WO2020193948A1

WO2020193948A1 - Headrest

Info

Publication number: WO2020193948A1
Application number: PCT/GB2020/050675
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul John Wills; Vijayan Ayyasamy DHANAJAYAN
Original assignee: Safran Seats GB Limited
Priority date: 2019-03-27
Filing date: 2020-03-17
Publication date: 2020-10-01
Also published as: GB2586434B; GB2586434A; GB201904260D0

Abstract

The present invention concerns headrests. More particularly, this invention concerns aircraft seats comprising headrests. A headrest comprises a centre portion with an integrated speaker, and at least one side portion. The side portion is configurable between a first position approximately aligned with the centre portion, a second position rotated relative to the centre portion such that the side portion protrudes at an angle to the centre portion, and a third position extended from the second position, such that in the third position, the side portion extends further from the centre portion than in the second position. The side portion comprises a first leaf and second leaf, the first leaf connected to the centre portion by a hinge, the second leaf connected to the first leaf by a pivot. Extension of the second leaf from the second position to the third position comprises rotation of the second leaf around the pivot.

Description

Headrest

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns headrests. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns aircraft seats comprising headrests.

Background of the Invention

Aircraft seats may comprise headrests with movable side portions, which may be positioned relative to a centre portion of the headrest to provide additional support to the head of a user of the seat. Such a position may be utilised when a user is trying to sleep in the seat, for example. Alternative aircraft seats may comprise headrests with an integrated speaker, or speakers, which are used as part of the in-flight entertainment system, or for noise cancelling purposes. Integrated speakers are being installed for better sound quality and to increase comfort levels of the passengers compared to headphones. Such speakers are relatively large compared to the overall size of the headrest, particularly in the lateral width direction. Therefore, typically, it is not possible to provide a headrest with an integrated speaker and movable side portions, where the side portions are a suitable size, in particular width, for supporting the head of a user of the seat.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved headrest.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a headrest comprising a centre portion with an integrated speaker, and at least one side portion, wherein the side portion is configurable between a first position approximately aligned with the centre portion, a second position rotated relative to the centre portion such that the side portion protrudes at an angle to the centre portion, and a third position extended from the second position, such that in the third position, the side portion extends further from the centre portion than in the second position. Providing a side portion which is extendible from the second position to the third position increases the amount of support which may be offered to a user of the headrest. As such, a usefully sized side portion may be provided in conjunction with a centre portion comprising an integrated speaker. In addition to providing support to the head of a user of the headrest, the side portion may focus and/or help control sound coming from the integrated speaker.

The side portion may be connected to the centre portion by a hinge. The hinge may be a friction hinge, wherein the friction in the system results in the side portion staying in the first, second, or third, position unless a user moves the side portion into a different position. The movement of the side portion from the first position to the second position may be rotation of the side portion around the hinge. The hinge may be oriented in local vertical direction. The local vertical direction may be oriented from the top to the bottom of the headrest, when used in the usual way. As the headrest may be associated with an angled seatback, the headrest may also be angled, such that the top of the headrest may extend slightly beyond or behind the bottom of the headrest. These relative orientations are well understood by the skilled person, and are conventional terms in the art. The orientations will be understood as when the headrest is used in the intended way.

In the first position, the centre portion may present an external surface, and the side portion may present an external surface, and the two external surfaces may be approximately flush and/or co-planar. The external surface may be one with which a user’s head comes into contact when using the headrest. The skilled person will appreciate that the centre portion and the side portion may comprise external surfaces which are gently curved. In the first position, the transition of the external surface of the centre portion to the external surface of the side portion may be approximately seamless and/or continuous. There may be a minor discontinuity between the two external surfaces, but as experienced by a user of the headrest, the external surfaces may be approximately continuous.

In the second position, the side portion may be rotated relative to the centre portion. An external surface of the side portion which was approximately co-planar, or continuous, with an external surface of the centre portion in the first position may be angled relative to the external surface of the centre portion in the second position. The angle may be 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 degrees, or any angle in that range. A user may be able to adjust the angle of the second position in order to maximise their comfort. In the third position, the side portion may remain at the same angle to the centre portion of the headrest. In the third position, the side portion may be adjustable to alter the angle of the side portion relative to the centre portion.

The side portion may comprise a first leaf and a second leaf. When in the first position, the external surface of the side portion may comprise the first leaf. When in the first position, the second leaf may be located behind the first leaf. The first leaf and second leaf may be congruent. When in the third position, the second leaf may be moved such that the second leaf extends beyond the first leaf, in a direction away from the centre portion. The first leaf may be connected to the centre portion by a hinge. The second leaf may be connected to the first leaf by a pivot. The pivot may be located towards the top of the leaves. Alternatively, the pivot may be located towards the bottom of the leaves. The extension of the second leaf from the second position to the third position may be rotation of the second leaf around the pivot. The rotation of the second leaf relative to the first leaf may be limited, for example by a strap connecting the first leaf and the second leaf. The strap may be located at the opposite end of the leaves to the pivot. The second leaf may be arranged such that there is no direct connection between the second leaf and the centre portion. The side portion may comprise three, four, five, or more leaves. The leaves may all be connected by a pivot which allows relative rotation of the leaves. The pivot may be a friction pivot, such that the friction in the system is such that the leaves, once moved into the second or third position, stay in the second or third position respectively. The position of the pivot may be chosen to allow the plurality of leaves to fan out from the second position to the third position.

The thickness of the side portion may be approximately the same as the thickness of the centre portion. The thickness of the side portion may be determined by the thickness of the plurality of leaves making up the side portion.

The centre portion and/or side portion of the headrest may comprise an internal structure, for example a frame or skeleton structure, surrounded by padding.

The padding may be surrounded with a flexible material, for example a fabric material, which is the external surface of the centre portion and/or side portion. The external surface is the contact surface for a user of the headrest, and so a suitably tactile material may be used. The internal structure may be made of a metal, composite, or other suitable material.

The headrest may comprise two side portions, each side portion located to a respective side of the centre portion. The side portion on one side of the centre portion may be arranged to rotate in the opposite direction to the side portion on the other side of the centre portion when moving from the first position to the second position. Each side portion may extend in the same direction when moving from the second position to the third position.

The maximum lateral width of a side portion, when in the first position, may be less than 35% of the maximum lateral width of the centre portion, preferably less than 30%. When a side portion moves from the first position to the second position, the surface area of the side portion may remain the same. When a side portion moves from the second position to the third position, the surface area of the side portion may increase by 50%, 100%, 150%, or more. The surface area may be the surface area presented to a user of the headrest as a potential support surface for their head.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the invention provides an aircraft seat, the aircraft seat comprising a headrest according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of using a headrest according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of a user moving the side portion from the first position to the second position, and from the second position to the third position.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of using a headrest according to the first aspect of the invention, the method including the steps of a user moving the side portion from a third position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position.

The movement of the side portion may be effected manually by a user of the headrest. Alternatively, the movement of the side portion may be effected by one or more motor units and/or actuators which form part of the headrest. The motor units and/or actuators may be operated and/or controlled by a user of the headrest.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

Figures 1 to 3 show a schematic view of an aircraft seat comprising a headrest according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a headrest according to the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 shows a view of the headrest with external materials and padding

removed;

Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of the headrest shown in figure 5;

Figures 7, 8, and 9, show a side view of a headrest in various positions.

Detailed Description

Figures 1 to 3 show a schematic view of an aircraft seat 10 comprising a headrest 12 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The headrest 12 comprises a centre portion 14 including one or more integrated speakers, a first side portion 16, and a second side portion 18, the side portions 16, 18, located on opposite sides of the centre portion 14. Figure 1 shows the side portions 16, 18, in a first position, in which the side portions 16, 18, are approximately co-planar with the centre portion 14, and provide a continuous external surface. In this position, there is no side support provided to the head of a user of the aircraft seat. In figure 2, the side portions 16, 18, have been rotated relative to the centre portion 14 into a second position, such that a limited amount of side support to the head of a user of the aircraft seat 10 is provided. Figure 3 shows the side portions 16, 18, in a third position, in which the side portions 16, 18, have been extended, such that they protrude further away from the centre portion 14, and the greatest level of support to the head of a user of the aircraft seat 10 is provided. Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of headrest 12 with the side portions 16, 18, in the third position. As can be seen, each of the side portions 16, 18, comprises three leaves, a first leaf 20, a second leaf 22, and third leaf 24. The first leaf 20 is hinged to the centre portion 14 by a hinge 26. Figure 5 shows the headrest 12 with the external fabric and padding removed in order to better show the structural arrangement. The centre portion 14 comprises an inbuilt speaker 28. The speaker 28 may be connected to an inflight entertainment system, and/or a white noise system to improve the comfort of a user of the aircraft seat. Each of the leaves 20, 22, 24, comprises a metal plate 20’, 22’, 24’. The metal plate 20’ is connected to a metal frame 14’ of the centre portion 14 by the hinge 26. The hinge 26 allows rotational movement of the metal plate 20’ relative to the centre portion 14 from the first position, to the second position. Providing a friction hinge as the hinge 26 allows the second position to range anywhere up to 90 degrees from the first position. The friction is such that once a user has moved the position of the metal plate 20’, it remains in position until the user moves it again. Such an arrangement may allow a user to fine tune the second position to provide optimum comfort. The metal plates 20’ 22’, and 24’, are connected via a friction pivot 30. The friction pivot 30 is arranged so the friction holds the respective leaves in position once they have been manipulated into position by a user. The connection is towards the top of the metal plates 20’, 22’, 24’. Once the sides 16, 18 are in the second position, applying pressure to the outer metal plate 24’ moves the metal plate 24’ relative to the other two metal plates 22’, 20’. A strap 32 connects the third leaf 24 to the second leaf 22. The strap limits the movement of the third leaf 24 relative to the second leaf 22 such that once at the limit of relative movement, the second leaf 22 starts to move with the third leaf 24. A further strap 34 connects the second leaf 22 to the first leaf 20, such that the relative movement of the second leaf 22 to the first leaf 20 is restricted. Once the second leaf 22 is at the maximum allowed relative movement, no further extension of the sides 16, 18, is permitted.

In order to return the sides 16, 18, to the first position, a user may first push on the third leaf 24, until each of the leaves 20, 22 and 24 are once again aligned in the second position. The first leaf 20 may then be pushed by a user to effect rotational movement around the hinge 26, such that the sides 16, 18, return to the first position. The metal plates shown may be covered in any conventional aircraft seating padding, and any conventional aircraft seating facing material, as will be understood by the skilled person. The facing material is preferably chosen such that the relative friction between the first leaf 20, second leaf 22, and third leaf 24, is relatively small, thus not significantly effecting the effort required to move the sides between the first position, second position, and third position.

Figures 7, 8, and 9, show a side view of the side 16 as it moves from the second position, in figure 7, to an intermediate position, in figure 8, to the fully extended third position in figure 9.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

In the embodiment described above, the movement of the sides 16, 18, is effected manually by a user, who may be a passenger or airline attendant. In an alternative arrangement, the movement may be powered movement, for example by a mechanical or electrical actuator or actuators. The movement may be controlled by a seat control unit, which may be operated by a user.

In an alternative embodiment, the straps which restrict the movement of the leaves may be replaced by suitably located stops, for example stops forming part of the friction pivot 30.

The metal plates of the leaves and the metal frame of the centre portion may be made of aluminium. In an alternative embodiment, some or all of the metal plates of the leaves or the metal frame of the centre portion may be replaced by suitable plastic or composite materials.

The skilled person will appreciate that whilst the headrest has been described in relation to an aircraft seat, the headrest may form part of other seats, for example bus seats, train seats, ferry seats etc.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

1. A headrest comprising a centre portion with an integrated speaker, and at least one side portion, wherein the side portion is configurable between a first position approximately aligned with the centre portion, a second position rotated relative to the centre portion such that the side portion protrudes at an angle to the centre portion, and a third position extended from the second position, such that in the third position, the side portion extends further from the centre portion than in the second position, wherein the side portion comprises a first leaf and second leaf, the first leaf connected to the centre portion by a hinge, the second leaf connected to the first leaf by a pivot, and wherein extension of the second leaf from the second position to the third position comprises rotation of the second leaf around the pivot.

2. A headrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side portion is connected to the centre portion by a hinge.

3. A headrest as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hinge is a friction hinge.

4. A headrest as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the centre portion presents an external surface, and the side portion presents an external surface, and the two external surfaces may be approximately co-planar.

5. A headrest as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the centre portion and the side portion comprise external surfaces which are gently curved.

6. A headrest as claimed in claim 5, wherein in the first position, the transition of the external surface of the centre portion to the external surface of the side portion is approximately seamless and/or continuous.

7. A headrest as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in the second position, the side portion is rotated relative to the centre portion.

8. A headrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external surface of the side portion comprises the first leaf.

9. A headrest as claimed in claim 8, wherein when in the first position, the second leaf is located behind the first leaf.

10. A headrest as claimed in claim 9, wherein when in the first position, the first leaf and second leaf are congruent.

11. A headrest as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein when in the third position, the second leaf is moved such that the second leaf extends beyond the first leaf, in a direction away from the centre portion.

12. A headrest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation of the second leaf relative to the first leaf may be limited.

13. A headrest as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the side portion comprises three, four, five, or more leaves.

14 A headrest as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the leaves are connected by a pivot which allows relative rotation of the leaves, and the pivot is a friction pivot, such that the friction in the system is such that the leaves, once moved into the second or third position, stay in the second or third position respectively.

15. A headrest as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the thickness of the side portion may be approximately the same as the thickness of the centre portion.

16. A headrest as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the centre portion and/or side portion of the headrest comprises an internal structure surrounded by padding.

17. A headrest as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising two side portions, each side portion located to a respective side of the centre portion.

18. A headrest as claimed in claim 17, wherein the side portion on one side of the centre portion is arranged to rotate in the opposite direction to the side portion on the other side of the centre portion when moving from the first position to the second position.

19. A headrest as claimed in claim 18, wherein each side portion extends in the same direction when moving from the second position to the third position.

20. An aircraft seat, the aircraft seat comprising a headrest according to claim 1.