Motor vehicle seat headrest

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest (1) for a motor vehicle seat, the frame of which comprises a spacer (3) and a height adjustment device including an electric motor (6), a threaded rod (7) and a receiving nut for said threaded rod. Said spacer is provided with a fastening element (9) having a recess for receiving said nut. Said headrest further comprises a cover (11) for covering said recess. Said cover has a first edge (12) inserted into a slot (13) provided in said element. Said slot is arranged to allow the first edge to be inserted into said slot with said cover inclined relative to its nominal position once mounted. The second edge (14) is opposite said first edge. Said second edge has a hole, and a screw (16) is inserted into said hole and screwed into said element. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle seat headrest

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat headrest and a method of mounting such a headrest.

[0002] It is known to produce a motor vehicle seat headrest, said headrest comprising: • a frame comprising two parallel metal rods for connecting to the back of said seat and a spacer for connecting the upper ends of said rods to each other, • a molded plastic housing for energy absorption in the event of a passenger's head striking said headrest, said housing comprising two conduits for receiving said sliding rods, said housing being provided with a headrest cushion, • a height adjustment device for said housing relative to said rods, said device comprising: • an electric motor mounted securely to the said casing, • a vertically extending threaded rod mounted for rotation within said housing in cooperation with said motor so as to be rotated in one direction or the other by actuation of said motor, • a receiving nut for said threaded rod, said nut being fixed securely to said spacer.

[0003] Such an arrangement allows for motorized adjustment of the height of the headrest housing.

[0004] In order to ensure optimal safety for the seat occupant, it is necessary to ensure a very robust fixing of the nut, and this in a simple and economical way.

[0005] The invention aims to provide a headrest that fulfills these objectives.

[0006] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a seat headrest of motor vehicle, said headrest comprising: • a frame comprising two parallel metal rods for connecting to the back of said seat and a spacer for connecting the upper ends of said rods to each other, • a molded plastic housing for energy absorption in the event of a passenger's head striking said headrest, said housing comprising two conduits for receiving said sliding rods, said housing being provided with a headrest cushion, • a height adjustment device for said housing relative to said rods, said device comprising: • an electric motor mounted securely to the said casing, • a vertically extending threaded rod mounted for rotation within said housing in cooperation with said motor so as to be rotated in one direction or the other by actuation of said motor, • a receiving nut for said threaded rod, said nut being fixed securely to said spacer,

[0007] said headrest further having the following characteristics: • said spacer is provided with a fixing element for said nut made of molded plastic material, said element being provided with a recess for receiving said nut, • said headrest further comprises a cover for said housing, said cover being shaped to tightly confine said nut within said housing to prevent it from rotating,

[0008] said cover having: • a first edge inserted into a slot provided in said element, said slot being arranged so as to allow said first edge to be fitted into said slot with said cover positioned at an angle relative to its nominal position once mounted, • and a second edge opposite said first edge, said second edge being provided with an orifice, a screw being inserted into said orifice and screwed into said element.

[0009] In this description, the terms of positioning in space (superior, vertical, ...) are considered relative to the directions in which the vehicle extends, the headrest being mounted in said vehicle in a situation of use.

[0010] The term “axial” is considered, for its part, in relation to the axis of extension of a rod.

[0011] With such an arrangement, a very robust fixing of the nut is ensured, which is held in its housing by the cover, and this in a simple and economical way.

[0012] Indeed, the assembly of the cover requires fixing only the second edge of said cover with screws, its first edge being simply inserted into the slot of the fixing element in a simple and robust manner.

[0013] According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a method for mounting such a headrest.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0015] [Fig. 1] is a partial schematic perspective representation of a headrest according to a design,

[0016] [Fig.2] is another partial schematic perspective representation of the support- head represented in [Fig.l],

[0017] [Fig.3a],

[0018] [Fig.3b] and

[0019] [Fig.3c] are schematic representations of detail in axial view of the headrest represented in figures 1 and 2, said figures 3a to 3c representing different stages of the assembly of said headrest explained in the rest of the description.

[0020] With reference to the figures, a headrest 1 of a motor vehicle seat is described, said headrest comprising: • a frame comprising two parallel metal rods 2 for connecting to the back of said seat and a spacer 3 for connecting the upper ends of said rods to each other, • a housing 4 made of molded plastic material for energy absorption in the event of a passenger's head striking said headrest, said housing comprising two conduits 5 for receiving said sliding rods, said housing being provided with a headrest cushion not shown, • a height adjustment device for said housing relative to said rods, said device comprising: • an electric motor 6 mounted securely to said casing, • a vertically extending threaded rod 7 mounted for rotation within said housing in cooperation with said motor so as to be rotated in one direction or the other by actuation of said motor, • a receiving nut 8 for said threaded rod, said nut being fixed securely to said spacer,

[0021] said headrest further having the following characteristics: • said spacer is provided with a fixing element 9 for said nut made of molded plastic material, said element being provided with a recess 10 for receiving said nut, • said headrest further comprises a cover 11 for covering said housing, said cover being shaped to tightly confine said nut within said housing to prevent it from rotating,

[0022] said cover having: • a first edge 12 inserted into a slot 13 provided in said element, said slot being arranged so as to allow said first edge to be fitted into said slot with said cover arranged at an angle relative to its nominal position once mounted, • and a second edge 14 opposite said first edge, said second edge being provided with an orifice 15, a screw 16 being inserted into said orifice and screwed into said element.

[0023] According to the embodiment shown, the frame is formed by a metal tube folded to present a general shape of an inverted U, the rods 2 corresponding to the branches of the U and the spacer 3 corresponding to the middle part of the U connecting said branches, the fixing element 9 being fixed on said spacer.

[0024] According to the embodiment shown, the fixing element 9 is fixed to the spacer 3 by screwing.

[0025] According to an embodiment not shown, the rods 2 are separate, their upper ends being connected to each other by a spacer 3 made of molded plastic material receiving said ends in a fitting, the fixing element 9 being made from the molding of said spacer.

[0026] According to the embodiment shown, the housing 4 is provided with a window 17 intended to allow the mounting of the cover 11 while the armature is inserted into said housing.

[0027] According to the embodiment shown, the fixing element 9 is provided with an elastically retractable stop 18, said stop being arranged to deform temporarily when the second edge 14 is put into position and to return by elastic return to its nominal position before being fixed by the screw 16.

[0028] A method for mounting such a headrest 1 is now described, said method comprising the steps of: • Fit the nut 8 into the housing 10 of the fixing element 9, • insert the first edge 12 of the cover 11 into the slot 13 of said element of fixing, said cover being arranged at an angle relative to its nominal position once mounted ([Fig.3a]), • fold down the said rotating cover so as to position its second edge 14 in the nominal position ([Fig.3b]),

[0029] insert a screw 16 into the orifice 15 of said second edge and screw it into said element ([Fig.3c]).

Claims

1. Claims Headrest (1) for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising: • a frame comprising two parallel metal rods (2) connecting to the back of said seat and a spacer (3) connecting the upper ends of said rods together, • a housing (4) made of molded plastic material for absorbing energy in the event of a passenger's head hitting said headrest, said housing comprising two conduits (5) for receiving said sliding rods, said housing being provided with a headrest cushion, • a device for adjusting the height of said housing relative to said rods, said device comprising: • an electric motor (6) mounted securely to said housing, • a threaded rod (7) extending vertically mounted in rotation in said housing in cooperation with said motor so as to be rotated in one direction or the other by actuation of said motor, • a nut (8) for receiving said threaded rod, said nut being fixed securely to said spacer, said headrest being characterized in that: • said spacer is provided with a fixing element (9) for said nut made of molded plastic material, said element being provided with a housing (10) for receiving said nut in a fitted manner, • said headrest further comprises a cover (11) covering said housing, said cover being shaped so as to confine said nut in a fitted manner in said housing to block it from rotating, said cover having: • a first edge (12) inserted into a slot (13) provided in said element, said slot being arranged so as to allow said first edge to fit into said slot with said cover arranged inclined relative to its nominal position once mounted, • and a second edge (14) opposite said first edge, said second edge being provided with an orifice (15), a screw (16) being inserted into said orifice and screwed into said element.

2. Headrest (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame is formed by a metal tube folded to have a general shape of an inverted U, the rods (2) corresponding to the branches of the U and the spacer (3) corresponding to the middle part of the U connecting said branches, the fixing element (9) being fixed on said spacer.

3. Headrest (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixing element (9) is fixed to the spacer by screwing.

4. Headrest (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rods (2) are separate, their upper ends being connected to each other by a spacer (3) made of molded plastic material receiving said ends in a nested manner, the fixing element (9) being produced by molding said spacer.

5. Headrest (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (4) is provided with a window (17) intended to allow the mounting of the cover (11) while the frame is inserted into said housing.

6. Headrest (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing element (9) is provided with an elastically retractable stop (18), said stop being arranged to deform temporarily when the second edge (14) is placed in position and to return to its nominal position by elastic return to hold said second edge in place once placed in the nominal position before its fixing by the screw (16).

7. Method of mounting a headrest (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising the steps of: • fitting the nut (8) into the housing (10) of the fixing element (9), inserting the first edge (12) of the cover (11) into the slot (13) of said fixing element, said cover being arranged inclined relative to its nominal position once mounted, folding said cover in rotation so as to place its second edge (14) in nominal position, inserting a screw (16) into the orifice (15) of said second edge and screwing it into said element.

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