Motor vehicle seat headrest
By introducing recesses in the conduits and using flexible tabs with return springs, the assembly of motor vehicle seat headrests is simplified, allowing smooth rod insertion and secure clamping, addressing the assembly challenges of existing designs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022001574
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-02-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-02-22
AI Technical Summary
The existing assembly process for motor vehicle seat headrests faces challenges in allowing the passage of elbows when inserting rods into conduits due to the design of the bearings and return springs, which hinder smooth assembly.
Incorporating recesses between the bearings in the conduits that open towards the rear, allowing the elbows of the rods to pass during assembly, and using a one-piece molded plastic housing with flexible tabs and return springs to secure the rods.
Facilitates easy assembly of the headrest by enabling the rods to be inserted into the conduits without obstruction, ensuring secure clamping and height adjustment.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Motor vehicle seat headrest
[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat headrest and a method for assembling such a headrest.
[0002] It is known to produce a motor vehicle seat headrest, said headrest comprising:
[0003] • two parallel metal rods originating from a folded tube having a general inverted U shape, the arms of the U forming said rods, said rods being intended to be mounted at the top of the backrest of said seat, said rods having, in lateral view, an elbow intended to bring their upper part forward so as to bring said rods closer, for safety reasons, to the head of an occupant of said seat, • a one-piece molded plastic housing, said housing having two molded conduits, each of said conduits receiving one of said respective sliding rods, so as to allow height adjustment of said housing, each of said conduits being provided with an upper bearing and a lower bearing both exerting a clamping contact on each of said rods, said bearings being molded as a single unit with said conduits and having at their periphery two opposing flexible tabs in a longitudinal direction, each of said bearings being provided with a return spring for said corresponding tabs inwards, said spring having a general U or C shape, each of whose branches rests on each of said tabs so as to pinch said rods between said tabs.
[0004] With such an arrangement, the problem arises of allowing the passage of the elbows when inserting the rods into the conduits to assemble the headrest.
[0005] The invention aims to propose an arrangement that solves this problem.
[0006] To this end, the invention proposes a headrest for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising:
[0007] • two parallel metal rods originating from a folded tube having a general inverted U shape, the arms of the U forming said rods, said rods being intended to be mounted at the top of the backrest of said seat, said rods having, in lateral view, an elbow intended to bring their upper part forward, • a one-piece molded plastic housing, said housing having two molded conduits, each of said conduits receiving one of said rods respective sliding, so as to allow height adjustment of said housing, each of said conduits being provided with an upper bearing and a lower bearing both exerting a clamping contact on each of said rods, said bearings being molded as a single unit with said conduits and having at their periphery two opposing flexible tabs in a longitudinal direction, each of said bearings being provided with a return spring for said corresponding tabs inwards, said spring having a general U or C shape, each of whose branches rests on each of said tabs so as to pinch said rods between said tabs,
[0008] said conduits having a recess located between said bearings and opening towards the rear, so as to allow the passage of elbows when inserting said rods into said conduits to assemble said headrest.
[0009] In this description, the terms of positioning in space (top, bottom, longitudinal, transverse, superior, vertical, ...) are taken with reference to a headrest mounted in the vehicle.
[0010] The terms "axial" and "radially" are considered in relation to the axis of extension of a conduit.
[0011] With the proposed arrangement, the insertion of the rods into the conduits is made possible by the presence of the aforementioned recesses.
[0012] According to another aspect, the invention proposes a method for assembling such a headrest.
[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0014] [Fig-1] is a schematic partial perspective view of a headrest according to a realization,
[0015] [Fig.2] is a first schematic perspective view of detail of the headrest of the [Fig.l],
[0016] [Fig.3a] is a second schematic perspective detail view of the headrest of [Fig.1],
[0017] [Fig.3b] is a third schematic perspective detail view of the headrest of [Fig.l],
[0018] [Fig.4] is a schematic partial longitudinal vertical sectional view of the headrest of the [Fig.l].
[0019] With reference to the figures, a headrest 1 of a motor vehicle seat is described, said headrest comprising:
[0020] • two parallel metallic rods 2a, 2b originating from a folded tube having a general inverted U shape, the branches of the U forming said rods, said rods being intended to be mounted at the top of the backrest of said seat, said rods having in lateral view a bend 15 intended to bring their upper part 16 closer together forwards, • a one-piece molded plastic housing 3, said housing having two molded conduits 4a, 4b, each of said conduits receiving one of said respective rods in a sliding fashion, so as to allow height adjustment of said housing, each of said conduits being provided with an upper bearing 5a and a lower bearing 5b, both exerting a clamping contact on each of said rods, said bearings being molded as a single unit with said conduits and having at their periphery two opposing flexible tabs 6 in a longitudinal direction 7, each of said bearings being provided with a return spring 8 of said corresponding tabs inwards, said spring having a general U or C shape, each of whose arms 9 bears against each of said tabs so as to pinch said rods between said tabs,
[0021] said conduits having a recess 17 located between said bearings and opening towards the rear, so as to allow the passage of the elbows 15 when inserting said rods into said conduits to assemble said headrest.
[0022] According to one embodiment, the housing 3 is based on polyamide 6 loaded with glass fibers, said fibers representing 15 to 25% by weight of said housing, so as to optimize the flexibility of the tabs 6 with a view to their deformation without deterioration when mounting the rods 2a,2b in the conduits 4a,4b.
[0023] According to the embodiment shown, the legs 6 are connected to the rest of the housing 3 by a first end 10a so as to allow the bending of said legs inwards so that they rest according to their second end 10b on the corresponding rod 2a,2b.
[0024] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig.3a], a first conduit 4a has two pairs of non-flexible guiding zones 12a for the first rod 2a, the zones of a first of said pairs being diametrically opposed along a first direction 28a and the zones of the second of said pairs being diametrically opposed along a second direction 28b, so that said rod is guided along the transverse and longitudinal directions.
[0025] According to the embodiment shown, the first 28a and the second 28b direction are orthogonal.
[0026] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 3b], a second conduit 4b has three inflexible guiding zones 12b for the second rod 2b in non-compression contact, said zones being angularly offset in axial view - here in a substantially regular manner - so that said rod is guided along the longitudinal direction while able to move laterally, so as to absorb the expansions of the housing 3 related to temperature variations.
[0027] According to the embodiments shown in figures 3a and 3b, the guide zones 12a, 12b are in the form of radial guide projections projecting inwards, said projections extending axially and discontinuously along the conduits 4a, 4b.
[0028] According to one embodiment:
[0029] • the guidance zones 12a of the first conduit 4a extend over a distance minimum overall axial clearance of 50 mm, so as to minimize the transverse movement between the first rod 2a and said conduit, said zones being arranged so as to allow a residual overall transverse clearance of between 0.1 and 0.2 mm between said conduit and said first rod, the guide zones 12b of the second conduit 4b are arranged so as to ensure an overall transverse clearance of at least 2 mm between said conduit and the second rod 2b, so as to avoid interference between the two following dimensional variations of the housing 3 resulting from temperature variations.
[0030] Partially shown, the headrest 1 further comprises a locking device for the housing 3 relative to the rods 2a, 2b in a plurality of vertical positions, so as to lock the height setting chosen for said housing, said device comprising:
[0031] at least one notched rod 2a,2b - both according to the embodiment shown - provided with axially arranged adjustment notches 18, at least one locking projection mounted movable relative to said housing between a locking position, where said projection is inserted into one of said notches, and an unlocking position, where said projection is withdrawn from said notch in order to free the sliding of said notched rod.
[0032] Finally, a method for assembling a headrest 1 as previously described is described, said method comprising the following steps:
[0033] two parallel metal rods 2a, 2b extending from a folded tube presenting a general inverted U shape, the arms of the U forming said rods, said rods having a bend 15 in lateral view, a housing 3 made of one-piece molded plastic material is provided, said housing having two molded conduits 4a, 4b, each of said conduits being provided with an upper bearing 5a and a lower bearing 5b intended to exert a clamping contact on each of said rods, said bearings being molded as a single unit with said conduits and having at their periphery two opposing flexible tabs 6 in a longitudinal direction 7, each of said bearings being provided with a return spring 8 of said corresponding tabs towards the interior, said spring having a general U or C shape, each of the arms 9 of which is intended to bear against each of said lugs, said conduits having a recess 17 located between said bearings and opening towards the rear, Insert the rods 2a, 2b into the corresponding conduits 4a, 4b by passing the elbow 15 of each of said rods through the corresponding recess 17
Claims
Demands
1. Motor vehicle seat headrest (1), said headrest comprising: • two parallel metal rods (2a,2b) originating from a folded tube having a general inverted U shape, the arms of the U forming said rods, said rods being intended to be mounted at the top of the back of said seat, said rods having in lateral view an elbow (15) intended to bring their upper part (16) closer together towards the front, • a housing (3) made of one-piece molded plastic material, said housing having two molded conduits (4a, 4b), each of said conduits receiving one of said respective rods in a sliding manner, so as to allow height adjustment of said housing, each of said conduits being provided with an upper bearing (5a) and a lower bearing (5b), both exerting a clamping contact on each of said rods, said bearings being molded as a single unit with said conduits and having at their periphery two opposing flexible tabs (6) in a longitudinal direction (7), each of said bearings being provided with a return spring (8) of said corresponding tabs inwards, said spring having a general U or C shape, each of whose arms (9) bears against each of said tabs so as to pinch said rods between said tabs,
2.
3. The headrest is characterized in that the conduits have a recess (17) located between the bearings and opening to the rear, so as to allow the passage of the elbows (15) when the rods are inserted into the conduits to assemble the headrest. The headrest according to claim 1 is characterized in that the tabs (6) are connected to the rest of the housing (3) by a first end (10a) so as to allow the tabs to bend inwards so that their second end (10b) bears against the corresponding rod (2a, 2b). Headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first conduit (4a) has two pairs of non-flexible zones non-tightening guide (12a) of the first rod (2a), the zones of a first of said pairs being diametrically opposed along a first direction (28a) and the zones of the second of said pairs being diametrically opposed along a second direction (28b), so that said rod is guided along the transverse and longitudinal directions.
4. Headrest according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first (28a) and second (28b) directions are orthogonal.
5. Headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second conduit (4b) has three non-flexible guiding zones (12b) of the second rod (2b) in non-compressive contact, said zones being angularly offset in axial view, so that said rod is guided along the longitudinal direction while being able to deflect transversely.
6. Headrest according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the guide zones (12a, 12b) are in the form of radial guide projections projecting inwards, said projections extending axially and discontinuously along the conduits (4a,4b).
7. Headrest according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that: • the guide zones (12a) of the first conduit (4a) extend over a minimum overall axial distance of 50 mm, so as to minimize the transverse movement between the first rod (2a) and said conduit, said zones being arranged so as to allow a residual overall transverse play of between 0.1 and 0.2 mm between said conduit and said first rod, • the guide zones (12b) of the second conduit (4b) are arranged so as to ensure an overall transverse play of at least 2 mm between the second rod (2b) and said conduit, so as to avoid interference between the two following dimensional variations of the housing (3) resulting from temperature variations.
8. Headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a locking device for the housing (3) relative to the rods (2a, 2b) in a plurality of positions vertical, so as to lock the height setting chosen for said housing, said device comprising: • at least one notched rod (2a,2b) provided with axially spaced adjustment notches (18), • at least one locking projection mounted movable relative to said housing between a locking position, where said projection is inserted into one of said notches, and an unlocking position, where said projection is withdrawn from said notch in order to free the sliding of said notched rod.
9. A method for assembling a headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising the following steps: • provide two parallel metal rods (2a,2b) originating from a folded tube having a general inverted U shape, the branches of the U forming said rods, said rods having a bend (15) in lateral view, • provide a housing (3) made of one-piece molded plastic material, said housing having two molded conduits (4a, 4b), each of said conduits being provided with an upper bearing (5a) and a lower bearing (5b) intended to exert a clamping contact on each of said rods, said bearings being molded as a single unit with said conduits and having at their periphery two flexible tabs (6) opposed in a longitudinal direction (7), each of said bearings being provided with a return spring (8) of said corresponding tabs inwards, said spring having a general U or C shape, each of whose arms (9) is intended to bear against each of said tabs, said conduits having a recess (17) located between said bearings and opening towards the rear, • Insert the rods (2a, 2b) into the corresponding conduits (4a, 4b) weights by passing the elbow (15) of each of the said rods into the corresponding recess (17).