On a vertically adjustable headrest provided on a backrest of a vehicle seat, a perpendicularly extending center part is arranged on a front side. On the two lateral edges of the center part, a supporting part is pivotally connected in each case by way of a film hinge, which supporting parts can be swivelled toward lateral edges of the headrest. A holding bow is provided on each supporting part. A leg spring, which itself is inserted into the headrest, reaches around the holding bow. The holding bow interacts with the leg spring such that, in the event of a vehicle crash, the supporting parts are displaced into the inoperative position by the mere action of the vehicle occupant's head. Furthermore, one control element respectively can also be applied to the end section of the supporting part, by way of which control element, the supporting part is swivelled in a sensor-controlled manner into the inoperative position in the event of a vehicle crash.
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0. 22. headrest on a vehicle seat, comprising lateral supporting parts displaceable between an inoperative position and a tilted-out position and which, in the inoperative position, extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, while, in response to an event of a vehicle crash in the tilted-out position, enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of a vehicle, a curved holding bow pivotally connected to a respective free end section of the supporting parts or rigidly mounted on an upholstery plate, which holding bow has mutually spaced detent grooves into which engages in a locking manner a detent element situated in the headrest.
7. A vehicle headrest assembly comprising:
a central headrest part,
a pair of lateral headrest support parts disposed at respective lateral sides of the central headrest part,
a lateral headrest support holding structure operable configured as a curved holding bow to hold the lateral headrest support parts between a tilted out operative position for normal driving and an inoperative position, wherein, in the tilted-out position the support parts enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of the vehicle, and wherein in the inoperative position the support parts extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, and
automatically operable control means automatically operable to move for moving the support parts from the operative to the inoperative position in response to an event of a vehicle crash.
13. A method of adjusting a headrest of a vehicle, the headrest having two lateral supporting parts which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a tilted-out position and which, in the inoperative position, extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, while, in the tilted-out position, they enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of a vehicle, comprising:
situating the lateral supporting parts in the inoperative position with substantially the entirety of the supporting parts in a front-side recess of the headrest in an approximately surface-flush manner, an upper edge of the recess being formed by an upper free end section of the headrest,
wherein the supporting parts are pivotally connected at a center area of the headrest and are displaced into the inoperative position from the tilted-out position by moving the supporting parts in a direction toward a lateral edge of the headrest
automatically displacing the two supporting parts from the tilted-out position to the inoperative position in the event of a vehicle crash by one of a mere action of the vehicle occupant's head and a control element.
17. A vehicle headrest assembly comprising:
a central headrest part,
a pair of lateral headrest support parts disposed at respective lateral sides of the central headrest part,
a lateral headrest support holding structure operable to hold the lateral headrest support parts between a tilted-out operative position for normal driving and an inoperative position, wherein in the tilted-out position the support parts enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of the vehicle, and wherein in the inoperative position the support parts extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, and
control means operable to move the support parts from the operative to the inoperative position in an event of a vehicle impending crash condition,
wherein the lateral headrest support holding structure includes a holding bow which is movably disposed at a headrest frame lateral support parts, when in the inoperative position, are situated with substantially the entirety of the supporting parts in a front-side recess of the headrest in an approximately surface-flush manner in an approximately surface-flush manner, an upper edge of the recess being formed by an upper free end section of the headrest part, and the supporting parts are pivotally connected at a center area of the headrest and are displaced into the inoperative position from the tilted-out position by moving the supporting parts in a direction toward a lateral edge of the headrest.
0. 1. headrest on a vehicle seat having two lateral supporting parts which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a tilted-out position and which, in the inoperative position, extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, while, in the tilted-out position, they enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of a vehicle,
wherein the two supporting parts are connected such with the headrest that, in the event of a vehicle crash, they are automatically displaced by one of a mere action of the vehicle occupant's head and a control element into the inoperative position.
2. headrest according to
wherein the supporting parts, when in the inoperative position, are situated with substantially the entirety of the supporting parts in a front-side recess of the headrest in an approximately surface-flush manner, an upper edge of the recess being formed by an upper free end section of the headrest, and
wherein the two supporting parts are pivotally connected to at a center area of the width dimension of the headrest and are displaced into the inoperative position from the tilted-out position by moving the two supporting parts in a direction toward a lateral edge of the headrest.
3. headrest according to
4. headrest according to
5. headrest according to
6. headrest according to
wherein in the center area of the width dimension of the headrest, a stationary, perpendicularly extending center part is provided which extends substantially perpendicular and is laterally adjoined by one of the supporting part parts respectively which is pivotally connected to a film hinge of the headrest, and
wherein an upper free end section of the headrest, in an approximately surface-flush manner, adjoins the center part and the supporting parts situated in the inoperative position.
8. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
9. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
10. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
11. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
12. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
14. The method of
15. The method of
16. The method of
18. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
19. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
20. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
21. A vehicle headrest assembly according to
0. 23. headrest according to claim 22, wherein the supporting parts are pivotally connected at a center area of the headrest and are displaced into the inoperative position from the tilted-out position by moving the supporting parts in a direction toward a lateral edge of the headrest.
0. 24. headrest according to claim 23, wherein in the headrest, in an area of its lateral edges, one leg spring respectively is provided which surrounds the holding bow and which, in a respective swiveling position of the supporting part, elastically locks into one of the detent grooves of the holding bow.
0. 25. headrest according to claim 23, wherein one mechanically, electrically or electronically actuated control element respectively is applied to a free end section of the support parts such that the supporting parts are controllably swivellable in the event of a vehicle crash from the tilted-out position into the inoperative position.
0. 26. headrest according to claim 23, wherein the two supporting parts are situated in a front-side recess of the headrest, and
in the center area of the headrest, a stationary part extends substantially perpendicular and is laterally adjoined by one of the supporting parts respectively which is pivotally connected to a film hinge of the headrest, and
an upper free end section of the headrest, in an approximately surface-flush manner, adjoins the center part and the supporting parts situated in the inoperative position.
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This application claims the priority of German Patent Application 100 05 196.0, filed in Germany, Feb. 5, 2000, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a headrest on a vehicle seat having two lateral supporting parts which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a tilted-out position and which, in the inoperative position, extend approximately in a transverse vehicle plane, while, in the tilted-out position, they enclose, together with a longitudinal vehicle plane, an acute angle which is open toward a front side of a vehicle. German Patent Document DE 196 02 909 A1, (FIG. 7), is an example of this type of headrest.
As indicated in the description of FIG. 7 of the German Patent De 196 02 909 A1 and illustrated in the drawing, in the center area of its width dimension, the vehicle seat is provided with a headrest which has two lateral supporting parts. These can each be swivelled about a vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle seat such that they extend either approximately in a transverse vehicle plane or enclose a more or less large angle, the two supporting parts being locked in the selected swivelling positions by a locking device.
By means of the supporting parts, which extend diagonally with respect to a transverse vehicle plane, the vehicle occupant's head is to be protected from high lateral accelerations which may occur in a vehicle crash. However, during the crash, the vehicle occupant's head is usually displaced for a short time away from the headrest and is then thrown back against it. Since, in most cases, the vehicle occupant's head does not impact onto the center of the headrest but laterally onto it and therefore strikes against its diagonally extending supporting parts, the head is additionally thrown toward the left or toward the right, specifically as a result of the diagonal position of the supporting parts, so that the locking of the supporting parts of the headrest do not ensure an optimal protection against injury.
It is therefore an object of the invention to construct a headrest of the type indicated above such that the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant will not be increased in the event of a vehicle crash, when at least one of the supporting parts is in the tilted-out position and the lateral area of the headrest is acted upon by the vehicle occupant's head.
For achieving the object, the headrest is characterized in that the two supporting parts are connected such with the headrest that, in the event of a vehicle crash, they are automatically displaced by one of a mere action of the vehicle occupant's head and a control element into the inoperative position.
According to the invention, the supporting parts are connected with the headrest carrying them by means of such a device that, in the event of a vehicle crash, they are displaced in the inoperative position by a mere action of the head or by an adjusting element so that, by means of the existing supporting parts, the vehicle occupant's head is not additionally laterally displaced and there will be no additional risk of injury. However, the holding device of the supporting parts is nevertheless constructed such that it can absorb the acceleration forces which normally occur in the driving operation. As a result, the headrest provided with the supporting parts ensures an optimal protective function in the normal driving operation as well as in the event of a vehicle crash. In this case, the device of the supporting parts according to the invention has a low weight and can be provided in a very simple and cost-effective manner.
The two supporting parts are expediently hinged to the center area of the width dimension of the headrest and, when acted upon by the vehicle occupant or by an adjusting element, are displaced toward the lateral edge of the headrest.
A very simple device, which can be produced at reasonable cost, consists of a curved holding bow which is pivotally connected to the free end section of the supporting parts or is rigidly mounted on an interior upholstery plate and which, on its free end section which can be displaced into the headrest, has several detent grooves which are arranged at a distance from one another and into which a leg spring or similar detent element also provided in the headrest engages in a locking manner in the respective pivoting position of the receiving part. In this case, the spring effect of the leg spring which acts upon the holding bow is coordinated such that, in the case of the lateral acceleration forces customary in the driving operation, the supporting parts remain in the tilt-out position, while, in the event of a vehicle crash, they are displaced into the inoperative position by the mere action of the vehicle occupant's head.
It is also contemplated in certain embodiments of the invention, that in each case, by means of a mechanically or electrically/electronically actuated control element, the supporting part is swivelled in a sensor-controlled manner into the inoperative position in the event of a vehicle crash.
A special further development of a vertically displaceable headrest according to certain preferred embodiments of the invention consists of the fact that it has a front-side recess for the arrangement of the two supporting parts, in the center area of the width dimension of the headrest, a stationary, perpendicularly extending center part being provided which is in each case adjoined by a lateral supporting part which is pivotally connected by way of a film hinge, while the upper, free end section of the headrest, in an approximately surface-flush manner, adjoins the center part and the supporting parts situated in the inoperative position. As a result, a vertically displaceable headrest is created which has an optimal design with respect to its appearance.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The present invention also contemplates embodiments including a mechanically, electrically or electronically actuated control element E, provided in the headrest 2 in the area of one supporting part 6 respectively, by means of which control element the supporting part 6 is displaced from the tilted-out position b into the inoperative position a in a sensor controlled manner by a control unit CU in the event of a vehicle crash. The control element E and control unit CU, operable in response to crash condition sensor S, are schematically depicted in dash lines in
As illustrated in
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Feb 03 2005 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Mar 30 2006 | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SW MEDICAL CENTER AT DALLAS | NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH , U S DEPT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DHHS , U S GOVERNMENT | CONFIRMATORY LICENSE SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 021700 | /0058 | |
Mar 30 2009 | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SW MED CTR DALLAS | NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH , U S DEPT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DHHS , U S GOVERNMENT | CONFIRMATORY LICENSE SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 024703 | /0986 |
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