Headrest system for a motor vehicle seat back

Abstract

The invention relates to a headrest system (1) for a motor vehicle seat back, the system comprising a vertical sliding means (7), a plate (4), a base (8) provided with a means (9) for receiving the sliding means and with a plurality of locking notches, and a crosspiece (11) for locking in a chosen adjustment position, the crosspiece being provided with a notched region (12) for engaging in one of the notches, the crosspiece being in the form of a metal bar mounted so as to slide transversely on the plate, the manipulation of the actuating means allowing the movement of the crosspiece: from a locking configuration, in which the notched region fits into one of the notches so as to block the headrest against sliding, the headrest being further provided with a spring means (14) for returning the crosspiece to the locking configuration, to an unlocking configuration.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION of headrest for a vehicle seat back

[0002] The invention relates to a headrest system for a motor vehicle seat backrest.

[0003] It is known, notably from document CN117774793, to produce a headrest system for a motor vehicle seat backrest, said system comprising:

[0004] • the said file,

[0005] • a headrest comprising a head support cushion for an occupant of said seat, a support plate made of molded plastic material having a front face receiving said cushion and a rear face, said headrest further comprising a vertical sliding means,

[0006] • a base fixed over the top of said backrest, said base being provided with a means for receiving said sliding means, so that said headrest is height adjustable, said base being further provided with a plurality of vertically successive locking notches, said headrest being further provided with a locking crossbar in the chosen adjustment position, said crossbar extending transversely and being provided with a notched area in one of said notches, said crossbar being actuable between a locking configuration and an unlocking configuration, an actuating means being disposed at the end of said crossbar.

[0007] It should be noted here that a seat in which the base is fixed overlapping the top of the backrest is commonly called a "mummy seat"; a headrest mounted on such a seat extends vertically onto the top of the backrest; in particular, the headrest in its lowered position does not protrude from the upper edge of the backrest. In the known prior art embodiment, the crossbar is in the form of a spring-loaded metal wire that is flexed by the actuation mechanism to disengage its notched area from the notch in which it is engaged and to bring the crossbar into the unlocked position.

[0008] However, such a design lacks robustness, which can lead to unintentional unlocking of the crossbar in the event of a violent impact, the headrest then being likely to collapse, which is dangerous for a seat occupant.

[0009] The invention aims to overcome this drawback.

[0010] To this end, the invention proposes a headrest system for a motor vehicle seat backrest, said system comprising:

[0011] • the said file,

[0012] • a headrest comprising a head support cushion for an occupant of said seat, a support plate made of molded plastic material having a front face receiving said cushion and a rear face, said headrest further comprising a vertical sliding means,

[0013] • a base fixed over the top of said backrest, said base being provided with a means for receiving said sliding means, so that said headrest is height-adjustable, said base further being provided with a plurality of vertically successive locking notches, said headrest further being provided with a locking crossbar in the chosen adjustment position, said crossbar extending transversely and being provided with a notched area in one of said notches, said crossbar being actuable between a locking configuration and an unlocking configuration, an actuating means being disposed at the end of said crossbar, said crossbar being in the form of a metal plate mounted to slide transversely on said plate, manipulation of said actuating means allowing the movement of said crossbar: • from said locking configuration,where said notched area fits into one of said notches so as to lock said headrest in sliding position, said headrest being further provided with a spring means for returning said crossbar to said locking configuration,

[0014] • towards said unlocking configuration achieved by manipulating said actuation means to disengage said notching area of ​​said notch and release the sliding of said headrest.

[0015] In this description, the terms of positioning in space (longitudinal, transverse, vertical, lateral, front, rear, superior, inferior, ...) are taken in reference to the vehicle in which the headrest system is located, said vehicle extending longitudinally along its length (X axis), transversely along its width (Y axis) and vertically along its height (Z axis).

[0016] With the proposed arrangement, it is observed that the locking of the headrest in its adjustment position has improved robustness compared to that observed in the implementation of the prior art described above.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: [Fig. 1] is an exploded perspective view of a system according to one embodiment, [Fig. 2] is analogous to Figure 1, in a non-exploded view, [Fig. 3a] and

[0018] [Fig.3b] are partial perspective views of the system shown in figures 1 and 2, with the crossbar arranged in locking (figure 3a) and unlocking (figure 3b) configurations.

[0019] With reference to the figures, a headrest system 1 for a motor vehicle seat back is described, said system comprising:

[0020] • the said file, not represented,

[0021] • a headrest comprising a cushion 3 for supporting the head of an occupant of said seat, a support plate 4 made of molded plastic material having a front face 5 receiving said cushion and a rear face 6, said headrest further comprising a vertical sliding means 7,

[0022] • a base 8 fixed over the top of said backrest, said base being provided with a receiving means 9 for said sliding means, so that said headrest is height-adjustable, said base further being provided with a plurality of vertically successive locking notches 10, said headrest further being provided with a locking crossbar 11 in the chosen adjustment position, said crossbar extending transversely and being provided with a notched area 12 in one of said notches, said crossbar being actuable between a locking configuration and an unlocking configuration, an actuating means 13 being disposed at the end of said crossbar, said crossbar being in the form of a metal plate mounted to slide transversely on said plate, manipulation of said actuating means allowing the movement of said crossbar:

[0023] • from said locking configuration, where said notched area fits into one of said notches so as to lock said headrest in sliding motion, said headrest being further provided with a spring means 14 for returning said crossbar to said locking configuration,

[0024] • towards said unlocking configuration achieved by manipulating said actuation means to disengage said notching area of ​​said notch and release the sliding of said headrest.

[0025] According to the representation shown:

[0026] • the sliding means 7 is in the form of two parallel straight metal rods extending vertically, said rods being fitted at their ends into fitting means 15 originating from the rear face 6 and each having a central part 17 separated from said rear face,

[0027] • the receiving means 9 is in the form of two molded plastic sheaths with an internal section adjusted to that of the corresponding rods, each of said sheaths receiving said corresponding middle part by sliding, each of said sheaths being fitted by its ends into two respective mounting holes 18 provided in the base 8.

[0028] According to an unrepresented variant:

[0029] • the sliding means 7 is in the form of two parallel straight metal rods extending vertically, said rods being fitted at their ends into fitting means 15 originating from the rear face 6 and each having a central part 17 separated from said rear face,

[0030] • the receiving means 9 is in the form of two sets of upper and lower bearings made of molded plastic material, said bearings each having a conduit of cross-section adjusted to that of said rods, each of said sets receiving said middle part in sliding motion, each of said bearings being fitted into a respective mounting hole provided in the base 8.

[0031] According to the embodiment shown, the fitting means 15 are in the form of sleeves molded in one piece with the plate 4, each of the rods being held in place by a respective pin 19 inserted into two holes, not visible in the figures, arranged opposite each other in one of the said sleeves and in the corresponding rod, so as to lock said rod once mounted.

[0032] Such an arrangement can also be applied in the case of a receiving means 9 in the form of two sets of bearings.

[0033] According to another variant not shown, the sliding means 7 and receiving means 9 are in the form of two reciprocal slides cooperating with each other to ensure the sliding of the headrest.

[0034] According to the embodiment shown, the cross member 11 is provided with two notching zones 12, the base 8 being provided with two rails 20 extending vertically on either side of a vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry P, each of said rails projecting in a longitudinal direction - here forwards - and being provided with a plurality of locking notches 10 intended to cooperate with a corresponding notching zone 12.

[0035] According to the embodiment shown, the actuation means 13 is in the form of a push button.

[0036] According to the representation shown:

[0037] • The base 8 is made of molded plastic material, in order to minimize the sliding noise of the crossbar,

[0038] • the system 1 further includes a metal housing 21 open at the front and provided with means for fixing 22 - here in the form of screws - on the seat back, said housing further being provided with passage holes 23 for the rods, arranged opposite the mounting holes 18, said base being fixed in said housing - for example by being snapped into it - so as to reinforce its mechanical strength and to ensure its fixing.

[0039] As an alternative not shown, it is possible to plan not to add a metal housing 21, the base 8 being provided with means of fixing - for example in the form of screws - on the seat back.

[0040] Not shown, system 1 may further include means for compensating for play inserted between the cross member 11 and the plate 4, so as to eliminate vibration noises, said means including at least a boss from said plate or a folded spring metal blade.

Claims

7 DEMANDS 1. Headrest system (1) for a motor vehicle seat backrest, said system comprising: • the said file, • a headrest comprising a cushion (3) for supporting the head of an occupant of said seat, a support plate (4) of molded plastic material having a front face (5) receiving said cushion and a rear face (6), said headrest further comprising a vertical sliding means (7), • a base (8) fixed over the top of said backrest, said base being provided with a receiving means (9) for said sliding means, so that said headrest is height-adjustable, said base further being provided with a plurality of vertically successive locking notches (10), said headrest further being provided with a locking crossbar (11) in the selected adjustment position, said crossbar extending transversely and being provided with a notched area (12) in one of said notches, said crossbar being actuable between a locking configuration and an unlocking configuration, an actuating means (13) being disposed at the end of said crossbar, said headrest being characterized in that said crossbar is in the form of a metal plate mounted to slide transversely on said plate, manipulation of said actuating means allowing the movement of said crossbar: • from said locking configuration, where said notching area fits into one of said notches so as to lock said headrest in sliding motion, said headrest being further provided with a spring means (14) for returning said crossbar to said locking configuration, • towards said unlocking configuration achieved by manipulating said actuation means to disengage said notching area of ​​said notch and release the sliding of said headrest. 8 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that: • the sliding means (7) is in the form of two parallel straight metal rods extending vertically, said rods being fitted at their ends into fitting means (15) originating from the rear face (6) and each having a central part (17) separated from said rear face, • the receiving means (9) is in the form of two molded plastic sheaths with an internal section adjusted to that of the corresponding rods, each of said sheaths receiving said corresponding middle part by sliding, each of said sheaths being fitted by its ends into two respective mounting holes (18) provided in the base (8).

3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that: • the sliding means (7) is in the form of two parallel straight metal rods extending vertically, said rods being fitted at their ends into fitting means (15) originating from the rear face (6) and each having a central part (17) separated from said rear face, • the receiving means (9) is in the form of two sets of upper and lower bearings made of molded plastic material, said bearings each having a conduit of cross-section adjusted to that of said rods, each of said sets receiving said middle part in sliding motion, each of said bearings being fitted into a respective mounting hole provided in the base (8).

4. System according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the interlocking means (15) are in the form of sleeves molded in one piece with the plate (4), each of the rods being held in place by a respective pin (19) inserted into two holes arranged opposite each other in one of said sleeves and in the corresponding rod, so as to lock said rod once mounted. 9 5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding means (7) and receiving means (9) are in the form of two reciprocal slides cooperating with each other to ensure the sliding of the headrest.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross member (11) is provided with two notching zones (12), the base (8) being provided with two rails (20) extending vertically on either side of a vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry (P), each of said rails projecting in a longitudinal direction and being provided with a plurality of locking notches (10) intended to cooperate with a corresponding notching zone (12).

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation means (13) is in the form of a push button.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims when it relates to claim 2, characterized in that: • The base (8) is made of molded plastic material, so as to minimize the sliding noise of the crossbar, • it further comprises a metal casing (21) open at the front and provided with means for fixing (22) to the seat back, said casing further being provided with passage holes (23) for the rods, arranged opposite the mounting holes (18), said base being fixed in said casing.

9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means for compensating for play inserted between the cross member (11) and the plate (4), so as to eliminate vibration noises, said means comprising at least one boss from said plate or a folded spring metal blade.

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