Inertia-responsive retractable head restraint device

Claim 2

A retractable head restraint device for use in conjunction with a vehicle seat back to limit rearward motion and rotation of an occupant''s head upon rapid acceleration of the vehicle, comprising: a restraint pad mounted for movement from a normally retracted position to an erect position vertically spaced from the seat back and adjacent the occupant''s head; means for movably mounting said restraint pad carried by restraint pad support means; means biasing said restraint pad to the erect position; and inertia-responsive latch means for normally retaining said restraint pad in said retracted position and for releasing said restraint pad upon rapid acceleration of said vehicle permitting the biasing means to move the restraint pad towards the erect position.

Claim 3

The retractable head restraint device of claim 1 additionally including means for maintaining said restraint pad in the erect position after release thereof.

Claim 4

The retractable head restraint device of claim 2 wherein said means for maintaining said restraint pad in erected position includes means actuated by partial or complete erection of said restraint pad so as to render said maintaining means operative.

Claim 5

The retractable head restraint device of claim 1 wherein said means for movably mounting said restraint pad includes means for pivotally connecting said restraint pad to said restraint pad support means.

Claim 6

The retractable head restraint device of claim 3 wherein said means for pivotally connecting said restraint pad to said restraint pad support means includes a first cylindrical member nonrotatably mounted on said restraint pad support means and a second cylindrical member concentrically rotatably mounted with respect to said first member and supporting said restraint pad.

Claim 7

The retractable head restraint device of claim 1 wherein said restraint pad support means is vertically adjustably supported by said seat back.

Claim 8

The retractable head restraint device of claim 1 wherein said restraint pad support means comprises a removably attachable frame for snugly fitting on the seat back.

Claim 9

A retractable head restraint device to limit rearward motion and rotation of a vehicle passenger''s head, comprising: a restraint pad including a soft, flexible body carried by a plate and movable from a normally retracted position to an erect position adjacent the occupant''s head; a restraint pad support member fixedly carried by a portion of the vehicle; a first cylindrical mounting member including an elongated transverse opening disposed generally intermediate the ends of said member and carried by said restraint pad support member; a second cylindrical mounting member fixedly secured to said restraint pad plate, rotatably mounted with respect to said first cylindrical mounting member and including an elongated arcuate opening axially aligned with said elongated transverse opening in said first cylindrical member; means biasing said second cylindrical member for rotatable movement relative to said first cylindrical member; and inertia-responsive latch means including a pair of lugs axially projecting toward one another from opposite arcuate edges of said opening in said second cylindrical member, a substantially flat, generally rectangular cross section, elongated extension member on said restraint pad support member passing through said opening in said second cylindrical member and slidably received in said transverse opening in said first cylindrical member, said extension member longitudinal edges having notches therein including inclined walls for cooperative selective engagement with said pair of lugs; and spring means disposed in said first cylindrical member transverse opening biasing said cylindrical members away from said extension member, whereby a sudden acceleration of said vehicle and said fixed restraint pad sUpport member including said extension member overcomes the bias of said spring means causing disengagement of said lugs and said notch walls releasing said second cylindrical member for rotation relative to said first cylindrical member so as to erect said restraint pad to an operative position.

Claim 10

A retractable head restraint device to limit rearward motion and rotation of a vehicle passenger''s head, comprising: a restraint pad including a soft, flexible body carried by a plate and movable from a normally retracted position to an erect position adjacent the occupant''s head; a restraint pad support member fixedly carried by a portion of the vehicle; a first cylindrical mounting member including an elongated transverse opening disposed generally intermediate the ends of said member and carried by said restraint pad support member; a second cylindrical mounting member fixedly secured to said restraint pad plate, rotatably mounted with respect to said first cylindrical mounting member and including an elongated arcuate opening axially aligned with said elongated transverse opening in said first cylindrical member; means biasing said second cylindrical member for rotatable movement relative to said first cylindrical member; and inertia-responsive latch means including a pair of lugs axially projecting toward one another from opposite arcuate edges of said opening in said second cylindrical member, a substantially flat, generally rectangular cross section, elongated extension member on said restraint pad support member passing through said opening in said second cylindrical member and slidably received in said transverse opening in said first cylindrical member, said extension member longitudinal edges having notches therein including inclined walls for cooperative selective engagement with said pair of lugs; and spring means disposed in said first cylindrical member transverse opening biasing said cylindrical members away from said extension member, whereby a sudden acceleration of said vehicle and said fixed restraint pad sUpport member including said extension member overcomes the bias of said spring means causing disengagement of said lugs and said notch walls releasing said second cylindrical member for rotation relative to said first cylindrical member so as to erect said restraint pad to an operative position.