CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application

62/290,660 filed February 3, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle seats and more particularly to a vehicle seat headrest with release mechanisms for adjusting a position of the headrest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Vehicle seat headrests are provided that include two-way adjustment - essentially up and down vertical (z-direction) movement with respect to support rods and four-way adjustment - vertical (z-direction) adjustment as well as forward and rearward (x-direction) adjustment relative to the support rods. Additionally, configurations with two-way and/or four-way adjustment may be provided with tilt adjustment. The various configurations may include a release mechanism to change the headrest from a fixed position relative to the support rods into a released state, wherein any one of the various adjustments may be made. The arrangements may include a release pushbutton, at one side of the exterior of the headrest. The release pushbutton triggers the released state of the release mechanism.

[0003] For manufacturing purposes, it is advantageous to manufacture one or few types of headrests. This results in the push button release actuator being on the same side of the body of the headrest. In a vehicle, this may result in, for example, the release pushbutton being on the vehicle inboard side for the driver seat headrest and being on the vehicle outboard side on the passenger seat headrest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle headrest for two-way, four-way and/or tilt headrest adjustment which can be actuated from each side of the headrest for actuating the release state. [0005] It is another object of the invention to provide a headrest release actuator in the form of the release lever for ease of actuation. In particular it is an object to provide a release lever with a forward and rearward (x-direction) actuation direction of operation relative to the vehicle to provide ease of actuation.

[0006] It is still a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle headrest that is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

[0007] According to the invention, a vehicle headrest is provided comprising a carriage with support rods connected to the carriage. An outer headrest is provided outwardly of the carriage. This may be a headrest front cover and a headrest rear cover that are connected together to form an outer headrest. The outer headrest is connected to the carriage. The headrest further comprises a vertical locking arrangement connected to the carriage. The vertical locking arrangement comprises a support rod locking interface, such as grooves formed in the rods and a locking element, such as a locking wire, having a locked state and a released state relative to the support rod locking interface. A release lever is accessible from an exterior of the headrest. The release lever moves with a lever release motion in a lever release direction that is essentially along a vehicle direction of travel. A release carrier is moveably mounted to the carrier and moves essentially along a vehicle inboard/outboard direction between a lock position and a release position. The release carrier supports (carries) the locking wire and in the release position the locking wire is moved into a released state. A release linkage connects the release lever to the locking interface and transmits the lever release motion to the release carrier. The movement of the release lever in the lever release direction moves the release carrier in the inboard/outboard direction to the release position to release the locking wire from the locking interface.

[0008] The release lever may be a part of a release lever assembly comprising a bezel part with an annular rim and central portion defining a lever guide and a lever biasing means for biasing the lever into a locked position. The lever may be mounted to the bezel part for guided movement between the locked position and a release position. The lever guide may comprise guide rails for guided movement of the slot follower and the lever between the locked position and a release position and/or a slot receiving a slot follower that is attached to the lever for guided movement of the slot follower and the lever between the locked position and a release position. The guide rails may be a part of or connected to the bezel part or tacks may be provided. Instead of a separate bezel part the guides or tracks may be supported by the outer headrest covers. The rails or tracks may be part of a low profile guide system, such as formed of aluminum profiles that are fixed to the outer headrest or housing. The lever may have complementary carriages that made of chromated zinc or plastic. The lever guide may instead comprise a pivot pivotably mounting the lever for pivoting movement of the lever between the locked position and the release position. [0009] The release linkage may comprise a pivotably mounted paddle acting on the release carrier in the vehicle inboard/outboard direction and a wedge arrangement between the lever and the paddle. The wedge arrangement transmits the motion of the lever in the lever release direction into motion of the paddle in the vehicle inboard/outboard direction. The paddle may be pivotably mounted to the outer headrest and move with the outer headrest relative to the carriage and carrier. The paddle has a sufficient extent (contact surface) in the headrest front to back direction such that it engages and acts on the carrier in all positions of the headrest relative to the carriage, on which the carrier is mounted.

[0010] The vehicle headrest may advantageously include a forward and rearward locking arrangement connected to the carriage and the outer headrest. The locking

arrangement may comprise a latch having a locked state and a released state. The carriage may be movably mounted relative to the outer headrest (the headrest front cover and the headrest rear cover). The latch may be connected to carriage and may be actuated by movement of the release carrier. The movement of the release lever in the lever release direction moves the release carrier in the inboard/outboard direction to the release position to move the latch from the locked state to the released state. In the released state the carriage is movably mounted relative to the headrest front cover and the headrest rear cover for movement in a forward and rearward direction that is linear or changes a tilt angle of the headrest front cover and the headrest rear cover.

[0011] The vehicle headrest may further comprise a second side release lever that is accessible from a second side of the exterior of the headrest. The second side release lever moves with a second lever release motion in a second lever release direction essentially along the vehicle direction of travel. A second side release linkage may be provided comprising a pivotably mounted second side paddle moving in the vehicle inboard/outboard direction from a rest position to a release position and a second side wedge arrangement between the lever and the paddle for transmitting motion of the lever in the lever release direction into motion of the paddle in the vehicle inboard/outboard direction.

[0012] The second side release linkage may further comprise a complementary mechanism, connecting the second side paddle to the release carrier and transmitting the second side release lever release motion to the release carrier. The movement of the second side release lever in the second side lever release direction moves the release carrier in the vehicle inboard/outboard direction to the release position to release the locking element from the locking interface. The movement of the release carrier to the release position is in a direction that is essentially opposite to the direction of movement of the second side paddle, from the rest position to the release position.

[0013] The complementary mechanism may comprise an arm extension connected to the pivotably mounted second side paddle. The second side paddle acts on the arm extension in the vehicle inboard/outboard direction. A pivot carrier with a pivot support is provided, wherein the pivot carrier is connected to the carriage. The complementary mechanism further includes a pivot arm with a pivot joint connecting the arm extension to the pivot arm. The pivot arm is pivotably mounted to the pivot support and has a drive linkage end connected to the release carrier. The second release linkage connects the second release lever to the release carrier and transmits the second lever release motion to the release carrier. The movement of the second release lever along the direction of travel moves the release carrier in the inboard/outboard direction to release the locking element from the locking interface. [0014] The second side release lever may also release the forward and rearward locking arrangement. The second release linkage connects the second release lever to the release carrier and transmits the second lever release motion to the release carrier, whereby movement of the second release lever along the direction of travel moves the release carrier in the inboard/outboard direction to the release position to move the latch from the locked state to the released state. In the released state the carriage is movably mounted relative to the headrest front cover and the headrest rear cover for movement in a forward and rearward direction that is linear or changes a tilt angle of the headrest front cover and the headrest rear cover.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicle headrest is provided comprising a carriage with support rods connected to the carriage. A headrest front cover and a headrest rear cover are connected together to form an outer headrest. The outer headrest is connected to the carriage. The headrest further comprises a vertical locking arrangement connected to the carriage. The vertical locking arrangement comprises a support rod locking interface and a locking wire having a locked state and a released state relative to the support rod locking interface. A first side release lever is accessible from a first side of an exterior of the headrest. The first side release lever moves with a first lever release motion in a lever release direction essentially along a vehicle direction of travel. A release carrier is moveably mounted to the carriage and moves essentially along a vehicle inboard/outboard direction and moves the locking wire into the released state. A first side release linkage connects the release lever to the locking interface and transmits the lever release motion to the release carrier, whereby movement of the release lever along the direction of travel moves the release carrier in the inboard/outboard direction to release the locking wire from the locking interface. A second side release lever is accessible from a second side of the exterior of the headrest. The second side release lever moves with a lever release motion in a lever release direction essentially along a vehicle direction of travel. A second side release linkage comprises an extension arm pivotably connected to a pivot arm. A pivot carrier with a pivot, is connected to the carriage. The pivot arm is pivotably connected to the pivot carrier for pivoting at the pivot. The pivot arm is connected to the release carrier. The second side release linkage connects the second release lever to the release carrier and transmits the second lever release motion to the release carrier, whereby movement of the second release lever along the direction of travel moves the release carrier in the inboard/outboard direction to release the locking wire from the locking interface.

[0016] It is apparent that the above-described features, which will also be explained below, can be used not only in the particular combination described, but also in other combinations or alone, without going beyond the scope of the present invention. [0017] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following description, where identical reference numbers designate identical or similar or functionally identical components. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a headrest according to the invention with the rods removed; [0020] Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the headrest with the rods removed;

[0021] Figure 3 is a right side partially cutaway view of the headrest with the rods removed;

[0022] Figure 4 is a front view of the headrest with the front cover, the rods and the carrier removed;

[0023] Figure 5 is a bottom view of the headrest with the front cover, the rods and the carrier removed;

[0024] Figure 6 is a rear view of the headrest with the rear cover, the rods and the carrier removed;

[0025] Figure 7 is a bottom view of the headrest with the rear cover, the rods and the carrier removed;

[0026] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the headrest taken at the location of line A

- A of Figure 5 and showing the front cover and the rear cover with the rods and the carrier removed;

[0027] Figure 9 is a front perspective view of the lever assembly;

[0028] Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of the lever assembly;

[0029] Figure 11 is a front perspective view of the headrest, with the front cover removed and the carriage shown partially cut away;

[0030] Figure 12 is a rear perspective view of the headrest, with the rear cover removed, and the carriage removed and showing the position of the rods relative to the front cover;

[0031] Figure 13 is a top partial view showing the connections of the lever assemblies to the carrier and the pivot carrier;

[0032] Figure 14 is a bottom partial view showing the connections of the lever assemblies to the carrier, with the pivot carrier removed;

[0033] Figure 15 is a perspective view showing a lever configuration embodiment; [0034] Figure 16 is a perspective view showing another lever configuration

embodiment;

[0035] Figure 17 is a perspective view showing another lever configuration

embodiment; and

[0036] Figure 18 is a perspective view showing another lever configuration

embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a headrest generally designated 10 that includes an outer headrest that comprises a housing or outer headrest, with a front cover 12 and a rear cover 14. The headrest 10 also includes support rods 16. Each of the support rods 16 includes a support rod locking interface 18 in the form of notches that receive a locking element (locking/release wire) 82 (Figure 12). The headrest also comprises a carriage 70 with rod receiving portions 72 (Figure 11).

[0038] The headrest further comprises a lever assembly 20 on each of the left and right side. Each lever assembly 20 has the same design and configuration and includes a lever 22 and a bezel part 24. The bezel part 24 includes an opening with adjacent upper and lower guide rails 23 that receive a guide slot follower 21. The guide rails and the guide slot follower 21 form a part of a lever guide. The guide slot follower 21 is fixed to or is an integral part of the lever 22 (Figure 10). The bezel part 24 also includes a bezel spring support 27. The guide slot follower 21 includes a lever spring support 28. A spring 26 is attached to the bezel spring support 28 and is also attached to the lever spring support 28 of the lever 22. The lever 22 is biased by the spring arrangement, with spring 26, into a locked or rest position. As an alternative, the lever 22 may have upper and lower track parts that each slide in a

complementary track. Each complementary track is fixed to the outer housing 12, 14.

[0039] A slide tab 25 is fixed to the lever 22. The slide tab 25 supports a lever wedge 30. The lever wedge 30 includes a guide interface that interacts with a wedge guide track 31 and is guided along the wedge guide track 31. The wedge guide track 31 is formed on an inner surface of the bezel part 24. The lever wedge 30 has a wedge surface on a side opposite to the guide interface.

[0040] The headrest 10 advantageously includes a dual release arrangement, with a release lever assembly 20 at each side. The release lever assembly 20 cooperates with a paddle 32, connected to the carriage 70, at each side. The left and right side paddles 32, with associated paddle wedge 33 may be identical such that the same reference numeral is mostly used. In several of the Figures, the designation R, for right side of the headrest 10 and L for left side of the headrest 10 is added to some reference characters to clearly indicate the orientation of the left and right side in the particular view.

[0041] The release lever 22 is accessible from an exterior of the headrest as shown in

Figures 1, 2 and 3. The release lever 22 moves from the rest position, with a lever release motion, in a lever release direction. This release motion is along a forward-rearward direction - essentially along a vehicle direction of travel or x-direction. Advantageously, the release direction for each of the right lever 22R of the right lever assembly 20R and the left lever 22L of the left lever assembly 20L is in the forward direction with respect to the vehicle direction of travel. However, there may be some advantages to the release direction being in the rearward direction with respect to the vehicle direction of travel. Both of the release directions are possible and the same headrest may have a right lever 22R with a release direction which is opposite to that of an associated left lever 22L.

[0042] As can be seen in Figure 4, each paddle 32 is pivotably supported at paddle pivot 35 by the outer headrest (by one or both of the front cover 12 and the rear cover 14). The paddle 32 includes a paddle wedge 33 with a wedge surface. The wedge surface of the paddle 32 interacts with the lever wedge 30. The movement of the lever 22 moves the wedge surface of the lever wedge 30 relative to the wedge surface a paddle wedge 33. This transmits a sliding motion of the release lever 22, along the forward-rearward direction - the lever release direction (x-direction), to a pivoting movement of the paddle 32. The motion of the lever 22 moves the paddle 32 so as to pivot the paddle 32, at pivot 35, inwardly (relative to the headset).

[0043] At the left side of the head rest 10, the paddle 32L is in contact with a slidably mounted release carrier 40. The release carrier 40 mounted moveably to the carriage 70 and is moveable laterally relative to the headset or in the inboard/outboard direction of the vehicle (side to side direction). The inward movement of the paddle 32L with inward movement of the release carrier 40 causes the release carrier 40 to interact with the locking/release wire 82. In particular the locking/release wire 82 is carried by the release carrier 40 and movement of the release carrier 40 to a release position causes the locking/release wire 82 to move such that at least ends of the release wire 82 move out of engagement in the respective receiving slots of the locking interface 18. [0044] A left side or a first release linkage is formed by the pivotably mounted paddle

32L acting on the release carrier 40 in the vehicle inboard/outboard direction. The first side release linkage includes the wedge arrangement with lever wedge 30 and paddle wedge 33 between the lever 22L and the paddle 32L. The first side release linkage transmits a forward-rearward motion - x-direction motion - of the lever 22L (in the lever release direction) to an inward (relative to the headrest) motion of the paddle 32L and to an inward motion of the release carrier along the vehicle inboard/outboard direction (y-direction). The movement of the paddle 32 inwardly pushes a release carrier 40 inwardly - along the inboard/outboard direction of the vehicle (side to side direction of the headrest) - to a release position. The release carrier 40 may be spring biased relative to the carriage so as to return to the locked or rest position. The connection of the left paddle 32L to the release carrier 40 allows the outer headrest (the front cover 12 and the rear cover 14) that carries the paddle 32 to move (e.g., for forward or rearward adjustment) relative to the carriage 70, rods 16 and carrier 40 without interfering with the transmission of motion from the lever 22 to the carrier 40. In particular, each paddle 32 has an engagement surface which moves to move a cooperating part but allows the cooperating part two slide along the engagement surface with the adjustment of the outer headrest relative to the carriage 70. In the case of the left paddle 32L, the engagement surface of the left panel 32L is always in contact with a contact portion of the carrier 40, in all adjustment positions of the outer headrest relative to the carriage 70.

[0045] The carriage 70 is movably mounted relative to the headrest front cover 12 and the headrest rear cover 14. The movement includes at least some forward and rearward direction (x-direction) component. This movement may be a linear forward and backward movement of the outer headrest relative to the carriage 70 and rods 16 or it may be a change in a tilt angle of the outer headrest relative to the carriage 70 and rods 16. The tilt angle change may also include some x-direction movement. A cartridge 72 is fixedly connected to the outer headrest - the headrest front cover 12 and the headrest rear cover 14 (Figure 11). A portion of the carriage 70 is mounted relative to the cartridge 72 in a region formed at flange 76 of the cartridge 72. The connection of the carriage 70 with the cartridge 72 and the outer headrest - the headrest front cover 12 and the headrest rear cover 14 - includes a forward and rearward locking arrangement. The forward and rearward locking arrangement comprises a latch 86 having a locked state and a released state. The latch 86 is connected to carriage 70 and is actuated by movement of the release carrier 40. The release of the cartridge 72 relative to the carriage 70 allows the outer headrest - the headrest front cover 12 and the headrest rear cover 14 - to move in the forward and rearward direction (x-direction), and/or tilt, relative to the carriage 70 and rods 16 to some degree. The cartridge 72 has a forward/rearward release latch receiving catch surface region 88 that is engaged by the latch 86 carried by the carriage 70. The latch 86 has a locked state and a released state. The movement of the carrier 40, upon movement of the left side lever 22L, moves a latch release element 42, of the carrier 40, such that latch release element 42 interacts with the release latch 86 to move the release latch to a released state. This releases the outer headrest - the headrest front cover 12 and the headrest rear cover 14 - for forward-rearward movement relative to the carrier 70 and the rods 16. [0046] At the right side of the head rest 10, the contact surface of the paddle 32R is in contact with complementary mechanism, that translates motion of the panel 32 are to the same motion of carrier 40 that is produced by actuating the left side lever 22L. The complementary mechanism includes an arm extension 52. The paddle 32R is in contact with a contact surface of the arm extension 52. The arm extension 52 moves with the paddle 32R inwardly relative to the headset 10 - in the inboard/outboard direction of the vehicle (the lateral or side to side direction of the headrest). The contact between the surface of paddle 32R and the arm extension 52 allows the contact of the arm extension 52 to shift along the surface of the paddle 32R during adjustment with the forward and rearward locking arrangement. The arm extension 52 is connected via a pivot joint connection 51 to a pivot arm 55. The pivot arm 55 is pivotably mounted to a pivot carrier 50 at pivot connection 53. The pivot carrier 50 is mounted to the carriage 70. The pivot arm 55 has a drive link end 54 that is connected to a slot in the carrier 40 with a tolerance (Figures 7 and 14). The drive link or drive link end 54 is rotationally, fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the pivot arm 55 so as to pivot with the pivot arm 55 about pivot connection 53. The linkage arrangement of the

complementary mechanism, with the arm extension 52, the pivot carrier 50, with pivot connection 53, the pivot arm 55 with pivot connection to the arm extension and driving the drive link 54 for movement about the pivot connection 53, causes the carrier 40 to be moved inwardly (from the right side) upon movement of the arm extension 52 inwardly (from the left side). This occurs when the lever 22R is moved to the release position. This causes paddle 32R to pivot, pushing the arm extension 52 inwardly (from right toward left in Figure 7). The pivot joint connection 51 of the arm extension 52 is connected with pivot arm 55. With this connection the inward movement of the arm extension 52 causes the arm pivot 55 to pivot about pivot 53 of the pivot carrier 50 and move the drive link 54. The pivoting of the drive link 54 causes the carrier 40 to move to the release position. With this arrangement, the movement of the right side lever 22R to a release position moves the carrier 40 . This movement of the right side lever 22R to the release position is in the same forward direction as the movement of the left side lever 22L to the release position. However, either the forward or the rearward direction of movement are possible. In each case of the lever movement and from each side, the carrier 40 is moved inwardly in the vehicle inboard/outboard direction from the same rest position to the same release position. The linkage 50, 51, 52, 54, 55 and the connection of the drive link 54 with the carrier 40 form the complementary mechanism.

The linkage 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, the paddle 32R and the wedge arrangement 30, 33 between the lever 22R and the paddle 32R form a right side or second release linkage.

[0047] Instead of providing the connection between the release carrier 40 and the drive link 54 with sufficient tolerance that allows the pivoting movement of the drive link 54 to result in linear movement of the release carrier 40, another connection may be provided. For example, the end of the arm pivot at 54 may have a post that extends into a slot formed in the release carrier 40. The movement of the end of the arm pivot at 54 then causes the post to move along the slot, causing the linear movement of the release carrier 40. The complementary mechanism may be formed by other arrangements including gearing and combinations of links, pivots and gears.

[0048] The movement of the release carrier 40, upon movement of the right side lever 22R interacts with the release latch 86 as described above. Also as noted above, the movement of the release carrier 40 to a release position causes the locking/release wire 82 to move such that at least ends of the locking/release wire 82 move out of engagement in the respective receiving slots of the locking interface 18.

[0049] Figures 15 - 18 show various design concepts based on the above described dual side release lever features. The designs of Figures 15, 17 and 18 provide levers that cooperate with a linear guide arrangement. The levers are supported and guided to be moved along lever guides such as tracks or rails for essentially linear movement in a lever release direction, between a rest position and a release position. Instead of the release lever 22 being mounted to move linearly along the lever guide in the lever release direction, the lever 22 may instead be pivotably mounted to the bezel 24 or to the outer headrest as shown in Figure 16.

In this case the release lever 22 still moves from the rest position, with a lever release motion, in a lever release direction to a release position. This release motion is essentially along a forward-rearward direction - essentially along a vehicle direction of travel or x-direction - along an arc. The wedge 30 is again movable on the track 31. An interconnection between the wedge 30 and the release lever 22 is such that the pivoting of the lever 22 results in a sliding movement of the wedge 30 along the track 31.

[0050] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS:

10 headrest

12 front cover

14 rear cover

16 rod

18 support rod locking interface

20 lever assembly

21 guide slot follower

22 lever

22L left lever

22R right lever

23 guide rails

24 bezel

25 slide tab

26 spring

27 bezel spring support

28 lever spring support

30 lever wedge

31 wedge guide track

32 paddle

32L left paddle

32R right paddle

33 paddle wedge

33L left paddle wedge

33R right paddle wedge

35 paddle pivot

40 release carrier

42 latch release element

50 pivot carrier

51 pivot joint connection

52 arm extension

53 pivot support

54 drive linkage end pivot arm carriage

rod receiving portion cartridge

cartridge opening flange locking/release element forward/rearward release latch catch surface region