Mounting device for vehicle headrests

Abstract

Mounting device for vehicle headrests, comprising: - a guide element (1) in which a fastening rod (2) for attaching a headrest (3) can be accommodated; - a retaining element (4) which is movable between a holding position in which it prevents the movement of the fastening rod (2) with respect to the guide element (1) and a release position in which it enables the movement of the fastening rod (2) with respect to the guide element (1); - a push button (5) for moving the holding element (4) from the holding position to the release position; - at least one lever (6) which is connected to the push button (5) and transmits the movement of the push button (5) to the retaining element (4), wherein the lever or each lever (6) is formed by two straight sections which define an obtuse angle; and an elastic element (7), wherein the retaining element (4) and the lever (6) are formed as a single piece, characterized by that the elastic element (7) pushes the lever (6) towards the holding position of the holding element (4), that the push button (5) has at least one groove (9) for receiving the upper end of the lever (6), and that the guide element (1) has at least one support element (11) which contacts the sections of the lever or each lever (6) and causes the holding element (4) to move into the release position when the push button (5) is actuated.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a holding device for vehicle headrests, in particular for automobile headrests, which can be released to adjust the height of the headrest by actuating a push button. Background of the invention

[0002] For safety reasons, vehicle seats have a headrest which serves as protection to prevent the head from moving backward in the event of an accident.

[0003] In order to be able to fulfil their safety function, head restraints must be height adjustable so that they can be adapted to the height of the seat occupant, and this adjustment must be easy and safe.

[0004] Currently, to enable such adjustment, headrests comprise a pair of fixing rods housed in the seat back, in particular within guide elements arranged in the seat back.

[0005] These guide elements comprise a holding element which can be moved between a holding position in which the holding element is accommodated in a notch made in the fastening rod, which prevents the movement of the fastening rod with respect to the guide element, and a release position in which the fastening rod can move with respect to the guide element in order to adjust the height of the headrest.

[0006] This setting is achieved by pressing a push button, which allows the holding element to be moved from its holding position to its release position.

[0007] In the majority of guides, the holding device is located at the same level as the actuating mechanism, outside the seat structure. In other cases, the holding device is located inside the seat structure, requiring, in addition to the holding and actuating elements, a mechanism capable of transmitting movement between the parts, thereby increasing the number of required components and the cost of assembly and manufacturing.

[0008] DE 36 36 931 C1 describes a headrest for motor vehicle seats. This comprises a cushion support surrounded by a cushion, which is held on at least one support rod, which is received with its lower insertion area in a locking sleeve anchored within a seat back. The locking sleeve has a locking web for locking the support rod at a specific axial height, which engages in a locking notch on the support rod side. The locking sleeve has a release button on the upper side of the seat back that is motion-coupled to the locking web. The locking web is assigned to the lower axial area of ​​the locking sleeve and is part of a U-shaped locking bar, the locking web connecting two actuating legs of the U-shaped locking bar, the actuating leg ends of which are motion-coupled to the release button.and that the two actuating arms are arranged at diametrically opposite locations on the locking sleeve and each form a two-armed lever extending substantially along the locking sleeve, which is mounted on the locking sleeve side between the locking web and the release button.

[0009] DE 198 19 504 C1 discloses an arrangement for the stepless adjustment of a headrest on the backrest of a motor vehicle seat. This arrangement consists of at least one locking rod attached to the backrest and a headrest arranged on the locking rod.

[0010] US 5 056 867 A discloses an adjustment mechanism for a headrest. Description of the invention

[0011] The aforementioned disadvantages can be overcome by the vehicle headrest support device of the invention, which offers other advantages described below.

[0012] The holding device for vehicle headrests according to the present invention comprises: - a guide element in which a fastening rod for attaching a headrest can be accommodated; - a holding element which is movable between a holding position in which it prevents the movement of the fastening rod with respect to the guide element and a release position in which it allows the movement of the fastening rod with respect to the guide element; - a push button for moving the holding element from the holding position to the release position; - at least one lever connected to the push button and transmitting the movement of the push button to the holding element, wherein the lever or each lever is formed by two straight sections defining an obtuse angle; and an elastic element, wherein the holding element and the lever are formed as a single piece.

[0013] The present invention is characterized in that the elastic element urges the lever towards the holding position of the holding element, and that the push button has at least one groove for receiving the upper end of the lever, and that the guide element has at least one support element which contacts the portions of the lever or each lever and causes the movement of the holding element into the release position when the push button is actuated.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the holding element and the lever are formed from a rod.

[0015] The rod is preferably U-shaped, with the lower part being the holding element and its arms being the respective levers.

[0016] Furthermore, the lever or each lever is formed by two straight sections which define an obtuse angle, and the guide element has at least one support element for achieving rotation which contacts the sections of the lever or each lever.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the push button has at least one groove for accommodating the upper end of the lever.

[0018] Advantageously, the guide element has a hole in which the holding element is received in its holding position.

[0019] The holding device according to the present invention offers at least the following advantages: - it provides an economic advantage in terms of its manufacture and assembly, as a smaller number of components are required, as the retaining element and the lever or levers are housed in a single component; - it resists impact better because the forces associated with an impact are transmitted directly to the seat structure; - it can be used in all types of vehicle seats; - there is no noticeable change for the user, since the push button is on the same manner as it is now. Short description of the drawings

[0020] For the purpose of a better understanding of what is presented, drawings are attached which schematically and only by way of non-limiting example illustrate a practical embodiment. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the retaining device according to the present invention in the position of its use in combination with a vehicle headrest; Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the holding device according to the present invention in its holding position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the holding device according to the present invention; Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the detail of the lower part of the holding device according to the present invention in its holding position; and Fig. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the detail of the lower part of the holding device according to the present invention in its release position. Description of a preferred embodiment

[0021] Fig. Figure 1 shows a headrest 3 with a pair of fastening rods 2, one of which is housed within a holding device according to the present invention.

[0022] As can be seen from this figure, the fastening rods 2 have grooves 12 which are used to determine the height of the headrest 3.

[0023] The holding device according to the present invention comprises a guide element 1, within which a fastening rod 2 of the headrest 3 is accommodated, and a holding element 4, which can be moved between a holding position (in Fig. 4), in which the movement of the fastening rod 2 with respect to the guide element 1 is prevented, and a release position (in Fig. 5), in which it allows the movement of the fastening rod 2 with respect to the guide element 1.

[0024] Furthermore, the holding element according to the present invention comprises a push button 5 for moving the holding element 4 from the holding position to the release position, at least one lever 6, in the case of the illustrated embodiment two, which is connected to the push button 5 and transmits the movement of the push button 5 to the holding element 4 and an elastic element 7 which urges the lever 6 towards the holding position of the holding element 4.

[0025] In order to enable the arrangement of the holding element 4 in the holding position, the guide element 1 has a hole 10, as can be seen from the figures.

[0026] According to the present invention, the holding element 4 and the levers 6 are made in one piece. According to the preferred embodiment shown, a U-shaped rod 8 defines the holding element 4 and the levers 6, so that the lower part of the U is the holding element 4 and the arms of the U are the levers 6.

[0027] Each lever 6 is preferably formed by two sections defining an obtuse angle, as can be seen from the figures, and at least one support element 11 for achieving rotation, which contacts the sections of the lever or each lever.

[0028] The upper part of the levers 6 is arranged in the respective grooves 9 provided in the push button 5, as better seen in Fig. 3 can be seen.

[0029] The holding device according to the present invention works as follows: The guide elements 1 are arranged in the upper part of the back of a vehicle seat and the fastening rods 2 are accommodated within the guide elements 1.

[0030] In this position, the retaining element 4 is accommodated within one of the grooves 12 of the fastening rod 2, which fixes the headrest 3.

[0031] To change the height of the headrest 3 relative to the upper part of the seat back, the user must press the push button 5 horizontally. When the push button 5 is pressed, the upper end of the levers 6, which are arranged in the grooves 9, is moved, resulting in the movement of the holding element 4 from its holding position to its release position.

[0032] The movement is achieved by means of the rotation of the rod 8 (formed by the levers 6 and the holding element 4) with respect to the pivot point of the support element 11.

[0033] In this position, the retaining element 4 is located outside the notch (groove) 12 and allows the movement of the fastening rod 2 with respect to the guide element 1 .

[0034] When the headrest 3 is mounted in the required position, the push button must simply be released and, due to the action of the elastic element 7 on the rod 8, the holding element 4 returns to its holding position.

[0035] Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the described holding device may be subjected to numerous changes and modifications and that all mentioned details may be replaced by other, technically equivalent details, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims. List of reference symbols 1 guide element 2 mounting rods 3 headrest 4 Holding element 5 push button 6 levers 7 Elastic element 8 bars 9 grooves 10 holes 11 Support element 12 grooves

Claims

[1] Holding device for vehicle headrests, comprising: - a guide element (1) in which a fastening rod (2) for fastening a headrest (3) can be accommodated; - a holding element (4) which is movable between a holding position in which it prevents the movement of the fastening rod (2) with respect to the guide element (1) and a release position in which it allows the movement of the fastening rod (2) with respect to the guide element (1); - a push button (5) for moving the holding element (4) from the holding position to the release position; - at least one lever (6) connected to the push button (5) and transmitting the movement of the push button (5) to the holding element (4), wherein the lever or each lever (6) is formed by two straight sections defining an obtuse angle; and an elastic element (7), wherein the holding element (4) and the lever (6) are formed as a single piece, characterized by , that the elastic element (7) urges the lever (6) towards the holding position of the holding element (4), that the push button (5) has at least one groove (9) for receiving the upper end of the lever (6), and that the guide element (1) has at least one support element (11) which contacts the sections of the lever or each lever (6) and causes the movement of the holding element (4) into the release position when the push button (5) is actuated. [2] Holding device for vehicle headrests according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (4) and the lever (6) are formed from a rod (8). [3] A vehicle headrest support device according to claim 2, wherein the rod (8) is U-shaped, the lower part of which is the support element (4) and its arms are the respective levers (6). [4] Holding device for vehicle headrests according to claim 1, wherein the guide element (1) has a hole (10) in which the holding element (4) is received in its holding position.

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