Motor vehicle seat headrest

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest (1) for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising a secondary body (4) mounted to slide longitudinally on a main body (3) and a locking device for said secondary body comprising a latch (5) mounted to slide vertically on said main body between a locked position, where it cooperates with a rack (6), and an unlocked position, said rack having a plurality of grooves (22) having a rear face (23) inclined with respect to the vertical and a front face (24) substantially vertical, said latch having a locking portion (19) of a shape complementary to that of said grooves, so that said latch, when in the locked position, fits snugly into the groove (22) in which it is engaged. Figure 3A

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle seat headrest

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat headrest.

[0002] It is known to produce a motor vehicle seat headrest, said headrest comprising: • a mounting frame for attaching to the back of said seat, • a main body mounted on said frame, • a secondary body mounted to slide longitudinally on said main body, so that said secondary body can adopt a plurality of longitudinal adjustment positions, said secondary body being provided with a wall to receive the head of an occupant of said seat, • a locking device for said secondary body in the chosen adjustment position, said device comprising a latch mounted to slide vertically on said main body between a locking position, where it cooperates with a locking rack extending longitudinally on said secondary body, and an unlocking position, where it moves away from said rack to release the sliding of said secondary body, said device further comprising a spring means for actuating said latch in locking and a means for actuating said latch in unlocking against said spring means, said rack having a plurality of similar grooves succeeding one another longitudinally, said grooves having a rear face inclined with respect to the vertical, so as to be chamfered, and a substantially vertical front face,so that the sliding of said secondary body forward is possible without having to unlock said device, and that said sliding is blocked backwards.

[0003] With such an arrangement, the seat occupant performs a simple forward pull of the secondary body to advance its adjustment position.

[0004] On the other hand, it is necessary to activate the locking device in unlocking mode in order to be able to push the secondary body back, the blocking of said body in rear sliding in the absence of voluntary unlocking being dictated by safety considerations, the headrest having to remain locked in its longitudinal adjustment position in the event of a head impact of the occupant on its receiving wall.

[0005] According to known embodiments, the latch has parallel and substantially vertical front and rear faces.

[0006] However, with such an arrangement, the user operating the secondary body in traction may experience a sensation of imprecise positioning of said body in the the chosen adjustment position gives an impression of poor quality of the headrest.

[0007] The invention aims to overcome this drawback.

[0008] To this end, the invention proposes a headrest for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising: • a mounting frame for attaching to the back of said seat, • a main body mounted on said frame, • a secondary body mounted to slide longitudinally on said main body, so that said secondary body can adopt a plurality of longitudinal adjustment positions, said secondary body being provided with a wall to receive the head of an occupant of said seat, • a locking device for said secondary body in the chosen adjustment position, said device comprising a latch mounted to slide vertically on said main body between a locking position, where it cooperates with a locking rack extending longitudinally on said secondary body, and an unlocking position, where it moves away from said rack to release the sliding of said secondary body, said device further comprising a spring means for actuating said latch in locking and a means for actuating said latch in unlocking against said spring means, said rack having a plurality of similar grooves succeeding one another longitudinally, said grooves having a rear face inclined with respect to the vertical, so as to be chamfered, and a substantially vertical front face,so that the sliding of said secondary body forward is possible without having to unlock said device, and that said sliding is blocked backwards,

[0009] said latch having a locking part of a shape complementary to that of said grooves, so that said latch, when placed in the locking position, fits snugly into the groove in which it is engaged.

[0010] In this description, the terms of positioning in space (longitudinal, transverse, vertical, superior, inferior, front, rear, ...) are taken with reference to the headrest arranged in the vehicle in a situation of use, said vehicle extending longitudinally along its length (X axis), transversely along its width (Y axis) and vertically along its height (Z axis).

[0011] With the proposed arrangement, the user operating the secondary body in traction feels, due to the adjustment of the shape of the locking part of the latch to that of the grooves, a sensation of precise positioning of said body in the chosen adjustment position, which provides an impression of optimal quality of the headrest.

[0012] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] is a schematic semi-exploded partial perspective view of a headrest according to a design,

[0014] [Fig.2] is a close-up schematic detail view of [Fig.1] from another angle from a visual standpoint,

[0015] [Fig.3A] is a partial schematic view along a first vertical longitudinal section of the headrest of the preceding figures, the locking device being activated in lock in cooperation with two racks,

[0016] [Fig.3B] is a partial schematic view along a second vertical longitudinal section of the headrest of the previous figures, the locking device being activated in lock in cooperation with two locking notches of the secondary body at the end of forward travel.

[0017] With reference to the figures, a headrest 1 of a motor vehicle seat is described, said headrest comprising: • a mounting frame 2 for attaching to the back of said seat, • a main body 3 - in particular made of molded plastic material - mounted on said framework, • a secondary body 4 - in particular made of molded plastic material - mounted to slide longitudinally on said main body, so that said secondary body can adopt a plurality of longitudinal adjustment positions, said secondary body being provided with a wall 21 for receiving the head of an occupant of said seat, • a locking device for said secondary body in the chosen adjustment position, said device comprising a latch 5 mounted to slide vertically on said main body between a locking position, where it cooperates with a locking rack 6 extending longitudinally on said secondary body, and an unlocking position, where it moves away from said rack to release the sliding of said secondary body, said device further comprising a spring means 7 for actuating said latch in locking and a means for actuating said latch in unlocking against said spring means, said rack having a plurality of similar grooves 22 following one another longitudinally, said grooves having a rear face 23 inclined with respect to the vertical, so as to be tapered, and a front face 24 substantially vertical,so that the sliding of said secondary body forward is possible without having to unlock said device, and that said sliding is blocked backwards,

[0018] said latch having a locking part 19 of complementary shape to that of said grooves, so that said latch put in locking position fits snugly into the groove 22 in which it is engaged.

[0019] In other words, when the latch 5 is fitted into a groove 22, a front face 25 of the locking part 19 comes into a tight contact with the front face 24 of said groove and a rear face 26 of said locking part comes into a tight contact with the rear face 23 of said groove.

[0020] According to the embodiment shown, the frame 2 comprises two parallel metal rods 11.

[0021] According to the embodiment shown, the headrest 1 includes two latches 5 each cooperating with a respective rack 6, which strengthens the locking.

[0022] According to the embodiment shown, the latches 5 are generally in the form of plates sliding against each other in two opposite vertical directions.

[0023] According to the embodiment shown, a rack 6 is disposed on a guide member 17a, 17b sliding the secondary body 4 on the main body 3.

[0024] According to the embodiment shown, the guide member 17a,17b is in the form of a tenon integral with the secondary body 4, said tenon sliding in a mortise 18a, 18b provided in the main body 3.

[0025] According to the embodiment shown, the headrest 1 comprises an upper tenon 17a and a lower tenon 17b each sliding in a respective upper mortise 18a and lower mortise 18b.

[0026] According to the embodiment shown, the locking part 19 is arranged in the middle area of ​​the latch 5 seen in view along a longitudinal direction, said headrest further comprising two locking notches 30 of the secondary body 4 at the end of its forward travel, said notches being arranged on said secondary body laterally on either side and behind the rack 6, said latch being provided with two additional locking parts 25 arranged laterally on either side of the locking part 19 so as to fit respectively into each of said notches when said secondary body is arranged at the end of its forward travel, said notches each having a substantially vertical front face 26 and rear face 27, said rear face blocking any forward movement of said secondary body at the end of its travel.

[0027] In an alternative not shown, with the headrest 1 viewed in a longitudinal direction, it would be possible to provide on the secondary body 4, for a given latch 5, a notch 30 in the middle area and two racks 6 extending laterally on either side of said notches and cooperating with two locking parts 19 provided on said latch.

[0028] According to the embodiment shown: • the latch 5 is provided with two rails 9 arranged laterally on either side, said rails extending longitudinally - and projecting vertically according to the embodiment shown -, • said rails cooperate by sliding with two respective reciprocal rails 10 - in the form of grooves according to the embodiment shown - provided on the secondary body 4,

[0029] so as to lock said latch in rotation about a vertical axis when actuation in adjustment of said secondary body.

[0030] According to the embodiment shown, the latch 5 is provided with an additional rail 28 arranged in the median area of ​​said latch viewed in view along a longitudinal direction, said additional rail - in the form of a groove according to the embodiment shown - extending longitudinally, said additional rail cooperating in sliding with a reciprocal additional rail 29 - projecting vertically according to the embodiment shown - provided on the secondary body 4, so as to block said latch in rotation about a vertical axis when actuation in adjustment of said secondary body.

[0031] Such an arrangement, when applied in combination with the presence of lateral rails 9, provides reinforcement of the rotational locking of the latch 5.

[0032] Not shown, the main body 3 can be slidably mounted on the frame 2 so as to be able to adopt a plurality of vertical adjustment positions, said headrest including a locking device for said main body in the chosen adjustment position.

[0033] According to an embodiment not shown, the locking device for the main body 3 comprises: • a plurality of locking notches arranged axially on at least one of the rods 11 (the term "axially" being considered with reference to the extension axis of said rod) so as to define a notched rod, • at least one locking projection mounted movable relative to said main body 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 body.

[0034] Not shown, the locking devices of the main body 3 and secondary body 4 can be actuated in unlocking by a common actuation means, said means comprising for example an actuation button - for example in the form of a push button - of a crossbar mounted on said main body in transverse sliding and cooperating with said devices.

Claims

1. Demands Headrest (1) of a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising: • a mounting frame (2) for mounting on a backrest of said seat, • a main body (3) mounted on said frame, • a secondary body (4) mounted to slide longitudinally on said main body, so that said secondary body can adopt a plurality of longitudinal adjustment positions, said secondary body being provided with a wall (21) for receiving the head of an occupant of said seat, • a locking device for said secondary body in the selected adjustment position, said device comprising a latch (5) mounted to slide vertically on said main body between a locking position, where it cooperates with a locking rack (6) extending longitudinally on said secondary body, and an unlocking position, where it moves away from said rack to release the sliding of said secondary body, said device further comprising a spring means (7) for actuating said latch in locking and a means for actuating said latch in unlocking against said spring means, said rack having a plurality of similar grooves (22) succeeding each other longitudinally, said grooves having a rear face (23) inclined with respect to the vertical, so as to be tapered, and a front face (24) substantially vertical,so that the sliding of said secondary body forward is possible without having to unlock said device and that said sliding is blocked backwards, said latch having a locking portion (19) with a shape complementary to that of said grooves, so that said latch, when locked, fits snugly into the groove (22) in which it is engaged, said headrest being characterized in that the latch (5) is provided with an additional rail (28) disposed in the middle zone of said latch viewed in view along a longitudinal direction, said additional rail extending longitudinally, said additional rail cooperating in sliding with a reciprocal additional rail (29) provided on the secondary body (4), so as to lock said latch in rotation about a vertical axis when actuation in adjustment of said secondary body.

2. Headrest according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two latches (5) each cooperating with a respective rack (6).

3. Headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rack (6) is disposed on a guide member (17a,17b) sliding the secondary body (4) on the main body (3).

4. Headrest according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the guide member (17a,17b) is in the form of a tenon integral with the secondary body (4), said tenon sliding in a mortise (18a,18b) provided in the main body (3).

5. Headrest according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an upper tenon (17a) and a lower tenon (17b) each sliding in a respective upper (18a) and lower (18b) mortise.

6. Headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking portion (19) is disposed in the median area of ​​the latch (5) viewed in a longitudinal direction, said headrest further comprising two locking notches (30) of the secondary body (4) at the end of its forward travel, said notches being disposed on said secondary body laterally on either side and behind the rack (6), said latch being provided with two additional locking portions (25) disposed laterally on either side of the locking portion (19) so as to insert respectively into each of said notches when said secondary body is disposed at the end of its forward travel, said notches each having a substantially vertical front face (26) and rear face (27), said rear face blocking any forward movement of said secondary body at the end of its travel.

7. Headrest according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: • the latch (5) is provided with two rails (9) arranged laterally on either side, said rails extending longitudinally, • said rails cooperate by sliding with two respective reciprocal rails (10) provided on the secondary body (4), so as to lock said latch in rotation about a vertical axis when actuation in adjustment of said secondary body.

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