Headrest for a motor vehicle seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest (1) for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising a structure (2) made of molded plastics material and a mounting frame (3) having two rods (4) connected by a crossmember (5), said structure having two ducts (6) each receiving an upper part of a rod (4), each of the upper parts being provided with a notch (7) flush with the bottom of the corresponding duct (6), said headrest further comprising two pins (8) for blocking said rods from sliding, each of said pins: having a substantially rectilinear middle part and two branches coming from the ends of said middle part, said branches being connected to said middle part by a fold; being mounted around one of said rods such that said middle part is inserted into the notch (7) of said rod and said branches surround said rod and abut against the bottom of the corresponding duct (6).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: Motor vehicle seat headrest

[0003] The invention relates to a headrest for a motor vehicle seat.

[0004] It is known to produce a headrest for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising:

[0005] • a molded plastic structure filled with a headrest cushion,

[0006] • a frame for mounting said headrest at the top of the back of said seat, said frame being based on a metal tube folded to present in longitudinal view a general shape of an inverted U, so that said frame has two parallel cylindrical rods connected at their upper ends by a transverse crosspiece, said structure being fixed to said frame, said structure having two conduits each receiving an upper part of the rod, each of the upper parts being provided with a notch flush with the bottom of the corresponding conduit.

[0007] According to a known embodiment, each rod is locked in sliding on the structure by a respective pin, in the form of a straight rod, said pin being inserted by force on the one hand into an orifice provided in the structure and on the other hand into the notch of the corresponding rod.

[0008] However, such a method of fixing the rods may prove to be undurable, as a pin may be able to come out of the notch, which may lead to the structure sliding relative to the frame, which may prove dangerous for a seat occupant in the event of their head hitting the headrest cushion.

[0009] The invention aims to overcome this drawback. To this end, the invention proposes a headrest for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising:

[0010] • a molded plastic structure filled with a headrest cushion,

[0011] • a frame for mounting said headrest at the top of the back of said seat, said frame being based on a metal tube folded to present in longitudinal view a general shape of an inverted U, so that said frame has two parallel cylindrical rods connected at their upper ends by a transverse crosspiece, said structure being fixed to said frame, said structure having two conduits each receiving an upper part of the rod, each of the upper parts being provided with a notch flush with the bottom of the corresponding conduit, said headrest further comprising two pins made of elastic metal wire for locking said rods in sliding, each of said pins:

[0012] • having a substantially rectilinear middle part and two branches coming from the ends of said middle part, said branches being connected to said middle part by a fold,

[0013] • being mounted around one of said rods so that said middle part fits into the notch of said rod and said branches surround said rod and come into abutment against the bottom of the corresponding conduit.

[0014] In this description, the terms of positioning in space (top, bottom, longitudinal, transverse, upper, below, etc.) are taken with reference to the vehicle in which the headrest is arranged in use, said vehicle extending longitudinally along its length (X axis), transversely along its width (Y axis) and vertically along its height (Z axis).

[0015] With the proposed arrangement, due to the configuration of the pins allowing their insertion in the notches to be secured, a very robust sliding locking of the rods on the structure is ensured, which optimizes the safety of a seat occupant.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, given with reference to the attached figures, in which: [Fig.1] is a partial perspective schematic representation of a headrest according to one embodiment,

[0017] [Fig.2] is an exploded view similar to that of figure 1, from another angle of view,

[0018] [Fig.3] is a partial schematic sectional view of the headrest shown in Figures 1 and 2,

[0019] Fig.4a],

[0020] [Fig.4b] and

[0021] [Fig.4c] are views similar to that of figure 3 representing different stages of assembly of a pin, namely the positioning of said pin opposite a conduit (figure 4a), the driving in of said pin to surround the corresponding rod (figure 4b), then the positioning of the free end parts of said pin opposite additional inclined sides (figure 4c) preceding the final assembly of said pin,

[0022] [Fig.5] is a schematic perspective detail view of the headrest shown in the preceding figures.

[0023] With reference to the figures, a headrest 1 for a motor vehicle seat is described, said headrest comprising:

[0024] • a structure 2 in molded plastic material filled with a headrest cushion,

[0025] • a frame 3 for mounting said headrest at the top of the back of said seat, said frame being based on a metal tube folded to present in longitudinal view a general shape of an inverted U, so that said frame has two parallel cylindrical rods 4 connected at their upper ends by a transverse crosspiece 5, said structure being fixed to said frame, said structure having two conduits 6 each receiving an upper part of rod 4, each of the upper parts being provided with a notch 7 flush with the bottom of the corresponding conduit 6, said headrest further comprising two pins 8 made of elastic metal wire for locking said rods in sliding, each of said pins:

[0026] • having a substantially rectilinear middle part 9 and two branches 10 coming from the ends of said middle part, said branches being connected to said middle part by a fold 11,

[0027] • being mounted around one of said rods so that said middle part fits into the notch 7 of said rod and said branches surround said rod and come into abutment against the bottom of the corresponding conduit 6.

[0028] According to the realization represented:

[0029] • the middle part 9 extends longitudinally,

[0030] • the branches 10 have a generally rectilinear part 16 extending transversely, said branches having free end parts 13 in the form of folds - here in the form of loops - moving away from each other,

[0031] • said branches bear by said end parts against main inclined sides 12 facing each other provided on the structure 2, said sides forming cam surfaces shaped so as to force the positioning of said middle part at the bottom of the notch 7 by elastic return of said branches away from each other.

[0032] Such an arrangement makes it possible to secure the anchoring of the pin 8 on the structure 2 and the insertion of the middle part 9 at the bottom of the notch 7, which makes it possible to optimize the safety of an occupant of the seat.

[0033] According to the embodiment shown, as illustrated in particular in figure 4a, a pin 8 has, in the free state before assembly, non-parallel rectilinear parts 16 moving away from each other as one approaches the free end parts 13. Such an arrangement makes it easier to position the branches 10 around the corresponding rod 4 (figure 4b) and also to accentuate the force communicated for positioning the middle part 9 at the bottom of the notch 7 once the pin 8 is assembled (figure 3).

[0034] Furthermore, such an arrangement makes it possible not to exceed the elastic limit of the pin 8 following the deformations to which it is subjected, in extension or in compression, during its assembly.

[0035] According to the realization represented:

[0036] • the branches 10 are provided, between their generally rectilinear part 16 and their end part 13, with a double fold 17a, 17b so as to define a zigzag zone allowing a localized approach of said branches to one another at the level of two folds 17b facing each other,

[0037] • the structure 2 is provided with two additional inclined sections 18 forming cam surfaces, said additional sections each opening onto a respective main inclined section 12, said additional sections being intended to each receive one of the end parts 13 in support during the assembly of the corresponding pin 8, so as to allow temporary bringing together of said end parts before their placement against the main inclined sections 12.

[0038] It will be noted here that the conformation of the free end parts 13 in the form of a loop makes it easier to slide them along the additional sides 18 when mounting a pin 8.

[0039] According to the embodiment shown, the conduits 6 are arranged near additional conduits 21 offset downwards by means of a slot 19 arranged opposite the corresponding notch 7, said slot being intended to allow the passage of the middle part 9 during the assembly of the pin 8. The presence of the additional conduits 21 makes it possible to block an upward sliding of the structure 2 relative to the frame 3, which minimizes the risk of sound vibrations.

[0040] According to the embodiment shown, the fold 11 is shaped in the form of a loop inserted into the slot 19 (see figure 5), so as to reinforce the upward sliding blocking of the structure 2 relative to the frame 3.

[0041] According to the embodiment shown, the crosspiece 5 is fitted into the structure 2, in particular into a gutter 15 provided on said structure.

[0042] According to an embodiment not shown, at least one of the conduits 6 has an oblong section whose large dimension extends transversely, the small dimension of said section corresponding to the diameter of the corresponding rod 4, such an arrangement making it possible to absorb transverse dimensional dispersions while ensuring firm support of the rods 4 in a longitudinal direction.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Headrest (1) for a motor vehicle seat, said headrest comprising: • a structure (2) made of molded plastic material fitted with a headrest cushion, • a frame (3) for mounting said headrest at the top of the back of said seat, said frame being based on a metal tube folded to present in longitudinal view a general shape of an inverted U, so that said frame has two parallel cylindrical rods (4) connected at their upper ends by a transverse crosspiece (5), said structure being fixed to said frame, said structure having two conduits (6) each receiving an upper part of rod (4), each of the upper parts being provided with a notch (7) flush with the bottom of the corresponding conduit (6), said headrest being characterized in that it further comprises two pins (8) made of elastic metal wire for locking said rods in sliding, each of said pins: • having a substantially rectilinear middle part (9) and two branches (10) coming from the ends of said middle part, said branches being connected to said middle part by a fold (11), • being mounted around one of said rods so that said middle part fits into the notch (7) of said rod and said branches surround said rod and come into abutment against the bottom of the corresponding conduit (6).

2. Headrest (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: • the middle part (9) extends longitudinally, • the branches (10) have a generally rectilinear part (16) extending transversely, said branches having free end parts (13) in the form of folds moving away from each other, • said branches are supported by said end parts against main inclined sides (12) facing each other provided on the structure (2), said sides forming cam surfaces shaped so as to force the placement of said middle part at the bottom of the notch (7) by elastic return of said branches away from each other.

3. Headrest (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that: • the branches (10) are provided, between their generally rectilinear part (16) and their end part (13), with a double fold (17a, 17b) so as to define a zigzag zone allowing a localized approach of said branches to one another at the level of two folds (17b) facing each other, • the structure (2) is provided with two additional inclined sections (18) forming cam surfaces, said additional sections each opening onto a respective main inclined section (12), said additional sections being intended to each receive one of the end parts (13) in support during the assembly of the corresponding pin (8), so as to allow temporary bringing together of said end parts before their placement against the main inclined sections (12).

4. Headrest (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conduits (6) are arranged near additional conduits (21) offset downwards by means of a slot (19) arranged opposite the corresponding notch (7), said slot being intended to allow the passage of the middle part (9) during the assembly of the pin (8).

5. Headrest (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the fold (11) is shaped in the form of a loop (20) inserted into the slot (19), so as to reinforce the upward sliding locking of the structure (2) relative to the frame (3).

6. Headrest (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the crosspiece (5) is fitted into the structure (2).

7. Headrest (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the conduits (6) has an oblong section whose large dimension extends transversely, the small dimension of said section corresponding to the diameter of the corresponding rod (4).

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