Automotive seat headrest system

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat headrest system (1) comprising a headrest (2) including two mounting rods (3) and an electrical device (6) including two terminals (7) each intended to be connected to a respective pole (9) of a battery (10), each of said terminals being electrically connected to a respective rod (3) in a contact area (12), the lower end (4) of each of said rods being provided with a connector (14) electrically connected to it, said connector being further intended to be electrically connected to one of said poles, such that the portion (16) of said rod extending between said contact area and said connector forms part of said electrical circuit, said rods being provided, in a part accessible to touch by a passenger of said vehicle, with an insulating coating. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Automotive vehicle seat headrest system

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

[0002] It is known to produce a motor vehicle seat headrest system comprising a headrest, said headrest comprising: • a mounting frame at the top of the seat back, said frame comprising two parallel metal tubular rods extending vertically and each having a lower end, • a cushion mounted in a fixed or movable manner on said frame, • an electrical device disposed in the upper part of said frame, said device comprising two terminals intended to be connected each, via two respective electrical circuits, to a respective pole of a battery of said vehicle.

[0003] In order to ensure the power supply of the electrical device, it is known to pass electrical cables through the rods.

[0004] However, such a method can prove complex, particularly with regard to the mounting of electrical cables through rods when they have bends.

[0005] In addition, the exit of the cables from the rods may require the presence of large diameter holes in the rods, which leads to their weakening, and also requires the addition of protective washers at the level of said holes to avoid any risk of cutting said cables.

[0006] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

[0007] To this end, the invention proposes a motor vehicle seat headrest system comprising a headrest, said headrest comprising: • a mounting frame at the top of the seat back, said frame comprising two parallel metal tubular rods extending vertically and each having a lower end, • a cushion mounted in a fixed or movable manner on said frame, • an electrical device disposed in the upper part of said frame, said device comprising two terminals intended to be connected, each via two respective electrical circuits, to a respective pole of a battery of said vehicle,

[0008] said system further having the following characteristics: • Each of said terminals is electrically connected to a respective rod at a contact zone located at a distance from said lower end of said rod, • said lower end of each of said rods is provided with a connector electrically connected to it, said connector being intended to be further electrically connected to one of said poles, so that the part of said rod extending between said contact area and said connector forms part of said electrical circuit, • said rods are provided in a part accessible to touch by a passenger of said vehicle with an insulating coating.

[0009] In this description, the terms of positioning in space (up, down, vertical, superior, inferior, ...) are taken with reference to the vehicle in which the system is arranged.

[0010] With the proposed arrangement, we avoid the complex operation of mounting the electrical cables through the rods, and also the creation of holes which could weaken the rods and require the use of washers to protect the cables against the risk of cuts.

[0011] It should also be noted that the presence of insulating coating is required to avoid any risk of short circuit.

[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 partial schematic view of the principle of a system according to the invention, said system being connected to a vehicle battery,

[0014] [Fig.2a] and

[0015] [Fig.2b] are partial vertical cross-sectional views of a system according to a first realization, in overall view ([Fig.2a]) and in detail view ([Fig.2b]),

[0016] [Fig.3a],

[0017] [Fig.3b] and

[0018] [Fig.3c] are partial vertical cross-sectional views of a system according to a second embodiment, in overall view ([Fig.3a]) and in detail view with the cushion set in maximum-low position ([Fig.3b]) and maximum-high position ([Fig.3c]).

[0019] With reference to the figures, a headrest system 1 2 for a motor vehicle seat is described, comprising a headrest, said headrest comprising: • a mounting frame at the top of the seat back, said frame comprising two parallel tubular metal rods 3 extending vertically and each having a lower end 4, • a cushion 5 mounted in a fixed or movable manner on said frame, • an electrical device 6 - for example in the form of a loudspeaker (in particular of the "Bluetooth" type), a geared motor for adjusting the position of said cushion, a heating mat or a light - disposed in the upper part of said frame, said device comprising two terminals 7 intended to be connected each, via two respective electrical circuits, to a respective pole 9 of a battery 10 of said vehicle,

[0020] said system further having the following characteristics: • Each of said terminals is electrically connected - here by a first electrical cable 11 - to a respective rod 3 in a contact zone 12 located at a distance - at the upper end 13 of the rod according to the embodiment shown - from said lower end of said rod, • said lower end of each of said rods is provided with a connector 14 being electrically connected to it, said connector being intended to be further electrically connected - here by a second electrical cable 15 - to one of said poles, so that the part 16 of said rod extending between said contact area and said connector forms part of said electrical circuit, • said rods are provided, in a part accessible to touch by a passenger of said vehicle, with an insulating coating 17 – for example in the form of paint, varnish or plastic material overmolded to said rods.

[0021] According to the embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the system 1 has the following characteristics: • it further comprises the upper area of ​​a seat back frame, not shown, and two main sleeves 18 - in particular of molded plastic material - for receiving each of the rods 3 respectively, said sleeves being mounted on said upper area and said rods being fixedly mounted in said sleeves, the cushion 5 being mounted in a movable manner - being operated manually or motorized, by means of an electrical device 6 in the form of a geared motor - relative to the frame so as to allow its height adjustment, • a connector 14 includes a connection part 19 - here in the form of a "banana" plug of elastically retractable diameter, so as to guarantee good electrical contact - connected to a reciprocal connector 20 - here in the form of a receiving sleeve for said plug - attached to the bottom of the corresponding main sheath 18, said reciprocal connector being intended to be connected - here by the second electrical cable 15 - to a pole 9 of the battery 10.

[0022] In particular, the reciprocal connector 20 is mounted on a secondary sheath of the first type 21 fixed - here by snap-fit ​​- to the bottom of the corresponding main sheath 18.

[0023] According to the embodiment shown in figures 3a to 3c, system 1 has the following characteristics: • it further comprises the upper area of ​​a seat back frame, not shown, and two main sleeves 18 - in particular of molded plastic material - for receiving each of the rods 3 respectively, said sleeves being mounted on said upper area and said rods being mounted in a sliding manner in said sleeves, so as to allow height adjustment of the cushion 5, • a connector 14 includes a connection part 19 - here in the form of a "banana" plug of elastically retractable diameter, so as to ensure good electrical contact - connected to a reciprocal connector 20 - here in the form of a receiving sleeve for said plug - mounted to slide in the corresponding main sheath 18, said reciprocal connector being intended to be connected - here by the second electrical cable 15 - to a pole 9 of the battery 10.

[0024] In particular, system 1 further comprises a secondary sheath of the second type 22 fixed – here by snap-fitting – to the bottom of the corresponding main sheath 18, said secondary sheath having: • a lower stop 23 intended to allow the connection between the connector 14 and the reciprocal connector 20 when mounting the headrest 2 on the seat back, after bringing the cushion 5 to the maximum-low position, • an upper stop 24 intended to allow disconnection between said connector and said reciprocal connector during disassembly of said headrest of said backrest, after bringing the cushion 5 to the maximum-high position.

[0025] It should be noted that in such an arrangement, where the rods are mounted slidably in the sleeves, it may be relevant to provide a locking system according to the adjustment position chosen for the cushion that does not present a risk of scratching said rods, in particular by providing a lock arranged so as to ensure plastic / plastic contact between said lock and the rod receiving the lock.

[0026] According to all the embodiments represented: • The electrical connection between connector 14 and the corresponding rod 3 is made by means of a metal ring 25 made of spring metal, which is axially split - i.e. parallel to an extension axis of said rod - said ring being press-fitted into the lower end 4 of said rod, so as to achieve optimal electrical contact between the two, • said ring is integral with a molded plastic end piece 26 - the association between the two being achieved in particular by interlocking - inserted and snapped into said rod by means of harpoons 27 fitting into holes 28 provided in said rod, so as to secure the retention of said ring on said rod, • the connector is forced into said ring, so as to achieve optimal electrical contact between the two.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the ring 25 is made of spring steel and has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm.

[0028] Such an arrangement also ensures protection against corrosion and high robustness.

[0029] According to an embodiment not shown applicable to all embodiments, the electrical connection in contact zone 12 of the rod 3 is made by an elastically deformable pin - said pin being in particular axially split or in the form of a "spiral" pin - inserted into an orifice provided in said rod, said pin clamping a first electrical cable 11 coming from the corresponding terminal 7, so as to make an optimal electrical contact between the two.

[0030] Such an arrangement also ensures protection against corrosion and high robustness.

Claims

Demands

1. A motor vehicle seat headrest system (1) comprising a headrest (2), said headrest comprising: • a mounting frame at the top of the seat back, said frame comprising two parallel tubular metal rods (3) extending vertically and each having a lower end (4), • a cushion (5) mounted in a fixed or movable manner on said frame, • an electrical device (6) disposed in the upper part of said frame, said device comprising two terminals (7) intended to be connected, each via two respective electrical circuits, to a respective pole (9) of a battery (10) of said vehicle, said system being characterized in that: • each of said terminals is electrically connected to a respective rod (3) in a contact area (12) located at a distance from said lower end of said rod,• The lower end of each of said rods is provided with a connector (14) electrically connected to it, said connector being intended to be further electrically connected to one of said poles, so that the portion (16) of said rod extending between said contact area and said connector forms part of said electrical circuit; • said rods are provided, in a portion accessible to touch by a passenger of said vehicle, with an insulating coating (17).

2. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: • it further comprises the upper zone of a seat back frame and two main receiving sleeves (18) respectively fitting into each of the rods, said sleeves being mounted on said upper zone and said rods being fixedly mounted in said sleeves, the cushion (5) being movable relative to the frame so as to allow its height adjustment, • a connector (14) includes a connecting part (19) connected to a reciprocal connector (20) attached to the bottom of the corresponding main sheath (18), said reciprocal connector being intended to be connected to a terminal (9) of the battery (10).

3. System (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the reciprocal connector (20) is mounted on a secondary sheath of the first type (21) fixed to the bottom of the corresponding main sheath (18).

4. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: • it further comprises the upper area of ​​a seat back frame and two respective main receiving sleeves (18) fitted into each of the rods (3), said sleeves being mounted on said upper area and said rods being slidably mounted in said sleeves, so as to allow height adjustment of the cushion (5), • a connector (14) comprises a connection part (19) connected to a reciprocal connector (20) slidably mounted in the corresponding main sleeve (18), said reciprocal connector being intended to be connected to a terminal (9) of the battery (10).

5. System (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises a secondary sheath of the second type (22) fixed at the bottom of the corresponding main sheath (18), said secondary sheath having: • a lower stop (23) intended to allow connection between the connector (14) and the reciprocal connector (20) when mounting the headrest (2) on the seat back, • an upper stop (24) intended to allow disconnection between said connector and said reciprocal connector when removing said headrest from said seat back.

6. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: • the electrical connection between the connector (14) and the corresponding rod (3) is made by a ring (25) metallic spring metal axially split, said ring being press-fitted into the lower end (4) of said rod, • said ring is integral with a molded plastic material tip (26) inserted and snapped into said rod by means of harpoons (27) fitting into holes (28) provided in said rod, • the connector (14) is press-fitted into said ring.

7. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical connection in the contact area (12) of the rod (3) is made by an elastically deformable pin inserted into an orifice provided in said rod, said pin clamping a first electrical cable (11) coming from the corresponding terminal (7).

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