could be used to release the head restraints 13.
In such an arrangement the electronic controller could be operable to release the latch mechanism so as to permit the head restraints to move to their stowed positions either when a command is received from a user of the motor vehicle to stow at least one of the front and rear roof panels 6, 7 or when a signal is received from a sensor associated with one of the front and rear roof panels 6 and 7 or the linkage or mechanism used to stow the front or rear roof panels 6 and 7 indicating that the roof panels 6, 7 are in the process of being stowed.
Therefore in summary, the invention provides a motor vehicle with head restraint assemblies that are automatically stowed so that contact that would otherwise occur between the head restraints and one or other of the moveable roof panels is avoided.
It will be appreciated that when the seat assemblies 10 in the rear row of seats are in their folded forward positions as shown in Fig. 2 then the stowing of the head restraints 13 prevents contact with the folded backrest 11 and seat cushion 12 when the rear roof panel 7 is in its stowed position and so is required to permit the rear roof panel 7 to be properly stowed when the seat assemblies are folded down.
Therefore in summary, the invention provides a head restraint that is automatically placed in a stowed position as part of the process of stowing one of the front and rear roofs .
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to one or more embodiments it is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments or alternative embodiments could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims
1. A motor vehicle having front and rear stowable roof panels moveable between raised and lowered positions and at least one seat assembly having a backrest, an automatically stowable head restraint rotatably supported by the rear roof panel for movement between a stowed position in which the head restraint lies adjacent an inside surface of the rear roof panel and an in use position in which the head restraint is positioned above the backrest of the seat assembly, a biasing means to bias the head restraint into the stowed position and a latch mechanism to selectively hold the head restraint in the lowered position wherein the latch mechanism is released by the process of lowering one of the front and rear roof panels so as to permit the head restraint to move to its stowed position.
2. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motor vehicle has front and rear rows of seats and the rear roof panel when in the lowered position is stowed between the front and rear rows of seats .
3. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 wherein the motor vehicle has front and rear rows of seats and each of the seats in the rear row of seats having a head restraint has an automatically stowable head restraint.
4. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the latch mechanism is released by a linkage connected to part of the mechanism used to raise and lower the front roof panel .
5. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the latch mechanism is released by a linkage connected to part of the mechanism used to raise and lower the rear roof panel.
6. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the latch mechanism is released by a linkage connected to part of a locking mechanism used to hold the front and rear roof panels together when they are both in their respective raised positions .
7. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the linkage is one of a cable linkage, a rod linkage, a chain linkage and a fluid connection.
8. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the latch mechanism is an electro-mechanical latch mechanism and is connected to an electronic controller used to control the raising and lowering of at least one of the front and rear roof panels and the electronic controller is operable to release the latch mechanism so as to permit the head restraint to move to its stowed position when a signal is received indicative that at least one of the front and rear roof panels is in the process of being moved to its lowered position.
9. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings .
PCT/GB2006/002051 2005-06-29 2006-06-05 A head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle Ceased WO2007000565A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008518948A JP2008544790A (en) 2005-06-29 2006-06-05 Open car headrest device
DE112006001302T DE112006001302B4 (en) 2005-06-29 2006-06-05 Motor vehicle with stowable roof parts and an automatically stowable headrest
CN2006800232854A CN101208216B (en) 2005-06-29 2006-06-05 Head rest for open motor vehicle
GB0723375A GB2441680B (en) 2005-06-29 2007-11-29 A head restraint for a convertable motor vehicle
US11/961,362 US7637553B2 (en) 2005-06-29 2007-12-20 Head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0513226.1A GB0513226D0 (en) 2005-06-29 2005-06-29 A head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle
GB0513226.1 2005-06-29

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/961,362 Continuation US7637553B2 (en) 2005-06-29 2007-12-20 Head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007000565A1 true WO2007000565A1 (en) 2007-01-04

Family

ID=34856317

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2006/002051 Ceased WO2007000565A1 (en) 2005-06-29 2006-06-05 A head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US7637553B2 (en)
JP (1) JP2008544790A (en)
CN (1) CN101208216B (en)
DE (1) DE112006001302B4 (en)
GB (2) GB0513226D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2007000565A1 (en)

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EP2108641A1 (en) 2008-04-11 2009-10-14 Laboratorios Almirall, S.A. New substituted spiro[cycloalkyl-1,3'-indo]-2'(1'H)-one derivatives and their use as p38 mitogen-activated kinase inhibitors
FR2939730A1 (en) * 2008-12-12 2010-06-18 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Passenger compartment for e.g. car, has adjustment units varying fixation height of end of articulation systems with respect to side wall, where another end of systems is fixed at headrest to permit retraction of headrest against wall
FR2939740A1 (en) * 2008-12-12 2010-06-18 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Side head-rest forming device for e.g. rear side panel of motor vehicle, has side head-rest placed at inner side panel between inactive and active positions to project towards front of vehicle from panel based on longitudinal direction
FR2950578A1 (en) * 2009-09-25 2011-04-01 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Backrest for seat of motor vehicle e.g. mini type city car, has lower part for supporting bottom of back of passenger, and upper part whose rear face is provided with fixation unit to fix upper part to movable element of vehicle
FR2964068A1 (en) * 2010-08-27 2012-03-02 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Rear part for cab interior of motor vehicle e.g. minivan, has head-rest fixed at flap by one of its edges, and movably mounted on flap between active position on seat and retracted position between seat and flap

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GB0513226D0 (en) * 2005-06-29 2005-08-03 Ford Global Tech Llc A head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle
US8126617B2 (en) 2009-01-12 2012-02-28 Lear Corporation Folding head restraint assembly for convertible vehicle
US8235445B2 (en) * 2009-01-30 2012-08-07 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Vehicle seat on demand
CN104802674A (en) * 2015-02-25 2015-07-29 成都格瑞思文化传播有限公司 Automobile seat allowing horizontal lying
JP2023046140A (en) * 2021-09-22 2023-04-03 京セラ株式会社 seat and moving body

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2108641A1 (en) 2008-04-11 2009-10-14 Laboratorios Almirall, S.A. New substituted spiro[cycloalkyl-1,3'-indo]-2'(1'H)-one derivatives and their use as p38 mitogen-activated kinase inhibitors
FR2939730A1 (en) * 2008-12-12 2010-06-18 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Passenger compartment for e.g. car, has adjustment units varying fixation height of end of articulation systems with respect to side wall, where another end of systems is fixed at headrest to permit retraction of headrest against wall
FR2939740A1 (en) * 2008-12-12 2010-06-18 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Side head-rest forming device for e.g. rear side panel of motor vehicle, has side head-rest placed at inner side panel between inactive and active positions to project towards front of vehicle from panel based on longitudinal direction
FR2950578A1 (en) * 2009-09-25 2011-04-01 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Backrest for seat of motor vehicle e.g. mini type city car, has lower part for supporting bottom of back of passenger, and upper part whose rear face is provided with fixation unit to fix upper part to movable element of vehicle
FR2964068A1 (en) * 2010-08-27 2012-03-02 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Rear part for cab interior of motor vehicle e.g. minivan, has head-rest fixed at flap by one of its edges, and movably mounted on flap between active position on seat and retracted position between seat and flap

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20080150306A1 (en) 2008-06-26
GB0513226D0 (en) 2005-08-03
CN101208216B (en) 2012-05-23
US7637553B2 (en) 2009-12-29
GB2441680A (en) 2008-03-12
CN101208216A (en) 2008-06-25
JP2008544790A (en) 2008-12-11
DE112006001302B4 (en) 2011-11-24
GB0723375D0 (en) 2008-01-09
DE112006001302T5 (en) 2008-04-30
GB2441680B (en) 2009-01-07

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