Headrest support device for a vehicle seat back

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest retention device for a seat back in a motor vehicle. The retention device (2) comprises a base (12) and a support (14) for a headrest (6). The support (14) is held to the base (12) by tilting means (16) allowing the inclination of the support (14) relative to the base (12) to be modified between an initial position (22) and a stop position. The tilting means (16) include means for returning the support (14) to its stop position, as well as reversible means for holding the support (14) in intermediate positions between its stop position and its initial position (22). The retention means are configured to allow the return means to pivot the support (14) to the stop position upon detection of an impact. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for securing a headrest to the back of a motor vehicle seat. Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for retaining a headrest for a seat back of a motor vehicle and, more particularly, a device allowing the headrest to pivot relative to the seat back in the event of a shock to the seat. Technological background

[0002] In motor vehicles, headrests significantly increase passenger comfort. Headrests are designed and arranged to support passengers' heads when they lean back in their seats. By supporting passengers' heads, headrests promote better posture for both the neck and spine, preventing muscle tension and therefore pain during long journeys.

[0003] According to another advantage, by reducing muscle tension in the cervical spine, headrests help to reduce fatigue among occupants of a motor vehicle, thus improving the general well-being of occupants during their transport.

[0004] Headrests are also an essential safety feature of a motor vehicle. In the event of a severe rear-end collision, headrests play a vital role by preventing the occupants' heads from jerking backward, which can cause serious whiplash injuries. By absorbing some of the impact energy and keeping the head in position, the headrest significantly reduces the risk of this type of injury. For the headrest to best prevent these injuries, it must be positioned as close as possible to the passenger's head during the accident.

[0005] However, due to the passengers' posture on the seat, a gap often remains between the passengers' heads and their headrests. Consequently, in the event of a rear-end collision, a passenger's head can still be violently thrown backwards until it reaches the headrest of their seat. Object of the invention

[0006] In order to limit this phenomenon of a passenger's head tilting backwards in a motor vehicle in the event of a rear-end collision, the invention provides a headrest retention device for a seat back of a motor vehicle, comprising a base intended to be attached to a seat back and a support for a headrest.

[0007] The invention is remarkable in that the support is held at the base by tilting means, allowing the inclination of the support relative to the base to be modified around an axis of rotation, between an initial position in which the support forms with the base an angle whose value is between 140° and 220°, and a stop position in which the support forms with the base an angle whose value is between 90° and 120°, and in that the tilting means include means for returning the support to its stop position, and in that the tilting means include reversible means for holding the support in intermediate positions between its stop position and its initial position, and in that the holding means are configured to allow the return means to pivot the support in the stop position, in the event of the detection of a shock.

[0008] In other words, the invention advantageously allows a headrest held to the back of a seat by a retaining device as described above to move as close as possible to the head of a passenger in the seat, in the event of an impact, so as to minimize the space between the passenger's head and the headrest, thereby preventing or at least limiting the movement of the passenger's head towards the back of the seat when the seat is subjected to an impact. Thus, by closing or at least limiting the space between a passenger's head and their headrest, the risk of injury to the passenger's neck in the event of a vehicle accident is significantly reduced.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the invention, the retaining means are configured to prevent the support from tilting towards its initial position after an impact. In other words, the retaining means prevent the support from pivoting towards its end position after an accident that has generated an impact on the retaining device likely to injure a passenger in a seat equipped with the invention. This embodiment advantageously ensures that a headrest held by the support does not exert pressure on the head of a seat passenger after an accident.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the invention, the return means exert an increasing force against the pivoting of the support as said support pivots from its stop position to its initial position. This embodiment advantageously allows for a gradual increase in the resistance of a headrest held by the support when the head of a passenger seated on a seat equipped with the invention strikes the headrest in the event of a collision. This allows for a more gradual and therefore gentler absorption of the passenger's head movement until it comes to a complete stop.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the invention, the retaining means are configured to allow the pivoting of the support towards its initial position to be blocked at will. Preferably, the retaining means are configured to allow the pivoting of the support to be blocked at will for each intermediate position. The expression "at will" means the possibility for a passenger to either hold or release the support in a desired intermediate position.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the invention, the retaining means comprise a ratchet gear.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, the return means comprise a connecting rod spring.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, the retaining means are configured to be controlled by an on-board computer of a motor vehicle. Preferably, the on-board computer is capable of detecting an imminent collision and commanding the retaining means to release the support so that a headrest attached to said support can approach or make contact with the head of a passenger seated in a seat equipped with the invention, before the collision occurs.

[0015] Of course, the different characteristics, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other in various ways, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0016] The invention also relates to a seat for a motor vehicle comprising a retaining device as described above, holding a headrest to the back of said seat so that the headrest is as close as possible to the head of a passenger sitting on said seat, when the support is in the stop position.

[0017] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a seat as described above. Description of the figures

[0018] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] illustrates a longitudinal section of an example of a seat driver present in a motor vehicle, said seat comprising a headrest held to a backrest by means of a holding device according to the invention, when the support of said device is in the initial position;

[0020] [Fig.2] illustrates the retaining device shown in [Fig.1], when the support said device is in the stop position. Detailed description of the invention

[0021] As a reminder, the invention proposes a device for holding a headrest for a seat back of a motor vehicle, allowing the headrest to move as close as possible to the head of a passenger present on the seat, in the event of the detection of a shock, so as to reduce as much as possible the space between the head of said passenger and the headrest, in order to prevent or at least limit a movement of the head of said passenger towards the seat back, when the seat suffers a shock.

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of the invention implemented in a motor vehicle 2. More specifically, a retaining device 4 according to the invention retains a headrest 6 to the backrest 8 of a driver's seat 10. To do this, the retaining device 4 comprises a base 12 attached to the backrest 8 of the driver's seat 10 and a support 14 holding the headrest 6.

[0023] It should be noted that, according to the present example, the base 12 and the support 14 are visible in the figures to facilitate understanding of the invention. According to an alternative embodiment, these elements can be concealed respectively in the backrest 8 and the headrest 6 of the driver's seat.

[0024] The support 14 is held to the base 12 by tilting means 16 configured to allow modification of the inclination of the support 14 relative to the base 12, around an axis of rotation 18. The tilting means 16 are configured so that the axis of rotation 18 is parallel or substantially parallel to a face of the backrest intended to accommodate the back of the driver 20.

[0025] The tilting means 16 allow the inclination of the support 14 relative to the base 12 to be modified around the axis of rotation 18, between an initial position 22 visible in [Fig. 1], and a stop position 24 visible in [Fig. 2]. In the initial position, the support 14 forms an angle with the base 12, the value of which is between 140° and 220°, preferably between 160° and 200°. In the stop position 24, the support 14 forms an angle with the base 12, the value of which is between 90° and 120°, preferably between 100° and 110°.

[0026] The tilting means 16 comprise reversible retaining means configured to hold the support 14 in intermediate positions, located between its initial position 22 and its stop position 24. The term "reversible" means the possibility for a passenger in the driver's seat 10 to engage the retaining means at will, to lock or release the support from an intermediate position. In this example, the retaining means comprise a ratchet device, not shown in the figures to simplify understanding of the invention.

[0027] The retaining means include return means allowing natural movement of the support to its stop position. According to the present example, The return means include a connecting rod spring not shown in the figures in order to simplify understanding of the invention.

[0028] The retaining means are configured to allow the return means to pivot the support into the stop position 24, in the event of identification of an impending impact and / or when an impact is detected on the motor vehicle 2. Thus, in the event that the driver 20 adopts a posture in which his head 26 is distant from the headrest, as illustrated by [Fig.1], in the event of the detection of an impact, the invention advantageously allows the headrest 6 to be quickly pivoted towards the driver so that the headrest 6 is as close as possible to his head 26, as illustrated by [Fig.2], in order to prevent or limit the tilting of the driver's head backwards.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the return means exert an increasing force against the pivoting of the support as said support pivots from its stop position 24 to its initial position 22. This embodiment advantageously allows the resistance of the headrest fixed to the support 14 to be progressively increased when the driver's head 26 strikes the headrest during an impact. This allows the movement of the driver's head 26 to be dampened more gradually and therefore more gently until it comes to a complete stop.

[0030] Indeed, during a collision, the driver's head is thrown backward and strikes the headrest 6. If the headrest 6 offers immediate and rigid resistance, this can lead to serious injuries to the driver's neck and spine 20. On the other hand, by progressively increasing the resistance force opposing the pivoting of the support 14 toward its initial position 22, the headrest 6 absorbs some of the impact energy in a gentler and more controlled manner. This progressive absorption reduces the force of the impact of the head on the headrest 6, thus minimizing the risk of injury.

[0031] Furthermore, this approach allows for a more gradual absorption of the driver's head 26's movement until it comes to a complete stop. In other words, the driver's head does not stop abruptly, but progressively, which is much safer for the driver. This feature is particularly important for preventing injuries such as whiplash, cervical sprains, or fractures, which can occur during violent impacts.

[0032] In summary, this embodiment offers an innovative solution for improving the safety of the driver and, more generally, of a passenger seated in a seat equipped with the invention, during a collision, and more particularly during a rear-end collision. By progressively increasing the resistance of the force opposing the pivoting of the headrest towards its initial position 22, the invention helps to reduce the risk of serious injury and to offer optimal protection to the passenger of a motor vehicle.

[0033] After an accident, it is crucial that the headrest does not exert pressure on the passenger's head in order to avoid causing further injury. According to another embodiment of the invention, the retaining means prevent the support 14 from pivoting towards its stop position 24 after an impact is detected. This embodiment prevents the support 14, and therefore the headrest 6, from pivoting towards its stop position 24 after an impact. By reducing or eliminating this risk of post-collision pressure of the headrest against the driver's head 26, the invention helps to minimize the risk of further injury and to ensure optimal safety.

[0034] According to another embodiment, the retaining means are configured to be controlled by an on-board computer of a motor vehicle so as to be able to command the return means to pivot the support to the stop position, in the event of the detection of an impending impact and / or the detection of an actual impact. The on-board computer is at least configured to command the return means to pivot the support to the stop position 24, in the event of the detection of an impending rear impact and / or the detection of an actual rear impact.

[0035] In order to detect an impending collision, the on-board computer may optionally be connected to one or more optical detectors, a driving assistance system and / or a radar.

[0036] By way of non-limiting example, the retaining means may include a ratchet gear configured to perform the function mentioned above. The ratchet of the gear may, in particular, be controlled by a control device such as an on-board computer of a motor vehicle, so as to temporarily disengage the ratchet from the gear to allow the rapid pivoting of the support 14 towards its stop position 24, when an impact is anticipated or detected by the control device. The control device may also be configured to re-engage the ratchet with the gear after the impact, so as to prevent the support from pivoting towards its stop position.

[0037] Of course, the invention is not limited to these examples alone, so that the variants of embodiments of the invention mentioned above can be combined and / or carried out with other means.

Claims

Demands

1. A headrest (6) retention device (2) for a seat back (8) of a motor vehicle (2), comprising a base (12) intended to be integral with a seat back (8) and a support (14) for a headrest (6), characterized in that the support (14) is retained to the base (12) by tilting means (16) allowing the inclination of the support (14) relative to the base (12), about an axis of rotation (18), to be modified between an initial position (22) in which the support (14) forms an angle with the base (12) of between 140° and 220°, and a stop position (24) in which the support (14) forms an angle with the base (12) of between 90° and 120°, and in that the tilting means (16) comprise means for returning the support (14) in its stop position (24),and in that the tilting means (16) include reversible means for holding the support (14) in intermediate positions between its stop position (24) and its initial position (22), and in that the holding means are configured to allow the return means to pivot the support (14) into the stop position (24) in the event of shock detection.

2. Retaining device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means are configured to prevent the support (14) from tilting towards its stop position (24), after an impact.

3. Retaining device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the return means exert an increasing force against the pivoting of the support (14), when said support (14) pivots from its stop position (24) to its initial position (22).

4. Retaining device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the retaining means are configured to allow the pivoting of the support (14) to be blocked in the direction of its initial position (22).

5. Retaining device (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining means are configured to allow the pivoting of the support (14) to be blocked at will for each intermediate position.

6. Retaining device (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining means comprise a ratchet gear.

7. Retaining device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the return means comprise a connecting rod spring.

8. Retaining device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the retaining means are configured to be controlled by an on-board computer of a motor vehicle (2).

9. Seat (10) for a motor vehicle (2) characterized in that it comprises a retaining device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, holding a headrest (6) to the backrest (8) of said seat so that the headrest (6) is as close as possible to the head (26) of a passenger (20) seated on said seat, when the support (14) is in the stop position (24).

10. Motor vehicle (2) comprising a seat according to claim 9.